Graco (GGG) 10-Q 2003 Q3 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period endedSeptember 26, 2003

Commission File Number:001-9249

GRACO INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota	41-0285640
(State of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

88 - 11th Avenue N.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota	55413
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(612) 623-6000

(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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes        X        No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes        X        No

45,991,000 common shares were outstanding as of October 24, 2003.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

			Page Number
PART I	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Financial Statements
		Consolidated Statements of Earnings	3
		Consolidated Balance Sheets	4
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	5
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	6–10
	Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis
		of Financial Condition and
		Results of Operations	11–14
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	15
PART II	OTHER INFORMATION
	Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	16
	Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K	16
SIGNATURES			17
EXHIBITS

	PART I
	GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item I.	CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
	(Unaudited)
	(In thousands except per share amounts)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002
Net Sales	$133,788	$125,832	$399,812	$366,485
Cost of products sold	62,385	60,418	189,474	178,767
Gross Profit	71,403	65,414	210,338	187,718
Product development	4,464	4,813	13,265	13,501
Selling, marketing and distribution	23,794	21,426	71,979	63,314
General and administrative	9,111	8,438	27,680	24,940
Operating Earnings	34,034	30,737	97,414	85,963
Interest expense	146	122	386	382
Other expense (income), net	377	321	360	525
Earnings Before Income Taxes	33,511	30,294	96,668	85,056
Income taxes	10,800	9,800	31,300	27,500
Net Earnings	$  22,711	$  20,494	$  65,368	$  57,556
Basic Net Earnings
Per Common Share	$       .50	$       .43	$      1.41	$      1.21
Diluted Net Earnings
Per Common Share	$       .49	$       .42	$      1.39	$      1.19
Cash Dividends Declared
Per Common Share	$       .08	$       .07	$       .25	$       .22

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	Sept 26, 2003			Dec 27, 2002
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	95,993		$	103,333
Accounts receivable, less allowances
of $5,900 and $5,600		95,521			93,617
Inventories		32,591			30,311
Deferred income taxes		13,800			12,022
Other current assets		1,480			1,241
Total current assets		239,385			240,524
Property, Plant and Equipment:
Cost		226,114			219,427
Accumulated depreciation		(131,692	)		(124,474	)
		94,422			94,953
Goodwill		9,199			7,939
Other Intangible Assets, net		11,209			3,921
Other Assets		7,243			8,513
	$	361,458		$	355,850
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
Notes payable to banks	$	4,852		$	13,204
Trade accounts payable		12,915			13,031
Salaries, wages and commissions		14,231			14,490
Accrued insurance liabilities		10,241			10,251
Accrued warranty and service liabilities		7,731			6,294
Income taxes payable		4,237			5,583
Dividends payable		3,790			3,922
Other current liabilities		14,056			13,439
Total current liabilities		72,053			80,214
Retirement Benefits and Deferred Compensation		29,766			28,578
Deferred Income Taxes		2,516			1,652
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock		45,965			47,533
Additional paid-in capital		79,920			71,277
Retained earnings		132,256			128,125
Other, net		(1,018	)		(1,529	)
Total shareholders' equity		257,123			245,406
	$	361,458		$	355,850
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

	Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003			Sept 27, 2002
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Earnings	$	65,368		$	57,556
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization		13,568			13,876
Deferred income taxes		(764	)		344
Tax benefit related to stock options exercised		3,200			3,400
Change in:
Accounts receivable		2,077			(5,615	)
Inventories		957			2,248
Trade accounts payable		(1,539	)		2,299
Salaries, wages and commissions		(547	)		1,830
Retirement benefits and deferred compensation		2,173			(348	)
Other accrued liabilities		47			(2,055	)
Other		223			153
		84,763			73,688
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Property, plant and equipment additions		(10,934	)		(7,255	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		109			284
Acquisition of business		(13,514	)		--
		(24,339	)		(6,971	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Borrowings on notes payable and lines of credit		12,588			16,418
Payments on notes payable and lines of credit		(21,217	)		(13,771	)
Payments on long-term debt		--			(50	)
Common stock issued		9,427			12,114
Common stock retired		(55,496	)		(3,162	)
Cash dividends paid		(11,460	)		(10,398	)
		(66,158	)		1,151
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		(1,606	)		(596	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(7,340	)		67,272
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of year		103,333			26,531
End of period	$	95,993		$	93,803
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. The consolidated balance sheet of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 26, 2003, and the related statements of earnings for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002, and cash flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002 have been prepared by the Company without being audited.

In the opinion of management, these consolidated statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries as of September 26, 2003, and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2002 Form 10-K.

The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that will be realized for the full fiscal year.

2. The Company accounts for stock option and purchase plans using the intrinsic value method and has adopted the “disclosure only” provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure.” No compensation cost has been recognized for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and stock options granted under the various stock incentive plans.

Had compensation cost been determined based upon fair value (using the Black-Scholes option-pricing method) at the grant date for awards under these plans, the Company’s net earnings and earnings per share would have been reduced as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002
Net earnings
As reported	$22,711	$20,494	$65,368	$57,556
Stock-based compensation,
net of related tax effects	970	1,059	3,044	3,175
Pro forma	$21,741	$19,435	$62,324	$54,381
Net earnings per common
share
Basic as reported	$     .50	$     .43	$   1.41	$   1.21
Basic pro forma	.47	.41	1.35	1.15
Diluted as reported	.49	.42	1.39	1.19
Diluted pro forma	.47	.40	1.33	1.13

3. Total comprehensive income in 2003 was $22.7 million in the third quarter and $65.6 million year-to-date. In 2002, comprehensive income was $20.5 million for the third quarter and $57.6 million for the nine-month period. There have been no significant changes to the components of comprehensive income from those noted on the 2002 Form 10-K.

4. The Company has three reportable segments; Industrial/Automotive, Contractor and Lubrication. The Company does not identify assets by segment. Sales and operating earnings by segment for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2003 and September 27, 2002 were as follows (in thousands):

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003			Sept 27, 2002			Sept 26, 2003			Sept 27, 2002
Net Sales
Industrial/Automotive	$	57,276		$	52,624		$	167,378		$	149,486
Contractor		65,316			62,990			197,060			182,718
Lubrication		11,196			10,218			35,374			34,281
Consolidated	$	133,788		$	125,832		$	399,812		$	366,485
Operating Earnings
Industrial/Automotive	$	16,981		$	14,438		$	46,253		$	39,398
Contractor		17,493			15,412			48,186			43,520
Lubrication		1,549			1,869			7,136			7,390
Unallocated Corporate
expenses		(1,989	)		(982	)		(4,161	)		(4,345	)
Consolidated	$	34,034		$	30,737		$	97,414		$	85,963

5. Major components of inventories were as follows (in thousands):

	Sept 26, 2003			Dec 27, 2002
Finished products and components	$	30,219		$	26,199
Products and components in various stages
of completion		16,685			17,219
Raw materials and purchased components		15,989			18,021
		62,893			61,439
Reduction to LIFO cost		(30,302	)		(31,128	)
	$	32,591		$	30,311

6. At the beginning of the second quarter, the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Sharpe Manufacturing Company for $13.5 million cash. Sharpe manufactures spray guns and related parts and accessories for the automotive refinishing market, where the Company had no previous presence. Sharpe had sales of approximately $11 million in 2002. Results of Sharpe’s operations have been included in the Industrial/Automotive segment since the date of acquisition.

The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable	$	1,300
Inventories		3,000
Property, plant and equipment		600
Identifiable intangible assets		8,900
Goodwill		1,300
Total purchase price		15,100
Liabilities assumed		(1,600	)
Net assets acquired	$	13,500

Included in identifiable intangible assets is $5.3 million assigned to the Sharpe brand name, which has an indefinite useful life. Remaining identifiable intangible assets mainly consist of Sharpe’s distribution network, which is being amortized over an estimated useful life of 5 years. Goodwill is expected to be fully deductible for tax purposes.

7. Information related to other intangible assets follows (in thousands):

	Sept 26, 2003		Dec 27, 2002
	Gross Carrying Value	Accumulated Amortization	Gross Carrying Value	Accumulated Amortization
Subject to Amortization:
Customer lists and
distribution network	$  8,336	$4,564	$5,134	$3,472
Trademarks, trade names and
non-compete agreements	2,803	1,496	2,503	1,150
Patents and other	1,241	391	2,355	1,449
	12,380	$6,451	9,992	$6,071
Not Subject to Amortization:
Brand name	5,280		--
	$17,660		$9,992

Amortization of intangibles was $.6 million in the third quarter of 2003 and $1.6 million year-to-date. Estimated annual amortization is as follows: $2.2 million in 2003, $1.7 million in 2004, $1.1 million in 2005, $.9 million in 2006 and $.9 million in 2007.

8. A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims that relate to current and prior period sales. The Company estimates warranty costs based on historical claim experience and other factors including evaluating specific customer warranty issues. Following is a summary of 2003 activity in accrued warranty and service liabilities (in thousands):

Balance, beginning of year	$	6,294
Additions charged to cost and expenses		9,320
Reductions for claims settled		(7,883	)
Balance, end of period	$	7,731

9. Subsequent Event: In October 2003, the Company made a voluntary $20 million tax-deductible contribution to its defined benefit pension plan. The contribution will enhance the funded status of the plan, reduce future pension expense and reduce the need for additional cash contributions in the near term.

Item 2.	GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
	MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
	FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations

Third quarter sales and net earnings increased 6 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Year-to-date sales and net earnings increased 9 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Stronger foreign currencies versus the U.S. dollar helped to increase third quarter and year-to-date results when compared to 2002. Translated at consistent exchange rates, third quarter sales and net earnings each increased by 4 percent and year-to-date sales and net earnings increased by 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

The following table sets forth items from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Earnings as percentages of net sales:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003		Sept 27, 2002		Sept 26, 2003		Sept 27, 2002
Net Sales	100	.0%	100	.0%	100	.0%	100	.0%
Cost of products sold	46	.6	48	.0	47	.4	48	.8
Product development	3	.4	3	.8	3	.3	3	.7
Selling, marketing and distribution	17	.8	17	.1	18	.0	17	.2
General and administrative	6	.8	6	.7	6	.9	6	.8
Operating Earnings	25	.4	24	.4	24	.4	23	.5
Interest expense	0	.1	0	.1	0	.1	0	.1
Other (income) expense, net	0	.3	0	.2	0	.1	0	.2
Earnings Before Income Taxes	25	.0	24	.1	24	.2	23	.2
Income taxes	8	.0	7	.8	7	.9	7	.5
Net Earnings	17	.0%	16	.3%	16	.3%	15	.7%

Net Sales

Sales by segment and geographic area were as follows (in thousands):

	Thirteen Weeks Ended		Thirty-nine Weeks Ended
	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002	Sept 26, 2003	Sept 27, 2002
By Segment
Industrial/Automotive	$  57,276	$  52,624	$167,378	$149,486
Contractor	65,316	62,990	197,060	182,718
Lubrication	11,196	10,218	35,374	34,281
Consolidated	$133,788	$125,832	$399,812	$366,485
By Geographic Area
Americas1	$  93,307	$  89,654	$278,303	$265,452
Europe2	24,383	21,793	75,119	64,537
Asia Pacific	16,098	14,385	46,390	36,496
Consolidated	$133,788	$125,832	$399,812	$366,485

¹North and South America, including the U.S.
²Europe, Africa and Middle East

Industrial/Automotive segment sales increased 9 percent for the quarter and 12 percent year-to date. The increase came from strong sales in Asia Pacific, currency translation and the Sharpe acquisition. Most of the currency translation effect came from Europe, where sales for the quarter were flat in local currencies but increased by 11 percent when translated to U.S. dollars. Year-to-date sales in Europe for this segment were down 2 percent in local currencies but increased by 14 percent when translated to U.S. dollars.

Contractor segment sales increased 4 percent for the quarter and 8 percent year-to-date. In the Americas, third quarter sales were higher in the paint store channel but decreased in the home center channel due to a change in inventory purchasing practices at a major customer. Management believes the full impact of this change was reflected in third quarter sales. Year-to-date sales increased in both the paint store and in the home center channels. Sales increases in Europe were mostly from currency translation. Sales in Asia Pacific were up 18 percent for the quarter and 32 percent year-to-date.

Lubrication segment sales were up 10 percent for the quarter and 3 percent year-to-date. The timing of promotions in the second quarter of 2002 and in the third quarter of 2003 influenced the increase in the third quarter.

Gross Profit

For the quarter, gross margin rate was higher due to favorable exchange rates, pricing, material cost reductions and factory efficiencies. Year-to-date, gross margin rate was flat when translated at consistent exchange rates.

Operating Expenses

Increased warranty and extended service costs, Sharpe operations and changes in exchange rates drove operating expenses higher in both the third quarter and year-to-date. Year-to-date operating expenses were also affected by increased payroll related costs including salaries (normal rate increases), incentives (higher sales and earnings) and benefits (pension and medical).

Year-to-date operations include $1.3 million of pension expense related to the Company’s U.S. defined benefit pension plan, compared to a $.8 million credit in the same period last year. This change resulted from the decrease in pension plan assets due to recognition of investment losses. Pension expense/income is allocated to cost of products sold and operating expenses based on salaries and wages.

Operating Earnings

Higher sales and gross profit rates in the quarter resulted in increased operating earnings in the Industrial/Automotive and Contractor segments. Lubrication segment operating earnings decreased due to re-work costs and warranty expenses of approximately $1 million resulting from design problems associated with the Matrix fluid management system, a product launched in late 2002.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In March 2003, the Company repurchased 2.2 million shares of its common stock for $54.8 million from David A. Koch, a former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, his wife, a family trust and a family foundation. The repurchase is expected to be accretive to earnings per share and yield a rate of return to remaining shareholders that will exceed the Company’s equity cost of capital. The per share purchase price represented a discount of 5.5 percent from the ten-day average closing price of the Company’s stock immediately prior to the date of the transaction. The Company used available cash balances to fund the repurchase.

In the second quarter of 2003, the Company acquired the operations of Sharpe Manufacturing Company, utilizing available cash of $13.5 million and assuming liabilities totaling $1.6 million.

In October 2003, the Company made a $20 million tax-deductible contribution to its defined benefit pension plan. The contribution was made to increase pension assets at a time when values have declined due to weak short-term asset performance. The contribution will enhance the funded status of the plan, reduce future pension expense and reduce the need for additional cash contributions in the near term.

The Company had unused lines of credit available at September 26, 2003 totaling $47 million. Cash balances of $96 million at September 26, 2003, internally generated funds and unused financing sources provide the Company with the financial flexibility to meet liquidity needs.

Outlook

Despite ongoing soft conditions in its two largest geographic markets, the Company remains on track to make 2003 a year of sales and earnings growth. Management has yet to see any material signs of an increase in underlying demand for its Industrial/Automotive products in the Americas, and economic conditions throughout Europe remain weak. Management expects this to continue for at least the balance of this year. Asia, except for Japan, remains strong with higher demand for the Company’s products as companies continue to invest in infrastructure and increased durable goods output.

SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

A forward-looking statement is any statement made in this report and other reports that the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as in press or earnings releases, analyst briefings and conference calls, which reflects the Company’s current thinking on market trends and the Company’s future financial performance at the time they are made. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements.

The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 by making cautionary statements concerning any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company cannot give any assurance that the results forecasted in any forward-looking statement will actually be achieved. Future results could differ materially from those expressed, due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: economic conditions in the United States and other major world economies, currency fluctuations, political instability, changes in laws and regulations, and changes in product demand. Please refer to Exhibit 99 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2002 for a more comprehensive discussion of these and other risk factors.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

As of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice President and Controller, Vice President and Treasurer, and Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Based upon that evaluation, they concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in gathering, analyzing and disclosing information needed to satisfy the Company’s disclosure obligations under the Exchange Act.

Changes in internal controls

During the quarter, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
	None

Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
	(a)	Exhibits
		11	Computation of Net Earnings per Common Share
		31.1	Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
		31.2	Certification of Vice President and Controller pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
		31.3	Certification of Vice President and Treasurer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
		32	Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice President and Controller, and Vice President and Treasurer pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18, U.S.C.
	(b)	Reports on Form 8-K
		The following Current Report on Form 8-K was filed during the quarter ended September 26, 2003: On July 18, 2003, Graco Inc. filed a current report on Form 8-K to furnish its earnings release for the second quarter of 2003.

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.

			GRACO INC.
Date:	October 27, 2003	By:	/s/David A. Roberts
			David A. Roberts
			President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:	October 27, 2003	By:	/s/James A. Graner
			James A. Graner
			Vice President and Controller
Date:	October 29, 2003	By:	/s/Mark W. Sheahan
			Mark W.Sheahan
			Vice President and Treasurer