10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2017

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______ TO ______

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-10596

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

MISSOURI	43-1554045
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)
9900A CLAYTON ROAD
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI	63124-1186
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(314) 213-7200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ¨
Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨  No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class	Shares outstanding at July 31, 2017
Common stock, $.01 par value per share	25,833,202

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2017		2016
Net sales	$	171,189		140,191
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		108,856		86,602
Selling, general and administrative expenses		38,453		31,369
Amortization of intangible assets		4,085		2,951
Interest expense, net		1,213		320
Other (income) expenses, net		1,160		1,429
Total costs and expenses		153,767		122,671
Earnings before income taxes		17,422		17,520
Income tax expense		4,777		5,992
Net earnings	$	12,645		11,528
Earnings per share:
Basic - Net earnings	$	0.49		0.45
Diluted - Net earnings	$	0.49		0.44

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Nine Months Ended  June 30,
	2017			2016
Net sales	$	478,735			411,954
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales		307,149			254,769
Selling, general and administrative expenses		107,104			97,189
Amortization of intangible assets		11,548			8,540
Interest expense, net		2,752			917
Other (income) expenses, net		(184	)		6,436
Total costs and expenses		428,369			367,851
Earnings before income taxes		50,366			44,103
Income tax expense		15,837			15,136
Net earnings	$	34,529			28,967
Earnings per share:
Basic - Net earnings	$	1.34			1.12
Diluted - Net earnings	$	1.33			1.12

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2017		2016			2017			2016
Net earnings	$	12,645		11,528			34,529			28,967
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		4,796		(1,930	)		2,981			(1,730	)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments		81		(211	)		(23	)		(129	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		4,877		(2,141	)		2,958			(1,859	)
Comprehensive income	$	17,522		9,387			37,487			27,108

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

4

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

	June 30, 2017			September 30, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	48,521			53,825
Accounts receivable, net		135,545			121,486
Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, less progress billings of $59,100 and $31,129, respectively		44,753			28,746
Inventories		130,828			105,542
Other current assets		20,980			13,884
Total current assets		380,627			323,483
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $96,510 and $84,454, respectively		130,419			92,405
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $69,103 and $56,955, respectively		328,545			231,759
Goodwill		365,965			323,616
Other assets		5,901			7,108
Total assets	$	1,211,457			978,371
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	20,000			20,000
Accounts payable		48,555			42,074
Advance payments on long-term contracts, less costs incurred of $48,114 and $35,266, respectively		22,089			16,187
Accrued salaries		24,797			28,769
Current portion of deferred revenue		31,881			27,212
Accrued other expenses		28,257			23,834
Total current liabilities		175,579			158,076
Pension obligations		38,677			39,842
Deferred tax liabilities		84,184			69,562
Other liabilities		23,428			5,782
Long-term debt		245,000			90,000
Total liabilities		566,868			363,262
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares		–			–
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 30,468,824 and 30,364,183 shares, respectively		305			304
Additional paid-in capital		288,623			290,588
Retained earnings		499,611			471,272
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax		(36,325	)		(39,283	)
		752,214			722,881
Less treasury stock, at cost: 4,638,322 and 4,647,322 common shares, respectively		(107,625	)		(107,772	)
Total shareholders’ equity		644,589			615,109
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	1,211,457			978,371

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

5

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2017			2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$	34,529			28,967
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		23,023			17,209
Stock compensation expense		4,130			3,652
Changes in assets and liabilities		(24,977	)		(21,106	)
Effect of deferred taxes		(577	)		1,141
Change in deferred revenue and costs, net		4,863			3,029
Pension contributions		(2,317	)		-
Other		(5,202	)		350
Net cash provided by operating activities		33,472			33,242
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash  acquired		(162,268	)		(41,308	)
Additions to capitalized software		(6,213	)		(6,257	)
Capital expenditures		(23,055	)		(7,812	)
Proceeds from sale of land		1,184			-
Proceeds from life insurance		2,307			-
Net cash used by investing activities		(188,045	)		(55,377	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt		213,000			81,458
Principal payments on long-term debt		(58,000	)		(45,000	)
Dividends paid		(6,190	)		(6,191	)
Purchases of common stock into treasury		-			(4,303	)
Debt issuance costs		-			(1,037	)
Other		(21	)		(123	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		148,789			24,804
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		480			(1,538	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(5,304	)		1,131
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		53,825			39,411
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	48,521			40,542
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	2,404			908
Income taxes paid (including state and foreign)		20,421			15,820

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

6

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures required for annual financial statements by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

The Company’s results for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire 2017 fiscal year. References to the third quarters of 2017 and 2016 represent the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

2. ACQUISITIONS

On May 25, 2017, the Company acquired the assets of Morgan Schaffer Inc. (Morgan Schaffer), a global utilities provider located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for a purchase price of $48.8 million in cash. Morgan Schaffer, founded in 1965, has annualized sales of approximately $25 million. Morgan Schaffer designs, develops, manufactures and markets an integrated offering of dissolved gas analysis, oil testing, and data management solutions which enhance the ability of electric utilities to accurately monitor the health of critical power transformers. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for Morgan Schaffer have been included in the Company’s Utilities Solution Group (USG) segment. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $2.5 million of accounts receivable, $5.2 million of inventory, $1.7 million of property, plant and equipment, $0.4 million of other assets, $3.8 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $4.8 million of goodwill, $34.6 million of trade names and $3.4 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationships and developed technology with a weighted average life of approximately 10 years.

On May 8, 2017, the Company acquired NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG), doing business as Renewable NRG Systems, located in Hinesburg, Vermont, for a purchase price of $38.6 million, less cash acquired. NRG, founded in 1982, is the global market leader in the design and manufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind. NRG has annualized sales of approximately $45 million. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for NRG have been included in the Company’s USG segment. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $1.5 million of cash, $4.1 million of accounts receivable, $5.1 million of inventory, $1.0 million of other assets, $9.4 million of property, plant and equipment (including a capital lease), $4.1 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $9.7 million of lease liability, $7.5 million of goodwill, $8.1 million of trade names and $17.2 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationships with a weighted average life of approximately 14 years.

On November 7, 2016, the Company acquired aerospace suppliers Mayday Manufacturing Co. and its affiliate, Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. (collectively referred to as Mayday), which share a 130,000 square foot facility in Denton, Texas, for a purchase price of $75 million in cash.  Mayday Manufacturing Co. is a manufacturer of mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industry.  Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. is a full-service metal processor offering aerospace OEM’s, Tier 1 suppliers, a large portfolio of processing services including anodizing, cadmium and zinc-nickel plating, organic coatings, non-destructive testing, and heat treatment.  Mayday has annual sales of approximately $40 million. Since the date of acquisition the consolidated operating results for Mayday have been included in the Company’s Filtration segment.  Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $7.4 million of accounts receivable, $11.0 million of inventory, $16.6 million of property, plant and equipment (including a capital lease), $9.5 million of lease liability, $15.7 million of deferred tax liabilities, $30.1 million of goodwill (non-deductible for tax purposes), $4.8 million of trade names and $32.8 million of amortizable identifiable intangible assets consisting primarily of customer relationships with a weighted-average life of approximately 20 years.

3. EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

Basic EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive common share options and vesting of performance-accelerated restricted shares (restricted shares) by using the treasury stock method. The number of shares used in the calculation of earnings per share for each period presented is as follows (in thousands):

7

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Nine Months  Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		25,815		25,725		25,756		25,777
Dilutive Options and Restricted Shares		210		185		219		185
Adjusted Shares - Diluted		26,025		25,910		25,975		25,962

4. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company provides compensation benefits to certain key employees under several share-based plans providing for performance-accelerated restricted shares (restricted shares), and to non-employee directors under a non-employee directors compensation plan.

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Share Awards

Compensation expense related to the restricted share awards was $1.0 million and $3.3 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.8 million and $3.1 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. There were 335,825 non-vested shares outstanding as of June 30, 2017.

Non-Employee Directors Plan

Compensation expense related to the non-employee director grants was $0.3 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the corresponding periods of 2016.

The total share-based compensation cost that has been recognized in the results of operations and included within selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) was $1.3 million and $4.1 million for the three-and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $1.0 million and $3.7 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. The total income tax benefit recognized in results of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $1.2 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.3 million for the corresponding periods of 2016, respectively. As of June 30, 2017, there was $7.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

5. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:

(In thousands)	June 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Finished goods	$	28,559		19,451
Work in process		46,178		37,922
Raw materials		56,091		48,169
Total inventories	$	130,828		105,542

8

6. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are the following intangible assets gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization:

(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Goodwill	$	365,965		323,616
Intangible assets with determinable lives:
Patents
Gross carrying amount	$	927		917
Less: accumulated amortization		742		726
Net	$	185		191
Capitalized software
Gross carrying amount	$	60,216		54,003
Less: accumulated amortization		32,136		26,737
Net	$	28,080		27,266
Customer relationships
Gross carrying amount	$	163,331		111,887
Less: accumulated amortization		35,005		28,633
Net	$	128,325		83,254
Other
Gross carrying amount	$	5,255		2,777
Less: accumulated amortization		1,220		859
Net	$	4,035		1,918
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	$	167,920		119,128

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

(Dollars in millions)	USG		Test		Filtration			Packaging		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2016		226.2		34.1		43.9			19.4		323.6
Acquisition activity		12.3		-		30.1			-		42.4
Foreign currency translation and other		0.2		-		(0.5	)		0.3		-
Balance as of June 30, 2017	$	238.7		34.1		73.5			19.7		366.0

7. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company is organized based on the products and services that it offers, and classifies its business operations in four segments for financial reporting purposes: Filtration/Fluid Flow (Filtration), RF Shielding and Test (Test), Utility Solutions Group (USG) and Technical Packaging. The Filtration segment’s operations consist of PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI), VACCO Industries (VACCO), Crissair, Inc. (Crissair), Westland Technologies Inc. (Westland), and Mayday. The companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements used in commercial aerospace applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites and custom designed filters for manned and unmanned aircraft; manufacture elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for the U.S. Navy; and manufacture landing gear components for the aerospace and defense industry. The Test segment’s operations consist primarily of ETS-Lindgren Inc. (ETS-Lindgren). ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in providing its customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. The USG segment’s operations consist primarily of Doble Engineering Company (Doble), Morgan Schaffer, and NRG. Doble provides high-end, intelligent diagnostic test solutions for the electric power delivery industry and is a leading supplier of partial discharge testing instruments used to assess the integrity of high voltage power delivery equipment. Morgan Schaffer provides an integrated offering of dissolved gas analysis, oil testing, and data management solutions for the electric power industry. NRG designs and manufactures decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind. The Technical Packaging segment’s operations consist of Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC (TEQ) and Plastique Limited and Plastique Sp. zoo (together, Plastique). The companies within this segment provide innovative solutions to the medical and commercial markets for thermoformed packages and specialty products using a wide variety of thin gauge plastics and pulp.

9

Management evaluates and measures the performance of its reportable segments based on “Net Sales” and “EBIT”, which are detailed in the table below. EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and taxes.

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30,						Nine Months Ended June 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
NET SALES
Filtration	$	71,179			54,396			198,869			145,758
Test		37,544			36,234			109,738			119,608
USG		42,059			29,121			110,287			93,657
Technical Packaging		20,407			20,440			59,841			52,931
Consolidated totals	$	171,189			140,191			478,735			411,954
EBIT
Filtration	$	11,945			12,163			34,296			29,511
Test		4,885			3,744			11,076			8,587
USG		8,477			6,124			25,585			21,581
Technical Packaging		2,433			2,474			5,660			7,035
Corporate (loss)		(9,105	)		(6,665	)		(23,499	)		(21,694	)
Consolidated EBIT		18,635			17,840			53,118			45,020
Less: Interest expense, net		(1,213	)		(320	)		(2,752	)		(917	)
Earnings before income taxes	$	17,422			17,520			50,366			44,103

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial measure “EBIT” is presented in the above table and elsewhere in this Report. EBIT on a consolidated basis is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that EBIT is useful in assessing the operational profitability of the Company’s business segments because it excludes interest and taxes, which are generally accounted for across the entire Company on a consolidated basis. EBIT is also one of the measures used by management in determining resource allocations within the Company as well as incentive compensation. A reconciliation of EBIT to net earnings is set forth in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – EBIT.

The Company believes that the presentation of EBIT provides important supplemental information to investors to facilitate comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. However, the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies’ non-GAAP financial performance measures. Furthermore, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

10

8. DEBT

The Company’s debt is summarized as follows:

(In thousands)	June 30, 2017			September 30, 2016
Total borrowings	$	265,000			110,000
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt		(20,000	)		(20,000	)
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	245,000			90,000

The Company’s existing credit facility (“the Credit Facility”) matures December 21, 2020. The Credit Facility includes a $450 million revolving line of credit as well as provisions allowing for the increase of the facility commitment amount by an additional $250 million, if necessary, with the consent of the lenders. The bank syndication supporting the facility is comprised of a diverse group of nine banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

At June 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $178 million available to borrow under the Credit Facility, and a $250 million increase option, in addition to $48.5 million cash on hand. At June 30, 2017, the Company had $265 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility in addition to outstanding letters of credit of $7.2 million. The Company classified $20.0 million as the current portion of long-term debt as of June 30, 2017, as the Company intends to repay this amount within the next twelve month period; however, the Company has no contractual obligation to repay such amount during the next twelve month period.

The Credit Facility requires, as determined by certain financial ratios, a facility fee ranging from 12.5 to 27.5 basis points per year on the unused portion. The terms of the facility provide that interest on borrowings may be calculated at a spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or based on the prime rate, at the Company’s election. The facility is secured by the unlimited guaranty of the Company’s material domestic subsidiaries and a 65% pledge of the material foreign subsidiaries’ share equity. The financial covenants of the Credit Facility include a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio. The weighted average interest rates were 2.11% and 1.90% for the three and nine-month periods ending June 30, 2017, respectively, and 1.50% and 1.58% for the corresponding periods of 2016. At June 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

9. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

The third quarter 2017 effective income tax rate was 27.4% compared to 34.2% in the third quarter of 2016. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2017 was 31.4% compared to 34.3% for the first nine months of 2016. The Company elected to early adopt Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the quarter decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by a U.K. foreign valuation allowance that increased the year-to-date effective tax rate by1.5%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was favorably impacted by the extension of the research credit as a result of The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act reducing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.8%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by return to provision true-ups increasing the third quarter and year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively. The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by losses in foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefit was recorded, increasing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.7%.

10. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The change in shareholders’ equity for the first nine months of 2017 is shown below (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2016	$	615,109
Net earnings		34,529
Other comprehensive income		2,958
Cash dividends		(6,190	)
Stock compensation plans		(1,817	)
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	644,589

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11. RETIREMENT PLANS

A summary of net periodic benefit expense for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is shown in the following table. Net periodic benefit cost for each period presented is comprised of the following:

	Three Months Ended June 30,						Nine Months  Ended June 30,
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Defined benefit plans
Interest cost	$	737			963			2,438			2,888
Expected return on assets		(942	)		(1,093	)		(2,978	)		(3,280	)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost		-			3			3			10
Actuarial loss		683			486			1,871			1,459
Net periodic benefit cost	$	478			359			1,334			1,077

12. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and selectively uses derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. During 2016, the Company entered into several forward contracts to purchase pounds sterling (GBP) to hedge two deferred payments due in connection with the acquisition of Plastique. In addition, our Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk as a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company expects hedging gains or losses to be essentially offset by losses or gains on the related underlying exposures. All derivative instruments are reported in either accrued expenses or other receivables on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item.

The following is a summary of the notional transaction amounts and fair values for the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instruments by risk category and instrument type as of June 30, 2017:

(In thousands)	Notional amount			Fair  Value (US$)
Forward contracts		1,859	GBP		(238	)
Forward contracts		4,750	USD		64
Forward contracts		500	EUR		(14	)

13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:

· Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

· Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

· Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, inventories, payables, debt and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s forward contracts are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 825, as presented below as of June 30, 2017:

(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Forward contracts	$	-		(188	)	$	-		(188	)

Valuation was based on third party evidence of similarly priced derivative instruments.

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as property, plant and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. No impairments were recorded during the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017.

14. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures and classification on the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. The Company adopted this standard in the current year resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the third quarter of 2017 decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-062, Leases (Topic 842), which, among other things, requires an entity to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. This standard will increase an entities’ reported assets and liabilities. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and mandates a modified retrospective transition period for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance has been further clarified and amended. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and selecting the method of transition to the new standard.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

References to the third quarters of 2017 and 2016 represent the three-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

OVERVIEW

In the third quarter of 2017, sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share were $171.2 million, $12.6 million and $0.49 per share, respectively, compared to $140.2 million, $11.5 million and $0.44 per share, respectively, in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, sales, net earnings and diluted earnings per share were $478.7 million, $34.5 million and $1.33, respectively, compared to $412.0 million, $29.0 million and $1.12 per share, respectively, in the first nine months of 2016.

NET SALES

Net sales increased $31.0 million, or 22.1%, to $171.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 from $140.2 million in the third quarter of 2016. Net sales increased $66.7 million, or 16.2%, to $478.7 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $412.0 million in the first nine months of 2016. The increase in net sales in the third quarter of 2017 as compared to the third quarter of 2016 was due to a $16.8 million increase in the Filtration segment, a $12.9 million increase in the USG segment and a $1.3 million increase in the Test segment. The increase in net sales in the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the first nine months of 2016 was due to a to a $53.1 million increase in the Filtration segment, a $16.6 million increase in the USG segment and a $6.9 million increase in the Technical Packaging segment, partially offset by a $9.9 million decrease in the Test segment.

-Filtration

In the third quarter of 2017, net sales of $71.2 million were $16.8 million, or 30.9%, higher than the $54.4 million in the third quarter of 2016. Net sales increased $53.1 million, or 36.4%, to $198.9 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $145.8 million in the first nine months of 2016. The sales increase in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was mainly due to the sales contributions from the Company’s recent acquisitions of Westland ($5.5 million) and Mayday ($11.4 million); and a $2.5 million increase in net sales at VACCO due to higher shipments of its space and defense products, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in sales at PTI due to lower aerospace assembly shipments and a $1.0 million decrease in sales at Crissair due to lower aerospace shipments. The sales increase in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 was primarily due to the sales contributions from the Company’s recent acquisitions of Westland ($17.6 million) and Mayday ($27.9 million); and a $9.2 million increase in net sales at VACCO due to higher shipments of its space and defense products, partially offset by a $2.9 million decrease in sales at Crissair due to lower aerospace shipments.  

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-Test

In the third quarter of 2017, net sales of $37.5 million were $1.3 million, or 3.6%, higher than the $36.2 million recorded in the third quarter of 2016. Net sales decreased $9.9 million, or 8.3%, to $109.7 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $119.6 million in the first nine months of 2016. The increase in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was primarily due to higher sales from the segment’s U.S. operations due to the timing of test and measurement chamber projects. The decrease in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 was mainly due to a decrease in net sales from the segment’s European and U.S. operations primarily related to the timing of projects and lower sales volumes of domestic shielding products.

-Utility Solutions Group (USG)

Net sales increased $12.9 million, or 44.4%, to $42.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 from $29.1 million in the third quarter of 2016. Net sales increased $16.6 million, or 17.8%, to $110.3 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $93.7 million in the first nine months of 2016. The increase in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was mainly driven by the $8.7 million sales contribution from the NRG and Morgan Schaffer acquisitions and new products and software solutions at Doble.

-Technical Packaging

In the third quarters of 2017 and 2016, net sales were $20.4 million, respectively. Net sales increased $6.9 million, or 13.1%, to $59.8 million in the first nine months of 2017 from $52.9 million in the first nine months of 2016. The increase in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 was mainly due to the $8.9 million sales contribution from Plastique which was acquired in January 2016 partially offset by a $2.0 million decrease in net sales from TEQ due to lower shipments to medical customers.

ORDERS AND BACKLOG

Backlog was $385.6 million at June 30, 2017 compared with $332.4 million at September 30, 2016. The Company received new orders totaling $182.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to $125.1 million in the third quarter of 2016. Of the new orders received in the third quarter of 2017, $77.6 million related to Filtration products, $38.0 million related to Test products, $46.3 million related to USG products, and $20.3 million related to Technical Packaging products. Of the new orders received in the third quarter of 2016, $44.9 million related to Filtration products, $34.8 million related to Test products, $27.7 million related to USG products, and $17.7 million related to Technical Packaging products

The Company received new orders totaling $532.0 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to $397.7 million in the first nine months of 2016. Of the new orders received in the first nine months of 2017, $207.1 million related to Filtration products, $138.3 million related to Test products, $118.9 million related to USG products, and $67.7 million related to Technical Packaging products. Of the new orders received in the first nine months of 2016, $143.9 million related to Filtration products, $108.4 million related to Test products, $88.0 million related to USG products, and $57.4 million related to Technical Packaging products.

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the third quarter of 2017 were $38.5 million (22.5% of net sales), compared with $31.4 million (22.4% of net sales) for the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, SG&A expenses were $107.1 million (22.4% of net sales) compared to $97.2 million (23.6% of net sales) for the first nine months of 2016. The increase in SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was mainly due to an increase in the Filtration and USG segments due to the Company’s recent acquisitions (Westland, Mayday, NRG and Morgan Schaffer), additional sales and marketing expenses at Doble and higher professional fees at Corporate related to M&A activities. The increase in SG&A in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 was mainly due to an increase in SG&A expenses in the Filtration, USG and Technical Packaging segments due to the Company’s recent acquisitions and additional sales and marketing expenses at Doble partially offset by a decrease in SG&A expenses in the Test segment (as a result of the 2016 restructuring activities), and lower professional fees at Corporate.

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AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Amortization of intangible assets was $4.1 million and $11.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to $3.0 million and $8.5 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. Amortization expenses consist of amortization of acquired intangible assets from acquisitions and other identifiable intangible assets (primarily software). The increase in amortization expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was mainly due to an increase in amortization of intangibles related to the Morgan Schaffer, NRG, Westland, and Mayday acquisitions.

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSES, NET

Other expenses, net, were $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared to other expenses, net, of $1.4 million in the third quarter of 2016. Other income, net, was $0.2 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to other expenses, net, of $6.4 million in the first nine months of 2016. The principal component in other income, net, in the first nine months of 2017 was $0.4 million of income related to death benefit insurance proceeds from a former employee. The principal components in other expenses, net, in the first nine months of 2016 were $4.5 million of restructuring costs related to the Test segment and $1.9 million of costs related to the USG segment restructuring activities.

EBIT

The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on EBIT, and provides EBIT on a consolidated basis, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Please refer to the discussion of non-GAAP financial measures in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, above. EBIT was $18.6 million (10.9% of net sales) for the third quarter of 2017 compared to $17.8 million (12.7% of net sales) for the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, EBIT was $53.1 million (11.1% of net sales) compared to $45.0 million (10.9% of net sales) for the first nine months of 2016.

The following table presents a reconciliation of EBIT to net earnings.

(In thousands)	Three Months Ended  June 30,						Nine Months Ended  June 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Consolidated EBIT	$	18,635			17,840			53,118			45,020
Less: Interest expense, net		(1,213	)		(320	)		(2,752	)		(917	)
Less: Income tax expense		(4,777	)		(5,992	)		(15,837	)		(15,136	)
Net earnings	$	12,645			11,528			34,529			28,967

-Filtration

EBIT in the third quarter of 2017 was $11.9 million (16.8% of net sales) compared to $12.2 million (22.4% of net sales) in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, EBIT was $34.3 million (17.2% of net sales) compared to $29.5 million (20.2% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2016. The decrease in EBIT dollars and as a percent of net sales in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 was mainly due to lower sales volumes at PTI and engineering and development cost growth on certain fixed price development contracts at VACCO. The increase in EBIT in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 was mainly due to the EBIT contribution from the Westland and Mayday acquisitions and an increase at PTI. EBIT as a percent of net sales decreased in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the respective 2016 period mainly due to the purchase accounting inventory step-up charge at Mayday of $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2017.

-Test

EBIT in the third quarter of 2017 was $4.9 million (13.0% of net sales) compared to $3.7 million (10.3% of net sales) in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, EBIT was $11.1 million (10.1% of net sales) compared to $8.6 million (7.2% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2016. EBIT increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 primarily due to the $4.7 million of restructuring charges incurred in the first nine months of 2016 related to closing the Test business operating facilities in Germany and England, consisting mainly of employee severance and compensation benefits, professional fees, and asset impairment charges.

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-Utility Solutions Group

EBIT in the third quarter of 2017 was $8.5 million (20.2% of net sales) compared to $6.1 million (21.0% of net sales) in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, EBIT was $25.6 million (23.2% of net sales) compared to EBIT of $21.6 million (23.0% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2016. The increase in EBIT in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was mainly due to higher sales volumes and additional contribution from new products and software solutions, as well as the EBIT contribution from NRG (May 8, 2017 acquisition) and Morgan Schaffer (May 25, 2017 acquisition). EBIT as a percent of net sales decreased in the third quarter compared to the third quarter of 2016 mainly due to the purchase accounting inventory step-up charges at NRG and Morgan Schafer totaling $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2017. EBIT as a percent of net sales increased in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016 mainly due to the increase in margins on new products and software solutions at Doble.

-Technical Packaging

EBIT in the third quarter of 2017 was $2.4 million (11.9% of net sales) compared to $2.5 million (12.1% of net sales) in the third quarter of 2016. In the first nine months of 2017, EBIT was $5.7 million (9.5% of net sales) compared to $7.0 million (13.3% of net sales) in the first nine months of 2016. The decrease in EBIT in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was mainly due to higher SG&A expense at Plastique.

-Corporate

Corporate costs included in EBIT were $9.1 million and $23.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to $6.7 million and $21.7 million in the corresponding periods of 2016. The increase in Corporate costs in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was primarily due to higher acquisition costs, including professional fees, and an increase in amortization of intangible assets related to the recent acquisitions.

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

Interest expense was $1.2 million and $2.8 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.9 million in the corresponding periods of 2016. The increase in interest expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the corresponding periods of 2016 was mainly due to higher outstanding borrowings during the current year as a result of the Company’s recent acquisitions (Morgan Schaffer, NRG, Mayday and Westland).

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

The third quarter 2017 effective income tax rate was 27.4% compared to 34.2% in the third quarter of 2016. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2017 was 31.4% compared to 34.3% for the first nine months of 2016. The Company elected to early adopt Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the quarter decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by a U.K. foreign valuation allowance that increased the year-to-date effective tax rate by1.5%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was favorably impacted by the extension of the research credit as a result of The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act reducing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.8%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by return to provision true-ups increasing the third quarter and year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively. The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by losses in foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefit was recorded, increasing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.7%.

The Company estimates the fiscal 2017 effective tax rate will be approximately 33%. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2017, there were no material changes in the unrecognized tax benefits. The Company does not anticipate a material change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months.

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries had accumulated unremitted earnings of $50.4 million and cash of $38.2 million at June 30, 2017. No deferred taxes have been provided on the accumulated unremitted earnings because these funds are not needed to meet the liquidity requirements of the Company’s U.S. operations and it is the Company’s intention to reinvest these earnings indefinitely. In the event these foreign entities’ earnings were distributed, it is estimated that U.S. taxes, net of available foreign tax credits, of approximately $8.8 million would be due, which would correspondingly reduce the Company’s net earnings.

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CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

The Company’s overall financial position and liquidity remains strong. Working capital (current assets less current liabilities) increased to $205.0 million at June 30, 2017 from $165.4 million at September 30, 2016. Inventories increased by $25.3 million during this period mainly due to a $12.6 million increase within the Filtration segment primarily related to the acquisition of Mayday in the first quarter of 2017 and a $9.5 million increase within the USG segment related to the acquisitions of NRG and Morgan Schaffer. Accounts receivable increased $14.1 million mainly related to the acquisitions of Mayday, NRG and Morgan Schaffer. Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on long-term contracts increased $16.0 million in the first nine months of 2017 due to ETS ($9.9 million) and VACCO ($6.1 million).

Net cash provided by operating activities was $33.5 million and $33.2 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2017 as compared to the first nine months of 2016 was mainly due to higher net earnings.

Capital expenditures were $23.1 million and $7.8 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in the first nine months of 2017 was mainly due to an increase in machinery and equipment additions at Plastique ($4.8 million) and VACCO ($3.2 million). In addition, the Company incurred expenditures for capitalized software of $6.2 million and $6.3 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Credit Facility

At June 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $178 million available to borrow under its Credit Facility, a $250 million increase option, and $48.5 million cash on hand. At June 30, 2017, the Company had $265.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility in addition to outstanding letters of credit of $7.2 million. Cash flow from operations and borrowings under the Company’s Credit Facility are expected to meet the Company’s capital requirements and operational needs for the foreseeable future. The Company’s ability to access the additional $250 million increase option of the facility is subject to acceptance by participating or other outside banks.

Acquisitions

On May 25, 2017, the Company acquired the assets of Morgan Schaffer, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for a purchase price of $48.8 million in cash. Since the date of acquisition the consolidated operating results for Morgan Schaffer have been included in the Company’s USG segment.

On May 8, 2017, the Company acquired NRG, located in Hinesburg, Vermont, for a purchase price of $38.6 million, less cash acquired. Since the date of acquisition the consolidated operating results for NRG have been included in the Company’s USG segment.

On November 7, 2016, the Company acquired aerospace supplier Mayday, located in Denton, Texas, for a purchase price of $75 million in cash. Since the date of acquisition the consolidated operating results for Mayday have been included in the Company’s Filtration segment.

New Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures and classification on the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. The Company adopted this standard in the current year resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the third quarter of 2017, decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-062, Leases (Topic 842), which, among other things, requires an entity to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. This standard will increase an entities’ reported assets and liabilities. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and mandates a modified retrospective transition period for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance has been further clarified and amended. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and selecting the method of transition to the new standard.

Dividends

A dividend of $0.08 per share, totaling $2.1 million, was paid on April 18, 2017 to stockholders of record as of April 3, 2017. Following the end of the third quarter, the quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, or $2.1 million, was paid on July 19, 2017 to stockholders of record as of July 5, 2017.

OUTLOOK

Given the 2017 financial contributions from the Westland, Mayday, NRG and Morgan Schaffer acquisitions, as well as the significant costs incurred in the execution of these acquisitions, and considering both operational and non-cash purchase accounting items, the current outlook for 2017 compared to the original guidance is updated as follows: Management projects 2017 GAAP EPS to be in the range of $2.05 to $2.10 per share, reflecting the profit contributions from the recent acquisitions, offset by the costs of the acquisitions, the impact of the purchase accounting inventory step-up charges, the impact of additional depreciation and amortization, and customer-driven program pushouts from 2017 to 2018.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Management has evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and related notes and believes those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. Certain of these accounting policies require the application of significant judgment by Management in selecting appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These judgments are based on historical experience, trends in the industry, information provided by customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. The most significant areas involving Management judgments and estimates may be found in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

OTHER MATTERS

Contingencies

As a normal incident of the business in which the Company is engaged, various claims, charges and litigation are asserted or commenced against the Company. Additionally, the Company is currently involved in various stages of investigation and remediation relating to environmental matters. In the opinion of Management, the aggregate costs involved in the resolution of these matters, and final judgments, if any, which might be rendered against the Company, are adequately reserved, are covered by insurance, or would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results from operations, capital expenditures, or competitive position.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this Form 10-Q regarding future events and the Company’s future results that reflect or are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections or assumptions about the Company’s performance and the industries in which the Company operates are considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Federal securities laws. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, statements about: the amount and timing of future sales, revenues, cash flows and EPS; the adequacy of the Company’s credit facility and the Company’s ability to increase it; the outcome of current litigation, claims and charges; continued reinvestment of foreign earnings and U.S. income tax liabilities in the event that foreign earnings were distributed; future income tax liabilities and effective tax rate; timing of the repayment of the current portion of the Company’s long-term debt; changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits; the recognition and timing of costs related to share-based compensation arrangements; returns on retirement plan assets; estimates or projections made in connection with the Company’s accounting policies; market risks relating to the Company’s operations and changes in interest rates and the Company’s ability to hedge against or otherwise manage them through the use of derivative financial instruments; and any other statements contained herein which are not strictly historical. Words such as expects, anticipates, targets, goals, projects, intends, plans, believes, estimates, variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this Form 10-Q, and the Company undertakes no duty to update them except as may be required by applicable laws or regulations. The Company’s actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment, including but not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016, and the following: the impacts of natural disasters on the Company’s operations and those of the Company’s customers and suppliers; the timing and content of future contract awards or customer orders; the appropriation, allocation and availability of Government funds; the termination for convenience of Government and other customer contracts or orders; financial exposure in connection with Company guarantees of certain Aclara contracts; weakening of economic conditions in served markets; the success of the Company’s competitors; changes in customer demands or customer insolvencies; competition; intellectual property rights; technical difficulties; the availability of select acquisitions; delivery delays or defaults by customers; performance issues with key customers, suppliers and subcontractors; material changes in the costs and availability of certain raw materials; labor disputes; changes in laws and regulations including but not limited to changes in accounting standards and taxation requirements; changes in interest rates; costs relating to environmental matters arising from current or former facilities; uncertainty regarding the ultimate resolution of current disputes, claims, litigation or arbitration; and the integration of recently acquired businesses.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and selectively uses derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. During 2016, the Company entered into several forward contracts to purchase pounds sterling to hedge two deferred payments due in connection with the acquisition of Plastique. In addition, our Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk as a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. All derivative instruments are reported on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the respective derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item. There has been no material change to the Company’s market risks since September 30, 2016. See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of this Report for a summary of the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instruments as of June 30, 2017. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 for further discussion about market risk.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of that date. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number
3.1(a)	Restated Articles of Incorporation	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999 (File No. 1-10596)
3.1(b)	Amended Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Registrant	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2000 (File No. 1-10596)
3.1(c)	Articles of Merger effective July 10, 2000	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(c) to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2000 (File No. 1-10596)
3.2	Bylaws	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to Form 8-K filed May 7, 2014 (File No. 1-10596)
4.1	Specimen revised Common Stock Certificate	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010 (File No. 1-10596)
4.2	Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2015 among the Registrant, the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, and Bank of America, N.A., BMO Harris Bank, N.A., SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Co-Documentation Agents	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K dated December 23, 2015 (File No. 1-10596)
4.3	Amendment No. 1 to December 21, 2015 Credit Agreement, effective September 30, 2016	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 (File No. 1-10596)
4.4	Amendment No. 2 to December 21, 2015 Credit Agreement, effective May 15, 2017	Filed herewith
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer relating to Form 10-Q for period ended June 30, 2017	Filed herewith
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer relating to Form 10-Q for period ended June 30, 2017	Filed herewith
32	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer relating to Form 10-Q for period ended June 30, 2017	Filed herewith
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document*	Submitted herewith
101.SCH	XBRL Schema Document*	Submitted herewith
101.CAL	XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document*	Submitted herewith
101.DEF	XBRL Definition Linkbase Document*	Submitted herewith
101.LAB	XBRL Label Linkbase Document*	Submitted herewith
101.PRE	XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document*	Submitted herewith

* Exhibit 101 to this report consists of documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). The financial information contained in the XBRL – related documents is “unaudited” or “unreviewed”.

20

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.

/s/ Gary E. Muenster

Gary E. Muenster

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(As duly authorized officer and principal accounting and financial officer of the registrant)

Dated: August 8, 2017

21

EX-4.4

EXHIBIT 4.4

AMENDMENT NO. 2

Dated as of May 15, 2017

to

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of December 21, 2015

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 (this “Amendment”) is made as of May 15, 2017 by and among ESCO Technologies Inc., a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), ESCO UK Holding Company I Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (together with the Company, the “Borrowers”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent’), under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2015 by and among the Company, the Borrowers, the other Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 30, 2016, the “Credit Agreement”; the Credit Agreement, as further amended by this Amendment, the “Amended Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Amended Credit Agreement.

WHEREAS, the parties hereto have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, the terms and conditions contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent hereby agree to enter into this Amendment.

1.             Amendments to the Credit Agreement. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3 below, effective as of the date hereof, the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:

(a)           Section 6.04(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

(d)          (i) Investments made by the Company in or to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary in or to the Company or any other Subsidiary (provided, except as provided in clause (f) below, that the amount of Investments that may be made and remain outstanding, at any time, by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties, shall not exceed the greater of (x) $50,000,000 or (y) 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets, determined as of the most recent date for which the Company’s Financials have been delivered under Section 5.01(or, if prior to the date of the first financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a)); and

(ii)        Investments in the form of intercompany loans made by a Loan Party to one or more Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 (provided that the proceeds of such intercompany loans shall be used exclusively to directly or indirectly (A) fund the purchase price for that certain Acquisition (which shall be a Permitted Acquisition) by 9359-6138 Québec inc., a newly-formed Subsidiary, of assets that comprise the Canadian operations of Morgan Schaffer Inc., and (B) to provide working capital for 9359-6138 Québec inc.

2.             Conditions of Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a)           The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) from each Borrower and the Administrative Agent a duly executed counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party and (ii) from each Subsidiary Guarantor a duly executed counterpart of the Consent and Reaffirmation attached hereto.

(b)           The Administrative Agent shall have received payment of the Administrative Agent’s and its affiliates’ reasonably incurred and properly documented fees and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses of counsels for the Administrative Agent) in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents, to the extent invoiced prior to the execution of this Amendment.

3.             Representations and Warranties of the Borrowers. Each Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a)           This Amendment and the Amended Credit Agreement constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, reconstruction, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and except to the extent that availability of the remedy of specific performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(b)           As of the date hereof and after giving effect to the terms of this Amendment, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in the Amended Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect); provided that any such representation or warranty that by its express terms is made as of a specific date is true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects if such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of such specific date.

4.             Reference to and Effect on the Credit Agreement.

(a)           Upon the effectiveness hereof, each reference to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

(b)           The Credit Agreement and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith, and the Obligations shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

(c)           Except with respect to the subject matter hereof, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement or any other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith.

(d)           This Amendment is a Loan Document.

5.             Governing Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

6.             Headings. Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

7.             Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by facsimile or PDF shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures delivered in person.

[Signature Pages Follow]

2

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC.,
as a Borrower
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name: Gary E. Muenster
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
ESCO UK HOLDING COMPANY I LTD.,
as a Borrower
By:	/s/ Alyson S. Barclay
Name: Alyson S. Barclay
Title: Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By:	/s/ Christopher A. Salek
Name: Christopher A. Salek
Title: Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Eric A. Escagne
Name: Eric A. Escagne
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.,
Individually as a Lender and as a Co-Documentation Agent
By:	/s/ Paul Chapman
Name: Paul Chapman
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

SunTrust Bank,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Shannon Offen
Name: Shannon Offen
Title: Director

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

WELLS FARGO BANK, NA,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Kelli L. Gilliam
Name: Kelli L. Gilliam
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

Commerce Bank,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ T. William White
Name: T. William White
Title: Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Marcel Fournier
Name: Marcel Fournier
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Caleb A. Shapkoff
Name: Caleb A. Shapkoff
Title: Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By:	/s/ Edward B. Hanson
Name: Edward B. Hanson
Title: Senior Vice President

Signature Page to Amendment No. 2 to

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

CONSENT AND REAFFIRMATION

Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the foregoing Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”) by and among ESCO Technologies Inc. (the “Company”), ESCO UK Holding Company I Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, the other Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time party thereto, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”), which Amendment No. 2 is dated as of May 15, 2017 and is among the Borrowers, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent (the “Amendment”). Capitalized terms used in this Consent and Reaffirmation and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. Without in any way establishing a course of dealing by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, each of the undersigned consents to the Amendment and reaffirms the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by it and acknowledges and agrees that such Credit Agreement and each and every such Loan Document executed by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement, and all Obligations of the undersigned thereunder, remain in full force and effect and is hereby reaffirmed, ratified and confirmed. All references to the Credit Agreement contained in the above-referenced documents shall be a reference to the Credit Agreement as so modified by the Amendment.

Dated: May 15, 2017

[Signature Page Follows]

CRISSAIR, INC.
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President
DOBLE ENGINEERING COMPANY
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President
ETS-LINDGREN INC.
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President
ESCO TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING LLC
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
PTI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President
THERMOFORM ENGINEERED QUALITY LLC
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President
VACCO INDUSTRIES
By:	/s/ Gary E. Muenster
Name:  Gary E. Muenster
Title:  Vice President

Signature Page to Consent and Reaffirmation to
Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

ESCO Technologies Inc.

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Victor L. Richey, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ESCO Technologies Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2017

/s/ Victor L. Richey

Victor L. Richey

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Gary E. Muenster, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ESCO Technologies Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 8, 2017

/s/ Gary E. Muenster

Gary E. Muenster

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report of ESCO Technologies Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), we, Victor L. Richey, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and Gary E. Muenster, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, to the best of our knowledge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 8, 2017

/s/ Victor L. Richey

Victor L. Richey

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

ESCO Technologies Inc.

/s/ Gary E. Muenster

Gary E. Muenster

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

ESCO Technologies Inc.

XML

Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	ESCO TECHNOLOGIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000866706
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	ESE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,833,202

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Net sales	$ 171,189	$ 140,191	$ 478,735	$ 411,954
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	108,856	86,602	307,149	254,769
Selling, general and administrative expenses	38,453	31,369	107,104	97,189
Amortization of intangible assets	4,085	2,951	11,548	8,540
Interest expense, net	1,213	320	2,752	917
Other (income) expenses, net	1,160	1,429	(184)	6,436
Total costs and expenses	153,767	122,671	428,369	367,851
Earnings before income taxes	17,422	17,520	50,366	44,103
Income tax expense	4,777	5,992	15,837	15,136
Net earnings	$ 12,645	$ 11,528	$ 34,529	$ 28,967
Earnings per share:
Basic - Net earnings	$ 0.49	$ 0.45	$ 1.34	$ 1.12
Diluted - Net earnings	$ 0.49	$ 0.44	$ 1.33	$ 1.12

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Net earnings	$ 12,645	$ 11,528	$ 34,529	$ 28,967
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,796	(1,930)	2,981	(1,730)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	81	(211)	(23)	(129)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4,877	(2,141)	2,958	(1,859)
Comprehensive income	$ 17,522	$ 9,387	$ 37,487	$ 27,108

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 48,521	$ 53,825
Accounts receivable, net	135,545	121,486
Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, less progress billings of $59,100 and $31,129, respectively	44,753	28,746
Inventories	130,828	105,542
Other current assets	20,980	13,884
Total current assets	380,627	323,483
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $96,510 and $84,454, respectively	130,419	92,405
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $69,103 and $56,955, respectively	328,545	231,759
Goodwill	365,965	323,616
Other assets	5,901	7,108
Total assets	1,211,457	978,371
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	20,000	20,000
Accounts payable	48,555	42,074
Advance payments on long-term contracts, less costs incurred of $48,114 and $35,266, respectively	22,089	16,187
Accrued salaries	24,797	28,769
Current portion of deferred revenue	31,881	27,212
Accrued other expenses	28,257	23,834
Total current liabilities	175,579	158,076
Pension obligations	38,677	39,842
Deferred tax liabilities	84,184	69,562
Other liabilities	23,428	5,782
Long-term debt	245,000	90,000
Total liabilities	566,868	363,262
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares	0	0
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 30,468,824 and 30,364,183 shares, respectively	305	304
Additional paid-in capital	288,623	290,588
Retained earnings	499,611	471,272
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(36,325)	(39,283)
Total stockholders' equity before Treasury Stock	752,214	722,881
Less treasury stock, at cost: 4,638,322 and 4,647,322 common shares, respectively	(107,625)	(107,772)
Total shareholders’ equity	644,589	615,109
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,211,457	$ 978,371

XML

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, progress billings	$ 59,100	$ 31,129
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	96,510	84,454
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	69,103	56,955
Advance payments on long-term contracts, costs incurred	$ 48,114	$ 35,266
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	30,468,824	30,364,183
Treasury stock, shares	4,638,322	4,647,322

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 34,529	$ 28,967
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	23,023	17,209
Stock compensation expense	4,130	3,652
Changes in assets and liabilities	(24,977)	(21,106)
Effect of deferred taxes	(577)	1,141
Change in deferred revenue and costs, net	4,863	3,029
Pension contributions	(2,317)	0
Other	(5,202)	350
Net cash provided by operating activities	33,472	33,242
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(162,268)	(41,308)
Additions to capitalized software	(6,213)	(6,257)
Capital expenditures	(23,055)	(7,812)
Proceeds from sale of land	1,184	0
Proceeds from life insurance	2,307	0
Net cash used by investing activities	(188,045)	(55,377)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	213,000	81,458
Principal payments on long-term debt	(58,000)	(45,000)
Dividends paid	(6,190)	(6,191)
Purchases of common stock into treasury	0	(4,303)
Debt issuance costs	0	(1,037)
Other	(21)	(123)
Net cash provided by financing activities	148,789	24,804
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	480	(1,538)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(5,304)	1,131
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	53,825	39,411
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	48,521	40,542
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid	2,404	908
Income taxes paid (including state and foreign)	$ 20,421	$ 15,820

XML

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures required for annual financial statements by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

The Company’s results for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire 2017 fiscal year. References to the third quarters of 2017 and 2016 represent the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires Management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

XML

ACQUISITIONS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Business Combinations [Abstract]

ACQUISITIONS

2. ACQUISITIONS

On May 25, 2017, the Company acquired the assets of Morgan Schaffer Inc. (Morgan Schaffer), a global utilities provider located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for a purchase price of $48.8 million in cash. Morgan Schaffer, founded in 1965, has annualized sales of approximately $25 million. Morgan Schaffer designs, develops, manufactures and markets an integrated offering of dissolved gas analysis, oil testing, and data management solutions which enhance the ability of electric utilities to accurately monitor the health of critical power transformers. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for Morgan Schaffer have been included in the Company’s Utilities Solution Group (USG) segment. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $2.5 million of accounts receivable, $5.2 million of inventory, $1.7 million of property, plant and equipment, $0.4 million of other assets, $3.8 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $4.8 million of goodwill, $34.6 million of trade names and $3.4 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationships and developed technology with a weighted average life of approximately 10 years.

On May 8, 2017, the Company acquired NRG Systems, Inc. (NRG), doing business as Renewable NRG Systems, located in Hinesburg, Vermont, for a purchase price of $38.6 million, less cash acquired. NRG, founded in 1982, is the global market leader in the design and manufacture of decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind. NRG has annualized sales of approximately $45 million. Since the date of acquisition, the operating results for NRG have been included in the Company’s USG segment. Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $1.5 million of cash, $4.1 million of accounts receivable, $5.1 million of inventory, $1.0 million of other assets, $9.4 million of property, plant and equipment (including a capital lease), $4.1 million of accounts payable and accrued expenses, $9.7 million of lease liability, $7.5 million of goodwill, $8.1 million of trade names and $17.2 million of amortizable intangible assets consisting of customer relationships with a weighted average life of approximately 14 years.

On November 7, 2016, the Company acquired aerospace suppliers Mayday Manufacturing Co. and its affiliate, Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. (collectively referred to as Mayday), which share a 130,000 square foot facility in Denton, Texas, for a purchase price of $75 million in cash.  Mayday Manufacturing Co. is a manufacturer of mission-critical bushings, pins, sleeves and precision-tolerance machined components for landing gear, rotor heads, engine mounts, flight controls, and actuation systems for the aerospace and defense industry.  Hi-Tech Metals, Inc. is a full-service metal processor offering aerospace OEM’s, Tier 1 suppliers, a large portfolio of processing services including anodizing, cadmium and zinc-nickel plating, organic coatings, non-destructive testing, and heat treatment.  Mayday has annual sales of approximately $40 million. Since the date of acquisition the consolidated operating results for Mayday have been included in the Company’s Filtration segment.  Based on the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company recorded approximately $7.4 million of accounts receivable, $11.0 million of inventory, $16.6 million of property, plant and equipment (including a capital lease), $9.5 million of lease liability, $15.7 million of deferred tax liabilities, $30.1 million of goodwill (non-deductible for tax purposes), $4.8 million of trade names and $32.8 million of amortizable identifiable intangible assets consisting primarily of customer relationships with a weighted-average life of approximately 20 years.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

3. EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

Basic EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive common share options and vesting of performance-accelerated restricted shares (restricted shares) by using the treasury stock method. The number of shares used in the calculation of earnings per share for each period presented is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		25,815		25,725		25,756		25,777
Dilutive Options and Restricted Shares		210		185		219		185
Adjusted Shares - Diluted		26,025		25,910		25,975		25,962

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SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

4. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company provides compensation benefits to certain key employees under several share-based plans providing for performance-accelerated restricted shares (restricted shares), and to non-employee directors under a non-employee directors compensation plan.

Performance-Accelerated Restricted Share Awards

Compensation expense related to the restricted share awards was $1.0 million and $3.3 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.8 million and $3.1 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. There were 335,825 non-vested shares outstanding as of June 30, 2017.

Non-Employee Directors Plan

Compensation expense related to the non-employee director grants was $0.3 million and $0.8 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the corresponding periods of 2016.

The total share-based compensation cost that has been recognized in the results of operations and included within selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) was $1.3 million and $4.1 million for the three-and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $1.0 million and $3.7 million for the corresponding periods of 2016. The total income tax benefit recognized in results of operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $1.2 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, and $0.4 million and $1.3 million for the corresponding periods of 2016, respectively. As of June 30, 2017, there was $7.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements. That cost is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

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INVENTORIES

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Inventories [Abstract]

INVENTORIES

5. INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following:

	June 30,		September 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Finished goods	$	28,559		19,451
Work in process		46,178		37,922
Raw materials		56,091		48,169
Total inventories	$	130,828		105,542

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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

6. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are the following intangible assets gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization:

(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Goodwill	$	365,965		323,616
Intangible assets with determinable lives:
Patents
Gross carrying amount	$	927		917
Less: accumulated amortization		742		726
Net	$	185		191
Capitalized software
Gross carrying amount	$	60,216		54,003
Less: accumulated amortization		32,136		26,737
Net	$	28,080		27,266
Customer relationships
Gross carrying amount	$	163,331		111,887
Less: accumulated amortization		35,005		28,633
Net	$	128,325		83,254
Other
Gross carrying amount	$	5,255		2,777
Less: accumulated amortization		1,220		859
Net	$	4,035		1,918
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	$	167,920		119,128

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

(Dollars in millions)	USG		Test		Filtration		Packaging		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2016		226.2		34.1		43.9		19.4		323.6
Acquisition activity		12.3		-		30.1		-		42.4
Foreign currency translation and other		0.2		-		(0.5)		0.3		-
Balance as of June 30, 2017	$	238.7		34.1		73.5		19.7		366.0

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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

7. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company is organized based on the products and services that it offers, and classifies its business operations in four segments for financial reporting purposes: Filtration/Fluid Flow (Filtration), RF Shielding and Test (Test), Utility Solutions Group (USG) and Technical Packaging. The Filtration segment’s operations consist of PTI Technologies Inc. (PTI), VACCO Industries (VACCO), Crissair, Inc. (Crissair), Westland Technologies Inc. (Westland), and Mayday. The companies within this segment primarily design and manufacture specialty filtration products, including hydraulic filter elements used in commercial aerospace applications, unique filter mechanisms used in micro-propulsion devices for satellites and custom designed filters for manned and unmanned aircraft; manufacture elastomeric-based signature reduction solutions for the U.S. Navy; and manufacture landing gear components for the aerospace and defense industry. The Test segment’s operations consist primarily of ETS-Lindgren Inc. (ETS-Lindgren). ETS-Lindgren is an industry leader in providing its customers with the ability to identify, measure and contain magnetic, electromagnetic and acoustic energy. The USG segment’s operations consist primarily of Doble Engineering Company (Doble), Morgan Schaffer, and NRG. Doble provides high-end, intelligent diagnostic test solutions for the electric power delivery industry and is a leading supplier of partial discharge testing instruments used to assess the integrity of high voltage power delivery equipment. Morgan Schaffer provides an integrated offering of dissolved gas analysis, oil testing, and data management solutions for the electric power industry. NRG designs and manufactures decision support tools for the renewable energy industry, primarily wind. The Technical Packaging segment’s operations consist of Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC (TEQ) and Plastique Limited and Plastique Sp. zoo (together, Plastique). The companies within this segment provide innovative solutions to the medical and commercial markets for thermoformed packages and specialty products using a wide variety of thin gauge plastics and pulp.

Management evaluates and measures the performance of its reportable segments based on “Net Sales” and “EBIT”, which are detailed in the table below. EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and taxes.

	Three Months				Nine Months
(In thousands)	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
NET SALES
Filtration	$	71,179		54,396		198,869		145,758
Test		37,544		36,234		109,738		119,608
USG		42,059		29,121		110,287		93,657
Technical Packaging		20,407		20,440		59,841		52,931
Consolidated totals	$	171,189		140,191		478,735		411,954
EBIT
Filtration	$	11,945		12,163		34,296		29,511
Test		4,885		3,744		11,076		8,587
USG		8,477		6,124		25,585		21,581
Technical Packaging		2,433		2,474		5,660		7,035
Corporate (loss)		(9,105)		(6,665)		(23,499)		(21,694)
Consolidated EBIT		18,635		17,840		53,118		45,020
Less: Interest expense, net		(1,213)		(320)		(2,752)		(917)
Earnings before income taxes	$	17,422		17,520		50,366		44,103

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial measure “EBIT” is presented in the above table and elsewhere in this Report. EBIT on a consolidated basis is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that EBIT is useful in assessing the operational profitability of the Company’s business segments because it excludes interest and taxes, which are generally accounted for across the entire Company on a consolidated basis. EBIT is also one of the measures used by management in determining resource allocations within the Company as well as incentive compensation. A reconciliation of EBIT to net earnings is set forth in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – EBIT.

The Company believes that the presentation of EBIT provides important supplemental information to investors to facilitate comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results. However, the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies’ non-GAAP financial performance measures. Furthermore, the use of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to replace any measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP.

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DEBT

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

DEBT

8. DEBT

The Company’s debt is summarized as follows:

	June 30,		September 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Total borrowings	$	265,000		110,000
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt		(20,000)		(20,000)
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	245,000		90,000

The Company’s existing credit facility (“the Credit Facility”) matures December 21, 2020. The Credit Facility includes a $450 million revolving line of credit as well as provisions allowing for the increase of the facility commitment amount by an additional $250 million, if necessary, with the consent of the lenders. The bank syndication supporting the facility is comprised of a diverse group of nine banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

At June 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $178 million available to borrow under the Credit Facility, and a $250 million increase option, in addition to $48.5 million cash on hand. At June 30, 2017, the Company had $265 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility in addition to outstanding letters of credit of $7.2 million. The Company classified $20.0 million as the current portion of long-term debt as of June 30, 2017, as the Company intends to repay this amount within the next twelve month period; however, the Company has no contractual obligation to repay such amount during the next twelve month period.

The Credit Facility requires, as determined by certain financial ratios, a facility fee ranging from 12.5 to 27.5 basis points per year on the unused portion. The terms of the facility provide that interest on borrowings may be calculated at a spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or based on the prime rate, at the Company’s election. The facility is secured by the unlimited guaranty of the Company’s material domestic subsidiaries and a 65% pledge of the material foreign subsidiaries’ share equity. The financial covenants of the Credit Facility include a leverage ratio and an interest coverage ratio. The weighted average interest rates were 2.11% and 1.90% for the three and nine-month periods ending June 30, 2017, respectively, and 1.50% and 1.58% for the corresponding periods of 2016. At June 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

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INCOME TAX EXPENSE

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

9. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

The third quarter 2017 effective income tax rate was 27.4% compared to 34.2% in the third quarter of 2016. The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2017 was 31.4% compared to 34.3% for the first nine months of 2016. The Company elected to early adopt Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the quarter decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by a U.K. foreign valuation allowance that increased the year-to-date effective tax rate by1.5%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was favorably impacted by the extension of the research credit as a result of The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act reducing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.8%. The income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by return to provision true-ups increasing the third quarter and year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively. The income tax expense in the first nine months of 2016 was unfavorably impacted by losses in foreign jurisdictions for which no tax benefit was recorded, increasing the year-to-date effective tax rate by 1.7%.

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

10. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The change in shareholders’ equity for the first nine months of 2017 is shown below (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2016	$	615,109
Net earnings		34,529
Other comprehensive income		2,958
Cash dividends		(6,190)
Stock compensation plans		(1,817)
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	644,589

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RETIREMENT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Retirement Plans [Abstract]

RETIREMENT PLANS

11. RETIREMENT PLANS

A summary of net periodic benefit expense for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is shown in the following table. Net periodic benefit cost for each period presented is comprised of the following:

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Defined benefit plans
Interest cost	$	737		963		2,438		2,888
Expected return on assets		(942)		(1,093)		(2,978)		(3,280)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost		-		3		3		10
Actuarial loss		683		486		1,871		1,459
Net periodic benefit cost	$	478		359		1,334		1,077

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates and selectively uses derivative financial instruments, including forward contracts and swaps, to manage these risks. During 2016, the Company entered into several forward contracts to purchase pounds sterling (GBP) to hedge two deferred payments due in connection with the acquisition of Plastique. In addition, our Canadian subsidiary Morgan Schaffer enters into foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign currency risk as a portion of their revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company expects hedging gains or losses to be essentially offset by losses or gains on the related underlying exposures. All derivative instruments are reported in either accrued expenses or other receivables on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income until recognized in earnings with the underlying hedged item.

The following is a summary of the notional transaction amounts and fair values for the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instruments by risk category and instrument type as of June 30, 2017:

				Fair
	Notional			Value
(In thousands)	amount			(US$)
Forward contracts		1,859	GBP		(238)
Forward contracts		4,750	USD		64
Forward contracts		500	EUR		(14)

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements, based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, as follows:

· Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

· Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

· Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company has estimated the fair value of its financial instruments as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 using available market information or other appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, inventories, payables, debt and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s forward contracts are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 825, as presented below as of June 30, 2017:

(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Forward contracts	$	-		(188)	$	-		(188)

Valuation was based on third party evidence of similarly priced derivative instruments.

Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities

The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as property, plant and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. No impairments were recorded during the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017.

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NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

14. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplified the income tax consequences, accounting for forfeitures and classification on the Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. The Company adopted this standard in the current year resulting in the income tax expense in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 being favorably impacted by additional tax benefits on share-based compensation that vested during the third quarter of 2017 decreasing the effective tax rate by 5.1% and 1.8%, respectively.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-062, Leases (Topic 842), which, among other things, requires an entity to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. This standard will increase an entities’ reported assets and liabilities. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and mandates a modified retrospective transition period for all entities. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance has been further clarified and amended. The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and selecting the method of transition to the new standard.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares

The number of shares used in the calculation of earnings per share for each period presented is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic		25,815		25,725		25,756		25,777
Dilutive Options and Restricted Shares		210		185		219		185
Adjusted Shares - Diluted		26,025		25,910		25,975		25,962

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INVENTORIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Inventories [Abstract]

Schedule Of Inventories

Inventories consist of the following:

	June 30,		September 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Finished goods	$	28,559		19,451
Work in process		46,178		37,922
Raw materials		56,091		48,169
Total inventories	$	130,828		105,542

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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are the following intangible assets gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization:

(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2017		September 30, 2016
Goodwill	$	365,965		323,616
Intangible assets with determinable lives:
Patents
Gross carrying amount	$	927		917
Less: accumulated amortization		742		726
Net	$	185		191
Capitalized software
Gross carrying amount	$	60,216		54,003
Less: accumulated amortization		32,136		26,737
Net	$	28,080		27,266
Customer relationships
Gross carrying amount	$	163,331		111,887
Less: accumulated amortization		35,005		28,633
Net	$	128,325		83,254
Other
Gross carrying amount	$	5,255		2,777
Less: accumulated amortization		1,220		859
Net	$	4,035		1,918
Intangible assets with indefinite lives:
Trade names	$	167,920		119,128

Schedule of Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill attributable to each business segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 is as follows:

(Dollars in millions)	USG		Test		Filtration		Packaging		Total
Balance as of September 30, 2016		226.2		34.1		43.9		19.4		323.6
Acquisition activity		12.3		-		30.1		-		42.4
Foreign currency translation and other		0.2		-		(0.5)		0.3		-
Balance as of June 30, 2017	$	238.7		34.1		73.5		19.7		366.0

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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

Schedule Of Net Sales And Earnings Before Income Tax

Management evaluates and measures the performance of its reportable segments based on “Net Sales” and “EBIT”, which are detailed in the table below. EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and taxes.

	Three Months				Nine Months
(In thousands)	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
	2017		2016		2017		2016
NET SALES
Filtration	$	71,179		54,396		198,869		145,758
Test		37,544		36,234		109,738		119,608
USG		42,059		29,121		110,287		93,657
Technical Packaging		20,407		20,440		59,841		52,931
Consolidated totals	$	171,189		140,191		478,735		411,954
EBIT
Filtration	$	11,945		12,163		34,296		29,511
Test		4,885		3,744		11,076		8,587
USG		8,477		6,124		25,585		21,581
Technical Packaging		2,433		2,474		5,660		7,035
Corporate (loss)		(9,105)		(6,665)		(23,499)		(21,694)
Consolidated EBIT		18,635		17,840		53,118		45,020
Less: Interest expense, net		(1,213)		(320)		(2,752)		(917)
Earnings before income taxes	$	17,422		17,520		50,366		44,103

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DEBT (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Debt [Abstract]

Schedule Of Debt

The Company’s debt is summarized as follows:

	June 30,		September 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Total borrowings	$	265,000		110,000
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt		(20,000)		(20,000)
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$	245,000		90,000

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule Of Change In Equity

The change in shareholders’ equity for the first nine months of 2017 is shown below (in thousands):

Balance at September 30, 2016	$	615,109
Net earnings		34,529
Other comprehensive income		2,958
Cash dividends		(6,190)
Stock compensation plans		(1,817)
Balance at June 30, 2017	$	644,589

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RETIREMENT PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Retirement Plans [Abstract]

Schedule Of Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost For Plans

A summary of net periodic benefit expense for the Company’s defined benefit plans for the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 is shown in the following table. Net periodic benefit cost for each period presented is comprised of the following:

	Three Months				Nine Months
	Ended June 30,				Ended June 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Defined benefit plans
Interest cost	$	737		963		2,438		2,888
Expected return on assets		(942)		(1,093)		(2,978)		(3,280)
Amortization of:
Prior service cost		-		3		3		10
Actuarial loss		683		486		1,871		1,459
Net periodic benefit cost	$	478		359		1,334		1,077

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments

The following is a summary of the notional transaction amounts and fair values for the Company’s outstanding derivative financial instruments by risk category and instrument type as of June 30, 2017:

				Fair
	Notional			Value
(In thousands)	amount			(US$)
Forward contracts		1,859	GBP		(238)
Forward contracts		4,750	USD		64
Forward contracts		500	EUR		(14)

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s forward contracts are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 825, as presented below as of June 30, 2017:

(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Forward contracts	$	-		(188)	$	-		(188)

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ACQUISITIONS (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 08, 2017 USD ($)	May 25, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 07, 2016 USD ($) ft²	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total						$ 162,268	$ 41,308
Goodwill				$ 365,965		365,965		$ 323,616
Revenue, Net				$ 171,189	$ 140,191	$ 478,735	$ 411,954
Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life			20 years
Mayday Manufacturing Co [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total			$ 75,000
Goodwill			30,100
Revenue, Net			40,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total			16,600
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities			$ 15,700
Area of Land | ft²			130,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables			$ 7,400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory			11,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Capital Lease Obligation			9,500
Mayday Manufacturing Co [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill, Total			4,800
Mayday Manufacturing Co [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Intangible Assets, Other than Goodwill, Total			$ 32,800
Morgan Schaffer Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 48,800
Goodwill		4,800
Revenue, Net		25,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles		3,400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total		1,700
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables		2,500
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory		5,200
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable		3,800
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets		$ 34,600
Morgan Schaffer Inc [Member] | Customer Relationships and Developed Technology [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life		10 years
NRG Systems Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total	$ 38,600
Goodwill	7,500
Revenue, Net	45,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total	9,400
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets, Receivables	4,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory	5,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Capital Lease Obligation	9,700
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets	1,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable	4,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	8,100
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Cash and Equivalents	1,500
NRG Systems Inc [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles	$ 17,200
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	14 years

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) (Number Of Shares Used In The Calculation Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Earning Per Share [Line Items]
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic	25,815	25,725	25,756	25,777
Dilutive Options and Restricted Shares	210	185	219	185
Adjusted Shares - Diluted	26,025	25,910	25,975	25,962

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SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation cost	$ 1.3	$ 1.0	$ 4.1	$ 3.7
Performance-Accelerated Restricted Share (PARS) Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Pretax compensation expense	$ 1.0	0.8	$ 3.3	3.1
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares, Beginning Balance	335,825		335,825
Non-Employee Directors Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total income tax benefit recognized			$ 2.2	1.3
Total share-based compensation cost	$ 1.2	0.4
Pretax compensation expense	0.3	$ 0.2	0.8	$ 0.6
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements	$ 7.3		$ 7.3
Remaining weighted-average period for recognition of total unrecognized compensation cost			1 year 9 months 18 days

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INVENTORIES (Schedule Of Inventories) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Inventory [Line Items]
Finished goods	$ 28,559	$ 19,451
Work in process	46,178	37,922
Raw materials	56,091	48,169
Total inventories	$ 130,828	$ 105,542

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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule Of Intangible Assets Gross Carrying Amounts And Accumulated Amortization) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 365,965	$ 323,616
Less: accumulated amortization	69,103	56,955
Patents [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	927	917
Less: accumulated amortization	742	726
Net	185	191
Capitalized Software [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	60,216	54,003
Less: accumulated amortization	32,136	26,737
Net	28,080	27,266
Customer relationships [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	163,331	111,887
Less: accumulated amortization	35,005	28,633
Net	128,325	83,254
Other [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount	5,255	2,777
Less: accumulated amortization	1,220	859
Net	4,035	1,918
Trade names [Member]
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Trade names	$ 167,920	$ 119,128

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GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Schedule Of Changes In The Carrying Amount Of Goodwill Attributable To Business Segment) (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 323,616
Acquisition activity	42,400
Foreign currency translation and other	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	365,965
Utility Solutions [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	226,200
Acquisition activity	12,300
Foreign currency translation and other	200
Goodwill, Ending Balance	238,700
Test [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	34,100
Acquisition activity	0
Foreign currency translation and other	0
Goodwill, Ending Balance	34,100
Filtration [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	43,900
Acquisition activity	30,100
Foreign currency translation and other	(500)
Goodwill, Ending Balance	73,500
Technical Packaging [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	19,400
Acquisition activity	0
Foreign currency translation and other	300
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$ 19,700

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BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (Schedule Of Net Sales And Earnings Before Income Tax) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	$ 171,189	$ 140,191	$ 478,735	$ 411,954
Consolidated EBIT	18,635	17,840	53,118	45,020
Less: Interest expense, net	(1,213)	(320)	(2,752)	(917)
Earnings before income taxes	17,422	17,520	50,366	44,103
Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	71,179	54,396	198,869	145,758
Consolidated EBIT	11,945	12,163	34,296	29,511
Test [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	37,544	36,234	109,738	119,608
Consolidated EBIT	4,885	3,744	11,076	8,587
Utility Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	42,059	29,121	110,287	93,657
Consolidated EBIT	8,477	6,124	25,585	21,581
Technical Packaging [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	20,407	20,440	59,841	52,931
Consolidated EBIT	2,433	2,474	5,660	7,035
Corporate (loss) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated EBIT	$ (9,105)	$ (6,665)	$ (23,499)	$ (21,694)

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DEBT (Schedule Of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings	$ 265,000	$ 110,000
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt	(20,000)	(20,000)
Total long-term debt, less current portion	$ 245,000	$ 90,000

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DEBT (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Available to borrow under the credit facility	$ 178,000		$ 178,000
Cash on hand	48,521	$ 40,542	$ 48,521	$ 40,542	$ 53,825	$ 39,411
Percentage of foreign subsidiaries' share equity			65.00%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	7,200		$ 7,200
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	265,000		265,000
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	20,000		20,000		$ 20,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	$ 450,000		$ 450,000
Weighted average interest rates	2.11%	1.50%	1.90%	1.58%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount			$ 250,000
Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility fees			12.50%
Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Incremental term loan	$ 250,000		$ 250,000
Credit facility fees			27.50%

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INCOME TAX EXPENSE (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Tax Expense [Line Items]
Decrease in effective tax rate	5.10%		1.80%
Increase in effective tax rate				1.70%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Research, Percent		1.80%		1.80%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential, Percent				1.50%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	27.40%	34.20%	31.40%	34.30%
Effective Income Tax Rate, Return to Provision True-ups, Increase		1.30%		0.50%

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SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Schedule Of Change In Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Balance			$ 615,109
Net earnings	$ 12,645	$ 11,528	34,529	$ 28,967
Other comprehensive income	4,877	$ (2,141)	2,958	$ (1,859)
Cash dividends			(6,190)
Stock compensation plans			(1,817)
Ending Balance	$ 644,589		$ 644,589

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RETIREMENT PLANS (Schedule Of Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost For Plans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Defined benefit plans
Interest cost	$ 737	$ 963	$ 2,438	$ 2,888
Expected return on assets	(942)	(1,093)	(2,978)	(3,280)
Amortization of Prior service cost	0	3	3	10
Amortization of Actuarial loss	683	486	1,871	1,459
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 478	$ 359	$ 1,334	$ 1,077

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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Schedule of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments) (Details) - Jun. 30, 2017 € in Thousands, £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	USD ($)	GBP (£)	EUR (€)
Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount | £		£ 1,859
Derivative, Fair Value	$ (238)
Forward Contracts One [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,750
Derivative, Fair Value	64
Forward Contracts Two [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative, Notional Amount | €			€ 500
Derivative, Fair Value	$ (14)

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Schedule of Fair Value of Financial Instruments) (Details) - Forward Contracts [Member] $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	$ (188)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	(188)
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	$ 0

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NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Enacted Tax Rate, Percent	5.10%	1.80%