1 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 September 30, 2000 ------------------ 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 0-4776 ------ STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 06-0633559 - ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. employer incorporation or organization) identification no.) Lacey Place, Southport, Connecticut 06490 - ---------------------------------------- --------------------------- (Address of principal executive (Zip code) offices) (203) 259-7843 -------------- (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 requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No ----- ----- The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock as of October 31, 2000: Common Stock, $1 par value - 26,910,720. Page 1 of 22
2 INDEX STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES <TABLE> <CAPTION> PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION - ----------------------------- <S> <C> Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed consolidated balance sheets--September 30, 2000 and December 31, 1999 3 Condensed consolidated statements of income--Three months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999; Nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999 5 Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows--Nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999 6 Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements--September 30, 2000 7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 12 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 16 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION - -------------------------- Item 1. Legal Proceedings 16 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 18 SIGNATURES 19 - ---------- </TABLE> 2
3 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) <TABLE> <CAPTION> September 30, December 31, 2000 1999 --------------- -------------- (unaudited) (Note) <S> <C> <C> ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,011 $ 8,164 Short-term investments 68,143 70,611 Trade receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts ($1,267 and $1,392) and discounts ($1,793 and $1,749) 20,459 20,270 Inventories: Finished products 13,479 9,467 Materials and products in process 34,659 28,518 --------------- -------------- 48,138 37,985 Deferred income taxes 10,139 8,700 Prepaid expenses and other assets 1,078 1,123 --------------- -------------- Total Current Assets 152,968 146,853 Property, plant and equipment 149,082 149,433 Less allowances for depreciation (106,114) (102,567) --------------- -------------- 42,968 46,866 Deferred income taxes 2,531 2,979 Other assets 16,478 14,887 --------------- -------------- $214,945 $211,585 =============== ============== </TABLE> 3
4 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) <TABLE> <CAPTION> September 30, December 31, 2000 1999 ---------------- -------------- (unaudited) (Note) <S> <C> <C> LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 10,464 $ 5,623 Product safety modifications 502 598 Product liability 3,000 3,000 Employee compensation 9,365 11,158 Workers' compensation 4,803 4,975 Income taxes 1,422 2,906 ---------------- -------------- Total Current Liabilities 29,556 28,260 Product liability accrual 15,161 16,499 Contingent liabilities --Note 7 -- -- Stockholders' Equity Common Stock, non-voting, par value $1: Authorized shares 50,000; none issued -- -- Common Stock, par value $1: Authorized shares - 40,000,000 Issued and outstanding - 26,910,720 26,911 26,911 Additional paid-in capital 2,434 2,434 Retained earnings 141,016 137,614 Accumulated other comprehensive income (133) (133) ---------------- -------------- 170,228 166,826 ---------------- -------------- $214,945 $211,585 ================ ============== </TABLE> Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 1999 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 4
5 STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) <TABLE> <CAPTION> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2000 1999 2000 1999 ----------------------------- ------------------------------ <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Firearms sales $33,985 $42,651 $122,674 $139,518 Castings sales 9,049 12,793 29,184 41,835 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Net sales 43,034 55,444 151,858 181,353 Cost of products sold 31,949 39,826 109,762 131,024 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 11,085 15,618 42,096 50,329 Expenses: Selling 3,544 3,344 10,466 9,823 General and administrative 1,360 1,534 4,309 4,627 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 4,904 4,878 14,775 14,450 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 6,181 10,740 27,321 35,879 Other income-net 1,382 993 4,833 2,610 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Income before income taxes 7,563 11,733 32,154 38,489 Income taxes 2,964 4,752 12,604 15,588 ------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Net income $ 4,599 $ 6,981 $ 19,550 $ 22,901 ============= ============== ============== ============== Basic and diluted earnings per share $0.17 $0.26 $0.73 $0.85 ===== ===== ===== ===== Cash dividends per share $0.20 $0.20 $0.60 $0.60 ===== ===== ===== ===== </TABLE> See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 5
6 STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (Dollars in thousands) <TABLE> <CAPTION> Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000 1999 --------------------------------- <S> <C> <C> Cash Provided By Operating Activities $12,464 $ 47,955 Investing Activities Property, plant and equipment additions (4,297) (3,040) Purchases of short-term investments (106,497) (133,603) Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments 108,965 106,351 Net proceeds from sale of non-manufacturing real estate 1,978 169 Net proceeds from sale of Uni-Cast assets 382 -- --------------- ---------------- Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 531 (30,123) --------------- ---------------- Financing Activities Dividends paid (16,148) (16,148) --------------- ---------------- Cash used in financing activities (16,148) (16,148) --------------- ---------------- (Decrease)increase in cash and cash equivalents (3,153) 1,684 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 8,164 4,680 --------------- ---------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $5,011 $ 6,364 =============== ================ </TABLE> See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. 6
7 STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) September 30, 2000 NOTE 1--Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2000. For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. NOTE 2--Significant Accounting Policies Organization: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. ("Company") is principally engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of firearms and investment castings. The Company's design and manufacturing operations are located in the United States. Substantially all sales are domestic. The Company's firearms are sold through a select number of distributors to the sporting and law enforcement markets. Investment castings are sold either directly or through manufacturers' representatives to companies in a wide variety of industries. Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. NOTE 3--Inventories Inventories are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs existing at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations must necessarily be based on management's estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs. Because these are subject to many forces beyond management's control, interim results are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. 7
8 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)--CONTINUED NOTE 4--Income Taxes The Company's effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate principally as a result of state income taxes. Total income tax payments during the nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999 were $15.1 million and $15.7 million, respectively. NOTE 5-- Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Basic and diluted earnings per share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the impact of options outstanding using the treasury stock method, when applicable. NOTE 6--Comprehensive Income As there were no non-owner changes in equity during the first nine months of 2000 and 1999, total comprehensive income equals net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999, or $4.6 million and $7.0 million, and $19.6 million and $22.9 million, respectively. NOTE 7--Contingent Liabilities As of September 30, 2000 the Company is a defendant in approximately 44 lawsuits involving its products and is aware of certain other such claims. These lawsuits and claims fall within two categories: (i) those that claim damages from the Company related to allegedly defective product design which stem from a specific incident. These lawsuits and claims are based principally on the theory of "strict liability" but also may be based on negligence, breach of warranty, and other legal theories, and (ii) those brought by cities, municipalities, counties, individuals (including certain putative class actions) and one state Attorney General against numerous firearms manufacturers, distributors and dealers seeking to recover damages allegedly arising out of the misuse of firearms by third parties in the commission of homicides, suicides and other shootings involving juveniles and adults. The complaints by municipalities seek damages, among other things, for the costs of medical care, police and emergency services, public health services, and the maintenance of courts, prisons, and other services. In certain instances, the plaintiffs seek to recover for decreases in property values and loss of business within the city due to criminal violence. In addition, nuisance abatement and/or injunctive relief is sought to change the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution practices of the various defendants. These suits allege, among other claims, strict liability or negligence in the design of products, public nuisance, negligent entrustment, negligent distribution, deceptive or fraudulent advertising, violation of consumer protection statutes and conspiracy or concert of action theories. None of these cases allege a specific injury to a specific individual as a result of the misuse or use of any of the Company's products. 8
9 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)--CONTINUED Management believes that, in every case, the allegations are unfounded, and that the shootings and any results therefrom were due to negligence or misuse of the firearms by third-parties or the claimant, and that there should be no recovery against the Company. Defenses further exist to the suits brought by cities, municipalities, counties, and the Attorney General based, among other reasons, on established state law precluding recovery by municipalities for essential government services, the remoteness of the claims, the types of damages sought to be recovered, and limitations on the extraterritorial authority which may be exerted by a city, municipality, county or state county under state and federal law, including State and Federal Constitutions. The only case against the Company alleging liability for criminal shootings by third-parties to ever be permitted to go before a jury, Hamilton, et. al. v. Accu-tek, et. al., resulted in a defense verdict in favor of the Company on February 11, 1999. In that case, numerous firearms manufacturers and distributors had been sued, alleging damages as a result of alleged negligent sales practices and "industry-wide" liability. The Company and its marketing and distribution practices were exonerated from any claims of negligence in each of the seven cases decided by the jury. The Court upheld the verdict of the jury and dismissed each case as to the Company in its later opinion. The three defendants found liable have filed a notice of appeal from the Court's decision. On August 16, 2000, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals certified certain questions involving the appeal to the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court for resolution. On October 7, 1999 a lawsuit brought against the Company and numerous firearms manufacturers and distributors by the mayor of Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati v. Beretta U.S.A. Corp., et. al., was dismissed. This was the first dismissal of one of the lawsuits which have been filed by certain cities, municipalities and counties. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed this decision on August 11, 2000. Such lawsuits filed by the cities of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Miami, Florida and Chicago, Illinois have been completely dismissed and that filed by the city of Atlanta has been partially dismissed. The Cleveland suit has withstood an initial motion to dismiss in the trial court, and in New Orleans the Court declared legislation passed to prohibit such suits unconstitutional. The Detroit/Wayne County case was also partially dismissed, and the Michigan legislature has passed legislation precluding such suits. The Boston case and the California city claims (consolidated into one case) have been permitted to proceed into the discovery phase. Appeals of all trial court decisions are pending or will be filed when appropriate. Motions to dismiss other such lawsuits are pending or will be filed when timely. The Company management monitors the status of known claims and the product liability accrual, which includes amounts for asserted and unasserted claims. While it is not possible to forecast the outcome of litigation or the timing of costs, in the opinion of management, after consultation with special and corporate counsel, it is not probable and is unlikely that litigation, including punitive damage claims, will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material impact on the Company's financial results for a particular period. Punitive damages, as well as compensatory damages, are demanded in many of the lawsuits and claims. Aggregate claimed amounts presently exceed product liability accruals and applicable insurance coverage. As of March 18, 1982, compensatory and punitive damage insurance coverage is provided, in States where permitted, for losses exceeding $1.0 million of loss per occurrence or an aggregate maximum loss of $4.0 million. For claims which the Company has been notified in writing between July 10, 1988, through July 10, 1989, coverage is provided for losses exceeding $2.5 million per claim or an aggregate maximum loss of $9.0 million. For claims made between July 10, 1989, and July 10, 1991, the aggregate maximum loss is $7.5 million. For claims made after July 10, 1992, coverage is provided for losses exceeding $2.25 million per claim, or an aggregate maximum 9
10 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)--CONTINUED loss of $6.5 million. For claims made after July 10, 1994, coverage is provided for losses exceeding $2.0 million per claim, or an aggregate maximum loss of $6.0 million. For claims made after July 10, 1997, coverage is provided for annual losses exceeding $2.0 million per claim, or an aggregate maximum loss of $5.5 million annually. On March 17, 2000, Smith & Wesson announced that it had reached a settlement to conclude some of the municipal lawsuits with various governmental entities. On March 30, 2000, the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General began an investigation of certain alleged "anticompetitive practices in the firearms industry." On April 17, the State of Maryland's Attorney General also made similar inquiries as to the Company. On August 9, 2000, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission also filed such a civil investigative demand regarding the Smith & Wesson settlement. The Company has not engaged in any improper conduct and has cooperated with these investigations. The Company has reported all cases instituted against it through June 30, 2000 and the results of those cases, where terminated, to the S.E.C. on its previous Form 10-K and 10-Q reports, to which reference is hereby made. 10
11 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)--CONTINUED NOTE 8--Operating Segment Information The Company has two reportable segments: firearms and investment castings. The firearms segment manufactures and sells rifles, pistols, revolvers, and shotguns principally to a select number of independent wholesale distributors primarily located in the United States. The investment castings segment consists of two operating divisions which manufacture and sell titanium and steel investment castings. Selected operating segment financial information follows (in thousands): <TABLE> <CAPTION> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ------------------ ------------------ September 30, September 30, ------------- ------------- 2000 1999 2000 1999 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> Net Sales Firearms $33,985 $42,651 $122,674 $ 139,518 Castings Unaffiliated 9,049 12,793 29,184 41,835 Intersegment 7,784 5,116 22,853 19,156 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16,833 17,909 52,037 60,991 Eliminations (7,784) (5,116) (22,853) (19,156) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $43,034 $55,444 $151,858 $181,353 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Income Before Income Taxes Firearms $6,231 $10,163 $26,952 $34,337 Castings 348 1,011 1,426 2,814 Corporate 984 559 3,776 1,338 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $7,563 $11,733 $32,154 $38,489 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ <CAPTION> September 30, December 31, 2000 1999 ---------------------------------- <S> <C> <C> Identifiable Assets Firearms $80,373 $71,756 Castings 33,700 35,753 Corporate 100,872 104,076 ---------------------------------- $214,945 $211,585 ---------------------------------- </TABLE> 11
12 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Results of Operations The Company achieved consolidated net sales of $43.0 million and $151.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2000, respectively. This represents decreases of 22.4% and 16.3% from the respective 1999 consolidated net sales of $55.4 million and $181.4 million. Firearms segment net sales decreased by $8.7 million or 20.3% in the third quarter of 2000 to $34.0 million from $42.7 million in the third quarter of the prior year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2000, firearms segment net sales decreased by $16.8 million or 12.1% to $122.7 million, compared to the corresponding 1999 period. Firearms unit shipments decreased 26.2% for the three-month period and 18.3% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2000 from the comparable 1999 periods. The unit decrease reflects a decline in overall market demand with the exception of double action and single action revolvers, which increased by 17.4% in the third quarter of 2000. The Company's Fiftieth Anniversary commemorative models which were available exclusively in 1999 may have increased firearms unit sales in the second quarter of 1999. Partially compensating for this reduced demand during 2000 was a special promotion in September 2000 that allowed for an 11% discount on certain of the Company's rifles and shotguns which favorably impacted the third quarter of 2000. The Company anticipates that total firearms sales in 2000 may be below the level achieved in 1999. In 2000, the Company instituted a sales incentive program for its distributors that allows them to earn rebates of up to 15% if certain annual overall sales targets are achieved. This program replaces a similar program offered in 1999. Casting segment net sales decreased by $3.7 million or 29.3% to $9.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2000 from $12.8 million in the third quarter of 1999. For the nine months ended September 30, 2000, casting segment net sales decreased $12.7 million or 30.2% to $29.2 million. The reduction in casting segment sales for the three and nine months ended September 30,2000 from the comparable 1999 periods was principally due to a decrease in golf club heads shipped to Callaway Golf Company, Inc. Shipments to other golf companies (primarily Karsten Manufacturing Corporation) for the first nine months of 2000, increased 136% from the comparable 1999 period, and partially offset this decrease. Increased shipments of non-golf products, including marine propellers, also partially compensated for the decrease in club head shipments. The Company anticipates that total casting segment sales in 2000 may be below the level achieved in 1999. The Company continues to actively pursue other titanium and steel casting business opportunities. Consolidated cost of products sold for the third quarter of 2000 and the nine months ended September 30, 2000 was $31.9 million and $109.8 million compared to $39.8 million and $131.0 million in the corresponding 1999 periods, respectively, representing a decrease of 19.8% and 16.2%, respectively. This was primarily attributable to decreased firearms and casting segment sales during the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2000. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales remained consistent at 27.7% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2000, as compared to 27.8% in the comparable 1999 period. For the third quarter of 2000, gross profit as a percent of net sales decreased to 25.8% from 28.2% in the third quarter of 1999. Margin erosion in the quarter was caused by lower sales partially offset by lower product liability expenses than were experienced in 1999. 12
13 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--CONTINUED Selling, general and administrative expenses of $4.9 million remained consistent for the quarters ended September 30, 2000 and 1999. For the nine months ended September 30, 2000, selling, general and administrative expenses increased slightly to $14.8 million from $14.5 million in 1999 due to increased national advertising initiatives incurred in the first half of 2000 compared to the first half of 1999. Other income-net increased by $0.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2000 compared to the third quarter of 1999 and increased $2.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2000 compared to the corresponding 1999 period. The increase for the nine month period reflects a gain on the sale of non-manufacturing real estate in the second quarter of 2000. The increase for the quarter is due to increased earnings on Treasury Bill and Treasury Bond investments as a result of increased principal and improved interest rates. The effective income tax rate of 39.2% in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2000, compared to 40.5% in the corresponding 1999 periods, reflects lower effective state tax rates. As a result of the foregoing factors, consolidated net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2000 decreased to $4.6 million and $19.6 million, respectively, from $7.0 million and $22.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 1999, respectively, representing decreases of $2.4 million or 34.1% and $3.3 million or 14.6%, respectively. Financial Condition At September 30, 2000, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $73.2 million, working capital of $123.4 million and a current ratio of 5.2 to 1. Cash provided by operating activities was $12.5 million and $48.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities for the 2000 period is principally a result of the increase in inventories in the first nine months of 2000 compared to a reduction in inventories in the comparable 1999 period and various other working capital requirements. The Company follows an industry-wide practice of offering a "dating plan" to its firearms customers on selected products, which allows the purchasing distributor to buy the products commencing in December, the start of the Company's dating plan year, and pay for them on extended terms. Discounts are offered for early payment. The dating plan provides a revolving payment plan under which payments for all shipments made during the period December through February have to be made by April 30. Shipments made in subsequent months have to be paid for within approximately 90 days. The Company has reserved the right to discontinue the dating plan at any time and has been able to finance this dating plan from internally generated funds provided by operating activities. Capital expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2000 totaled $4.3 million. For the past two years capital expenditures averaged approximately $1.3 million per quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2000, the Company expects to spend approximately $2 million on capital expenditures to upgrade and modernize manufacturing equipment. The Company finances, and intends to continue to finance, all of these activities with funds provided by operations. 13
14 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--CONTINUED For the nine months ended September 30, 2000 dividends paid totaled $16.1 million. This amount reflects the regular quarterly dividend of $.20 per share paid in March, June and September 2000. On October 24, 2000 the Company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.20 per share payable on December 15, 2000. Future dividends depend on many factors, including internal estimates of future performance and the Company's need for funds. Historically, the Company has not required external financing. Based on its cash flow and unencumbered assets, the Company believes it has the ability to raise substantial amounts of short-term or long-term debt. The Company does not anticipate any need for external financing through 2000. The purchase of firearms is subject to many federal, state and local governmental regulations. The basic federal laws are the National Firearms Act, the Federal Firearms Act, and the Gun Control Act of 1968. These laws generally prohibit the private ownership of fully automatic weapons and place certain restrictions on the interstate sale of firearms unless certain licenses are obtained. The Company does not manufacture fully automatic weapons, other than for the law enforcement market, and holds all necessary licenses under these Federal laws. From time to time, congressional committees review proposed bills relating to the regulation of firearms. These proposed bills generally seek either to restrict or ban the sale and, in some cases, the ownership of various types of firearms. Several states currently have laws in effect similar to the aforementioned legislation. Until November 30, 1998, the "Brady Law" mandated a nationwide five-day waiting period and background check prior to the purchase of a handgun. As of November 30, 1998, the National Instant Check System, which applies to both handguns and long guns, replaced the five-day waiting period. The Company believes that the "Brady Law" has not had a significant effect on the Company's sales of firearms, nor does it anticipate any impact on sales in the future. The "Crime Bill" took effect on September 13, 1994, but none of the Company's products were banned as so-called "assault weapons." To the contrary, all the Company's then-manufactured long guns were exempted by name as "legitimate sporting firearms." The Company remains strongly opposed to laws which would unduly restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens to acquire firearms for legitimate purposes. The Company believes that the private ownership of firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and that the widespread private ownership of firearms in the United States will continue. However, there can be no assurance that the regulation of firearms will not become more restrictive in the future and that any such restriction would not have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company. The Company is a defendant in certain lawsuits involving its products and is aware of certain other such claims. The Company has expended significant amounts of financial resources and management time in connection with product liability litigation. Management believes that, in every case, the allegations are unfounded, and that the shootings and any results therefrom were due to negligence or misuse of the firearm by third parties or the claimant, and that there should be no recovery against the Company. Defenses further exist to the suits brought by cities, municipalities, counties, and the Attorney General based, among other reasons, on established state law precluding recovery by municipalities for essential government services, the remoteness of the claims, the types of damages sought to be recovered, and limitations on the extraterritorial authority which may be exerted by a city, municipality, county or state county under state and federal law, including State and Federal Constitutions. 14
15 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--CONTINUED The only case against the Company alleging liability for criminal shootings by third-parties to ever be permitted to go before a jury, Hamilton, et. al. v. Accu-tek, et. al., resulted in a defense verdict in favor of the Company on February 11, 1999. In that case, numerous firearms manufacturers and distributors had been sued, alleging damages as a result of alleged negligent sales practices and "industry-wide" liability. The Company and its marketing and distribution practices were exonerated from any claims of negligence in each of the seven cases decided by the jury. The Court upheld the verdict of the jury and dismissed each case as to the Company in its later opinion. The three defendants found liable have filed a notice of appeal from the Court's decision. On August 16, 2000, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals certified certain questions involving the appeal to the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court for resolution. On October 7, 1999 a lawsuit brought against the Company and numerous firearms manufacturers and distributors by the mayor of Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati v. Beretta U.S.A. Corp., et. al., was dismissed. This was the first dismissal of one of the lawsuits which have been filed by certain cities, municipalities and counties. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed this decision on August 11, 2000. Such lawsuits filed by the cities of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Miami, Florida and Chicago, Illinois have been completely dismissed and that filed by the city of Atlanta has been partially dismissed. The Cleveland suit has withstood an initial motion to dismiss in the trial court, and in New Orleans the Court declared legislation passed to prohibit such suits unconstitutional. The Detroit/Wayne County case was also partially dismissed, and the Michigan legislature has passed legislation precluding such suits. The Boston case and the California city claims (consolidated into one case) have been permitted to proceed into the discovery phase. Appeals of all trial court decisions are pending or will be filed when appropriate. Motions to dismiss other such lawsuits are pending or will be filed when timely. The Company's management monitors the status of known claims and the product liability accrual, which includes amounts for asserted and unasserted claims. While it is not possible to forecast the outcome of litigation or the timing of costs, in the opinion of management, after consultation with special and corporate counsel, it is not probable and is unlikely that litigation, including punitive damage claims, will have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Company, but may have a material impact on the Company's financial results for a particular period. In the normal course of its manufacturing operations, the Company is subject to occasional governmental proceedings and orders pertaining to waste disposal, air emissions and water discharges into the environment. The Company believes that it is generally in compliance with applicable environmental regulations and the outcome of such proceedings and orders will not have a material adverse effect on its business. The Company expects to realize its deferred tax assets through tax deductions against future taxable income or carry back against taxes previously paid. Inflation's effect on the Company's operations is most immediately felt in cost of products sold because the Company values inventory on the LIFO basis. Generally under this method, the cost of products sold reported in the financial statements approximates current costs, and thus, reduces distortion in reported income which would result from the slower recognition of increased costs when other methods are used. The use of historical cost depreciation has a beneficial effect on cost of products sold. The Company has been affected by inflation in line with the general economy. 15
16 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--CONTINUED In 1999, the Company completed an assessment of the Year 2000 issue as it related to information technology systems, non-information technology applications, and third parties. Currently, the Company has not experienced any material Year 2000 problems with its internal systems, and is not aware of any such problems experienced by its customers, vendors or other third parties. However, if latent Year 2000 problems exist in internal systems or Year 2000 problems exist with third parties and remain unknown, the Company may experience an adverse material impact related to Year 2000. Forward-Looking Statements and Projections The Company may, from time to time, make forward-looking statements and projections concerning future expectations. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to certain qualifying risks and uncertainties, such as market demand, sales levels of firearms, anticipated castings sales and earnings, the need for external financing for operations or capital expenditures, the results of pending litigation against the Company including lawsuits filed by mayors, attorneys general and other governmental entities and membership organizations, and the impact of future firearms control and environmental legislation, any one or more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such forward-looking statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of subsequent unanticipated events. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK The Company is exposed to changes in prevailing market interest rates affecting the return on its investments but does not consider this interest rate market risk exposure to be material to its financial condition or results of operations. The Company invests primarily in United States Treasury Bills and United States Treasury Bonds with short-term (less than one year) maturities. The carrying amount of these investments approximates fair value due to the short-term maturities. Under its current policies, the Company does not use derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments or other financial instruments to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates or commodity prices. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The nature of the legal proceedings against the Company is discussed in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q report, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Company has reported all cases instituted against it through June 30, 2000, and the results of those cases, where terminated, to the S.E.C. on its previous Form 10-K and 10-Q reports, to which reference is hereby made. The following cases were instituted against the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2000, which involved significant demands for compensatory and/or punitive damages: 16
17 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS--CONTINUED City of New York, et. al. v. Arms Technology, Et. et. al. (NY) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The Company learned of this complaint on June 20, 2000, but was not served until September 6, 2000. The complaint alleges that the defendants have created, contributed to, and maintained a public nuisance to the City of New York because of their allegedly negligent marketing and distribution practices. The complaint also alleges that the defendants have failed to design firearms with safety devices, and have allegedly failed to provide adequate warnings. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, compensatory, general and punitive damages, plus other costs to be determined by the Court. People of the State of New York, et. al. v. Company, et. al. (NY) in the New York State Supreme Court, County of New York. The Company learned of this complaint on June 26, 2000, but was not served until August 4, 2000. The complaint alleges that the defendants have contributed to and maintained a public nuisance to the State of New York allegedly through negligent marketing, advertising, and distribution practices. Plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief, plus other costs to be determined by the Court. Stephen Tracy Anderson, et. al. v. Bryco Arms, et. al. (IL) in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The Company learned of this complaint on June 29, 2000, but was not served until July 7, 2000. The complaint alleges that plaintiffs were injured by Benjamin Smith using various types of firearms, one injured party sustaining injuries arising out of the use of a Ruger handgun. Damages and other costs to be determined by the Court are demanded. James Foster-el, et. al. v. Beretta, U.S.A. Corp., et. al. (DC) in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. The Company learned of this complaint on July 7, 2000. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff's wife was fatally injured during a neighborhood dispute by an assailant utilizing a handgun of unknown manufacture. Plaintiffs seek general, special, compensatory, and punitive damages, injunctive relief, and other costs to be determined by the Court. Rose Binkley, et. al. v. Company (MI) in the Court of the County of Eaton, State of Michigan. The complaint, which was served on September 26, 2000, alleges that plaintiff's son was fatally injured by George Campbell arising out of the use of a Ruger rifle, allegedly while also abusing alcohol and marijuana. Damages and other costs to be determined by the Court are demanded. During the three months ending September 30, 2000, one previously-reported case was settled: Case Name Jurisdiction Kurthy California The settlement amount was within the Company's limits of its self-insurance coverage. The public nuisance claims in the case of The City of Chicago (IL) were dismissed as to all defendants by the Circuit Court of Cook County on September 15, 2000. Negligence claims had previously been dismissed by the trial court. The case has now been dismissed in its entirety. Plaintiffs have said they will appeal this dismissal. The dismissal of the previously-reported case of City of Cincinnati (OH) was affirmed by the Ohio Court of Appeals on August 11, 2000. It is unknown at this time if the city will attempt a further appeal. 17
18 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Exhibits - Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule (b) The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the three months ended September 30, 2000. 18
19 STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 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. STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC. --------------------------------------- Date: November 3, 2000 S/ERLE G. BLANCHARD ---------------- --------------------------------------- Erle G. Blanchard Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Vice Chairman, President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer 19