SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended May 2, 1999 Commission File No. 0-12781 CULP, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) NORTH CAROLINA 56-1001967 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or other organization) 101 S. Main St., High Point, North Carolina 27261-2686 (Address of principal executive offices) (zip code) (336) 889-5161 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, Par Value $.05/Share Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for at least the past 90 days. YES X NO ____ Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation SK is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ] As of July 19, 1999, 12,040,484 shares of common stock were outstanding. The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on that date was $94,787,273 based on the closing sales price of such stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), assuming, for purposes of this report, that all executive officers and directors of the registrant are affiliates. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Part II Portions of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended May 2, 1999 are incorporated by reference into Items 5,6,7 and 8. Part III Portions of the Company's Proxy Statement dated August 13, 1999 in connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 21, 1999 are incorporated by reference into Items 10, 11, 12 and 13. CULP, INC. FORM 10-K REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS Item No. Page - -------- ---- PART I 1. Business Overview............................................................3 Segments............................................................4 Business Strategy...................................................5 Capital Expenditures................................................6 Overview of Industry................................................6 Overview of Residential Furniture Industry..........................7 Overview of Commercial Furniture Industry...........................8 Overview of Bedding Industry........................................8 Products............................................................8 Manufacturing......................................................10 Product Design and Styling.........................................11 Distribution.......................................................11 Sources and Availability of Raw Materials..........................11 Competition........................................................12 Technology.........................................................12 Environmental and Other Regulations................................13 Employees..........................................................13 Customers and Sales................................................14 Net Sales by Geographic Area.......................................14 Backlog............................................................14 Year 2000 Considerations...........................................14 2. Properties............................................................16 3. Legal Proceedings.....................................................17 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders..................17 PART II 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters.....................................17 6. Selected Financial Data...............................................17 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.......................17 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk...................................................17 -1- 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data..............18 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure..............................18 PART III 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant..........................................................19 11. Executive Compensation................................................19 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....................................19 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions........................................................19 PART IV 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.............................................20 Documents filed as part of this report................................20 Exhibits..............................................................21 Reports on Form 8-K...................................................27 Financial Statement Schedules.........................................27 Signatures ...........................................................28 -2- PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS Overview Culp, Inc. (the Company) manufactures and markets upholstery fabrics and mattress tickings primarily for use in the furniture (residential, commercial and juvenile) and bedding industries on a worldwide basis. The Company's executive offices are located in High Point, North Carolina. The Company was organized as a North Carolina corporation in 1972 and made its initial public offering in 1983. Since 1997, the Company has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol "CFI." Culp is one of the largest manufacturers and marketers of furniture upholstery fabrics in the world and is a leading global producer of mattress fabrics (known as mattress ticking). The Company's fabrics are used principally in the production of residential and commercial furniture and bedding products, including sofas, recliners, chairs, loveseats, sectionals, sofa-beds, office seating, panel systems and mattress sets. Culp markets one of the broadest product lines in its industry, with a wide range of fabric constructions, patterns, colors, textures and finishes. This breadth is made possible by Culp's extensive manufacturing capabilities that include a variety of weaving, printing and finishing operations and the ability to produce various yarns and unfinished base fabrics (known as greige goods) used in its products. Although most of the Company's competitors emphasize one particular type of fabric, Culp competes in every major category except leather, which accounts for a relatively small portion of the residential furniture market. Culp's staff of over 75 designers and support personnel utilize Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems to develop the Company's own patterns and styles. Culp's product line currently includes more than 3,000 upholstery fabric patterns and 1,000 mattress-ticking styles. Although Culp markets fabrics at most price levels, the Company has emphasized fabrics that have a broad appeal in the "good" and "better" price categories of furniture and bedding. Culp markets its products worldwide, with sales to customers in over 50 countries. While total sales have grown from $308.0 million in fiscal 1995 to $483.1 million in fiscal 1999, the Company's international sales have increased from $58.0 million to $113.4 million during the same period. Although shipments to U.S.-based customers continue to account for most of the Company's sales, Culp's success in building a global presence has led to a significant proportion of sales to international accounts (23% of net sales for fiscal 1999). The Company's network of approximately 30 international sales agents represents Culp's products in major furniture and bedding markets outside the United States. Culp has seventeen (17) manufacturing facilities, with a combined total of 2.7 million square feet, that are located in North Carolina (10), South Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (2), Tennessee (1), Alabama (1) and Quebec, Canada (1). The Company's distribution system is designed to offer customers fast, responsive delivery. Products are shipped directly to customers from the Company's manufacturing facilities, as well as from three regional distribution facilities strategically located in High Point, North Carolina, Los Angeles, California, and Tupelo, Mississippi, which are areas of high concentration of furniture manufacturing. Additionally, the Company maintains an inventory of upholstery fabrics at a warehouse facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan to supply large commercial furniture manufacturers in that area. Culp's position as a leading global marketer of upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking has been achieved through internal expansion and strategic acquisitions. The most recent acquisitions include Rayonese in fiscal 1995 and Phillips Mills, Wetumpka Yarn and Artee Industries in fiscal 1998. -3- Segments The Company's operating segments are upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking, with related divisions organized within those segments. The divisions within upholstery fabrics are Culp Decorative Fabrics, Culp Velvets/Prints and Culp Yarn. The division within mattress ticking is Culp Home Fashions. Each division is accorded considerable autonomy and is responsible for designing, manufacturing and marketing its respective product lines. Considerable synergies exist among the divisions, including the sharing of common raw materials made internally, such as polypropylene yarns, certain dyed and spun yarns, greige goods and printed heat-transfer paper. Products manufactured at one division's facility are commonly transferred to another division's facility for additional value-added processing steps. The following table sets forth certain information for each of the Company's segments/divisions. Culp's Segments/Divisions ------------------------- FISCAL 1999 PRODUCT LINES NET SALES (BASE CLOTH, IF SEGMENT DIVISION (in millions) APPLICABLE) ------- -------- ------------- ----------- Upholstery Fabrics Culp Decorative $222.1 Woven jacquards Fabrics Woven dobbies Culp Velvets/Prints $144.1 Wet prints (flocks) Heat-transfer prints (jacquard, flock) Cotton prints Woven velvets Tufted velvets (woven polyester) Culp Yarn $21.5 Pre-dyed spun yarns Chenille yarns Mattress Ticking Culp Home $95.4 Woven jacquards Fashions Heat-transfer prints (jacquard, knit, sheeting) Pigment prints (jacquard, knit, sheeting, non- woven) CULP DECORATIVE FABRICS. Culp Decorative Fabrics manufactures and markets jacquard and dobby woven fabrics used primarily for residential and commercial furniture. Culp Decorative Fabrics' manufacturing facilities are located in Burlington, Graham and Monroe, North Carolina, Pageland, South Carolina, Chattanooga, Tennessee and West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Culp Decorative Fabrics has become increasingly vertically integrated, complementing its extensive weaving capabilities with the ability to extrude, dye and texturize yarn. The designs marketed by Culp Decorative Fabrics range from intricate, complicated patterns such as floral and abstract designs to patterns associated with casual living styles that are popular with motion furniture. Culp Decorative Fabrics accounts for the majority of the Company's sales to the commercial furniture market. The Company maintains an inventory at a third-party warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan to supply fabrics marketed by Culp Decorative Fabrics to large commercial furniture manufacturers on a "just in time" basis. -4- CULP VELVETS/PRINTS. Culp Velvets/Prints manufactures and markets a broad range of printed and velvet fabrics. These include wet-printed designs on flock base fabrics, heat-transfer prints on jacquard and flock base fabrics, cotton prints, woven velvets and tufted velvets. These fabrics typically offer manufacturers richly colored patterns and textured surfaces. Recent product development improvements in manufacturing processes have significantly enhanced the quality of printed flock fabrics which are principally used for residential furniture. These fabrics are also used for other upholstered products such as baby car seats. These fabrics are manufactured at Burlington, North Carolina, Anderson, South Carolina, and Lumberton, North Carolina. CULP YARN. Culp Yarn manufactures and markets a variety of pre-dyed spun yarns, including WrapSpun(TM), open-end spun, ring spun and chenille yarns. Culp Yarn operates manufacturing facilities in Shelby, Cherryville, and Lincolnton, North Carolina and Wetumpka, Alabama. The Wetumpka facility was acquired in December 1997 and the other Culp Yarn plants were purchased in February 1998. Over half of the production of Culp Yarn is used internally by other Culp divisions. The external sales are directed to the upholstery fabric, carpet and apparel markets, and a portion of these shipments are to competitors of Culp. Culp Yarn has provided Culp more control over its supply of spun and chenille yarns and complemented the Company's increased emphasis on developing new designs. CULP HOME FASHIONS. Culp Home Fashions principally markets mattress ticking to bedding manufacturers. These fabrics encompass woven jacquard ticking as well as heat-transfer and pigment-printed ticking on a variety of base fabrics, including jacquard, knit, poly/cotton sheeting and non-woven materials. Culp Home Fashions has successfully blended its diverse printing and finishing capabilities with its access to a variety of base fabrics to offer innovative designs to bedding manufacturers for mattress products. Printed jacquard fabrics offer customers better values with designs and textures of more expensive fabrics. Jacquard greige goods printed by Culp Home Fashions are primarily provided by the division's Rayonese facility. Culp Home Fashions' manufacturing facilities are located in Stokesdale, North Carolina and St. Jerome, Quebec. BUSINESS STRATEGY The Company's plan to maintain leadership in the global upholstery fabric and mattress ticking segments is based on a business strategy that includes five main initiatives: CUSTOMER SERVICE AND VERTICAL INTEGRATION - continuing to enhance the competitive value of its upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking through a company-wide initiative to raise efficiency and improve customer service. Important aspects of this program have included attaining more consistent product quality, improving delivery standards and offering more innovative designs. The Company's ability to realize progress in these areas in the past has been aided significantly by becoming more vertically integrated through capital expansion projects and strategic acquisitions. Representative steps have included adding capacity for producing unfinished jacquard greige goods, extruding polypropylene yarn and most recently, manufacturing spun and specialty yarn. BROAD PRODUCT OFFERING - continuing to market one of the broadest product lines in upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking. Through its extensive manufacturing capabilities, the Company competes in every major category except leather. DIVERSE GLOBAL CUSTOMER BASE - increasing its penetration into other end-use markets in addition to U.S. residential furniture, such as bedding, international, commercial furniture and juvenile furniture. -5- DESIGN INNOVATION - continuing to invest in the design of upholstery fabrics and ticking with appealing patterns and textures. An integral component of the value Culp provides to customers is supplying fabrics that are fashionable and meet current consumer preferences. The Company's principal design resources are now consolidated in a single facility that provides advanced CAD systems and promotes a sharing of innovative designs among the divisions. ADDITIONAL ACQUISITIONS - investing in selective acquisitions complementary to existing segments/divisions. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES Since fiscal 1994, the Company has invested $106 million in capital expenditures to expand its manufacturing capacity, install more efficient production equipment and vertically integrate its operations. These expenditures have included, among other things, the installation of narrow and wide-width weaving machines and additional printing equipment to support the growth in woven and printed upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking. The Company spent approximately $10.7 million in capital expenditures during fiscal 1999 for expansion, vertical integration and modernization. This level of capital spending was well below the $35.9 million in capital expenditures during fiscal 1998. During 1999, the principal expansion project involved expansion of facilities (Stokesdale, North Carolina and St. Jerome, Quebec, Canada) at Culp Home Fashions. The key project relating to vertical integration included expanding polypropylene extrusion capacity. Projects to modernize existing facilities encompassed a number of smaller investments throughout the Company's operations. During 1999, much of the Company's managerial focus shifted to realizing higher efficiencies from the investments made during fiscal 1998. As a result, capital expenditures for fiscal 1999 were less than a third spent in fiscal 1998. The Company is currently planning on capital expenditures for fiscal 2000 of approximately $20 million. OVERVIEW OF INDUSTRY Culp markets products worldwide to a broad array of manufacturers that operate in three principal markets and several specialty markets: RESIDENTIAL FURNITURE. This market includes upholstered furniture sold to consumers. Products include sofas, sleep sofas, chairs, motion/recliners, sectionals and occasional furniture items. Commercial furniture. This market includes upholstered office seating and modular office systems sold primarily for use in offices (including home offices) and other institutional settings. BEDDING. This market includes mattress sets as well as other related home furnishings. SPECIALTY MARKETS. These markets include juvenile furniture (baby car seats and other baby items), hospitality (furniture used in hotels and other lodging establishments), "top of the bed" (comforters and bedspreads), outdoor furniture, recreational vehicle seating, automotive aftermarket (slip-on seat covers), retail fabric stores and specialty yarn. -6- OVERVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL FURNITURE INDUSTRY The upholstery fabric industry is highly competitive, particularly among manufacturers in similar market niches. American Furniture Manufacturers Association, a trade association, reports that manufacturers of residential furniture in the United States shipped products valued at approximately $23.5 billion (wholesale) during 1998. Approximately 40% of this furniture is believed to consist of upholstered products. The upholstered furniture market has grown from $5.4 billion in 1991 to $9.4 billion in 1998. Trends in demand for upholstery fabric and mattress ticking generally parallel changes in consumer purchases of furniture and bedding. Factors influencing consumer purchases of home furnishings include the number of household formations, growth in the general population, the demographic profile of the population, consumer confidence, employment levels, the amount of disposable income, geographic mobility, housing starts and existing home sales. The long-term trend in demand for furniture and bedding has been one of moderate growth, although there have been some occasional periods of a modest downturn in sales due principally to changes in economic conditions. The Company believes that demographic trends support the outlook for continued long-term growth in the U.S. residential furniture and bedding industries. In particular, as "baby boomers" (people born between 1946 and 1964) mature to the 35-to-64 year age range over the next decade, they will be reaching their highest earning power. Consumers in these age groups tend to spend more on home furnishings, and the increasing number of these individuals favors higher demand for furniture and related home furnishings. Statistics also show that the average size of new homes has increased in recent years, and that is believed to have resulted in increased purchases of furniture per home. There is an established trend toward consolidation at all levels within the home furnishings industry. Furniture/Today has reported that the ten largest residential furniture manufacturers accounted for over 37% of the industry's total shipments in 1998, up from a 23% share in 1985. This trend is expected to continue, particularly because of the need to invest increasing capital to maintain modern manufacturing and distribution facilities as well as to provide the sophisticated computer-based systems and processes necessary to interface in the supply chain between retailers and suppliers. This trend toward consolidation is resulting in fewer, but larger, customers for upholstery fabric manufacturers. The Company believes that this environment favors larger upholstery fabric manufacturers capable of supplying a broad range of product choices at the volumes required by major furniture manufacturers on a timely basis. Today's furniture customers prefer more casual and comfortable furniture, including motion furniture, than did consumers ten years ago. In addition, customers are placing increasing emphasis on product quality. The increasing importance of product quality has allowed fabric manufacturers with effective quality control systems to gain a competitive advantage. Modern furniture buyers are also demanding faster delivery. To meet this demand, the furniture industry as a whole has increased its focus on just-in-time manufacturing methods and shorter delivery lead times. After a decade of consistent yearly growth, Culp's international sales declined 17% in 1999 to $113.4 million. The Company believes that this experience mirrors that of other suppliers of fabrics to markets in Europe and Asia that were adversely affected by serious economic turbulence during the year. The Company does not believe that this decline suggests any structural shift in the competitive position of Culp or in the long-term opportunities that are presented by rising demand for furniture in developing countries. Consumers in these areas are often attracted to those designs and fashions that mirror American tastes, and U.S.-based manufacturers such as Culp have been able to capitalize on this preference. Production costs of fabrics involve a relatively low labor component, which provides an advantage for a company with modern, efficient manufacturing equipment and systems. The large size of the furniture market within the United States has helped establish an upholstery fabrics industry that features ready access to a variety of raw materials, larger manufacturers with lower costs resulting from economies of scale and the availability of new designs and patterns. The Company believes that these characteristics assist Culp in competing effectively in international markets. -7- OVERVIEW OF COMMERCIAL FURNITURE INDUSTRY The commercial furniture market in the United States represents annual shipments by manufacturers valued at approximately $12 billion. Seating and office systems, which represent the primary uses of upholstery in this industry, represented annual sales of approximately $7 billion annually. At the manufacturing level, the industry is highly concentrated. The top five manufacturers of commercial furniture account for an estimated 65% of total industry shipments. Although demand for commercial furniture can be affected by general economic trends, the historical pattern has been one of generally steady growth. Dealers aligned with specific furniture brands account for over half of industry shipments of commercial furniture. Some shift in the distribution of commercial furniture has occurred in recent years in conjunction with the growth in national and regional chains featuring office supplies. OVERVIEW OF BEDDING INDUSTRY According to data compiled by the International Sleep Products Association ("ISPA"), the domestic conventional bedding market, which generated estimated wholesale revenues of $3.8 billion during calendar year 1998, includes approximately 800 manufacturers of mattress sets. The conventional bedding market accounts for approximately 90% of the domestic bedding market. Approximately 71% of the conventional bedding manufactured in the U.S. is sold to furniture stores and specialty sleep shops. Most of the remaining 29% is sold to department stores, national mass merchandisers, membership clubs and factory direct stores. Approximately two-thirds of conventional bedding is sold for replacement purposes and the average time lapse between mattress purchases is approximately 10 to 12 years. PRODUCTS As described above, the Company's products include upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking. UPHOLSTERY FABRICS. The Company derives the majority of its revenues from the sale of upholstery fabrics primarily to the residential and commercial (contract) furniture markets. Sales of upholstery fabrics totaled 80% of sales for fiscal 1999. The Company has emphasized fabrics and patterns that have broad appeal at promotional to medium prices, generally ranging from $2.20 per yard to $9.50 per yard. MATTRESS TICKING. The Company also manufactures mattress ticking (fabric used for covering mattresses and box springs) for sale to bedding manufacturers. Sales of mattress ticking constituted 20% of sales in fiscal 1999. The Company has emphasized fabrics and patterns which have broad appeal at prices generally ranging from $1.20 to $8.00 per yard. The Company's upholstery fabrics and mattress ticking can each be broadly grouped under the three main categories of wovens, prints and velvets. The following table indicates the product lines within each of these categories, a brief description of their characteristics and identification of their principal end-use markets. -8- Culp Fabric Categories ---------------------- Principal Upholstery Fabrics Characteristics Markets - ------------------ --------------- --------- Wovens: Jacquards Elaborate, complex designs such as florals Residential and tapestries in traditional, transitional furniture and contemporary styles. Woven on Commercial intricate looms using a wide variety of furniture synthetic and natural yarns. Dobbies Geometric designs such as plaids, stripes Residential and solids in traditional and country furniture styles. Woven on less complicated looms Commercial using a variety of weaving constructions furniture and primarily synthetic yarns. Prints: Wet prints Contemporary patterns with deep, rich Residential colors on a nylon flock base fabric for furniture a very soft texture and excellent Juvenile wearability. Produced by screen printing furniture directly onto the base fabric. Heat-transfer Sharp, intricate designs on flock or Residential prints jacquard base fabrics. Plush feel furniture (flocks), deep colors (jacquards) and Juvenile excellent wearability. Produced by using furniture heat and pressure to transfer color from printed paper onto base fabric. Cotton prints A broad variety of designs featuring deep, Residential rich colors printed on woven cotton base furniture fabrics with excellent wearability. Produced by screen printing directly onto the base fabric. Velvets: Woven velvets Basic designs such as plaids and Residential semi-plains in traditional and furniture contemporary styles with a plush feel. Woven with a short-cut pile using various weaving methods and synthetic yarns. Tufted velvets Lower cost production process of velvets in Residential which synthetic yarns are punched into a furniture base polyester fabric for texture. Similar designs as woven velvets. Principal Mattress Ticking Characteristics Markets - ---------------- --------------- ------- Wovens: Jacquards Florals and other intricate designs. Bedding Woven on complex looms using a wide variety of synthetic and natural yarns. Prints: Heat-transfer Sharp, detailed designs. Produced by Bedding prints using heat and pressure to transfer color from printed paper onto base fabrics, including woven jacquards, knits and poly/cotton sheetings. Pigment prints Variety of designs produced economically Bedding by screen printing pigments onto a variety of base fabrics, including jacquards, knits, poly/cotton sheeting and non-wovens. ================================================================================ Although fabrics marketed for upholstery applications and those used for mattress ticking may have similar appearances, mattress ticking must be manufactured on weaving and printing equipment in wider widths to accommodate the physical size of box springs and mattresses. The Company's products include all major types of coverings, except for leather, that manufacturers use today for furniture and bedding. The Company also markets fabrics for certain specialty markets, but these do not currently represent a material portion of the Company's business. -9- MANUFACTURING Substantially all of the upholstery fabric and mattress ticking currently marketed by Culp is produced at the Company's seventeen (17) manufacturing facilities. These plants encompass a total of 2.7 million square feet and include yarn extrusion, spinning, dyeing and texturizing equipment, narrow and wide-width jacquard looms, dobby and woven velvet looms, tufting machines, printing equipment for pigment, heat-transfer and wet printing, fabric finishing equipment and various types of surface finishing equipment (such as washing, softening and embossing). Culp is actively pursuing ISO certification for its manufacturing facilities. ISO certification is an international recognition of a company's ability to deliver high quality products and services. Culp's facilities at Stokesdale, North Carolina, which produces mattress ticking, and at Anderson, South Carolina, which produces woven velvet upholstery fabric, were awarded ISO-9002 certification during fiscal 1997. Additionally, the Company's facility at Pageland, South Carolina, which produces jacquard and dobby upholstery fabric, and the finishing facility in Burlington, North Carolina were awarded ISO-9002 certification in fiscal 1998. During fiscal 1999, the Company's weaving facility in Graham, North Carolina and the Culp Velvets/Prints plant in Burlington, North Carolina successfully completed ISO-9002 registration. The Company is planning to complete the ISO certification process at its other facilities over the next several years. The Company's woven fabrics are made from various types of synthetic and natural yarn, such as polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, rayon, nylon or cotton. Yarn is woven into various fabrics on jacquard, dobby or velvet weaving equipment. Once the weaving is completed, the fabric can be printed or finished using a variety of processes. The Company currently extrudes and spins a portion of its own needs for yarn and purchases the remainder from outside suppliers. As a result of the acquisition of the Culp Yarn plants during fiscal 1998, Culp produces internally a substantial amount of its needs for spun and chenille yarns. The Company also supplies other fabric manufacturers with spun yarns manufactured by Culp Yarn. Culp purchases a significant amount of greige goods (unfinished, uncolored base fabrics) from other suppliers to be printed at the Company's plants, but has increased its internal production capability for jacquard greige goods. The acquisition of Rayonese in fiscal 1995 increased the Company's capacity to produce its own jacquard greige goods. Culp has installed additional airjet weaving machines at Rayonese to significantly increase its capacity for jacquard greige goods. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company installed its first flock coating line to produce flock greige goods to be used primarily as the base cloth for wet and heat-transfer-printed flock products. Flock fabrics are produced by the application of very short nylon fibers onto a poly/cotton woven base fabric to create a velvet effect. During the flock coating process, the fibers are bonded onto the base fabric with an adhesive substance by utilizing an electrostatic charging procedure which causes the fibers to vertically align with the base fabric. Tufted velvet fabrics are produced by tufting machines which insert an acrylic or polypropylene yarn through a polyester woven base fabric creating loop pile surface material which is then sheared to create a velvet surface. Tufted velvet fabrics are typically lower-cost fabrics utilized in the Company's lower-priced product mix. The Company's printing operations include pigment and heat-transfer methods, as well as wet printing. The Company also produces its own printed heat-transfer paper, another component of vertical integration. Wet printing is the most recent addition to the Company's printing capabilities. -10- PRODUCT DESIGN AND STYLING Consumer tastes and preferences related to upholstered furniture and bedding change, albeit gradually, over time. The use of new fabrics and designs remains an important consideration for manufacturers to distinguish their products at retail and to capitalize on even small changes in preferred colors, patterns and textures. Culp's success is largely dependent on the Company's ability to market fabrics with appealing designs and patterns. Culp has a staff of over 75 designers and support personnel involved in the design and development of new patterns and styles, including designers with experience in designing products for specific international markets. Culp uses computer aided design (CAD) systems in the development of new fabrics which assists the Company in providing a very flexible design program. These systems have enabled the Company's designers to experiment with new ideas and involve customers more actively in the process. The use of CAD systems also has supported the Company's emphasis on integrating manufacturing considerations into the early phase of a new design. The completion of the Howard L. Dunn, Jr. design center in January 1998 has enabled most of the Company's designers to be located in the same facility to support the sharing of design ideas and CAD and other technologies. The design center has enhanced the Company's merchandising and marketing efforts by providing an environment in which customers can be shown new products as well as participate in product development initiatives. The process of developing new designs involves maintaining an awareness of broad fashion and color trends both in the United States and internationally. These concepts are blended with input from the Company's customers to develop new fabric designs and styles. Most of these designs are introduced by Culp at major trade conferences that occur twice a year in the United States (January and July) and annually in several major international markets. DISTRIBUTION The majority of the Company's products are shipped directly from its distribution centers at or near manufacturing facilities. This "direct ship" program is primarily utilized by large manufacturers. Generally, small and medium-size residential furniture manufacturers use one of the Company's three regional distribution facilities which have been strategically positioned in areas which have a high concentration of residential furniture manufacturers High Point, North Carolina, Los Angeles, California and Tupelo, Mississippi. In addition, the Company maintains an inventory of upholstery fabric at a warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan to supply large commercial furniture manufacturers in that area on a "just in time" basis. The Company closely monitors demand in each distribution territory to decide which patterns and styles to hold in inventory. These products are available on demand by customers and are usually shipped within 48 hours of receipt of an order. Substantially all of the Company's shipments of mattress ticking are made from its manufacturing facilities in Stokesdale, North Carolina and St. Jerome, Quebec, Canada. In international markets, Culp sells primarily to distributors that maintain inventories of upholstery fabrics for resale to furniture manufacturers. The Company plans to explore the establishment of distribution facilities in certain areas outside the United States to support international sales. SOURCES AND AVAILABILITY OF RAW MATERIALS Raw materials account for more than half of the Company's total production costs. The Company purchases various types of synthetic and natural yarns (polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon and cotton), synthetic staple fibers (acrylic, rayon, polypropylene, polyester), various types of greige goods (poly/cotton wovens and flocks, polyester wovens, poly/rayon and poly/cotton jacquard wovens, polyester knits, poly/cotton sheeting and non-wovens), polypropylene resins, nylon flock fibers, rayon staple, latex adhesives, dyes and chemicals from a variety of suppliers. The Company has made a significant investment in becoming more vertically integrated and producing more of its jacquard greige goods, polypropylene yarns, package dyed yarns and printed heat-transfer paper internally. As a result, a larger portion of its raw materials are comprised of more basic commodities such as rayon staple, undyed yarns, polypropylene resin chips, certain polyester warp yarns, unprinted heat-transfer paper and unflocked poly/cotton base fabric. Although the Company is dependent upon one supplier for all of its nylon flock fibers and upon one supplier of acrylic staple, most of the Company's raw materials are available from more than one primary source. The prices of such materials fluctuate depending upon current supply and demand conditions and the general rate of inflation. Many of the Company's basic raw materials are petrochemical products or are produced from such products, and therefore the Company's raw material costs are particularly sensitive to changes in petrochemical prices. Generally, the Company has not had significant difficulty in obtaining raw materials. -11- COMPETITION In spite of the trend toward consolidation in the upholstery fabric market, the Company competes against a large number of producers, ranging from large manufacturers comparable in size to the Company to small producers and marketers of specialty fabrics. The Company believes its principal upholstery fabric competitors are the Burlington House Fabrics division of Burlington Industries, Inc., Joan Fabrics Corporation (including its Mastercraft division), Microfibres, Inc., and Quaker Fabric Corporation. Conversely, the mattress ticking market is concentrated in a few relatively large suppliers. The Company believes its principal mattress ticking competitors are Bekaert Textiles B.V., Blumenthal Print Works, Inc., Burlington House Fabrics division of Burlington Industries, Inc. and Tietex, Inc. Although the Company is one of the largest suppliers of furniture upholstery fabrics and a leading supplier of mattress ticking to the bedding industry, some of the Company's competitors are larger overall and have greater financial resources than the Company. Competition for the Company's products is based primarily on price, design, quality, timing of delivery and service. TECHNOLOGY Culp views the use of technology as a very important element in the Company's efforts to achieve higher levels of service to its customers and to produce and deliver its products in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Some of Culp's key initiatives in this area include: o The Company has created a home page on the Internet (WWW.CULPINC.COM). Through the Internet and the Culp home page, customers can use a system known as CulpLink to view their current order status, shipping and invoice information, and twelve months of sales history. The CulpLink system was developed internally by the Company's MIS department and provides superior communication with customers throughout the world. o Culp has implemented significant upgrades to its design technology and has opened the state-of-the-art Howard L. Dunn, Jr. Design Center. The Company has used computer aided design (CAD) technology for many years, and recent upgrades in hardware and software in the CAD department have made the process of moving from design to a finished project both faster and simpler. The Company also has implemented an image archiving system that will allow electronic storage of all artwork and easy access to artwork for designers. -12- o Local Area Networks (LANs) have been installed at individual plants, and all of these are combined into one Wide Area Network (WAN), allowing easy information exchange among various Culp locations and communication with customers and suppliers through the Internet. Culp has installed fiber optic cable networks as the communication backbone throughout the Company, placing the Company in position to easily expand the user base and to take advantage of this faster data transfer medium for potential future uses such as video conferencing and transferring large files like those required for digital images. o The Company has recently completed the installation of new shop floor data collection systems to track inventory movement. This initiative includes the use of fixed laser scanners, hand-held radio frequency devices, and industrialized keyboards and display stations at key points throughout the manufacturing process to record the movement of goods through production and shipping. The Company makes extensive use of bar-coding to track products throughout its manufacturing and distribution systems, and the Company has recently installed new thermal transfer printers for high quality printing of bar-coded labels and work orders. ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER REGULATIONS The Company is subject to various federal and state laws and regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act and federal and state environmental laws, as well as similar laws governing its Rayonese facility in Canada. The Company periodically reviews its compliance with such laws and regulations in an attempt to minimize the risk of material violations. The Company's operations involve a variety of materials and processes that are subject to environmental regulation. Under current law, environmental liability can arise from previously owned properties, leased properties and properties owned by third parties, as well as from properties currently owned and leased by the Company. Environmental liabilities can also be asserted by adjacent landowners or other third parties in toxic tort litigation. In addition, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), and analogous state statutes, liability can be imposed for the disposal of waste at sites targeted for cleanup by federal and state regulatory authorities. Liability under CERCLA is strict as well as joint and several. The Company has accrued reserves for environmental matters based on information presently available. Based on this information and the Company's established reserves, the Company does not believe that environmental matters will have a material adverse effect on either the Company's financial condition or results of operations. However, there can be no assurance that the costs associated with environmental matters will not increase in the future. EMPLOYEES As of May 2, 1999, the Company had approximately 4,000 employees. All of the hourly employees at the Company's facility in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania and all of the hourly employees at the Rayonese facility in Canada (approximately 13% of the Company's workforce) are represented by a union. The collective bargaining agreement with respect to the hourly employees at the Pennsylvania plant expires in 1999, while the collective bargaining agreement with respect to the Rayonese hourly employees expires in 2002. The Company is not aware of any efforts to organize any more of its employees and believes its relations with its employees are good. -13- CUSTOMERS AND SALES Culp's size, broad product line, diverse manufacturing base and effective distribution system enable it to market products to over 2,000 customers. Major customers are leading manufacturers of upholstered furniture, including Bassett, Furniture Brands International (Broyhill, Thomasville and Lane), Lifestyles International (Berkline, Universal, Benchcraft, Drexel, Henredon and others), Flexsteel, La-Z-Boy and LADD (Clayton Marcus, Barclay, Pennsylvania House and American Drew). Representative customers for the Company's fabrics for commercial furniture include Herman Miller, HON Industries and Steelcase. In the mattress ticking area, Culp's customer base includes leading bedding manufacturers such as Sealy, Serta, Simmons and Spring Air. Culp's customers also include many small and medium-size furniture and bedding manufacturers. In international markets, Culp sells upholstery fabrics primarily to distributors that maintain inventories for resale to furniture manufacturers. The following table sets forth the Company's net sales by geographic area by amount and percentage of total net sales for the three most recent fiscal years. Net Sales by Geographic Area (dollars in thousands) Fiscal 1999 Fiscal 1998 Fiscal 1997 ------------ ----------- ------------ United States $369,730 76.5% $339,492 71.2% $297,308 74.5% North America (excluding U.S.) 31,102 6.5 31,160 6.5 27,479 6.9 Europe 19,578 4.1 30,775 6.5 25,245 6.3 Middle East 33,996 7.0 34,412 7.2 23,505 5.9 Asia and Pacific Rim 21,371 4.4 32,344 6.8 19,646 4.9 South America 3,484 0.7 5,158 1.1 2,604 0.7 All other areas 3,823 0.8 3,374 0.7 3,092 0.8 ----- --- ----- --- ----- ------ Subtotal 113,354 23.5 137,223 28.8 101,571 25.5 ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ---- Total $483,084 100.0% $476,715 100.0% $398,879 100.0% ========= ======= ========= ======= ========= ======== BACKLOG Because a large portion of the Company's customers have an opportunity to cancel orders, it is difficult to predict the amount of the backlog that is "firm." Many customers may cancel orders before goods are placed into production, and some may cancel at a later time. In addition, the Company markets a significant portion of its sales through its Regional Warehouse System from in-stock order positions. On May 2, 1999, the portion of the backlog with confirmed shipping dates prior to June 6, 1999 was $38.6 million, and on May 3, 1998, the portion of the backlog with confirmed shipping dates prior to June 7, 1998 was $40.2 million. YEAR 2000 CONSIDERATIONS Management has developed a plan to modify the Company's information technology to recognize the year 2000. The plan has three distinct areas of focus; namely, traditional information systems, technology used in support areas, and preparedness of suppliers and customers. The initiative for traditional information systems, which started in 1992, has led to substantial completion of the assessment, required changes and testing of the Company's operational systems (order entry, billing, sales, finished goods) and financial systems (payroll, human resources, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, fixed assets). The Company is currently focused on modifying the remaining systems that support the Company's manufacturing processes. The programming and testing of these systems was substantially completed by April 1, 1999, and implementation of these systems was substantially completed by June 30, 1999. The remaining system implementations are scheduled for completion during the second quarter of fiscal 2000. -14- The second area of focus has been an assessment of non-traditional information technology, which includes the electronics in equipment such as telephone switches and manufacturing equipment. Inventories of this equipment have been completed and correspondence has been initiated with vendors and suppliers of this equipment. The Company is currently evaluating the vendor responses and testing the equipment. After the testing phase is complete, the Company will conduct a review of the inventories and the testing procedures, with this phase expected to also be completed during the second quarter of fiscal 2000. The third area of focus is communications with suppliers and customers to understand their level of readiness and assure a constant flow of materials to support business plans. Communication to date has shown a high level of awareness and planning by these parties. The Company has a response rate in the 60% - 70% range, and at the present time no material problems or concerns are indicated by these responses. However, if a significant vendor or customer is non-compliant, the Company can give no assurance that such occurrence will not have an adverse affect on the Company's results. The Company believes its action plans will minimize these risks and prevent any major interruptions in the flow of materials and products. Formal contingency plans will not be formulated unless the Company has identified specific areas where there is a substantial risk of year 2000 problems occurring. No such areas have been identified. The plan is being administered by a team of internal staff and management. Costs incurred in the Company's readiness effort are being expensed as incurred. Anticipated costs are expected to approximate $800,000 and to date an estimated $500,000 has been spent. This project, and the year 2000 issue in general, are not expected to have a significant effect on the Company's operations, though no assurance can be given in this regard. -15- ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The Company's headquarters are located in High Point, North Carolina, and the Company currently operates seventeen (17) manufacturing facilities and three (3) regional distribution facilities. The following is a summary of the Company's principal administrative, manufacturing and distribution facilities. The manufacturing facilities are organized by segment. Approx. Total Area Expiration Location Principal Use (Sq. Ft.) of Lease (2) - -------- -------------- ---------- ------------ o Headquarters and Distribution Centers: (1) High Point, North Carolina Corporate headquarters 40,000 2015 Burlington, North Carolina Design Center 30,000 Owned Los Angeles, California Regional distribution 33,000 2007 o Upholstery Fabrics: Graham, North Carolina Manufacturing 341,000 Owned Burlington, North Carolina Manufacturing and distribution 302,000 Owned Pageland, South Carolina Manufacturing 96,000 Owned Burlington, North Carolina Distribution and Yarn Warehouse 112,500 Owned Chattanooga, Tennessee Manufacturing and distribution 290,000 2018 West Hazleton, Pennsylvania Manufacturing 110,000 2013 West Hazleton, Pennsylvania Manufacturing and distribution 100,000 2008 Monroe, North Carolina Manufacturing 70,000 2007 Monroe, North Carolina Manufacturing 70,000 2004 High Point, North Carolina Sales and Design 12,000 2007 Burlington, North Carolina Manufacturing and distribution 275,000 2021 Lumberton, North Carolina Manufacturing 107,000 Owned Anderson, South Carolina Manufacturing 99,000 Owned High Point, North Carolina Regional distribution 65,000 2008 Tupelo, Mississippi Regional distribution 57,000 2018 Shelby, North Carolina Manufacturing 101,000 Owned Lincolnton, North Carolina Manufacturing 78,000 Owned Cherryville, North Carolina Manufacturing 135,000 Owned Wetumpka, Alabama Manufacturing 145,000 Owned o Mattress Ticking: Stokesdale, North Carolina Manufacturing and distribution 220,000 Owned St. Jerome, Quebec, Canada Manufacturing and distribution 202,000 Owned ------------------------------------------- (1) Properties are used jointly by Upholstery Fabrics and Mattress Ticking (2) Includes all options to renew -16- ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS There are no legal proceedings to which the Company, or its subsidiaries, is a party or of which any of their property is the subject that are required to be disclosed under this item. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS There were no matters submitted to a vote of shareholders during the fourth quarter ended May 2, 1999. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Information with respect to the market for the Company's common stock and related shareholder matters is included in the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 2, 1999, in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (dividend information), in the Selected Quarterly Data under the caption "Stock Data," in the Selected Annual Data under the caption "Stock Data," in the Shareholder Information under the caption "Stock Listing" on the back cover page, which information is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA This information is included in the Company's above referenced Annual Report to Shareholders, under the caption "Selected Annual Data," and is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is included in the Company's above referenced Annual Report to Shareholders under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on debt and foreign currency exchange rates. See additional disclosures about interest rate swap agreements in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in item 7 above. The Company's market risk sensitive instruments are not entered into for trading purposes. The Company has not experienced any significant changes in market risk since May 2, 1999. -17- The Company's exposure to interest rate risk consists of floating rate debt based on the London Interbank Offered Rate plus an adjustable margin under the Company's revolving credit agreement and variable rate debt in connection with the industrial revenue bonds. To lower or limit overall borrowing costs, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to modify the interest characteristics of portions of its outstanding debt. The agreements entitle the Company to receive or pay to the counterparty (a major bank), on a quarterly basis, the amounts, if any, by which the Company's interest payments covered by swap agreements differ from those of the counterparty. These amounts are recorded as adjustments to interest expense. The fair value of the swap agreements and changes in fair value resulting from changes in market interest rates are not recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The annual impact on the Company's results of operations of a 100 basis point interest rate change on the May 2, 1999 outstanding balance of the variable rate debt would be approximately $580,000 irrespective of any swaps associated with this debt. The Company's exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is due primarily to a foreign subsidiary domiciled in Canada and purchases of certain machinery, equipment and raw materials in foreign currencies. The Company's Canadian subsidiary uses the United States dollar as its functional currency. The Company generally does not use financial derivative instruments to hedge foreign currency exchange rate risks associated with the Canadian subsidiary. However, the Company generally enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts as a hedge against its exposure to currency fluctuations on firm commitments to purchase certain machinery, equipment and raw materials. The Canadian subsidiary is not material to the Company's consolidated results of operations; therefore, the impact of a 10% change in the exchange rate at May 2, 1999 would not have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. In addition, the Company had $0 of outstanding foreign exchange forward and option contracts as of May 2, 1999 and, as a result, any change in exchange rates would not have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data are included in the Company's above referenced Annual Report to Shareholders, and are herein incorporated by reference. Item 14 of this report contains specific page number references to the consolidated financial statements and supplementary data included in the Annual Report. EXCEPT FOR SUCH PORTIONS OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 2, 1999 THAT ARE EXPRESSLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS REPORT, SUCH REPORT IS NOT TO BE DEEMED FILED AS PART OF THIS FILING. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE During the two years ended May 2, 1999 and any subsequent interim periods, there were no changes of accountants and/or disagreements on any matters of accounting principles or practices or financial statement disclosures. -18- PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT Information with respect to executive officers and directors of the Company is included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Nominees, Directors and Executive Officers" and "Reports Of Securities Ownership," which information is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Information with respect to executive compensation is included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Executive Compensation," which information is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Information with respect to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the caption "Voting Securities," which information is herein incorporated by reference. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS Information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions is included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the subcaption "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions," which information is herein incorporated by reference. -19- PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K a) DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS REPORT: 1. Consolidated Financial Statements The following consolidated financial statements of Culp, Inc. and subsidiary from the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended May 2, 1999, are incorporated by reference into this report. Page of Annual Report to Shareholders Item [Exhibit 13(a)] - ---- --------------- Consolidated Balance Sheets - May 2, 1999 and.................... 11 May 3, 1998 Consolidated Statements of Income - for the years ended May 2, 1999, May 3, 1998, and April 27, 1997 ............................... 12 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - for the years ended May 2, 1999, May 3, 1998 and April 27, 1997 ................................ 13 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - for the years ended May 2, 1999, May 3, 1998, and April 27, 1997 ............................... 14 Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements....................... 15 Report of Independent Auditors .................................. 24 2. Financial Statement Schedules All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. -20- 3. Exhibits The following exhibits are attached at the end of this report, or incorporated by reference herein. Management contracts, compensatory plans, and arrangements are marked with an asterisk (*). 3(i) Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, were filed as Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 29, 1995, filed March 5, 1995, and are incorporated herein by reference. 3(ii) Restated and Amended Bylaws of the Company, as amended, were filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 28, 1991, filed July 25, 1991, and are incorporated herein by reference. 10(a) Loan Agreement dated December 1, 1988 with Chesterfield County, South Carolina relating to Series 1988 Industrial Revenue Bonds in the principal amount of $3,377,000 was filed as Exhibit 10(n) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 1989, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(b) Loan Agreement dated November 1, 1988 with the Alamance County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority relating to Series A and B Industrial Revenue Refunding Bonds in the principal amount of $7,900,000, was filed as exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 1990, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(c) Loan Agreement dated January, 1990 with the Guilford County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority, North Carolina, relating to Series 1989 Industrial Revenue Bonds in the principal amount of $4,500,000, was filed as Exhibit 10(d) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 19, 1990, filed on July 15, 1990, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(d) Loan Agreement dated as of December 1, 1993 between Anderson County, South Carolina and the Company relating to $6,580,000 Anderson County, South Carolina Industrial Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1993, was filed as Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 30, 1994, filed March 16, 1994, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(e) Form of Severance Protection Agreement, dated September 21, 1989, was filed as Exhibit 10(f) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 1990, filed on July 25, 1990, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*) 10(f) Lease Agreement, dated January 19, 1990, with Phillips Interests, Inc. was filed as Exhibit 10(g) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 1990, filed on July 25, 1990, and is incorporated herein by reference. -21- 10(g) Management Incentive Plan of the Company, dated August 1986 and amended July 1989, filed as Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 3, 1992, filed on August 4, 1992, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*) 10(h) Lease Agreement, dated September 6, 1988, with Partnership 74 was filed as Exhibit 10(h) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 28, 1991, filed on July 25, 1990, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(i) Amendment and Restatement of the Employee's Retirement Builder Plan of the Company dated May 1, 1981 with amendments dated January 1, 1990 and January 8, 1990 were filed as Exhibit 10(p) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 3, 1992, filed on August 4, 1992, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*) 10(j) First Amendment of Lease Agreement dated July 27, 1992 with Partnership 74 Associates was filed as Exhibit 10(n) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 1993, filed on July 29, 1993, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(k) Second Amendment of Lease Agreement dated April 16, 1993, with Partnership 52 Associates was filed as Exhibit 10(l) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 1993, filed on July 29, 1993, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(l) 1993 Stock Option Plan was filed as Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 1993, filed on July 29, 1993, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*) 10(m) First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of December 1, 1993 by and between The Guilford County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority and the Company was filed as Exhibit 10(p) to the Company's Form 10-Q, filed on March 15, 1994, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(n) First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of December 16, 1993 by and between The Alamance County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority and the Company was filed as Exhibit 10(q) to the Company's Form 10-Q, filed on March 15, 1994, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(o) First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of December 16, 1993 by and between Chesterfield County, South Carolina and the Company was filed as Exhibit 10(r) to the Company's Form 10-Q, filed on March 15, 1994, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(p) Amendment to Lease dated as of November 4, 1994, by and between the Company and RDC, Inc. was filed as Exhibit 10(w) to the Company's Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended January 29, 1995, filed on March 15, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. -22- 10(q) Amendment to Lease Agreement dated as of December 14, 1994, by and between the Company and Rossville Investments, Inc. (formerly known as A & E Leasing, Inc.), was filed as Exhibit 10(y) to the Company's Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended January 29, 1995, filed on March 15, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(r) Interest Rate Swap Agreement between Company and First Union National Bank of North Carolina dated April 17, 1995, was filed as Exhibit 10(aa) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1995, filed on July 26, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(s) Performance-Based Stock Option Plan, dated June 21, 1994, was filed as Exhibit 10(bb) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 1995, filed on July 26, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*) 10(t) Interest Rate Swap Agreement between Company and First Union National Bank of North Carolina, dated May 31, 1995 was filed as exhibit 10(w) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 30, 1995, filed on September 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(u) Interest Rate Swap Agreement between Company and First Union National Bank of North Carolina, dated July 7, 1995 was filed as exhibit 10(x) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 30, 1995, filed on September 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(v) Second Amendment of Lease Agreement dated June 15, 1994 with Partnership 74 Associates was filed as Exhibit 10(v) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 1995, filed on December 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(w) Lease Agreement dated November 1, 1993 by and between the Company and Chromatex, Inc. was filed as Exhibit 10(w) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 1995, filed on December 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(x) Lease Agreement dated November 1, 1993 by and between the Company and Chromatex Properties, Inc. was filed as Exhibit 10(x) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 1995, filed on December 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(y) Amendment to Lease Agreement dated May 1, 1994 by and between the Company and Chromatex Properties, Inc. was filed as Exhibit 10(y) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 1995, filed on December 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(z) Canada-Quebec Subsidiary Agreement on Industrial Development (1991), dated January 4, 1995, was filed as Exhibit 10(z) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 29, 1995, filed on December 12, 1995, and is incorporated herein by reference. -23- 10(aa) Loan Agreement between Chesterfield County, South Carolina and the Company dated as of April 1, 1996 relating to Tax Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1996 in the aggregate principal amount of $6,000,000 was filed as Exhibit 10(aa) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 28, 1996, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(bb) Loan Agreement between the Alamance County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority, North Carolina and the Company, dated December 1, 1996, relating to Tax Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, (Culp, Inc. Project Series 1996) in the aggregate amount of $6,000,000 was filed as Exhibit 10(cc) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(cc) Loan Agreement between Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and the Company, dated as of December 1, 1996, relating to Tax-Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1996 in the aggregate principal amount of $3,500,000 was filed as Exhibit 10(dd) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 26, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(dd) Second Amendment to Lease Agreement between Chromatex Properties, Inc. and the Company, dated April 17, 1997 was filed as Exhibit 10(dd) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(ee) Lease Agreement between Joseph E. Proctor (doing business as JEPCO) and the Company, dated April 21, 1997 was filed as Exhibit 10(ee) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(ff) $125,000,000 Revolving Loan Facility dated April 23, 1997 by and among the Company and Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A., as agent, and First Union National Bank of North Carolina, as documentation agent was filed as Exhibit 10(ff) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(gg) Revolving Line of Credit for $4,000,000 dated April 23, 1997 by and between the Company and Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A. was filed as Exhibit 10(gg) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(hh) Reimbursement and Security Agreement between Culp, Inc. and Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., dated as of April 1, 1997, relating to $3,337,000 Principal Amount, Chesterfield County, South Carolina Industrial Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1988 was filed as Exhibit 10(hh) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. -24- Additionally, there are Reimbursement and Security Agreements between Culp, Inc. and Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., dated as of April 1, 1997 in the following amounts and with the following facilities: $7,900,000 Principal Amount, Alamance County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority Industrial Revenue Refunding Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series A and B. $4,500,000 Principal Amount, Guilford County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1989. $6,580,000 Principal Amount, Anderson County South Carolina Industrial Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1993. $6,000,000 Principal Amount, Chesterfield County, South Carolina Tax-Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1996. $6,000,000 Principal Amount, The Alamance County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority Tax-exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1996. $3,500,000 Principal Amount, Luzerne County Industrial Development Authority Tax-Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project) Series 1996. 10(ii) Loan Agreement and Reimbursement and Security Agreement dated July 1, 1997 with the Robeson County Industrial Facilities and Pollution Control Financing Authority relating to the issuance of Tax-Exempt Adjustable Mode Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Culp, Inc. Project), Series 1997 in the aggregate principal amount of $8,500,000 was filed as Exhibit 10(ii) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 3, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(jj) Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of August 4, 1997 by and between Culp, Inc., Phillips Weaving Mills, Inc., Phillips Printing Mills, Inc., Phillips Velvet Mills, Inc., Phillips Mills, Inc., Phillips Property Company, LLC, Phillips Industries, Inc. and S. Davis Phillips was filed as Exhibit (10jj) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 2, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(kk) Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of October 14, 1997 among Culp, Inc., Artee Industries, Incorporated, Robert T. Davis, Robert L. Davis, Trustee u/a dated 8/25/94, Robert L. Davis, Louis W. Davis, Kelly D. England, J. Marshall Bradley, Frankie S. Bradley and Mickey R. Bradley was filed as Exhibit 10(kk) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 2, 1997, and is incorporated herein by reference. -25- 10(ll) Form of Note Purchase Agreement (providing for the issuance by Culp, Inc. of its $20 million 6.76% Series A Senior Notes due 3/15/08 and its $55 million 6.76% Series B Senior Notes due 3/15/10), each dated March 4, 1998, between Culp, Inc. and each of the following: 1. Connecticut General Life Insurance Company; 2. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York; 3. United of Omaha Life Insurance Company; 4. Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company; 5. The Prudential Insurance Company of America; 6. Allstate Life Insurance Company; 7. Life Insurance Company of North America; and 8. CIGNA Property and Casualty Insurance Company This agreement was filed as Exhibit 10(ll) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended May 3, 1998, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(mm) First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated July 22, 1998 among Culp, Inc., Wachovia Bank, N.A., as agent, First Union National Bank, as documentation agent, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., First Union National Bank, SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, and Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleeenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as lenders. This amendment was filed as Exhibit 10(mm) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 2, 1998, and is incorporated herein by reference. 10(nn) Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated October 26, 1998, among Culp, Inc., Wachovia Bank, N.A., as agent, First Union National Bank, as documentation agent, and Wachovia Bank, N.A., First Union National Bank, and SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as lenders. This amendment was filed as Exhibit 10(nn) to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 1, 1998, and is incorporated herein by reference. 13(a) Copy of the Company's 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders, for the year ended May 2, 1999, furnished for information only except with respect to those portions incorporated by reference into this report. 22 List of subsidiaries of the Company. 24(a) Consent of Independent Public Auditors in connection with the registration statements of Culp, Inc. on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-13310, 33-37027, 33-80206, 33-62843, and 333-27519), dated March 20, 1987, September 18, 1990, June 13, 1994, September 22, 1995, and May 21, 1997. 25(a) Power of Attorney of Harry R. Culp, dated June 28, 1999 25(b) Power of Attorney of Howard L. Dunn, Jr., dated June 28, 1999 25(c) Power of Attorney of Robert T. Davis, dated June 28, 1999 25(d) Power of Attorney of Earl M. Honeycutt, dated June 22, 1999 25(e) Power of Attorney of Patrick H. Norton, dated July 3, 1999 -26- 25(f) Power of Attorney of Earl N. Phillips, Jr., dated June 28, 1999 25(g) Power of Attorney of Franklin N. Saxon, dated July 16, 1999 27 Financial Data Schedule b) Reports on Form 8-K: The Company filed the following report on Form 8-K during the quarter ended May 2, 1999: (1)Form 8-K dated February 17, 1999, included under Item 5, Other Events, included the Company's press release for quarterly earnings and the Financial Information Release relating to certain financial information for the quarter ended January 31, 1999. c) Exhibits: The exhibits to this Form 10-K are filed at the end of this Form 10-K immediately preceded by an index. A list of the exhibits begins on page 29 under the subheading "Exhibits Index". d) Financial Statement Schedules: See Item 14(a) (2) -27- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, CULP, INC. has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 30th day of July 1999. CULP, INC. By /s/ Robert G. Culp, III -------------------------------------- Robert G. Culp, III (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) By: /s/ Phillip W. Wilson -------------------------------------- Phillip W. Wilson (Vice President and Chief Financial and Accounting Officer) Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 30th day of July 1999. /s/ Robert G. Culp, III /s/ Franklin N. Saxon* --------------------- ---------------------- Robert G. Culp, III Franklin N. Saxon (Chairman of the (Director) Board of Directors) /s/ Earl N. Phillips, Jr.* /s/ Harry R. Culp * --------------------- ---------------------- Earl N. Phillips, Jr. Harry R. Culp (Director) (Director) /s/ Howard L. Dunn, Jr.* /s/ Robert T. Davis * --------------------- ---------------------- Howard L. Dunn, Jr. Robert T. Davis (Director) (Director) /s/ Earl M. Honeycutt* --------------------- Earl M. Honeycutt (Director) /s/ Patrick H. Norton* --------------------- Patrick H. Norton (Director) * By Phillip W. Wilson, Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to Powers of Attorney filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. -28- EXHIBITS INDEX -------------- Exhibit Number Exhibit - -------------- ------- 13(a) Copy of the Company's 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders, for the year ended May 2, 1999, furnished for information only except with respect to those portions incorporated by reference into this report. 22 List of subsidiaries of the Company. 24(a) Consent of Independent Public Auditors in connection with the registration statements of Culp, Inc. on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-13310, 33-37027, 33-80206, 33-62843, and 333-27519), dated March 20, 1987, September 18, 1990, June 13, 1994, September 22, 1995, and May 21, 1997. 25(a) Power of Attorney of Harry R. Culp, dated June 28, 1999 25(b) Power of Attorney of Howard L. Dunn, Jr., dated June 28, 1999 25(c) Power of Attorney of Robert T. Davis, dated June 28, 1999 25(d) Power of Attorney of Earl M. Honeycutt, dated June 22, 1999 25(e) Power of Attorney of Patrick H. Norton, dated July 3, 1999 25(f) Power of Attorney of Earl N. Phillips, Jr., dated June 28, 1999 25(g) Power of Attorney of Franklin N. Saxon, dated July 16, 1999 -29-