UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 11-K (Mark One) [ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED) For the fiscal year ended August 31, 1998 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) For the transition period from _________ to ____________ Commission file number 0-20212 ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN (full title of the plan) Arrow International, Inc. P. O. Box 12888 Reading, Pennsylvania 19612 (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (610) 378-0131 Notices and communications from the Securities and Exchange Commission relative to this report should be forwarded to: Frederick J. Hirt Arrow International, Inc. P. O. Box 12888 Reading, Pennsylvania 19612 (610) 378-0131 This is the first of 21 pages. The Index to Exhibit is on Page 20. ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN FINANCIAL REPORT AUGUST 31, 1998 C O N T E N T S [S] Page [C] INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Statements of net assets available for benefits 2-5 Statements of changes in net assets available for benefits 6-9 Notes to financial statements 10-13 SCHEDULES Schedule of assets held for investment purposes 14 Schedule of reportable transactions 15 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT To the Plan Administrator Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan Reading, Pennsylvania We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan as of August 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan as of August 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held for investment and reportable transactions as of or for the year ended August 31, 1998, are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the 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. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit 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. Reading, Pennsylvania December 11, 1998 -1- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS August 31, 1998 T. Rowe Arrow Price International, Participant Prime Inc. Stock Loan Reserve Fund Fund Fund --------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Short-term fund, T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund $ - $ - $2,522,388 Balanced fund, T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund - - - Equity funds: T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund - - - Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund - - - Fidelity Puritan Fund - - - T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund - - - Arrow International, Inc. common stock 1,622,753 - - Participant loans receivable - 1,295,828 - --------------------------------------- 1,622,753 1,295,828 2,522,388 Receivables: Accrued income 3,046 6,823 10,387 Employee contributions 764 - 716 Employer contributions 204 - 89 Cash 22,460 - 41,786 ---------------------------------------- Total assets 1,649,227 1,302,651 2,575,366 LIABILITY, due to broker 11,784 - - ---------------------------------------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $1,637,443 1,302,651 2,575,366 ======================================== See Notes to Financial Statements. -2- T. Rowe T. Rowe T. Rowe Price Fidelity Price Price Blue Chip Retirement Fidelity International Contribution Balanced Growth Growth Puritan Stock Distribution Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Account Total - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 62 $2,522,450 2,706,897 - - - - - 2,706,897 - 7,243,898 - - - - 7,243,898 - - 3,872,942 - - - 3,872,942 - - - 4,304,248 - - 4,304,248 - - - - 630,516 - 630,516 - - - - - - 1,622,753 - - - - - - 1,295,828 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2,706,897 7,243,898 3,872,942 4,304,248 630,516 62 24,199,532 49,026 - - - - - 69,282 839 3,961 2,438 1,710 530 - 10,958 281 960 551 397 120 - 2,602 - 528,251 26,718 38,432 112,030 - 769,677 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2,757,043 7,777,070 3,902,649 4,344,787 743,196 62 25,052,051 27,384 451,652 - - 108,686 - 599,506 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $2,729,659 $7,325,418 $3,902,649 $4,344,787 $ 634,510 $ 62 $24,452,545 ============================================================================== -3- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS (CONTINUED) August 31, 1997 Arrow Corestates International, Participant Cash Inc. Stock Loan Reserve Fund Fund Fund ------------------------------------------ ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Short-term fund, Corefund Cash Reserve Fund $ - $ - $2,602,534 Balanced fund, Corefund Balanced Fund - - - Equity funds: Corefund Growth Equity Fund - - - Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund - - - Fidelity Puritan Fund - - - Corefund International Growth Equity Fund - - - Arrow International, Inc. common stock 1,507,913 - - Participant loans receivable - 949,218 - -------------------------------------- 1,507,913 949,218 2,602,534 Receivables: Accrued income 2,291 18,470 194 Employee contributions 57,144 - 38,280 Employer contributions 18,606 - 13,900 Cash - - 11,484 -------------------------------------- Total assets 1,585,954 967,688 2,666,392 LIABILITY, due to broker 1,574 - - -------------------------------------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $1,584,380 $ 967,688 $2,666,392 ======================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. -4- Corefund Corefund Fidelity Internationl Corefund Growth Retirement Fidelity Growth Balanced Equity Growth Puritan Equity Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total - -------------------------------------------------------------------- $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $2,602,534 2,430,305 - - - - 2,430,305 - 5,629,048 - - - 5,629,048 - - 3,366,078 - - 3,366,078 - - - 3,828,629 - 3,828,629 - - - - 405,292 405,292 - - - - - 1,507,913 - - - - - 949,218 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,430,305 5,629,048 3,366,078 3,828,629 405,292 20,719,017 285 - - - - 21,240 33,756 94,532 77,271 83,928 15,996 400,907 11,772 25,445 21,825 25,110 3,402 120,060 22 30 34 17 11 11,598 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,476,140 5,749,055 3,465,208 3,937,684 424,701 21,272,822 - - - - - 1,574 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- $2,476,140 $5,749,055 $3,465,208 $3,937,684 $ 424,701 $21,271,248 ==================================================================== -5- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS Year Ended August 31, 1998 T. Rowe Arrow Price International, Participant Prime Inc. Stock Loan Reserve Fund Fund Fund --------------------------------------- Investment income: Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ (189,374) $ - $ - Interest and dividends 12,064 98,780 133,816 Contributions: Employee 333,663 - 255,094 Employer 114,295 - 83,245 Transfer between funds (213,285) 295,628 369,997 ----------------------------------------- Total additions 57,363 394,408 842,152 ----------------------------------------- Distributions paid to participants - 50,705 931,767 Administrative expenses, net 4,300 8,740 1,411 ----------------------------------------- Total deductions 4,300 59,445 933,178 ----------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 53,063 334,963 (91,026) Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 1,584,380 967,688 2,666,392 ----------------------------------------- End of year $1,637,443 $1,302,651 $ 2,575,366 ========================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. -6- T. Rowe T. Rowe T. Rowe Price Fidelity Price Price Blue Chip Retirement Fidelity International Contribution/ Balanced Growth Growth Puritan Stock Distribution Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Account Total - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 128,007 $ 413,293 $(602,459) $(113,001) $(20,603) $ - $ (384,137) 183,167 442,266 649,432 349,394 22,435 67 1,891,421 269,614 803,339 633,097 628,158 102,661 - 3,025,626 89,807 246,124 184,669 191,673 29,934 939,747 (417,070) (328,657) (418,383) (639,249) 75,382 1,275,637 - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 253,525 1,576,365 446,356 416,975 209,809 1,275,704 5,472,657 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - 1,275,342 2,257,814 6 2 8,915 9,872 - 300 33,546 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 2 8,915 9,872 - 1,275,642 2,291,360 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 253,519 1,576,363 437,441 407,103 209,809 62 3,181,297 2,476,140 5,749,055 3,465,208 3,937,684 424,701 - 21,271,248 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $2,729,659 $7,325,418 $3,902,649 $4,344,787 $ 634,510 $ 62 $24,452,545 =============================================================================== -7- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(K) PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS (CONTINUED) Year Ended August 31, 1997 Arrow Corefund International, Participant Cash Inc. Stock Loan Reserve Fund Fund Fund --------------------------------------- Investment income: Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $ 87,781 $ - $ - Interest and dividends 9,377 63,893 121,846 Contributions: Employee 459,491 - 297,305 Employer 151,631 - 111,101 Transfer between funds (5,375) 375,252 455,401 Transfer in from Kontron Plan - 135,893 725,134 --------------------------------------- Total additions 702,905 575,038 1,710,787 --------------------------------------- Distributions paid to participants 18,500 12,016 661,005 Administrative expenses, net 2,778 1,404 1,640 --------------------------------------- Total deductions 21,278 13,420 662,645 --------------------------------------- Net increase 681,627 561,618 1,048,142 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 902,753 406,070 1,618,250 --------------------------------------- End of year $ 1,584,380 $ 967,688 $2,666,392 ======================================= See Notes to Financial Statements. -8- Corefund Corefund Fidelity International Corefund Growth Retirement Fidelity Growth Balanced Equity Growth Puritan Equity Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total - ------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 231,856 $ 771,537 $399,349 $ 392,957 $ 7,167 $1,890,647 169,303 465,201 304,532 315,874 31,568 1,481,594 261,899 623,024 556,256 571,133 100,846 2,869,954 93,291 205,158 164,471 179,073 29,035 933,760 (268,026) (203,317) (266,720) (20,492) (66,723) - 408,453 266,553 270,264 227,773 59,000 2,093,070 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- 896,776 2,128,156 1,428,152 1,666,318 160,893 9,269,025 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,448 21,610 1,802 38,962 - 766,343 936 2,155 5,949 6,753 145 21,760 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- 13,384 23,765 7,751 45,715 145 788,103 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- 883,392 2,104,391 1,420,401 1,620,603 160,748 8,480,922 1,592,748 3,644,664 2,044,807 2,317,081 263,953 12,790,326 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- $2,476,140 $5,749,055 $3,465,208 $3,937,684 $ 424,701 $21,271,248 ==================================================================== -9- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of accounting: The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of 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. Valuation of investments and income recognition: CoreStates Bank, N.A. (subsequently merged with First Union Bank) acts as plan trustee and administers the Plan's assets. The Plan maintains the following eight funds: T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund, T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund, Arrow International, Inc. Stock Fund, Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund, Fidelity Puritan Fund, T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund and a Loan Fund for the commingled investment of employee and company contributions. The T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund, T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund, Arrow International, Inc. Stock Fund, Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund, Fidelity Puritan Fund and T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund are stated at fair value as determined by the bank which holds the investments. The loans receivable in the Loan Fund are stated at their unpaid principal balance which approximates their fair value. The change in the difference between fair value and the cost of investments is reflected in the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits as a component of the net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Payment of benefits: Benefits are recorded when paid. -10- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN General: The Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the Plan) is a contributory, defined contribution plan which was adopted effective September 1, 1991 to establish a deferred compensation arrangement under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code. The 401(k) portion of the Plan is available to all employees of the Company and its U.S. affiliates after completing one year of service following their date of hire and reaching age 21. Participant accounts: Each participant's account is credited with the participant's share of the Company's match, if any, and of the earnings, expenses, appreciation and depreciation attributable to the participant's and the Company's contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the vested portion of the participant's account. Summary plan description: Additional information about the Plan agreement is contained in the summary plan description. Copies of the summary plan description are available from the Administrative Committee. Termination: The Company has the right to terminate the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts. Forfeitures: Forfeitures will be used to reduce Company contributions. Vesting: A participant becomes 20% vested in the employer's contribution to the Plan after one year of service. Vesting increases 20% each year until the participant is fully vested after five years of credited service. Funding policy: Participants may contribute up to 10% of their earnings. The Company will match an amount equal to a percentage of the employee contribution as determined for the plan year. The Company can also make discretionary contributions based on the profits of the Company as determined by the Board of Directors. No discretionary contribution was made for the years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997. Plan benefits: Included in plan benefits at August 31, 1998 are approximately $416,368 of distributions to employees whose division was sold by the Company. All funds were rolled over to qualified plans. -11- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 3 - -------------------------------------------------------------------- INVESTMENTS The investments at August 31, 1998 and 1997 as determined by the trustee are summarized as follows: 1998 1997 ------------------------------------------------ Cost Fair Value Cost Fair Value ------------------------------------------------ Money market funds: Corefund Cash Reserve $ - $ - $2,602,534 $2,602,534* Fund T. Rowe Price Price Reserve Fund 2,522,450 2,522,450* - - ------------------------------------------------ 2,522,450 2,522,450 2,602,534 2,602,534 ------------------------------------------------ Balanced funds: Corefund Balanced Fund - - 2,016,772 2,430,305* T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund 3,005,603 2,706,897* - - ------------------------------------------------ 3,005,603 2,706,897 2,016,772 2,430,305 ------------------------------------------------ Equity funds: Corefund Growth Equity Fund - - 4,084,949 5,629,048* T. Rowe Price Blue Chip - - Growth Fund 8,739,861 7,243,898* - - Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund 4,035,768 3,872,942* 2,904,787 3,366,078* Fidelity Puritan Fund 3,919,600 4,304,248* 3,271,829 3,828,629* Corefund International Growth Equity Fund - - 381,011 405,292 T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund 717,747 630,516 - - ------------------------------------------------ 17,412,976 16,051,604 10,642,576 13,229,047 ------------------------------------------------ Stock fund, Arrow International, Inc. 1,894,863 1,622,753* 1,586,955 1,507,913* ------------------------------------------------ Participant loan fund 1,295,828 1,295,828* 949,218 949,218 ------------------------------------------------ $26,131,720 $24,199,532 $17,798,055 $20,719,017 ================================================ * Investment represents 5% or more of the Plan's net assets. -12- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- INCOME TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service has determined that the Plan meets the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and is, therefore, not subject to federal income tax. As a condition of continued qualification under Section 401(a), the Plan is required to meet the qualification rules in operation. The Administrative Committee is not aware of any circumstances that might adversely affect the Plan's qualified status. 5 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSACTIONS WITH PARTIES-IN-INTEREST Fees paid during the year for administrative services rendered by parties-in-interest were based on customary and reasonable rates for such services. 6 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGE IN INVESTMENT OPTIONS Effective July 1, 1998, the selection of investment options in the Plan changed from the Corefund Cash Reserve Fund to the T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund, the Corefund Balanced Fund to the T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund, the Corefund Growth Equity Fund to the T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund and the Corefund International Growth Equity Fund to the T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund. Any contributions made on or after July 1, 1998 were invested in the new investment funds and existing balances at June 30, 1998 were transferred to the new investment funds during July 1998. 7 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSEQUENT EVENT Effective September 1, 1998, the Plan changed trustees from CoreStates Bank, N.A. to T. Rowe Price. In addition, eligible employees are permitted to enter the Plan immediately upon employment with the Company. -13- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401 (k) PLAN LINE 27a -SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENTS PURPOSES EIN: 23-1969991 PN: 004 August 31, 1998 Number Of Description Shares Cost Fair Value - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-term fund, T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 2,522,450 $2,522,450 $2,522,450* ------------------------ Balanced fund, T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund 166,169 3,005,603 2,706,897* ------------------------ Equity funds: T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund 307,466 8,739,861 7,243,898* Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund 225,040 4,035,768 3,872,942* Fidelity Puritan Fund 226,301 3,919,600 4,304,248* T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund 46,740 717,747 630,516 ------------------------ 17,412,976 16,051,604 Arrow International, Inc. common stock 59,825 1,894,863 1,622,753* ------------------------ Participant loan fund 1,295,828 1,295,828 1,295,828* ------------------------ Total investments $26,131,720 $24,199,532 ======================== * Represents 5% or more of the net assets available for benefits. -14- ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401 (k) PLAN LINE 27a -SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENTS PURPOSES EIN: 23-1969991 PN: 004 Year Ended August 31, 1998 Total Total Number Of Number Of Purchases Sales Dollar Dollar Cost of Net Within Within Value Of Value Of Assets Gain Description Of Asset Plan Year Plan Year Purchases Sales Sold (Loss) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Short-term funds: Corefund Cash Reserve Fund 426 341 $5,242,720 $7,845,323 $7,845,323 $ - T. Rowe Price Prime Reserve Fund 11 6 2,681,860 159,410 159,410 - Balance funds: Corefund Balanced Fund 15 14 328,396 3,186,113 2,345,168 840,945 T. Rowe Price Balanced Fund 4 3 3,040,336 34,035 34,734 (699) Equity funds Corefund Growth Equity Fund 12 16 1,065,956 8,609,870 5,150,907 3,458,963 Fidelity Retirement Growth Fund 17 13 1,453,293 343,970 322,313 21,657 Fidleity Puritan Fund 21 10 1,023,576 434,957 375,806 59,151 T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund 5 2 8,897,069 151,601 157,209 (5,608) SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the Plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. 401(k) PLAN Date: February 26, 1999 By:/s/ Frederick J. Hirt ----------------- ---------------------- Frederick J. Hirt Vice-President, Finance, CFO and Treasurer Index to Exhibit ---------------- Exhibit No. - ---------- 23.1 Consent of Beard & Company, Inc., independent auditors EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF BEARD & COMPANY, INC., INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-71568) pertaining to the Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan, of the financial statements of the Arrow International, Inc. 401(k) Plan included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended August 31, 1998. BEARD & COMPANY, INC. Reading, Pennsylvania February 23, 1999