HACH CO
10-Q, 1997-12-12
LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS
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                                    FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549



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

For the quarterly period ended November 1, 1997

                                       OR

     |_|  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Commission file number: 0-3947


                                  Hach Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                                     42-0704420
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


                 5600 Lindbergh Drive, Loveland, Colorado 80537
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


                                 (970) 669-3050
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (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 December 16, 1997.


Title                                                        Outstanding

Common Stock                                                 8,240,193
Class A Common Stock                                         8,236,193



<PAGE>


Part I.  Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         
Summarized Financial Statements

     The accompanying  Consolidated Balance Sheet as of November 1, 1997 and the
Consolidated Statements of Income and Retained Earnings for the quarters and the
six months  ended  November 1, 1997 and  October  26, 1996 and the  Consolidated
Statements  of Cash Flows for the six months ended  November 1, 1997 and October
26, 1996 are unaudited;  however,  in the opinion of management all  adjustments
(consisting only of normal  recurring  adjustments)  considered  necessary for a
fair  presentation of the results of such periods have been made. The results of
operations  for the quarters  and six months ended  November 1, 1997 and October
26,  1996 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the results of  operations  to be
expected for the full year.

     The financial data included herein pursuant to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X
has been  subjected to a review by Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.,  the  Registrant's
independent accountants.

<PAGE>


                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
                    (Thousands of Dollars Except Share Data)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                       QUARTER ENDED                       SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                  11/1/97          10/26/96            11/1/97          10/26/96
                                                ---------         ---------           --------         ---------
<S>                                              <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>    
Net sales                                        $ 31,542          $ 30,284           $ 63,956          $ 59,194
Cost of sales                                      16,010            15,324             32,561            30,071
                                                ---------         ---------          ---------         ---------
  Gross profit                                     15,532            14,960             31,395            29,123
Selling, general and administrative expense         8,782             8,244             17,668            16,253
Research and development expense                    2,070             2,290              4,237             4,244
                                                ---------         ---------          ---------         ---------
  Income from operations                            4,680             4,426              9,490             8,626
Interest income                                       119               451                599               801
Interest expense                                     (516)                -               (656)                -
                                                ---------         ---------          ---------         ---------
  Income before income taxes                        4,283             4,877              9,433             9,427
Income tax expense                                  1,528             1,662              3,358             3,252
                                                ---------         ---------          ---------         ---------

  Net income                                        2,755             3,215              6,075             6,175

Retained earnings, beginning of period           $ 68,648          $ 69,455           $ 65,823          $ 67,177
Cash dividends                                       (493)             (682)              (988)           (1,364)
                                                ---------         ---------          ---------         ---------
Retained earnings, end of period                 $ 70,910          $ 71,988           $ 70,910          $ 71,988
                                                =========         =========          =========         =========

Net income per common share                        $ 0.16            $ 0.14             $ 0.32            $ 0.27
                                                =========         =========          =========         =========

Dividends per common share                         $ 0.03            $ 0.03             $ 0.06            $ 0.06
                                                =========         =========          =========         =========

Weighted average shares outstanding            16,455,936        22,726,116         18,764,029        22,719,314
                                               ==========        ==========         ==========        ==========

</TABLE>


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>


                              HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (Thousands of Dollars)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             
                                                NOVEMBER 1, 1997          April 30, 1997 
                                                ----------------          --------------
                                                   (Unaudited)

ASSETS

  Current assets:
<S>                                                      <C>                    <C>    
    Cash and cash equivalents                            $ 9,485                $ 14,575
    Marketable securities, held to maturity                  879                  19,100
    Accounts receivable, less reserves
      of $265 and $249, respectively                      17,401                  17,829
    Inventories                                           12,899                  11,798
    Deferred taxes and other current assets                4,437                   4,416
                                                       ---------               ---------

      Total current assets                                45,101                  67,718

  Property, plant and equipment at cost:
    Buildings and improvements                            24,215                  23,404
    Machinery and equipment                               50,013                  46,555
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          74,228                  69,959
    Less allowance for depreciation
      and amortization                                    45,064                  42,141
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          29,164                  27,818
    Land                                                     983                     986
                                                       ---------               ---------
      Net property, plant and equipment                   30,147                  28,804

    Marketable securities, held to maturity                1,606                   7,406
    Other assets                                           1,932                   1,652
                                                       ---------               ---------

Total Assets                                            $ 78,786               $ 105,580
                                                       =========               =========
</TABLE>


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>


                              HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (Thousands of Dollars)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 NOVEMBER 1, 1997         April 30, 1997
                                                 ----------------         --------------
                                                     (Unaudited)

LIABILITIES

  Current liabilities:
<S>                                                      <C>                     <C>    
      Accounts payable                                   $ 3,515                 $ 4,044
      Accrued liabilities:
        Compensation                                       1,220                   1,082
        Compensated absences                               3,910                   3,655
        Profit sharing                                     1,758                   3,473
        Income taxes payable                                 359                     753
        Other                                              1,903                   1,379
                                                       ---------               ---------
          Total current liabilities                       12,665                  14,386

  Long term debt                                          30,000                       -
  Other long term liabilities                              2,163                   1,726
  Deferred income taxes                                    1,930                   2,179
                                                       ---------               ---------
        Total liabilities                                 46,758                  18,291

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Common stock, $1 par value; (authorized
    25,000,000 shares; issued 11,622,953 shares           11,623                  11,623
  Class A Common stock, $1 par value; (authorized
    20,000,000 shares; issued 11,622,953 shares           11,623
  Capital contributed in excess of par value                   -                     453
  Retained earnings                                       70,910                  76,944
  Cumulative currency translation adjustment                (123)                    338
                                                       ---------               ---------
                                                          94,033                  89,358
  Less: Shares held in treasury at cost:
           (6,769,520 at November 1, 1997 and
           254,356 at April 30, 1997)                    (62,005)                 (2,069)
                                                       ---------               ---------
Total Stockholders Equity                                 32,028                  87,289
                                                       ---------               ---------

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity              $ 78,786               $ 105,580
                                                       =========               =========
</TABLE>


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>


                                    HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                       (Thousands of Dollars)
                                             (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              SIX MONTHS ENDED       SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                              November 1, 1997       October 26, 1996
                                                              ----------------       ----------------
<S>                                                                    <C>                    <C>    
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                                             $ 6,075                $ 6,175
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash provided by operating activities:
     Depreciation & amortization                                         3,097                  3,002
     Provision for deferred income taxes                                  (250)                   195
     Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment                         7                     16
     (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable                            428                 (2,408)
     (Increase) in inventories                                          (1,101)                  (186)
     Decrease in prepaid expenses & other assets                           (21)                (1,498)
     Increase (decrease) in accounts payable                              (529)                 1,840
     Decrease in accrued liabilities                                      (755)                  (234)
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash provided by operating activities                                6,951                  6,902

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                               (4,511)                (2,805)
     Purchases of investments held-to-maturity                          (2,213)                (8,903)
     Proceeds from the maturity of short-term investments               26,234                  6,037
     (Increase) in long-term assets                                       (280)                   (73)
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash used by investing activities                                   19,230                 (5,744)

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Dividends paid                                                       (988)                (1,364)
     Proceeds from borrowings                                           30,000                      -
     Purchases of treasury stock                                       (60,279)                  (206)
     Exercise of stock options                                             391                    156
                                                                       -------                -------

Net cash used by financing activities                                  (30,876)                (1,414)

Effects of exchange rate changes                                          (395)                  (286)
                                                                       -------                -------

Net (decrease) in cash & cash equivalents                               (5,090)                  (542)

Cash & cash equivalents at the beginning of the period                  14,575                  8,487
                                                                       -------                -------

Cash & cash equivalents at the end of the period                       $ 9,485                $ 7,945
                                                                       =======                =======
</TABLE>


The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial
statements.

<PAGE>

                          HACH COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (Unaudited)

1.        Financial Statements

     The  consolidated  balance  sheet at November 1, 1997 and the  consolidated
statements  of income  and  retained  earnings  and cash  flows for the  interim
periods ended  November 1, 1997 and October 26, 1996,  have been prepared by the
Company,  without  audit.  The April 30, 1997  balance  sheet was  derived  from
audited  financial  statements  and  as  presented  does  not  include  all  the
disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion
of management,  all adjustments,  consisting only of normal recurring  accruals,
necessary to present  fairly the  consolidated  financial  position,  results of
operations and cash flows have been made.  These  financial  statements  include
forward  looking  information  as defined by the Private  Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and therefore  results of operations for the interim  periods
are not  necessarily  indicative  of the  operating  results  for a full year of
future operations.

     Certain  amounts in the financial  statements  for April 30, 1997 have been
reclassified to conform with the current periods presentation.

2.       Inventories

         The components of inventories are:          (Thousands of Dollars)
                                               November 1, 1997   April 30, 1997
                                               ----------------   --------------

         Raw materials and purchased parts        $   3,609         $   2,811
         Work-in-progress                             1,402             1,534
         Finished goods                               7,468             7,031
         Resale                                         420               422
                                                  ---------         ---------
                                                   $ 12,899          $ 11,798
                                                  =========         =========

3.       Income Taxes

     For both periods presented, the provision for income taxes is based upon an
expected  annual  effective  income tax rate. The rates utilized for the quarter
ended November 1, 1997 and October 26, 1996 were 35.6% and 34.5% respectively.

4.       Net Income Per Common Share

     Net income  per common  share is based on the  weighted  average  number of
shares  outstanding  during the period.  Common stock  equivalents do not have a
material dilutive effect on the net income per common share.

5.       Capital Stock

     On July 8, 1997, the Company  repurchased  the entire block of Hach Company
common  stock which was owned by Lawter  International.  This stock  represented
approximately  28%  ownership in Hach  Company.  The  purchase of the  3,157,223
shares at $19.00 per share was financed with $30 million of cash on hand and $30
million in bank  financing.  
     On May 19, 1997,  the Board of  Directors  approved a proposal to amend the
Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation.  At the Company's  annual  meeting on
September 9, 1997 the  shareholders  approved a new class of stock designated as
Class A Common  Stock.  The Class A stock is  non-voting  except  under  certain
limited  circumstances.  All common  shares and per share amounts in this report
have been  adjusted  to give  retroactive  effect  to a two for one stock  split
effected  in the form of a stock  dividend  distributed  on  October  2, 1997 to
holders of record on  September22,  1997. The  distribution  on October 2, 1997,
increased the number of shares outstanding from 8,228,581 to 16,457,162.

6.        Long-Term Debt

     During the first  quarter of 1998,  the  Company  entered  into a revolving
credit  agreement  with  Colorado  National  Bank.  Under the  Revolving  Credit
Agreement,  the Company may borrow up to $40,000,000 under a five-year unsecured
revolving  credit  facility,  which  matures on July 1, 2002.  The Agreement has
restrictions on amounts outstanding which consist of (i) $40,000,000 to June 30,
2000; (ii) $32,500,000 from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001; and (iii) $22,500,000
from July 1, 2001 to the  Revolving  Credit  Maturity  Date of July 1, 2002.  At
November 1, 1997, the Company had $30 million outstanding.  The Revolving Credit
Agreement  allows the Company to borrow at interest rates that vary based on the
Banks Reference Rate or the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), at the option
of the Company. The interest rate as of November 1, 1997, on the $30 million was
6.73%.  The interest  period for the loan is 90 days,  which began on October 6,
1997. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee of 12.5 or 25.0 basis
points per annum,  depending on certain  financial  ratios, on the average daily
amount of unused funds.
<PAGE>

     The Revolving  Credit  Agreement  contains  covenants and  provisions  that
restrict,  among other  things,  the  ability of the  Company  and its  material
subsidiaries to: (i) create liens on any of its property or assets or assign any
rights  to  security  interests  in  future  revenues;  (ii)  engage in sale and
leaseback transactions; (iii) engage in mergers, consolidations and sales of all
or substantially  all of their assets on a consolidated  basis;  (iv) enter into
agreements  restricting  dividends  and advances by the  subsidiaries;  and, (v)
engage in transactions  with  affiliates  other than those based on arm's-length
negotiations.  The  Revolving  Credit  Agreement  also limits the ability of the
Company and or subsidiaries  to purchase  capital items,  incur  indebtedness or
issue preferred  stock. The Revolving Credit Agreement also requires the Company
to satisfy certain financial performance criteria.

     
7.        Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards

     The  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)  issued  Statement  of
Financial  Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," in February 1997.
This  statement,  which is required to be adopted in the third quarter of fiscal
year 1998,  establishes  standards  for computing  and  presenting  earnings per
share.  The FASB issued  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 129,
"Information  about Capital  Structure,"  also in February 1997. This statement,
which is  required  to be  adopted  in the third  quarter  of fiscal  year 1998,
establishes  standards  for  disclosing  information  about an entity's  capital
structure.  The FASB also issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
130, "Reporting  Comprehensive  Income," in June 1997. This statement,  which is
also  required  to be  adopted  in  the  third  quarter  of  fiscal  year  1998,
establishes  standards for reporting of comprehensive  income and its components
(such as revenues,  expenses,  gains and losses). The FASB also issued Statement
of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 131,  "Segments of an  Enterprise  and
Related  Information,"  in June 1997.  This  statement,  which is required to be
adopted in the third quarter of fiscal year 1998,  establishes standards for the
way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments
in annual  financial  statements  and  requires  that those  enterprises  report
selected  information  about  operating  segments in interim  financial  reports
issued to shareholders.  The Company believes that these statements will have no
material effect on the Company's financial statements.

8.        Subsequent Event

     On December 2, 1997,  Hach Company and  Environmental  Test  Systems,  Inc.
(ETS) jointly announced they have agreed, pursuant to a letter of intent, on the
principal  terms of a merger by which ETS will become a wholly owned  subsidiary
of  Hach  Company.  Under  terms  of the  transaction,  at  closing,  Hach  will
distribute to ETS  shareholders an aggregate of $16,000,000 in cash, Hach Common
Stock and Hach Class A Common Stock in exchange for all outstanding common stock
of ETS. The transaction is expected to be completed  during the first quarter of
1998 and is subject to  regulatory  approval,  the  negotiation  of a definitive
merger  agreement  to be  approved  by both  company's  boards,  approval by the
shareholders of ETS and other customary conditions.


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

Analysis of Financial Condition:

     The Company experienced  substantial change in the capital structure during
the six months ended  November 1, 1997. On July 8, 1997,  the Company  purchased
3,157,223  shares of its common  stock from Lawter  International.  The purchase
price was  approximately  $60 million.  The Company used $30 million of existing
cash and $30 million of bank borrowings to finance the stock purchase.  The bank
borrowings provide for a revolving line of credit of up to $40 million.

     The Company monitors cash flow and capital  expenditures in great detail as
part of its total  budgeting  process.  During  fiscal  year 1998,  the  Company
expects to spend approximately  $10,000,000 on capital items. These expenditures
include  the  construction  of a 66,000  square foot  building at the  Loveland,
Colorado site, in addition to expenditures made for production equipment as well
as  computer  hardware  and  software  to  support  distribution,  research  and
development and administration.

     The Company intends to finance its capital  projects and dividend  payments
through existing cash and cash equivalents,  short-term  investments,  projected
cash flow from operations and bank borrowings.

<PAGE>
Results of Operations:  Quarter ended November 1, 1997 compared to quarter ended
October 26, 1996.

     Net sales  increased 4.2% to $31,542,000  from  $30,284,000.  The Company's
domestic net sales  increased 6.5% while its  international  net sales decreased
0.3%. The domestic net sales increase was due primarily to unit volume increases
in most of the Company's major product lines.  Sales for the Company's  European
subsidiary were adversely effected by a stronger U.S. dollar.

     Cost of sales increased 4.5% to $16,010,000  from  $15,324,000.  This item,
composed of material, labor and product overhead, increased primarily because of
unit volume  increases.  The gross profit percent  decreased to 49.2% from 49.4%
due to the mix of products sold.

     Selling,  general and  administrative  expense increased 6.5% to $8,782,000
from $8,244,000. The increase was due to higher payroll and related expenses and
costs  related  to  implementation  of a new  company-wide  integrated  software
system.

     Research  and  development   expense  decreased  9.6%  to  $2,070,000  from
$2,290,000. The decrease was due to lower payroll and related expenses and lower
outside development costs.

     Interest income  decreased to $119,000 from $451,000.  The decrease was due
to lower average investment balances in the current period.

     Interest expense increased to $516,000. The increase was due to interest on
a long-term  loan used to repurchase  Hach Company  common stock owned by Lawter
International.

     The effective  income tax rate was 35.7% in the current period  compared to
34.1% in the prior year's second quarter.

Results of  Operations:  Six months  ended  November 1, 1997 to six months ended
October 26, 1996

     Net sales  increased 8% to  $63,956,000  from  $59,194,000.  The  Company's
domestic net sales  increased 9.5% while its  international  net sales increased
5.6%. Both the domestic and international net sales increases were due primarily
to unit volume increases in most of the Company's major product lines.

     Cost of sales increased 8.3% to $32,561,000  from  $30,071,000.  This item,
composed of material, labor and product overhead, increased primarily because of
unit volume  increases.  The gross profit percent  decreased to 49.1% from 49.2%
due to the mix of products sold.

     Selling,  general and administrative  expense increased 8.7% to $17,668,000
from  $16,253,000.  The increase was due to higher payroll and related  expenses
and costs related to  implementation of a new company-wide  integrated  software
system.

     Research  and  development   expense  decreased  0.2%  to  $4,237,000  from
$4,244,000. The decrease was due to lower payroll and related expenses and lower
outside development costs.

     Interest income  decreased to $599,000 from $801,000.  The decrease was due
to lower average investment balances in the current period.

     Interest expense increased to $656,000. The increase was due to interest on
a long-term  loan used to repurchase  Hach Company  common stock owned by Lawter
International.

     The  effective  income tax rate was 35.6% for the current six month  period
compared to 34.5% in the prior year's period.

<PAGE>

Part II.  Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         None

Item 2.  Changes in Securities

     At the company's  annual  stockholder's  meeting held on September 9, 1997,
stockholders approved an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
to create a new class of common stock, designated as Class A Common Stock, which
is nonvoting except in certain limited circumstances.


Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     On September 9, 1997, Hach Company held its annual meeting of stockholders.
At this  meeting,  the  stockholders  were  asked to  consider  and vote  upon a
proposal  to amend  Article  Fourth of the  Company's  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation to : (i) authorize a new class of common stock designated as Class
A Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value which would be  non-voting  (except in certain
limited circumstances); (ii) increase the number of authorized shares of capital
stock from  25,000,000 to 45,000,000  consisting of 25,000,000  Shares of Common
Stock and  20,000,000 of Class A Common Stock;  and (iii)  establish the rights,
powers and  limitations of the Class A Common Stock. A total of 7,614,652  votes
were cast of which 7,351,060 were affirmative,  251,995 were negative and 11,597
abstained.


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  1.  Report of Independent Accountants.  

     2.  Awareness Letter of Independent Accountants.

     3.  Financial Data Schedule

(b)  During the quarter ended November 1, 1997,  the Registrant  filed no report
     on From 8-K.


                                   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.



                                  Hach Company

By: /s/ Bruce J. Hach
    ----------------------------------------------------
    Bruce J. Hach, President and Chief Operating Officer

December 16, 1997     
Date                  





By: /s/ Gary R. Dreher
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Gary R. Dreher, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

December 16, 1997     
Date                  



[Letterhead]


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Stockholders and
Board of Directors of
Hach Company:


We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Hach Company and
Subsidiaries  as of November 1, 1997,  the related  consolidated  statements  of
income and retained earnings for the three- and six-month periods ended November
1, 1997 and October 26, 1996 and the  related  consolidated  statements  of cash
flow for the  six-month  periods  ended  November 1, 1997 and October 26,  1996.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants.  A review of the 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,  the  objective  of which is the
expression of an opinion  regarding the financial  statements  taken as a whole.
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, 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.



COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.


Denver, Colorado
November 20, 1997




[Letterhead]



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549


Re:      Hach Company and Subsidiaries
         Registration on Form S-8


Gentlemen:

We are aware that our report  dated  November  20, 1997 on our review of interim
financial  information on Hach Company and  Subsidiaries for the three-month and
six-month  periods ended November 1, 1997, and included in this quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the three months then ended,  is incorporated by reference into
the  registration  statements of Hach Company and Subsidiaries on Form S-8 (File
No. 33-39019),  Form S-8 (File No. 33-90584),  and Form S-8 (File No. 33-64793).
Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, this report should not
be considered a part of the registration  statements prepared or certified by us
within the meaning of Section 7 and 11 of that Act.



COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.


Denver, Colorado
December 12, 1997


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ON
PAGES 3, 4 AND 5 OF THE  COMPANY'S  FROM 10-Q FOR THE  QUARTERLY  PERIOD  ENDING
NOVEMBER 1, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                       0000044764
<NAME>                                    HACH COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               NOV-01-1997
<CASH>                                           9,485
<SECURITIES>                                       879
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,666
<ALLOWANCES>                                       265
<INVENTORY>                                     12,899
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                45,101
<PP&E>                                          75,211
<DEPRECIATION>                                  45,064
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  78,786
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,665
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        23,246
<OTHER-SE>                                       8,782
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    78,786
<SALES>                                         63,956
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                63,956
<CGS>                                           32,561
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   32,561
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                21,905
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 656
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,433
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,358
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,075
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,075
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .32
        


</TABLE>


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