LADD FURNITURE INC
8-K, 1997-02-12
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE
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<PAGE>


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)           February 11, 1997
                                                   -----------------------------


                              LADD FURNITURE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





    North Carolina               0-11577                   56-1311320
================================================================================
  (State or other               (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
   jurisdiction                 File Number)             Identification No.)
 of Incorporation)
================================================================================



   One Plaza Center, Box HP-3, High Point, North Carolina         27261-1500
================================================================================
      (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)
================================================================================



REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE              (910) 889-0333
                                                      --------------------------


                                       N/A
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)





<PAGE>




ITEM 1.  CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.

                  Not Applicable.


ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                  Not Applicable.


ITEM 3.  BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP.

                  Not Applicable.


ITEM 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                  Not Applicable.


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

                  On February 11, 1997, the Registrant issued a press release
reporting its results of operations for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 
ended December 28, 1996. The press release is attached hereto as 
Exhibit 10.1 and supplemental financial data submitted to the stock analysts is
attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.


ITEM 6.  RESIGNATIONS OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS.

                  Not Applicable.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                  a)       Exhibits

                           10.1     Press Release dated February 11, 1997.
                           10.2     Supplemental Financial Data submitted to
                                    stock analysts dated February 11, 1997.

ITEM 8.  CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

                  Not Applicable.

                                        2

<PAGE>



                                   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 hereunto duly authorized.



                              LADD FURNITURE, INC.


Date:  February 12, 1997      By: /s/William S. Creekmuir
                                  -----------------------
                                     William S. Creekmuir

                             Title:  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                     Officer, Treasurer and Secretary







<PAGE>

LADD                                         NEWS RELEASE   
Furniture, Inc.                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                             February 11, 1997
One Plaza Center  Box HP3                    Contact: John J. Ong
High Point, NC 27261-1500                    (910) 888-6353
                                             E-mail: [email protected]


              LADD REPORTS $1.6 MILLION PROFIT FOR FOURTH QUARTER

        HIGH POINT, NC -- LADD Furniture, Inc. today reported net earnings of
$1.6 million or $0.20 per share for the final quarter of 1996, up from $218,000
or $0.03 per share in the comparable 1995 quarter. Fourth quarter net sales
totaled $118.3 million, in fiscal 1996, down from $149.3 million in the same
period of 1995. All of this year-over-year decline was due to LADD's divestiture
of several of its business units in late 1995 and early 1996, and on an "ongoing
company" basis, fourth quarter net sales for 1996 were actually slightly above
those of the year-earlier period.
        For the full year, LADD lost $2.5 million or $0.32 per share in 1996,
compared to a net loss of $25.2 million or $3.26 per share in 1995. The full
year net losses in both years were largely attributable to substantial
nonrecurring charges recorded in the first quarter of 1996 and in the second
quarter of 1995. These charges were incurred in connection with the
above-mentioned divestitures and with the restructuring of some of LADD's
"ongoing" businesses in the second half of 1995 and in early 1996. Net sales for
all of 1996 declined to $497.5 million from $599.2 million in 1995, largely due
to the divestiture of the former LADD business units. Effective with this
report, LADD has also reclassified the accounting treatment of its
transportation operations for prior periods, which has the effect of reducing
both previously-reported net sales and cost of goods sold, while increasing
"other income". This change in financial reporting has been made so that the
company's net sales and cost of goods sold will better reflect the results of
the company's basic business - the manufacturing and marketing of furniture.
        LADD president and CEO Fred L. Schuermann, Jr. said, "Excluding the
divestiture companies, our 1996 fourth quarter net sales declined slightly
compared to those of the prior quarter, and were about the same as in the year's
second quarter." He noted, "Despite this flat sales trend, we were able to
achieve consecutive quarterly improvement during 1996 in operating results,
after adjusting for the divested LADD business units and a number of
nonrecurring transactions that occurred throughout 1996." He continued, "I am
very pleased with the progress our management team accomplished during 1996 in
fundamentally strengthening the market position, profitability and financial
strength of LADD and its three furniture operating groups-residential casegoods,
residential upholstery and contract sales." 

                                     -over-


                  The LADD family of fine furniture companies
                Lea Industries o American Drew o Clayton Marcus
       Barclay o American of Martinsville o Pennsylvania House o Pilliod


<PAGE>



        Schuermann added, "Although the general tone of business in the
residential furniture industry improved late in 1996, allowing us to enjoy an
excellent October furniture market, the retail part of the business has softened
again recently. As a result, our incoming orders in the past several months have
generally been lackluster, except in the contract market, which continues to
exhibit remarkable strength."
        Executive vice president and chief financial officer William S.
Creekmuir reported that LADD's total debt was reduced by $12.4 million during
the fourth quarter, to $131.0 million as of December 28, 1996. Creekmuir added,
"During the last three quarters of 1996 combined, the company's total debt was
reduced by over $26 million. Our operating company executives also did an
excellent job in the aggregate of reducing inventories during 1996." He pointed
out that LADD's total inventories dropped to $84.5 million at the end of 1996
from the mid-1996 peak of $94.4.
        Headquartered in High Point, NC, LADD is one of the largest North
American manufacturers of residential furniture. The company markets its wide
range of residential wood and upholstered furniture domestically under the major
brand names American Drew, Barclay, Clayton Marcus, Lea, Pennsylvania House and
Pilliod, and exports these same brand name products worldwide through LADD
International. Under the American of Martinsville name, LADD is also one of the
world's leading suppliers of guest room furniture to the hotel/motel industry,
as well as to health care facilities, retirement homes and governmental and
university dormitory markets. LADD also owns and operates LADD Transportation, a
support company. LADD's stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol LADF.

TABLE FOLLOWS

                                 # # # # # # #


NOTE: To receive fax copies of recent LADD news  releases  free of charge,  just
dial 800-758-5804,  extension 501325.  These releases are also available via the
Internet @www.prnewswire.com ("company news").



<PAGE>


LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (PRELIMINARY AND UNAUDITED)


                                                           13 Weeks Ended
                                                Dec. 30, 1995      Dec. 28, 1996
Net sales                                       $ 149,336,000        118,267,000
Earnings before interest
  and income taxes                                  1,725,000          5,990,000
Interest expense                                    3,152,000          3,169,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes                (1,427,000)         2,821,000
Income tax expense (benefit)                       (1,645,000)         1,263,000
Net earnings                                       $  218,000          1,558,000
Net earnings per common share                   $        0.03               0.20
Weighted average number of
  common shares outstanding                         7,726,967          7,719,567

                                                        52 Weeks Ended
                                               Dec. 30, 1995      Dec. 28, 1996
Net sales                                     $ 599,203,000         497,457,000
Earnings (loss) before interest
  and income taxes                              (31,628,000)          7,567,000
Interest expense                                 11,798,000          12,069,000
Loss before income taxes                        (43,426,000)         (4,502,000)
Income tax benefit                               18,236,000           2,032,000
Net loss                                      $ (25,190,000)         (2,470,000)
Net loss per common share                     $       (3.26)              (0.32)
Weighted average number of
  common shares outstanding                       7,720,783           7,722,085



<PAGE>


                     LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                          (PRELIMINARY AND UNAUDITED)

         The company divested four former business units ("businesses held for
sale") between December 1995 and December 1996. The net sales, cost of goods
sold, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses and other operating
results from these former business units are included in the respective lines of
the company's operating statements for all periods prior to their divestiture.
These former business units have been reflected in the company's balance sheets
since mid-1995 in the aggregate as a one-line net item, "businesses held for
sale."

        Effective December 28, 1996, all prior-period LADD Furniture, Inc.
operating results have been restated to reclassify the company's transportation
operations as "other income, net" in order to reflect the company's operating
profit as deriving from its basic business, the manufacturing and marketing of
residential and contract furniture. This accounting change has the effect on
previously-reported operating results of reducing both net sales and cost of
goods sold, while increasing "other income, net."

         Results for the quarter ended December 28, 1996 include the following
pretax items: a $547 thousand restructuring credit and a $738 thousand benefit
resulting from the termination of the company's defined employee benefit plans.
Results for the quarter ended December 30, 1995 include $576 thousand in the
form of a pretax restructuring credit. 

         Results for the year ended December 28, 1996 include the 
following pretax items: a $3.4 million restructuring charge, a
$738 thousand curtailment gain resulting from the termination of the company's
defined employee benefit plans; a $4.2 million credit resulting from the
termination of the company's retiree health care plan; a $1.7 million credit
resulting from the settlement of an outstanding insurance claim; and $3.4
million in losses from operations for the "businesses held for sale." Results
for the year ended December 30, 1995 include the following pretax items: a $25.1
million restructuring charge and a $10.2 million non-cash charge to increase
reserves for slow-moving and discontinued inventories, provide for potential bad
debts and recognize other liabilities.






<PAGE>


<PAGE>



LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES - Supplemental Financial Data
February 11, 1997         CONTACT: John J. Ong, CFA     (910) 888-6353

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (PRELIMINARY AND UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                        Quarters Ended              Years Ended
In thousands, except per share data             12/30/95      12/28/96    12/30/95     12/28/96
<S>                                            <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>    
Net sales                                      $ 149,336      118,267    $ 599,203      497,457
Cost of sales                                    122,070       96,070      502,999      411,697
       Gross profit                               27,266       22,197       96,204       85,760
Selling, general and administrative expenses      25,792       16,613      101,345       74,363
Restructuring expense                               (576)        (547)      25,120        3,431
      Operating income (loss)                      2,050        6,131      (30,261)       7,966
Other deductions:
    Interest expense                               3,152        3,169       11,798       12,069
    Other, net                                       325          141        1,367          399
                                                   3,477        3,310       13,165       12,468
       Earnings (loss) before income taxes        (1,427)       2,821      (43,426)      (4,502)
Income tax expense (benefit)                      (1,645)       1,263      (18,236)      (2,032)
Net earnings (loss)                            $     218        1,558    $ (25,190)      (2,470)
Net earnings (loss) per common share           $    0.03         0.20      %(3.26)        (0.32)
Weighted average number of common
    shares outstanding                             7,727        7,720        7,721        7,722
</TABLE>



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (PRELIMINARY AND UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Dollar amounts in thousands                                 12/30/95*    9/28/96    12/28/96
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>          <C>
Assets
Current assets:
    Cash                                                    $  1,272       1,713        469
    Trade accounts receivable, net                            38,288*     75,736     66,730
    Inventories, net                                          89,466      86,428     84,484
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                 13,663       8,337      5,768
        Total current assets                                 142,689     172,214    157,451
Property, plant and equipment, net                            82,586      78,543     74,729
Businesses held for sale, net                                  8,052        --         --
Intangible and other assets, net                              79,659      81,088     81,415
                                                            $312,986     331,845    313,595
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity 
    Current liabilities:
    Current installments of long-term debt                  $    309       5,136      5,093
    Short-term bank borrowings                                 3,037        --         --
    Trade accounts payable                                    28,419      27,766     24,358
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities            31,396      28,965     30,084
        Total current liabilities                             63,161      61,867     59,535
Long-term debt, excluding current installments               112,598*    138,234    125,859
Deferred and other liabilities                                12,030      10,258      5,125
        Total liabilities                                    187,789     210,359    190,519
Total shareholders' equity                                   125,197     121,486    123,076

                                                            $312,986     331,845    313,595
</TABLE>


* These items reflect the effect of $36 million in financing proceeds from the
company's accounts receivable securitization program, which was subsequently
terminated on March 28, 1996.



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