CLOROX CO /DE/
10-Q, 1997-05-14
SPECIALTY CLEANING, POLISHING AND SANITATION PREPARATIONS
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      UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C.  20549
                          Form 10-Q

(MARK ONE)

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

      For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1997
                                     --------------

                                          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 1-07151
                             -------


                       THE CLOROX COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                                  

        DELAWARE                         31-0595760   
- --------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of      (I.R.S. Employer   
 incorporation or organization)      Identification No.)


1221 Broadway - Oakland, California        94612 - 1888
- --------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number,          (510)-271-7000
(including area code)                   ---------------


- --------------------------------------------------------
 (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
           if changed since last report)



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all report 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



As of March 31, 1997 there were 51,677,360 shares outstanding
of  the registrant's common stock (par value -  $1.00),
the registrant's only outstanding class of stock.               
                                      





Total  pages 11                                       1



                      THE CLOROX COMPANY







PART 1.         Financial Information            Page No.
                ---------------------            --------



  Item 1.  Financial Statements


           Condensed Statements of Consolidated
            Earnings

            Three and Nine Months Ended
            March 31, 1997 and 1996                   3 


           Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
            March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1996          4 


           Condensed Statements of Consolidated
            Cash Flows

            Nine Months Ended December 31, 1997
            and 1996                                  5 

           Notes to Condensed Consolidated 
            Financial Statements                    6-7 





  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
           Results of Operations and Financial
           Condition                               8-10 

                                                       2





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                           PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                            Item 1. Financial Statements
                         The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
                     Condensed Statements of Consolidated Earnings
                    ---------------------------------------------

                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)



                                    Three Months Ended               Nine Months Ended
                               ------------------------------     ----------------------------

                               3/31/97              3/31/96       3/31/97           3/31/96 

                               -------              -------       -------           ------- 

<S>                       <C>                   <C>             <C>               <C>

Net Sales                 $    649,209          $   560,091     $  1,770,197      $   1,545,366 

                               -------              -------      ---------          --------- 

Costs and Expenses
    Cost of products sold      287,862               255,570       780,849            700,074 

    Selling, delivery and
    administration             135,355               114,686       372,388            315,720 

    Advertising                 84,543                67,543       254,427            206,653 

    Research and development    12,035                11,103        34,065             32,510 

    Interest expense            17,005                10,753        39,247             26,113 

    Other expense (income), net  2,603                   432        (2,356)             2,061 
                               -------               -------      ---------         --------- 

    Total costs and expenses   539,403               460,087     1,478,620          1,283,131 
                               =======               =======     =========          ========= 


Earnings before income taxes   109,806               100,004       291,577            262,235 

    Income Taxes                44,186                40,405       116,532            105,946 
                               -------               -------       -------            ------- 

    Net Earnings          $     65,620          $     59,599    $    175,045      $     156,289 
                               =======                ======       =======            ======= 

Earnings per Common Share  $      1.27          $       1.15    $       3.39      $        3.00 

Dividends per Share        $      0.58          $       0.53    $       1.74      $        1.59 

Weighted Average Shares
  Outstanding                   51,740                51,767          51,657             52,070 


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.       
                                                                



                                                         3

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                      (Continued)
                            Item 1. Financial Statements
                        The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
                 Condensed Statements of Consolidated Balance Sheets
                ---------------------------------------------------
                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                                  3/31/97           6/30/97 
                                                                  -------           ------- 

<S>                                                          <C>             <C>

ASSETS
- ------

  Current Assets
   Cash and short-term investments                           $    113,732    $      90,828 
   Accounts receivable, less allowance                            399,304          315,106 
   Inventories                                                    201,220          138,848 
   Deferred income taxes                                           25,058           10,987 
   Prepaid expenses                                                19,326           18,076 
                                                                  -------          ------- 
      Total current assets                                        758,640          573,845 
                                                                  =======          ======= 

  Property, Plant and Equipment - Net                             574,422          551,437 

  Brands, Trademarks, Patents and Other Intangibles             1,151,654          704,669 

  Investments in Affiliates                                       102,022          99,033 

  Other Assets                                                    295,735          249,910 
                                                                ---------        --------- 

  Total                                                    $    2,882,473     $  2,178,894 
                                                                =========        ========= 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- ------------------------------------
  Current Liabilities
     Accounts payable                                      $      143,509     $    155,366 
     Accrued liabilities                                          322,447          266,192 
     Income taxes payable                                          27,253            9,354 
     Commercial paper and notes payable                           189,244          192,683 
     Current maturities of long-term debt                              41              291 
                                                                  -------          --------
          Total current liabilities                               682,494          623,886 

  Long-term Debt                                                  907,570          356,267 

  Other Obligations                                               109,762          100,246 

  Deferred Income Taxes                                           157,781          148,408 

  Stockholders' Equity
     Common Stock                                                  55,422           55,422 
     Additional paid-in capital                                   120,276          111,782 
     Retained earnings                                          1,162,636        1,078,789 
     Treasury shares, at cost                                    (262,069)        (251,393) 
     Cumulative translation adjustments and other                 (51,399)         (44,513) 
                                                                ----------       -----------
 
          Stockholders' Equity                                  1,024,866          950,087 
                                                                ---------        ---------- 

  Total                                                    $    2,882,473     $  2,178,894 
                                                                =========        ========== 



See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                                        4



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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                          PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                      (Continued)
                            Item 1. Financial Statements
                         The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
                    Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
                    -----------------------------------------------
                                (In thousands)


                                                                     Nine Months Ended
                                                                  --------------------------
                                                                  3/31/97           6/30/97 
                                                                  -------           ------- 
<S>                                                          <C>              <C>

Operations:                                              
   Net earnings                                              $    175,045     $     156,289 

   Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by
   operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                                 92,312            90,677 
     Deferred income taxes                                          4,351             4,300 
     Other                                                         (2,639)            9,084 

     Effects of changes in:
          Accounts  receivable                                    (55,297)           23,741 
          Inventories                                             (53,079)          (43,062) 
          Prepaid expenses                                         (1,250)          (13,885) 
          Accounts payable                                        (25,875)          (37,385) 
          Accrued liabilities                                       6,635           (23,203) 
          Income taxes payable                                     19,311            25,714  
                                                                  -------           -------  

          Net cash provided by operations                         159,514           192,270 

Investing Activities:
   Property, plant and equipment                                  (56,196)          (53,678) 
   Disposal of property, plant and equipment                        1,764             2,791 
   Businesses purchased                                          (460,336)          (131,025) 
   Investment in other assets                                        -              (110,045) 
   Other                                                          (59,830)           (58,448) 
                                                                 ---------          --------- 

          Net cash used for investment                           (574,598)          (350,405) 
                                                                 ---------          --------- 

Financing Activities:
   Short-term borrowings                                             -                11,160 
   Long-term borrowings                                           526,656            110,268 
   Long-term debt and other obligations repayments                (14,981)           (15,021) 
   Commercial paper, net                                           22,003            154,840 
   Cash dividends                                                 (89,967)           (83,082) 
   Treasury stock                                                 (35,459)           (82,932) 
   Employee stock plans                                            29,736             14,005 
                                                                  --------           -------- 
          Net cash provided by financing                          437,988            109,238 
                                                                 ========           =======  

Increase (decrease) in Cash and Short-Term Investments             22,904            (48,897)

Cash and Short-Term Investments:
   Beginning of period                                             90,828            137,330 
                                                                   ------            ------- 
   End of period                                             $    113,732     $       88,433 
                                                             ============     ============== 



See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.       
                                    

                                                             5 
</TABLE>

               PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                           (Continued)
                   Item 1. Financial Statements
               The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
      ----------------------------------------------------

(1)   The summarized financial information for the three
      and nine months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 has
      not been audited but, in the opinion of management,
      includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal
      recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation
      of the results of operations, financial position, 
      and cash flows of The Clorox Company and subsidiaries
      (the Company).  The results of the three and nine
      months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 should not be
      considered as necessarily indicative of the results
      for the entire year.


(2)   Inventories at March 31, 1997 and at June 30, 1996
      consisted of (in thousands):

                               3/31/97         6/30/96
                               -------         -------
      Finished goods and
        work in process      $ 133,670       $  82,261
      Raw materials and
        supplies                67,550          56,587
                             ---------       ---------
      Total                  $ 201,220       $ 138,848
                             =========       =========


(3)   The aggregate exercise price of the put options, 
      $17,259,000, which was classified as other long-
      term obligations at June 30, 1996 has been 
      reclassified to treasury stock at December 31, 1996
      as a result of renegotiation of terms which resulted
      in these transactions being classified as equity.  
      The company sold 240,000 put options and purchased
      240,000 call options during the second quarter of 
      fiscal year 1996 with various strike prices 
      (average of $71.91 per share) that expire on 
      various dates through September 30, 2005.  Upon
      exercise, each put option requires the Company to
      purchase, and each call option allows the Company
      to buy one share of its common stock at the strike
      price.


(4)   Businesses were purchased during the nine months 
      ended March 31, 1997 for a total of $460,336,000 
      and included the acquisition of  Armor All Products
      Corporation for $360,144,000. The Armor All 
      acquisition occurred on December 31, 1996 with the
      completion of a tender offer.  The acquired
      business markets the leading line of automotive 
      cleaning products under the brand name Armor All.
      Net assets acquired include cash of $48,000,000, 
      working capital assets of $51,183,000 and 
      liabilities of $59,803,000, property plant and 
      equipment of $7,659,000, and intangible assets of
      $369,000,000.  Intangible assets, principally
      brands and trademarks, will be amortized over 40
      years.  Other businesses purchased included the 
      Shell Group's non-core line of household products
      in Chile, the Pinoluz brand of pine cleaner in 
      Argentina, and the Limpido brand of liquid bleach
      and an increase in ownership in Tecnoclor, S.A.,
      both in Colombia.

     All acquisitions were accounted for as purchases 
     and were funded from cash provided by operations,
     long-term borrowings, and commercial paper.  
     Commercial paper expected to be refinanced has
     been classified as Long-term Debt.

                                                6


      PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
               Item 1.  Financial Statements 
             The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
    Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
    ----------------------------------------------------


     Acquisitions for the nine months ended March 31,
     1996 of $131,025,000 were funded from cash provided
     from operations and borrowings, and included the
     Poet San Juan business in Argentina consisting of
     household cleaners and air fresheners, the 
     Electroquimicas Unidas S.A.C.I. business in Chile
     consisting of household bleaches, the Black Flag
     line of insecticides, the acquisition of the 
     remaining minority interest of the Company's
     business in Argentina, and other business interests
     in Mexico.  These acquisitions were accounted for
     as purchases.  In connection with the acquisition
     of certain foreign operations, an investment in
     other assets was made as part of a cost efficient
     financing strategy.  


(5)  Impact of New Accounting Standards

     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards
     Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting
     Standards No. 128 ("SFAS 128"), Earnings per Share
     ("EPS").  SFAS 128 requires dual presentation of
     basic "EPS" and diluted EPS on the face of all
     income statements issued after December 15, 1997
     for all entities with complex capital structures.
     Basic EPS is computed as net earnings divided by
     the weighted average number of common shares 
     outstanding for the period.  Diluted EPS reflects
     the potential dilution that could occur from common
     shares issuable through stock options, warrants and
     other convertible securities.  The proforma effect
     assuming adoption of SFAS 128 at the beginning of
     each fiscal year is presented below:

           Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
         ----------------------    ----------------------
         3/31/97       3/31/96     3/31/97        3/31/96
         -------       -------     -------        -------

Basic      $1.27         $1.15       $3.39          $3.00
Diluted    $1.25         $1.14       $3.32          $2.96

                                                      7


          PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
       Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
         Results of Operations and Financial Condition
         ---------------------------------------------

                  Results of Operations
                  ---------------------

    Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 1997
    ---------------------------------------------------
       with the Three Months Ended March 31, 1996
       -----------------------------------------


Earnings per share increased 10 percent to $1.27 from 
$1.15, and net earnings increased 10 percent to
$65,620,000 from $59,599,000 a year ago principally due
to a 16 percent increase in net sales driven by a 18 
percent increase in volume.  Record shipments were 
recorded for our Matchlight instant lighting charcoal
briquets, and by our insecticides and cat litter 
businesses.  Brita water filtration systems shipped 
record quarterly volumes reflecting strong growth in all 
trade channels.  Foreign net sales were 17 percent of 
total Company net sales, in both this and the year ago 
quarter.  Increased sales levels reflect the results of 
acquisition activity, principally the effect of the Armor
All products acquisition on December 31, 1996, and 
fiscal 1996 acquisitions in Latin America. 

Cost of products sold as a percentage of net sales was 
44.3 and 45.6 percent in the current and year ago 
quarters, respectively. The improvement reflects the 
results of certain cost savings measures, including 
implementation of a new manufacturing strategy and 
initiatives in the food business.  Margins are 
anticipated to remain at approximately these levels for
the remainder of the fiscal year.

Selling, delivery, and administration expense increased
18 percent over the year ago period principally due to 
continued investment in international infrastructure, 
foreign acquisitions and costs arising from investments
in information technology both domestically and abroad.

Advertising expense increased 25 percent over the year 
ago period principally due to higher media spending as 
well as sales promotion spending on new product 
activities, and spending for the Brita business to 
solidify brand equity and maintain its current category
leadership. 

Interest expense increased $6,252,000 over the year ago 
period due to higher levels of commercial paper, and 
additional indebtedness related to long-term borrowings 
that funded acquisitions.


                                                     8




        PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
       Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
       Results of Operations and Financial Condition
       ---------------------------------------------

                  Results of Operations
                  ---------------------

    Comparison of the Nine Months Ended March 31, 1997
    --------------------------------------------------
       with the Nine Months Ended March 31, 1996
       -----------------------------------------


Earnings per share increased 13 percent to $3.39 from 
$3.00, and net earnings increased 12 percent to 
$175,045,000 from $156,289,000 a year ago principally 
due to a 15 percent increase in net sales driven by a 
16 percent increase in volume.  Record shipments were 
recorded for our home cleaning business unit which 
includes Formula 409, Clean Up, Soft Scrub, S.O.S, 
Pine-Sol and Clorox toilet bowl cleaners.  Combat 
insecticides and cat litter shipments were both up in 
volume versus the year ago period.  Brita water 
filtration systems shipped record volumes that reflect 
continued strong growth in all trade channels.  Foreign 
net sales were 16 percent of total Company net sales, up
from 15 percent of total company sales for the year ago
quarter.  Increased sales levels reflect the results of 
acquisition activity, principally the effect of the Armor
All products acquisition on December 31, 1996, and fiscal
1996 acquisitions in Latin America. 

Cost of products sold as a percent of net sales was 44.1
and 45.3 percent in the current and year ago periods, 
respectively.  The improvement reflects the results of 
certain cost savings measures, including implementation 
of a new manufacturing strategy and initiatives in the 
food business.  Margins are anticipated to remain at 
approximately these levels for the remainder of the 
fiscal year.

Selling, delivery and administration expense increased 
18 percent over the year ago period principally due to 
continued investment in international infrastructure,
international acquisitions and costs related to 

investments in information technology both domestic
and foreign.

Advertising expense increased 23 percent versus a year
ago.  This increase reflects heavier media and sales 
promotion expenses for new product introductions, and 
the spending to solidify Brita's brand equity and 
maintain category leadership.  The Company anticipates
that for the full year advertising and sales promotion
should increase at about the same rate as the growth 
of sales.

Interest expense increased $13,134,000 over a year ago
due to higher levels of commercial paper and additional
indebtedness to fund the current year acquisition activities.


                                                         9


        PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
       Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
        Results of Operations and Financial Condition
        ---------------------------------------------

             Liquidity and Capital Resources
             -------------------------------

The Company's financial position and liquidity remain 
strong due to cash provided by operations  during the 
period.  Increases in accounts receivable and increases
in inventory balances from June 30, 1996 reflect normal
seasonal variations, principally due to the charcoal and
insecticides businesses, and the acquisition of the Armor
All business on December 31, 1996.  Accrued expenses 
increased from June 30, 1996 principally due to higher 
levels of marketing support and acquisitions. 

Acquisitions since June 30, 1996 totaled $460,336,000 
and were financed using a combination of cash provided 
by operations, long term borrowing, and commercial paper
borrowing anticipated to be refinanced on a long-term 
basis during the fourth quarter. These acquisitions, 
which included the Armor All line of car cleaning 
products for $360,144,000, and  acquisitions in Latin 
America, resulted in the increase in Brands, Trademarks,
Patents and Other Intangibles. 

In September 1996, the Board of Directors authorized a 
share repurchase program to offset the dilutive effect 
of employee stock option exercises.  The Company expects
to issue between 400,000 and 500,000 shares of stock 
each year pursuant to its stock based compensation plan 
and intends to repurchase approximately the number of 
shares issued over time subject to market conditions and
business opportunities which may arise.  During the 
three month period ended March 31, 1997, 289,000 shares
at a cost of $34,715,000 were reacquired.  

The Company has approved the use of interest rate 
derivative instruments such as interest rate swaps in 
order to manage the impact of interest rate movements 
on interest expense.  These instruments have the effect
of converting fixed rate interest to floating, or 
floating to fixed.  The conditions under which 
derivatives can be used are set forth in a Company 
Policy Statement and include a restriction on the amount
of such activity to a designated portion of existing 
debt, a limit on the term of any derivative transaction,
and a specific prohibition on the use of any leveraged
derivatives.

Management believes the Company has access to additional
capital through existing lines of credit and from public
and private sources should the need arise.

The foregoing Management's Discussion and Analysis 
contains "forward-looking" statements under applicable
securities laws.  The Company cautions readers that 
actual results might differ materially from those 
projected depending on a number of economic and 
competitive risk factors.  For a discussion of such risk
factors, the Company refers readers to the Company's 
Form 8-K Current Report which was filed on January 9, 1997.

                                                   10



               S I G N A T U R E
               -----------------



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.

                              THE CLOROX COMPANY
                              (Registrant)



DATE May 14, 1997          BY /s/ HENRY J. SALVO, JR.
                              ------------------------
                              Henry J. Salvo, Jr.
                              Vice-President - Controller



                                                     11



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FROM THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF THE CLOROX COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, AS
PRESENTED IN THE CLOROX COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FILED FOR SUCH PERIOD, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           67804
<SECURITIES>                                     45928
<RECEIVABLES>                                   400825
<ALLOWANCES>                                      1521
<INVENTORY>                                     201220
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                758640
<PP&E>                                         1048322
<DEPRECIATION>                                  473900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2882473
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           682494
<BONDS>                                         907570
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                         55422
<OTHER-SE>                                      969444
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2882473
<SALES>                                        1770197
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1770197
<CGS>                                           780849
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1441729
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (2356)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               39247
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 291577
<INCOME-TAX>                                    116532
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             175045
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    175045
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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