ISCO INC
10-Q, 1997-06-04
INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL
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<PAGE>




                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

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

                  For the quarterly period ended April 25, 1997

                                       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   0-14429  
                            ----------

                                   Isco, Inc.
             -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Nebraska                           47-0461807          
     -----------------------     ------------------------------------
     (State of Incorporation)    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


     4700 Superior Street,  Lincoln, Nebraska            68504-1398
     ----------------------------------------            ----------
     (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


                                 (402) 464-0231
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  X   No     
    ----    ----

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
common stock as of May 30, 1997:


    Common Stock, $0.10 par value                   5,351,931   
    -----------------------------               -----------------
            Class                               Number of Shares

<PAGE>


                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                        Page
                                                                       Number
                                                                       ------
                    PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited):

        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings                     3
 
        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                             4

        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                   5

        Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements              6

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis                              8


                         PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K:

          (a)  Exhibits:
                    11 - Computation of earnings per share for the 
                            three months and nine months ended 
                            April 25, 1997 and April 26, 1996.           11

                    27 - Financial Data Schedule.                        12


                                    2

<PAGE>


                               ISCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                                     (Unaudited)


(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Three months ended           Nine months ended
                                                --------------------       --------------------
                                                 Apr 25      Apr 26         Apr 25      Apr 26
                                                   1997       1996           1997        1996  
                                                ---------   --------       ---------   --------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>

Net sales                                        $10,282     $9,781         $29,353     $29,473
Cost of sales                                      4,228      4,320          12,832      13,093
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                   6,054      5,461          16,521      16,380
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
Expenses:
 Selling, general, and administrative              4,729      3,978          13,464      11,859
 Research and engineering                          1,086      1,130           3,280       3,427
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                   5,815      5,108          16,744      15,286
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

Operating income(loss)                               239        353            (223)      1,094

Non-operating income                                 315        486           1,092       1,218
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

Earnings before income taxes                         554        839             869       2,312

Income taxes                                          91        251              98         626
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

Net earnings                                      $  463     $  588           $ 771     $ 1,686
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------


Net earnings per share                              $.09       $.11            $.14        $.32
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

Weighted average number 
 of shares outstanding                             5,357      5,352           5,356       5,352
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

Cash dividend per share                             $.05       $.05            $.15        $.15
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------
                                                 -------    -------         -------     -------

</TABLE>


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

                                        3

<PAGE>
                         ISCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
                                 (Unaudited)

(Columnar amounts in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Apr 25      Jul 26
                                                            1997        1996
                                                          --------    --------
<S>                                                       <C>         <C> 
                                    ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                              $ 2,478     $ 4,420
   Short-term investments                                   4,317       2,749
   Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for 
      doubtful accounts of $96,000 and $72,000              7,072       7,131
   Inventories (Note 3)                                     7,741       5,343
   Other current assets                                     2,140       1,771
                                                           ------      ------
         Total current assets                              23,748      21,414

Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated
   depreciation of $16,921,000 and $15,265,000              7,075       7,075

Long-term investments                                      12,010      16,035

Other assets                                                3,723       2,180
                                                           ------      ------

Total assets                                              $46,556     $46,704
                                                           ------      ------
                                                           ------      ------

                        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                                       $ 1,280     $   862
   Other current liabilities                                2,641       3,115
                                                           ------      ------

         Total current liabilities                          3,921       3,977

Deferred income taxes                                         548         725

Shareholders' equity (Note 4):
   Preferred stock, $.10 par value, authorized
      5,000,000 shares; issued none
   Common stock, $.10 par value, authorized
      15,000,000 shares; issued 5,978,538 shares              598         598
   Additional paid-in capital                              36,838      36,838
   Retained earnings                                        6,396       6,428
   Net unrealized holding gain(loss) on
      available-for-sale securities                           (81)       (198)
   Treasury stock, at cost, 626,607 shares                 (1,664)     (1,664)
                                                           ------      ------

         Total shareholders' equity                        42,087      42,002
                                                           ------      ------

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                $46,556     $46,704
                                                           ------      ------
                                                           ------      ------
</TABLE>

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

                                        4

<PAGE>

                             ISCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

(Columnar amounts in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Nine months ended 
                                                          --------------------
                                                           Apr 25      Apr 26
                                                            1997        1996 
                                                          --------    --------
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>

Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net earnings                                           $   771     $ 1,686
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash 
      provided by operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization                      1,666       1,483
         Change in operating assets and liabilities        (2,076)      1,127
         Other                                                130        (213)
                                                          -------     -------
   Total adjustments                                         (280)      2,397
                                                          -------     -------
   Net cash provided by operating activities                  491       4,083
                                                          -------     -------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities      1,348         155
   Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities    871          --
   Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity securities      770       4,779
   Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment       215         158
   Purchase of available-for-sale securities                 (491)     (6,464)
   Purchase of held-to-maturity securities                    --         (475)
   Purchase of property, plant, and equipment                (937)       (668)
   Disbursements for issuance of notes receivable            (100)         --
   Purchase of Suprex assets                               (2,624)         --
   Other                                                     (682)       (274)
                                                          -------     -------
   Net cash used in investing activities                   (1,630)     (2,789)
                                                          -------     -------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Cash dividends paid                                       (803)       (803)
                                                          -------     -------
   Net cash used in financing activities                     (803)       (803)
                                                          -------     -------

Cash and cash equivalents:
   Net increase (decrease)                                 (1,942)        491
   Balance at beginning of year                             4,420       4,063
                                                          -------     -------
   Balance at end of period                               $ 2,478     $ 4,554
                                                          -------     -------
                                                          -------     -------

</TABLE>

During the nine months ended April 25, 1997 and April 26, 1996, the Company 
made income tax payments and received income tax refunds of approximately 
$426,000 and $158,000, respectively.

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


                                       5

<PAGE>


                           ISCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES          

              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                         (Columnar amounts in thousands)

                                April 25, 1997

Note 1:  In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed 
consolidated financial statements contain all the adjustments necessary for a 
fair presentation of the financial position of the Company and the results of 
operations for the interim periods presented herein.  All such adjustments 
are of a normal recurring nature.  Results of operations for the current 
unaudited interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results which 
may be expected for the entire fiscal year.  All significant inter-company 
transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

While the Company believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to 
make the information not misleading, it is suggested that these condensed 
consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the 
consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial 
statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended July 
26, 1996.

Note 2:  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period's 
financial statements to conform to the current period's presentation.

Note 3: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, principally on 
the last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis.  The composition of inventories is as 
follows:

                                     Apr 25, 1997      Jul 26, 1996
                                     ------------      ------------
   Raw materials                        $3,149             $2,049
   Work-in-process                       2,873              1,935
   Finished goods                        1,719              1,359
                                        ------             ------
                                        $7,741             $5,343
                                        ------             ------
                                        ------             ------

Had inventories been valued on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, they 
would have been approximately $1,391,000 and $1,275,000 higher than reported 
on the LIFO basis at April 25, 1997 and July 26, 1996, respectively.

Note 4:  On May 15, 1997, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash 
dividend of $.05 per share, payable July 1, 1997 to shareholders of record on 
June 13, 1997.

Note 5:  In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued 
SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share which specifies the computation, 
presentation and disclosure requirements for earnings per share.  The 
objective of the statement is to simplify the computation of earnings per 
share.  The impact on the Company's earnings per share is not materially 
different than earnings per share determined in accordance with current 
guidance.  SFAS No. 128 is applicable for fiscal years ending after December 
15, 1997.

Note 6:  On August 21, 1996, Isco acquired substantially all of the assets 
and assumed selected liabilities of Suprex Corporation, a Pennsylvania 
corporation, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Suprex manufactured a 
variety of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) products, principally for use 
in the food products industry.  The Company has integrated the Suprex SFE 
products with its existing line.  The transaction was accounted for as a 
purchase.

                                     6

<PAGE>


The purchase price, based on current estimates, was comprised of the 
following consideration:

Amount paid to seller:
  Cash paid at close                                       $2,624

Liabilities assumed:
  Current liabilities                                         499
                                                           ------
Total consideration                                        $3,123
                                                           ------
                                                           ------


The initial purchase price allocation, based on current estimates, is 
summarized as follows:

Current assets:
  Accounts receivable                                      $  305
  Inventory                                                   762

Property and equipment                                        219

Other asset(1):  
  Customer lists/trade names                                  807
  Engineering drawings                                        304
  Goodwill                                                    726
                                                           ------
                                                           $3,123
                                                           ------
                                                           ------

(1) The life of these intangibles ranges from 3 to 8 years.


The following unaudited pro forma financial information sets forth the 
results of operations of Isco, Inc. as if the acquisition of Suprex had 
occurred on July 29, 1995:

     Pro forma financial information
     (unaudited)


                               Three months ended   Nine months ended 
                                -----------------   ------------------
                                4/25/97   4/26/96   4/25/97    4/26/96
                                -------   -------   -------   --------
Net sales                       $10,282   $10,269   $29,353   $32,558
Net earnings                        463       104       771       883
Net earnings per share             $.09      $.02      $.14      $.16
Weighted average number of
  shares outstanding              5,357     5,352     5,356     5,352


                                    7

<PAGE>


Item 2.                  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                           (Columnar amounts in thousands)

SALES ANALYSIS AND REVIEW. 

Sales for the three-month and nine-month periods ended April 25, 1997, were 
up five percent and flat, respectively, when compared with the same periods 
last year.  Sales of the Company's core products (wastewater samplers, flow 
meters, and chromatography products) were down one percent for the three 
months.  For the same period, sales of the other products such as 
supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) products, syringe pumps, and total 
organic carbon (TOC) analyzer products increased 38 percent.  For the nine 
months, sales of the core products declined two percent.  For the same 
period, sales of the other products were up seven percent.

Domestic sales of the core products increased four percent for the three 
months and nine months when compared with the same periods last year.  For 
the same periods, international sales of the core products declined 16 
percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Domestic sales of the other products increased 11 percent and declined 14 
percent, respectively, for the three months and nine months when compared 
with the same periods last year.  For the same periods, international sales 
of the other products increased 80 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

Net orders of $10.6 and $31.2 million received during the three months and 
nine months of fiscal 1997 were eight percent and seven percent higher, 
respectively, when compared with the same periods last year.  The Company's 
order backlog, at the close of the third quarter, was $4.2 million, an 
increase of 66 percent from the beginning of the fiscal year.  The rate of 
incoming orders, since the end of the quarter, has continued to be strong.

OPERATING INCOME ANALYSIS AND REVIEW.

The Company had operating income of $239,000 and an operating loss of 
$223,000, respectively, for the three months and nine months ended April 25, 
1997 which compares with operating income of $353,000 and $1,094,000 for the 
same periods one year ago.  Year-to-year, the gross margin percentage for the 
quarter improved from 55.8 percent to 58.9 percent and for the nine months it 
improved slightly from 55.6 percent to 56.3 percent.

Research and engineering expenses for the nine months were below the same 
period last year.  This reduction is primarily the result of reduced salaries 
and subcontracted services which exceeded the $170,000 of transition expenses 
and amortization of intangibles arising out of the Suprex acquisition.

For the same nine-month periods, selling expenses were nearly $960,000 
higher. The increase included $320,000 of transition expenses and 
amortization of intangibles related to the Suprex acquisition which were 
allocated to sales. Increases in the following categories accounted for most 
of the remaining $640,000:  travel, exhibition, and promotional expenses; 
communication and mailing expenses; expenditures for consulting and 
subcontracted services; temporary help; and the costs associated with 
managing the Company's distribution channels along with commissions earned by 
the manufacturers' representatives from increased sales.


                                      8

<PAGE>


Since the consolidation of the Company's two operating divisions late last 
fiscal year, management has been focusing on making a successful and 
expeditious transition to a unified organization.  In that effort, management 
has enlisted external resources to assist in the training of its management 
staff, selection of new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to 
support its restructured business processes, and planning the expansion of 
the Company's facilities. These activities along with the $230,000, allocated 
to general and administrative, of transition expenses and the amortization of 
intangibles arising out of the Suprex acquisition have been the primary 
drivers in the increase in general and administrative expenses during the 
first nine months of fiscal 1997. Approximately $75,000 of bad debt expense 
was incurred as a result of the failure of two international distributors to 
fulfill their financial obligations.

As reported three months ago, the Company will not realize fully the 
anticipated benefits of restructuring the Company because personnel 
reductions in customer service and product development were too aggressive 
and some positions which were eliminated have been re-instated.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following table sets forth, for the three-month and nine-month periods 
indicated, the percentages which certain components of the Condensed 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings bear to net sales and the percentage of 
change of such components (based on actual dollars) compared with the same 
periods of the prior year.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                             Three months ended            Nine months ended 
                        ---------------------------   --------------------------
                        4/25/97   4/26/96    Change   4/25/97   4/26/96   Change
                        -------   -------    ------   -------   -------   ------
<S>                     <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>

Net sales                100.0     100.0       5.1     100.0     100.0    (0.4)
Cost of sales             41.1      44.2      (2.1)     43.7      44.4    (2.0)
                         -----     -----     -----     -----     -----   
                          58.9      55.8      10.9      56.3      55.6     0.9
                         -----     -----               -----     -----   -----
Expenses:
 Selling, general,
  & administrative        46.0      40.6      18.9      45.9      40.3    13.5
 Research
  & engineering           10.6      11.6      (3.9)     11.2      11.6    (4.3)
                         -----     -----               ----- 
                          56.6      52.2      13.8      57.1      51.9     9.5
                         -----     -----               -----     -----  

Operating income(loss)     2.3       3.6     (32.3)     (0.8)      3.7      --

Non-operating
 income                    3.1       5.0     (35.2)      3.7       4.1   (10.4)
                         -----     -----               -----     -----  

Earnings before
 income taxes              5.4       8.6     (34.0)      2.9       7.8   (62.4)

Income taxes               0.9       2.6     (63.9)      0.3       2.1   (84.4)
                         -----     -----               -----     -----  

Net earnings               4.5       6.0     (21.2)      2.6       5.7   (54.2)
                         -----     -----               -----     -----  
                         -----     -----               -----     -----  

</TABLE>


The underlying reasons for the changes in operating results were discussed in 
the previous section.  The Company continues to generate a significant amount 
of tax-exempt income.  This tax-exempt income combined with the lower net 
income before taxes in fiscal 1997 is the major reason for the lower income 
tax provision when compared with fiscal 1996.

                                      9

<PAGE>

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY.

At April 25, 1997, the Company's working capital was nearly $20 million.  On 
that date the current ratio was 6.1:1 compared with 5.4:1 at the end of 
fiscal 1996.  During the nine months of fiscal 1997, the Company liquidated a 
portion of its cash equivalents to complete the Suprex transaction.  In 
addition, a portion of its other investments was liquidated to acquire 
computer hardware along with engineering software and acquire additional 
inventory in anticipation of improved customer demand for products.  It is 
anticipated that additional investments will be liquidated to acquire the ERP 
software discussed in a previous section of this report.  

INFLATION.

The impact of inflation on the costs of the Company and its ability to pass 
on cost increases in the form of increased prices is dependent upon market 
conditions and the competitive environment for each of its business segments. 
The general level of inflation in the domestic economy has been relatively 
low for the past several years, and has not had a significant impact on the 
Company.

                        PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
     (a) Exhibits:
         11 - Computation of earnings per share for the three months and 
              nine months ended April 25, 1997 and April 26, 1996.

         27 - Financial Data Schedule.
     
     
SIGNATURES.

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

                                 ISCO, INC.
          
          
                                 BY /s/ Robert W. Allington           
                                    ----------------------------
                                    Robert W. Allington, Chairman
     


                                BY /s/ Philip M. Wittig            
                                   ----------------------------
                                   Philip M. Wittig, Treasurer
                                   and Chief Financial Officer



Date:  June 4, 1997

                                      10


<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 11

                      COMPUTATION OF NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
                  (Amount in thousands, except per share data)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      Three months ended   Nine months ended 
                                      ------------------   -----------------
                                       Apr 25     Apr 26   Apr 25    Apr 26 
                                        1997       1996     1997      1996  
                                       -------   -------   -------  --------
<S>                                    <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
Primary:
   Average number of shares                  
      of common stock outstanding       5,352     5,352     5,352     5,352
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
   Additional shares assuming 
      exercise of dilutive 
      stock options                         5        --         4        --
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
         Total                          5,357     5,352     5,356     5,352
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

         Net earnings                    $463      $588     $771     $1,686
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

         Per share amount               $0.09     $0.11     $0.14     $0.32
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

Fully Diluted:
   Average number of shares 
      of common stock outstanding       5,352     5,352     5,352     5,352
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
   Additional shares assuming 
      exercise of dilutive 
      stock options                         5        --         3        --
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
         Total                          5,357     5,352     5,355     5,352
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

         Net earnings                    $463      $588      $771    $1,686
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

         Per share amount               $0.09     $0.11     $0.14     $0.32
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------
                                       ------    ------    ------    ------

</TABLE>

                                       11


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Balance Sheet and Statement of Earnings for April 25, 1997 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-24-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-25-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-25-1997
<CASH>                                           2,478
<SECURITIES>                                     4,317
<RECEIVABLES>                                    7,168
<ALLOWANCES>                                        96
<INVENTORY>                                      7,741
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                23,748
<PP&E>                                          23,996
<DEPRECIATION>                                  16,921
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  46,556
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            3,921
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           598
<OTHER-SE>                                      41,489
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    46,556
<SALES>                                         29,353
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                29,353
<CGS>                                           12,832
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   12,832
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    869
<INCOME-TAX>                                        98
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                771
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       771
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .09
        

</TABLE>


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