LADD FURNITURE INC
10-Q, 1997-05-12
HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE
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<PAGE>
==============================================================================
                              FORM 10-Q


                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                       Washington, D.C.   20549

              Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
                of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                  -----------



For the Quarter Ended March 29, 1997          Commission File No. 0-11577



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



     North Carolina                                 56-1311320
- ----------------------------------         -----------------------------------
(State or other juris-                        (I.R.S. Employer
 diction of incorpora-                         Identification No.)
 tion or organization)

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


Registrants' telephone number, including area code:   (910) 889-0333

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


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

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


As of May 8, 1997 there were 7,737,773 shares of Common Stock ($.30 par value)
of the registrant outstanding.

==============================================================================
<PAGE>


                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                          -----------------------------


Item 1.          Financial Statements

                      LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                     Consolidated Statements of Operations

         For the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 1996 and March 29, 1997

                    (Amounts in thousands, except share data)

                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                <C>                            <C>


                                                                      13 Weeks Ended
                                                         -------------------------------------------

                                                             March 30,               March 29,
                                                                1996                    1997
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

Net sales                                            $              135,260                 123,368

Cost of sales                                                       116,038                 101,437
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

    Gross profit                                                     19,222                  21,931

Selling, general and
  administrative expenses                                            21,788                  17,552
Restructuring expense                                                 5,149                       -
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

    Operating income (loss)                                          (7,715)                  4,379
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

Other deductions:
  Interest expense                                                    2,660                   3,005
  Other, net                                                          1,284                     521
                                                         -------------------     -------------------
                                                                      3,944                   3,526
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

    Earnings (loss) before income taxes                             (11,659)                    853

Income tax expense (benefit)                                         (4,664)                    333
                                                         -------------------     -------------------

    Net earnings (loss)                              $               (6,995)                    520
                                                         ===================     ===================

Net earnings (loss) per common share                 $                (0.91)                   0.07
                                                         ===================     ===================


Weighted average number of
  common shares outstanding                                       7,724,770               7,719,567
                                                         ===================     ===================

</TABLE>

                                      -2-
<PAGE>


                      LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                      December 28, 1996 and March 29, 1997
                    (Amounts in thousands, except share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                              <C>                       <C>

                                                          ASSETS
                                                                                              Mar. 29,
                                                                       December 28,             1997
                                                                          1996 *             (Unaudited)
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

Current assets:
   Cash                                                           $                469                  151
   Trade accounts receivable, less allowances
     for doubtful receivables, discounts,
     returns and allowances of $3,005 and $2,728,
     respectively                                                               66,730               72,786
   Inventories                                                                  84,484               87,825
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                     5,768                6,831

                                                                     ------------------   ------------------
          Total current assets                                                 157,451              167,593
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

Property, plant and equipment, net                                              74,729               68,580
Intangible and other assets, net                                                81,415               80,551
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------


                                                                  $            313,595              316,724
                                                                     ==================   ==================

                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Current installments of long-term debt                         $              5,093                6,676
   Trade accounts payable                                                       24,358               25,120
   Accrued expenses and other current liabilities                               30,084               32,940

                                                                     ------------------   ------------------
          Total current liabilities                                             59,535               64,736
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

Long-term debt, excluding current installments                                 125,859              122,694
Deferred and other liabilities                                                   5,125                5,639
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

          Total liabilities                                                    190,519              193,069
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred stock of $100 par value. Authorized
     500,000 shares; no shares issued                                                -                    -
   Common stock of $.30 par value. Authorized
     50,000,000 shares; issued 7,719,567 shares                                  2,316                2,316
   Additional paid-in capital                                                   49,736               49,736
   Retained earnings                                                            71,359               71,879
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------
                                                                               123,411              123,931
   Less unamortized value of restricted stock                                     (335)                (276)
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------

          Total shareholders' equity                                           123,076              123,655
                                                                     ------------------   ------------------
                                                                  $            313,595              316,724
                                                                     ==================   ==================

</TABLE>

* Derived from the Company's 1996 audited Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>



                      LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

         For the thirteen weeks ended March 30, 1996 and March 29, 1997

                             (Amounts in thousands)

                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                 <C>                    <C>


                                                                                      13 Weeks Ended
                                                                       -----------------------------------

                                                                          March 30,          March 29,
                                                                            1996               1997
                                                                       ----------------   ----------------

Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net earnings (loss)                                              $           (6,995)           520
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net
     cash used in operating activities:
      Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                              2,837          2,568
      Amortization                                                               1,607          1,066
      Restructuring expense                                                      5,149              -
      Provision for losses on trade accounts receivable                          1,359            (35)
      (Gain) loss on sales of assets                                                 3            (40)
      Provision for deferred income taxes                                       (2,149)           203
      Increase in deferred and other liabilities                                   402              7
      Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects
       from divestitures:
        Increase in trade accounts receivable                                   (2,724)        (6,021)
        Increase in inventories                                                 (2,037)        (3,341)
        Increase in prepaid expenses and other
          current assets                                                          (361)        (1,063)
        Increase (decrease) in trade accounts payable                           (1,106)           762
        Increase in accrued expenses and other
          current liabilities                                                      686          2,605
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

      Total adjustments                                                          3,666         (3,289)
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

      Net cash used in operating activities                                     (3,329)        (2,769)
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Additions to property, plant and equipment                                   (2,890)          (989)
   Purchase leased manufacturing equipment                                      (4,648)             -
   Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment                             22             12
   Proceeds from sale of business                                                5,284              -
   (Additions to) reductions in intangible and other assets                        115           (143)
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

      Net cash used in investing activities                                     (2,117)        (1,120)
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds from borrowings                                                     45,688          8,242
   Payments of sales of trade accounts receivable                              (36,000)             -
   Proceeds from sale leaseback of assets                                            -          5,153
   Principal payments on borrowings                                             (4,401)        (9,824)
   Other                                                                           (74)             -
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

      Net cash provided by financing activites                                   5,213          3,571
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                             10              -
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

      Net decrease in cash                                                        (223)          (318)

Cash at beginning of period                                                      1,272            469
                                                                       ----------------   ------------

Cash at end of period                                               $            1,049            151
                                                                       ================   ============



Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the period for interest                          $            2,400          3,062
  Cash paid during the period for income taxes                                      26             11
                                                                       ================   ============

</TABLE>


                                      -4-

<PAGE>


                      LADD FURNITURE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
                    (Amounts in thousands, except share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                     <C>            <C>            <C>          <C>          <C>                  <C>

                                                                                                  Unamortized
                                             Number                   Additional                   value of            Total
                                            of shares      Common      paid-in       Retained     restricted       shareholders'
                                             issued         stock      capital       earnings        stock            equity
                                         ----------------  --------  ------------- ------------- --------------  ------------------


BALANCE AT DECEMBER 30, 1995                   7,726,993 $   2,318         49,905        73,829           (855)            125,197

   Purchase of restricted
     stock                                        (7,426)       (2)          (169)            -            169                  (2)

   Amortization of employee
     restricted stock awards                           -         -              -             -            351                 351

   Net loss                                            -         -              -        (2,470)             -              (2,470)
                                         ----------------  --------  ------------- ------------- --------------  ------------------

BALANCE AT DECEMBER 28, 1996                   7,719,567     2,316         49,736        71,359           (335)            123,076

   Amortization of employee
     restricted stock awards                           -         -              -             -             59                  59

   Net earnings                                        -         -              -           520              -                 520
                                         ----------------  --------  ------------- ------------- --------------  ------------------

BALANCE AT MARCH 29, 1997
   (UNAUDITED)                                 7,719,567 $   2,316         49,736        71,879           (276)            123,655
                                         ================  ========  ============= ============= ==============  ==================


</TABLE>


                                      -5-



<PAGE>


Notes:


(1) Quarterly Financial Data


      The quarterly consolidated financial data are unaudited but include, in
      the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement
      of the operating results for the interim periods indicated. All such
      adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

(2) Inventories

      A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):


                                          December 28,     March 29,
                                              1996          1997
                                         --------------   -------------

     Inventories on the FIFO cost method:

        Finished goods                   $     45,459                47,970
        Work in process                        14,093                14,828
        Raw materials and supplies             35,613                35,708
                                          ------------              --------- 
         Total inventories on
           the FIFO cost method                95,165                98,506

     Less adjustments of certain inven-
      tories to the LIFO cost method          (10,681)              (10,681)
                                          ------------              ---------
                                          
                                         $     84,484                87,825
                                          ============              =========





(3)  Sale/Leaseback - Monroe, NC Facility

     Effective March 19, 1997, the Company sold its Monroe, NC upholstery
     manufacturing facility to a private partnership for
     $5.3 million. At the same time, the Company entered into a seven-year
     agreement to lease the facility back, with options existing to renew the
     lease at the end of its term up to eight additional years. The net proceeds
     from the sale of $5.1 million were utilized to reduce the Company's
     outstanding long-term debt. A deferred gain totalling $592,000 will be
     amortized into operations over the life of the lease.




                                      -6-


<PAGE>




(4)  Net Sales by Business Group

     The Company's net sales by business group for 1996 and the first quarter of
     1997 were as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                        <C>              <C>               <C>            <C>           <C>

                                                         1996                                 1997
                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               First             Second          Third         Fourth       First
                              Quarter            Quarter         Quarter       Quarter     Quarter
                             -----------       ----------       ----------    --------    ------------ 
Casegoods                     $ 72,343           67,403           71,449       66,161        68,550
Upholstery                      34,769           30,611           30,049       28,911        31,573
Contract sales                  17,546           20,782           18,692       23,195        23,245
Divestiture companies           10,602            4,687              257           -             -
                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
    Total                     $135,260          123,483          120,447      118,267       123,368
                              ========================================================================

</TABLE>


                                      -7-

<PAGE>



Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of

        Financial Condition and Results of Operations



Results of Operations


   The following table sets forth the percentage relationship of net sales to
certain items included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:



                                                    13 Weeks Ended
                                          ------------------------------    
                                              Mar. 30,        Mar. 29,
                                               1996             1997
                                             -----------   ------------

Net sales                                      100.0%         100.0%
Cost of sales                                   85.8           82.2
                                               ------         ------
    Gross profit                                14.2           17.8

Selling, general and
 administrative expenses                        16.1           14.2
Restructuring expense                            3.8            -
                                               ------         ------
    Operating income (loss)                     (5.7)           3.6
                                               ------         ------
Other deductions
 Interest expense                                2.0            2.5
 Other, net                                      0.9            0.4
                                               ------         ------
                                                 2.9            2.9
                                               ------         ------
    Earnings (loss) before income taxes         (8.6)           0.7
                                               ------         ------
Income tax expense (benefit)                    (3.4)           0.3
                                               ------         ------        
    Net earnings (loss)                         (5.2)%          0.4%
                                               ======         ====== 



    Statements included in Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations which are not historical
in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking 
statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The Company
cautions readers that these forward-looking statements, including without
limitation, those relating principally to anticipated growth in sales,
anticipated selling general and administrative expenses, projected capital
spending, and decreased interest expense are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements, due to several important factors
herein identified and other risks and factors identified from time to time in
the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Net sales for the first quarter of 1997 decreased 8.8% as compared to the
first quarter of 1996, with the decrease attributable to the inclusion in the
1996 quarter, but not in the 1997 quarter, the net sales of Fournier Furniture
and Daystrom Furniture. Fournier Furniture 

                                      -8-

<PAGE>


was sold on February 26, 1996 and Daystrom Furniture was closed on June 28, 
1996. On a pro forma basis,  assuming the  divestitures  of these  companies had
occurred at the  beginning  of fiscal 1996,  1997 first  quarter net sales would
have  decreased  from prior year  levels by 1.0%. Of the $123.4  million in net
sales recorded during the first quarter of 1997, residential casegoods totalled
approximately  $68.6 million,  down  5.2% from the year earlier quarter;
residential  upholstery totalled approximately $31.6 million, down 9.2%; and
contract sales totalled approximately  $23.2 million, an increase of 32.5%. The
decrease in 1997 residential casegoods and residential upholstery net sales
compared to 1996 pro forma amounts was  primarily due to the Company's  decision
to cease doing  business with a large retailer whose margins were not considered
acceptable.  The growth in contract sales relates to continued  hotel expansion
and refurbishment, and the Company anticipates that this trend will extend into
1998. The Company intends to utilize production capacity  available at the 
Casegoods group's manufacturing  facilities to accommodate the currently 
anticipated contract sales growth, as needed.

    Cost of sales decreased by $14.6 million, or 12.6%, in the first quarter of
1997 and represented 82.2% of net sales, down from 85.8% of net sales in the
first quarter of 1996, increasing the Company's first quarter's gross profit
margin from 14.2% in 1996 to 17.8% in 1997. On a pro forma basis, assuming the
divestitures of Fournier Furniture and Daystrom Furniture had occurred at the
beginning of fiscal 1996, 1996 and 1997 first quarter gross margins would have
been 15.2% and 17.8%, respectively. The 1996 pro forma first quarter cost of
sales was impacted by the plant downtime taken at the Company's casegoods
operations early in 1996 to control inventories in light of the then weak
furniture retail environment, resulting in substantial unabsorbed overhead
expenses. Additionally, the 1997 first quarter cost of sales was reduced as a
result of the termination of the Company's retiree health care plan and defined
benefit plans, and other cost savings programs implemented during 1996.

    Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were 16.1% of net sales
for the first quarter of 1996 compared to 14.2% in the first quarter of 1997.
The 1996 first quarter SG&A expense was impacted by the Company's decision to
increase its provision for bad debts by $1.0 million in light of weakness in the
retail environment during the first quarter of 1996. Further, 1996 SG&A expenses
were higher than those in 1997 due to costs associated with the Company's trade
accounts receivable securitization program which was terminated at the end of
1996's first quarter. The Company believes that the SG&A expense as a percent of
net sales in the first quarter of 1997 reflects a reasonable normalized annual
rate for 1997.

    During the first quarter of 1996, the Company recorded a $5.1 non-cash
restructuring charge as a result of: (i) the decision to liquidate Daystrom
Furniture; (ii) a shortfall in the net proceeds anticipated from selling
Fournier Furniture; and (iii) additional severance expense relating to the
continued restructuring of the Company's remaining businesses.
   

                                       -9-
<PAGE>


    While other deductions were 2.9% of net sales for the first quarters of both
1996 and 1997, the "interest expense" and "other, net" components increased 0.5%
as a percent of net sales and decreased 0.5% as a percent of net sales,
respectively. The increase in 1997 interest expense as a percent of net sales
was primarily due to an increase in the Company's average outstanding
borrowings, coupled with higher effective interest rates compared to the same
period of 1996. The interest rate margin over LIBOR and prime on the Company's
bank borrowings can be reduced upon the Company meeting target financial ratios
related to operating cash flow and debt levels. Based on the 1997 first quarter
operating results of the Company, the interest rate margin was reduced by 0.50%
effective April 16, 1997. Notwithstanding the decrease in the interest rate
margin, fluctuations in the base LIBOR and prime rate will impact the Company's
effective interest rate. Effective March 26, 1997, the Company's prime borrowing
rate increased 0.25%. The decrease in 1997 "other, net" as a percent of net
sales was primarily attributable to the write-off in the first quarter of 1996
of unamortized financing costs in anticipation of the Company refinancing its
then current bank facility.

    For the first quarter of 1996, the Company's net loss was $7.0 million,
compared with net earnings of $520,000 in the current period. The Company's
estimated annual effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 1996 was
40%, as compared to a 45% annual effective income tax rate for the year ended
December 28, 1996 and a 39% estimated annual rate for the first quarter of 1997.
The differences in the tax rates for the respective periods result from various
permanent taxable income, deductions, or credit items that increase or decrease
the normal U.S. Federal tax rate of 34% when applied to the Company's estimated
annualized pre-tax income or loss during each interim period, or actual annual
pre-tax income or loss in the case of each fiscal year end.



Liquidity and Capital Resources


 The Company's current ratio at December 28, 1996 and March 29, 1997 was 2.6 to
1. Net working capital totaled $97.9 million at December 28, 1996, compared to
$102.9 million at March 29, 1997.

    During the first three months of 1996, the Company used $3.8 million in cash
for operating activities, compared to a use of $2.8 million in the 1997 period.
The cash used in both periods was partially due to increases in working capital.
The increase in 1997 first quarter working capital was principally due to a $5.1
million increase in net shipments compared to the final three months of 1996,
which increased trade accounts receivable, as well as increased inventories in
the Company's contract business.

    During the first three months of 1996, capital spending totaled $2.9
million, compared to $1.0 million during the same period in 1997. The Company's
capital expenditures for all of 1997 are expected to approximate $8.0 million,
with a majority of the capital spending 


                                      -10-

<PAGE>


related to maintenance of plants and purchases of machinery and equipment.

    Total debt ratio (total debt as a percentage of total debt plus
shareholders' equity) was 51.6% at December 28, 1996, compared to 51.1% at March
29, 1997. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in total debt resulting
from the sale and subsequent lease back of the Company's Monroe, NC upholstery
manufacturing facility. The net cash proceeds of $5.1 million were utilized to
reduce the Company's outstanding long-term borrowings. At March 29, 1997,
availability for future borrowings under the Company's revolving credit loan
totalled $30.5 million.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>



                      PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION


Item 5.  Other Information
         None


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a) Exhibits
             10.1  LADD Furniture, Inc. 1994 Incentive Stock Option
                   Plan as Amended Effective March 6, 1997.


         (b) Reports on Form 8-K
             On February 12, 1997, the Company filed with the Commission a Form
             8-K dated February 11, 1997 which reported under Item 5 the Press
             Release dated February 11, 1997 reporting the fourth quarter 1996
             earnings, fiscal 1996 full year operating results of the Company,
             and the sale/leaseback of the Monroe, NC upholstery manufacturing
             facility.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



                              SIGNATURES


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



                                  LADD Furniture, Inc.



Date:  May 12, 1997               By:  s/William S. Creekmuir
                                       William S. Creekmuir
                                       Executive Vice President
                                       and Chief Financial Officer




                                      -13-


<PAGE>






                              LADD FURNITURE, INC.


                        1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN





















                                         As Amended Effective March 6, 1997


<PAGE>




                              LADD FURNITURE, INC.
                        1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>


Section 1.   Purpose............................................................................................  1

Section 2.   Administration.....................................................................................  1

Section 3.   Stock Available for Options........................................................................  2

Section 4.  Eligibility.........................................................................................  2

Section 5.   Option Price.......................................................................................  3

Section 6.   Director Options...................................................................................  4

Section 7.   Expiration of Options..............................................................................  4

Section 8.   Terms and Conditions of Options....................................................................  5

Section 9.   Exercise of Options................................................................................  5

Section 10.  Termination of Employment - Except by Death or Retirement..........................................  6

Section 11.  Termination of Employment - Retirement.............................................................  6

Section 12.  Termination of Employment - Death..................................................................  6

Section 13.  Restrictions on Transfer...........................................................................  7

Section 14.  Capital Adjustments Affecting Common Stock.........................................................  7

Section 15.  Application of Funds...............................................................................  8

Section 16.  No Obligation to Exercise Option...................................................................  8

Section 17.  Term of Plan.......................................................................................  8

Section 18.  Effective Date of Plan.............................................................................  8

Section 19.  Time of Granting of Options........................................................................  8


<PAGE>




Section 20.  Termination and Amendment..........................................................................  8

Section 21.  Other Provisions...................................................................................  9


</TABLE>


<PAGE>



                              LADD FURNITURE, INC.

                        1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN


         THIS IS THE 1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN ("Plan") of LADD
Furniture, Inc. ("LADD"), a North Carolina corporation, with its principal
office in High Point, Guilford County, North Carolina, effective on February 24,
1994, with two subsequent amendments effective on March 5, 1996 and March 6,
1997, respectively, under which options may be granted from time to time to
eligible employees and directors of LADD and LADD's divisions and subsidiaries
to purchase shares of common stock of LADD, subject to the provisions set forth
as follows:

Section 1.   Purpose

         The purpose of this Plan is to aid LADD in attracting capable
executives and directors and to provide a long range inducement for key
employees and directors to remain in the management of LADD, to perform at
increasing levels of effectiveness and to acquire a permanent stake in LADD with
the interest and outlook of an owner. These objectives will be promoted through
the granting to key employees and directors of options to acquire shares of
common stock of LADD pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

Section 2.   Administration

         The Plan shall be administered by a committee to be appointed from time
to time by the Board of Directors of LADD and shall serve at the pleasure of the
directors (the "Committee"). Any or all of the members of the Committee may be
members of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall consist of not less than
three (3) persons, all of whom shall be "disinterested persons" within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time. The Committee, from time to time, may adopt rules and regulations
for carrying out the Plan.

         Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the determinations or the
interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Committee
shall be final and conclusive upon all persons affected thereby. By way of
illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the discretion (a)
to construe and interpret the Plan and all options granted hereunder and to
determine the terms and provisions (and amendments thereof) of the options
granted under the Plan (which need not be identical); (b) to define the terms
used in the Plan and in the options granted hereunder; (c) to prescribe, amend
and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (d) to determine the
individuals to whom and the time or times at which such options shall be
granted, the number of shares to be subject to each option, the option price,
the manner of exercise of the options, and the determination of leaves of
absence which may be granted to participants without constituting a termination
of their employment for the purposes of the Plan; (e) to correct any defect or
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any option
granted under the Plan; and (f) to make all other determinations necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.


<PAGE>




         It shall be in the discretion of the Committee to grant options which
qualify as "incentive stock options" (as that term is defined in Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) or which will be given tax
treatment as "nonqualified stock options" (herein referred to collectively as
"options"; however, whenever reference is specifically made only to "incentive
stock options" or "nonqualified stock options," such reference shall be deemed
to be made to the exclusion of the other). Nonqualified stock options granted to
nonemployee directors pursuant to the terms of the Plan shall be referred to as
"Director Options."

         Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be taken by
a majority vote at a meeting of the Committee or by written consent of all of
the members of the Committee without a meeting.

Section 3.   Stock Available for Options

         The stock to be subject to options under the Plan shall be authorized
but unissued shares of common stock of LADD or, in the discretion of the
Committee, issued shares which have been reacquired by LADD. The total amount of
stock for which options may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed Eight
Hundred Thousand (800,000) shares (as adjusted for the one-for-three reverse
stock split effective May 16, 1995). Such number of shares is subject to any
capital adjustments as provided in Section 14. In the event that an option
granted under the Plan expires or is terminated unexercised as to any shares
covered thereby, such shares thereafter shall be available for the granting of
options under the Plan; however, if the expiration or termination date of an
option is beyond the term of existence of the Plan as described in Section 17,
then any shares covered by unexercised or terminated options shall not
reactivate the existence of this Plan and therefore may not be available for
additional grants under the Plan.

Section 4.  Eligibility

         Options shall be granted only to individuals who meet the following
eligibility requirements:

         (a) Such individual must be an employee of LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD or a director of LADD. An individual shall be considered to
be an "employee" only if there exists between LADD or a division or subsidiary
of LADD and the individual the legal and bona fide relationship of employer and
employee. In determining whether such relationship exists, the regulations of
the United States Treasury Department relating to the determination of such
relationship for the purpose of collection of income tax at the source on wages
shall be applied.

         (b) Such employees must be "key employees" of LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD. For this purpose, "key employees" shall be considered to be
those employees who, in the judgment of the Committee, are in a position
materially to affect the operations and profitability of LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD by reason of the nature and extent of their duties and
responsibilities.

                                        2

<PAGE>




         (c) A director of LADD who is not also an employee of LADD is eligible
for an automatic grant of options pursuant to Section 6 hereof. A director of
LADD who is not also an employee of LADD will not be eligible to receive
incentive stock options and will only be eligible to receive Director Options.

         (d) Such individual, being otherwise eligible under this Section 4,
shall have been selected by the Committee as a person to whom an option shall be
granted under the Plan.

         (e) In determining the individuals to whom options shall be granted and
the number of shares to be covered by each option, the Committee shall take into
account the nature of the services rendered by the respective individuals, their
present and potential contributions to the success of LADD and such other
factors as the Committee shall deem relevant. An employee who has been granted
an option under the Plan may be granted an additional option or options under
the Plan if the Committee shall so determine.

Section 5.   Option Price

         (a) (i) Except in the case where incentive stock options are granted to
an individual who owns stock possessing more than 10 percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of LADD or its subsidiary
corporations ("ten percent shareholder"), the option price of each incentive
stock option granted under the Plan shall be not less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the market value of the stock on the date of grant of the incentive
stock option. In the case of incentive stock options granted to a ten percent
shareholder, the option price of each incentive stock option granted under the
Plan shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the market value
of the stock on the date of grant of the incentive stock option. "Market value"
shall be determined by taking the closing price of the stock on the
over-the-counter market on that date. The option price is subject to any capital
adjustment as provided in Section 14.

                  (ii) The option price for nonqualified stock options granted
to employees shall be established by the Committee in its discretion and may be
less than market value of the stock on date of grant.

                  (iii) The option price for Director Options shall be not less
than the market value of the stock on date of grant. Market value shall be
determined as set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above.

         (b) The option price shall be payable to LADD either (i) in cash or by
check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of LADD, or (ii) at the
discretion of the Committee, through the delivery of shares of the common stock
of LADD owned by the optionee with a value equal to the option price, or (iii)
at the discretion of the Committee by a combination of (i) and (ii) above. An
option agreement may, in the discretion of the Committee, provide for a
"cashless exercise" of an incentive stock option or a nonqualified stock option
by establishing procedures whereby the optionee, by a properly executed written
notice, directs (1) an immediate

                                        3

<PAGE>



market sale or margin loan respecting all or a part of the shares of common
stock to which he is entitled upon exercise pursuant to an extension of credit
by LADD to the optionee of the option price, (2) delivery of the shares of
common stock from LADD directly to a brokerage firm and (3) the delivery of the
option price from sale or margin loan proceeds from the brokerage firm directly
to LADD. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no shares shall be
delivered until full payment has been made. The Committee may not approve a
reduction of such purchase price in any such option, or the cancellation of any
such option and the regranting thereof to the same optionee at a lower purchase
price, at a time when the market value of the shares is lower than it was when
such option was granted.

Section 6.   Director Options

         All eligible nonemployee directors of LADD will automatically receive
without any action required on the part of the Committee the following grants of
options ("Director Options"): 1) upon initial election to office, nonqualified
stock options to purchase two thousand (2,000) shares of LADD common stock and
2) upon subsequent elections to office each year, beginning with the election of
directors at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, nonqualified stock options
to purchase two thousand (2,000) shares of LADD common stock. All
characteristics of the Director Options, including option price, shall be
established as provided in the Plan. The Committee shall exercise no discretion
with respect to the granting of Director Options.

Section 7.   Expiration of Options

         The Committee shall determine the expiration date or dates of each
option, but such expiration date shall be not later than ten (10) years after
the date such option is granted; provided, however, that in the case where
incentive stock options are granted to a ten percent shareholder, as defined in
Section 5(a)(i) hereof, such expiration date shall be not later than five (5)
years after the date such option is granted. The Committee, in its discretion,
may extend the expiration date or dates of an option after such date was
originally set; however, such expiration date may not exceed the maximum
expiration date described above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Director
Options shall be for a term of ten (10) years, and such term may not be extended
or modified by the Committee.

Section 8.   Terms and Conditions of Options

         (a) All options must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective
Date of this Plan as provided in Section 18.

         (b) The grant of options shall be evidenced by a written instrument
containing terms and conditions established by the Committee consistent with the
provisions of this Plan.

         (c) Not less than one hundred (100) shares may be purchased at any one
time unless the number purchased is the total number at that time purchasable
under the Plan.


                                        4

<PAGE>



         (d) The Committee may grant an option or options and stipulate that a
portion of such option expires or becomes exercisable at a stated interval or
that portions of such option expire or become exercisable at several stated
intervals. Director Options shall be exercisable in installments of twenty
percent (20%) per year, cumulative, beginning one year after the date of grant.

         (e) An optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to
any shares covered by his option until payment in full by him for the shares
being purchased. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or
extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions
or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock is
fully paid for, except as provided in Section 14 hereof.

         (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the aggregate fair
market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of the stock with
respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by
an optionee during any calendar year (including incentive stock options granted
under all option plans of LADD or any of its subsidiary corporations) shall not
exceed $100,000.

         (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the total number
of shares of common stock of LADD with respect to which incentive stock options,
nonqualifying options and Director Options are granted to an optionee during any
calendar year shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares
reserved for grant under the Plan as provided in Section 3.

Section 9.   Exercise of Options

         (a) An optionee must have been continuously employed by LADD or a
division or subsidiary of LADD or be a director of LADD for 12 months before the
right to exercise any part of the option granted to such optionee shall accrue.
Each option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable in such annual
installments as may be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant, or
with respect to Director Options as provided in the Plan. The right to exercise
options in annual installments may be cumulative. Except as provided in Sections
11 and 12, no option may be exercised at any time unless the holder thereof is
then an employee of LADD or a division or subsidiary of LADD or a director of
LADD. The exercise of any stock option must be evidenced by written notice to
LADD that the optionee intends to exercise his option. In no event shall an
option granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan as amended be exercised until
the Plan, as amended, has been approved by the shareholders of LADD.

         (b) No option may be exercised and no shares may be acquired under the
Plan prior to the timely filing by both the optionee and LADD of all appropriate
documents that may be required by applicable federal and state securities laws
and state corporate laws.


                                        5

<PAGE>



Section 10.  Termination of Employment - Except by Death or Retirement

         If any optionee ceases to be employed by LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD or ceases to be a director of LADD for any reason other than
his death (Section 12), disability retirement (Section 11), or normal retirement
(Section 11), his option shall immediately terminate. Whether a leave of absence
shall constitute a termination of employment or termination of the directorship
shall be determined by the Committee, whose decision shall be final and
conclusive.

Section 11.  Termination of Employment - Retirement

         If any optionee ceases to be employed by LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD or ceases to be a director of LADD due to his retirement upon
attaining normal retirement age (age 65) or he ceases to be employed prior to
age 65 due to early retirement and such early retirement is acceptable to the
Committee for the purposes of this Section 11, he may, at any time within three
(3) months after his date of retirement, but not later than the date of
expiration of the option, exercise the option to the extent he was entitled to
do so on his date of retirement. If any optionee ceases to be employed by LADD
or a division or subsidiary of LADD or ceases to be a director of LADD due to
his becoming disabled for purposes of LADD's Disability Plan, he may, at any
time within twelve (12) months after his date of disability retirement, but not
later than the date of expiration of the option, exercise the option to the same
extent he was entitled to do so on his date of disability retirement. Any
options or portions of options of retired optionees not so exercised shall
terminate.

Section 12.  Termination of Employment - Death

         If an optionee dies while in the employment of LADD or a division or
subsidiary of LADD or while serving as a director of LADD, the person or persons
to whom the option is transferred by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution may exercise the same option to the same extent and upon the same
terms and conditions the optionee would have been entitled to do so had he lived
until the term of the option had expired. Any options or portions of options of
deceased optionees not so exercised shall terminate.

Section 13.  Restrictions on Transfer

         An option granted under this Plan may not be transferred except by will
or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the lifetime of the optionee
to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such optionee.

Section 14.  Capital Adjustments Affecting Common Stock

         (a) If the outstanding shares of the common stock of LADD are
increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind
of shares or securities of LADD or shares of a different par value or without
par value through recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock
split, amendment to LADD's Articles of Incorporation or reverse stock split, an

                                        6

<PAGE>



appropriate adjustment shall be made in the number and/or kind of securities
allocated to the options previously and subsequently granted under the Plan,
without change in the aggregate purchase price applicable to the unexercised
portion of the outstanding options but with a corresponding adjustment in the
price for each share or other unit of any security covered by the options.

         (b) Upon the effective date of the dissolution or liquidation of LADD,
or of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of LADD with one or more
corporations in which LADD is not the surviving corporation, or of a transfer of
substantially all the property or more than eighty percent (80%) of the then
outstanding shares of LADD to another corporation, the Plan and any option
previously granted hereunder shall terminate unless provision is made in writing
in connection with such transaction for the continuance of the Plan and for the
assumption of options previously granted, or the substitution for such options
of new options covering the shares of a successor employer corporation, or of a
parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to number and kind
of shares and prices in which event the Plan and the options previously granted
or the new options substituted therefor, shall continue in the manner and under
the terms so provided. Nevertheless, in the event of such dissolution,
liquidation, reorganization, merger, consolidation, transfer of assets or
transfer of shares, and if provision is not made in such transaction for the
continuance of the Plan and for the assumption of options previously granted or
for the substitution of such options or new options covering the shares of a
successor employer corporation or a parent or subsidiary thereof, then such
optionee under the Plan shall be entitled, prior to the effective date of any
such transaction, to purchase the full number of shares under his option which
he would otherwise have been entitled to purchase during the remaining term of
such option.

         (c) To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to particular
stock or securities of LADD subject to option under this Plan, such adjustments
shall be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be
final and conclusive.

         (d) The grant of an option pursuant to this Plan shall not affect in
any way the right or power of LADD to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge or
to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate or sell, or transfer all or any part of
its business or assets.

         (e)      No fractional shares of stock shall be issued under the Plan 
for any such adjustment.

Section 15.  Application of Funds

         The proceeds received by LADD from the sale of common stock pursuant to
options will be used for general corporate purposes.


                                        7

<PAGE>


Section 16.  No Obligation to Exercise Option

         The granting of an option shall impose no obligation upon the optionee
to exercise such option.

Section 17.  Term of Plan

         Options may be granted pursuant to this Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from February 24, 1994.

Section 18.  Effective Date of Plan

         This Plan was originally effective February 24, 1994, following
approval thereof by the Board of Directors and shareholders, with two subsequent
amendments effective on March 5, 1996 and March 6, 1997, respectively.

Section 19.  Time of Granting of Options

         Nothing contained in the Plan or in any resolution adopted or to be
adopted by the Committee or the shareholders of LADD and no action taken by the
Committee shall constitute the granting of any option hereunder. The granting of
an option pursuant to the Plan shall take place only when a written option
agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered by and on behalf of LADD.

Section 20.  Termination and Amendment

         The Committee may at any time alter, suspend, terminate or discontinue
the Plan, but may not, without the consent of the holder of an option previously
granted, make any alteration which would deprive him of his rights with respect
thereto or, without the approval of the stockholders, make any alteration which
would (a) increase the number of aggregate shares subject to the option under
this Plan or decrease the minimum option price except as provided in Section 14;
or (b) extend the term of this Plan as provided in Section 17 or the maximum
period during which any option may be exercised as provided in Section 7.

Section 21.  Other Provisions

         The option agreements authorized under this Plan shall contain such
other provisions not inconsistent with the foregoing, including, without
limitation, increased restrictions upon the exercise of the option, as the
Committee may deem advisable.




                                        8

<PAGE>

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<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-29-1997
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                                0
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