FORM 11-K FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Mark One) [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 ---------------------- OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________________ to ______________________ Commission file number 0-3488 ------ H.B. FULLER COMPANY THRIFT PLAN H.B. FULLER COMPANY 1200 Willow Lake Boulevard, P.O. Box 64683 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0683 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Report on Audit of Financial Statements as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for the Year Ended December 31, 1999 And Supplemental Schedules as of and for the Year Ended December 31, 1999 H.B. Fuller Company Index to Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page(s) ------- Report of Independent Accountants F-1 Financial Statements: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 F-2 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 1999 F-3 Notes to Financial Statements F-4 - F-7 Supplemental Schedules: Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes as of December 31, 1999 F-8 Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1999 F-9 Report of Independent Accountants To the Participants and Administrator of the H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan: In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits presents fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. 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 of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which 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, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The Supplemental Schedules of H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulation for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - ------------------------------ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota June 19, 2000 F-1 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS 1999 1998 - --------------------------------- ------------- ------------- Investments at fair value $ 158,151,628 $ 143,051,177 Other assets 69,482 62,621 Accrued liabilities - (92,000) ------------- ------------- Net assets available for benefits $ 158,221,110 $ 143,021,798 ============= ============= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. F-2 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Year Ended December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total ------------- Additions: Investment income: Dividends $ 1,860,950 Interest 771,680 ------------- Total investment income 2,632,630 Realized gain on the sale and distribution of investments 10,333,598 Changes in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments 11,996,569 ------------- Total fund income 24,962,797 ------------- Contributions: Participants 6,448,519 Employer 2,569,129 Employee rollovers 650,918 ------------- Total contributions 9,668,566 ------------- Total additions 34,631,363 Deductions: Withdrawals (19,432,051) ------------- Net increase/(decrease) 15,199,312 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 143,021,798 ------------- End of year $ 158,221,110 ============= F-3 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Notes to Financial Statements - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description of the Plan The following brief description of the H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete information regarding the Plan's definitions, benefits, eligibility and other matters. General The plan is a defined contribution plan covering all eligible employees of H.B. Fuller Company (the Employer). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). Under the terms of the Plan, employees are eligible to participate after six months of employment; part-time employees are eligible after twelve months. Contributions To become a participant in the Plan, an employee must agree to make contributions equal to 1% of pre-tax compensation up to a maximum of 9% of pre-tax compensation for highly compensated participants and 15% for non-highly compensated participants. In 1999, a participant could elect to contribute up to a limit of $10,000. The Company makes contributions to employees' accounts by matching 100% of an employee's contributions, up to 3% of the employee's compensation. A participant's contribution may be invested in any combination of the following investment funds: Company Common Stock Fund, Money Market Fund, Stable Return Fund, Index Fund (S&P 500), Small Company Growth Fund, and Balanced Fund. A participant's investment option for past and future contributions can be changed daily, by calling the Trustee's on-line customer services. All Employer matching contributions are invested in the Company Stock Fund. A participant's voluntary contribution percentage amount can be changed or suspended once a month, by calling the Trustee's on-line service prior to month-end. Suspensions must be made for a minimum of six months. Employer contributions to the Plan cease during the suspension period. Participant Accounts Each participant's account is credited with (a) the participant's contribution, (b) the Employer's contribution, and (c) an allocation of the Plan's investment income. Allocations of interest income are based on account balances, as defined in the Plan document. (Any income realized from short-term investments will be allocated in a uniform and equitable manner among the investment funds in which such contributions are invested.) Payment of Benefits On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account or installments as defined in the Plan agreement. For termination of service due to other reasons, a participant will receive a lump sum amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account. The investment in the Company Common Stock Fund can be withdrawn in the form of stock at the option of Plan participants. Vesting Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company' matching and discretionary contribution portion of their accounts plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100 percent vested after five years of credited service to the Company, or upon age 65, disability, or death. F-4 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Notes to Financial Statements - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forfeitures Participants who terminate employment with H.B. Fuller Company forfeit the non-vested portion of the Company's contribution to their accounts. Amounts forfeited are used to reduce subsequent Company contributions. There were no forfeitures for the year ended December 31, 1999. Plan Termination Although it has no intention to do so, H.B. Fuller Company may, at any time, by action of its Board of Directors, terminate the Plan or discontinue contributions. Upon termination or discontinuance of contributions, all Employer contribution amounts in participant accounts will become fully vested. 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting The accompanying financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Investment Valuation The fair values of the Plan's investments in common stock of the participating Employer are based on published quotations. The fair values of investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers are based on fair values supplied by the Trustee (Norwest Bank). Realized gains or losses reflect all differences between sales proceeds and historical cost of units sold, on an average cost basis. Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Interest and Dividends Interest income is recorded as earned on an accrual basis and dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of investment earnings and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Risks and Uncertainties The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of stocks, bonds and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of assets available for plan benefits and the statement of changes in assets available for plan benefits. Plan Expenses H.B. Fuller Company pays or reimburses participants for all administrative costs and investment fees. F-5 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Notes to Financial Statements - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncement On September 15, 1999, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position 99-3 (SOP 99-3), "Accounting for and Reporting on Certain Defined Contribution Benefit Investments and Other Disclosure Matters." SOP 99-3 is effective for financial statements of plan years ending after December 15, 1999, with earlier application encouraged. The SOP 99-3 revised the requirements for disclosure of separate fund information for individual investment options and other investment related disclosure, but had no effect on net assets available for plan benefits. The Plan adopted such requirements for the year ended December 31, 1999. 3. Investments Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) of Investments The unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments was as follows: Company Common Stable Small Co. Stock Return Index Balanced Growth Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total ------------ -------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ Unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) at December 31, 1998 $ 29,879,649 $ 14,255 $ 11,387,554 $ 2,831,058 $(1,227,354) $ 42,885,162 Change during the year ended December 31, 1999 8,463,246 80,649 2,232,561 (249,574) 1,469,687 11,996,569 ------------ -------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ Unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation) at December 31, 1999 $ 38,342,895 $ 94,904 $ 13,620,115 $ 2,581,484 $ 242,333 $ 54,881,731 ============ ======== ============ =========== =========== ============ Realized Gains During the year ended December 31, 1999, realized gains resulting from the sale and distribution of investments were as follows: Company Common Stable Small Co. Stock Return Index Balanced Growth Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Total ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ Aggregate proceeds $ 9,321,938 $ 3,695,395 $ 9,807,104 $ 5,131,973 $ 3,174,381 $ 31,130,791 Aggregate average cost (4,225,173) (3,624,837) (5,967,600) (3,353,307) (3,626,276) (20,797,193) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ Realized gain $ 5,096,765 $ 70,558 $ 3,839,504 $ 1,778,666 $ (451,895) $ 10,333,598 =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ============ 4. Tax Status The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated November 14, 1995 that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan's administrator believes the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. F-6 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Notes to Financial Statements - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions Plan investments include H.B. Fuller Company Common Stock which is invested primarily in the stock of the employer. H.B. Fuller Company is the holding company of the Plan sponsor and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest. Purchases and sales of H.B. Fuller Company Common Stock for the year ended December 31, 1999, amounted to $7,397,966 and $9,321,938, respectively. The Plan also invests in various funds managed by Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, the related transactions qualify as party-in-interest. The Trustee is authorized to invest in securities under its management and control on behalf of the Plan. For the year ended December 31, 1999, the Trustee made purchases and sales of such securities amounting to $42,947,302 and $47,204,921, respectively. F-7 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identity of Issuer, Borrower or Units/ Fair Similar Party Description Shares Cost Value - ----------------------- --------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- -------------- H.B. Fuller Company H.B. Fuller Common Stock Fund Common Stock 1,504,948 $ 46,406,781 $ 84,183,012 H.B. Fuller Company H.B. Fuller Common Stock Fund Investment Fund 143,270 143,270 143,270 H.B. Fuller Company H.B. Fuller Common Stock Fund Cash - Non-Interest Bearing 191,739 191,739 191,739 ----------- ------------- ------------- 1,839,957 46,741,790 84,518,021 ----------- ------------- ------------- Norwest Bank Money Market Fund, Investment Fund 13,314,786 13,314,786 13,314,786 ----------- ------------- ------------- Norwest Bank Stable Return Fund Bonds 88,643 2,423,807 2,518,711 Norwest Bank Stable Return Fund Cash - Non-Interest Bearing 22,614 22,614 22,614 ----------- ------------- ------------- 111,257 2,446,421 2,541,325 ----------- ------------- ------------- Norwest Bank Index Fund Common Stock 605,846 23,106,240 36,726,355 Norwest Bank Index Fund Cash - Non-Interest Bearing (113,522) (113,522) (113,522) ----------- ------------- ------------- 492,324 22,992,718 36,612,833 ----------- ------------- ------------- Norwest Bank Balanced Fund Common Stock 478,991 12,295,975 14,877,459 Norwest Bank Balanced Fund Cash - Non-Interest Bearing 74,719 74,719 74,719 ----------- ------------- ------------- 553,710 12,370,694 14,952,178 ----------- ------------- ------------- Norwest Bank Small Company Growth Fund Common Stock 194,039 5,972,727 6,215,061 Norwest Bank Small Company Growth Fund Cash - Non-Interest Bearing (2,576) (2,576) (2,576) ----------- ------------- ------------- 191,463 5,970,151 6,212,485 ----------- ------------- ------------- Total investments at end of plan year $ 103,836,560 $ 158,151,628 ============= ============= Note: The above data is based upon information which has been certified as complete and accurate by Norwest Bank. Parties in Interest: Norwest Bank - Trustee; H.B. Fuller Company - Administrator. F-8 H.B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions* Year Ended December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5% of series of tranactions by security issue: Number of Total Dollar Amount ---------------------- ----------------------------- Net Gain Security Issue Purchases Sales Purchases Sales or (Loss) - ----------------------------------------- ----------- --------- ------------ ------------ ------------ H.B. Fuller Common Stock Fund, Common Stock 35 29 $ 7,397,966 $ 9,321,938 $ 5,077,340 H.B. Fuller Common Stock Fund, Investment Fund 156 154 $ 13,210,995 $ 13,456,904 $ - Money Market Fund, Investment Fund 137 141 $ 11,850,417 $ 11,842,686 $ - Stable Return Fund, Bonds 107 54 $ 4,956,715 $ 3,695,395 $ 69,697 Index Fund, Common Stock 125 109 $ 7,434,547 $ 9,227,099 $ 3,258,355 Balanced Fund, Common Stock 105 96 $ 3,576,786 $ 4,322,789 $ 885,707 * Transactions or series of transactions in excess of 5% of the current value of the Plan's assets as of December 31, 1998, as defined in Section 2520.103-6 of the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA. Note: The above data is based upon information which has been certified as complete and accurate by Norwest Bank. Parties in Interest: Norwest Bank - Trustee; H.B. Fuller Company - Administrator. F-9 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. H. B. Fuller Company Thrift Plan H.B. Fuller Company Dated: June 28, 2000 By: /s/ Todd Mestad ----------------------------------- Todd Mestad Director of Benefits F-10