VARLEN CORP
10-Q, 1998-06-11
MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D. C. 20549
                                
                                
                            FORM 10-Q

[X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended     May 2, 1998
                               OR
                                
[   ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF
THE  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from
to
                                
                 Commission file number  0-5374


                     VARLEN CORPORATION
     (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          DELAWARE                  13-2651100
 (State or other jurisdiction      (I.R.S. Employer
 of incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

         55 Shuman Boulevard, P.O. Box 3089
          Naperville, Illinois              60566-7089 
 (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number including area code  (630) 420-0400

Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

     Yes-X                         No

At June 1, 1998, approximately 13,404,477 shares, par value $.10
per share, of common stock of the Registrant were outstanding.


 PART  I.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                                          
VARLEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(Thousands  of Dollars)
                                                          
                                                             
                                                             
                                            May 2,    January 31,
                              
                                             1998       1998
Assets                                                       
                                                             
  Cash and cash equivalents               $  17,170  $   6,206
                                                             
Accounts receivable, less                     81,768     70,972
allowance for doubtful
accounts of $1,806 and $1,808
                                                             
Inventories:                                               
  Raw materials                              21,653     22,343
  Work in process                            19,732     19,094
  Finished goods                             16,162     17,360

                                             57,547     58,797
                                                             
Deferred and refundable income taxes          7,295      7,268
Other current assets                          7,439      6,924

Total current assets                        171,219    150,167
                                                             
Property, plant, and equipment              221,321    216,532
Less: accumulated depreciation               96,435     92,352

                                            124,886    124,180
                                                             
Goodwill and other intangible assets,net    138,964    140,675
Investments and other assets                  4,669      4,079

                                          $ 439,738  $ 419,101
                                                             
                                                             
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
                                                             
Current maturities of long-term debt       $     189  $     195
Accounts payable                              44,340     33,026
Accrued expenses                              31,543     38,763
Income taxes payable                          11,494      4,159
Total current liabilities                     87,566     76,143
                                                             
Long-term debt                               102,651    104,715
                                                             
Deferred income taxes                         14,456     14,679
Other liabilities                             25,495     24,772
                                                             
Common stock                                   1,338      1,332
Other stockholders' equity                   208,232    197,460
                                           $ 439,738  $ 419,101
                                                         
                                                             
                                                             
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements



VARLEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Unaudited)
 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                                         
                                                             
                                                             
                                              Three Months Ended
                                                              
                                              May 2,   May3,
                                               1998     1997
                                                              
                                                              
Net sales                                     $ 164,615 $  123,975
                                                              
Cost of sales                                   121,272    94,570
                                                              
Gross profit                                     43,343    29,405
                                                              
Selling, general and administrative              22,276    17,198
expenses
                                                              
Interest expense, net                             1,706     3,182
                                                              
Earnings before income taxes                     19,361     9,025
                                                              
Income taxes                                      8,325     4,016
                                                              
Net earnings                                  $  11,036 $    5,009
                                                              
Earnings per share:                                                      
                                                              
Basic                                         $    0.83 $     0.58
                                                              
Diluted                                       $    0.79 $     0.42
                                                              
Weighted average number of shares                                              
outstanding - basic                              13,366     8,666
                                                             
Weighted average number of shares                      
outstanding - diluted                            13,900    13,520
                                                        
                                                     
Dividends per common share                    $    0.06 $     0.06
                                                              
                                                              
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

VARLEN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(Thousands of Dollars)
                                                           
                                           Three Months Ended
                                           May 2,    May 3,
Increase (Decrease) in Cash                 1998      1997
                                                           
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings                               $  11,036 $   5,009
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to
net cash provided by operating activities

Depreciation                                   5,067     4,380
Amortization                                   1,342     1,492
Deferred income taxes                           (161)      (10)
Change in assets and liabilities
net of effects from purchased and
sold businesses:
           
Accounts receivable, net                     (11,035)   (6,169)
Inventories                                      990       832
Refundable income taxes                          (50)       665
Other current assets                            (543)   (2,486)
Accounts payable                              10,894     1,827
Accrued expenses                              (6,056)   (2,294)
Income taxes payable                           7,351     2,987
Other noncurrent assets                          (98)   (1,052)
Other noncurrent liabilities                     742       401
               
Total adjustments                              8,443       573
                                                          
Net cash provided by operating activities     19,479     5,582
                                                         
Cash flows from investing activities:

Fixed asset expenditures                      (6,246)   (3,751)
Cost of purchased business, net of               ---       ---
cash acquired
Purchases of long-term investments              (500)     (284)
Disposals and other changes in property,
plant and equipment                              212       405
                                                    
Net cash used in investing activities         (6,534)   (3,630)
                                                           
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt                               552       244
Payments of debt                              (2,034)   (3,314)
Issuance of common stock under option plans      368       140
Cash received on stock subscriptions             ---        70
Cash dividends paid                             (807)       ---
                                                           
Net cash used in financing activities         (1,921)   (2,860)
                                                      
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash          (60)      (86)
                                                           
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents                                   10,964      (994)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of year                                        6,206     3,133
                                                           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $  17,170 $   2,139
                                                  
                                                           
                                                           
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements




NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.   The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of
     Varlen Corporation (the "Company") included herein have been
     prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
     Securities and Exchange Commission.  In the opinion of the
     Company, all adjustments which are considered necessary for
     a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods
     presented and the balance sheet at May 2, 1998 have been
     made. These financial statements, which are condensed and do
     not include all disclosures included in annual financial
     statements, should be read in conjunction with the
     consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
     incorporated into the Company's latest Annual Report on Form
     10-K.

2.   Debenture Conversion:

     In September 1997, the Company completed the call of its
     6.5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2003.
     Substantially all of the debentures were voluntarily
     converted into approximately 4,582,000 shares (after
     restatement for the 1997 3 for 2 stock split) of Common
     Stock of the Company including conversions occurring just
     prior to the call for redemption.

3.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information
     (in thousands):

                                           Quarter Ended
                                         May 2,      May 3,
                                          1998        1997
     Cash paid during the year-to-date
       period for:

     Interest                           $   2,248  $   2,007

     Income taxes (net)                 $   1,410  $     111

4.   Business Segment Information
     (in thousands):
                                           Quarter Ended
                                         May 2,      May 3,
                                          1998        1997
     Net sales:

     Transportation products             $154,786  $116,002
     Petroleum analyzers                    9,829      7,973

                                         $164,615   $123,975

     Operating profits (1):

     Transportation products             $ 22,177 $  13,001
     Petroleum analyzers                    1,322      1,012

                                         $ 23,499    $14,013

     (1) Before interest and general corporate expenses.

5.   Acquisitions:

   In October 1997, the Company purchased the railroad divisions
   of Ringfeder GmbH located in Germany and Hanacke Zelzarny a
   Perovny, a.s. located in the Czech Republic.  These entities
   are suppliers of the Company's German railcar cushioning
   device maker Karl Georg Bahntechnik GmbH which was purchased
   effective in December 1996.  In November 1997, the Company
   purchased the Petrospec product line of portable laboratory
   and process petroleum analyzers from Boston Advanced
   Technologies, Inc., for which it had been the exclusive
   worldwide distributor of these products.  These acquisitions
   were financed with cash on hand and through the Company's
   existing credit facility.

   The acquisitions have been accounted for by the purchase
   method of accounting with the excess of the purchase price
   over the fair value of net assets acquired amortized over a
   period of 15 to 40 years.  The operating results of the
   businesses acquired have been included in the accompanying
   consolidated results of operations from the respective dates
   of acquisition.

6. Stockholders' Equity:

   On September 29, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors
   declared a three-for-two stock split in the form of a stock
   dividend payable on November 18, 1997, to stockholders of
   record on October 31, 1997.  The dividend resulted in the
   issuance of approximately 4.4 million new shares of Common
   Stock.  All share and per share amounts reflect the stock
   dividend and the new presentation of earnings per share.

   At the beginning of fiscal 1998, the Company adopted the
   Financial Accounting Standards Board Standard No., 130,
   "Reporting Comprehensive Income." This Standard expands current
   disclosures and had no impact on the Company's reported financial
   position, results of operations or cash flows.  Comprehensive income
   for the first quarter is comprised of net earnings
   adjusted for unrealized currency translation losses.  Comprehensive
   income for the three months ended May 2, 1998 and May 3, 1997
   was $11,033,000 and $3,754,000, respectively.

7. Computation of Earnings Per Share

                                          Three Months Ended
                                         5/2/98      5/3/97

   Net earnings - basic                  $11,036     $5,009
   Decrease in interest expense, net
   of income taxes, for the assumed
   conversion of the convertible
   debentures                                 --        690

   Adjusted net earnings - diluted       $11,036     $5,699

   Average shares outstanding - basic     13,366      8,666

   Diluted effect of stock options           534        273

   Conversion of convertible debentures      ---      4,581

   Average shares outstanding - diluted   13,900     13,520

   Basic earnings per share              $   0.83   $   0.58

   Diluted earnings per share            $   0.79   $   0.42


             MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
          FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                   FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD
                        ENDED MAY 2, 1998

Overview

     The Company designs, manufactures and markets products used
in the manufacture of transportation equipment (Transportation
Products segment) and petroleum analysis equipment (Petroleum
Analyzer segment).  The demand for the Company's products is
affected by domestic as well as international economic
conditions.  The Company's manufacturing operations have a
significant fixed cost component.  Accordingly, during periods of
changing product demand, the profitability of many of the
Company's operations may change proportionately more than
revenues of such operations.

Results of Operations

     The Company's sales in the three months ended May 2, 1998,
were $164.6 million, up $40.6 million or 32.8% from sales of
$124.0 million in the comparable 1997 period.  Sales increased
substantially in both business segments.

     Net earnings for the first three months of 1998 increased
120.3% to $11.0 million from $5.0 million in the first quarter of
1997.  Earnings were $.79 per share on a diluted basis for the
first quarter of 1998 compared to $.42 per share on a diluted
basis in the first quarter of 1997.  Operating profit increased
in both business segments following the increase in each
segment's revenues.

     On a business segment basis, revenues in the Transportation
Products segment for the three months ended May 2, 1998, were
$154.8 million, compared to $116.0 million in the prior year
equivalent period.  Sales increased in all served markets within
this segment.  First quarter 1998 sales to the heavy-duty truck
and trailer market increased at a more rapid rate than total
industry sales compared to the 1997 first quarter.  The increase
in sales was due to new products, greater penetration at existing
customers, and new customers.  Sales to the automotive industry
increased in the first quarter compared to the prior year's
equivalent period as a result of higher customer demand for light
truck components as well as sales of a new product introduced in
the second half of 1997, the one-way clutch used in automatic
transmissions.  Sales to the railroad industry during the 1998
first quarter increased domestically as a result of significantly
higher industry build rates of new freight railcars.
Internationally, sales increased as a result of increased demand
and acquisitions.

Operating profit at this segment in the first three months of
1998 increased 70.6% to $22.2 million (14.3% of segment sales)
from $13.0 million (11.2% of segment sales) in the comparable
1997 period.  Operating profit increased at all served markets
following the revenue trend.  The increase in profits on a
percentage basis was larger than the percentage sales increase in
all three market areas as a result of higher production volumes
and continued cost-reduction efforts.

     Sales in the Petroleum Analyzer segment for the quarter
ended May 2, 1998, increased 23.3% to $9.8 million, compared to
$8.0 million in the 1997 period.  The increase in sales resulted
from higher demand for existing products as well as new products.
Operating profit for the Petroleum Analyzer segment for the first
three months of 1998 increased to $1.3 million (13.5% of segment
sales) compared to $1.0 million (12.7% of segment sales).  The
operating profit increase was in line with the revenue increase
realized.

     Consolidated gross margin increased to 26.3% in the first
quarter of 1998 from 23.7% in 1997.   The increase was spread
across both business segments with the majority of the increase
occurring in the Transportation Products segment.  The increase
in both segments resulted principally from increased volume and
cost reduction.  Selling prices were not materially different in
the first quarter of 1998 compared to 1997.

     Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses of $22.3
million or 13.5% of sales in the first three months of 1998
compared to $17.2 million or 13.9% of sales in the prior year's
period.  The dollar increase resulted from the 32.8% increase in
sales as well as the effect of late 1997 acquisitions, costs to
develop the one-way clutch in the automotive operation, and start-
up costs of the railcar health monitoring system being developed.
The decline in the percentage of SG&A expenses resulted from
leveraging these expenses over a greater sales base.

     Gross interest expense for the quarter ended May 2, 1998,
was $2.0 million down from $3.2 million in the prior year's
comparable period.  The decrease resulted from converting the
company's convertible debentures into common stock during the
third quarter of 1997.  Interest income increased to $.3 million
in the first quarter of 1998 as a result of higher cash and
investment balances.

     Income taxes were provided at an effective rate during the
1998 quarter of 43.0% compared to 44.5% in the comparable 1997
period.  The higher than statutory federal rate reflects non-
deductible goodwill amortization, higher taxes on foreign
operations, and state income taxes.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

     During the three-month period ended May 2, 1998, the Company
generated $19.5 million of cash from operating activities.  As of
May 2, 1998, the Company's working capital was $83.7 million, its
total assets were $439.7 million, its total debt was $102.8
million, and its stockholders' equity was $209.6 million.

     Investing activities during the three-month period ended May
2, 1998, included capital expenditures of $6.2 million.  These
capital expenditures were primarily for machinery and equipment
to support new products and to improve operating efficiency.  To
support its  investing activities, the Company has a term loan
and revolving credit agreement which was entered into in 1996 and
expires on July 19, 2002.  The term loan portion of this facility
($98 million) was used to finance a large acquisition in 1996.
The $80.0 million revolving credit facility will be used by the
Company as the principal source of acquisition funding.  The
percentage of debt to total capitalization at May 2, 1998, was
32.9%, down slightly from 34.5% at January 31, 1998.  The Company
believes that internally generated funds will be sufficient to
satisfy its anticipated working capital needs, capital
expenditures, and scheduled debt repayments.  As of May 2, 1998,
the Company had $12.3 million of non-cancelable commitments for
the acquisition of capital equipment.

Other Matters

At the beginning of fiscal 1998, the Company adopted the
Financial Accounting Standards Board Standard No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income."  This Standard expands current disclosures
and had no impact on the Company's reported financial position,
results of operations, or cash flows.



                   PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
                                
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 27, 1998, in which
13,382,157 shares were eligible to be voted, the stockholders
voted on three items.  The items voted on and the results of the
voting were as follows:
                                  For      Against     Withheld  Abstain
1.   Elect a Board of Directors:

  Ernest H. Lorch             12,216,762       -       269,997       -
  Richard L. Wellek           12,217,262       -       269,497       -
  Raymond A. Jean             12,356,730       -       130,029       -
  L. William Miles            12,349,230       -       137,529       -
  Greg A. Rosenbaum           12,214,262       -       272,497       -
  Joseph J. Ross              12,356,730       -       130,029       -
  Theodore A. Ruppert         12,351,450      -       135,309       -

2.   Increase the authorized shares of Common Stock from
20,000,000 to 40,000,000:

                              12,130,226    340,152        -      16,381

3.    Adopt the Company's 1998 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan:

                               7,632,172   4,834,961       -      19,626

Item 6.              Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

  (a) Exhibits

      Exhibit 3(i) - Amendment to Varlen Corporation's Restated
                     Certificate of Incorporation.

      Exhibit 10(k) - Amendment to Varlen Corporation's 1993
                      Deferred Incentive Stock Purchase Plan.

      Exhibit 10(q) - Varlen Corporation's 1998 Contingent Stock
                      Award Plan.

      Exhibit 10(r) - Varlen Corporation's 1998 Long-Term Equity
      Incentive Plan.

      Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule.

      (b)                 Reports on Form 8-K

      None

Safe Harbor Provision

This Quarterly Report contains outlook and other forward-looking
statements which are not historical facts.  These forward-looking
statements are based upon certain assumptions about a number of
important factors.  While the Company believes that its
assumptions are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent
difficulties in predicting these factors, that they are subject
to change at any time and that any such change could cause actual
events and the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those predicted or projected in its forward-looking statements.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially are: the growth and size of the markets in which the
Company operates; the demand for the products of the Company and
those that incorporate Company products and other market
acceptance risks; the presence in the Company's market of
competitors with greater financial resources, and the impact of
competitive products and pricing; actual product purchases under
existing purchase agreements and the loss of any significant
customers; general market conditions; the ability of the Company
to develop new products; capacity and supply constraints or
difficulties; the ability of the Company to maintain and improve
the productivity and efficiency of operation and reduce costs;
availability of resources; the results of the Company's'
financing efforts; the effect of the Company's accounting
policies; and the effects of general economic, trade, legal,
social and economic conditions.  In addition, from time to time
the Company may engage in certain extraordinary transactions,
such as a significant acquisition, which could also cause actual
events and the Company's actual results to differ materially from
those predicted or projected in its forward-looking statements.
Other risk factors may be detailed from time to time in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  The
Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking
statements or advise of changes in the assumptions and factors on
which they are based.






                           SIGNATURES


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.



                                        Varlen Corporation
                                               (Registrant)



June 11, 1998                       By: /s/ Richard A. Nunemaker
                                        Richard A. Nunemaker
                                        Vice President, Finance
                                        and Chief Financial Officer
                                        (Principal Financial Officer
                                        and Principal Accounting Officer)


                          EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.                                               Page No.

3(i) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
     Varlen Corporation                                      15

10(k) Varlen Corporation 1993 Deferred Incentive 
      Stock Purchase Plan Amendment                          17

10(q) Varlen Corporation 1998 Contingent Stock
      Award Plan                                             19

10(r) Varlen Corporation 1998 Long-Term Equity
      Incentive Plan                                         24

27   Financial Data Schedule                                 40







         Restated
   Certificate of Incorporation
           of
      Varlen Corporation
(Amended and Effective May 27, 1998)


The Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended
by deleting the first paragraph of Article FOURTH in its
entirety and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

     FOURTH:  The total number of shares of all classes of
     stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue is
     forty million five hundred thousand (40,500,000), of
     which five hundred thousand (500,000) shares shall be
     Preferred Stock with a par value of one dollar ($1.00)
     per share and of which forty million (40,000,000)
     shares shall be Common Stock with a par value of ($.10)
     per share.  The amount of authorized stock of the
     Corporation of any class or classes may be increased or
     decreased by a majority of the stock of the Corporation
     entitled to vote.
     
     
     
     
     



                     Varlen Corporation
    1993 Deferred Incentive Stock Purchase Plan Amendment
                              
          (Amended and Effective February 2, 1998)
                              
                              
     The Varlen Corporation 1993 Deferred Incentive Stock
     Purchase Plan shall be amended by adding the following
     to the end of section 7 (5):
     
Each offeree shall have the right under the Plan to elect to
have shares withheld upon the Exercise Date of each Purchase
Right by the Company in order to pay the applicable
withholding taxes.  An offeree electing to have shares so
withheld to pay taxes shall provide the Company written
notice in advance of the Exercise Date, and such election
shall thereafter be irrevocable.  The fair market value of
shares to be withheld will be the fair market value
(determined as provided in section 7 (1) (i) above) of the
Common Stock as of the date that the amount of tax to be
withheld is determined.



                       VARLEN CORPORATION
                1998 CONTINGENT STOCK AWARD PLAN
                  (Effective February 2, 1998)
                                
The 1998 Contingent Stock Award Plan (the "Plan"), effective as
of February 2, 1998, is established to promote the longterm
growth and profitability of Varlen Corporation and its
subsidiaries (the "Company") by enabling the Company to attract,
retain, motivate and reward employees of superior ability,
training and experience in positions of substantial
responsibilities.

1.     Administration

     The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
     Committee of the Board (the "Committee"), or any successor
     as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.  The
     Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the
     Plan, to establish such rules as it deems necessary for the
     proper administration of the Plan, and to make such
     determinations and to take such action in connection
     therewith as it deems necessary or advisable, consistent
     with the Plan.
     
2.   Eligibility

     Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall
     have exclusive power (i) to select the employees of the
     Company (each a "Participant") entitled to participate in
     the Plan and to receive one or more awards, as deferred and
     conditional incentive compensation under the Plan, of
     contingent shares payable in cash and tracking the
     performance of the Common Stock, $.10 par value per share
     (the "Common Stock"), of the Company (each a share of
     "Contingent Stock"); (ii) to determine the size of the
     grant to be made to each Participant; and (iii) to
     determine the time or times when grants shall be made.
     
3.   Shares Available for Awards

          (a)  The number of shares of Contingent Stock that may
          be awarded under the Plan shall not exceed an
          aggregate of 500,000 shares.  If any shares of
          Contingent Stock granted under the Plan shall expire,
          terminate or be canceled, such shares may again be
          awarded pursuant to the Plan.  Nothing in this Plan
          shall be construed to require the Committee to grant
          all shares of Contingent Stock reserved hereunder or
          any other number of shares of Contingent Stock.
          
          (b)  In the event of a reorganization,
          recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend,
          combination of shares, merger, consolidation, rights
          offering or any other change in the corporate
          structure or capital stock of the Company, the
          Committee shall make such adjustment, if any, as it
          may deem appropriate in the number of shares of
          Contingent Stock authorized by the Plan or granted to
          Participants or in the Initial Value (as defined
          below) of such shares on the award date.
          
4.   Terms and Conditions for Contingent Stock Awards

     Each share of Contingent Stock awarded under this Plan
    shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such
     other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:
                    (a)  The period of each award of Contingent
               Stock shall be five years from the date of such
               award, except as otherwise provided by the
               Committee.  Subject to Section 8 below, no
               Contingent Stock award may be redeemed before
               the last day of such period (the "Redemption
               Date").
                    (b)  Each award shall be evidenced by a
               written instrument specifying to the Participant
               the number of shares of Contingent Stock awarded
               and the terms and conditions of such award.
                    (c)  No award of Contingent Stock may be
               transferred.  During a Participant's lifetime,
               an award shall be redeemable for cash only by
               such Participant, except as otherwise provided
               herein, or by such Participant's guardian or
               legal representative.
               
5.        Contingent Stock Initial Value
     The "Initial Value" per share with respect to each share
     of Contingent Stock awarded shall be 100% of the fair
     market value of the Common Stock as of the date on which
     the Contingent Stock award is granted (determined as the
     average of the last reported sale prices on each of the
     five trading days prior to and including such date of the
     Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System or, if
     then inapplicable, by such other means as the Committee
     shall reasonably determine).
     
6.        Contingent Stock Redemption Value
     The "Redemption Value" per share with respect to each
     share of Contingent Stock awarded shall be 100% of the
     fair market value of the Common Stock as of the Redemption
     Date (determined as the average of the last reported sale
     prices on each of the five trading days prior to and
     including such Redemption Date of the Common Stock on the
     NASDAQ National Market System or, if then inapplicable, by
     such other means as the Committee shall reasonably
     determine).
     
7.        Contingent Stock Award Payments
     The difference between the Initial Value of any Contingent
     Stock award and the Redemption Value of such award shall
     be the redemption amount paid for such award.  The
     Participant will receive the full payment of Contingent
     Stock awards in one lump sum in cash within 30 days of the
     Redemption Date. All payments under the Plan shall be net
     of an amount sufficient to satisfy withholding tax
     requirements of any government or governmental unit having
     tax jurisdiction over the payment.
     
8.        Mandatory Redemption of Contingent Stock Awards
     Upon the termination of a Participant's employment with
     the Company prior to the scheduled Redemption Date of
     any Contingent Stock award previously granted to such
     Participant (for any reason other than such Participant's
     death, disability or retirement or a change in control of
     the Company, each as defined in the Company's Incentive
     Stock Option Plan), such Participant shall forfeit all
     rights to Contingent Stock awards granted to such
     Participant and all rights under the Plan shall be void.

                    (a)  Upon the death, disability or
               retirement of a Participant (in each case as
               defined in the Company's Incentive Stock Option
               Plan), the Participant shall be entitled
               automatically to redeem any Contingent Stock
               awards previously granted at a Redemption Value
               determined by the Committee and calculated as of
               the date of death, disability or retirement
               based on the fair market value of the Common
               Stock as of such date prorated in accordance
               with (i) the number of days elapsed from the
               date of grant to such date over (ii) the number
               of days from the date of grant to the scheduled
               Redemption Date.
          (b)  Upon the termination of a Participant following
               a change in control of the Company (as defined
               in the Company's Incentive Stock Option Plan),
               the Participant shall be entitled automatically
               to redeem any Contingent Stock awards previously
               granted at a Redemption Value determined by the
               Committee and calculated as of the date of such
               termination based on the fair market value of
               the Common Stock as of such date prorated in
               accordance with (i) the number of days elapsed
               from the date of grant to such date over (ii)
               the number of days from the date of grant to the
               scheduled Redemption Date; provided, however,
               that if such Participant's employment is
               terminated (for any reason other than such
               Participant's death, disability or retirement)
               more than one year after the date of such change
               in control but prior to such scheduled
               Redemption Date, such Participant shall forfeit
               all rights to Contingent Stock awards granted to
               such Participant and all rights under the Plan
               shall be void.
                    (c)  So long as the Participant shall
               continue to be an employee of the Company, the
               Contingent Stock held by such Participant shall
               not be affected by any change of duties or
               position or change in control of the Company.
               Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon any
               employee any right to continue in the employ of
               the Company or interfere with the right of the
               Company to terminate his/her employment at any
               time for any reason whatsoever.
               
9.        Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan
     The Committee may at any time terminate, suspend or amend
     this Plan; provided, however, that no amendment,
     suspension or termination of this Plan shall affect shares
     of Contingent Stock already awarded to a Participant
     unless mutually agreed by such Participant and the
     Committee, which agreement must be in writing and signed
     by such Participant and the Company.
     
10.       Effective Date and Duration of the Plan
     The Plan shall become effective as of February 2, 1998.
     Unless previously terminated upon the adoption of a
     resolution of the Committee terminating the Plan, the Plan
     shall terminate at the close of business on February 2,
     2008.
     
11.       Governing Law
     The Plan shall be governed by the corporate laws of the
     State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of
     law provisions.
     
This Plan was adopted by the Compensation Committee and the
Board of Directors of Varlen Corporation on February 2,1998.







                       VARLEN CORPORATION
              1998 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                 (as amended May 27, 1998)
                    
                    
1.   Purpose.

          This plan shall be known as the Varlen Corporation
1998 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").  The purpose
of the Plan shall be to promote the long-term growth and
profitability of Varlen Corporation (the "Company") and its
Subsidiaries by (i) providing certain directors, officers and
other employees of, and certain other individuals who perform
significant services for, the Company and its Subsidiaries with
incentives to maximize stockholder value and otherwise
contribute to the success of the Company and (ii) enabling the
Company to attract, retain and reward the best available
persons for positions of substantial responsibility.  Grants of
incentive or nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation
rights ("SARs"), either alone or in tandem with options,
restricted stock, performance awards, or any combination of the
foregoing may be made under the Plan.

2.   Definitions.

          (a)  "Board of Directors" and "Board" mean the board
of directors of Varlen Corporation.

        (b)  "Cause" means the occurrence of one of the
following events:

              (i)   Conviction of a felony or any crime or
offense lesser than a felony involving the property of the
Company or a Subsidiary; or

             (ii)   Conduct that has caused demonstrable and
serious injury to the Company or a Subsidiary, monetary or
otherwise; or

            (iii)   Willful refusal to perform, or substantial
disregard of, duties properly assigned, as determined by the
Company; or

             (iv)   Breach of duty of loyalty to the Company or
a Subsidiary or other act of fraud or dishonesty with respect to
the Company or a Subsidiary.

          (c)  "Change in Control" means the occurrence of one
of the following events:

              (i)   if any "person" or "group" as those terms
are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other
than an Exempt Person, is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or
more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; or

             (ii)   during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the
Board and any new directors whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was
approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
office who either were directors at the beginning of the period
or whose election was previously so approved, cease for any
reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

            (iii)   the stockholders of the Company approve a
merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which
would result in all or a portion of the voting securities of
the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities
of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation or (B) following which the
Company's chief executive officer and directors retain their
positions with the surviving entity (and constitute at least a
majority of the surviving entity's board of directors); or

             (iv)   the stockholders of the Company approve a
plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for
the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all the Company's assets, other than a sale to an Exempt
Person.

          (d)  "Code"  means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.

          (e)  "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of
the Board, which shall consist solely of two or more members of
the Board, or a subcommittee thereof consisting solely of two
or more members of the full Committee, as appointed by the
Board.

          (f)  "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value
$.10 per share, of the Company, and any other shares into which
such stock may be changed by reason of a recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation or any other change in
the corporate structure or capital stock of the Company.

          (g)  "Competition" is deemed to occur if a person
whose employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries has
terminated obtains a position as a full-time or part-time
employee of, as a member of the board of directors of, or as a
consultant or advisor with or to, or acquires an ownership
interest in excess of 5% of, a corporation, partnership, firm
or other entity that engages in any of the businesses of the
Company or any Subsidiary with which the person was involved in
a management role at any time during his or her last five years
of employment with or other service for the Company or any
Subsidiaries.

          (h)  "Disability" means a disability that would
entitle an eligible participant to payment of monthly
disability payments under any Company disability plan or as
otherwise determined by the Committee.

          (i)  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

          (j)  "Exempt Person" means any employee benefit plan
of the Company or a trustee or other administrator or fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company.

          (k)  "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock
of the Company means, as of the date in question, the
officially quoted closing selling price of the stock (or if no
selling price is quoted, the bid price) on the principal securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading
(including for this purpose the Nasdaq National Market) (the "Market")
for the immediately preceding trading day or, if the Common Stock
is not then listed or quoted in the Market, the Fair Market
Value shall be the fair value of the Common Stock determined in
good faith by the Committee; provided, however, that when
shares received upon exercise of an option are immediately sold
in the open market, the net sale price received may be used to
determine the Fair Market Value of any shares used to pay the
exercise price or withholding taxes and to compute the
withholding taxes.

          (l)  "Incentive Stock Option" means an option
conforming to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and
any successor thereto.

          (m)  "Non-Employee Director" has the meaning given to
such term in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

          (n)  "Nonqualified Stock Option" means any stock
option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

          (o)  "Other Company Securities" mean securities of
the Company other than Common Stock, which may include, without
limitation, unbundled stock units or components thereof,
debentures, preferred stock, warrants and securities
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other
property.

          (p)  "Retirement" means retirement as defined under
any Company pension plan or retirement program or termination
of one's employment on retirement with the approval of the
Committee.

          (q)  "Subsidiary" means a corporation or other entity
of which outstanding shares or ownership interests representing
50% or more of the combined voting power of such corporation or
other entity entitled to elect the management thereof, or such
lesser percentage as may be approved by the Committee, are
owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

3.   Administration.

          The Plan shall be administered by the Committee;
provided that the Board may, in its discretion, at any time and
from time to time, resolve to administer the Plan, in which
case the term "Committee" shall be deemed to mean the Board for
all purposes herein.  The Committee shall consist of at least
two directors.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall be authorized to (i) select persons to
participate in the Plan, (ii) determine the form and substance
of grants made under the Plan to each participant, and the
conditions and restrictions, if any, subject to which such
grants will be made, (iii) modify the terms of grants made
under the Plan, (iv) interpret the Plan and grants made
thereunder, (v) make any adjustments necessary or desirable in
connection with grants made under the Plan to eligible
participants located outside the United States and (vi) adopt,
amend, or rescind such rules and regulations, and make such
other determinations, for carrying out the Plan as it may deem
appropriate.  Decisions of the Committee on all matters
relating to the Plan shall be in the Committee's sole
discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties.
The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any
rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined
in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and rules
and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.  No member of the
Committee and no officer of the Company shall be
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such
member, by any other member of the Committee or by any officer
of the Company in connection with the performance of duties
under the Plan, except for such person's own willful misconduct
or as expressly provided by statute.

          The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the
Company. The Plan shall not be required to establish any
special or separate fund or make any other segregation of
assets to assume the payment of any award under the Plan, and
rights to the payment of such awards shall be no greater than
the rights of the Company's general creditors.

4.   Shares Available for the Plan.

          Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 15, an
aggregate of 500,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Shares") may
be issued pursuant to the Plan.  Such Shares may be in whole or
in part authorized and unissued, or shares which are held by
the Company as treasury shares.  If any grant under the Plan
expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is
forfeited as to any Shares, such unpurchased or forfeited
Shares shall thereafter be available for further grants under
the Plan unless, in the case of options granted under the Plan,
related SARs are exercised.

          Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
provisions of this Section 4 or the generality of the
provisions of Sections 3, 6 or 17 or any other section of this
Plan, the Committee may, at any time or from time to time, and
on such terms and conditions (that are consistent with and not
in contravention of the other provisions of this Plan) as the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine, enter into
agreements (or take other actions with respect to the options)
for new options containing terms (including exercise prices)
more (or less) favorable than the outstanding options.

5.   Participation.

          Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those
directors (including Non-Employee Directors) and officers
(including non-employee officers) of,  and employees and other
individuals performing significant services for (including non
employees to whom offers of employment have been extended by),
the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case as selected by
the Committee (including participants located outside the
United States).  Nothing in the Plan or in any grant thereunder
shall confer any right on a participant to continue in the
employ of, or the performance of services for the Company or
shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to
terminate the employment or performance of services of a
participant at any time.  By accepting any award under the
Plan, each participant and each person claiming under or
through him or her shall be conclusively deemed to have
indicated his or her acceptance and ratification of, and
consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company, the
Board or the Committee.

          Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock
Options, SARs , alone or in tandem with options, restricted
stock awards, performance awards, or any combination thereof,
may be granted to such persons and for such number of Shares as
the Committee shall determine (such individuals to whom grants
are made being sometimes herein called "optionees" or
"grantees," as the case may be).  Determinations made by the
Committee under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made
selectively among eligible individuals under the Plan, whether
or not such individuals are similarly situated.  A grant of any
type made hereunder in any one year to an eligible participant
shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further grant of that or
any other type to suchparticipant in that year or subsequent years.

6.   Incentive and Nonqualified Options.

          The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible
participants Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock
Options, or any combination thereof; provided that the
Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options only to eligible
employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (as defined for
this purpose in Section 424(f) of the Code).  In any one
calendar year, the Committee shall not grant to any one
participant options or SARs to purchase a number of shares of
Common Stock in excess of 10% of the total number of shares
authorized under the Plan.  The options granted shall
take such form as the Committee shall determine, subject to the
following terms and conditions.

          It is the Company's intent that Nonqualified Stock
Options granted under the Plan not be classified as Incentive
Stock Options, that Incentive Stock Options be consistent with
and contain or be deemed to contain all provisions required
under Section 422 of the Code and any successor thereto, and
that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to
effectuate such intent.  If an Incentive Stock Option granted
under the Plan does not qualify as such for any reason, then to
the extent of such nonqualification, the stock option
represented thereby shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock
Option duly granted under the Plan, provided that such stock
option otherwise meets the Plan's requirements for Nonqualified
Stock Options.

          (a)  Price. The price per Share deliverable upon the
exercise of each option ("exercise price") shall be established
by the Committee, except that in the case of the grant of any
option, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of
grant of the option, and in the case of the grant of any
Incentive Stock Option to an employee who, at the time of the
grant, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
the exercise price may not be less that 110% of the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of grant of the
option, in each case unless otherwise permitted by Section 422
of the Code.

          (b)  Payment.  Options may be exercised, in whole or
in part, upon payment of the exercise price of the Shares to be
acquired. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, payment
shall be made (i) in cash (including check, bank draft or money
order), (ii) by delivery of outstanding shares of Common Stock
with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the
aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the options'
exercise, (iii) by simultaneous sale through a broker
reasonably acceptable to the Committee of Shares acquired on
exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of the Federal
Reserve Board, (iv) by authorizing the Company to withhold from
issuance a number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the
options which, when multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of exercise is equal to the
aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the options so
exercised or (v) by any combination of the foregoing. Options
may also be exercised upon payment of the exercise price of the
Shares to be acquired by delivery of the optionee's promissory
note, but only to the extent specifically approved by and in
accordance with the policies of the Committee.

          In the event a grantee elects to pay the exercise
price payable with respect to an option pursuant to clause (ii)
above, (A) only a whole number of share(s) of Common Stock (and
not fractional shares of Common Stock) may be tendered in
payment, (B) such grantee must present evidence acceptable to
the Company that he or she has owned any such shares of Common
Stock tendered in payment of the exercise price (and that such
tendered shares of Common Stock have not been subject to any
substantial risk of forfeiture) for at least six months prior
to the date of exercise, and (C) Common Stock must be delivered
to the Company. Delivery for this purpose may, at the election
of the grantee, be made either by (A) physical delivery of the
certificate(s) for all such shares of Common Stock tendered in
payment of the price, accompanied by duly executed instruments
of transfer in a form acceptable to the Company, or (B)
direction to the grantee's broker to transfer, by book entry,
such shares of Common Stock from a brokerage account of the
grantee to a brokerage account specified by the Company.  When
payment of the exercise price is made by delivery of Common
Stock, the difference, if any, between the aggregate exercise
price payable with respect to the option being exercised and
the Fair Market Value of the share(s) of Common Stock tendered
in payment (plus any applicable taxes) shall be paid in cash.
No grantee may tender shares of Common Stock having a Fair
Market Value exceeding the aggregate exercise price payable
with respect to the option being exercised (plus any applicable
taxes).

          In the event a grantee elects to pay the exercise
price payable with respect to an option pursuant to clause (iv)
above, (A) only a whole number of Share(s) (and not fractional
Shares) may be withheld in payment and (B) such grantee must
present evidence acceptable to the Company that he or she has
owned a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to the
number of Shares to be withheld in payment of the exercise
price (and that such owned shares of Common Stock have not been
subject to any substantial risk of forfeiture) for at least six
months prior to the date of exercise.  When payment of the
exercise price is made by withholding of Shares, the
difference, if any, between the aggregate exercise  price
payable with respect to the option being exercised and the Fair
Market Value of the Share(s) withheld in payment (plus any
applicable taxes) shall be paid in cash.  No grantee may
authorize the withholding of Shares having a Fair Market Value
exceeding the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to
the option being exercised (plus any applicable taxes).  Any
withheld Shares shall no longer be issuable under such option.

          (c)  Terms of Options.  The term during which each
option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee,
but, except as otherwise provided herein, in no event shall an
option be exercisable in whole or in part, in the case of a
Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option (other
than as described below), more than ten years from the date it
is granted or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted
to an employee who at the time of the grant owns more than 10%
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if required by the
Code, more than five years from the date it is granted.  All
rights to purchase Shares pursuant to an option shall, unless
sooner terminated, expire at the date designated by the
Committee.  The Committee shall determine the date on which
each option shall become exercisable and may provide that an
option shall become exercisable in installments.  The Shares
constituting each installment may be purchased in whole or in
part at any time after such installment becomes exercisable,
subject to such minimum exercise requirements as may be designated by the
Committee.  Unless otherwise provided herein or in the terms of
the related grant, an optionee may exercise an option only if
he or she is, and has continuously since the date the option
was granted, been a director, officer or employee of, or
performed other services for, the Company or a Subsidiary.
Prior to the exercise of an option and delivery of the Shares
represented thereby, the optionee shall have no rights as a
stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by such
outstanding option (including any dividend or voting rights).

          (d)  Limitations on Grants. If required by the Code,
the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the grant
date) of Shares for which an Incentive Stock Option is
exercisable for the first time during any calendar year under
all equity incentive plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(as defined in Section 422 of the Code) may not exceed
$100,000.
          (e)  Termination; Change in Control.
              (i)   If a participant ceases to be a director,
officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the
Company and any Subsidiary due to death or Disability, all of
the participant's options and SARs shall become fully vested
and exercisable and shall remain so for a period of one year
from the date of such death or Disability, but in no event
after the expiration date of the options or SARs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Disability giving rise to
the termination of employment is not within the meaning of
Section 422(e)(3) of the Code, Incentive Stock Options not
exercised by such participant within 90 days after the date of
termination of employment will cease to qualify as Incentive
Stock Options and will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options
under the Plan if required to be so treated under the Code.

             (ii)   If a participant ceases to be a director,
officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the
Company and any Subsidiary upon the occurrence of his or her
Retirement, all of the participant's options and SARs which are
then vested shall remain exercisable for 90 days after the date
of Retirement, but in no event after the expiration date of the
options or SARs, provided that the participant does not engage
in Competition during such 90-day period unless he or she
receives written consent to do so from the Committee.  Upon the
occurrence of such Retirement, all of the participant's options
and SARs which are not yet vested shall become fully vested and
exercisable only at the discretion of, and on the terms
prescribed by, the Committee.

            (iii)    If a participant ceases to be a director,
officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the
Company or a Subsidiary due to Cause, all of the participant's
options and SARs shall be forfeited immediately upon such
cessation, whether or not then exercisable.

             (iv)   Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or
employee of, or to otherwise perform services for, the Company
or a Subsidiary for any reason other than death, Disability,
Retirement or Cause, (A) all of the participant's options and
SARs that were exercisable on the date of such cessation shall
remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at the
end of, a period of 90 days after the date of such cessation,
but in no event after the expiration date of the options or
SARs, provided that the participant does not engage in
Competition during such 90-day period unless he or she receives
written consent to do so from the Committee and (B) all of the
participant's options and SARs that were not exercisable on the
date of such cessation shall be forfeited immediately upon such cessation.

              (v)   Unless the Committee decides to otherwise
provide for the accelerated vesting of all options and SARs in
the event of a Change in Control, if there is a Change in
Control of the Company and participant is terminated from being
a director, officer or employee of, or from performing other
services for, the Company or any Subsidiary within one year
following such Change in Control, all of the participant's
options and SARs shall become fully vested and exercisable
immediately upon the date of such cessation and shall remain so
for a period of one year from the date of such cessation, but
in no event after the expiration date of the options or SARs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incentive Stock Options not
exercised by such participant within 90 days after the date of
termination of employment will cease to qualify as Incentive
Stock Options and will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options
under the Plan if required to be so treated under the Code.

          (f)  Grant of Reload Options.  The Committee may
provide (either at the time of grant or exercise of an option),
in its discretion, for the grant to a grantee who exercises all
or any portion of an option  ("Exercised Options") and who pays
all or part of such exercise price with shares of Common Stock,
of an additional option (a "Reload Option") for a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the sum (the "Reload Number")
of the number of shares of Common Stock tendered or withheld in
payment of such exercise price for the Exercised Options plus,
if so provided by the Committee, the number of shares of Common
Stock, if any, tendered or withheld by the grantee or withheld
by the Company in connection with the exercise of the Exercised
Options  to satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding
requirements.  The terms of each Reload Option, including the
date of its expiration and the terms and conditions of its
exercisability and transferability, shall be the same as the
terms of the Exercised Option to which it relates, except that
(i) the grant date for each Reload Option shall be the date of
exercise of the Exercised Option to which it relates and (ii)
the exercise price for each Reload Option shall be the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the grant date of the
Reload Option.

7.   Stock Appreciation Rights.

          The Committee shall have the authority to grant SARs
under this Plan, either alone or to any optionee in tandem with
options (either at the time of grant of the related option or
thereafter by amendment to an outstanding option).  SARs shall
be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may
specify.

          No SAR may be exercised unless the Fair Market Value
of a share of Common Stock of the Company on the date of
exercise exceeds the exercise price of the SAR or, in the case
of SARs granted in tandem with options, any options to which
the SARs correspond.  Prior to the exercise of the SAR and
delivery of the cash and/or Shares represented thereby, the
participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect
to Shares covered by such outstanding SAR (including any
dividend or voting rights).

          SARs granted in tandem with options shall be
exercisable only when, to the extent and on the conditions that
any  related option is exercisable.    The exercise of an
option shall result in an immediate forfeiture of any related
SAR to the extent the option is exercised, and the exercise of an SAR
shall cause an immediate forfeiture of any related option to
the extent the SAR is exercised.

          Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant shall be
entitled to a distribution in an amount equal to the difference
between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
date of exercise and the exercise price of the SAR or, in the
case of SARs granted in tandem with options, any option to
which the SAR is related, multiplied by the number of Shares as
to which the SAR is exercised.  The Committee shall decide
whether such distribution shall be in cash, in Shares having a
Fair Market Value equal to such amount, in Other Company
Securities having a Fair Market Value equal to such amount or
in a combination thereof.

          All SARs will be exercised automatically on the last
day prior to the expiration date of the SAR or, in the case of
SARs granted in tandem with options, any related option, so
long as the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on
that date exceeds the exercise price of the SAR or any related
option, as applicable.  An SAR granted in tandem with options
shall expire at the same time as any related option expires and
shall be transferable only when, and under the same conditions
as, any related option is transferable.

8.   Restricted Stock.

          The Committee may at any time and from time to time
grant Shares of restricted stock under the Plan to such
participants and in such amounts as it determines.  Each grant
of restricted stock shall specify the applicable restrictions
on such Shares, the duration of such restrictions (which shall
be at least six months except as otherwise provided in the
third paragraph of this Section 8), and the time or times at
which such restrictions shall lapse with respect to all or a
specified number of Shares that are part of the grant.

          The participant will be required to pay the Company
the aggregate par value of any Shares of restricted stock (or
such larger amount as the Board may determine to constitute
capital under Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, as amended) within ten days of the date of grant, unless
such Shares of restricted stock are treasury shares.  Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, certificates
representing Shares of restricted stock granted under the Plan
will be held in escrow by the Company on the participant's
behalf during any period of restriction thereon and will bear
an appropriate legend specifying the applicable restrictions
thereon, and the participant will be required to execute a
blank stock power therefor.  Except as otherwise provided by
the Committee, during such period of restriction the
participant shall have all of the rights of a holder of Common
Stock, including but not limited to the rights to receive
dividends and to vote, and any stock or other securities
received as a distribution with respect to such participant's
restricted stock shall be subject to the same restrictions as
then in effect for the restricted stock.

          Unless the Committee decides to otherwise provide for
the lapse of all restrictions in the event of a Change in
Control, if there is a Change in Control and participant is
terminated from being a director, officer or employee of, or
from performing other services for, the Company and any
Subsidiary within one year following such Change in Control or
at such time as a participant ceases to be a director, officer
or employee of, or to otherwise perform services for, the
Company and its Subsidiaries due to death or Disability during any
period of restriction, all restrictions on Shares granted to such
participant shall lapse.  Except as otherwise provided by the
Committee, at such time as a participant ceases to be a
director, officer or employee of, or to otherwise perform
services for, the Company or its Subsidiaries for any other
reason, all Shares of restricted stock granted to such
participant on which the restrictions have not lapsed or do not
thereupon lapse shall be immediately forfeited to the Company.
Upon the occurrence of Retirement prior to the end of any
period of restriction, the Committee, at its discretion, may
allow such restrictions to lapse.

9.   Performance Awards.

          Performance awards may be granted to participants at
any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee.
The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the
size and composition of performance awards so granted to a
participant and the appropriate period over which performance
is to be measured (a "performance cycle").  Performance awards
may include (i) specific dollar-value target awards (ii)
performance units, the value of each such unit being determined
by the Committee at the time of issuance, and/or (iii)
performance Shares, the value of each such Share being equal to
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock.

          The value of each performance award may be fixed or
it may be permitted to fluctuate based on a performance factor
(e.g., return on equity) selected by the Committee.

          The Committee shall establish performance goals and
objectives for each performance cycle on the basis of such
criteria and objectives as the Committee may select from time
to time, including, without limitation, the performance of the
participant, the Company, one or more of its Subsidiaries or
divisions or any combination of the foregoing.  During any
performance cycle, the Committee shall have the authority to
adjust the performance goals, objectives and/or cycle duration
for such cycle for such reasons as it deems equitable.

          The Committee shall determine the portion of each
performance award that is earned by a participant on the basis
of the Company's performance over the performance cycle in
relation to the performance goals for such cycle. The earned
portion of a performance award may be paid out in Shares, cash,
Other Company Securities, or any combination thereof, as the
Committee may determine.

          A participant must be a director, officer or employee
of, or otherwise perform services for, the Company or its
Subsidiaries at the end of the performance cycle in order to be
entitled to payment of a performance award issued in respect of
such cycle; provided, however, that, except as otherwise
determined by the Committee, if a participant ceases to be a
director, officer or employee of, or to otherwise perform
services for, the Company and its Subsidiaries upon his or her
death, Retirement, or Disability prior to the end of the
performance cycle, the participant shall earn a proportionate
portion of the performance award based upon the elapsed portion
of the performance cycle and the Company's performance over
that portion of such cycle.

          If there is a Change in Control and participant is
terminated from being a director, officer or employee of, or
from performing other services for, the Company or any
Subsidiary within one year following such Change in Control, a participant
shall earn no less than the proportionate portion of the
performance award that the participant would have earned if the
performance cycle(s) had terminated as of the date of such
cessation following the Change in Control.

10.  Withholding Taxes.

(a)       Participant Election.  Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, a participant may elect to deliver shares of
Common Stock (or have the Company withhold shares acquired upon
exercise of an option or SAR or deliverable upon grant or
vesting of restricted stock, as the case may be) to satisfy, in
whole or in part, the amount the Company is required to
withhold for taxes in connection with the exercise of an option
or SAR or the delivery of restricted stock upon grant or
vesting, as the case may be.  Such election must be made on or
before the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
Once made, the election shall be irrevocable.  The fair market
value of the shares to be withheld or delivered will be the
Fair Market Value as of the date the amount of tax to be
withheld is determined. In the event a participant elects to
deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 10(a),
such delivery must be made subject to the conditions and
pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 6(b) with
respect to the delivery of Common Stock in payment of the
exercise price of options.

(b)       Company Requirement.  The Company may require, as a
condition to any grant or exercise under the Plan or to the
delivery of certificates for Shares issued hereunder, that the
grantee make provision for the payment to the Company, either
pursuant to Section 10(a) or this Section 10(b), of any
federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld with respect to any grant or any delivery of Shares.
The Company, to the extent permitted or required by law, shall
have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind
(including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a grantee, an
amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant or to
the delivery of Shares under the Plan, or to retain or sell
without notice a sufficient number of the Shares to be issued
to such grantee to cover any such taxes, the payment of which
has not otherwise been provided for in accordance with the
terms of the Plan, provided that the Company shall not sell any
such Shares if such sale would be considered a sale by such
grantee for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act that is
not exempt from matching thereunder.

11.  Written Agreement; Vesting.

          Each employee to whom a grant is made under the Plan
shall enter into a written agreement with the Company that
shall contain such provisions, including without limitation
vesting requirements, consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as may be approved by the Committee.  Unless the
Committee determines otherwise and except as otherwise provided
in Sections 6, 7, 8 and 9 in connection with a Change in
Control or certain occurrences of termination, no grant under
this Plan may be exercised, and no restrictions relating
thereto may lapse, within six months of the date such grant is
made.

12.  Transferability.

          Unless the Committee determines otherwise, no option,
SAR, performance award, or restricted stock granted under the
Plan shall be transferable by a participant otherwise than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code.
Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an option, SAR, or
performance award may be exercised only by the optionee or
grantee thereof or his guardian or legal representative;
provided that Incentive Stock Options may be exercised by such
guardian or legal representative only if permitted by the Code
and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

13.  Listing, Registration and Qualification.

         If the Committee determines that the listing,
registration or qualification upon any securities exchange or
under any law of Shares subject to any option, SAR, performance
award or restricted stock grant is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or
the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, no such option or
SAR may be exercised in whole or in part, no such performance
award may be paid out and no Shares may be issued unless such
listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any
conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

          It is the intent of the Company that the Plan comply
in all respects with Section 162(m) of the Code, that awards
made hereunder comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, that any ambiguities or inconsistencies in
construction of the Plan be interpreted to give effect to such
intention and that if any provision of the Plan is found not to
be in compliance with Section 162(m), such provision shall be
deemed null and void to the extent required to permit the Plan
to comply with Section 162(m), as the case may be.

14.  Transfer of Employee.

          The transfer of an employee from the Company to a
Subsidiary, from a Subsidiary to the Company, or from one
Subsidiary to another shall not be considered a termination of
employment; nor shall it be considered a termination of
employment if an employee is placed on military or sick leave
or such other leave of absence which is considered by the
Committee as continuing intact the employment relationship.

15.  Adjustments.

          In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization,
stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger,
consolidation, distribution of assets, or any other change in
the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the Committee
shall make such adjustment as it deems appropriate in the
number and kind of Shares or other property reserved for
issuance under the Plan, in the number and kind of Shares or
other property covered by grants previously made under the
Plan, and in the exercise price of outstanding options and
SARs.  Any such adjustment shall be final, conclusive and
binding for all purposes of the Plan. In the event of any
merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the
Company is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in
which a Change in Control is to occur, all of the Company's
obligations regarding options, SARs performance awards, and
restricted stock that were granted hereunder and that are
outstanding on the date of such event shall, on such terms as
may be approved by the Committee prior to such event, be
assumed by the surviving or continuing corporation or canceled
in exchange for property (including cash).

          Without limitation of the foregoing, in connection
with any transaction of the type specified by clause (iii) of
the definition of a Change in Control in Section 2(c), the
Committee may, in its discretion, (i) cancel any or all
outstanding options under the Plan in consideration for payment
to the holders thereof of an amount equal to the portion of the
consideration that would have  been payable to such holders
pursuant to such transaction if their options had been fully
exercised immediately prior to such transaction, less the
aggregate exercise price that would have been payable therefor,
or (ii) if the amount that would have been payable to the
option holders pursuant to such transaction if the vested
portion of their options had been fully exercised immediately
prior thereto would be less than the aggregate exercise price
that would have been payable therefor, cancel any or all such
options for no consideration or payment of any kind.  Payment
of any amount payable pursuant to the preceding sentence may be
made in cash or, in the event that the consideration to be
received in such transaction includes securities or other
property, in cash and/or securities or other property in the
Committee's discretion.

16.  Termination and Modification of the Plan.

          The Board of Directors or the Committee, without
approval of the stockholders, may modify or terminate the Plan,
except that no modification shall become effective without
prior approval of the stockholders of the Company if
stockholder approval would be required for continued compliance
with the performance-based compensation exception of Section
162(m) of the Code or any listing requirement of the principal
stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

17.  Amendment or Substitution of Awards under the Plan.

          The terms of any outstanding award under the Plan may
be amended from time to time by the Committee in its discretion
in any manner that it deems appropriate (including, but not
limited to, acceleration of the date of exercise of any award
and/or payments thereunder or of the date of lapse of
restrictions on Shares); provided that, (i) notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the Committee may
not, at any time, lower the exercise price of any option that
is outstanding pursuant to the Plan as of such time without
first obtaining the affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding and (ii)
except as otherwise provided in Section 15, no such amendment
shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of a
participant under the award without his or her written consent.
The Committee may, in its discretion, permit holders of awards
under the Plan to surrender outstanding awards in order to
exercise or realize rights under other awards, or in exchange
for the grant of new awards, or require holders of awards to
surrender outstanding awards as a condition precedent to the
grant of new awards under the Plan.

18.  Commencement Date; Termination Date.

          The date of commencement of the Plan shall be June 1,
1998, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company.
The Plan may terminate upon the adoption of a resolution of the
Board terminating the Plan, in which event termination of the
Plan shall not materially and adversely affect any of the
rights or obligations of any person, without his consent, under
any grant of options or other incentives theretofore granted
under the Plan.

19.  Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by the
corporate laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect
to any choice of law provisions.







<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from the first quarter
1998 10-Q and is qualified in ints entirety by reference to such 10-Q.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-02-1998
<CASH>                                          17,170
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   81,768
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     57,547
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               171,219
<PP&E>                                         221,321
<DEPRECIATION>                                  96,435
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 439,738
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           87,566
<BONDS>                                        102,651
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,338
<OTHER-SE>                                     208,232
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   439,738
<SALES>                                        164,615
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               164,615
<CGS>                                          121,272
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  121,272
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,969
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,361
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,325
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             11,036
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,036
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.79
        

</TABLE>


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