JLG INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1998-12-10
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY & EQUIP
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  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 October 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:  0-8454


JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
 (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


PENNSYLVANIA

25-1199382

(State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
 Identification No.)





1 JLG Drive, McConnellsburg, PA

17233-9533

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(7l7) 485-5161


Indicate by check mark 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 December 3, 1998, there were 44,099,672 shares of capital stock of the 
Registrant outstanding.


                   PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                                          October 31,          July 31,
                                             1998                1998
                                          (Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets
  Cash                                     $ 38,369            $ 56,793
  Accounts receivable                       100,030              94,610
  Inventories                                64,354              47,568
  Other current assets                        8,390               6,544
    Total current assets                    211,143             205,515
Property, plant and equipment - net          55,866              57,652
Equipment held for rental - net              29,512              25,103
Other assets                                 19,785              19,069
                                           $316,306            $307,339

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
  Current portion of long-term debt        $  1,254            $  1,253
  Accounts payable                           48,721              43,119
  Accrued payroll and related taxes           4,986              11,652
  Accrued sales costs                         1,378               3,937
  Income taxes                                8,202               7,251
  Other current liabilities                  16,216              15,631
    Total current liabilities                80,757              82,843
Long-term debt, less current portion          2,383               2,455
Contingent liabilities                        9,128               8,800
Accrued employee benefits                     5,723               5,473
Shareholders' equity                          
  Capital stock:
    Authorized shares: 100,000 at $.20 par
    Outstanding shares: 44,100; 
     fiscal 1998 - 44,096                     8,820               8,819  
  Additional paid-in capital                 15,503              15,626
  Unearned compensation                      (2,243)             (2,633)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     (3,416)             (3,662)
  Retained earnings                         199,651             189,618  
    Total shareholders' equity              218,315             207,768  
                                           $316,306            $307,339  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
                                 									      Three Months Ended
                           									                October 31,
                                             1998                1997
Net sales                                  $128,655             $95,644

Cost of sales                                98,930              74,476

Gross profit                                 29,725              21,168

Selling, administrative and
  product development expenses               15,015              12,134
Restructuring charges                                             1,689

Income from operations                       14,710               7,345

Other income (deductions):                  
  Interest expense                              (54)                (63)
  Miscellaneous, net                            879                (273)

Income before income taxes                   15,535               7,009

Income tax provision                          5,282               2,383

Net income                                 $ 10,253             $ 4,626

Earnings per common share                  $    .23             $   .11

Earnings per common share -- assuming 
 dilution                                  $    .23             $   .10

Cash dividends per share                   $   .005             $  .005  

Weighted average shares outstanding          43,792              43,632  

Weighted average shares outstanding -- 
 assuming dilution                           44,913              44,426  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                               									         Three Months Ended
                                       										    October 31,
                                              1998                1997
Operations
  Net income                               $ 10,253           $  4,626
  Adjustments to reconcile net income 
  to cash provided by (used for)
  operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization             4,573              3,589
    Other                                     1,461              1,082
    Changes in operating assets and 
     liabilities                            (25,448)           (10,831)
    Changes in other assets and 
     liabilities                             (2,266)              (915)
     Cash used for operations               (11,427)            (2,449)

Investments 
  Purchases of property, plant and 
   equipment                                 (1,192)            (3,142)
  Net additions to equipment held for 
   rental                                    (6,028)            (2,694)
    Cash used for investments                (7,220)            (5,836)

Financing 
  Repayment of long-term debt                   (71)               (66)
  Payment of dividends                         (220)              (220) 
  Exercise of stock options and issuance 
  of restricted awards                          267                368  
    Cash (used for) provided by financing       (24)                82  

Currency adjustments 
  Effect of exchange rate changes on 
  cash flows                                    247              (731)

Cash
  Net decrease in cash                      (18,424)           (8,934) 
  Beginning balance                          56,793            25,436
  Ending balance                           $ 38,369          $ 16,502

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

JLG INDUSTRIES, INC. 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OCTOBER 31, 1998
(Unaudited)


BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have 
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for 
interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and 
Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all 
information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles 
for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all 
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary 
for a fair presentation have been included.

Interim results for the three months ended October 31, 1998 are not 
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal 
year as a whole. For further information, refer to consolidated financial 
statements and notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on 
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.

INVENTORIES AND COST OF SALES
A precise inventory valuation under the LIFO (last-in, first-out) method 
can only be made at the end of each fiscal year; therefore, interim LIFO 
inventory valuation determinations, including the determination at 
October 31, 1998, must necessarily be based on management's estimate of 
expected fiscal year-end inventory levels and costs. 

Inventories consist of the following:
	
                                            October 31,        July 31,
                                              1998               1998
    Finished goods                             $41,001         $27,784 
    Work in process                              8,279           9,291 
    Raw materials                               19,828          15,067
                                                69,108          52,142
    Less LIFO provision                          4,754           4,574 
                                               $64,354         $47,568 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The components of comprehensive income for the first quarters of 1999 and 
1998 were as follows:
	
                                            October 31,       October 31,
                                              1998               1997
  Net income                                   $10,253          $4,626  
  Aggregate translations adjustment                246            (730)
                                               $10,499          $3,896  


BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
In 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 128, 
"Earnings per Share".  Statement 128 replaced the calculation of primary 
and fully diluted earnings per share with basic and diluted earnings per 
share.  Unlike primary earnings per share, the calculation of basic earnings 
per share excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants and convertible 
securities. Diluted earnings per share is very similar to the previously 
reported fully diluted earnings per share. 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings 
per share:

                                     							      Three Months Ended 
                                								               October 31,	     
                                                 1998             1997
  Net income                                   $10,253           $4,626  

  Denominator for basic earnings per share --
   weighted average shares                      43,792           43,632  

  Effect of dilutive securities - employee 
   stock options and unvested restricted 
   shares                                        1,121              794

  Denominator for diluted earnings per share
   weighted average shares adjusted for 
   dilutive securities                          44,913           44,426  

  Earnings per common share                    $   .23          $   .11  

  Earnings per common share - assuming 
   dilution                                    $   .23          $   .10

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is a party to personal injury and property damage litigation 
arising out of incidents involving the use of its products.  The Company's 
insurance program for fiscal year 1999 is comprised of a self-insured 
retention of $5 million for domestic claims, insurance coverage of $2 million 
for international claims and catastrophic coverage for domestic and 
international claims of $75 million in excess of the primary coverage.  
The Company contracts with an independent firm to provide claims handling 
and adjustment services.  The Company's estimates with respect to claims are 
based on internal evaluations of the merits of individual claims and the 
reserves assigned by the Company's independent firm. The methods of making 
such estimates and establishing the resulting accrued liability are reviewed 
frequently, and any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in current 
earnings. Claims are paid over varying periods, which generally do not 
exceed five years.  Accrued liabilities for future claims are not discounted.

With respect to all product liability claims of which the Company is aware, 
accrued liabilities of $12.0 million and $12.4 million were established at 
October 31, 1998 and July 31, 1998, respectively.  While the Company's 
ultimate liability may exceed or be less than the amounts accrued, the Company 
believes that it is unlikely that it would experience losses that are 
materially in excess of such reserve amounts.  As of October 31, 1998 and 
July 31, 1998, there were no insurance recoverables or offset implications 
and there were no claims by the Company being contested by insurers.


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results for the First Quarters of Fiscal 1999 and 1998
Sales for the first quarter of 1999 were $128.7 million, a 35% increase over 
the $95.6 million for the first quarter of 1998.  Domestic sales of $90.6 
million were up 61% over last year's first quarter sales of $56.2 million 
reflecting increased demand for the Company's products.  International sales 
at $38.1 million, represented 30% of sales for the current quarter, were 
slightly lower than the $39.4 million, or 41% achieved in the first quarter 
of the previous year.  Strong European sales were partially offset by 
weakness in the Asia/Pacific market and effects of a strong U.S. dollar in 
foreign markets.  

Gross profit, as a percent of sales, increased to 23% for the first quarter of 
1999 compared to 22% for the same period of 1998.  The improvement reflects 
reduced product costs partially offset by a shift in product mix to less 
profitable machines and the effects of a strong US dollar.

Selling, administrative and product development expenses were up $2.9 million, 
or 24% compared to the first quarter of 1998.  As a percent of sales, they 
were 12% and 13% for the current and last year first quarter, respectively.  
The increase in dollars is primarily the result of higher advertising expenses 
as well as increased personnel and related costs associated with several 
strategic initiatives begun last year.

The prior year quarter included $1.7 million in restructuring charges related 
to workforce reductions. 

Miscellaneous income was $879,000 compared to last year's first quarter expense
of $273,000. This change was largely the result of investment income earned on 
higher cash balances and lower currency losses in the current year quarter.

Financial Condition
The Company continues to maintain a strong financial position, with the 
funding of capital projects and working capital needs principally out of 
operating cash flow and cash reserves, while remaining virtually debt-free. 
Working capital increased by $7.7 million at October 31, 1998 compared to 
July 31, 1998, principally to rebuild inventories in anticipation of strong 
second half sales and higher accounts receivable balances attributable to 
extended payment terms resulting from competitive market pressures. 
 
Supplementing its working capital at October 31, 1998, the Company had unused 
credit lines totaling $30 million.  The Company considers these resources, 
coupled with cash expected to be generated by operations, adequate to meet 
its foreseeable funding needs, including higher accounts receivable balances,
$48 million for additional equipment held for rental and $15 million for other 
capital-related projects.  

The Company's exposure to product liability claims is discussed in the note 
entitled Commitments and Contingencies of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated 
Financial Statements of this report.  Future results of operations, financial 
condition and liquidity may be affected to the extent that the Company's 
ultimate exposure with respect to product liability varies from current 
estimates.

Outlook
This Outlook section and other parts of this Management's Discussion and 
Analysis contain forward-looking information and involve risks and 
uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results.  Certain 
important factors that in some cases have affected, and in the future could 
affect, the Company's results of operations and that could cause such future 
results of operations to differ are described in "Cautionary Statements 
Pursuant to the Securities Litigation Reform Act", which is an exhibit to 
this report. 

Management expects momentum to build in the second half of the fiscal year 
so that full-year sales will again reach record levels with profitability 
climbing at an even faster rate.  Management anticipates that favorable 
factors including wide acceptance of new products in domestic and international
markets, leveraging the Company's brand equity with the consolidating rental 
customers, expansion of the Company's customer base, coupled with high levels 
of customer confidence, gradual lessening of previously reported supplier 
constraints and significant operational improvements will contribute to 
increased sales and earnings in fiscal 1999.

Year 2000
The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs being written using 
two digits rather than four to define the applicable year.  These programs 
treat years as occurring between 1900 and the end of 1999 and do not self-
convert to reflect the upcoming change in the century.  If not corrected, 
computer applications could fail or create erroneous results in date sensitive 
applications.

The Company has undertaken a program to understand the nature and extent of 
the work required to make its systems Year 2000 compliant.  This program 
encompasses information systems, shop floor equipment and facilities systems,
the Company's products and the readiness of the Company's suppliers and 
customers.  The program includes the following phases: identification and 
assessment, compliance plan development, remediation and testing, production 
implementation and contingency plan development for critical areas.  

The Company's objective is to become Year 2000 compliant with its critical 
activities and systems by December 31, 1998.  The Company has substantially 
completed identification and assessment, compliance plan development and 
remediation for its critical activities and systems.  The Company has 
determined that it has no exposure to contingencies related to the Year 2000 
issue for products it has sold.  The Company is also requesting assurances by 
no later than December 31, 1998 from its significant suppliers and customers 
that they are addressing this issue to ensure that there will be no major 
disruptions to the Company's business.  The Company has received a significant 
number of positive assurances to date and continues to actively pursue the 
open requests.

The total cost of the Year 2000 project to date has not been material.  Based 
on its program to date, the Company does not expect that future costs of 
modifications will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial 
position or results of operations.  Because the Company expects that its 
internal systems will become Year 2000 compliant in a timely manner, the 
Company believes that the most reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario
would result from suppliers or other third parties failing to achieve Year 2000
compliance.  Depending upon the number of third parties, their identity and 
the nature of the non-compliance, the Year 2000 issue could have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.  
However, the Company will develop contingency plans, which should be 
complete in early 1999, should any critical problems occur in any of the 
assessment areas noted above.  

Accordingly, the Company does not expect Year 2000 problems to result in any 
material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of 
operations.

Euro Conversion
On January 1, 1999, certain countries of the European Union are scheduled to 
establish fixed conversion rates between their existing currencies and one 
common currency, the euro.  The euro will then trade on currency exchanges 
and may be used in business transactions.  Beginning in January 2002, new 
euro-denominated currencies will be issued and the existing currencies will 
be withdrawn from circulation.  The Company is currently evaluating the systems
and business issues raised by the euro conversion.  These issues include the 
need to adapt computer and other business systems and equipment and the 
competitive impact of cross-border transparency.   The Company completed its 
preliminary estimate of the potential impact likely to be caused by the euro 
conversion.  Based on the preliminary estimate, the Company has no reason to 
believe the euro conversion will have a material impact on the Company's 
financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company does not have a material exposure to financial risk from using 
derivative financial instruments to manage its foreign currency exposures.  
For additional information, reference is made to Item 7 in the Company's 
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998.  There 
has been no material change in the Company's market risk exposures that affect 
the quantitative and qualitative disclosures as presented as of July 31, 1998.


Independent Accounts' Review Report


The Board of Directors
JLG Industries, Inc.

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of JLG 
Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1998, and the related 
condensed consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity and cash flows 
for the three-month periods ended October 31, 1998 and 1997. These financial 
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the 
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim 
financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures 
to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial 
and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit 
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, which 
will be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an 
opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we 
do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that 
should be made to the accompanying financial statements for them to be in 
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of JLG Industries, Inc. as of 
July 31, 1998, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders'
equity, and cash flows for the year then ended not presented herein, and in 
our report dated September 3, 1998, we expressed an unqualified opinion on 
those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set 
forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 
1998, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the 
consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
November 16, 1998



                         PART II	OTHER INFORMATION


ITEMS 1 - 3 and 5

None/not applicable.

ITEM 4

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on November 19, 1998.  
Management solicited proxies for the election of eight directors and for 
ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's 
independent auditors for the 1999 fiscal year.  Of the 44,099,586 shares 
of capital stock outstanding on the record date, 41,036,988 or 93% were 
voted in person or by proxy at the meeting date.  The tabulated results are 
set forth below:

Election of directors

                                    For         Against
L. D. Black                     40,713,267      323,721 
C. H. Diller, Jr.               40,720,548      316,440 
G. R. Kempton                   40,720,349      316,639
J. A. Mezera                    40,713,198      323,790
G. Palmer                       40,719,799      317,189
S. Rabinowitz                   40,697,549      339,439
T. C. Wajnert                   40,718,349      318,639
C. O. Wood, III                 40,719,848      317,140

Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors 
for the ensuing year.

     For             Against            Abstain
 40,697,943          191,018            148,027

ITEM 6 -- EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)  The following exhibits are included herein:

	       15	    Letter re:  Unaudited Interim Financial Information

       	27	    Financial Data Schedule

       	99	    Cautionary Statements Pursuant to the Securities Litigation 			
		             Reform Act

(b)  The Company was not required to file Form 8-K pursuant to requirements 
of such form for any of the three months ended October 31, 1998.


                               SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned thereunto duly authorized who is also signing in his capacity 
as principal financial officer.


JLG INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Registrant)



/s/ Charles H. Diller, Jr.
Charles H. Diller, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



EXHIBIT 15

The Board of Directors
JLG Industries, Inc.
McConnellsburg, PA 17233

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements 
Form S-8, No. 33-60366; Form S-8, No. 33-61333; Form S-8, No. 33-75746; and 
Form S-3, No. 333-47487 of JLG Industries, Inc. of our report dated November 
16, 1998, relating to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial 
statements of JLG Industries, Inc. which are included in its Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended October 31, 1998.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 our report is not a part 
of the registration statement prepared or certified by accountants within the 
meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
November 16, 1998


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>          5
<MULTIPLIER>       1000
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                              OCT-31-1998
<CASH>                                                 38369
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                         101676
<ALLOWANCES>                                            1646
<INVENTORY>                                            64354
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      211143
<PP&E>                                                 96674
<DEPRECIATION>                                         40808
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                        316306
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                  80757
<BONDS>                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                8820
                                      0
                                                0
<OTHER-SE>                                            209495
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                          316306
<SALES>                                               128655
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      128655
<CGS>                                                  98930
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         113955
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       (879)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        54
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                        15535
<INCOME-TAX>                                            5282
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    10253
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                           10253
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            .23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            .23
        

</TABLE>


EXHIBIT 99 

            Cautionary Statements Pursuant to the Securities
                     Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The Company wishes to inform its investors of the following important factors 
that in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the Company's 
results of operations and that could cause such future results of operations 
to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statements 
made by or on behalf of the Company. Disclosure of these factors is intended 
to permit the Company to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the 
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Many of these factors have 
been discussed in prior SEC filings by the Company.  Though the Company 
has attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary factors, the 
Company wishes to caution investors that other factors may in the future prove 
to be important in affecting the Company's results of operations.

Demand Variability -- Demand for new equipment manufactured by the Company 
tends to be cyclical, responding historically to varying levels of construction 
and industrial activity, principally in the United States and, to a lesser 
extent, in other industrialized nations.  Other factors affecting demand 
include the availability and cost of financing for equipment purchases, the 
market availability of used equipment and alternatives to purchases such as 
equipment leases directly from the Company.  Company management regularly 
monitors these and other factors that affect demand for the Company's 
equipment.  However, predicting levels of demand beyond a short term is 
necessarily imprecise and demand may at times change dramatically.

Consolidating Customers Base; Rental Companies -- The principal customers for 
the Company's new equipment are independent equipment rental companies that 
rent the Company's products and provide service support to equipment users. 
In recent years, growth in sales to equipment rental companies has outpaced 
growth in direct sales to end-users, resulting in equipment rental companies 
comprising a larger share of total sales.  At the same time, there has been 
substantial consolidation in ownership among rental companies, resulting in 
a more limited number of major customers comprising a substantial portion 
of total sales.  A change in purchasing decisions by any of these major 
customers could materially affect overall demand for the Company's products 
and the Company's financial performance.  More generally, during recessionary
conditions, demand for equipment by equipment rental companies typically 
declines more sharply than demand for equipment purchased by end-users.

Manufacturing Capacity -- Given the cyclical nature of demand, the Company must
periodically expand and contract its manufacturing facilities. Capital 
investment to acquire additional manufacturing facilities involves significant 
risks.  Excess manufacturing capacity adversely affects profitability because 
higher fixed costs are spread over a lower sales volume. Insufficient capacity 
adversely affects profitability as long lead-times required to fill customer 
orders may impair the Company's ability to compete for new business and 
subcontracting costs incurred to increase capacity affect profitability.  

Product Liability -- Use of the Company's products involves risks of personal 
injury and property damage and liability exposure for the Company. The Company 
insures against this liability through a combination of a self-insurance 
retention and catastrophic insurance coverage in excess of the retention. 
The Company monitors all incidents of which it becomes aware involving the 
use of its products that result in personal injury or property damage and 
establishes accrued liability reserves on its financial statements based on 
liability estimates with respect to claims arising from such incidents. Future 
or unreported incidents involving personal injury or property damage or
unanticipated variances between actual liabilities for known incidents and 
Company estimates may adversely affect the Company's financial performance.

Availability of Product Components -- The Company obtains raw materials and 
certain manufactured components from third-party suppliers.  To reduce material 
costs and inventories, the Company relies on supplier partnership arrangements 
with preferred vendors as a sole source for "just-in-time" delivery of many 
raw materials and manufactured components.  Because the Company maintains 
limited raw material inventories, even brief unanticipated delays in delivery 
by suppliers, including those due to capacity constraints, labor disputes, 
Year 2000 readiness, impaired financial condition of suppliers, weather 
emergencies or other natural disasters, may adversely affect the Company's 
ability to satisfy its customers on a timely basis and thereby affect the 
Company's financial performance.

Foreign Sales; Currency Risks -- A growing component of the Company's business 
has been export sales to Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia.  
Maintenance and continued growth of this segment of the Company's business 
may be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and 
regulations of the United States and other trading nations and by foreign 
currency exchange rate fluctuations and the ability or inability of the Company 
to hedge against exchange rate risks.

Competition; Continued Innovation -- The Company faces substantial competition 
in the market for its products.  Product line expansion by existing competitors
and potential entry by new competitors also may affect the Company's market 
position.  Throughout its history, the Company has devoted substantial 
resources to product development and has generally succeeded in being a market 
leader in introducing new high-reach products or incorporating new features and 
functions into existing products.  Successful product innovation by competitors 
that reach the market prior to comparable innovation by the Company or that 
are amenable to patent protection may adversely affect the Company's financial 
performance.

Mergers and Acquisitions -- The Company intends to pursue strategic 
acquisitions as a means of increasing sales and earnings and promoting 
shareholder value.  Acquisitions generally may involve a number of risks 
that may affect the Company's financial performance including increased 
leverage, diversion of management resources, possible shareholder dilution, 
assumption of liabilities of acquired businesses and corporate culture 
conflicts.  In addition, specific acquisitions may involve other risks unique
to the acquired business. Finally, there is no assurance that the Company will 
be able to conclude satisfactory agreements to acquire any businesses as a 
means to increase sales and earnings.

Unanticipated Litigation -- The Company occasionally has faced unanticipated 
intellectual property and shareholder litigation which has involved significant
unbudgeted expenditures.  The costs and other effects of any future, 
unanticipated legal or administrative proceedings may be significant.

Dependence Upon Key Personnel -- The Company believes that it has developed a 
strong management team, which intends to continue the Company's growth and 
profitability.  However, the loss or unavailability of certain key management
personnel, principally L. David Black, the Company's Chairman of the Board, 
President and Chief Executive Officer, could adversely affect the Company's 
business and prospects. 




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