FEDERAL SIGNAL CORP /DE/
10-Q, 1997-11-10
MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES
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                                  FORM 10-Q

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark One)

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

              For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1997

                                      OR

o  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: 1-6003


                          Federal Signal Corporation
            (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                  36-1063330
(State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)            Identification No.)

1415 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL  60521
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip code)

                                (630) 954-2019
             (Registrant's telephone number including area code)

                                Not applicable
 (Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last
                                   report)

      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 ____

      Indicate  the  number  of  shares   outstanding   of  each  of  the
registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Title                                     Outstanding
Common Stock, $1.00 par value             45,598,370


<PAGE>



Part I.  Financial Information


Item 1.  Financial Statements

INTRODUCTION

The  consolidated   condensed  financial  statements  of  Federal  Signal
Corporation  and  subsidiaries  included herein have been prepared by the
Registrant,  without audit,  pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  Certain  information  and footnote
disclosures   normally  included  in  financial  statements  prepared  in
accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  have  been
condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the
Registrant  believes  that  the  disclosures  are  adequate  to make  the
information  presented  not  misleading.   It  is  suggested  that  these
consolidated  condensed financial  statements be read in conjunction with
the consolidated  financial  statements and the notes thereto included in
the  Registrant's  Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
held on April 16, 1997.



<PAGE>
<TABLE>



                         FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>


                                             Three Months Ended September 30           Nine Months Ended September 30
                                          ------------------------------------      ---------------------------------
                                                 1997              1996                     1997          1996
                                             ------------      ------------             -----------   --------

<S>                                          <C>               <C>                     <C>            <C>         
Net sales                                    $229,318,000      $230,348,000            $689,959,000   $673,413,000

Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales                                 157,554,000       159,672,000             470,508,000    469,186,000
Selling, general and administrative            45,037,000        43,073,000             141,805,000    128,345,000

Other (income) and expenses:
Interest expense                                4,459,000         4,047,000              12,550,000     11,381,000
Other (income) expense, net                      (482,000)         (139,000)             (1,648,000)    (1,157,000)
                                              -----------       -----------             -----------    -----------

                                              206,568,000       206,653,000             623,215,000    607,755,000
                                              -----------       -----------             -----------    -----------

Income before income taxes                     22,750,000        23,695,000              66,744,000     65,658,000

Income taxes                                    6,780,000         7,808,000              21,099,000     21,942,000
                                              -----------       -----------             -----------    -----------

Net income                                   $ 15,970,000      $ 15,887,000            $ 45,645,000   $ 43,716,000
                                              ===========       ===========             ===========    ===========


COMMON STOCK DATA:

Net income per share                         $        .35      $        .35            $        1.00  $        .95
                                              ===========       ===========             ============   ===========

Average common shares outstanding              45,829,000        45,879,000              45,832,000     45,940,000

Cash dividends per share of common stock     $      .1675      $       .145                   .5025   $       .435



<FN>
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>



FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                            September 30            December 31
                                                1997                 1996 (a)
                                             ----------             ---------
                                             (Unaudited)
ASSETS

Manufacturing activities -

  Current assets:

   Cash and cash equivalents               $ 17,911,000           $ 12,431,000

   Trade accounts receivable, net of
    allowances for doubtful accounts        137,437,000            141,203,000

   Inventories:
     Raw materials                           64,807,000             56,051,000
     Work in process                         22,728,000             29,088,000
     Finished goods                          32,564,000             23,154,000

   Prepaid expenses                           6,068,000              5,079,000
                                            -----------            -----------

   Total current assets                     281,515,000            267,006,000

  Properties and equipment:
     Land                                     5,155,000              5,250,000
     Buildings and improvements              41,089,000             40,044,000
     Machinery and equipment                141,561,000            132,099,000
     Accumulated depreciation              (102,337,000)           (94,568,000)
                                            -----------            -----------
     Net properties and equipment            85,468,000             82,825,000

  Intangible assets, net of
   accumulated amortization                 182,137,000            165,854,000

  Other deferred charges and assets          17,689,000             17,228,000
                                            -----------            -----------

  Total manufacturing assets                566,809,000            532,913,000

Financial services activities -

  Lease financing receivables, net of
   allowances for doubtful accounts         172,190,000            170,988,000
                                            -----------            -----------

Total assets                               $738,999,000           $703,901,000
                                            ===========            ===========


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

(a)  The balance sheet at December 31, 1996 has been derived from the
 audited financial statements at that date.





<PAGE>


FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS -- Continued

                                            September 30            December 31
                                                1997                 1996 (a)
                                             ----------             ---------
                                             (Unaudited)

LIABILITIES

Manufacturing activities -

  Current liabilities:

   Short-term borrowings                   $100,565,000           $ 69,987,000
   Trade accounts payable                    53,492,000             64,088,000
   Accrued liabilities and income taxes      87,275,000             92,338,000
                                            -----------            -----------

   Total current liabilities                241,332,000            226,413,000
  Long-term borrowings                       32,553,000             34,311,000
  Deferred income taxes                      22,183,000             22,183,000
                                            -----------            -----------

  Total manufacturing liabilities           296,068,000            282,907,000

Financial services activities -

  Short-term borrowings                     149,501,000            148,205,000
                                            -----------            -----------

Total liabilities                           445,569,000            431,112,000

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

   Common stock - par value                  46,130,000             45,986,000
   Capital in excess of par value            58,632,000             57,138,000
   Retained earnings                        220,708,000            190,181,000
   Treasury stock                           (18,191,000)           (14,404,000)
   Deferred stock awards                     (2,099,000)            (1,508,000)
   Foreign currency translation             (11,750,000)            (4,604,000)
                                            -----------            -----------
   Total shareholders' equity               293,430,000            272,789,000
                                            -----------            -----------

  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity                    $738,999,000           $703,901,000
                                            ===========            ===========


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

(a)  The balance sheet at December 31, 1996 has been derived from the
 audited financial statements at that date.


<PAGE>


FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

                                               Nine Months Ended September 30
                                                1997                 1996
Operating activities:
  Net income                                 $45,645,000         $ 43,716,000
  Depreciation                                11,085,000            9,846,000
  Amortization                                 4,186,000            3,869,000
  Working capital changes and other           (9,196,000)         (19,611,000)
                                              ----------           ----------

  Net cash provided by operating
  activities                                  51,720,000           37,820,000

Investing activities:
  Purchases of properties and
   equipment                                 (15,949,000)         (11,471,000)
  Principal extensions under
   lease financing agreements                (85,088,000)         (86,047,000)
  Principal collections under
   lease financing agreements                 83,886,000           68,431,000
  Payments for purchases of companies,
   net of cash acquired                      (29,144,000)         (27,615,000)
  Other, net                                   4,222,000              778,000
                                              ----------           ----------

  Net cash used for investing
  activities                                 (42,073,000)         (55,924,000)

Financing activities:
  Additional short-term
   borrowings, net                            32,041,000           44,470,000
  Reduction of long-term borrowings           (1,895,000)          (1,939,000)
  Purchases of treasury stock                 (5,323,000)          (4,877,000)
  Cash dividends paid to
   shareholders                              (29,307,000)         (25,487,000)
  Other, net                                     317,000              665,000
                                              ----------           ----------

  Net cash provided by (used for) financing
   activities                                 (4,167,000)          12,832,000
                                              ----------           ----------

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
 equivalents                                   5,480,000           (5,272,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at
 beginning of period                          12,431,000            9,350,000
                                              ----------           ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at
 end of period                               $17,911,000          $ 4,078,000
                                              ==========           ==========


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>


FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES


NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1.    It  is  suggested   that  the  condensed   consolidated   financial
      statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
      the notes thereto included in the Registrant's  Proxy Statement for
      the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 16, 1997.

2.    In the opinion of the Registrant,  the information contained herein
      reflects  all   adjustments   necessary   to  present   fairly  the
      Registrant's  financial  position,  results of operations  and cash
      flows for the interim  periods.  Such  adjustments  are of a normal
      recurring  nature.  The operating  results for the three months and
      nine  months  ended   September  30,  1997,  are  not   necessarily
      indicative of the results to be expected for the full year of 1997.

3.    Interest paid for the nine-month  periods ended  September 30, 1997
      and 1996 was  $13,023,000  and  $11,592,000,  respectively.  Income
      taxes paid for these same periods were $19,985,000 and $15,881,000,
      respectively.

4.    In February 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board issued
      Statement  No.  128,  Earnings  per Share,  which is required to be
      adopted on December 31, 1997. At that time, the Registrant  will be
      required to change the method  currently  used to compute  earnings
      per  share.  Under the new  requirements  for  calculating  primary
      earnings per share,  the dilutive  effect of stock  options will be
      excluded. The impact of Statement 128 on the calculation of primary
      and fully diluted earnings per share for these quarters is expected
      to be insignificant.


<PAGE>


Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
         Results of Operation

FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THIRD QUARTER 1997

Comparison with Third Quarter 1996

Third quarter net income was up slightly to $16.0 million while  earnings
per share were $.35,  equal to those of the third quarter of 1996.  Sales
for the third  quarter  were  $229  million,  essentially  even with last
year's third quarter sales. Orders rose 6% above last year's strong third
quarter,  driven by significant increases in the Sign and Safety Products
groups.

The Safety  Products  Group's sales and earnings  improved  significantly
over last year's  third  quarter.  Sales and earnings of the Tool Group's
continuing  businesses  were up solidly  while both the  Vehicle and Sign
groups' sales and earnings declined.

Earnings for the Safety  Products  Group  increased  21% over last year's
third  quarter  on a sales  increase  of 16%.  The  group's  orders  also
increased 16%.  Significantly  higher  emergency and industrial  lighting
orders and  sales,  including  those of  recently-acquired  Pauluhn  (see
"Other  Event"  below),  a  US-based  industrial  lighting  manufacturer,
contributed  to the group's  improved  results.  Excluding  the impact of
Pauluhn, the group's sales and earnings were up 7% and 2%, respectively.

The Tool  Group's  continuing  businesses  combined to achieve  sales and
earnings  gains  of 6%.  Both  the  precision  punch  and die  components
business and the cutting tool  business saw solid  improvements  in sales
and earnings.  Most of the  improvements  reflected higher domestic sales
while foreign sales were down  modestly  from last year.  Foreign  sales,
when measured in local currencies,  actually increased 5%. While reported
results of the Tool Group were  essentially  flat with last year's  third
quarter, last year's results included those of a small tool business sold
at the end of 1996.

The Vehicle  Group's sales  declined 3% and earnings  declined 9%; orders
for the  group  increased  slightly.  The  Vehicle  Group's  sales,  when
measured  in local  currencies,  were about even with last  year's  third
quarter.  Fire  apparatus  sales and  earnings  declined  from a year ago
reflecting  the  previously  reported slow order rate  experienced by the
group's domestic fire business in the first half of the year.  Orders for
domestic fire apparatus increased strongly in the third quarter over last
year. Orders for fire access platforms  manufactured in Finland have been
strong throughout the year and continued through the third quarter. Sales
for the environmental  products businesses  increased while earnings were
essentially flat to last year's third quarter.  The strong order rates of
the first  half of the year for  foreign  street  sweepers  slowed in the
third quarter  offsetting  increases in domestic municipal sewer cleaners
and industrial vacuum trucks which continued to strengthen.

The Sign Group's orders  increased 36% while sales and earnings  declined
21% and 67%,  respectively.  Sign's  third  quarter  sales  and  earnings
reflected the poor incoming orders  experienced  during the first half of
this year with orders  improving  to more  favorable  levels in the third
quarter. Bid activity continued strong during the quarter.

Cost of sales as a percent of net sales decreased from 69.3% in the third
quarter of 1996 to 68.7% in the third quarter of 1997.  Selling,  general
and administrative  expenses as a percent of net sales increased to 19.6%
from 18.7% in the third quarter of 1996.  The changes in the  percentages
of cost  of  sales  and  selling,  general  and  administrative  expenses
reflected  the  proportionately  greater  sales  increase  in the  Safety
Products Group.  The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 1997 was
29.8%  compared to the third  quarter  1996 rate of 33.0%.  The  decrease
mainly  resulted  from the tax benefits  associated  with export sales of
U.S.  products,  including  exports of prior years, and a proportionately
greater increase in foreign earnings taxed at lower rates.

Comparison of First Nine Months 1997 to Same Period 1996

For the first nine months,  net income of $45.6 million in 1997 increased
4% over the $43.7 million reported in the same period last year. Earnings
of $1.00 per share for the first nine  months of 1997  increased  5% over
last year's $.95 per share.  Sales for the nine-month period increased 2%
to $690 million in 1997 compared to $673 million in 1996.

Cost of sales as a percent of net sales  decreased  to 68.2% in the first
nine  months of 1997 from  69.7% in the first  nine  months of 1996 while
selling,  general and  administrative  expenses increased to 20.6% of net
sales from 19.1%.  The percentage  changes were  primarily  caused by the
reasons  cited  above for the third  quarter  as well as the  impact of a
significant sales commission  associated with a large fire rescue vehicle
sale in the second  quarter of 1997. The effective tax rate was 31.6% for
the first nine months of 1997 compared to 33.4% for the first nine months
of 1996.  The  decrease  is mainly  attributable  to the effects of those
items discussed above for the third quarter.

Seasonality of Registrant's Business

Certain of the Registrant's  businesses are susceptible to the influences
of seasonal  buying or delivery  patterns.  The  Registrant's  businesses
which tend to have lower sales in the first calendar  quarter compared to
other  quarters  as a result  of these  influences  are  signage,  street
sweeping,  outdoor warning,  municipal emergency signal products, parking
systems, fire apparatus and aerial access platforms.

Financial Position and Liquidity at September 30, 1997

The current  ratio  applicable  to  manufacturing  activities  was 1.2 at
September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996. Working capital  (manufacturing
operations)  at September  30, 1997 was $40.1  million  compared to $40.6
million at the most recent  year end.  The debt to  capitalization  ratio
applicable  to  manufacturing  activities  was 31% at September  30, 1997
compared to 28% at December 31, 1996.  The debt to  capitalization  ratio
applicable to financial services activities was 87% at September 30, 1997
and December 31, 1996.

Current  financial  resources and anticipated funds from the Registrant's
operations  are expected to be adequate to meet future cash  requirements
including  capital  expenditures  and modest amounts of additional  stock
purchases.

Other Event

In July 1997,  Registrant  acquired  Pauluhn  Electric Mfg. Co., Inc. for
cash. Based near Houston Texas,  Pauluhn is a $17 million manufacturer of
hazardous  area and explosion  proof  electrical  products which are sold
primarily to customers  that operate in dangerous or rugged  environments
such as off-shore oil/gas, mining, marine and refineries.

Part II.  Other Information

Responses to items one through six are omitted since these items are
either inapplicable or the response thereto would be negative.

                                SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                        Federal Signal Corporation

11/07/97                 By:/S/ Henry L. Dykema
Date                        Henry L. Dykema, Vice President
                            and Chief Financial Officer

<TABLE> <S> <C>
                           
<ARTICLE>                                5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Registrant's consolidated condensed balance sheet as
of  September 30, 1997 and consolidated condensed statement of income
for the nine months ended September  30, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                          1000
                                 
<S>                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                               17911
<SECURITIES>                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                       140692
<ALLOWANCES>                          3255
<INVENTORY>                         120099
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    281515 <F1>
<PP&E>                              187805
<DEPRECIATION>                      102337
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      738999
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               241332 <F1>
<BONDS>                              32553
                    0
                              0
<COMMON>                             46130
<OTHER-SE>                          247300
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        738999
<SALES>                             689959
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    689959
<CGS>                               470508
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       470508
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    141805
<LOSS-PROVISION>                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   12550
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      66744
<INCOME-TAX>                         21099
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  45645
<DISCONTINUED>                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                          0
<CHANGES>                                0
<NET-INCOME>                         45645
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                            1.00
<FN>
<F1>MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS ONLY
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


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