SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 _________________ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (MARK ONE) X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REUQIRED) For the transition period from ___________ to ____________ Commission file number 1-9801 A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. 15 Compound Drive Hutchinson, Kansas 67502-4349 COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Report of Independent Accountants 1 Financial Statements Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits As of December 31, 1998, and 1997 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the Years Ended December 31, 1998, and 1997 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4-8 Supplemental Information Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes as of December 31, 1998 10 Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 11 Report of Independent Accountants To the Participants and Administrator of Collins Industries, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of Collins Industries, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust (the Plan) as of December 31, 1998, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998. These financial statements and the schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. The financial statements of Collins Industries, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 1997, were audited by other auditors whose report dated June 15, 1998, expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 1998, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements as a whole. The supplemental schedules of Collins Industries, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/Meara, King & Co. Meara, King & Co. June 28, 1999 Kansas City, MO Financial Statements COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 1998 1997 ASSETS: Investments: Stock Fund Collins Industries, Inc. common stock $1,789,586 $2,883,359 PNC Institutional Management Corporation - FedFund 42,332 137,313 Federal Fund PNC Institutional Management Corporation - FedFund 538,409 433,316 Loan Fund Participant loans 87,499 62,085 Receivables: Company contributions 27,410 1,521 Participant contributions 31,856 16,964 Net assets available for plan benefits $2,517,092 $3,534,558 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 1998 1997 Additions to net assets: Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of Collins Industries, Inc. common stock ($1,225,370) $ 459,032 Dividend income 94,178 41,516 Interest income 36,150 24,032 Contributions: Company 101,753 70,457 Participant 364,046 336,688 Total additions (629,243) 931,725 Reductions to net assets: Benefits paid during the year 388,223 545,496 Total reductions 388,223 545,496 Net increase (1,017,466) 386,229 Net assets available for plan benefits: Beginning of year 3,534,558 3,148,329 End of year $2,517,092 $3,534,558 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1: DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following brief description of the Collins Industries, Inc. (the Company) Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. General The Plan is a defined contribution plan. All employees of the Company, except for corporate and subsidiary officers, directors, subsidiary presidents and general managers, are eligible to join the Plan following one year of employment, during which at least 1,000 hours are worked, and attainment of age 21. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. The Plan trustee is The Bank of Kansas. Participant Accounts Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and allocation of company contributions and earnings. Earnings and losses on plan assets are allocated based on the proportion of the participant's account balance to the total of all participant account balances. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's accounts. Contributions and Withdrawals Participants may elect to contribute a percentage of their compensation on a tax-deferred basis subject to certain Internal Revenue Code limits. The Company makes matching contributions equal to 50 percent of each eligible participant's tax deferred contributions to the extent those tax-deferred contributions do not exceed 6 percent of the participant's total compensation. Additional amounts may be contributed at the discretion of the Company's board of directors. Participants may receive loans from their account prior to retirement, termination, death or disability, and may apply for full receipt of their account balance in the case of financial hardship. Upon retirement, termination, death or disability, participants receive lump-sum distributions. Participants may elect distribution in cash or in company common stock. Vesting Participants immediately vest in their voluntary contributions and earnings thereon. Participants vest 100 percent in the remainder of their accounts after five years of service, as defined, in the Plan document. Forfeitures reduce future employer contributions. Forfeitures were $10,976 and $24,400 for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Plan Termination Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company may discontinue its contributions at any time and terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of plan termination, participants become 100 percent vested in their accounts. NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Accounting estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Investments Two separate funds are maintained for investment purposes: Federal Fund - Consisting entirely of a money market fund invested primarily in U.S. treasury bills, notes and other obligations of the U.S. government. Stock Fund - Consisting primarily of the registered and unregistered common stock of the Company. Employees may choose to allocate contributions among the two funds. During 1998 and 1997, the Company made matching contributions of $112,729 and $94,858, respectively. Administrative Costs The Plan pays brokerage fees. The Company pays all other administrative and professional fees related to the Plan. The amount paid by the Company for the 1998 plan year was $41,260. NOTE 3: INVESTMENTS At December 31, 1998 and 1997, the Plan held 433,839 shares and 404,682 shares, respectively, of Company common stock, with a cost of $1,338,557 and $1,392,631, respectively. Of these shares 217,399 shares were unregistered at December 31, 1998 and 1997. The unregistered and registered shares were valued by the trustee at the December 31, 1998 and 1997, market price per registered share of $4.13 and $7.125 per share, respectively. Money market funds are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Investments representing 5 percent or more of the Plan's net assets are separately identified on the statements of net assets available for benefits. As of June 25, 1999, the Company common stock had a closing market price of $5.625 per share. NOTE 4: TAX STATUS The Plan obtained its latest determination letter dated December 29, 1993, in which the Internal Revenue Service states the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The Plan administrator believes the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, no provision for income taxes is reflected in the financial statements. NOTE 5: SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENT ACTIVITY Contributions to the Plan are allocated among two funds for investment purposes, at the participants' election. The balances in these accounts and the activity for 1998 are shown below: Year Ended December 31, 1998 Federal Stock Fund Fund Other Total ADDITIONS: Investment income: Net appreciation in fair value of Collins Industries, Inc. common stock $ - $(1,225,370) $ $(1,225,370) Dividend income - 94,178 - 94,178 Interest income 28,692 - 7,458 36,150 28,692 (1,131,192) 7,458 (1,095,042) Contributions: Company - 75,863 25,890 101,753 Participant 129,311 219,843 14,892 364,046 Total additions 158,003 (835,486) 48,240 (629,243) TRANSFERS (5,131) (12,824) 17,955 - DEDUCTIONS: Benefits paid 47,779 340,444 - 388,223 Total deductions 47,779 340,444 - 388,223 Net increase (decrease) 105,093 (1,188,754) 66,195 (1,017,466) NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: Beginning of year 433,316 3,020,672 80,570 3,534,558 End of year $538,409 $1,831,918 $146,765 $2,517,092 NOTE 5: SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENT ACTIVITY (continued) Year Ended December 31, 1997 Federal Stock Fund Fund Other Total ADDITIONS: Investment income: Net appreciation in fair value of Collins Industries, Inc. common stock $ - $ 459,032 $ - $ 459,032 Dividend income - 41,516 - 41,516 Interest income 19,853 - 4,179 24,032 19,853 500,548 4,179 524,580 Contributions: Company - 70,457 - 70,457 Participant 115,311 200,958 20,419 336,688 Total additions 135,164 771,963 24,598 931,725 TRANSFERS: (1,371) (19,120) 20,491 - DEDUCTIONS: Benefits paid 64,749 474,789 5,958 545,496 Total deductions 64,749 474,789 5,958 545,496 Net increase (decrease) 69,044 278,054 39,131 386,229 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS: Beginning of year 364,272 2,742,618 41,439 3,148,329 End of year 433,316 3,020,672 80,570 3,534,558 Supplemental Information COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST ITEM 27A - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES Description of investment including maturity Identity of issuer, date, rate of borrower, lessor interest, collateral, Current or similar party par or maturity value Shares Cost Value * Collins Collins Industries, Industries, Inc Inc. common stock ** 433,839 $1,338,557 $1,789,586 PNC Institutional PNC Institution Management Management Corporation Corporation-FedFund 580,741 580,741 580,741 * Participant Participant loans at loans rates ranging from 9.75% to 10.5% - 87,499 87,499 Total $2,006,797 $2,457,826 * Represents investments with a party-in-interest. ** Includes 217,399 unregistered shares. COLLINS INDUSTRIES, INC. TAX DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND TRUST ITEM 27D - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 Current value of Identity Number asset on of party of Purchase Sales Cost of trans.on Net gain involved trans. Price Price Asset date (loss) Collins Industries, Inc. common stock 43 $383,108 $383,108 $383,108 $0 Collins Industries, Inc. common stock 6 $253,973 $253,973 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Commission Act of 1934, the trustee (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. DATE: June 28, 1999 /s/ Larry W. Sayre Larry W. Sayre Vice President-Finance & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our report included in the Form 11-K of Collins Industries, Inc. Tax Deferred Savings Plan and Trust into the Company's previously filed Registration Statements filed on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-24647 and 333-24651). June 28, 1999 Kansas City, MO