CLOROX CO /DE/
10-Q, 1998-02-12
SPECIALTY CLEANING, POLISHING AND SANITATION PREPARATIONS
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         UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                Washington, D.C.  20549
                     Form 10-Q

           UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, D.C.  20549
                               Form 10-Q


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


      For the quarterly period ended December 31, 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   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 number) 



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)



(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 December 31, 1997 there were 103,402,995 shares outstanding of 
the registrant's common stock  (par-value -  $1.00), the registrant's 
only outstanding class of stock.      
                                                       
     

               Total  pages 9                                     1

THE CLOROX COMPANY                          
                         
                         
                         
                         
PART 1.      Financial Information                         Page No. 
                         
     Item 1. Financial Statements           
                         
          Condensed Statements of Consolidated Earnings                
            Six Months Ended December 31, 1997 and 1996          3 
                          
                         
          Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets           
            December 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997                  4 
                          
                         



          Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows            
            Six 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

<PAGE>

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


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   Three Months Ended                                     Six Months Ended
                         -----------------------------------                  -----------------------------------
                            12/31/97                12/31/96                      12/31/97                12/31/96
                         -----------             -----------                  ------------            ------------
<C>                      <S>                     <S>                          <S>                     <S>         
Net Sales                $   591,795             $   530,215                  $  1,241,079            $  1,120,988 
                                                                                
Costs and Expenses                                                                               
  Cost of products sold      258,189                 235,626                       537,883                 492,987 
                                                                                
  Selling, delivery and
   administration            139,789                 120,439                       270,188                 237,033 
                                                                                
  Advertising                 83,408                  80,910                       174,952                 169,884 
                                                                                
  Research and 
   development                13,007                  11,532                        24,613                  22,030 
                                                                                
  Interest expense            19,414                  11,745                        34,908                  22,242 
                                                                                
  Other income, net           (3,131)                 (2,986)                       (4,490)                 (4,959) 
                         -----------             -----------                  ------------            ------------

    Total costs and
     expenses                510,676                 457,266                     1,038,054                 939,217 
                         -----------             -----------                  ------------            ------------

Earnings before 
 Income Taxes                 81,119                  72,949                       203,025                 181,771 
                                                                                
Income Taxes                  31,636                  29,034                        79,179                  72,346 
                         -----------             -----------                  ------------            ------------

Net Earnings             $    49,483             $    43,915                  $    123,846            $    109,425 
                         ===========             ===========                  ============            ============
                                                                           
Earnings per Common
 Share                         
  Basic                  $      0.48             $      0.42                  $       1.20            $       1.06 
  Diluted                       0.47                    0.42                          1.17                    1.04 
                                                                              
                                                                           
Weighted Average Shares
 Outstanding                                                                            
  Basic                      103,393                 103,369                        103,305                103,231 
  Diluted                    105,429                 105,051                        105,427                104,979 
                                                                        
                                                                           
Dividends per Share      $      0.32             $      0.29                  $        0.64           $       0.58 
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
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 Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                       (In thousands)
                                                                      12/31/97                6/30/97      
                                                                 -------------           -----------
<S>                                                              <C>                     <C>
ASSETS                                              
- ------
  Current Assets                                         
    Cash and short-term investments                              $      50,898           $   101,046 
    Accounts receivable, less allowance                                345,459               356,996 
    Inventories                                                        219,711               170,340 
    Prepaid expenses                                                    42,936                22,534 
    Deferred income taxes                                               21,107                22,581 
                                                                 -------------           -----------
      Total current assets                                             680,111               673,497 
                                                  
  Property, Plant and Equipment - Net                                  570,811               570,645 
                                                  
  Brands, Trademarks, Patents and Other Intangibles                  1,204,187             1,186,951 

  Investments in Affiliates                                             95,678                93,004 
                                                  
  Other Assets                                                         280,957               253,855 
                                                                 -------------           -----------

      Total                                                      $   2,831,744           $ 2,777,952 
                                                                 =============           =========== 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                   
- ------------------------------------
  Current Liabilities                                              
    Accounts payable                                             $     116,842           $   143,360 
    Accrued liabilities                                                249,390               358,785 
    Short-term debt                                                    410,551               369,973 
    Income taxes payable                                                24,108                17,049 
    Current maturities of long-term debt                                    45                 3,551 
                                                                 -------------           -----------
      Total current liabilities                                        800,936               892,718 
                                                  
  Long-term Debt                                                       702,185               565,926 
                                              
  Other Obligations                                                    122,025               112,539 
                                                  
  Deferred Income Taxes                                                155,352               170,723 
                                              
  Share Repurchase Obligations                                          54,848                  -  
                                             
  Stockholders' Equity                                              
    Common stock                                                       110,845               110,844 
    Additional paid-in capital                                          71,746                66,803 
    Retained earnings                                                1,267,787             1,207,524 
    Treasury shares, at cost                                          (365,893)             (289,075) 
    Cumulative translation adjustments and other                       (88,087)              (60,050) 
                                                                 -------------           -----------
      Stockholders' Equity                                             996,398             1,036,046 
                                                 
  Total                                                          $   2,831,744           $ 2,777,952 
                                                                 =============           ===========
                                             
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.                                              4 

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
                                      Item 1.  Financial Statements
                                   The Clorox Company and Subsidiaries
                              Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows
                                            (In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Six Months Ended  
                                                                                   ------------------------------------
                                                                                     12/31/97                  12/31/96
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>                         <C>
Operations:                                              
  Net earnings                                                                     $  123,846                   109,425
  Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:                                            
    Depreciation and amortization                                                      65,005                    59,783
    Deferred income taxes                                                               2,855                     2,146
    Other                                                                              (2,669)                    5,303
    Effects of changes in:                                       
      Accounts  receivable                                                             13,523                    43,710
      Inventories                                                                     (48,726)                  (41,838)
      Prepaid expenses                                                                  4,597                    (7,285)
      Accounts payable                                                                (26,909)                  (52,574)
      Accrued liabilities                                                             (82,589)                   19,194
      Income taxes payable                                                              1,221                       817
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                    
      Net cash provided by operations                                                  50,154                   138,681
                                              

Investing Activities:                                                
  Property, plant and equipment                                                       (39,681)                  (37,403) 
  Disposal of property, plant and equipment                                             1,686                     1,921 
  Businesses purchased                                                                (80,120)                 (452,788) 
  Other                                                                               (48,468)                  (23,386) 
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                                                
    Net cash used for investment                                                     (166,583)                 (511,656) 
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                                                
Financing Activities:                                                
  Short-term borrowing                                                                 13,407                     7,671 
  Short-term debt repayments                                                         (161,719)                     - 
  Long-term borrowings                                                                193,736                   438,196 
  Long-term debt and other obligations  repayments                                    (61,525)                   (4,637) 
  Commercial paper, net                                                               186,451                   (16,548) 
  Cash dividends                                                                      (65,999)                  (59,868) 
  Treasury stock purchased                                                            (33,815)                  (11,752) 
  Employee stock plans and other                                                       (4,255)                    9,996 
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                                                
    Net cash provided by financing                                                     66,281                   363,058 
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                                                
Net Decrease in Cash and Short-Term Investments                                       (50,148)                   (9,917) 
Cash and Short-Term Investments:                                                 
  Beginning of period                                                                 101,046                    90,828 
                                                                                   ----------                ----------
                                                
  End of period                                                                    $   50,898                $   80,911 
                                                                                   ==========                ==========
                                            
                                              
                                              
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements                                                                        5

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                               
           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 six 
months ended December 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 six months ended 
December 31, 1997 and 1996 should not be considered as 
necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.


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

                                       12/31/97      6/30/97
                                       --------      -------
                                        
   Finished goods and work in process  $143,587      $109,189
   Raw materials and supplies            76,124        61,151
                                       --------      --------
          Total                        $219,711      $170,340


(3)  International businesses purchased for the six months ended 
December 31, 1997 totaling $80,120,000 were funded using a 
combination of cash and long-term borrowings and were accounted 
for as purchases.
     
     Acquisitions for the six months ended December 31, 1996 totaled 
$452,788,000 and included the Armor All Products Corporation for 
$360,144,000.  The acquisition occurred on December 31, 1996.  
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.  
These acquisitions were accounted for as purchases and were funded 
from cash provided by operations, long-term borrowings and 
commercial paper. 


(4)  The Company entered into two share repurchase transactions 
during the second quarter of fiscal 1998 whereby Clorox contracted 
for the future delivery of 400,000 shares of Clorox stock on 
October 27, 2000 and 400,000 shares of Clorox stock on October 23, 
2002.  The specified strike prices are $68.50 and $68.62 per share.  
The aggregate redemption cost of $54,848,000 has been classified 
as share repurchase obligations with a corresponding increase in 
treasury stock at December 31, 1997.  The Company paid a premium 
of $13,193,000 on this transaction which has been recorded as 
treasury stock and at maturity will become part of the basis in 
the repurchased shares.
     

                                                            6


(5)   Impact of New Accounting Standard
     
      In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board 
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 
("SFAS 128"), Earnings per Share.  SFAS 128 requires dual 
presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS on the face of all 
earnings statements issued after December 15, 1997 for all 
entities with complex capital structures.  Basic earnings per 
share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted 
average number of common shares outstanding each period.  Diluted 
earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the 
diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding 
during the period.  Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution 
that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, 
restricted stock, warrants and other convertible securities.  
The weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) 
used to calculate basic earnings per share is reconciled to those 
used in calculating diluted earnings per share as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       Weighted Average Number
                                        of Shares Outstanding 
                 ----------------------------------------------------------------
                       Three Months Ended                     Six Months Ended                
                 ---------------------------           --------------------------
                 12/31/97           12/31/96           12/31/97           12/31/96      
                 --------           --------           --------           --------
                                                  
<S>               <C>                <C>                <C>                <C>
Basic             103,393            103,369            103,305            103,231      
                                                         
Stock options       1,987              1,661              2,073              1,727      
                                                            
Other                  49                 21                 49                 21      
                 --------           --------           --------           --------
                                                         
Diluted           105,429            105,051            105,427            104,979      
                 ========           ========           ========           ========


</TABLE>


(6)  Stock Split
     
     On July 15, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors authorized 
a 2-for-1 split of its common stock effective September 2, 1997, 
in the form of a stock dividend for stockholders of record at the 
close of business on July 28, 1997.  All share and per share amounts 
in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been 
restated to give effect to the stock split.


                                                               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 December 31, 1997
            with the Three Months Ended December 31, 1996


Basic earnings per share increased 13 percent to 48 cents from 42 
cents a year ago and net earnings increased 13 percent to 
$49,483,000 from $43,915,000.  Earnings per share reflect a 
2-for-1 stock split on September 2, 1997.  Growth in earnings 
and net sales were driven by a 13 percent volume increase.  
Net sales increased 12 percent to $591,795,000 and lagged 
slightly compared to the volume increase due to price 
reductions on certain products as well as a change in the 
overall product mix.  Armor All and other acquisitions 
contributed 6 percent to volume growth with the remainder due 
to growth in base businesses.  Domestic brands having record 
shipments and contributing to quarterly growth include 
Clorox 2, bottled Hidden Valley Ranch, KC Masterpiece barbecue 
sauces, Brita water filtration systems and Match Light instant 
lighting charcoal briquets.  Clorox liquid bleach shipments 
decreased slightly following a record first quarter reflecting 
a price increase effective early in October.  The insecticides 
businesses experienced a quarter and a year-to-date volume 
decline due to weather conditions and overall category 
softness.  Shipments in our international business increased 
22 percent of which approximately half was from base 
businesses and the remainder from acquisitions.  The effect 
of negative currency issues in Korea and Southeast Asia were 
not material and we anticipate that further declines will not 
materially effect our full year international results.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 43.6 and 
44.4 percent in the current and year ago quarters, 
respectively.  The improvement reflects the impact of various 
cost savings efforts across business units and improvement in 
our Latin America  businesses where economies of scale are 
being achieved through acquisitions, and consolidation of 
production activities.

Selling, delivery, and  administration expense increased 16 
percent over the year ago period due to continued investment 
in international infrastructure, increased investment in 
information technology and expenses related to integrating 
Armor All.  Advertising expense increased slightly over the 
year ago period when spending was extremely high due to heavy 
new product introduction late in the second quarter.  We 
anticipate that for the full year advertising expense will 
increase in line with or slightly ahead of sales. 

Interest expense increased $7,669,000 versus the year ago 
period principally due to the prior year's acquisition activity.

                                                          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 Six Months Ended December 31, 1997
          with the Six Months Ended December 31, 1996


Basic earnings per share increased 13 percent to $1.20 from $1.06 
and net earnings increased 13 percent to $123,846,000 from 
$109,425,000 a year ago principally due to an 11 percent increase 
in net sales driven by a 12 percent increase in volume.  Record 
shipments were recorded by Match Light instant lighting charcoal 
briquets and KC masterpiece barbecue sauces.  Clorox liquid 
bleach was up for the six months despite a slight decrease in 
the second quarter.  Shipments in our international businesses 
increased 24 percent of which approximately half was from base 
businesses and the remainder from acquisitions.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales was 43.3 and 44.0 in 
the current and year ago periods respectively.  We anticipate 
gross margins for the full year to be slightly favorable compared 
to the prior fiscal year.

Selling, delivery and administration expense increased 14 
percent due to continued investment in international infrastructure, 
increased investment in information technology and expenses 
related to integrating Armor All.  Advertising expense increased 
over the year ago period.  For the full year we anticipate 
advertising expense will increase in line with or slightly ahead 
of sales.

Interest increased $12,666,000 versus the year ago period 
principally due to the prior year's acquisition activity.

Income tax expense as a percent of pretax earnings declined from 
39.8 percent to 39 percent principally due to an increasing share 
of earnings from International operations located in countries 
with lower statutory tax rates.

                                                          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.  The 
increase in inventories reflect normal seasonal variations, 
principally due to the charcoal and insecticides business.  The 
reduction in accounts payable and accrued liabilities from June 30, 
1997 is due in part to seasonality and higher levels of 
advertising and sales promotion activities in our domestic 
household products businesses recorded at June 30, 1997.  
Increases in commercial paper borrowings and additional 
long-term debt were used to supplement cash provided by 
operations to fund acquisitions, the increase in other assets 
and the share repurchase program.

Acquisitions since June 30, 1997 totaled $80,120,000 and were 
financed using a combination of cash provided by operations 
and long-term borrowings. These acquisitions included an 
additional investment in Mexico, the Clorosul bleach business 
in Brazil and two smaller acquisitions in Southeast Asia and 
Australia. 

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 six month period ended December 31, 1997, 280,000 
shares at a cost of $20,622,000 were reacquired.  As part of 
the repurchase program the Company entered into two transactions 
for the future delivery of 400,000 shares of Clorox stock on 
October 27, 2000 and 400,000 shares of Clorox stock on October 23, 
2002.  The aggregate redemption cost is $54,848,000 and the Company 
paid a premium of $13,193,000 on the transaction. 

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.  In September 1997, the Company 
refinanced $192 million in commercial paper by entering into a 
Sterling denominated financing arrangement with Abbey National 
Bank.  The Arrangement has a final maturity of April 2002.  The 
Company entered into a series of swaps with notional amounts 
totaling $192 million to eliminate foreign currency exposure risk 
generated by this Sterling denominated obligation.  The swaps 
effectively convert the Company's 5.7% fixed rate sterling 
obligation to a floating U.S. dollar rate of Libor less 147 
basis points or 4.25% at December 31, 1997.

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 10-K 
Current Report which was filed on September 25, 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 February 12, 1998          BY /s/HENRY J. SALVO, JR.
     -----------------             ----------------------
                                   Henry J. Salvo, Jr.
                                   Vice-President - Controller



<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 DECEMBER 31, 1997,
AS PRESENTED IN THE CLOROX COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q FOR SUCH PERIOD, AND IS QUALIFED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                           36003
<SECURITIES>                                     14895
<RECEIVABLES>                                   346980
<ALLOWANCES>                                      1521
<INVENTORY>                                     219711
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                680111
<PP&E>                                         1071040
<DEPRECIATION>                                  500229
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2831744
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           800936
<BONDS>                                         702185
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        110845
<OTHER-SE>                                      885553
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2831744
<SALES>                                        1241079
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1241079
<CGS>                                           537883
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1007636
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (4490)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               34908
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 203025
<INCOME-TAX>                                     79179
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             123846
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    123846
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.2
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.17
        

</TABLE>


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