H.B. Fuller
FUL
#3787
Rank
$3.36 B
Marketcap
$61.68
Share price
3.77%
Change (1 day)
10.84%
Change (1 year)

H.B. Fuller - 10-Q quarterly report FY


Text size:
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549


FORM 10-Q



QUARTERLY REPORT


Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 1, 1997


Commission File No. 0-3488



H. B. FULLER COMPANY
A Minnesota Corporation
IRS Employer Identification No. 41-0268370
1200 Willow Lake Boulevard, P.O. Box 64683,
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0683
Telephone - (612) 415-5900


Common Stock, $1.00 par value
14,094,900 shares outstanding
as of March 31, 1997


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____
----



-1-
H. B. FULLER COMPANY
FIRST QUARTER 1997 Form 10-Q
Quarterly Report


Table of Contents



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1. Financial Statements:

Consolidated Condensed Statements of
Earnings - Thirteen weeks ended
March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets -
March 1, 1997 and November 30, 1996

Consolidated Condensed Statements of
Cash Flows - Thirteen weeks ended
March 1, 1997 and period ended March 2, 1996

Notes to Consolidated Condensed
Financial Statements

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



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


Signatures



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H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED
--------------------------------
MARCH 1, 1997 MARCH 2, 1996
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
NET SALES $304,091 $303,571
-------- --------
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 209,363 211,510
Selling, administrative
and other expenses 79,395 82,034
Interest expense 4,980 5,256
Other (income) expense, net 480 290
-------- --------
294,218 299,090
-------- --------
Earnings before income taxes and
minority interests 9,873 4,481
Income taxes (4,028) (1,788)
Net earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
applicable to minority interests (24) (23)
-------- --------
Net earnings 5,821 2,670
Dividends on preferred stock (4) (4)
-------- --------
NET EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK $ 5,817 $ 2,666
======== ========
Average number of common and common
equivalent shares outstanding 14,190 14,088
======== ========
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE $0.41 $0.19
======== ========
Cash dividend per common share $0.17 $0.16
======== ========
</TABLE>

* See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


MARCH 1, 1997 NOVEMBER 30, 1996
------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,847 $ 3,515
Trade receivables 195,986 199,786
Allowance for doubtful accounts (6,723) (7,043)
Inventories 150,961 151,212
Other current assets 43,239 40,728
-------- --------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 386,310 388,198

Property, plant and equipment, net of
accumulated depreciation of $273,543
in 1997 and $272,991 in 1996 386,873 391,201
Other intangibles 14,768 15,383
Excess cost 34,981 36,036
Other assets 38,234 38,457
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS $861,166 $869,275
======== ========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Notes payable 48,854 47,920
Current installments of long-term debt 10,498 11,141
Accounts payable 108,499 118,181
Accrued expenses 52,225 61,210
Income taxes payable 12,034 8,129
-------- --------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 232,110 246,581

Long-term debt,
excluding current installments 183,349 172,779

Deferred income taxes, accrued pension
cost, postretirement costs, other
liabilities and minority interests 111,517 115,175

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock 306 306
Common stock 14,090 14,066
Additional paid-in capital 23,116 22,493
Retained earnings 296,312 292,828
Foreign currency translation adjustment 4,278 9,097
Unearned compensation (3,912) (4,050)
-------- --------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 334,190 334,740
-------- --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $861,166 $869,275
======== ========

</TABLE>


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.



-4-
H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Thirteen Weeks
Ended Period Ended *
March 1, 1997 March 2, 1996
--------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings $ 5,821 $ 2,789
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 11,203 14,437
Pension costs 2,764 2,998
Deferred income tax (624) 1,248
Other items (1,473) 3,571
Change in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (685) (6,833)
Inventory (3,067) 6,091
Prepaid assets (5,101) (2,616)
Accounts payable (4,825) (8,126)
Accrued expense (4,330) (9,216)
Income taxes payable 1,420 (2,606)
-------- --------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 1,103 1,737

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchased property, plant and equipment (12,395) (22,161)
-------- --------
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (12,395) (22,161)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in long-term debt 16,977 26,359
Current installments and payments of long-term debt (4,715) (13,544)
Notes payable 1,722 12,289
Dividends paid (2,328) (2,245)
Other (916) (654)
-------- --------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 10,740 22,205

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (116) (197)
-------- --------
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (668) 1,584
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 3,515 9,061
-------- --------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 2,847 $ 10,645
======== ========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest expense (net of amount capitalized) $ 7,689 $ 5,748
Income taxes $ 3,182 $ 1,094

Noncash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired by incurring long-term debt $ - $ 3,765

</TABLE>

For purposes of this statement, the Company considers all highly liquid debt
instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash
equivalents.

* Includes the thirteen weeks ended March 1, 1996 for all entities and the two
month stub period for Non-U.S. entities.


-5-
H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
(Amounts in Thousands)
(Unaudited)


1. In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements include all adjustments necessary to
present fairly the financial position as of March 1, 1997 and November 30,
1996, the results of its operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 1,
1997 and March 2, 1996 and its cash flows for the thirteen weeks ended
March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996. All adjustments were of a normal
recurring nature.

2. The results of operations for the thirteen week period ended March 1, 1997
are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full
year.

3. The composition of inventories is presented below:



March 1, 1997 November 30, 1996
------------- -----------------


Raw materials $ 68,952 $ 67,562
Finished goods 93,130 94,642
LIFO reserve (11,121) (10,992)
-------- --------
$150,961 $151,212
======== ========

4. Net earnings per common share is determined by dividing the net earnings
applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common and
common equivalent shares outstanding (stock options).

5. The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts as a hedge
against firm commitment foreign currency intercompany accounts
receivable/payable/debt. Market value gains and losses are recognized, and
the resulting credit or debit offsets foreign exchange gains or losses on
those receivables/payables/debt. At March 1, 1997, the aggregate contract
value of instruments used to sell 4,823 pound sterling and $4,569 to buy
foreign currency (primarily 22,112 Dutch guilders) was $12,101. The
contracts mature between April 28, 1997 and November 20, 2000.



-6-
6.    The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's
significant other financial instruments at March 1, 1997, are as follows:


Carrying Fair
Amount Value
-------- --------

Cash and short-term investments $ 2,847 $ 2,847
Notes payable 48,854 48,854
Long-term debt 193,847 201,423

Fair values of short-term financial instruments approximate their carrying
values due to their short maturity.

The fair value of long-term debt is based on quoted market prices for the
same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to the Company for
debt of similar maturities. The estimates presented above on long-term
financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that
would be realized in a current market exchange.



-7-
Item 2.

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands)

The following discussion includes comments and data relating to the Company's
financial condition and results of operations during the periods included in
the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Results of Operations

Net sales for the first quarter of 1997 increased $520 or 0.2% when compared
to the same quarter in 1996. Adjusting the 1996 sales for the $7,283 sales
of Monarch Division, which was divested in third quarter 1996, sales
increased $7,803, or 2.6%.

A comparison of sales increases by operating area is as follows:


Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 1, 1997 And
Operating Area March 2, 1996
--------------- -------------------

North America $ 5,137 3%
Latin America 300 1%
Europe (4,926) (7%)
Asia/Pacific 9 --
-------

Total $ 520 --
=======


In North America, the 3% first quarter sales increase was composed of 5
percentage points relating to increased volume and changes in product mix, 3
percentage points resulting from a second quarter 1996 acquisition, a
negative 4 percentage points from the third quarter 1996 divestiture of
Monarch Division, and a negative one percentage point from pricing. The
Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings Group had a 7% increase in sales with 4%
resulting from a second quarter 1996 acquisition. The growth occurred
primarily in the paper/converting and graphic arts markets of the industrial
adhesives group and in the engineered systems and window markets of the
structural adhesives group. A slow down in car production caused a decrease
in automotive sales compared to the prior period and a similar slowdown in
key sectors had a negative impact on our polymer sales. In the Specialty
Group, sales increased 9%, excluding the impact of the Monarch Division
divestiture. The primary growth in sales occurred in Industrial Coatings
Division and TEC Incorporated where significant growth occurred. Foster
Products sales were down substantially due to delays in export customer
projects. North American operating earnings grew at a rate of 44% increasing
from $5,547 to $8,001.

-8-
Latin American first quarter 1997 sales increased 1% from 1996.  The increase
in sales is composed of 2 percentage points relating to increased volume and
changes in product mix partially offset by a 1 percentage point decrease in
pricing. Latin American operating earnings increased 23% when compared to
1996, increasing from $4,164 to $5,120. Stable raw material costs and tight
cost controls were the primary causes for the improved earnings.

In Europe, the 7% first quarter 1997 sales decrease was composed of 7
percentage points resulting from unfavorable foreign currency translations
due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, a negative 5 percentage points
due to pricing, and a positive 5 percentage points due to increased volume
and changes in product mix. Operating earnings increased from $731 in first
quarter 1996 to $2,343 in 1997. Increased sales volumes, stable raw
materials and tight cost controls produced the increase in earnings.

Asia/Pacific sales approximated the sales of the same period last year. The
strengthening of the U.S. dollar, compared to local currencies, caused a 4
percentage point decrease. A positive 6 percentage point increase due to
increased volume and changes in product mix was partially offset by a
negative 2 percentage points in pricing. Operating earnings improved from
($415) in 1996 to ($131) in 1997.

Cost of sales for the first quarter decreased 1.0% ($2,147) over the same
quarter in 1996. Consolidated gross margins, as a percent of sales,
increased from 30.33% in 1996 to 31.15% in 1997. Gross margins, as a percent
of sales, increased in all geographic operating areas. Excluding Monarch
Division, which was divested in the third quarter of 1996, 1996 gross margin,
as a percent of sales, would have been 30.05%. Stable to reduced raw
materials costs compared to first quarter 1996, improved volumes, and cost
control measures were the reason for the improved gross margins. Some
suppliers, early in the second quarter of 1997, have announced price
increases of certain raw materials. The Company has already announced price
increases in North America effective April 30, 1997, and is planning to
increase prices in the rest of the world.

Selling, administrative, and other expenses for the quarter were down 3.2%
($2,639) when compared to the prior year. This category of expense, as a
percent of sales, improved from 27.0% in 1996 to 26.1% in 1997. This
expense, as a percent of sales, decreases from 27.0% to 26.6% for first
quarter 1996, when Monarch Division results are excluded. Cost control
measures implemented in 1996 and carried into 1997 is the primary reason for
the improvement in this category of expense.

Income taxes for the first quarter of 1997 increased $2,240 (125.3%) when
compared to the first quarter of 1996 primarily as a result of increased
earnings. The 1996 effective tax rate increased from 39.9% in the first
quarter to 40.8% for the year. The first quarter of 1997 reflects the 40.8%
annual effective tax rate of 1996.

Net earnings increased from $2,670 in the first quarter of 1996 to $5,821 in
the first quarter of 1997.



-9-
Liquidity and Capital Resources

The cash flows as presented in this section have been calculated by
comparison of the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets at March 1, 1997 and
November 30, 1996 and March 2, 1996 and November 30, 1995.

During the first quarter of 1997, the Company generated $1,103 of cash to
finance operations as compared to $1,737 in the first quarter of 1996.

Working capital was $154,200 at March 1, 1997 compared to $141,617 at
November 30, 1996. The current ratio at March 1, 1997 was 1.7 compared to a
ratio of 1.6 at November 30, 1996. The number of days sales in trade
accounts receivable was 56 days at March 1, 1997 compared to 54 days sales
at March 2, 1996. The average days sales in inventory on hand was at 65 days
compared to 68 days sales at March 2, 1996. The primary reason for the
reduction in accrued expenses is the payment of year-end 1996 salary accruals
in the first quarter of 1997. The primary reason for the decrease in
accounts payable was the decrease in inventories.

The Company's long-term debt to total capitalization ratio was 35.4% at March
1, 1997 compared to 34.0% at November 30, 1996.

Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $12,395 in first
quarter 1997 were primarily for continued construction of a manufacturing
facility in Georgia, the investment in Information Technology, for general
improvements in manufacturing productivity and operating efficiency and for
environmental projects. Environmental capital expenditures, less than 10% of
total expenditures, are not a material portion of overall Company
expenditures.



-10-
H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Increases(Decreases)
(Dollars in Thousands)

A summary of the period changes in the principal items included in the
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings is presented below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Comparison of Thirteen
Weeks Ended March 1, 1997
and March 2, 1996
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C>

NET SALES $ 520 0.2%

Cost of sales 2,147 1.0%

Selling, administrative and other expenses 2,639 3.2%

Interest expense 276 5.3%

Other income (expense), net (190) (65.5%)
-------
Earnings before income taxes and
minority interests $ 5,392 *

Income taxes (2,240) *

Net earnings of consolidated subsidiaries
applicable to minority interests (1) (4.3%)
-------
NET EARNINGS $ 3,531 *
=======
</TABLE>

* Change of 100% or more.


-11-
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.

Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits to Part I

27 Financial Data Schedule

99 Report on Form 11-K of H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan

(b) Reports on Form 8-K. No reports on Form 8-K were filed for the thirteen
weeks ended March 1, 1997.


SIGNATURES


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.

H. B. Fuller Company



Dated: April 14, 1997 /S/ Jorge Walter Bolanos
------------------------
Jorge Walter Bolanos
Senior Vice President,
Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer



Dated: April 14, 1997 /S/ David J. Maki
-----------------------
David J. Maki
Vice President
and Controller



-12-