HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORP
10-Q, 1999-08-03
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
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                                    FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549
                           ---------------------------

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

                       For the Quarter Ended July 2, 1999.

                                       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 0-6866

                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                 Delaware                                 04-2423640
         (State of incorporation)              (IRS Employer Identification No.)

        Mansfield Corporate Center
           Nine Hampshire Street
         Mansfield, Massachusetts                         02048-9171
  (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (508) 337-5111

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


Indicate by checkmark  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 ninety days.

                                 Yes [X] No [ ]

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock, $1 par value,
as of July 2, 1999 was 22,339,131.






<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                    Form 10-Q

                                      INDEX




                                                                           Page

Part I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   Item 1.      Consolidated Financial Statements

   Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 2, 1999 and
          December 31, 1998...................................................3

   Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Six-Month Periods
          Ended July 2, 1999 and June 26, 1998................................4

   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six-Month
          Periods Ended July 2, 1999 and June 26, 1998........................5

   Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Six-Month
          Periods Ended July 2, 1999 and June 26, 1998........................6

   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...............................7-9


   Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                Financial Condition and Results of Operations.............10-14

   Item 3.      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market
                Risk ........................................................14


Part II.   OTHER INFORMATION

   Item 6 (a).  Exhibits.....................................................15

   Item 6 (b).  Reports on Form 8-K..........................................15

   Signature.................................................................16


<PAGE>

<TABLE>

                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    July 2, 1999      Dec. 31, 1998
(in thousands except per share data)                                 (unaudited)        (audited)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current:
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                                            $  6,704       $  8,843
Investments (Note 2)                                                   15,757         18,152
Receivables - net of allowances                                        16,822          9,783
Inventories  (Note 3)                                                  16,354         14,811
Deferred income taxes (Note 4)                                          5,157          5,157
Other current assets                                                    1,614          1,106
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Assets                                                   62,408         57,852
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property, plant and equipment at cost                                  38,006         36,691
    Less:  accumulated depreciation                                   (27,613)       (25,990)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net property, plant and equipment                                      10,393         10,701
Other assets                                                            7,758          7,099
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                                         $ 80,559       $ 75,652
===================================================================================================

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current:
Accounts payable                                                     $  7,751       $  3,752
Payroll and compensation                                                3,669          2,884
Retirement costs                                                        3,998          3,588
Income taxes (Note 4)                                                     884            507
Other accrued liabilities (Note 6)                                      1,057          1,553
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Current Liabilities                                              17,359         12,284
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments                                                                 -              -
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized
  2,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: none                            -              -
Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 60,000,000
  shares; issued and outstanding:  22,339,131 in 1999
  and 22,319,131 in 1998                                               22,339         22,319
Capital in excess of par value                                          8,325          7,936
Treasury stock, $1 par value (19,501 shares in 1999 and
 34,000 shares in 1998)                                                  (251)          (438)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                             (25)          (359)
Retained earnings                                                      32,812         33,910
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Stockholders' Equity                                             63,200         63,368
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                           $ 80,559       $ 75,652
===================================================================================================

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>


                                     Page 3


<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                                   (unaudited)
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Three months ended              Six months ended
                                                            July 2,       June 26,         July 2,       June 26,
(in thousands except per share data)                         1999           1998            1999           1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                         <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>
Net sales                                                   $32,533       $25,706          $58,433       $57,200

Costs and expenses:
   Cost of sales                                             18,379        15,751           33,490        32,543
   Research and development                                   2,553         2,902            4,619         6,089
   Selling, general and administrative                        7,597         6,895           14,754        14,074
   Merger and special charges (Note 6)                            -         2,031                -         3,546
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             28,529        27,579           52,863        56,252
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss)                                       4,004        (1,873)           5,570           948

Joint venture income                                            211           219              348           591
Interest and other income                                       192           389              428           724
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before taxes                                    4,407        (1,265)           6,346         2,263
Income taxes (Note 4)                                         1,415          (831)           2,094           831
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss)                                           $ 2,992       $  (434)         $ 4,252       $ 1,432
=================================================================================================================

Net income (loss) per share:
    Basic (Note 5)                                          $  0.13       $ (0.02)         $  0.19       $  0.06
    Diluted (Note 5)                                        $  0.13       $ (0.02)         $  0.19       $  0.06
=================================================================================================================

Number of shares used in per share calculations:
    Basic (Note 5)                                           22,319        22,215           22,313        22,215
    Diluted (Note 5)                                         22,514        22,215           22,493        22,375
=================================================================================================================

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

</TABLE>



                                     Page 4


<PAGE>
<TABLE>


                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                   (unaudited)

<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Six Months Ended
(in thousands)                                                              July 2, 1999      June 26, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                                           <C>             <C>
     Net income                                                               $  4,252        $  1,432
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
       cash provided (used) by operating activities:
     Amortization of deferred compensation (Note 6)                                  -             861
     Depreciation                                                                2,043           1,934
     Other                                                                           5            (572)
     Net change in operating assets and liabilities (A)                         (4,015)          1,110
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                                        2,285           4,765
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                                       (1,735)         (1,134)
     Purchase of investments                                                   (12,524)        (41,852)
     Sale of investments                                                        14,857          19,508
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities                                   598         (23,478)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Net cash provided by employee stock plans                                     327              43
     Cash dividends paid                                                        (5,349)         (8,870)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used by financing activities                                           (5,022)         (8,827)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                           (2,139)        (27,540)
Cash and cash equivalents, at the beginning of the period                        8,843          34,717
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the period                           $  6,704        $  7,177
===========================================================================================================

(A) Change in operating assets and liabilities:
       (Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable                             $ (7,039)       $  4,349
       (Increase)/decrease in inventories                                       (1,543)           (302)
       (Increase)/decrease in other current assets                                (508)           (265)
       Increase/(decrease) in accounts payable                                   3,999            (286)
       Increase/(decrease) in other accrued expenses                             1,076          (2,386)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Net change in operating assets and liabilities                         $ (4,015)       $  1,110
===========================================================================================================

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>


                                     Page 5


<PAGE>

<TABLE>


                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

                                   (unaudited)
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Six Months Ended
(in thousands)                                                                   July 2, 1999    June 26, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                                                  <C>             <C>
Net income                                                                           $4,252          $1,432
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax:
     Foreign currency translation adjustment                                            690            (515)
     Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investment                            (62)              5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax                                           628            (510)
Income tax related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)                       (294)             98
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax                                           334            (412)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income                                                                 $4,586          $1,020
==============================================================================================================

</TABLE>










                                     Page 6


<PAGE>





                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
- ------------------------------

In  the  opinion  of  the  Company,  the  accompanying   consolidated  financial
statements  for the periods ended July 2, 1999,  and June 26, 1998,  contain all
adjustments  (consisting  only of normal  recurring  adjustments)  necessary  to
present fairly the financial position as of July 2, 1999, and December 31, 1998,
and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods ended July 2, 1999,
and June 26,  1998.  Certain  reclassifications  have  been  made to prior  year
consolidated financial statements to conform with the current presentation.

The results of operations  for the six-month  period ended July 2, 1999, are not
necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

The consolidated  financial statements included herein have been prepared by the
Company, without audit of the six-month periods ended July 2, 1999, and June 26,
1998,  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 Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to
present fairly the Company's financial position and results of operations. These
consolidated  financial  statements  should  be read  in  conjunction  with  the
financial  statements  and the notes thereto  included in the  Company's  latest
annual report on Form 10-K.

Note 2 - Investments
- --------------------

The Company had  investments of $15,757,000  and $18,152,000 as of July 2, 1999,
and  December  31,  1998,  respectively.  The  investments  were  classified  as
"available-for-sale,"  and the  difference  in the cost and fair  value of these
investments was immaterial and is included in other comprehensive income.

Note 3 - Inventories
- --------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands)               July 2, 1999           Dec. 31, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------

Finished goods                 $ 4,439                 $ 3,067
Work in process                  7,702                   7,597
Materials and parts              4,213                   4,147
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                               $16,354                 $14,811
=================================================================

Inventories  are stated at the lower of cost or market on a first-in,  first-out
basis.




                                     Page 7

<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note 4 - Income Taxes
- ---------------------

The net federal,  state and foreign income tax provisions was $2,094,000 for the
six-month  period ended July 2, 1999 and $831,000 for the six-month period ended
June 26, 1998. Tax credits are treated as reductions of income tax provisions in
the year in which the credits  are  realized.  The Company  does not provide for
federal income taxes on the  undistributed  earnings of its wholly owned foreign
subsidiaries, since these earnings are indefinitely reinvested.

The effective income tax rate for the six-month  periods ended July 2, 1999, and
June 26, 1998, was 33% and 36.7%,  respectively.  The effective tax rate for the
six-month period ended June 26, 1998 was unfavorably  impacted by the merger and
special charges which are not fully deductible for tax purposes.

The major  components of deferred tax assets are compensation and benefit plans,
inventory  valuation,   net  operating  loss  and  tax  credit  carry  forwards,
respectively.  Based on past  experience,  the Company  expects  that the future
taxable  income will be  sufficient  for the  realization  of the  deferred  tax
assets. The Company believes that a valuation allowance is not required.

Note 5 - Net Income Per Share
- -----------------------------

Basic net income per common  share is based on the  weighted  average  number of
common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share
reflects the potential  dilution that could occur if  outstanding  stock options
were exercised.

The following  table sets forth the  computation of basic and diluted net income
per common share:

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Six Months Ended
(in thousands except per share data)          July 2, 1999     June 26, 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income                                      $ 4,252           $ 1,432
============================================================================

Basic shares                                     22,313            22,215

Add:    Common equivalent shares (1)                180               160
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted shares                                   22,493            22,375
============================================================================

Basic net income per share                      $  0.19           $  0.06
============================================================================

Diluted net income per share                    $  0.19           $  0.06
============================================================================

(1) Common  equivalent  shares  represent shares issuable upon exercise of stock
options (using the treasury stock method).  Options  outstanding not included in
the  computation  of diluted shares were 210,000 as of July 2, 1999, and 321,000
as of June 26,  1998,  because  the option  price was  greater  than the average
market price of the common shares.

                                     Page 8

<PAGE>

                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Note 6 - Merger, Restructuring and Special Charges
- --------------------------------------------------

In the  second  quarter  of 1998,  the  Company  acquired  GPC in a  transaction
accounted for as a pooling of interests.  The Company issued 2,382,925 shares of
common  stock for all of the  common  stock of GPC.  Direct  acquisition  costs,
primarily  compensation  expense  relating  to  shares  issued  to  certain  GPC
employees as part of a restricted stock plan and professional fees,  amounted to
approximately  $3.5 million in 1998,  of which $2.0 million were incurred in the
second quarter of 1998 and were charged against the results of operations.

During the third quarter of 1998, the Company recorded  restructuring  and other
special charges of $2.5 million.  The charges primarily included  provisions for
termination benefits of $1.3 million for approximately 80 personnel,  exit costs
related to a leased facility of $1.0 million and $0.2 million for the impairment
of certain assets. As of July 2, 1999, $0.3 million of the restructuring accrual
remained in other  accrued  expenses,  which the  Company  expects to be paid or
amortized by the third quarter of 1999.

Note 7 - New Accounting Pronouncements
- --------------------------------------

In  June  1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  Financial
Accounting Standard No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging
Activities."  The  adoption of this  Standard in 2001 is not  expected to have a
material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.













                                     Page 9

<PAGE>


                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                     PART I


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

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

In the first half of 1999, the semiconductor capital equipment industry began to
recover from the significant  worldwide  downturn that the industry  experienced
throughout 1998.  Because of this positive industry trend since the end of 1998,
net sales for the second quarter of 1999 were $32.5 million  compared with $25.7
million a year ago, an increase of 26%. Net sales for the six-month  period were
$58.4 million, an increase of 2%, from $57.2 million for the first half of 1998.

The gross profit  percentage  for the quarter was 43.5%  compared with 38.7% for
the  second  quarter  of 1998,  directly  attributable  to higher  net sales and
related  production  levels.  The gross profit  percentage for the first half of
1999 was 42.7%,  approximating  the prior  year's  43.1%,  on  essentially  flat
year-to-date net sales.

Spending  levels in the  first  half of 1999 have  been  favorably  impacted  by
restructuring  actions by the Company in the third  quarter of 1998.  As part of
this  restructuring,   the  Company  eliminated   non-strategic  spending  while
redirecting  resources to the Company's  global customer  support  structure and
other  strategic  initiatives  and took a charge in the third quarter of 1998 of
$2.5 million. The Company expects that these changes will provide  approximately
$4.0  million  of  annual  cost  savings  in  1999  or  enable  resources  to be
reallocated to strategic  investments,  such as the Company's Japanese sales and
global support subsidiary, which began operations in the fourth quarter of 1998.
At July 2, 1999,  $0.3 million of the  restructuring  accrual  remained in other
accrued  expenses,  which the Company expects to be paid or amortized by the end
of the third quarter of 1999.

Research and  development  expenses were $2.6 million for the second  quarter of
1999 or 8% of net sales  compared  to $2.9  million  or 11% of net sales for the
same period  last year.  Year-to-date  1999  spending  was $4.6  million or $1.5
million less than the same period last year. As the 1998 downturn  progressively
worsened,  the  Company  reduced  its R & D spending  by  focusing  on  critical
near-term and strategic projects.  In 1999, the Company is selectively adjusting
its  spending  on  other  programs  to  be in  line  with  industry  conditions,
positioning  the Company for growth as the  economics  improve in the  worldwide
semiconductor industry.

Total selling,  general and administrative expenses increased by $0.7 million in
the second  quarter and first half of 1999 compared to the same periods in 1998,
primarily due to higher variable  compensation  expense and expenses  related to
the start-up of the Japanese subsidiary operations, offset by savings related to
the restructuring actions.

Operating  income  increased $5.9 million and $4.7 million in the second quarter
of 1999 and year-to-date,  respectively, compared with the same periods of 1998.
The  primary  reasons  for the  increases  are  higher net sales in 1999 and the
non-recurring   merger  and  special  charges   associated  with  the  Company's
pooling of interest transaction with Granville-Phillips Company in May of 1998.

For the second  quarter of 1999, the Company had a pretax income of $4.4 million
resulting in a tax provision of $1.4  million  compared to a pretax loss of $1.3
million  and a tax benefit of $0.8  million for the same period a year ago.  For
the first half of 1999 the company had pretax income of $6.3 million

                                     Page 10


<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                     PART I

Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations (continued)


Results of Operations (continued)
- ---------------------------------

and a tax  provision of $2.1 million  compared to pretax  income of $2.3 million
and a tax  provision of $0.8 million for the first half of 1998.  The  effective
tax rate for the six-month  periods ended July 2, 1999,  and June 26, 1998,  was
33% and 36.7%,  respectively.  The tax rate in 1998 was unfavorably  impacted by
merger and special charges, which were not fully deductible for tax purposes.

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

Cash provided by operating  activities for the first six months of 1999 was $2.3
million compared with $4.8 million for the comparable period in 1998,  primarily
due to increased  accounts  receivable  partially  offset by increased  accounts
payable. Both changes were driven by the increased net sales activity at the end
of the second quarter of 1999, when compared with the same period of 1998.

Cash used by investing  activities  decreased by $24.1 million  during the first
six months of 1999 compared with the same period last year,  due to the purchase
of  available-for-sale  investments,  which occurred during the first quarter of
1998.

Cash  dividends  paid to  stockholders  during the first six months of 1999 were
$5.3 million  compared with $8.9 million during the first six months of 1998. In
October  1998,  the Board of Directors  reduced the  quarterly  cash dividend to
$0.12 per common  share from $0.21 per common share paid in the first and second
quarters of 1998.

On July 16, 1999,  the Board of Directors  declared a quarterly cash dividend of
$0.12  per  common  share.  The  dividend  is  payable  on August  6,  1999,  to
stockholders of record at the close of business July 29, 1999.

The Company  manages its foreign  exchange  rate risk arising from  intercompany
foreign currency  denominated  transactions  through the use of foreign currency
forward contracts. The gains and losses on these transactions were not material.

The Company believes that existing cash and investment balances will be adequate
to fund  operations  through  at least  1999 and  that it has  opportunities  to
consider further financing options should additional funds be required.

New Accounting Pronouncements
- -----------------------------

In  June  1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  Financial
Accounting Standard No. 133 (SFAS 133),  "Accounting for Derivative  Instruments
and Hedging  Activities."  The adoption of this Standard in 2001 is not expected
to have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

                                     Page 11


<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                     PART I

Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations (continued)


Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results
- ----------------------------------------------

From time to time,  information provided by the Company,  statements made by its
employees  or  information  included  in its  filings  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission may contain statements that are "forward-looking statements"
involving risks and  uncertainties.  In particular,  statements in "Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and  Results of  Operations"
relating to the Company's shipment levels, profitability, sufficiency of capital
to  meet  working   capital  and  capital   expenditure   requirements   may  be
forward-looking statements. The words "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "believe,"
"seek,"  "estimate"  and similar  expressions  are  intended  to  identify  such
forward-looking  statements.  Such  statements  are  not  guarantees  of  future
performance and involve certain risks,  uncertainties and assumptions that could
cause the Company's future results to differ  materially from those expressed in
any  forward-looking  statements made by or on behalf of the Company.  Many such
factors  are beyond the  Company's  ability to control or  predict.  Readers are
accordingly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The  Company   disclaims  any  intent  or  obligation  to  update  publicly  any
forward-looking  statements,  whether in response to new  information  or future
events or  otherwise.  Important  factors  that may cause the  Company's  actual
results to differ  from such  forward-looking  statements  include,  but are not
limited to, the factors discussed below.

The Company's  business  depends in large part upon the capital  expenditures of
semiconductor  manufacturers,   which,  in  turn,  depend  on  the  current  and
anticipated  market  demand  for  integrated  circuits  and  products  utilizing
integrated  circuits.  The  semiconductor  industry is highly  cyclical  and has
historically  experienced periodic downturns,  which generally have had a severe
effect on the  semiconductor  industry's  demand for capital  equipment and have
adversely  affected  the  Company's  results  of  operations.  There  can  be no
assurance that developments in the  semiconductor  industry or the semiconductor
equipment  industry  will  occur at the rate or in the  manner  expected  by the
Company.

In addition to the cyclical nature, risks and uncertainties of the semiconductor
industry,  the Company faces the following risks and uncertainties among others:
the need to continuously develop,  manufacture and gain customers' acceptance of
new  products  and  product  enhancements;  dependence  on a  limited  number of
customers;  the Company's  ability to attract and retain  certain key personnel;
the ability of the Company to protect its  technology  assets by  obtaining  and
enforcing  patents;  dependence on sole and limited source suppliers for certain
components and subassemblies  included in the Company's products and systems. As
a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Company may experience material
fluctuations  in its future  operating  results on a quarterly  or annual  basis
which could  materially  affect its  business,  financial  position,  results of
operations and stock price.





                                     Page 12
<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                     PART I

Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations (continued)


Year 2000
- ---------

The Year 2000 problem  refers to the  potential  for  information  systems to be
unable to correctly  recognize  and process  calendar  dates and  date-sensitive
information  involving  dates  on or after  January  1,  2000.  The  Company  is
addressing  its Year 2000 risk within  four  categories:  1)  internal  business
software,  2) internal  systems  (hardware and  software,  exclusive of business
software),  3) external  suppliers of goods and  services,  and 4) the Company's
products.

INTERNAL  BUSINESS  SOFTWARE.  The  Company's  internal  business  systems  that
collectively  provide the major processing functions for its operations were not
Year 2000 compliant. The  remediation/replacement  of those systems was begun in
mid-1998 and was completed in June 1999.  Testing of these systems will continue
in the second half of 1999.

INTERNAL  SYSTEMS.  The Company  utilizes  other systems  (exclusive of business
systems   discussed  above)  to  perform  certain  data  processing,   including
computer-based programs,  networking equipment,  laboratory equipment,  building
security and atmosphere  control  systems,  fax and copy  machines,  and others.
Starting in the first  quarter of 1998,  the Company  initiated a  comprehensive
program to address Year 2000 problems with such internal systems, consisting of:
forming a project team of representatives from across the Company;  inventorying
and  assessing  each  internal  system to determine  whether it was compliant or
non-compliant  to Year 2000  problems;  and  developing  a plan to  address  all
non-compliant systems.

The Company completed the remediation efforts and related testing efforts of all
major  systems in June 1999.  Additional  testing will be  performed  during the
second  half of 1999,  focusing  on those  systems  classified  as high  risk of
failure as well as critical to the business.  Independent organizations might be
employed  to assist  the  Company  as needed to test and  verify  such  internal
systems are Year 2000 compliant.

EXTERNAL SUPPLIERS OF GOODS AND SERVICES.  Starting in January 1998, the Company
undertook a program to  understand  and mitigate  Year 2000  problems with those
external suppliers who are crucial to the Company's operations,  including parts
providers,   carriers,   telecommunications  providers,   utilities,   financial
institutions  and  others.  A series  of  questionnaires  was  sent to  external
suppliers.  As a result,  the Company has  determined  that the  majority of the
Company's  suppliers are either Year 2000  compliant or are aware of the problem
and have an active program  underway to address their particular  problems.  For
each  supplier  who is not Year  2000  compliant,  the  Company  has  defined  a
contingency  plan in case the supplier  cannot or will not resolve its Year 2000
problems in a timely  manner.  The plan  elements  differ for each  supplier but
generally consist of one or more actions such as: work with the supplier to help
resolve their Year 2000 problems;  develop alternative suppliers for sole-source
components;  redesign products to negate the need for  non-compliant  suppliers;
maintain back-up inventories of critical components to protect against temporary
disruptions  in supply;  evaluate  alternative  component  and product  delivery
mechanisms;  and monitor  those  suppliers  who have  active Year 2000  programs
underway to verify progress against those suppliers' scheduled milestones.


                                     Page 13

<PAGE>


                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                     PART I

Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations (continued)


Year 2000 (Continued)
- ---------------------

The Company will continue these  monitoring  activities until satisfied that all
crucial suppliers are Year 2000 compliant. In addition, the Company has enhanced
its new supplier  qualification process to require new suppliers to be Year 2000
compliant in all aspects of their operations and products.

THE COMPANY'S  PRODUCTS.  Certain of the  Company's  products  contain  embedded
software.  In 1997, the Company  performed an assessment of all such software to
determine Year 2000 compliance. As a result, the Company believes that there are
no material  issues  regarding  the use of its  products.  The Company  also has
enhanced its product  development  and testing  processes to ensure that all new
products are Year 2000 compliant.

The Company  estimates that the total cost  associated  with addressing the Year
2000 problem is approximately $0.9 million,  of which approximately $0.8 million
has been incurred to date. Of the total cost, approximately $0.8 million relates
to new  systems  and has  been  capitalized,  and the  remainder  has or will be
expensed as incurred. These cost estimates are approximate and subject to change
due to unforeseen internal or external conditions.

While  the  Company  believes  that it is  addressing  all  material  Year  2000
problems,  there are a number of risks  associated  with Year 2000, only some of
which are within the  control of the  Company.  These risks  include  unforeseen
difficulties in completing certain Year 2000 programs,  an incomplete  inventory
of internal  systems,  and the failure of one or more  suppliers  to  adequately
address the Year 2000 problem. The Company's Year 2000 efforts are meant to help
manage and mitigate these risks.

The Company intends to adopt a contingency plan, if deemed necessary, to address
any issues  raised as it completes  remedial  work on its  internal  systems and
assesses the state of readiness  of its key external  suppliers.  As no specific
instance of material Year 2000  non-compliance  has been discovered to date, the
Company has not yet adopted a contingency plan to deal with Year 2000 issues.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no significant  changes in the Company's  market risks since the
year ended December 31, 1998. For more information  please read the consolidated
financial  statements and notes thereto  included in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K.




                                     Page 14


<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6(a).        Exhibits

                  27      Financial Data Schedule (EDGAR version only).


Item 6(b).        Reports on Form 8-K

                  No Form 8-K was required to be filed during the quarter  ended
                  July 2, 1999.















                                     Page 15
<PAGE>



                          HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION


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.




                                            HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                                                      (Registrant)





August 3, 1999                        By:  /s/Michael El-Hillow
- ---------------------------------          -------------------------------------
Date                                       Michael El-Hillow
                                           Senior Vice President
                                           Chief Financial Officer











                                     Page 16

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