effective for fiscal years ending after December 7, 2003. FSP 106-1 permits employers that sponsor postretirement prescription drug benefits to retirees to defer accounting for any effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the "Act"). As permitted by FSP 106-1, the Company made a one-time election to defer accounting for the effect of the Act until specific authoritative guidance is issued. Therefore, the net periodic postretirement benefit cost included in the financial statements does not reflect the effects of the Act. The Act is expected to reduce the Company's ultimate postretirement benefit obligations. However the effect is not expected to be material.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
OVERVIEW
The Company has embarked on a growth strategy and continues to alter its portfolio of businesses. This growth strategy encompasses acquisitions and the reduction of risk associated with certain large customer concentrations. The Company believes this strategy will improve the overall profitability of operations. In the first quarter of 2004, the Company completed the sale of its residential entry door business and the acquisitions of Chicago Steel Tape Co. ("CST/Berger"), Blick plc ("Blick") and Frisco Bay Industries Ltd ("Frisco Bay"). The residential entry doors business has been reported as a discontinued operation for all periods presented and the first quarter of 2004 net earnings from discontinued operations are $95 million, or $1.14 per fully diluted share, which consists primarily of the after-tax gain from the sale.
The company recently announced a change to its segment reporting to align with the portfolio changes resulting from the divestiture and acquisitions in the first quarter of 2004. The company will report the following three segments: Consumer Products, Industrial Tools and Security Solutions. The Consumer Products segment includes hand tools, consumer mechanic tools and storage units, hardware, and home décor. Industrial Tools is comprised of Mac Tools, Proto mechanic tools, pneumatic tools, storage systems, specialty tools, assembly technologies, hydraulic tools and CST/Berger. The Security Solutions segment includes access technologies, Best Access, and newly acquired Blick and Frisco Bay.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net sales from continuing operations were $779 million in the first quarter of 2004 as compared to $632 million in the first quarter of 2003, representing an increase of 23%. Excluding the net sales from recent acquisitions of $49 million, organic sales increased 16% as strong demand continued from home center and mass merchant customers; industrial tool demand benefited from notably improved economic conditions; and Security Solutions revenues increased sharply on service-related share gains primarily at national accounts. Favorable foreign currency translation, primarily European and Asian, increased net sales by 4%.
The Company reported gross profit from continuing operations of $279 million, or 35.9% of net sales, in the first quarter of 2004 as compared to $213 million, or 33.8% of net sales, in the prior year. The businesses acquired increased gross profit by $23 million. The remaining increase was primarily attributed to increased sales volume and gross profit rate improvement. The gross profit rate improvement was attributable to the carryover benefit of 2003 restructuring programs, volume leverage, inventory losses in the first quarter of 2003 related to the termination of the Mac Direct distribution model, favorable pricing and improved product mix. These benefits were partially offset by higher steel costs and other inflation. The company experienced a significant impact from broadly-publicized and unprecedented levels of commodity price inflation (particularly steel) in the first quarter and is actively pursuing price increases across all channels. Such efforts are gaining acceptance, but with traditional timing impacts. Steel cost increases will have a more substantial impact in the second quarter and beyond, while offsetting price increases will phase in over the second and subsequent quarters.
Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses from continuing operations were $173 million, or 22.2% of net sales, as compared to $168 million, or 26.5% of net sales, in the prior year. The increase of $5 million was primarily attributed to: 1) acquired businesses that increased costs by $12 million; and 2) $10 million of receivable losses in 2003 which related to the exiting of the Mac Direct distribution model. The remainder of the business portfolio held SG&A spending levels constant despite the 16% organic sales increase.
Other-net expenses from continuing operations were $14 million in the first quarter of 2004 versus $7 million last year. The increase was principally due to $2 million of legal settlements, $2 million of incremental amortization related to newly acquired business intangibles, $1 million of lower currency gains and $1 million of increased asset write-offs.
The Company's income tax rate from continuing operations was 31% in the first quarter this year compared to 30% in the prior year. The lower income tax rate in 2003 related to refunds received associated with prior year tax assessments.
13
Business Segments
The Company's reportable segments are an aggregation of businesses that have similar products and services, among other factors. The Company assesses the performance of its reportable segments using operating profit. Segment operating profit excludes interest income, interest expense, other-net, restructuring charges and asset impairments, as well as income tax expense.
In the first quarter of 2004, Consumer Products net sales increased 21% to $306 million from $253 million in the prior year, due to the aforementioned strength in home center and mass merchant channels in the U.S. and favorable currency impacts in Europe and Asia. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 15.7% versus 12.6% last year, due primarily to favorable price and product mix combined with operating leverage from higher sales volumes.
Industrial Tools net sales increased 16% to $316 million in the first quarter of 2004 as compared to $272 million in the comparable 2003 period. Excluding the CST/Berger acquisition, organic sales increased 11% to $303 million. This organic improvement was the result of improved economic conditions in the fastening systems, industrial mechanics tools and storage systems businesses. Mac Tools revenues were essentially flat, a strong performance as traditional distributor additions and higher route average sales offset the decline from last year's MacDirect exit. The operating profit as a percentage of net sales was 9.5% in the first quarter of 2004. In the first quarter of 2003, the Industrial Tools segment reported an operating loss due to $14 million of receivable and inventory losses associated with the MacDirect exit. The remaining increase in the 2004 operating profit and margin rate was due to higher sales volume and carryover benefits of the prior year restructuring programs.
Security Solutions sales increased 46% to $157 million in the first quarter of 2004 compared to $108 million in the prior year. Excluding the Blick and Frisco Bay acquisitions, organic sales increased 15% to $124 million, on the strength of the supply and service of automatic commercial door systems in access technologies. The businesses acquired increased operating profit by $7 million. Operating profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 18.4% in the first quarter versus 15.3% last year, due to higher sales volumes and the impacts of including higher-margin acquired businesses.
Restructuring and Other Charges
In the first quarter of 2003, the Company recorded $3 million in restructuring reserves for new initiatives, pertaining to the further reduction of its cost structure, primarily for severance-related obligations. These reserves were fully expended by the end of 2003.
In April of 2003, the Company announced restructuring plans for the Operation 15 initiative. These restructuring and other charges, which occurred throughout 2003, consisted of severance, asset impairments and other exit costs related to the exit from the Company's MacDirect retail channel. The exit of MacDirect required the liquidation of certain assets and certain lease obligations. In the first quarter of 2003, the Company recognized $10 million of receivable losses and $4 million of inventory losses associated with the MacDirect exit. No restructuring charges were recorded in the first quarter of 2003 related to this initiative.
14
At April 3, 2004, the restructuring and asset impairment reserve balance was $12 million. A summary of the Company's restructuring reserve activity from January 3, 2004 to April 3, 2004 is as follows:
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| ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | 01/03/2004 | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Acquisitions | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Usage | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | 04/03/04 |
| ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Acquisitions | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Severance | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | — | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | 4 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | (3 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | 1 | |
| ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Operation 15 | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Severance | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 3 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | — | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | (2 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 1 | |
Asset impairments | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 9 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | — | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | (1 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 8 | |
Other | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 3 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | — | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | (1 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 2 | |
| ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Prior to 2003 | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | |
Other | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | 1 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | (1 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | | — | |
| ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | 16 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | 4 | | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | (8 | ) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | $ | 12 | |
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The Company expects the above restructuring and asset reserve balances to be fully expended by the end of 2004.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
Liquidity, Sources and Uses of Capital
Operating cash flows were $52 million in both the first quarters of 2004 and 2003, as working capital levels were closely managed during this period of strong sales volume growth. Free cash flows before dividends (cash from operations less capital expenditures) were $44 million in the first quarters of both years, reflecting the cash flow from operations and continued effective management of capital expenditures.
In the first quarter of 2004 the Company received $162 million in cash from the sale of the entry door business. Approximately $50 million of related income taxes will be disbursed in later quarters. Cash payments for acquisitions amounted to $250 million. Thus the net cash outflow pertaining to acquisition and divestiture activity was $88 million, about half of which was paid with existing cash resources and the remainder was financed with commercial paper borrowings. Aside from normal debt service payments, the Company repaid $120 million of long-term debt which matured on March 1, 2004, and net short-term borrowings, principally commercial paper, increased $175 million. Overall the Company realized net cash inflows of $47 million from borrowing activities in the first quarter.
The Company assumed $29 million of debt in the Blick and Frisco Bay acquisitions. In addition the remaining $22 million Blick purchase price obligation is reflected as a long-term note payable and is expected to be paid in June, 2005. In total the Company's debt increased $95.2 million in the first quarter of 2004.
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ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and its Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and its Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in its periodic Securities Exchange Commission filings. There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.
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PART 2 – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits
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(10)(iii) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Summary of Material Terms of the 2004 Management Incentive Compensation Program* |
(31)(i) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) |
(ii) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) |
(32)(i) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
(ii) | ![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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* | Compensation plan or arrangement |
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
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(i) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 12, 2004 with respect to the Company's press release announcing that holders of more than 81% of the outstanding shares of Blick plc had accepted the Company's offer and that the offer was being extended 7 days until January 16, 2004. |
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(ii) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 15, 2004 with respect to the Company's press release announcing completion of the acquisition of Chicago Steel Tape Co. and certain related assets and affiliated companies. |
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(iii) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 2004 with respect to the joint press release issued by the Company and Frisco Bay Industries Ltd. on January 20, 2004. |
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(iv) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 2004 with respect to the Company's press release announcing that it had declared its previously announced cash offer for Blick plc to be wholly unconditional. |
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(v) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 23, 2004 with respect to its press release announcing that it had received valid acceptances of approximately 93.3% of the shares of Blick plc, and would exercise its right to compulsorily acquire all remaining outstanding Blick shares. |
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(vi) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated January 28, 2004 with respect to its press releases reporting the Company's results for the fourth quarter of 2003 and providing guidance for the first quarter and full year of 2004 and elaborating on certain other activities. |
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(vii) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated February 5, 2004 with respect to its press release announcing the election of John F. Lundgren to the posts of chairman and chief executive officer, effective March 1, 2004. |
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(viii) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2004 with respect to its press release announcing the naming of Donald R. McIlnay as President, Tools Group and the resignation of Joseph J. DeAngelo. |
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(ix) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated March 1, 2004 with respect to its press release announcing that all approvals had been received for the sale of the Company's entry doors business to Masonite International Corporation. |
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(x) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated March 2, 2004 with respect to its press release announcing that the Company had completed the sale of its entry doors business to Masonite International Corporation. |
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(xi) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2004 with respect to its press release providing guidance for the first quarter and full year 2004. |
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(xii) | The Company filed a current report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2004 with respect to its press release confirming the resignation of Robert G. Britz from the Company's Board of Directors. |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the statements regarding the Company's ability (i) to improve the overall profitability of the Company's operations; (ii) to offset anticipated commodity price inflation with price increases and other productivity improvements; and (iii) to complete restructuring activities within existing restructuring and asset impairment reserves by the end of 2004 are forward looking and are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors listed below and other factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.
The Company's ability to achieve the results described above is dependent on (i) the success of the Company's efforts to efficiently and promptly integrate the recent acquisitions and the sales related thereto; (ii) the continued ability of the Company to access credit markets under satisfactory terms; (iii) the success of the Company's marketing and sales efforts; (iv) the Company's ability to fulfill demand for its products in a timely manner; (v) the absence of increased pricing pressures from customers and competitors and the ability to defend market share in the face of price competition; (vi) the continued ability to effectively manage and defend litigation matters pending or asserted in the future against the Company; (vii) the success of the Company's efforts to increase prices to offset recent commodity price increases; (viii) the absence of further increasing commodity costs or the ability to reduce other costs to offset such increases; (ix) and the availability of raw materials.
The Company's ability to achieve the objectives discussed above will also be affected by external factors. These external factors include the continued consolidation of customers in consumer channels, inventory management pressures of the Company's customers, changes in trade, monetary, tax and fiscal policies and laws, inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, the impact of dollar/foreign currency exchange and interest rates on the competitiveness of products and the Company's debt program, the strength of the U.S. economy and the relative strength or weakness of foreign currencies, including but not limited to the Euro, Canadian dollar, the New Taiwan dollar and the Chinese Renminbi, war, terrorist activities, political unrest and recessionary or expansive trends in the economies of the world in which the Company operates.
Unless required by applicable federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.
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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.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-Q/0000950136-04-001554/spacer.gif) | THE STANLEY WORKS |
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Date: May 13, 2004 | By: /s/ James. M. Loree James M. Loree Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
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