1201 South Second Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (414) 382-2000

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 þ No o

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer þ		Accelerated Filer o		Non-accelerated Filer o		Smaller Reporting Company o

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

142,346,165 shares of registrant’s Common Stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding on December 31, 2010.

 

 

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

INDEX

		Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet— December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010			2
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations— Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009			3
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows— Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009			4
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			5
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			16
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			17
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			29
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			29
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			30
Item 1A. Risk Factors			30
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			31
Item 6. Exhibits			32
Signatures			33
Exhibit 10.1
Exhibit 10.2
Exhibit 10.3
Exhibit 12
Exhibit 15
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32.1
Exhibit 32.2
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

We report inventories net of an allowance for excess and obsolete inventory of $46.4 million at December 31, 2010 and $46.3 million at September 30, 2010.

Other intangible assets consist of (in millions):

The Allen-Bradley ^® trademark has an indefinite life, and therefore is not subject to amortization.

Estimated amortization expense is $34.1 million in 2011, $31.8 million in 2012, $25.6 million in 2013, $20.7 million in 2014 and $16.0 million in 2015.

We perform the annual evaluation of our goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets for impairment as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) during the second quarter of each year.

6. Product Warranty Obligations

We record a liability for product warranty obligations at the time of sale to a customer based upon historical warranty experience. Most of our products are covered under a warranty period that runs for twelve months from either the date of sale or from installation to an end-user or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customer. We also record a liability for specific warranty matters when they become probable and reasonably estimable. Our product warranty obligations are included in other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Changes in the product warranty obligations for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 are (in millions):

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

7. Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

We use foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage certain foreign currency risks. We enter into these contracts to offset changes in the amount of future cash flows associated with certain third-party and intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies expected to occur within the next two years (cash flow hedges). Certain of our locations have assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies resulting from intercompany loans and other transactions with third parties denominated in foreign currencies. We also enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts that we do not designate as hedging instruments to offset the transaction gains or losses associated with some of these assets and liabilities.

We value our forward exchange contracts using a market approach. We use an internally developed valuation model based on inputs including forward and spot prices for currency and interest rate curves. We did not change our valuation techniques during the three months ended December 31, 2010. The notional values of our forward exchange contracts outstanding at December 31, 2010 were $1,014.2 million, of which $407.3 million were designated as cash flow hedges. Contracts with the most significant notional values relate to transactions denominated in the United States dollar, Swiss franc, British pound sterling, and euro.

We also use foreign currency denominated debt obligations to hedge portions of our net investments in non-US subsidiaries. The currency effects of the debt obligations are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity where they offset gains and losses recorded on our net investments globally. At December 31, 2010 we had $13.8 million of foreign currency denominated debt designated as net investment hedges.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. U.S. GAAP also classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:

The pre-tax amount of gains (losses) recorded in other comprehensive income related to hedges that would have been recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations had they not been so designated was (in millions):

Approximately $7.4 million ($4.6 million net of tax) of net unrealized gains on cash flow hedges as of December 31, 2010 will be reclassified into earnings during the next 12 months. We expect that these net unrealized gains will be offset when the hedged items are recognized in earnings.

The pre-tax amount of losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to derivative forward exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges, which offset the related gains on the hedged items during the periods presented, was:

The amount recognized in earnings as a result of ineffective hedges was not significant.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

7. Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurement — (Continued)

The pre-tax amount of losses from forward exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations during the periods presented, was:

		Three Months Ended
		December 31,
		2010				2009
Other income (expense)		$	(2.4	)		$	(17.8	)

We also hold financial instruments consisting of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying value of our cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable as reported in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet approximates fair value. We base the fair value of long-term debt upon quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. The following is a summary of the carrying value and fair value of our long-term debt (in millions):

8. Retirement Benefits

The components of net periodic benefit cost in income from continuing operations are (in millions):

10. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Various lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against us relating to the conduct of our business, including those pertaining to product liability, environmental, safety and health, intellectual property, employment and contract matters. Although the outcome of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty and some lawsuits, claims or proceedings may be disposed of unfavorably to us, we believe the disposition of matters that are pending or have been asserted will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.

We (including our subsidiaries) have been named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging personal injury as a result of exposure to asbestos that was used in certain components of our products many years ago. Currently there are a few thousand claimants in lawsuits that name us as defendants, together with hundreds of other companies. In some cases, the claims involve products from divested businesses, and we are indemnified for most of the costs. However, we have agreed to defend and indemnify asbestos claims associated with products manufactured or sold by our former Dodge mechanical and Reliance Electric motors and motor repair services businesses prior to their divestiture by us, which occurred on January 31, 2007. We are also responsible for half of the costs and liabilities associated with asbestos cases against the former Rockwell International Corporation’s (RIC’s) divested measurement and flow control business. But in all cases, for those claimants who do show that they worked with our products or products of divested businesses for which we are responsible, we nevertheless believe we have meritorious defenses, in substantial part due to the integrity of the products, the encapsulated nature of any asbestos-containing components, and the lack of any impairing medical condition on the part of many claimants. We defend those cases vigorously. Historically, we have been dismissed from the vast majority of these claims with no payment to claimants.

We have maintained insurance coverage that we believe covers indemnity and defense costs, over and above self-insured retentions, for claims arising from our former Allen-Bradley subsidiary. Following litigation against Nationwide Indemnity Company (Nationwide) and Kemper Insurance (Kemper), the insurance carriers that provided liability insurance coverage to Allen-Bradley, we entered into separate agreements on April 1, 2008 with both insurance carriers to further resolve responsibility for ongoing and future coverage of Allen-Bradley asbestos claims. In exchange for a lump sum payment, Kemper bought out its remaining liability and has been released from further insurance obligations to Allen-Bradley. Nationwide administers the Kemper buy-out funds and has entered into a cost share agreement with us to pay the substantial majority of future defense and indemnity costs for Allen-Bradley asbestos claims once the Kemper buy-out funds are depleted. We believe that these arrangements will continue to provide coverage for Allen-Bradley asbestos claims throughout the remaining life of the asbestos liability.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

10. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities — (Continued)

The uncertainties of asbestos claim litigation make it difficult to predict accurately the ultimate outcome of asbestos claims. That uncertainty is increased by the possibility of adverse rulings or new legislation affecting asbestos claim litigation or the settlement process. Subject to these uncertainties and based on our experience defending asbestos claims, we do not believe these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

We have, from time to time, divested certain of our businesses. In connection with these divestitures, certain lawsuits, claims and proceedings may be instituted or asserted against us related to the period that we owned the businesses, either because we agreed to retain certain liabilities related to these periods or because such liabilities fall upon us by operation of law. In some instances, the divested business has assumed the liabilities; however, it is possible that we might be responsible to satisfy those liabilities if the divested business is unable to do so.

In connection with the spin-offs of our former automotive component systems business, semiconductor systems business and Rockwell Collins avionics and communications business, the spun-off companies have agreed to indemnify us for substantially all contingent liabilities related to the respective businesses, including environmental and intellectual property matters.

In connection with the sale of our Dodge mechanical and Reliance Electric motors and motor repair services businesses, we agreed to indemnify the purchaser, Baldor Electric Company, for costs and damages related to certain legal, legacy environmental and asbestos matters of these businesses, including certain damages pertaining to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, arising before January 31, 2007, for which the maximum exposure would be capped at the amount received for the sale.

In many countries we provide a limited intellectual property indemnity as part of our terms and conditions of sale. We also at times provide limited intellectual property indemnities in other contracts with third parties, such as contracts concerning the development and manufacture of our products, the divestiture of businesses and the licensing of intellectual property. Due to the number of agreements containing such provisions, we are unable to estimate the maximum potential future payments.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

11. Income Taxes

At the end of each interim period, we estimate a base effective tax rate that we expect for the full fiscal year based on our most recent forecast of pre-tax income, permanent book and tax differences and global tax planning strategies. We use this base rate to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis, excluding the effect of significant unusual or extraordinary items and items that are reported net of their related tax effects. We record the tax effect of significant unusual or extraordinary items and items that are reported net of their tax effects in the period in which they occur.

The effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 was 19.6 percent. The effective rate was lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent because we benefited from lower non-U.S. tax rates, the utilization of foreign tax credits, and discrete tax benefits of $3.5 million primarily related to the retroactive extension of the U.S. federal research tax credit. This was partially offset by a discrete tax expense of $0.8 million related to interest on unrecognized tax benefits.

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $68.1 million ($15.5 million net of $52.6 million of offsetting tax benefits) at December 31, 2010 and $66.3 million ($15.2 million net of $51.1 million of offsetting tax benefits) at September 30, 2010. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would reduce our effective tax rate if recognized was $59.3 million ($9.8 million net of $49.5 million of offsetting tax benefits) at December 31, 2010. Offsetting tax benefits primarily consist of tax receivables and deposits that are recorded in other assets.

There was no material change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in the first three months of 2011. We believe it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could be reduced by up to $42.7 million and the amount of offsetting tax benefits could be reduced by up to $30.9 million during the next 12 months as a result of the resolution of worldwide tax matters and the lapses of statutes of limitations.

We recognize interest and penalties related to tax matters in tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties were $26.3 million and $1.6 million at December 31, 2010 and $24.9 million and $1.7 million at September 30, 2010, respectively.

We conduct business globally and are routinely audited by the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations for years before 2008 and are no longer subject to state, local and foreign income tax examinations for years before 2003.

Among other considerations, we evaluate performance and allocate resources based upon segment operating earnings before income taxes, interest expense, costs related to corporate offices, certain nonrecurring corporate initiatives, gains and losses from the disposition of businesses and incremental acquisition related expenses resulting from purchase accounting adjustments such as intangible asset amortization, depreciation, inventory and purchased research and development charges. Depending on the product, intersegment sales that are within a single legal entity are either at cost or cost plus a mark-up, which does not necessarily represent a market price. Sales between legal entities are at an appropriate transfer price. We allocate costs related to shared segment operating activities to the segments using a methodology consistent with the expected benefit.

In the United States and Canada, we sell our products primarily through independent distributors. We sell large systems and service offerings principally through a direct sales force, though opportunities are sometimes identified through distributors. Outside the United States and Canada, we sell products through a combination of direct sales and sales through distributors. Sales to our largest distributor in the first quarter of 2011 and 2010 were approximately 10 percent of our total sales.

13. Discontinued Operations

In the first quarter of 2010, we recorded a $2.0 million ($1.2 million after tax) accrual relating to an environmental matter of a discontinued business.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareowners of
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Rockwell Automation, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2010, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2009. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Rockwell Automation, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2010, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, shareowners’ equity, and comprehensive income (loss) for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated November 18, 2010, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2010 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 3, 2011

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

Overview

We are a leading global provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage for their businesses. Overall demand for our products and services is driven by:

•

investments in manufacturing, including upgrades, modifications, and expansions of existing facilities or production lines, and the creation of new facilities or production lines;

•

our customers’ needs for productivity and cost reduction, sustainable production (cleaner, safer and more energy efficient), quality assurance and overall global competitiveness;

•

industry factors that include our customers’ new product introductions, demand for our customers’ products or services and the regulatory and competitive environments in which our customers operate;

•

levels of global industrial production and capacity utilization;

•

regional factors that include local political, social, regulatory and economic circumstances;

•

the seasonal spending patterns of our customers due to their annual budgeting processes and their working schedule; and

•

investments in basic materials production capacity, partly in response to higher end-product pricing.

Long-term Strategy

Our strategic framework incorporates our vision of being the most valued global provider of innovative industrial automation and information products, services and solutions, and our growth and performance strategy, which seeks to:

•

achieve growth rates in excess of the automation market by expanding our served market and strengthening our technology and customer-facing differentiation;

•

diversify our revenue streams by increasing our capabilities in new applications, including process control, safety and information software, broadening our solutions and service capabilities, advancing our global presence and serving a wider range of industries;

•

grow market share by gaining new customers and by capturing a larger share of our Original Equipment Manufacturer machine builders (OEMs) and end user customers’ spending;

•

enhance our market access by building our channel capability and partner network;

•

make acquisitions that serve as catalysts to organic growth by adding complementary technology, expanding our served market, increasing our domain expertise or continuing our geographic diversification;

•

deploy human and financial resources to strengthen our technology leadership and allow us to continue to transform our business model into one that is based less on tangible assets and more on intellectual capital; and

•

continuously improve quality and customer experience, drive 3-4 percent annual cost productivity, and optimize end-to-end business processes.

By implementing the strategy above, we seek to achieve our long-term financial goals that include revenue growth of 6-8 percent, double-digit EPS growth and 60 percent of our revenue outside the U.S.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

U. S. Industrial Economic Trends

In the first quarter of 2011, sales to U.S. customers accounted for 48 percent of our total sales. The various indicators we use to gauge the direction and momentum of our served U.S. markets include:

•

The Industrial Production Index (Total Index), published by the Federal Reserve, which measures the real output of manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities. The Industrial Production Index is expressed as a percentage of real output in a base year, currently 2007. Historically there has been a meaningful correlation between the Industrial Production Index and the level of automation investment made by our U.S. customers in their manufacturing base.

•

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), published by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), which is an indication of the current and near-term state of manufacturing activity in the U.S. According to the ISM, a PMI measure above 50 indicates that the U.S. manufacturing economy is generally expanding while a measure below 50 indicates that it is generally contracting.

•

Industrial Equipment Spending, which is an economic statistic compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). This statistic provides insight into spending trends in the broad U.S. industrial economy. This measure over the longer term has proven to demonstrate a reasonable correlation with our domestic growth.

•

Capacity Utilization (Total Industry), which is an indication of plant operating activity published by the Federal Reserve. Historically there has been a meaningful correlation between Capacity Utilization and levels of U.S. industrial production.

The table below depicts the trends in these indicators since the quarter ended September 2009. Positive macroeconomic trends and forecasts indicate that the industrial recovery is continuing.

Note: Economic indicators are subject to revisions by the issuing organizations.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

Non-U.S. Regional Trends

In the first quarter of 2011, sales to non-U.S. customers accounted for 52 percent of our total sales. These customers include both indigenous companies and multinational companies with expanding global presence. In addition to the global factors previously mentioned, international demand, particularly in emerging markets, has historically been driven by the strength of the industrial economy in each region, investments in infrastructure and expanding consumer markets.

We use changes in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as one indicator of the growth opportunities in each region where we do business. Positive macroeconomic trends and forecasts make us optimistic that the global recovery will continue in fiscal 2011. Growth in the emerging markets of Asia-Pacific, including China and India, Latin America, central and eastern Europe and Africa continue to exceed global GDP growth rates.

The table below presents our sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 by geographic region and the change in sales from the quarter ended December 31, 2009 (in millions, except percentages):

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

Summary of Results of Operations

Sales in the first quarter of 2011 increased 28 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010. Organic sales also increased 28 percent as there was a negligible effect from currency translation during the quarter. Product sales grew 32 percent year over year reflecting improved maintenance repair & operations (MRO), strong demand for small capital projects, and increased OEM demand. Sales in our solutions and services business increased 19 percent year over year, and our backlog in this portion of the business continued to build.

Total sales in emerging markets increased 41 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2010, including an organic sales increase of 38 percent and 3 percentage points from currency translation. Emerging markets represented 22 percent of total company sales in the first quarter of 2011. Latin America was our best performing region as organic sales increased 42 percent as compared to the same period in 2010. Organic sales to customers in mature markets were also strong globally. After lagging the rest of the world in the recovery, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) experienced very strong sales growth of 30 percent year over year.

In our Architecture & Software segment, sales increased 31 percent in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. Fiscal 2011 first quarter Architecture & Software sales increased 7 percent sequentially compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, which is the seventh consecutive quarterly increase in sales for the segment. In our Control Products & Solutions segment, sales in the first quarter of 2011 increased 26 percent from the first quarter of 2010. Fiscal 2011 first quarter Control Products & Solutions sales were down 4 percent sequentially, a typical fourth quarter to first quarter pattern in that segment.

The favorable impact of volume leverage, the primary contributor to margin improvement, was partially offset by increased compensation costs and increased spending to support growth initiatives. These factors accounted for substantially all the year-over-year changes in segment operating earnings, segment operating margin, and income from continuing operations before income taxes. Our effective tax rate during the quarter was 19.6 percent and benefited from the retroactive impact of the U.S. federal research tax credit extension.

The following table reflects our sales and operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in millions, except per share amounts):

Sales

Our sales increased $298.3 million, or 28 percent, from $1,067.5 million in the first quarter of 2010 to $1,365.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. Organic sales also increased 28 percent as there was a negligible effect from currency translation during the quarter. We had positive performance in our product businesses across all regions, resulting from the continuing recovery in worldwide macroeconomic conditions and industrial production. Product sales grew 32 percent year over year, while sales in our solutions and services business increased 19 percent year over year. Pricing contributed less than 1 percentage point to growth during the period.

Organic sales in Asia-Pacific grew 26 percent year over year, led by China and India with 40 percent and 32 percent growth, respectively. ¹ Organic sales increased in Latin America by 42 percent. Organic sales to customers in mature markets were also strong globally. Organic sales increased 32 percent in Canada, 30 percent in EMEA and 26 percent in the United States.

During the first quarter of 2011, sales in all of our end markets improved compared to the prior year. The largest sales increases were to customers in the automotive and tire industry.

Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes

Income from continuing operations before income taxes increased 92 percent from $97.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 to $186.7 million in the first quarter of 2011. Our strong performance reflects a continuing economic recovery. Increased volume caused the significant year-over-year income improvement, partially offset by cost increases related to employee compensation and incremental spending to support growth.

The first quarter of 2010 was the last quarter to benefit from the temporary employee pay cuts implemented in fiscal year 2009 during the economic downturn. The first quarter of 2010 was also the last quarter prior to a wage and salary increase. The year-over-year effect of increased compensation was approximately $25 million. In addition, we spent approximately $30 million more related to growth investments in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010, as the incremental spending to support growth that was initiated in the second half of 2010 continued into 2011.

General corporate expenses were $15.7 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $19.5 million in the first quarter of 2010. The decline was primarily due to a sale of an investment which resulted in a $3.8 million gain in the first quarter of 2011. Selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales decreased by 3.9 points to 25.4 percent, as volume increases outpaced spending increases.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

2011 First Quarter Compared to 2010 First Quarter — (Continued)

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2011 was 19.6 percent compared to 20.0 percent in the first quarter of 2010. The 2011 first quarter effective tax rate was lower than the 2010 first quarter rate primarily because we recognized discrete tax benefits of $3.5 million related to the retroactive extension of the U.S. federal research tax credit. During the first quarter of 2010, we recognized a discrete tax benefit of $4.7 million related to the favorable resolution of domestic and non-U.S. tax matters, partially offset by a discrete tax expense of $3.5 million related to the impact of a change in Mexican tax law.

Architecture & Software

Sales

Architecture & Software sales increased 31 percent to $613.9 million in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $469.0 million in the first quarter of 2010. Organic sales increased 32 percent and currency translation had a negative effect of 1 percentage point. Substantially all of the organic sales increase resulted from increased volume due to positive market conditions in most regions and industries, as product pricing remained relatively stable. Canada, EMEA and Latin America year-over-year sales increases were greater than the segment average rate of increase. Year-over-year sales increases to customers in the United States and Asia-Pacific were less than the segment average rate of increase. Logix sales increased 38 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Operating Margin

Architecture & Software segment operating earnings were $153.1 million in the first quarter of 2011, up 55 percent from $99.0 million in the same quarter of 2010. Operating margin increased 3.8 points to 24.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The increase was due to volume increases, partially offset by cost increases related to employee compensation and incremental spending to support growth. Approximately half of the additional employee compensation and incremental spending to support growth related to the Architecture & Software segment.

Sales

Control Products & Solutions sales were $751.9 million in the first quarter of 2011, up 26 percent from $598.5 million in the first quarter of 2010. Organic sales increased 25 percent and currency translation contributed 1 percentage point to the total increase. The segment’s organic sales increased primarily because the segment’s product business grew at rates similar to our Architecture & Software segment, while our solutions and services business grew by 19 percent year over year. Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Canada reported above average year-over-year overall segment growth. Year-over-year sales increases to customers in EMEA were less than the segment average rate of increase. Year-over-year sales increases to customers in the United States were near the segment average rate of increase. Pricing had only a minor impact on revenue during the period.

Operating Margin

Control Products & Solutions segment operating earnings were $68.9 million in the first quarter of 2011, up 82 percent from $37.8 million in the same quarter of 2010. Operating margin increased by 2.9 points to 9.2 percent in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to 6.3 percent the first quarter of 2010. The increase was due to volume increases, partially offset by cost increases related to employee compensation and incremental spending to support growth. Approximately half of the additional employee compensation and incremental spending to support growth related to the Control Products & Solutions segment.

Our definition of free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, takes into consideration capital investments required to maintain the operations of our businesses and execute our strategy. Our definition of free cash flow excludes the operating cash flows and capital expenditures related to our discontinued operations. Operating, investing and financing cash flows of our discontinued operations are presented separately in our statement of cash flows. Our accounting for share-based compensation requires us to report the related excess income tax benefit as a financing cash flow rather than as an operating cash flow. We have added this benefit back to our calculation of free cash flow in order to generally classify cash flows arising from income taxes as operating cash flows. In our opinion, free cash flow provides useful information to investors regarding our ability to generate cash from business operations that is available for acquisitions and other investments, service of debt principal, dividends and share repurchases. We use free cash flow as one measure to monitor and evaluate performance. Our definition of free cash flow may be different from definitions used by other companies.

Free cash flow was a source of $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2011 compared to a source of $108.0 million for the first quarter of 2010. The decrease in free cash flow is primarily due to higher performance-based compensation payments in the first quarter of 2011 as compared to the first quarter of 2010. The 2011 payments are for performance-based compensation earned by our global employee population for 2010 results.

We repurchased approximately 0.7 million shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2011. The total cost of these shares was $48.9 million, of which $6.5 million was recorded in accounts payable at December 31, 2010, related to 90,000 shares that did not settle until January 2011. We also paid $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2011 for unsettled share repurchases outstanding at September 30, 2010. We repurchased no shares of our common stock in the first quarter of 2010. Our decision to repurchase stock in the remainder of 2011 will depend on business conditions, free cash flow generation, other cash requirements and stock price. At December 31, 2010, we had approximately $452.3 million remaining for stock repurchases under our existing board authorization. See Part II, Item 2, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds, for additional information regarding share repurchases.

We expect future uses of cash to include working capital requirements, capital expenditures, additional contributions to our pension plans, acquisitions of businesses, dividends to shareowners, repurchases of common stock and repayments of debt. We expect capital expenditures in 2011 to be about $120 million. We expect to fund these future uses of cash with a combination of existing cash balances, cash generated by operating activities, commercial paper borrowings or a new issuance of debt or other securities.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

Financial Condition — (Continued)

In addition to cash generated by operating activities, we have access to existing financing sources, including the public debt markets and unsecured credit facilities with various banks. Commercial paper is our principal source of short-term financing. At December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, we had no commercial paper borrowings outstanding. Our debt-to-total-capital ratio was 36.3 percent at December 31, 2010 and 38.3 percent at September 30, 2010.

At December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, our total current borrowing capacity under unsecured revolving credit facilities was $567.5 million, which expire in tranches of $300.0 million and $267.5 million in March 2011 and March 2012, respectively. The credit facility expiring in March 2011 includes a term-out option that allows us to borrow up to $300.0 million as a term loan for one year upon expiration. We are in active discussions with our bank group to replace the existing facilities with one new facility. We have not drawn down under any of these credit facilities at December 31, 2010 or September 30, 2010. Borrowings under these credit facilities bear interest based on short-term money market rates in effect during the period the borrowings are outstanding. The terms of these credit facilities contain covenants under which we would be in default if our debt-to-total-capital ratio was to exceed 60 percent. We were in compliance with all covenants under these credit facilities at December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010. Separate short-term unsecured credit facilities of approximately $134.0 million at December 31, 2010 were available to non-U.S. subsidiaries.

The following is a summary of our credit ratings as of December 31, 2010:

Among other uses, we can draw on our credit facilities as standby liquidity facilities to repay our outstanding commercial paper as it matures. This access to funds to repay maturing commercial paper is an important factor in maintaining the commercial paper ratings set forth in the table above. Under our current policy with respect to these ratings, we expect to limit our other borrowings under our credit facilities, if any, to amounts that would leave enough credit available under the facilities so that we could borrow, if needed, to repay all of our then outstanding commercial paper as it matures.

Our ability to access the commercial paper market, and the related costs of these borrowings, is affected by the strength of our credit rating and market conditions. We have not experienced any difficulty in accessing the commercial paper market to date. If our access to the commercial paper market is adversely affected due to a change in market conditions or otherwise, we would expect to rely on a combination of available cash and our unsecured committed credit facility to provide short-term funding. In such event, the cost of borrowings under our unsecured committed credit facility could be higher than the cost of commercial paper borrowings.

We regularly monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and cash equivalents. Our emphasis is primarily on safety and liquidity of principal and secondarily on maximizing yield on those funds. We diversify our cash and cash equivalents among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities.

We enter into contracts to offset changes in the amount of future cash flows associated with certain third-party sales and intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies forecasted to occur within the next two years and to offset transaction gains or losses associated with some of our assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies resulting from intercompany loans and other transactions with third parties denominated in foreign currencies. Our foreign currency forward exchange contracts are denominated in currencies of major industrial countries. We diversify our foreign currency forward exchange contracts among counterparties to minimize exposure to any one of these entities.

Information with respect to our contractual cash obligations is contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. We believe that at December 31, 2010, there has been no material change to this information.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.

Supplemental Sales Information

We translate sales of subsidiaries operating outside of the United States using exchange rates effective during the respective period. Therefore, changes in currency exchange rates affect our reported sales. Sales by businesses we acquired also affect our reported sales. We believe that organic sales, defined as sales excluding the effects of changes in currency exchange rates and acquisitions, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, provides useful information to investors because it reflects regional performance from the activities of our businesses without the effect of changes in currency exchange rates and acquisitions. We use organic sales as one measure to monitor and evaluate our regional performance. We determine the effect of changes in currency exchange rates by translating the respective period’s sales using the same currency exchange rates that were in effect during the prior year. We determine the effect of acquisitions by excluding sales in the current period for which there are no sales in the comparable prior period. Organic sales growth is calculated by comparing organic sales to reported sales in the prior year. We attribute sales to the geographic regions based on the country of destination.

The following is a reconciliation of our reported sales to organic sales (in millions):