ISCO INC
10-Q, 1997-12-08
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 October 24, 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 November 21, 1997:


COMMON STOCK, $0.10 PAR VALUE                        5,672,092 
_____________________________                     ________________
            Class                                 Number of Shares

<PAGE>

                             ISCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                           
                                  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                            7


                             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 ended October 24, 1997 and October 25, 1996.  10

             27 - Financial Data Schedule.                             11

        (b)  Reports Form 8-K                                           9






                                         2


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

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

                                                 Three months ended
                                               -----------------------
                                                Oct 24         Oct 25
                                                 1997           1996 
                                               -------         ------
Net sales                                      $11,500         $9,224
Cost of sales                                    4,834          4,156
                                               -------         ------
                                                 6,666          5,068
                                               -------         ------
Expenses:
   Selling, general, and administrative          4,853          4,317
   Research and engineering                      1,594          1,091
                                               -------         ------
                                                 6,447          5,408
                                               -------         ------

Operating income (loss)                            219           (340)

Non-operating income                               223            367
                                               -------         ------

Earnings before income taxes                       442             27

Income tax provision (benefit)                     150            (61)
                                               -------         ------
 
Net earnings                                   $   292         $   88
                                               =======         ======

Net earnings per share                            $.05           $.02
                                               =======         ======

Weighted average number of shares outstanding    5,497          5,354
                                               =======         ======

Cash dividend per share                           $.05           $.05
                                               =======         ======


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>
                                                                                    Oct 24         Jul 25
                                                                                     1997           1997
                                                                                  --------       --------
<S>                                                                               <C>            <C>
                                      ASSETS
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                                                    $  5,099       $  1,810
     Short-term investments                                                          8,696          8,813
     Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance 
      for doubtful accounts 
          of $103,000 and $82,000                                                    9,016          8,456
     Inventories (Note 3)                                                            9,471          8,005
     Other current assets                                                            1,441          1,874
                                                                                  --------       --------

               Total current assets                                                 33,723         28,958

Property, plant, and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 
          of $17,838,000 and $17,222,000                                             7,887          7,144

Long-term investments                                                                2,221          6,602

Other assets                                                                         6,098          4,004
                                                                                  --------       --------

Total assets                                                                       $49,929        $46,708
                                                                                  ========       ========
                              LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
     Accounts payable                                                             $  1,405       $  1,325
     Other current liabilities                                                       2,912          2,378
                                                                                  --------       --------

               Total current liabilities                                             4,317          3,703

Deferred income taxes                                                                  470            525

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 
          6,297,391 and 5,978,538 shares                                               630            598
     Additional paid-in capital                                                     39,458         36,846
     Retained earnings                                                               6,691          6,683
     Net unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale securities                       24             14
     Treasury stock, at cost, 625,299 shares                                        (1,661)        (1,661)
                                                                                  --------       --------

               Total shareholders' equity                                           45,142         42,480
                                                                                  --------       --------

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                         $49,929        $46,708
                                                                                  ========       ========
</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>
                                                                                                Three months ended
                                                                                              ---------------------
                                                                                              Oct 24         Oct 25
                                                                                               1997            1996
                                                                                              -----           -----
<S>                                                                                        <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net earnings                                                                          $   292         $      88
     Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
               Depreciation and amortization                                                   581               528
               Purchased R&D                                                                   302                --
               Change in operating assets and liabilities                                     (287)           (1,050)
               Other                                                                            47               192
                                                                                            ------           -------
     Total adjustments                                                                         643              (330)
                                                                                            ------           -------
     Cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities                                    935              (242)
                                                                                            ------           -------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities                                     4,456               231
     Proceeds from maturity of available-for-sale securities                                    --               241
     Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity securities                                      --               270
     Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment                                       41                53
     Purchase of available-for-sale securities                                                 (23)              (41)
     Purchase of property, plant, and equipment                                               (767)             (186)
     Disbursements for issuance of notes receivable                                             --              (100)
     Purchase of Suprex assets                                                                  --            (2,624)
     Purchase of Geomation - net of cash and cash equivalents acquired                        (760)               --
     Other                                                                                    (309)             (124)
                                                                                            ------           -------
     Cash flows provided by (used for) investing activities                                  2,638            (2,280)
                                                                                            ------           -------

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Cash dividends paid                                                                      (284)             (268)
                                                                                            ------           -------
     Cash flows used for financing activities                                                 (284)             (268)
                                                                                            ------           -------

Cash and cash equivalents:
     Net increase (decrease)                                                                 3,289            (2,790)
     Balance at beginning of year                                                            1,810             4,420
                                                                                            ------           -------
     Balance at end of period                                                               $5,099           $ 1,630
                                                                                            ======           =======
</TABLE>


During the three months ended October 24, 1997 and October 25, 1996, the Company
made income tax payments of approximately $1,000 and $135,835, 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)
                                           
                                   October 24, 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, these condensed consolidated financial 
statements should 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 25, 1997.

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:
             
         --------------------------------------------------------
                                      Oct 24, 1997   Jul 25, 1997
                                      ------------   ------------
         Raw materials                      $4,029         $3,389
         Work-in-process                     3,052          2,755
         Finished goods                      2,390          1,861
                                            ------         ------
                                            $9,471         $8,005
                                            ======         ======
         --------------------------------------------------------


Had inventories been valued on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis, they 
would have been approximately $1,397,000 and $1,344,000 higher than reported 
on the LIFO basis at October 24, 1997 and July 25, 1997, respectively.

NOTE 4:  On November 20, 1997, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly 
cash dividend of $.05 per share, payable January 2, 1998 to shareholders of 
record on December 12, 1997.

NOTE 5:  ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS.  Statement of Financial Accounting 
Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share", Statement of Financial Accounting 
standards No. 130 "Report Comprehensive Income", and Statement of Financial 
Accounting Standards No. 131 "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and 
Related Information", have been issued by the Financial Accounting Standards 
Board.  The Company does not expect the adoption of these statements to be 
material to the consolidated financial statements.  Basic earnings per share 
will be equivalent to primary earnings per share for the periods ended 
October 24, 1997 and October 25, 1996.

NOTE 6:  On September 17, 1997, the Company acquired the remaining 
approximately 82 percent of Geomation, Inc., Golden, Colorado.  The 
acquisition required approximately $929,000 in cash and the issuance of 
318,853 shares of the Company's common stock.  The transaction also included 
an earn-out provision, which depending upon the performance of Geomation 
through July 1998, may require the payment of up to approximately $250,000 of 
additional cash and the issuance of additional shares of the Company's common 
stock with a market value of up to approximately $750,000.  The transaction 
was accounted for as a purchase with resulting intangibles of approximately 
$2,093,000 being amortized over periods ranging from 3 to 15 years.  The 
transaction also included approximately $302,000 of "purchased R&D" which was 
expensed in the first quarter.


                                      6
<PAGE>


The following unaudited pro forma financial information sets forth the 
results of operations of Isco, Inc. as if the acquisition of Geomation had 
occurred on July 27, 1996:

                      Pro forma financial information 
     -------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Three months ended   
                                          -----------------------
                                          10/24/97       10/25/96
                                          --------       --------
     Net sales                             $11,663         $9,895
     Net earnings(loss)                        532           (118)
     Net earnings(loss) per share             $.09         $(0.02)
     Weighted average number of 
      shares outstanding                     5,686          5,680
     -------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
ITEM 2.
                         MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                                           
SALES ANALYSIS AND REVIEW.

First quarter sales, including approximately $331,000 of Geomation sales for 
the partial period, were $11,500,000, 25 percent above the same period last 
year.  Sales of wastewater samplers, flow meters, and liquid chromatography 
products, the Company's core products, were up 16 percent compared with the 
same period last year.  Sales of the Company's other products were up 56 
percent compared with the same period last year.  The other products include: 
supercritical fluid extraction and process monitoring products, syringe 
pumps, parts and service, and Geomation products.

The Company's first quarter domestic sales were up 15 percent compared with 
the same period last year.  Without the Geomation sales, the Company's 
domestic sales for the comparable periods were up 12 percent.  Sales of the 
core products increased eight percent, and sales of the other products also 
increased 50 percent.

The Company's first quarter international sales were 59 percent higher than 
the same period last year.  Without the Geomation sales, the Company's 
international sales for the comparable periods were up 56 percent.  These 
sales of the core products increased 55 percent, and sales of the other 
products also increased 68 percent.

Net orders of $10.9 million were received during the first quarter and were 
four percent higher than the same period last year.  During the quarter, the 
order backlog was reduced by approximately 16 percent to $3.3 million.

OPERATING INCOME ANALYSIS AND REVIEW. 

The Company had operating income of $219,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 
1998 compared with an operating loss of $340,000 for the same period last 
year. The gross margin percentage improved from 55 percent for the first 
quarter last year to 58 percent for the recently completed first quarter.  
This improvement was due primarily to a higher level of manufacturing 
activity.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased $536,000 over the 
comparable period last year.  The growth in selling expenses was primarily 
the result of:  salaries and benefits for increased staff and related travel 
to better serve the customers; increased manufacturers' representative 
commissions driven by higher domestic sales; the planned increase in focused 
advertising; and amortization expense resulting from the Company's 
acquisition activity during the past year.  In the general and administrative 
area, there was an increase in the accrual for the Company's profit sharing 
contribution driven by improved profitability, and higher continuing 
education expenses which were the result of the management's effort to 
upgrade the computer utilization skills of employees, company-wide, in 
anticipation of the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) 
system.


                                     7
<PAGE>

Engineering expenses when compared with the same period last year increased 
by $503,000, which includes approximately $302,000 of "purchased R&D" 
acquired in the Geomation transaction.  The growth in engineering expenses is 
the result of management's focus on getting new products to market more 
rapidly and ensuring that the new products more adequately meet the needs of 
the customer.  As a result, engineering staff was increased slightly and the 
use of outside professional services and consultants was also increased.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

The following table sets forth, for the three-month period 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 period of the prior year.

                                               Three months ended           
                                       -------------------------------------
                                                                     Percent
                                       10/24/97      10/25/96        Change 
                                       --------      --------        -------
Net sales                               100.0          100.0          24.7 
Cost of sales                            42.0           45.1          16.3 
                                        -----          -----
                                         58.0           54.9          31.5 
                                        -----          -----
Expenses:
  Selling, general, & administrative     42.2           46.8          12.4 
  Research & engineering                 13.8           11.8          46.1 
                                        -----          -----
                                         56.0           58.6          19.2 
                                        -----          -----

Operating income(loss)                    2.0           (3.7)           --

Non-operating income                      1.9            4.0         (39.2)
                                        -----          -----

Earnings before income taxes              3.9             .3       1,537.0 

Income tax provision (benefit)            1.3            (.7)           -- 
                                        -----          -----

Net earnings                              2.6            1.0         231.8 
                                        =====          =====
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The underlying reasons for the changes in operating income were discussed in 
the previous section.  The Company's investment income for the first quarter 
fiscal 1998 is lower than for the similar period last year due to the 
liquidation of investments to improve the Company's computer technology 
capabilities, the acquisition of Geomation, and the expansion of the 
Company's Superior Street facility.  The effective income tax rate for the 
first quarter of fiscal 1998 was 33.9 percent.  This reflects the effect of 
the non-deductible "purchased R&D" and goodwill arising out of the Geomation 
acquisition.

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY. 

At October 24, 1997, the Company's working capital was nearly $30 million 
compared with $25 million at the beginning of the fiscal year.  The increase 
is the result, primarily, of  the growth in inventories and accounts 
receivable. The Company has in place, with its commercial bank, an unused, 
unsecured $3 million line of credit.

The Company will have significant cash needs during the remainder of fiscal 
1998 as it completes the expansion and renovation of the Superior Street 
facility along with installing significantly more efficient production 
machinery.  The expansion is expected to require $10 million to $11.25 
million through the second quarter of fiscal 1999 when the renovation is 
completed.  The acquisition and installation of the ERP system is expected to 
require approximately $1.7 million.  Management expects that there will be 
additional cash requirements arising from the recent acquisition of 
Geomation, Inc. and the possible consummation of other existing corporate 
development opportunities.

                                      8

<PAGE>

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 its competitive environment.  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 
                     ended October 24, 1997.

                27 - Financial Data Schedule.
     
           (b)  Reports on Form 8-K - None



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
                                              Chief Executive Officer



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

Date:  December 5, 1997





                                      9



<PAGE>

                                                               EXHIBIT 11

                        COMPUTATION OF NET EARNINGS PER SHARE
                     (Amount in thousands, except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Three months ended
                                                                             ---------------------
                                                                             Oct 24         Oct 25
                                                                              1997           1996
                                                                             -----          -----
<S>                                                                          <C>            <C>
Primary:
    Average number of shares of common stock outstanding                     5,486          5,352
    Additional shares assuming exercise of dilutive stock options               11              2
                                                                             -----          -----
         Total                                                               5,497          5,354
                                                                             =====          =====
              Net earnings                                                    $292            $88
                                                                             =====          =====
              Per share amount                                               $0.05          $0.02
                                                                             =====          =====

Fully Diluted:
    Average number of shares of common stock outstanding                     5,486          5,352
    Additional shares assuming exercise of dilutive stock options               19              2
                                                                             -----          -----
         Total                                                               5,505          5,354
                                                                             =====          =====

             Net earnings                                                     $292            $88
                                                                             =====          =====

             Per share amount                                                $0.05          $0.02
                                                                             =====          =====
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



                                  10


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE 
SHEET AND STATEMENT OF EARNINGS FOR OCTOBER 24, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS 
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-26-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-24-1997
<CASH>                                           5,099
<SECURITIES>                                     8,696
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,119
<ALLOWANCES>                                       103
<INVENTORY>                                      9,471
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                33,723
<PP&E>                                          25,725
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,838
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  49,929
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            4,317
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           630
<OTHER-SE>                                      44,512
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    49,929
<SALES>                                         11,500
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                11,500
<CGS>                                            4,834
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    4,834
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    442
<INCOME-TAX>                                       150
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                292
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       292
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .05
        

</TABLE>


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