ESCO Technologies
ESE
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ESCO Technologies - 10-Q quarterly report FY


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--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 December 31, 1996

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 ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

(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.)

8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200 63124-2090
St. Louis, Missouri (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area
code: (314) 213-7200


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

Number of common stock trust receipts outstanding at January 31,
1997: 11,806,997 receipts.



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements


ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share
amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended
December 31,

1996 1995

<S> <C> <C>
Net sales $ 68,899 112,610
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 51,939 89,190
Selling, general and administrative expenses 12,951 16,891
Interest expense 277 1,389
Other, net 730 1,756
Total costs and expenses 65,897 109,226
Earnings before income taxes 3,002 3,384
Income tax expense 820 1,462
Net earnings $ 2,182 1,922

Earnings per share, primary and fully diluted $ .18 .17

</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, September 30,
1996 1996
<S> <C> <C>
Assets(Unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,877 22,209
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
accounts of $320 and $273, respectively 27,228 34,664
Costs and estimated earnings on long-term
contracts, less progress billings of
$68,646 and $70,671, respectively 52,987 51,585
Inventories 45,848 51,187
Other current assets 2,874 3,005
Total current assets 147,814 162,650
Property, plant and equipment, at cost 82,460 80,351
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 28,747 26,325
Net property, plant and equipment 53,713 54,026
Excess of cost over net assets of purchased
businesses, less accumulated amortization of
$1,736 and $1,597 respectively 20,256 20,395
Deferred tax asset 53,147 53,326
Other assets 16,898 17,435
$291,828 307,832
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings and current maturities
of long-term debt $ 1,300 1,300
Accounts payable 27,347 40,057
Advance payments on long-term contracts,
less costs incurred of $15,333 and $5,478,
respectively 7,057 8,336
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 22,882 26,771
Total current liabilities 58,586 76,464
Other liabilities 28,793 28,860
Long-term debt                                  11,050           11,375
Total liabilities 98,429 116,699
Commitments and contingencies
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
12,416,216 and 12,415,346 shares, respectively 124 124
Additional paid-in capital 193,147 192,967
Retained earnings since elimination of deficit
of $60,798 at September 30, 1993 6,366 4,184
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment 516 107
Minimum pension liability (1,869) (1,869)
198,284 195,513
Less treasury stock, at cost; 617,045 and
566,622 common shares, respectively (4,885) (4,380)
Total shareholders' equity 193,399 191,133
$ 291,828 307,832
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND
SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements
of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
[CAPTION]
<TABLE>

Three Months Ended
December 31,

1996 1995
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings $ 2,182 1,922
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 2,558 3,545
Changes in operating working capital (6,374) (13,135)
Other 365 1,093
Net cash used by operating activities (1,269) (6,575)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (1,753) (2,176)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase in short-term borrowings 12,500
Principal payments on long-term debt (325) (518)
Other 15 25
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities (310) 12,007
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (3,332) 3,256
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 22,209 320
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 18,877 3,576
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.

ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)



1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial
statements, in the opinion of management, include all
adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals,
necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the
interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated
financial statements are presented in accordance with the
requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include
all the disclosures required by generally accepted
accounting principles. For further information refer to the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended September 30, 1996. Certain prior year amounts have
been reclassified to conform with the fiscal 1997
presentation.

The results for the three month period ended December 31,
1996 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the
entire 1997 fiscal year.


2. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding plus shares issuable upon the
assumed exercise of dilutive common share options and
performance shares by using the treasury stock method. For
the three month period ended December 31, 1996, primary and
fully diluted earnings per share are computed using
12,044,760 and 12,055,254 common shares and common share
equivalents outstanding, respectively. For the quarter ended
December 31, 1995, primary and fully diluted earnings per
share are computed using 11,450,808 and 11,519,743 common
shares and common share equivalents outstanding,
respectively.


3. Inventories

Inventories consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, September 30,
1996 1996

<S> <C> <C>
Finished Goods $ 5,669 5,927
Work in process, including
long-term contracts 26,857 32,071
Raw materials 13,322 13,189
Total inventories $ 45,848 51,187
</TABLE>

Under the contractual arrangements by which progress
payments are received, the U.S. Government has a security
interest in the inventories associated with specific
contracts. Inventories are net of progress payment receipts
of $5.3 million and $1.2 million at December 31, 1996 and
September 30, 1996, respectively.

Hazeltine Divestiture 1996

On July 22, 1996, the Company completed the sale of its
Hazeltine subsidiary to GEC-Marconi Electronic Systems
Corporation (GEC). The Company sold 100% of the common stock
of Hazeltine for $110 million in cash. Certain assets and
liabilities of Hazeltine were retained by the Company.

Included in the condensed consolidated statement of
operations for the three months ended December 31, 1995 are
the operating results of Hazeltine prior to its divestiture
as follows (dollars in thousands):
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Net sales $ 27,493
Cost of sales 21,953
Selling, general and administrative expenses 3,730
Other costs and expenses, net 203
Earnings before income taxes $ 1,607
</TABLE>







Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
Operations and
Financial Condition


Results of Operations - Three months ended December 31, 1996
compared with three months ended December 31, 1995.

Net sales of $68.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1997
decreased $43.7 million (38.8%) from net sales of $112.6 million for
the first quarter of fiscal 1996. The decrease was primarily due to
the sale of Hazeltine in July 1996. Net sales at the remainder of
the Company s operating units decreased approximately $16 million
due to lower defense sales at Systems & Electronics Inc. (SEI) in
the current period. Defense sales were $42.4 million and commercial
sales were $26.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1997,
compared with defense and commercial sales of $83 million and $29.6
million, respectively, in the first quarter of fiscal 1996.
Hazeltine s defense and commercial sales were $24.3 million and $3.2
million, respectively in the first quarter of fiscal 1996. Adjusted
for the sale of Hazeltine, prior year first quarter defense and
commercial sales were $58.7 million and $26.4 million, respectively.

The backlog of firm orders at December 31, 1996 was $234.9 million,
compared with $246.7 million at September 30, 1996. During the first
quarter of fiscal 1997, new orders aggregating $57.1 million were
received, compared with $71.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal
1996, excluding Hazeltine. First quarter fiscal 1996 orders, as
reported including Hazeltine, were $108.5 million. The most
significant orders in the current period were for filtration/fluid
flow products, airborne radar systems, and integrated mail handling
and sorting systems.

The gross profit percentage was 24.6% in the first quarter of fiscal
1997 and 20.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 1996. The gross profit
percentage in the first quarter fiscal 1996 excluding Hazeltine was
21%. The fiscal 1997 first quarter gross profit percentage increased
from fiscal 1996 due to an improved sales mix in both the defense
and commercial segments.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter
of fiscal 1997 were $13 million, or 18.8% of net sales, compared
with $16.9 million, or 15% of net sales, for the same period a year
ago. Excluding Hazeltine, prior year first quarter selling, general
and administrative expense was $13.2 million or 15.5% of adjusted
sales. The fiscal 1997 first quarter selling, general and
administrative expenses increased as a percentage of adjusted sales
due to the reduced sales volume in first quarter fiscal 1997.

Interest expense decreased to $.3 million from $1.4 million as a
result of significantly lower borrowings in the first quarter of
fiscal 1997 as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 1996. A
significant amount of fiscal
1996 borrowings was repaid in July 1996 with a portion of the
proceeds from the sale of Hazeltine.

Other costs and expenses, net, were $.7 million in the first quarter
of fiscal 1997 compared to $1.8 million in the same period of fiscal
1996. The decrease in fiscal 1997 partially reflects the absence of
amortization of a contract guarantee fee previously paid to Emerson
Electric Co.

The effective income tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 1997
was 27.3% compared with 43.2% for the first quarter of fiscal 1996.
The effective income tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 1997
was favorably impacted by the settlement of a state tax liability
assumed by the Company upon the fiscal 1996 divestiture of
Hazeltine. Management estimates the annual effective tax rate for
fiscal year 1997 to be approximately 40%.The tax provision for the
first quarter of fiscal 1996 was impacted by the Corporate
Readjustment implemented in fiscal 1993. Consistent with the policy
implemented during fiscal 1995, the Company decreased its deferred
tax valuation allowance by $.8 million during the quarter ended
December 31, 1995. The impact of the Federal tax provision and the
reduction in the deferred tax valuation allowance were accounted for
as credits to additional paid-in capital for the first quarter of
fiscal 1996.


Financial Condition

Working capital increased to $89.2 million at December 31, 1996 from
$86.2 million at September 30, 1996. During the first three months
of fiscal 1997, accounts receivable decreased by $7.4 million as a
result of cash collections, and costs and estimated earnings on
long-term contracts
and inventories decreased in the aggregate by $3.9 million as a
result of near-term delivery requirements. Accounts payable and
accrued expenses were reduced by $16.6 million during the first
quarter of fiscal 1997 through payments necessary to satisfy
commitments outstanding at September 30, 1996.

Net cash used by operating activities was $1.3 million in the first
three months of fiscal 1997 and $6.6 million in the same period of
fiscal 1996, primarily due to the changes in operating working
capital mentioned above.

Capital expenditures were $1.8 million in the first three months of
fiscal 1997 compared with $2.2 million in the first three months of
fiscal 1996. Major expenditures in the current period include
routine capitalized facility costs at SEI.

In December 1996, the Company entered into a definitive agreement
to acquire the Filtertek business of Schawk, Inc. for $92 million
in cash plus working capital adjustments. On February 7, 1997, the
Company completed the purchase of Filtertek. The purchase was
financed with cash and borrowings from the Company s bank credit
facility. The existing bank credit facility was amended and
restructured dated February 7, 1997, to increase the available
credit facility to $140 million. The maturity of the amended bank
credit facility was extended to September 30, 2000.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION



Item 5. Other Information.


The Company, on February 7, 1997, completed its acquisition of the
Filtertek and the thermoform packaging businesses of Schawk, Inc.
( Schawk ). Filtertek is a leader in the manufacture of plastic
insert injection molded filter assemblies. The transaction involved
the purchase of assets and stock of subsidiary corporations of
Schawk. The assets included manufacturing and office facilities,
equipment, inventories and accounts receivable, and the Company
intends to continue the use of these assets in the on-going
operation of the above-mentioned businesses. The consideration paid
was $92 million in cash plus working capital adjustments, which was
funded by cash and borrowings from the Company s bank credit
facility. The banks involved are listed in Exhibit 4 to this Form
10-Q. The consideration was arrived at through arms-length
negotiations between the parties.



Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.


(a) Exhibits

Exhibit Filed Herewith or
Number Description Incorporated by Reference
2(a) Acquisition Agreement dated
December 18, 1996 between the
Company and Schawk, Inc.

Certain schedules and attachments
have been omitted due to immateriality.
The Registrant agrees to furnish
supplementally a copy of any omitted
schedule or attachment to the Commission
upon request.

2(b) First Amendment dated as of
February 7, 1997 to Acquisition Agreement
listed as Exhibit 2(a) above

4 Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 1990
(as most recently amended and restated as of
February 7, 1997) among the Company, Defense
Holding Corp., the Banks listed therein and
Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as agent

(b) Reports on Form 8-K. There were no reports on Form 8-K
filed during the quarter ended December 31, 1996.

The information reported in Item 5 above satisfies the
requirements of Item 2 of Form 8-K. The Company will file
a Form 8-K not later than 60 days after February 22, 1997
containing the financial statement and pro forma financial
information required by Item 7 of Form 8-K.

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 ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

/s/ Philip M. Ford

Philip M. Ford
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial
Officer

(as duly authorized
officer and principal
Dated: February 13, 1997 financial officer of
the registrant)