CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS INC
10-K, 1997-05-01
MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
Previous: CASH AMERICA INTERNATIONAL INC, S-8, 1997-05-01
Next: PAMIDA INC /DE/, 10-K, 1997-05-01



                                    FORM 10-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 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 1-9389

                           CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

     State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization: DELAWARE

                I.R.S. Employer Identification Number: 13-3314599

         Address of principal executive offices: 1400 Union Meeting Road
                          Blue Bell, Pennsylvania 19422

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (215) 619-2700

        SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE

          Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                 TITLE OF CLASS
                                 --------------
                     Common Stock: par value $.01 per share

     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 ( )

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K [X]

     Aggregate  market  value of the voting stock held by  nonaffiliates  of the
Registrant, based on the closing price on April 23, 1997: $163,605,778

     Number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's  classes of common
stock as of April 23, 1997: 6,087,425 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Registrant's Proxy Statement to be filed                 Part III
pursuant to  Regulation  14A  within 120       -----------------------------
days after the end of Registrant's fiscal      (Part of Form 10-K into which
year covered by this Form 10-K                   Document is incorporated.)
- ----------------------------------------

<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

PART I

  Item   1 Business..................................................         1
  Item   2 Properties................................................        11
  Item   3 Legal Proceedings.........................................        12
  Item   4 Submission of Matters to a Vote of
                   Security Holders..................................        12


PART II

  Item   5 Market for Registrant's Common Equity
                and Related Stockholder Matters......................        12
  Item   6 Selected Financial Data...................................        13
  Item   7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                Condition and Results of Operations..................        16
  Item   8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data...............        20
  Item   9 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
                on Accounting and Financial Disclosure...............        20

PART III

  Item  10 Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant........        20
  Item  11 Executive Compensation....................................        20
  Item  12 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
                Owners and Management................................        20
  Item  13 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions............        20

PART IV

  Item  14 Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and
                Reports on Form 8-K..................................        21

SIGNATURES...........................................................        24

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE.......       F-1





                                        i


<PAGE>



                           CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

      Charter Power Systems, Inc. (together with its operating subsidiaries, the
"Company") is a leading  North  American  producer of  integrated  reserve power
systems  for   telecommunications,   electronic   information   and   industrial
applications.  The Company is also a leading producer of embedded high frequency
switching  power  supplies  for use in  telecommunications  equipment,  advanced
office  electronics  and  sophisticated  computer  systems  and of motive  power
systems for electric industrial vehicles. The Company's integrated reserve power
systems  are  comprised  of  industrial  lead-acid  batteries,  as well as power
rectifiers,  power control and distribution  equipment and related  accessories.
The Company sells these products both as individual components and as integrated
power systems.

      The Company was  organized  in November  1985 to acquire all the assets of
the  eighty-year  old C&D Power  Systems  division  (the  "Division")  of Allied
Corporation ("Allied"). The Division's business essentially was unchanged by the
acquisition,  which was  completed on January 28, 1986.  Shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share ("Common  Stock"),  of the Company were first issued to
the public in February 1987.

      In October 1992, the Company purchased substantially all of the assets and
assumed  certain  liabilities  of the  manufacturing  division of Ratelco,  Inc.
("Ratelco"),  a Seattle,  Washington based manufacturer and distributor of power
electronics equipment, used primarily in the regulated  telecommunications power
market.  Ratelco  also  markets a  nonregulated  range of alarm  and  monitoring
equipment for use with telecommunications power systems.

      Effective March 29, 1994, the Company  purchased  substantially all of the
assets and assumed certain  liabilities of the  PowerSystems  Division of ITT, a
Tucson,  Arizona  based  company  which  designs and  manufactures  custom power
supplies. The power supplies are used in the telecommunications power market and
the office equipment market in such applications as  telecommunication  systems,
copiers, computers and work stations.

      Effective  January 24,  1995,  the Company  purchased  certain  assets and
assumed certain  liabilities  from the switching power supply division of Basler
Electric  Company,  a  Highland,   Illinois  based  manufacturer  of  electrical
components.   These  power  supplies  are  used  for  office   electronics   and
communications applications.

      On November 21, 1995,  the Company sold 50,000 shares of Common Stock in a
public offering.

      Effective  February 22, 1996, the Company  purchased certain equipment and
inventory  of  LH  Research,   Inc.  ("LH"),  a  Costa  Mesa,  California  based
manufacturer of standard power supply systems for the electronics industry.  The
power  supplies  are  used in  telecommunications,  computer,  medical,  process
control and other industrial applications.


<PAGE>



      Effective March 12, 1996, the Company acquired from Burr-Brown Corporation
its entire  interest in Power  Convertibles  Corporation  ("PCC")  consisting of
1,044,418  shares of PCC common stock and all  outstanding  preferred  stock. In
addition the Company  acquired or repaid the  indebtedness  of PCC. On April 26,
1996,  the Company  acquired  190,000 shares of PCC common stock from the former
chief  executive  officer  of PCC  which  together  with the  shares  previously
acquired  represented in excess of 99.6% of the outstanding PCC common stock. As
of May 29, 1996, the Company  purchased all remaining shares of PCC common stock
and shares of PCC common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.  Tucson,
Arizona based PCC produces DC-to-DC converters used in communications, computer,
medical and industrial  and  instrumentation  markets and also produces  battery
chargers for cellular phones.

      References  to a fiscal year mean the  Company's  fiscal year ended in the
January of the year mentioned.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

      Certain  information  contained  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,
including,  without limitation,  information appearing under Item 1, "Business,"
and Item 7,  "Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition and
Results of Operations," are  forward-looking  statements  (within the meaning of
Section 27A of the  Securities  Act of 1933 and  Section  21E of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934). Factors that appear with the forward-looking  statements,
or in the Company's  other  Securities and Exchange  Commission  filings,  could
affect the Company's actual results and could cause the Company's actual results
to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made
by the Company in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

MARKETS

      The Company manufactures and markets products in three general categories:
(i)  integrated  reserve  power  systems and  components  for the standby  power
market;  (ii) custom,  standard and modified  standard  embedded high  frequency
AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC switching power supplies; and (iii) motive power systems.

      For fiscal 1997,  1996 and 1995 sales of standby power products  accounted
for 51.6%,  52.5% and 54.0% of the Company's sales (see "Business - Products and
Customers"),  respectively.  For  fiscal  1997,  1996  and  1995  sales of power
supplies   accounted  for  24.4%,  17.9%  and  12.8%  of  the  Company's  sales,
respectively.  For fiscal  1997,  1996 and 1995 sales of motive  power  products
accounted for 24.0%, 29.6% and 33.2% of the Company's sales,  respectively.  The
percentage of the Company's  sales related to power  supplies has increased as a
result of acquisitions.

      The  majority  of  the  Company's  standby  power  products  are  used  in
telecommunications  applications such as central telephone exchanges,  microwave
relay  stations,  private branch  exchange  ("PBX")  systems and cellular mobile
telephone systems.  Other applications for the Company's standby power batteries
include  uninterruptible  power supply  ("UPS"),  principally  for computers and
computer-controlled equipment, and as backup for support systems for submarines,
missiles and other weapons systems. In addition,  the Company supplies batteries
and power  electronics  equipment for  switchgear  and  instrumentation  control
systems for electric utilities.

                                        2

<PAGE>



      The majority of the Company's  power supply  products are sold to original
equipment  manufacturers  ("OEMs"),  of electronic  products on either a custom,
standard or modified  standard basis.  Power supplies are embedded in almost all
electronic  products  and are used to convert  incoming  AC or DC voltage to the
required level and quality of DC voltage.

      The majority of the  Company's  motive power  products are used to provide
the  primary  power  source for  forklift  trucks and other  materials  handling
vehicles.  The  balance  are used in a variety  of other  applications,  such as
automated  guided  vehicle  systems  and airline  ground  support  equipment.  A
significant  portion of these  sales  include  products  and systems to recharge
motive power batteries.

      The Company  supplies  certain of its  standard  standby  power and motive
power products to the U.S. Government.  Company sales directly to the government
have  accounted  for less than 5% of its  sales  during  each of its last  three
fiscal years.

PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS

      RESERVE POWER SYSTEMS

      The  Company  is a leading  producer  of fully  integrated  reserve  power
systems, which monitor and regulate electric power flow and provide backup power
in the event of a primary power loss or interruption.  The Company also produces
the individual components of these systems,  including power rectifiers,  system
monitors,  power boards,  chargers and reserve batteries.  The Company's standby
battery products are sold under the "C&D PowerCom" name.

     The Company  manufactures and markets a wide range of power  electronics to
meet the  needs of its  customers.  The  Company's  power  electronics  products
consist   principally  of  power  rectifiers  and  distribution  and  monitoring
equipment. The Company's power rectifiers convert or "rectify" external AC power
into DC power at the  required  level and  quality of  voltage  and apply the DC
power to constantly charge the reserve battery and operate the user's equipment.
For installations  with end applications  that require varied power levels,  the
Company's  power control and  distribution  equipment  distributes the rectified
power at the appropriate power level for each of the applications.

      The Company  manufactures  lead acid  batteries  for use in reserve  power
systems. These batteries are sold in a wide range of sizes and configurations in
two broad  categories:  flooded and  valve-regulated.  Flooded batteries require
periodic  watering  and  maintenance.  Valve-regulated  batteries  require  less
maintenance and are often smaller. Customer demand for valve-regulated batteries
has increased over the past several years.

      Telecommunications.   The  Company's  major  telecommunications  customers
include  national long distance  companies,  Regional Bell Operating  Companies,
cellular system operators,  personal  communications services ("PCS") providers,
paging systems and PBX telephoning locations using fiber optic cable,  microwave
transmission or traditional copper-wired systems.

      The Company has  recently  introduced  several new modular  power  plants,
which are a type of integrated reserve power system.  These products,  which are
referred  to as the  Liberty  AGM Series  Power Plant and the Liberty ACM Series
Power Plant, integrate advanced rectifiers with maintenance free valve-regulated
batteries.

                                        3

<PAGE>



      One of the Company's  historically important  telecommunications  products
has been the Round Cell  reserve  power  battery,  a flooded  product  which was
originally  designed  and patented by the Bell  Laboratories  of AT&T for use in
AT&T's own facilities and customer installations. The Company or its predecessor
has manufactured  Round Cells for AT&T or Lucent  Technologies,  Inc. since 1972
and has been the exclusive  manufacturer since 1982. AT&T spun off its equipment
manufacturing operations into an independent company named "Lucent Technologies,
Inc.," which  began  operations  on October 1, 1996.  Lucent  Technologies, Inc.
accounted  for 4.0% of sales for the year ended  January  31,  1997.  Had Lucent
Technologies,  Inc. been an operating company for the full fiscal year, it would
have  accounted for 12.0% of net sales and AT&T would have accounted for 3.1% of
net sales for the year ended January 31, 1997. No other  customer  accounted for
more than 5% of the Company's sales during fiscal 1997 or 1996.

      Uninterruptible  Power Supplies.  The Company  produces  batteries for UPS
systems, which provide instant battery backup in the event of primary power loss
or interruption on sensitive  equipment,  thereby permitting an orderly shutdown
of the equipment or continued  operation  until the primary source comes back on
line.  Large UPSs are used principally for mainframe  computers,  minicomputers,
networks,  workstations  and  computer-controlled  equipment.  The Company  also
produces batteries for submarine and missile support systems.

      Equipment for Electric Utilities and Industrial Control Applications.  The
Company  produces  rectifiers  and  batteries  used in reserve power systems for
switchgear and  instrumentation  control systems used in electric  utilities and
industrial control  applications.  These power systems enable fossil fuel, hydro
and nuclear power  generating  stations,  switching  substations  and industrial
control  facilities to be shut down in an orderly fashion during  emergencies or
power failures by providing auxiliary power.

      EMBEDDED HIGH FREQUENCY SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES

      The Company,  through its International  Power Systems ("IPS"), LH and PCC
subsidiaries, collectively called "C&D Power Electronics," designs, manufactures
and distributes  custom,  standard and modified standard electronic power supply
systems built for large OEMs of telecommunications  equipment,  office products,
computers and workstations. In addition, the Company manufactures rectifiers for
reserve power applications that are sold under the "Ratelco" brand name.

      The Company's power supply systems incorporate advanced technology and are
designed for dependable  operation of the host  equipment.  The Company's  power
supply products  include AC-to-DC power supplies,  DC-to-DC  converters and high
voltage  power  supplies for use in a large number of  industrial  applications,
with outputs  ranging from several watts to several  kilowatts.  AC-to-DC  power
supplies convert alternating  current,  the form in which virtually all power is
delivered by electric  utilities to end users, into precisely  controlled direct
current of the constant voltage required by sensitive  electronic  applications.
DC-to-DC  converters convert one constant voltage into another constant voltage.
DC-to-DC  converters are widely used in distributed power systems where power is
delivered  within the  equipment  at a high  voltage and is converted to a lower
voltage  to  permit  the  operation  of  microelectronics   components  such  as
microprocessors.

      In the  telecommunications  industry,  the  Company's  power  supplies are
broadly used in voice and data  telecommunications.  The Company  also  produces
power  supplies  for  office  copiers,   workstations  and  other  sophisticated
computers.

                                        4

<PAGE>



      MOTIVE POWER SYSTEMS

      The Company produces complete systems and individual components (including
power  electronics  and  batteries)  to  power,  monitor,  charge  and  test the
batteries used in electric  industrial  vehicles,  including  fork-lift  trucks,
automated  guided vehicles and airline ground support  equipment.  The Company's
customers include end users in a broad array of industries, dealers of fork-lift
trucks and other materials handling vehicles and, to a lesser extent,  OEMs. The
Company's  motive power  products are sold under the "C&D Motive Power  Systems"
name.

      The Company  offers two primary lines of motive power systems  targeted at
different  niches:  the C-2000  (formerly  known as the C Line) and C-1500,  for
general  materials  handling  applications,  and the high energy density Suprema
Line, which is designed for narrow aisle,  high lift  warehousing  where battery
size is  restricted  and energy  demands are high.  In  addition,  in 1994,  the
Company  introduced  the  SmartBattery,   a   microprocessor-based   module  for
monitoring  usage,  charge levels and discharge cycles that is integrated into a
motive power battery to extend its life cycle.

SALES, INSTALLATION AND SERVICING

     The sales,  installation  and  servicing  of the  Company's  power  systems
products are performed  through several  networks of independent  manufacturer's
representatives   located   throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada.   Each
independent  manufacturer's  representative  operates  under a contract with the
Company  providing  for  compensation  on a commission  basis.  The Company also
provides  engineering,  furnishing and installation ("EF&I") directly to certain
accounts.

      In   addition   to   these   networks   of   independent    manufacturer's
representatives,  the Company  maintains  internal  sales forces  consisting  of
regional sales managers and  product/market  specialists.  The regional managers
are each  responsible  for  managing  a  number  of  independent  manufacturer's
representatives and for developing longer-term supplier relationships with large
OEMs and national  accounts.  The Company also  maintains a separate sales force
that sells directly to certain large customers.

     The Company also maintains several internal  marketing  departments in both
the battery and electronics businesses. These departments manage the development
of new products from the initial  concept  definition  and  management  approval
stage through the engineering, production and sales processes. These departments
are also  responsible for  applications  engineering  and technical  training of
sales  representatives.  In addition,  the marketing  departments develop annual
advertising  plans that  include a broad  variety  of media such as  literature,
magazines, video and audio tapes and computer software.

      The Company  maintains  branch sales offices in the United States,  Canada
and  Europe,  with  the  support  of  the  Company's  headquarters  and  service
personnel,  and has relationships with sales  representatives or distributors in
Malaysia,  China, the Philippines,  the Middle East, Europe,  Mexico and most of
Central and South America, including Brazil.

      The Company's  products typically are sold upon terms requiring payment in
full within 30 to 60 days. The Company warrants its products to perform as rated
for specified periods of time, ranging from one to twenty years depending on the
type of product and its  application,  in an amount that decreases over the life
of the product.  The lengthiest  warranties  generally are applicable to standby
power batteries.

                                        5

<PAGE>



BACKLOG

      The level of  unfilled  orders at any given  date  during  the year may be
materially  affected by the timing and product mix of the  Company's  receipt of
orders and, taking into account  considerations  of  manufacturing  capacity and
flexibility,  the speed with which  those  orders are filled.  Accordingly,  the
Company's  backlog at any particular  date is only indicative of expected future
shipments,  and period-to-period  comparisons may not be meaningful.  Orders for
the  Company's  products are subject to  cancellation  by the customer  prior to
shipment.

      The Company  normally ships standby power products within two weeks to two
months after order and motive power products within two days to four weeks after
order. Power supplies are normally shipped one week to three months after order.
The Company's  order backlog at January 31, 1997 was  $48,491,000 and at January
31, 1996 was  $33,604,000.  Approximately  69 percent of the  increase  over the
prior year is due to the two acquisitions made during fiscal 1997. Virtually all
of the January 31, 1997 backlog will be filled during fiscal 1998.

MANUFACTURING AND RAW MATERIALS

      The Company  manufactures  its products at eight domestic  plants,  two in
Mexico and one in Europe.  Most key product lines are  manufactured  at a single
focused plant in order to optimize  manufacturing  efficiency,  asset management
and quality control.

      In fiscal 1991,  the Company  began  capacity  expansion at several of its
plants, which is continuing.  In order to reduce costs and improve manufacturing
efficiency,  the Company  closed its one Canadian  plant and  transferred  those
manufacturing   operations  to  three  of  the  Company's  domestic  facilities.
Consolidation  continued during fiscal 1994 with the Company  consolidating  the
existing standby power  electronics  manufacturing at the Conshohocken  facility
into the Dunlap facility where the Company's motive power  electronics  products
are  manufactured.  In addition,  during  fiscal 1997 the Company  completed the
process of moving  product  lines from the Seattle,  Washington  facility to the
Dunlap,  Tennessee  and Nogales,  Mexico  facilities  that was started in fiscal
1995. As a result,  the Seattle,  Washington  manufacturing  facility was closed
during fiscal 1997.

       When the  Company  acquired  the  PowerSystems  Division of ITT in fiscal
1995,  it entered  into an  agreement  pursuant to which a third party  "shelter
company" provides to IPS the Nogales,  Mexico facility and employs Mexican staff
and labor to assemble IPS's products.

      The  principal  raw  materials  used in the  manufacture  of the Company's
products include lead, steel, copper, plastics and electronic components, all of
which are generally available from multiple  suppliers.  Other than the required
use of two  suppliers of lead for the  production  of Round Cell  batteries  for
Lucent Technologies, Inc., the Company uses a number of suppliers to satisfy its
raw materials needs.

      During   fiscal  1997  the  Company  has  continued  its  program  of  ISO
recognition.  The Company is ISO 9001  certified at the Blue Bell,  Pennsylvania
Headquarters and Leola,  Pennsylvania plant. In addition,  the Company's IPS and
PCC  subsidiaries  are ISO 9001  certified at their Tucson,  Arizona and Mexican
facilities, as well as PCC's Irish facility.

                                        6

<PAGE>



COMPETITION

      The Company  competes  with respect to all of its products on the basis of
reputation, product quality and reliability,  service capability and technology.
The Company also competes on the basis of price and its relationships with large
customers.

      The Company is a leading North  American  producer of  integrated  reserve
power systems and power electronics equipment and believes that it is one of the
four largest  producers of reserve  power  systems in North  America.  In motive
power,  the Company  believes  that one  competitor,  Yuasa Exide,  Inc.,  has a
significantly larger market share than the Company, and that the Company,  along
with two other manufacturers, occupies a second tier of the market in which they
have a significantly larger market share than their smaller competitors.

      In  addition,  the  Company  believes  that  it  has  certain  competitive
advantages in specific  product  lines.  In reserve power  systems,  the Company
believes  that  it is one of  only  two  major  North  American  companies  that
manufactures  complete,  integrated  reserve  power  systems  consisting of both
electronics  and batteries,  its other major  competitors  manufacturing  either
electronics  or batteries,  but not both. In motive power,  all of the Company's
major competitors supply integrated power systems,  but only the Company and one
competitor  manufacture  both  electronics  and batteries.  For both reserve and
motive power systems,  the Company believes that the ability to provide a single
source for  design,  engineering,  manufacturing  and  service  is an  important
element in its competitive position. With respect to power supplies, the Company
believes that it is among a small group of large  competitors in this fragmented
industry.

      When lead  prices  rise,  certain of the  Company's  competitors  that own
smelting  operations may have lower lead costs than the Company.  However,  when
lead prices decline,  the high fixed costs  associated with these operations may
provide the Company with a cost advantage.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

      The Company maintains extensive  technology  departments  concentrating on
electrochemical and electronics technologies.  Their focus is on the development
of new,  standard and custom products  (including  custom power  supplies),  the
ongoing   development   and   improvement  of  existing   products,   sustaining
engineering,  production engineering (including quality testing and managing the
expansion of production  capacity) and the evaluation of  competitive  products.
The   Company's   research   and   development   facilities   feature   advanced
computer-aided   design  and  testing  equipment.   Technology  and  engineering
personnel coordinate all activities closely with operations, sales and marketing
areas in order to better meet the needs of customers.

      The  Company  continues  to  develop  new  products  in all  areas  of its
business. During fiscal 1997, the Company extended its range of telecom products
with the  introduction of a family of medium powered high frequency  rectifiers.
The  Company  also  introduced  variants  of the "VXP  family"  of high  density
DC-to-DC converters.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

      The Company sells the full range of its motive and standby power  products
in Canada through its network of independent  Canadian  representatives  and one
branch office.  Canadian operations  accounted for less than 5% of the Company's
sales for the last three fiscal years.

                                        7

<PAGE>



      In  addition,  the  Company  manufacturers  a large  portion  of its power
supplies  in  Nogales,  Sonora,  Mexico  through a shelter  company  and in Agua
Prieta,  Sonora,  Mexico for ultimate sale in the United States and Europe.  The
Company has no significant sales in Mexico. Power supplies are also manufactured
by the Company in Shannon, Ireland.

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

      The Company follows a policy of applying for patents on new inventions and
designs and  actively  pursuing  pending  and future  patent  applications.  The
Company would aggressively  assert  infringement claims when, in the judgment of
the Company,  this is  warranted.  The Company  believes  that the growth of its
business  will  depend  primarily  upon  the  quality  of its  products  and its
relationships  with  its  customers,  rather  than  the  extent  of  its  patent
protection.  While the  Company  believes  that  patents  are  important  to its
business operations,  the loss of any single or several patents would not have a
material  adverse  effect  on the  Company.  During  fiscal  1997,  the  Company
continued to prosecute  United  States and foreign  applications  which had been
previously filed.

      The Company  regards its trademarks  C&D, C&D POWERCOM,  LIBERTY,  LIBERTY
SERIES,  RATELCO and POWER  CONVERTIBLES  as being of  substantial  value in the
marketing of its  products.  The Company has  registered  its C&D, C&D POWERCOM,
LIBERTY, LIBERTY SERIES, RATELCO and POWER CONVERTIBLES trademarks in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office and the Company also has applications pending
for  registrations  of other  trademarks  in the United  States.  The  Company's
trademarks include COMPUCHARGE,  ELITE, FERRO FIVE, GUARDIAN, GUARDSMAN, RANGER,
RANGERNET and SCOUT.

EMPLOYEES

      At January 31, 1997 the Company had 2,020  employees.  Of these employees,
1,582 were  employed in  manufacturing  and 438 were  employed  in field  sales,
technical,  manufacturing support,  sales support,  marketing and administrative
activities.  In addition,  the Company is provided the services of approximately
334  employees  in a Mexican  shelter  company for its Nogales,  Sonora,  Mexico
manufacturing facility.

      The  Company's   management   considers  its  employee   relations  to  be
satisfactory. Employees in five plants are not represented by a union. Employees
at the other  three  plants are  represented  by three  different  unions  under
collective bargaining agreements.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

      The   Company's   operations   are  subject  to  extensive   and  evolving
environmental laws and regulations  regarding the clean-up and protection of the
environment  and worker health and safety.  These laws and  regulations  include
requirements  relating to the handling,  storage,  use and disposal of hazardous
materials and solid wastes, recordkeeping and periodic reporting to governmental
entities  regarding  the use of hazardous  substances  and disposal of hazardous
wastes,  monitoring and permitting of air and water emissions and monitoring and
protecting workers from exposure to hazardous substances, including lead used in
the Company's manufacturing processes.

                                        8

<PAGE>



      The  Company   operates   under  what  it  believes  is  a   comprehensive
environmental,  health  and  safety  compliance  program,  which is headed by an
environmental director and staffed with trained environmental professionals.  As
part of its program,  the Company has prepared written  environmental and health
and safety  practice  manuals,  conducts  regular  employee  training  seminars,
undertakes  internal and external audits of its operations and environmental and
health and safety  programs and practices and engages in sampling and monitoring
of employee air,  blood lead levels and other chemical  exposures.  In addition,
the Company also has installed certain pollution abatement equipment to minimize
or reduce  emissions of regulated  pollutants  into the environment and monitors
and seeks to resolve potential environmental liabilities that result from or may
arise from current and historic hazardous  materials handling and waste disposal
practices.  The  Company has  instituted  a hazardous  materials  recapture  and
recycling program at each of its facilities and for its customers.

      While the  Company  believes  that it is in material  compliance  with the
applicable  environmental  requirements,  it has received, and in the future may
receive,  citations and notices from  governmental  regulatory  authorities that
certain of its operations  are not in compliance  with its permits or applicable
environmental  requirements.  Occasionally  the  Company  is  required  to pay a
penalty or fine, to install  control  technology or to make equipment or process
changes (or a combination thereof) as a result of the non-compliance or changing
regulatory requirements. When the Company receives a notice of a non-compliance,
it regularly  undertakes to achieve compliance and works with the authorities to
resolve  satisfactorily  the issues raised.  The associated costs have not had a
material  effect on the Company's  business,  financial  condition or results of
operations.

      Notwithstanding   the  Company's  efforts  to  maintain   compliance  with
applicable environmental  requirements,  if damage to persons or the environment
arises from hazardous  substances used,  generated or disposed of in the conduct
of the Company's business (or that of its predecessors to the extent the Company
is not indemnified therefor),  the Company may be held liable for the damage and
for the costs of the environmental  investigation  and remediation,  which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.

      In view of the potential  financial effect such environmental  liabilities
could have, when the Company  acquired the assets of its predecessor from Allied
in January 1986,  it secured an obligation  from Allied to indemnify the Company
from undisclosed environmental liabilities resulting from conditions existing as
of the closing date. With the exception of four sites disclosed by Allied at the
time of the acquisition,  Allied has accepted indemnification responsibility for
the Company's potential liabilities at those third party owned or operated sites
with  respect to which the Company has been named as a  potentially  responsible
party  by  the  United   States   Environmental   Protection   Agency  or  state
environmental  agencies  under the federal  Superfund  law or  comparable  state
environmental laws.

      With respect to the four sites not being covered by the Allied  indemnity,
based upon the most currently available  information,  the Company believes that
its share of liability at these sites will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.  Moreover,
the  Company  has  accrued  reserves  for these and other  immaterial  potential
environmental   liabilities  in  its  consolidated   financial   statements  and
periodically  reevaluates the reserved amounts for these  liabilities in view of
the most current information available to it.



                                        9

<PAGE>



      The Company also is aware of the existence of potential  contamination  at
two of its properties which may require  expenditures for further  investigation
and  remediation.  At  the  Company's  Huguenot,  New  York  facility,  fluoride
contamination in an inactive lagoon exceeding the state's groundwater standards,
which existed prior to the Company's  acquisition  of the site,  has resulted in
the site being listed on the registry of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites
maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental  Conservation.  The
prior  owner  of the  site,  Avnet,  Inc.,  ultimately  may  bear  some,  as yet
undetermined, share of the costs associated therewith.

      The Company's  Conyers,  Georgia  facility was listed on the Georgia State
Hazardous Sites Inventory.  Soil at the site, which was likely contaminated from
a leaking  underground acid  neutralization tank and possibly stormwater runoff,
has been excavated and disposed of by the Company, and a hydrogeologic study was
undertaken  to assess the impact to  groundwater.  That study did not reveal any
groundwater impact, and assessment and remediation of off-site contamination has
been completed and the final  remediation  report will be submitted to the state
by June 1, 1997. The state environmental  agency may request further information
and additional investigation or remediation may be necessary before the site may
be removed from its Hazardous Sites Inventory.

      With  respect to each of the  properties  described in the  preceding  two
paragraphs,  the  Company has  accrued a reserve in its  consolidated  financial
statements for its estimate of the potential  costs and  liabilities  associated
with the potential contamination.  The costs and potential liabilities for these
matters,  in the  Company's  opinion,  are not likely to affect  materially  the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.




                                       10

<PAGE>



ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

      Set forth  below is certain  information,  as of January  31,  1997,  with
respect to the Company's principal properties.  The Company's interest in all of
its  properties is subject to liens  securing its bank debt.  See  "Management's
Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of  Operations -
Liquidity and Capital Resources."

                                    SQUARE           PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED
   LOCATION                         FOOTAGE          AT OR USE OF FACILITY
   --------                         -------          ---------------------

                            UNITED STATES PROPERTIES
                            ------------------------

MANUFACTURING:

   Attica, Indiana................. 196,000  Large standby power batteries and
                                             motive power batteries
   Conshohocken, Pennsylvania...... 130,000  Metal trays, metal racks and
                                             cabinets, battery R&D laboratories,
                                             distribution center
   Conyers, Georgia................ 161,000  Small standby power batteries
   Dunlap, Tennessee...............  73,000  Motive power and standby power
                                             electronics products, cabinets and
                                             metal racks
   Huguenot, New York.............. 148,000  Motive power batteries
   Leola, Pennsylvania............. 187,000  Large standby power batteries
   Tucson, Arizona.................  25,000  Power converters, cellular phone
                                             battery chargers
   Costa Mesa, California..........  33,000  Power supplies

OTHER:

   Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.........  31,000  World headquarters
   Tucson, Arizona.................  45,000  Headquarters of International Power
                                             Systems, Inc. and electronics R&D
                                             laboratories

                            INTERNATIONAL PROPERTIES
                            ------------------------

MANUFACTURING:

   Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.....  27,000  Power converters, cellular phone
                                             battery chargers
   Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.........  83,000  Power supplies
   Shannon, Ireland................  19,000  Power converters

OTHER:

   Mississauga, Ontario, Canada ...  20,000  Canadian branch headquarters, sales
                                             office and distribution center

                                       11

<PAGE>



      The Company owns its Attica,  Conyers, Leola and Conshohocken  properties.
The Huguenot  property is leased  under an  industrial  revenue  bond  financing
arrangement  entitling the Company to purchase the property for a nominal amount
at the  end of the  term  of the  related  financing.  In  connection  with  the
Acquisition,  Allied  agreed to pay the  principal  and  interest due under this
financing arrangement.  The Nogales property is made available through a shelter
company in Mexico.  The Blue Bell,  Dunlap,  Mississauga,  Tucson,  Costa  Mesa,
Shannon,  and Agua Prieta  facilities and the Company's branch sales offices are
leased. The lease of the Dunlap property terminates in January 2004. The Company
has an option  to  purchase  the  Dunlap  property  during  the  lease  term for
$1,160,000.

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      The Company is involved in ordinary routine  litigation  incidental to the
conduct of its business. None of such routine litigation, individually or in the
aggregate,  is material to its  financial  condition or results of operations in
any year. See "Business - Environmental Regulation" for a description of certain
administrative proceedings in which the Company is involved.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      None.

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

      The Company's Common Stock began trading on The New York Stock Exchange on
December 20, 1996 under the symbol CHP.  From October 27, 1995 through  December
19, 1996,  the Common Stock was traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market under the
symbol  CHTR.  Prior to  October  27,  1995 the  Common  Stock  was  listed  and
principally traded on the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"), under the symbol
CHP. The approximate  number of beneficial and registered  record holders of the
Company's Common Stock on April 23, 1997 was 2,385.

      The following table sets forth,  for the periods  indicated,  the high and
low sales prices for the Company's  Common Stock as reported by the AMEX through
October 26,  1995,  the Nasdaq  National  Market from  October 27, 1995  through
December  19, 1996,  and the New York Stock  Exchange  thereafter.  These prices
represent actual transactions, but do not reflect adjustment for retail markups,
markdowns or commissions.

                                          YEAR ENDED
                                    ----------------------

                           JANUARY 31, 1997        JANUARY 31, 1996
                           ----------------        ----------------

    FISCAL QUARTER          HIGH       LOW          HIGH       LOW
    --------------          ----       ---          ----       ---

    First Quarter........  $29  3/4   $25          $22        $19 1/4
    Second Quarter.......   36         17 1/4       25  1/4    19 7/8
    Third Quarter........   26  1/4    20           31  3/4    24 1/8
    Fourth Quarter.......   35         24           29         24


                                       12

<PAGE>



      The Company began paying  quarterly  cash dividends on its Common Stock in
April 1987.  The dividend  declared in each quarter since then has been $.0275 a
share.

      The Company's bank loan agreement permits  quarterly  dividends to be paid
on the  Company's  Common  Stock  so long as  there  is no  default  under  that
agreement.  Subject to such  restriction and the provisions of Delaware law, the
Board of Directors  currently intends to continue paying quarterly  dividends in
the future at the rate currently paid. There can be no assurance, however, as to
the  payment  or amount  of  future  dividends,  since  they will  depend on the
Company's earnings and financial condition and other factors.

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

      The following selected historical financial data for the periods indicated
have been derived from the Company's  consolidated  financial statements,  which
have been  audited by Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.,  independent  accountants.  The
information  below should be read in conjunction with  "Management's  Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the Company's
consolidated  financial  statements for fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, which appear
elsewhere herein.

                                       13

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           FISCAL YEAR
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1997(7)      1996(6)       1995(5)        1994        1993(4)
                                                 ---------     --------      --------      --------     --------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                              <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>            <C> 

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:

Net sales...................................     $286,907      $242,422     $200,009       $162,005       $134,064
Cost of sales...............................      219,819       185,808      154,464        123,560        105,387
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
  Gross profit..............................       67,088        56,614       45,545         38,445         28,677
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses...................       34,499        27,781       24,796         23,121         22,184
Research and development
  expenses..................................        8,143         6,196        5,284          2,746          2,161
Restructuring charges (1)...................          -             -            -              -            3,106
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
  Operating income..........................       24,446        22,637       15,465         12,578          1,226

Interest expense, net.......................        1,396         1,063        1,222          1,003          1,022
Other (income) expense, net.................           (8)          423          310            809            522
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
  Income (loss) before income taxes
    and cumulative effect of change
    in accounting principle.................       23,058        21,151       13,933         10,766           (318)
Provision for income taxes..................        8,121         7,107        4,556          4,359            319
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
  Income (loss) before cumulative
    effect of change in
    accounting principle....................       14,937        14,044        9,377          6,407           (637)
Cumulative effect of change
  in accounting principle (2)...............          -             -            -              -            1,074
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
  Net income (loss).........................     $ 14,937      $ 14,044     $  9,377       $  6,407       $ (1,711)
                                                  =======       =======      =======        =======        =======
Income (loss) before cumulative effect
   of change in accounting principle
   per common and common
   equivalent share (3).....................     $   2.32      $   2.18     $   1.51       $   1.08       $   (.11)
Cumulative effect of change in
  accounting principle per common
  and common equivalent share (3) ..........          -             -            -              -             (.18)
                                                  -------       -------      -------        -------        -------
Net income (loss) per common and
  common equivalent share (3)...............     $   2.32      $   2.18     $   1.51       $   1.08       $   (.29)
                                                  =======       =======      =======        =======        =======

Dividends per common share..................     $    .11      $    .11     $    .11       $    .11       $    .11
                                                  =======       =======      =======        =======        =======

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Working capital.............................     $ 45,436      $ 50,302     $ 27,746       $ 18,556       $  15,698
Total assets................................      159,973       130,827      112,137         93,255          97,633
Short-term debt (exclusively current
   portion of long-term debt)...............          476           200        3,670          3,121           4,263
Long-term debt..............................       29,351        15,417       14,183         11,149          20,643
Stockholders' equity........................       74,906        68,926       51,722         41,031          33,146
</TABLE>

                                             (footnotes begin on following page)

                                       14

<PAGE>



      (1) In fiscal 1993,  the Company  recorded a provision of $2,048 for costs
related  to the  rationalization  of the  Company's  standby  power  electronics
business  resulting  from the Ratelco  acquisition.  The Company also recorded a
provision of $1,058  primarily  consisting  of severance and other related costs
attributable to a restructuring of management.

      (2) The Company provides  certain health care and life insurance  benefits
for retired  employees who meet certain service  requirements  under an employee
benefit  plan (the  "Plan").  Under the Plan,  the Company  contributes  a fixed
amount and requires the retiree to fund the remaining  cost. In fiscal 1993, the
Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 106. Under SFAS 106, the expected cost of
the benefits provided by existing postretirement plans is actuarially determined
and  accrued  ratably  from the date of hire to the date the  employee  is fully
eligible to receive the benefits.  Previously,  postretirement  benefits expense
was recognized  when the insurance  premiums were incurred.  In fiscal 1993, the
accumulated  postretirement  benefit  obligation  (APBO) at February 1, 1992 was
recognized  separately  as the  cumulative  effect  of a  change  in  accounting
principle  resulting in a charge of $1,074 (after  related income tax benefit of
$716), or $.18 per share. As the Company's contribution is frozen, the change in
future health care costs should not materially impact the APBO.

      (3) Based on  6,439,165,  6,451,289,  6,210,793,  5,922,511  and 5,840,832
weighted  average  shares  outstanding  and the effect of shares  issuable under
stock options based on the treasury  stock method for fiscal 1997,  1996,  1995,
1994 and 1993, respectively.

      (4) Effective October 31, 1992, the Company acquired  substantially all of
the  assets  of  the  Ratelco  Manufacturing   Division  of  Ratelco,   Inc.,  a
manufacturer  of power  electronics  equipment,  for cash and the  assumption of
certain  liabilities.  The Company has accounted for the  acquisition  under the
purchase  method.  The  excess  of  net  assets  over  the  purchase  price  was
immaterial.

      (5) Effective March 29, 1994, the Company,  through its  subsidiary,  IPS,
acquired for cash, certain assets and assumed specific liabilities of the custom
power supply business of ITT PowerSystems Corporation. See notes to consolidated
financial statements.

      (6) Effective  January 24, 1995, the Company  purchased certain assets and
assumed certain  liabilities  from the switching power supply business of Basler
Electric  Company,  a  Highland,   Illinois  based  manufacturer  of  electrical
components. See notes to consolidated financial statements.

      (7) Effective  February 22, 1996, the Company's  wholly owned  subsidiary,
IPS,  acquired  substantially  all the assets of LH, a producer  and marketer of
standard power supply systems for the electronics industry.  Effective March 12,
1996, the Company acquired from Burr-Brown  Corporation,  its entire interest in
PCC  consisting  of  1,044,418  shares of PCC common  stock and all  outstanding
preferred  stock. In addition the Company acquired or repaid the indebtedness of
PCC. On April 26, 1996, the Company  acquired 190,000 shares of PCC common stock
from the former chief  executive  officer of PCC which  together with the shares
previously acquired represented in excess of 99.6% of the outstanding PCC common
stock.  As of May 29, 1996,  the Company  purchased all remaining  shares of PCC
common  stock and shares of PCC common  stock  issuable  upon  exercise of stock
options.  PCC  produces  battery  chargers  for  cellular  phones  and  DC-to-DC
converters   used  on   communications,   computer,   medical,   industrial  and
instrumentation markets. See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       15

<PAGE>



ITEM 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
           RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

IMPACT OF ECONOMY AND SHIFT IN CUSTOMER DEMAND

      During fiscal 1997  continued  improved  economic  conditions  resulted in
higher   demand   for   the   Company's   standby   power   products.   In   the
telecommunications  market,  the  continuing  shift in customer  demand from the
flooded battery products was reflected in the growth in sales of Liberty 2000, a
premium valve-regulated battery.

RAW MATERIAL PRICING AND PRODUCTIVITY

      Lead, steel, copper,  plastics and electronic components are the major raw
materials  used in the  manufacture  of the Company's  industrial  batteries and
electronics  products and,  accordingly,  represent a significant portion of the
Company's  materials  costs.  During fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995,  North American
producer  prices of lead have been rising,  averaging  $.50,  $.44 and $.38/lb.,
respectively.  The price of lead is currently at its highest  level since fiscal
1991.

      In the early part of fiscal  1997 there were  shortages  of  semiconductor
components used widely in the Company's electronic products, but these shortages
eased by the end of the second quarter.

      The  Company  has  undertaken  a  long-term  cost  containment  program to
maximize  manufacturing  efficiency  and  continues  as a matter  of  course  to
allocate a significant amount of its normal annual capital  expenditures to cost
containment and productivity improvement projects.

INFLATION

      The Company's  costs of  manufacturing  materials and labor and most other
operating costs are affected by inflationary pressures. The Company's ability to
pass along  inflationary  cost  increases  through  higher prices may be limited
during periods of stable or declining  lead prices  because of industry  pricing
practices that tend to link product prices and lead prices. The Company believes
that, over recent years, it generally has been able to offset  inflationary cost
increases by effective raw materials purchasing programs, price increases of its
products,   increases  in  labor   productivity   and  improvements  in  overall
manufacturing efficiency.



                                       16

<PAGE>



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      The  following   table  sets  forth   selected   items  in  the  Company's
consolidated  statements  of income  as a  percentage  of sales for the  periods
indicated.

                                                              FISCAL YEAR
                                                              -----------

                                                         1997     1996    1995
                                                         ----     ----    ----

      Net sales.......................................   100.0%   100.0%  100.0%
      Cost of sales...................................    76.6     76.6    77.2
                                                         -----    -----   -----

        Gross profit..................................    23.4     23.4    22.8

      Selling, general and administrative expenses....    12.0     11.5    12.4
      Research and development expenses...............     2.9      2.6     2.7
                                                         -----    -----   -----

        Operating income..............................     8.5      9.3     7.7

      Interest expense, net ..........................     0.5      0.4     0.6
      Other expense, net..............................     0.0      0.2     0.1
                                                         -----    -----    -----

        Income before income taxes....................     8.0      8.7     7.0

      Provision for income taxes......................     2.8      2.9     2.3
                                                         -----    -----   -----

        Net income....................................     5.2%     5.8%   4.7%
                                                         =====    =====   ====

FISCAL 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1996

      Net  sales  for  fiscal  1997  increased  $44,485,000  or  18  percent  to
$286,907,000 from $242,422,000 in fiscal 1996. Approximately $29,000,000 of this
increase was related to sales recorded by the Company's PCC and LH  subsidiaries
which were both acquired during the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The balance of
the  increase  was  primarily  due to higher  telecommunications  and UPS sales,
partially offset by lower motive power sales and lower power supply sales by the
Company's   IPS   subsidiary.    On   a   company-wide    basis,   fiscal   1997
telecommunication-related  sales were  approximately 46 percent of total Company
sales  versus 44 percent  for fiscal  1996.  Motive  power  sales were down four
percent due to lower volumes partially offset by higher prices.

      Gross  profit  increased  $10,474,000  or 19 percent to  $67,088,000  from
$56,614,000  in the prior  fiscal  year,  primarily  as a result of higher sales
volumes. Gross margins for fiscal 1997 and 1996 were flat at 23.4 percent.

      Selling,   general  and  administrative   expenses  increased   $6,718,000
primarily  as a  result  of  the  acquisition  of  PCC  and  LH,  including  the
amortization   of  goodwill  and  other   intangible   assets   related  to  the
acquisitions. In addition,  non-acquisition selling expenses increased primarily
due to higher  payroll  costs,  warranty,  advertising,  rental  and  consulting
expenses.

                                       17

<PAGE>



      Research and development  expenses increased  $1,947,000 to $8,143,000 for
fiscal 1997 primarily as a result of the acquisition of PCC and LH, and remained
proportional  to sales at  approximately  three percent of sales for fiscal 1997
and fiscal 1996.

      Interest  expense,  net,  increased  31 percent from fiscal 1996 to fiscal
1997 due to higher debt balances  related to the above  acquisitions and a stock
repurchase  program,  partially  offset  by lower  effective  rates  and  higher
capitalized  interest related to the plant expansions at the Company's  Conyers,
Georgia and Leola, Pennsylvania locations.

      Other  expense,  net,  decreased  $431,000 from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997
primarily as a result of higher nonoperating income.

      Income tax expense increased $1,014,000 due to higher operating income and
the absence in fiscal 1997 of a decrease in the valuation  allowance,  partially
offset by the  favorable  tax effect of the Company's  foreign  operations.  The
fiscal 1996 decrease in the valuation  allowance  related to the  revaluation of
the stock option  compensation  deferred tax asset due to increases in the price
of the Company's common stock.

      As a result of the above,  net income  increased  six percent  from fiscal
1996 to $14,937,000 or $2.32 per share.

FISCAL 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995

      Net sales for  fiscal  1996  increased  21 percent  to  $242,422,000  from
$200,009,000 in fiscal 1995. Fiscal 1996 sales of standby power products,  up in
virtually  every  category,  increased 18 percent over the prior year  resulting
from higher unit volumes and slightly higher unit prices.  The most  significant
increases occurred in sales to the domestic and international telecommunications
industries.  Sales of the  Company's  Liberty 2000 series  product  increased 45
percent over the prior year. The combined  sales of the Company's  International
Power Systems,  Inc. subsidiary ("IPS") which was formed early in fiscal 1995 to
acquire certain assets of ITT PowerSystems  Corporation (the "IPS  Acquisition")
and the switching power supply division of Basler Electric Company  purchased as
of January 24, 1995 rose 69 percent over fiscal 1995.  Approximately  57 percent
of this increase was related to the business  acquired from the Basler  Electric
Company.  On a company wide basis,  domestic and international  sales of standby
power products and power supplies to the telecommunications  market increased 33
percent over fiscal 1995.  Sales of motive power products were up 8 percent over
the prior year due to slightly higher volumes and prices.

      Gross  profit  for  fiscal  1996  increased  $11,069,000  or 24 percent to
$56,614,000  from  $45,545,000  in the prior fiscal  year,  resulting in a gross
margin of 23.4  percent  versus 22.8  percent in the prior year.  Gross  margins
increased   primarily  as  a  result  of  higher  sales  volumes  and  continued
improvements  in  operating  efficiencies  partially  offset by higher  material
costs.

      Selling,  general and administrative expenses decreased to 11.5 percent of
sales in  fiscal  1996  from  12.4  percent  in the  prior  year as a result  of
operating leverage generated from the higher sales volume.

      Research and  development  expenses  remained  proportional  to sales as a
relative percentage for both fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1995.


                                       18

<PAGE>



      Interest  expense,  net,  decreased  13 percent from fiscal 1996 to fiscal
1995 due to lower debt balances, offset by slightly higher effective rates.

      Other  expense,  net,  increased  $113,000  primarily due to a full year's
amortization  of capitalized  debt cost versus a partial year in fiscal 1995 and
lower nonoperating  income in fiscal 1996,  partially offset by a lower exchange
loss in the current year.

      As a result of the above,  for fiscal  1996,  income  before  income taxes
increased  $7,218,000  or 52 percent  from  fiscal  1995 and net income  rose 50
percent from fiscal 1995 to $14,044,000 or $2.18 per share.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      Net cash flows  provided by operating  activities  increased 72 percent to
$25,737,000 in fiscal 1997 compared to $14,975,000 in fiscal 1996. This increase
was primarily due to a decrease in inventory  levels during fiscal 1997,  versus
an increase in  inventory  during the prior year,  partially  offset by a larger
increase in accounts receivables resulting from higher sales during fiscal 1997.
Also  contributing  to the increase  was higher  depreciation  and  amortization
(primarily  related to the  aforementioned  acquisitions  and  expansions at the
Company's Conyers,  Georgia and Leola,  Pennsylvania  plants), the timing of tax
payments,  and an increase in other  current  liabilities  primarily  related to
higher sales volumes.

      Net cash used by investing activities totaling $30,651,000 for fiscal 1997
includes the purchase by the Company of PCC and certain  equipment and inventory
of LH for  $19,739,000.  Acquisition  of property,  plant and  equipment  during
fiscal 1997  increased by $8,385,000  over the prior year,  primarily due to the
plant capacity expansion  programs at the Company's Conyers,  Georgia and Leola,
Pennsylvania facilities. Fiscal 1997 net proceeds from the disposal of property,
plant and equipment was lower than that in fiscal 1996,  which included the sale
of  the   Company's   headquarters   building   located  in  Plymouth   Meeting,
Pennsylvania.  The change in  restricted  cash resulted from the use of proceeds
obtained  from  the  Development   Authority  of  Rockdale   County   Industrial
Development  Revenue  Bonds,  obtained in fiscal 1996,  to finance the Company's
expansion of the Conyers, Georgia plant.

      Net cash used by  financing  activities  increased  to  $385,000 in fiscal
1997, an increase of $309,000 from the prior year. The additional  borrowings in
fiscal  1997  were  used  primarily  for  the  funding  of  the   aforementioned
acquisitions  and the  purchase  of stock  in a stock  repurchase  program.  The
reduction  of long-term  debt  occurred  primarily as a result of the  Company's
election to accelerate  the retirement of the remaining term loan portion of its
long-term debt during the first quarter of fiscal 1997.

      The Company's availability under the current loan agreement is expected to
be sufficient to meet its ongoing cash needs for working  capital  requirements,
debt service,  capital expenditures and possible strategic acquisitions.  Fiscal
1997 capital  expenditures were incurred  primarily to fund capacity  expansion,
new product development,  a continuing series of cost reduction programs, normal
maintenance capital, and regulatory compliance. Fiscal 1998 capital expenditures
are expected to be approximately $16,000,000 for similar purposes.

      The Company has been notified that it is a potentially  responsible  party
and has  responded to requests for  information  relating to various Third Party
Facilities (see note 8[B] of the notes to consolidated financial statements).

                                       19

<PAGE>



STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED

      In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 128,  "Earnings  Per
Share." SFAS No. 128 specifies  new  standards  designed to improve the earnings
per share ("EPS")  information  provided in financial  statements by simplifying
the existing computational guidelines, revising the disclosure requirements, and
increasing the comparability of EPS data on an international  basis. Some of the
changes made to simplify  the EPS  computations  include:  (i)  eliminating  the
presentation  of primary EPS and replacing it with basic EPS, with the principal
difference  being that common stock  equivalents are not considered in computing
basic EPS, (ii)  eliminating  the modified  treasury  stock method and the three
percent materiality provision and (iii) revising the contingent share provisions
and the supplemental EPS data requirements.  SFAS No. 128 also makes a number of
changes to  existing  disclosure  requirements.  SFAS No. 128 is  effective  for
financial  statements  issued for periods  ending after  December 15, 1997.  The
Company has not yet determined the impact of the implementation of SFAS No. 128.

     In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 129,  "Disclosure of Information
about Capital  Structure."  SFAS No. 129  establishes  standards for  disclosing
information about an entity's capital structure.  The Statement is effective for
financial  statements  for periods  ending after  December 15, 1997. The Company
believes that the adoption of this statement will not have a material  effect on
its financial position or results of operations.

      In October 1996, the American  Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants
issued   Statement  of  Position   ("SOP")  96-1,   "Environmental   Remediation
Liabilities,"  which provides  guidance on specific  accounting  issues that are
present in the recognition, measurement, display and disclosure of environmental
remediation liabilities.  SOP 96-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1996. Accordingly, the Company will adopt SOP 96-1 during the first
quarter of 1997.  The Company  believes that the adoption of this statement will
not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

      The financial  statements and  supplementary  data listed in Item 14(a)(1)
hereof  are  incorporated  herein  by  reference  and are  filed as part of this
report.

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
            FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

      Not applicable.

                                    PART III

      The information required by Part III (Items 10 through 13) is incorporated
herein by  reference  to the  captions  "Principal  Stockholders,"  "Election of
Directors," "Management" and "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in
the Company's  definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A
within  120 days  after the end of the  Company's  fiscal  year  covered by this
report.

                                       20

<PAGE>



                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

  (a)  DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS REPORT:

      (1) THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM
          10-K:

            CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

            Report of Independent Accountants

            Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 31, 1997 and 1996

            Consolidated  Statements of Income for  the years ended January 31, 
            1997, 1996 and 1995

            Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended
            January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

            Consolidated  Statements of Cash  Flows for the years ended  January
            31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

      (2) THE FOLLOWING  FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE IS INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT
          ON FORM 10-K:

            CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES for the years ended
            January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

            Report of Independent Accountants on Schedule

            II.      Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

      (3) EXHIBITS:

          3.1  Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1 to  the  Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-10889).

          3.2  By-laws of the Company, as amended  (incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 3.2 to the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               fiscal year ended January 31, 1996).

          4.1  Financing and Security  Agreement  dated as of September 26, 1994
               among  NationsBank,   N.A.,   CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.,   National
               Westminster  Bank,  NJ and Charter  Power  Systems,  Inc. and its
               subsidiaries  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
               Company's  Current Report on Form 8-K dated  September 26, 1994);
               First  Amendment  thereto  dated  December  13,  1995 and  Second
               Amendment  thereto  dated  January  26,  1996   (incorporated  by
               reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the  Company's  Annual Report on Form
               10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1996); Third Amendment
               thereto  dated  March 13,  1996  (incorporated  by  reference  to
               Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on

                                       21

<PAGE>



               Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 1996); Fourth Amendment
               thereto  dated  September 3, 1996  (incorporated  by reference to
               Exhibit 4.1 to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
               the quarter  ended  October 31, 1996);  Fifth  Amendment  thereto
               dated  September 26, 1996  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
               4.2 to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for the
               quarter ended October 31, 1996).

         10.1  Purchase Agreement dated November 27, 1985, among Allied,  Allied
               Canada Inc. and the Company;  Amendments thereto dated January 28
               and October 8, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
               the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-10889).

         10.2  Agreement dated December 15, 1986, between the Company and Allied
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2 to the  Company's
               Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-10889).

         10.3  Lease Agreement dated February 15, 1994 by and between Sequatchie
               Associates,  Incorporated  and C&D Charter  Power  Systems,  Inc.
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1 to the  Company's
               Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 30,
               1994).

         10.4  C&D Charter Power Systems,  Inc.  Savings Plan  (incorporated  by
               reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form
               10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1995).

         10.5  C&D  Charter  Power  Systems,  Inc.  Pension  Plan  for  Salaried
               Employees as restated and amended  (incorporated  by reference to
               Exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               fiscal year ended January 31, 1995);  First and Second Amendments
               thereto  dated  December 20, 1995  (incorporated  by reference to
               Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
               fiscal year ended January 31, 1996).

         10.6  Charter  Power  Systems,   Inc.   Incentive   Compensation   Plan
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1 to the  Company's
               Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 30,
               1996).

         10.7  Registration  Rights Agreement dated May 30, 1989,  between Weber
               and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
               Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
               July 31, 1995); Employment Agreement,  dated as of April 1, 1996,
               and Pledge and Security  Agreement and  Reimbursement  Agreement,
               each dated April 30, 1996,  between Alfred Weber and the Company;
               Secured  Promissory Note and Option Secured Promissory Note, each
               dated  April 30,  1996,  by Alfred  Weber in favor of the Company
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2 to the  Company's
               Quarterly  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  July 31,
               1996).

         10.8  Employment  Agreement  dated  January 26,  1990,  between  Leslie
               Holden and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3
               to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
               ended  July 31,  1995);  Amendment  thereto  dated  April 3, 1995
               (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.3 to the  Company's
               Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 30,
               1995).


                                       22

<PAGE>



         10.9  Agreement  dated  March  28,  1994,  between  C&D  Charter  Power
               Systems,  Inc.  and AT&T  (incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit
               10.20 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
               year ended January 31, 1994).

         10.10 Employment  Agreement  dated  March 1,  1994  between  A.  Gordon
               Goodyear  and the Company  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
               10.2 to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q  for the
               quarter ended April 30, 1994);  Amendment  thereto dated April 3,
               1995  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's
               Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  April 30,
               1995).

         10.11 Employment  Agreement  dated  April 3, 1995  between  Stephen  E.
               Markert,  Jr.  and the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to
               Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
               the quarter ended April 30, 1995).

         10.12 Employment  Agreement  dated  April 3, 1995  between A. T. (Paul)
               Kambouroglou  and  the  Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to
               Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
               the quarter ended April 30, 1995).

         10.13 Employment  Agreement  dated  August  15,  1995  between  Stephen
               Weglarz,  Esq.  and the Company  (incorporated  by  reference  to
               Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for
               the quarter ended October 31, 1995).

         10.14 Charter Power Systems,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (incorporated
               by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
               Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 1996).

         21    Subsidiaries of the Company (filed herewith).

         23    Consent of Independent Accountants (filed herewith).

         27    Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith).

         99.1  Additional   undertaking   in   connection   with  the  Company's
               Registration  Statement on Form S-8 No.  33-31978 (filed November
               7, 1989), the Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-8, No.
               33-71390  (filed  October 27, 1993),  the Company's  Registration
               Statement on Form S-8, No. 33-86672 (filed November 23, 1994) and
               the Company's  Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333- 17979,
               (filed December 16, 1996).

The  registrant  undertakes  to furnish  the  Commission  with a copy of certain
agreements which are not being filed in accordance with Item  601(b)(4)(iii)  of
Regulation S-K.

      (b)   REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

            No  reports on Form 8-K were  filed by the  Company  during the last
            quarter of the period covered by this report.


                                       23

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant  to the  requirements  of Section  13 or 15(d) 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.

                                              CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS,
                                              INC.

     April 29, 1997                            By: /s/ ALFRED WEBER
                                                   ----------------
                                                   Alfred Weber
                                                   Chairman, President and
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

      SIGNATURE                         TITLE                    DATE

/s/ ALFRED WEBER                 Chairman, President and        April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------      Chief Executive Officer
    Alfred Weber                         

/s/ STEPHEN E. MARKERT, JR.      Vice President Finance         April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------      and Treasurer (Principal
    Stephen E. Markert, Jr.      Financial and Accounting
                                 Officer
                                          
/s/ KEVIN P. DOWD                Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
     Kevin P. Dowd

/s/ GLENN M. FEIT                Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
    Glenn M. Feit

/s/ WILLIAM HARRAL, III          Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
    William Harral, III

/s/ WARREN A. LAW                Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
    Warren A. Law

/s/ ALAN G. LUTZ                 Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
     Alan G. Lutz

/s/ JOHN A. H. SHOBER            Director                       April 29, 1997
- ---------------------------
    John A. H. Shober


                                       24

<PAGE>



         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
     CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                        PAGE
                                                                        ----

      Report of Independent Accountants........................          F-2

      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
        January 31, 1997 and 1996..............................          F-3

      Consolidated Statements of Income
        for the years ended January 31, 1997,
        1996 and 1995..........................................          F-4

      Consolidated Statements of
        Stockholders' Equity for the years
        ended January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..................          F-5

      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
        for the years ended January 31, 1997,
        1996 and 1995..........................................          F-6

      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...............          F-8


FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
     CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

     For the years ended January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

      Report of Independent Accountants on Schedule............          S-1

      Schedule II.  Valuation and Qualifying Accounts..........          S-2










                                       F-1


<PAGE>









                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Charter Power Systems, Inc.

We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance sheets of Charter Power
Systems,  Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related
consolidated statements of income,  stockholders' equity and cash flows for each
of the three  years in the  period  ended  January  31,  1997.  These  financial
statements   are  the   responsibility   of  the   Company's   management.   Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated  financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Charter
Power Systems,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries  as of January 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
consolidated  results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended January 31, 1997, in conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.



/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
- ----------------------------


COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

2400 Eleven Penn Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 14, 1997



                                       F-2




<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   JANUARY 31,
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                                             1997         1996
                                                             ----         ----
ASSETS

Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents ...........................  $    952    $   5,472
   Restricted cash and cash equivalents.................         1        5,402
   Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
       accounts of $1,414 in 1997 and $1,421 in 1996....    41,682       31,855
   Inventories..........................................    38,943       35,227
   Deferred income taxes................................     7,315        6,235
   Other current assets.................................       437        1,367
                                                           -------      -------
       Total current assets.............................    89,330       85,558
Property, plant and equipment, net......................    52,469       39,375
Intangible and other assets, net........................     6,208        3,287
Goodwill, net...........................................    11,966        2,607
                                                           -------      -------
       Total assets.....................................  $159,973     $130,827
                                                           =======      =======

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
   Current portion of long-term debt....................  $    476     $    200
   Accounts payable.....................................    23,730       19,008
   Accrued liabilities..................................    14,468       13,513
   Other current liabilities............................     5,220        2,535
                                                           -------      -------
       Total current liabilities........................    43,894       35,256
Deferred income taxes...................................     3,923        2,750
Long-term debt..........................................    29,351       15,417
Other liabilities.......................................     7,899        8,478
                                                           -------      -------
       Total liabilities................................    85,067       61,901
                                                           -------      -------
Commitments and contingencies 

Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares
       authorized; 6,547,476 and 6,326,176 shares
       issued in 1997 and 1996, respectively............        65           63
   Additional paid-in capital...........................    39,326       36,283
   Minimum pension liability adjustment.................      (136)        (760)
   Treasury stock, at cost, 470,551 and 57,400 shares
       in 1997 and 1996, respectively...................   (11,232)      (1,304)
   Notes receivable from stockholder, net of
       discount of $85..................................    (1,636)          -
   Cumulative translation adjustment....................      (374)          -
   Retained earnings ...................................    48,893       34,644
                                                           -------      -------
       Total stockholders' equity.......................    74,906       68,926
                                                           -------      -------
       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity.......  $159,973     $130,827
                                                           =======      =======

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       F-3


<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                         FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31,
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)



                                            1997         1996         1995
                                            ----         ----         ----


Net sales.............................    $286,907     $242,422     $200,009
Cost of sales.........................     219,819      185,808      154,464
                                           -------      -------      -------
   Gross profit.......................      67,088       56,614       45,545

Selling, general and administrative
   expenses...........................      34,499       27,781       24,796
Research and development expenses.....       8,143        6,196        5,284
                                           -------      -------      -------
   Operating income...................      24,446       22,637       15,465

Interest expense, net.................       1,396        1,063        1,222
Other (income) expense, net...........          (8)         423          310
                                           -------      -------      -------
   Income before income taxes.........      23,058       21,151       13,933

Provision for income taxes............       8,121        7,107        4,556
                                           -------      -------      -------
   Net income ........................    $ 14,937     $ 14,044     $  9,377
                                           =======      =======      =======

Net income per common and common
   equivalent share:

   Primary............................    $   2.32     $   2.18      $  1.51

   Assuming full dilution.............    $   2.32     $   2.18       $ 1.50
















                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       F-4



<PAGE>

                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Minimum                         Notes
                                  Common Stock  Additional   Pension     Treasury Stock    Receivable  Cumulative
                                 ---------------  Paid-In   Liability   ----------------      From     Translation Retained
                                Shares    Amount  Capital   Adjustment  Shares    Amount  Stockholders  Adjustment Earnings
                                ------    ------  -------   ----------  ------    ------  ------------  ---------- --------
<S>                            <C>         <C>    <C>          <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>      <C>    
Balance as of January 31,
  1994.......................  5,837,416   $58    $30,090                                    $(1,656)             $12,539
Net income...................                                                                                       9,377
Dividends to stockholders,
  $.11 per share.............                                                                                        (651)
Stock option compensation....                         717
Tax effect relating to stock
  options exercised..........                         141
Stock options exercised......    133,625     2      1,105
                               ---------    --     ------       ----    -------     -------   ------      ----     ------
Balance as of January 31,
  1995.......................  5,971,041    60     32,053                                     (1,656)              21,265

Net income...................                                                                                      14,044
Dividends to stockholders,
  $.11 per share.............                                                                                        (665)
Principal payments on stock-
  holder notes...............                                                                  1,656
Tax effect relating to stock
  options exercised..........                       1,426
Minimum pension liability
  adjustment.................                                  $(760)
Purchase of common stock.....                                           (57,400)$  (1,304)
Issuance of common stock.....     50,000              667
Stock options exercised......    305,135     3      2,137
                               ---------    --     ------       ----    -------   -------     ------      ----     ------
Balance as of January 31,
  1996.......................  6,326,176    63     36,283       (760)   (57,400)   (1,304)       -                 34,644

Net income...................                                                                                      14,937
Dividends to stockholders,
  $.11 per share.............                                                                                        (688)
Notes receivable
  from stockholder...........                                                                 (1,721)
Discount on notes receivable
  from stockholder...........                                                                    137
Amortization of discount on
  stockholder notes..........                                                                    (52)
Tax effect relating to stock
  options exercised..........                       1,151
Minimum pension liability
  adjustment.................                                    624
Cumulative translation
  adjustment.................                                                                            $(374)
Purchase of common stock.....                                          (464,569)  (11,092)
Issuance of common stock.....                          44                51,418     1,164
Stock options exercised......    221,300     2      1,848
                               ---------    --     ------       ----    -------   -------     ------      ----     ------
Balance as of January 31,
  1997.......................  6,547,476   $65    $39,326      $(136)  (470,551) $(11,232)   $(1,636)    $(374)   $48,893
                               =========    ==     ======       ====   ========   =======     ======      ====     ======
</TABLE>

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       F-5


<PAGE>

                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                         FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31,
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         1997           1996           1995*
                                                         ----           ----           -----
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>           <C> 
 
Cash flows provided (used) by operating activities:
  Net income.........................................  $14,937        $14,044       $  9,377
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization....................    8,494          6,109          6,892
    Deferred income taxes ...........................      (47)        (1,237)           (43)
    Loss (gain) on disposal of assets................       80            428           (175)
    Stock option compensation........................      -              -              717
    Changes in:
        Accounts receivable..........................   (7,188)        (1,570)        (8,548)
        Inventories..................................    2,898         (8,341)         1,560
        Other current assets.........................      163            (56)          (115)
        Accounts payable.............................    2,943          3,405          2,008
        Accrued liabilities..........................     (802)         1,600            922
        Income taxes payable.........................    3,004            670         (1,282)
        Other current liabilities....................    1,257           (794)        (2,372)
        Other liabilities............................      412          1,143          1,313
    Other, net.......................................     (414)          (426)          (188)
                                                        ------         ------         ------
Net cash provided by operating activities............   25,737         14,975         10,066
                                                        ------         ------         ------
Cash flows provided (used) by investing activities:
  Acquisition of businesses, net.....................  (19,739)           -           (8,038)
  Acquisition of property, plant and equipment.......  (16,322)        (7,937)        (7,650)
  Proceeds from disposal of property,
    plant and equipment .............................        9          2,579            551
  Change in restricted cash..........................    5,401         (5,327)           385
                                                        ------         ------         ------
Net cash used by investing activities................  (30,651)       (10,685)       (14,752)
                                                        ------         ------         ------
Cash flows provided (used) by financing activities:
   Repayment of long-term debt.......................   (8,291)        (8,669)       (18,956)
   Proceeds from new borrowings......................   20,333          6,500         21,414
   Financing costs of long-term debt.................      -             (257)          (471)
   Issuance of note receivable to stockholder........   (1,057)           -              -
   Repayment of notes receivable from stockholders...      -            1,656            -
   Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net.......    1,186          2,807          1,107
   Purchase of treasury stock........................  (11,092)        (1,304)           -
   Payment of common stock dividends.................     (694)          (657)          (647)
                                                       -------         ------         ------
Net cash provided by financing activities............      385             76          2,447
                                                       -------         ------         ------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash..............        9              9            (25)
                                                       -------         ------         ------
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents.....   (4,520)         4,375         (2,264)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year.......    5,472          1,097          3,361
                                                       -------         ------         ------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year.............  $   952        $ 5,472       $  1,097
                                                        ======         ======         ======
</TABLE>
* Reclassified for comparative purposes

                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       F-6


<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
                         FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31,
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)



                                           1997          1996            1995*
                                           ----          ----            -----

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES

Cash paid during the year for:

     Interest paid, net...............  $  1,593        $1,419        $  1,291

     Income taxes paid  ..............  $  5,378        $7,674        $  5,880



SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES


Acquired businesses:
     Estimated fair value of 
       assets acquired................  $13,544         $   -         $10,594
     Goodwill and identifiable 
       intangible assets..............   12,655             -           2,037
     Purchase price obligations.......   (1,358)            -          (1,125)
     Cash paid, net of cash acquired..  (19,739)            -          (8,038)
                                         ------          -----         ------
     Liabilities assumed..............  $ 5,102         $   -         $ 3,468
                                         ======          =====         ======
Dividends declared but not paid.......  $   167         $  172        $   164

Note receivable from stockholder in 
  connection with issuance of common
  stock...............................  $   664         $   -         $   -
Fair market value of treasury stock
  issued to pension plans.............  $ 1,208         $   -         $   -

* Reclassified for comparative purposes













                 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
                                       F-7


<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------

1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION:

      Charter Power Systems, Inc. was incorporated in November 1985. The Company
manufactures   battery  power  systems  and  their  components  for  commercial,
industrial and government use in the North American and export standby power and
motive power  markets.  The Company also  manufactures  embedded high  frequency
switching power supplies for use in telecommunication equipment, advanced office
electronics and sophisticated computer systems. On January 28, 1986, the Company
purchased  substantially  all of the assets of the C&D Power Systems division of
Allied Corporation (Allied) (the Acquisition).

      The  consolidated  financial  statements  include the  accounts of Charter
Power  Systems,  Inc.  and  its  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  (collectively  the
Company).  All  significant  intercompany  accounts and  transactions  have been
eliminated.

      ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES:

      The  preparation  of financial  statements  in conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

      FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION:

      Assets and  liabilities in foreign  currencies  are  translated  into U.S.
dollars at the rate of exchange  prevailing at the balance  sheet date.  Revenue
and  expenses  are  translated  at the average  rate of exchange for the period.
Transaction  gains  (losses)  included in income for the years ended January 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995 were not material.

      DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

      Derivative  financial  instruments  are  utilized by the Company to reduce
foreign  exchange and interest rate risks. The Company has established a control
environment  which includes  policies and procedures for risk assessment and the
approval,   reporting  and   monitoring  of  derivative   financial   instrument
activities. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading
purposes and it  prohibits  the use of  derivatives  for  speculative  purposes.
Derivative  financial  instruments are accounted for on an accrual basis. Income
and expense are  recorded in the same  category as that arising from the related
asset or liability being hedged.



                                       F-8

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

      The Company selectively uses foreign currency forward and option contracts
to offset the  effects of exchange  rate  changes on cash flows  denominated  in
foreign  currencies,  primarily the Canadian  dollar.  Gains and losses were not
material in any year.

      The Company uses an interest  rate swap  agreement to reduce the impact of
interest rate changes on its debt. The interest rate swap agreement involves the
exchange of variable for fixed rate  interest  payments  without the exchange of
the underlying notional amount (see Note 5).

      CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:

      The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments  purchased with a
maturity of three  months or less to be cash  equivalents.  The  Company's  cash
management  program  utilizes  zero  balance  accounts.  Accordingly,  all  book
overdraft  balances have been  reclassified to accounts  payable and amounted to
$7,577 and $4,761 at January 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

      INVENTORIES:

      Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable  value. Cost
is generally  determined by the last-in,  first-out  (LIFO) method for financial
statement and federal income tax purposes.

      PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

      Property,  plant and equipment  acquired as of the Acquisition is recorded
at the then fair value. Property, plant and equipment acquired subsequent to the
Acquisition is recorded at cost or fair market value if part of an  acquisition.
Plant  and  equipment,   including  capital  leases,   are  depreciated  on  the
straight-line  method for financial  reporting  purposes over  estimated  useful
lives which range from 3 to 10 years for machinery and  equipment,  and 10 to 40
years for buildings  and  improvements.  The  Company's  policy is to capitalize
interest during the period of construction.

      The cost of  maintenance  and  repairs is charged to expense as  incurred.
Renewals and betterments are capitalized.  Upon retirement or other  disposition
of items of plant and  equipment,  the cost of the item and related  accumulated
depreciation  are removed  from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in
income.

      The  Company  capitalizes  purchased  software,  including  certain  costs
associated with its installation.  The cost of software capitalized is amortized
over its estimated useful life,  generally five years,  using the  straight-line
method.



                                       F-9

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

      INTANGIBLE AND OTHER ASSETS, NET:

      Intangible and other assets,  net, includes assets acquired resulting from
business acquisitions (see Note 14) and are being amortized on the straight-line
method over their  estimated  periods of benefit,  primarily  five to ten years.
Accumulated  amortization  as of January  31, 1997 and 1996 was $1,687 and $946,
respectively.

      GOODWILL, NET:

      Goodwill  represents  the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets
acquired and is being amortized on the straight-line method over 10 to 40 years.
The  recoverability  of goodwill is  periodically  reviewed by the  Company.  In
assessing  recoverability,  many  factors are  considered,  including  operating
results and cash flows.  The Company  believes  that no  impairment  of goodwill
existed at January 31, 1997. Accumulated amortization as of January 31, 1997 and
1996 was $1,356 and $830, respectively.

      IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS:

      In the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived  Assets and for  Long-Lived  Assets to be Disposed Of." The Statement
establishes  accounting  standards  for the  impairment  of  long-lived  assets,
certain  identifiable  intangibles,  and goodwill related to those assets. There
was no material effect on the financial statements from the adoption because the
Company's prior  impairment  recognition  practice was consistent with the major
provisions  of the  Statement.  Under  provisions of the  Statement,  impairment
losses are recognized  when expected future cash flows are less than the assets'
carrying  value.  Accordingly,  when  indicators of impairment are present,  the
Company  evaluates  the carrying  value of  property,  plant and  equipment  and
intangibles  in relation to the operating  performance  and future  undiscounted
cash flows of the underlying business. The Company adjusts the net book value of
the underlying assets if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than book
value.

      ACCRUED LIABILITIES:

      Included in accrued liabilities as of January 31, 1997 and 1996 are $2,413
and $2,216 of accrued  vacation,  $2,087 and $1,642 of accrued sales commissions
and $3,042 and $2,675 of accrued workers compensation insurance, respectively.



                                      F-10

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

      OTHER LIABILITIES:

      The Company  provides for  estimated  warranty  costs at the time of sale.
Accrued warranty  obligations of $3,106 and $2,007 are included in other current
liabilities  and  $4,215  and $4,234 are  included  in other  liabilities  as of
January 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

      INCOME TAXES:

      The Company  follows SFAS No. 109,  "Accounting  for Income  Taxes," which
requires  recognition  of deferred tax  liabilities  and assets for the expected
future tax  consequences  of events  that have been  included  in the  financial
statements  or tax  returns  using tax rates in effect for the year in which the
differences are expected to reverse.

      NET INCOME PER SHARE:

      Net income per common  and  common  equivalent  share for the years  ended
January 31,  1997,  1996 and 1995 are based on the  weighted  average  number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding and the effect of shares issuable under stock
options  based on the treasury  stock method.  Fully diluted  earnings per share
reflects dilution related to stock options due to the use of the market price at
the end of the  period,  when  higher  than the  average  price for the  period.
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares were as follows:

                                                  JANUARY 31,
                                     ----------------------------------------

                                     1997             1996             1995
                                     ----             ----             ----


          Primary...........      6,439,165        6,451,289         6,210,793
          Fully diluted.....      6,451,036        6,455,467         6,256,066




                                      F-11

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


1.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

      STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED:

      In February 1997, the Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) issued
SFAS No.  128,  "Earnings  Per  Share."  SFAS No. 128  specifies  new  standards
designed  to improve  the  earnings  per share  (EPS)  information  provided  in
financial  statements  by  simplifying  the existing  computational  guidelines,
revising the disclosure  requirements,  and increasing the  comparability of EPS
data on an  international  basis.  Some of the changes  made to simplify the EPS
computations  include:  (i)  eliminating  the  presentation  of primary  EPS and
replacing it with basic EPS,  with the  principal  difference  being that common
stock  equivalents are not considered in computing  basic EPS, (ii)  eliminating
the modified treasury stock method and the three percent  materiality  provision
and (iii) revising the contingent share provisions and the supplemental EPS data
requirements. SFAS No. 128 also makes a number of changes to existing disclosure
requirements.  SFAS No. 128 is effective  for  financial  statements  issued for
periods  ending after  December 15, 1997. The Company has not yet determined the
impact of the implementation of SFAS No. 128.

     In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 129,  "Disclosure of Information
about Capital  Structure."  SFAS No. 129  establishes  standards for  disclosing
information about an entity's capital structure.  The Statement is effective for
financial  statements  for periods  ending after  December 15, 1997. The Company
believes that the adoption of this statement will not have a material  effect on
its financial position or results of operations.

      In October 1996, the American  Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants
issued   Statement   of   Position   (SOP)  96-1,   "Environmental   Remediation
Liabilities,"  which provides  guidance on specific  accounting  issues that are
present in the recognition, measurement, display and disclosure of environmental
remediation liabilities.  SOP 96-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1996. Accordingly, the Company will adopt SOP 96-1 during the first
quarter of 1997.  The Company  believes that the adoption of this statement will
not have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.


2.    RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

      At January  31, 1997 and 1996,  the  Company  had debt  proceeds of $1 and
$5,402 which were  available  solely for the  acquisition  and  installation  of
equipment at the Company's existing  industrial battery  manufacturing  facility
located in Conyers, Georgia (see Note 5).


                                      F-12

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


3.    INVENTORIES

      Inventories consisted of the following:

                                                       JANUARY 31,
                                                 --------------------------

                                                 1997                  1996
                                                 ----                  ----

      Raw materials......................      $17,506               $14,033
      Work-in-progress ..................       11,599                 9,357
      Finished goods.....................        9,838                11,837
                                                ------                ------
                                               $38,943               $35,227
                                                ======                ======

      If the first-in,  first-out (FIFO) method of inventory accounting had been
used (which approximates  current cost),  inventories would have been $3,027 and
$3,205 higher than reported as of January 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.


4.    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

      Property, plant and equipment, net, consisted of the following:

                                                        JANUARY 31,
                                                 --------------------------

                                                 1997                  1996
                                                 ----                  ----

      Land...............................     $    487               $   487
      Buildings and improvements.........       18,099                16,281
      Furniture, fixtures and equipment..       82,825                63,617
      Construction in progress...........        2,794                 3,950
                                               -------                ------
                                               104,205                84,335
      Less:
          Accumulated depreciation.......       51,736                44,960
                                               -------                ------
                                              $ 52,469               $39,375
                                               =======                ======

      For the years ended January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,  depreciation charged
to  operations  amounted to $7,281,  $5,555 and $6,597;  maintenance  and repair
costs  expensed  totaled  $6,268,  $5,939 and $5,665;  and interest  capitalized
amounted to $304, $60 and $87, respectively.


                                      F-13

<PAGE>

                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------

5.    LONG-TERM DEBT      

      Long-term debt consisted of the following:
                                                             JANUARY 31,
                                                             -----------
                                                          1997         1996
                                                          ----         ----

      Revolving credit facility (Revolving Credit);
maximum commitment of $65,000 at January 31, 1997 
and 1996 bearing interest at Prime minus 0.25% or
LIBOR plus 0.75% and Prime or LIBOR plus 1.25%, 
respectively.......................................     $20,333          -

      Term loan (Term Loan); original amount of 
$15,000, bearing interest at Prime or LIBOR plus 
1.45%, principal payable in equal quarterly payments
of $750 which commenced on December 1, 1994. The 
term loan was paid in full on April 1, 1996........         -        $ 6,250

      Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing
Authority (PEDFA) Taxable Development Revenue Bonds,
1991 Series B2, supported by a letter of credit,
bearing  interest  at a rate set on a weekly basis  
which  approximates the  commercial paper rate 
(effective rate on a weighted average basis, 5.45% 
as of January 31, 1997 and 5.60% as of January 31, 
1996), principal payable in monthly installments 
of $8 from December 1993 through November 1999 and 
of $108 from December 1999 through November 2000...       1,584        1,684

      PEDFA  Economic Development  Revenue  Bonds, 
1991  Series D6, supported by a letter of credit, 
bearing interest at  a rate set  on a  weekly basis 
which approximates the  commercial paper rate for 
high-grade tax-exempt borrowers (effective rate on
a weighted  average basis, 3.70% as of January 31, 
1997 and 3.55% as of January 31, 1996), principal 
payable in monthly installments of $8 from December 
1993 through November 1999 and of $67 from December 
1999 through November 2000.........................       1,083        1,183

      Development Authority of Rockdale County 
Industrial Development Revenue Bonds,  Series 1995,
(Georgia Bonds), supported by a letter of credit 
(Georgia L/C),  bearing  interest at a rate set on
a weekly basis which approximates tax exempt A+ 
rated debt securities (effective rate on weighted 
average basis, 3.70% as of January 31, 1997 and 
3.45% as of January 31, 1996), principal payable 
at maturity December 1, 2005.......................       6,500        6,500

      Capital lease obligations, bearing interest 
at 10.5% ..........................................         327          - 
                                                         ------       ------
                                                         29,827       15,617

      Less current portion.........................         476          200
                                                         ------       ------
                                                        $29,351      $15,417
                                                         ======       ======

                                      F-14

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


5.    LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

      On  September  26,  1994 the  Company  entered  into a  three-bank  credit
facility  consisting of a $45,000  revolving  credit facility and a $15,000 term
loan. The bank group consists of  NationsBank,  NA, Fleet Bank NA and CoreStates
Bank N.A. (The Lenders).  On January 26, 1996 the Revolving  Credit facility was
increased from $45,000 to $65,000.

      On January 26, 1996 the Revolving  Credit  expiration  date was amended to
January 31, 1999 with two  one-year  extension  options  subject to the Lender's
approval.  The facility may be  converted  to a three-year  converted  term loan
(Converted  Loan) at the Company's  discretion at any maturity date. The Company
has the right to use up to $8,000 of the availability under the Revolving Credit
to provide  for the  issuance  of letters of credit,  including  the  letters of
credit  covering the $2,700 PEDFA loans (The PEDFA L/C),  for the account of the
Company. The Georgia L/C was issued independent of the Revolving Credit and does
not impair the $8,000  availability.  At January 31,  1997 and 1996,  $6,575 was
outstanding  under the Georgia L/C. The aggregate value of the letters of credit
outstanding was $11,923 and $11,477 at January 31, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.
The  availability  under the Revolving Credit was $39,319 and $53,523 at January
31,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  A letter of credit fee of between  1.00% and
1.25% per annum on the  aggregate  face  amount of any  outstanding  letters  of
credit is payable  quarterly.  At January 31, 1996 a commitment fee of 0.25% per
annum on the  amount of  remaining  availability  is  payable  quarterly.  As of
September 3, 1996 the commitment fee was reduced to 0.18%.

      The interest rates are based on a financial  coverage  ratio. On September
3, 1996 the Agreement was amended to reduce the available rates on the Revolving
Credit. The available rates after September 3, 1996 are in the following ranges:
Prime minus 0.4% to Prime plus 0.6% or LIBOR plus 0.6% to LIBOR plus 1.60%.  The
available  interest  rates  prior to  September  3, 1996  were in the  following
ranges: Prime to Prime plus 0.75% or LIBOR plus 1.25% to LIBOR plus 1.75% on the
Revolving  Credit;  Prime to Prime  plus 0.75% or LIBOR plus 1.45% to LIBOR plus
2.00% on all Term Loans;  and Prime plus 0.25% to Prime plus 1.00% or LIBOR plus
1.70% to LIBOR plus 2.25% on all Converted Loans.

      The maximum  aggregate  amounts of loans  outstanding  under the Revolving
Credit were $28,915, $7,237 and $14,000 during the years ended January 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995,  respectively.  For those years, the outstanding loans (excluding
the PEDFA L/C guarantees) under the Revolving Credit computed on a monthly basis
averaged  $21,494,  $2,204  and $6,808 at a weighted  average  interest  rate of
6.79%, 8.53% and 7.33%, respectively.

      At January  31,  1996  short-term  debt of $3,000  under the Term Loan was
classified as long-term  because of the Company's  intent to renew the borrowing
using an available long-term revolving credit facility.

                                      F-15

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


5.    LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)

      On  December  20,  1995 the Company  entered  into an  interest  rate swap
agreement  with a notional  amount of $6,500.  This swap  agreement  effectively
fixed the interest rate on a like amount of our floating rate debt at 6.01% plus
the Company's  LIBOR spread in effect at any time.  The effective rate was 6.76%
and 7.26% at  January  31,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The swap  expires  on
December 20, 2002. At January 31, 1997 and 1996 the estimated fair value of this
interest  rate swap  agreement is not  material.  The  ultimate  amounts paid or
received under this agreement,  however,  depend on future  interest rates.  The
estimates of fair value are based on market  prices or current rates offered for
debt and swaps with similar terms and maturities.

      The  Revolving  Credit  and Term  Loan are  collateralized  by liens  upon
substantially  all  the  Company's  assets.   The  agreement   contains  certain
restrictive   covenants,   including  certain  cash  flow  and  financial  ratio
requirements and a restriction on capital  expenditures.  The agreement  permits
payment  of  dividends  on the  Company's  Common  Stock  so long as there is no
default under the agreement.

      The PEDFA and Georgia Bonds are subject to mandatory  redemption  upon the
occurrence of certain  events,  including the  termination of the  corresponding
L/C. The tax exempt bonds are subject to mandatory redemption if they lose their
tax exempt status.

      The Company was in  compliance  with its lending  agreement  covenants  at
January 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

      As of January 31, 1997, the required minimum annual principal reduction of
long-term debt and capital lease  obligations for each of the next five years is
as follows:

               1998.........................     $   476
               1999.........................      20,584
               2000 ........................         517
               2001.........................       1,750
               2002.........................         -
               Thereafter...................       6,500
                                                  ------
                                                 $29,827
                                                  ======

                                      F-16

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


6.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

      (A)  STOCK OPTION PLAN:

      In October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation."  This standard  permits the  continued use of accounting  methods
prescribed by Accounting  Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for
Stock Issued to  Employees," or use of the fair value based method of accounting
for  employee  stock  options.  Under  APB No.  25 no  compensation  expense  is
recognized  when the exercise  price of the  Company's  employee  stock  options
equals  the  market  price of the  underlying  stock at the date of  grant.  The
Company has elected to continue using APB No. 25.

      If APB No. 25 is elected,  SFAS No. 123 requires  disclosure  of pro forma
information  regarding  net income and earnings per share  determined  as if the
Company accounted for its employee stock options under the fair value method for
options granted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994. There were no
grants  awarded by the Company  during fiscal year ended  January 31, 1996.  The
impact of grants  awarded  during  fiscal  year ended  January  31, 1997 was not
material.

      At January 31, 1997, the Company had options  outstanding  under its Stock
Option  Plans.  The 1996 Stock Option Plan was approved by the  stockholders  on
July 25, 1996 and replaces the previous  plan which expired on January 28, 1996.
New  options can be granted  only under the 1996 plan,  which  reserved  500,000
shares of Common Stock for such use.  Incentive  stock options are to be granted
at no less than 100% of the fair  market  value on the date of grant with a term
of no more than ten years after the date of grant.  Nonqualified  stock  options
are to be granted at such price as the  Compensation  Committee  of the Board of
Directors  deems  appropriate  with a term of no more than ten years and one day
after the date of grant.  The options are exercisable upon vesting as determined
by the Compensation Committee at the time the options are granted.



                                      F-17

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


6.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)

      A summary of stock option  activity  related to the  Company's  plan is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                 Beginning     Granted    Exercised    Canceled      Ending
                                  Balance      During      During       During       Balance
                                Outstanding     Year        Year         Year      Outstanding  Exercisable
                                -----------     ----        ----         ----      -----------  -----------
<S>                              <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>          <C>
Year ended
  January 31, 1997
Number of shares...........      301,800      253,000      111,300        12,000      431,500      190,500
Weighted average option
  price per share..........       $10.19       $24.00       $10.66        $24.00       $17.78        $9.92

Year ended
  January 31, 1996
Number of shares...........      403,600         -          94,125         7,675      301,800      187,300
Weighted average option
  price per share..........        $9.96         -           $9.20        $10.39       $10.19        $9.06

Year ended
  January 31, 1995
Number of shares...........      306,625      266,350      133,625        35,750      403,600      155,125
Weighted average option
  price per share..........        $7.58       $12.36        $8.28        $13.69        $9.96        $6.69
</TABLE>

      There were 259,000 and 0 shares  available for future grants of options as
of January 31,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The  following  table  summarizes
information about the stock options outstanding at January 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          OPTIONS OUTSTANDING                           OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                           -----------------------------------------------        -----------------------------
                                               Weighted-
                                                Average          Weighted-                            Weighted-
                              Number           Remaining          Average            Number            Average
       Range of             Outstanding       Contractual         Exercise         Exercisable         Exercise
    Exercise Prices         At 1/31/97            Life             Price           At 1/31/97           Price
    ---------------         ----------            ----             -----           ----------           -----

<C>                          <C>              <C>                  <C>               <C>                <C>   
$5.25 - $8.25                 75,500          5.6 years            $ 6.96             75,500            $ 6.96
$10.13 - $14.63              115,000          7.2 years            $11.87            115,000            $11.87
$24.00                       241,000          9.8 years            $24.00               -                  -
                             -------                                                 -------
$5.25 - $24.00               431,500          8.3 years            $17.78            190,500            $ 9.92
                             =======                                                 =======
</TABLE>


                                      F-18

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


6.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)

      (B) GRANT OF OPTIONS:

      In May 1989 and June 1988, the Company granted options to purchase 110,000
and 237,386  shares,  respectively,  of Common Stock to certain  executives  for
terms expiring  April 30, 1994 and 1993,  respectively,  at $6.04 per share.  In
June 1991:  (i) a certain  executive  vested in his options to  purchase  26,376
shares of common stock; and (ii) the agreements  regarding the remaining options
were amended whereby certain vesting criteria were eliminated and the expiration
dates  changed,  so that these options vested on April 30, 1994 and would expire
on April 30, 1996 and  October  31,  1995 for  options to  purchase  110,000 and
211,010 shares, respectively. During the year ended January 31, 1994, the option
to purchase  26,376  shares  expired  prior to  exercise.  During the year ended
January 31, 1996 the option to purchase 211,010 shares was exercised. During the
year ended January 31, 1997 the option to purchase 110,000 shares was exercised.
The Company has recorded compensation expense related to these options of $66 in
the year ended January 31, 1995.

                                      F-19

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                   ----------


7.    INCOME TAXES

      The provisions for income taxes as shown in the accompanying  consolidated
statements of income consisted of the following:

                                                        JANUARY 31,
                                                        -----------
                                                 1997        1996       1995
                                                 ----        ----       ----

         Currently payable:
             Federal..........................  $7,196     $ 7,156     $3,888
             Foreign..........................      94         -          -
             State............................     960       1,068        616
             Foreign Sales Corporation........     173         120         95
                                                 -----      ------      -----
                                                 8,423       8,344      4,599
                                                 -----      ------      -----
         Deferred:
             Federal.........................     (285)     (1,052)       437
             State...........................      (17)       (185)      (480)
                                                 -----      ------      -----
                                                  (302)     (1,237)       (43)
                                                 -----      ------      -----
                                                $8,121     $ 7,107     $4,556
                                                 =====      ======      =====

      The  components  of the deferred tax asset and liability as of January 31,
1997 and 1996 were as follows:

                                                        1997        1996
                                                        ----        ----

Deferred tax asset:
     Vacation and compensation accruals..........     $ 3,537     $ 3,686
     Restructuring reserves......................         307         297
     Postretirement benefits.....................         682         716
     Warranty reserves...........................       2,903       2,490
     Bad debt, inventory and return allowances...       1,471         961
     Environmental reserves......................         593         502
     Other accruals..............................         277         822
                                                       ------      ------
     Total deferred tax asset....................       9,770       9,474
                                                       ------      ------

Deferred tax liability:
     Depreciation and amortization...............      (5,773)     (5,049)
     Pension obligation..........................        (388)       (740)
     Other.......................................        (217)       (200)
                                                       ------      ------
     Total deferred tax liability................      (6,378)     (5,989)
                                                       ------      ------
     Net deferred tax asset......................     $ 3,392     $ 3,485
                                                       ======      ======

                                      F-20

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


7.    INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

     Reconciliations  of the  provisions  for income  taxes at the U. S. Federal
statutory  rate to the effective tax rates for the years ended January 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively, are as follows:
                                                    JANUARY 31,
                                                    -----------
                                             1997       1996        1995
                                             ----       ----        ----

    U.S. statutory income tax............  $8,070     $7,403      $4,777
    Tax effect of foreign operations.....    (234)       -           -
    State tax, net of federal
      income tax benefit.................     613        574         401
    Reduction in valuation allowance.....     -         (792)       (671)
    Stock option compensation............     -           -           23
    Foreign sales corporation............    (325)      (150)       (119)
    Other................................      (3)        72         145
                                            -----      -----       -----
                                           $8,121     $7,107      $4,556
                                            =====      =====       =====

      The decrease in the valuation  allowance of $792 and $671 during the years
ended January 31, 1996 and 1995 relates to the revaluation of the realization of
deferred  tax assets  related to state  income taxes due to changes in state tax
laws of $0 and $443 and to revaluation of the stock option compensation deferred
tax asset due to  increases in the price of the  Company's  common stock of $792
and $228, respectively.


8.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

      (A)  OPERATING LEASES:

      The Company leases certain manufacturing and office facilities and certain
equipment  under  operating  lease  agreements.  Certain leases contain  renewal
options and some have purchase  options,  and generally provide that the Company
shall pay for  insurance,  taxes and  maintenance.  As of January 31, 1997,  the
Company  had  future  minimum  annual  lease   obligations   under  leases  with
noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year as follows:

               1998........................    $ 1,785
               1999........................      1,677
               2000........................      1,595
               2001........................      1,167
               2002........................      1,009
               Thereafter..................      5,905
                                                 -----
                                               $13,138
                                                ======

      Total rent expense for all  operating  leases for the years ended  January
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $3,289, $1,800 and $1,512, respectively.

                                      F-21

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                     -------


8.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

      (B)  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES:

      Because  the  Company  uses lead and  other  hazardous  substances  in its
manufacturing processes, it is subject to numerous federal,  Canadian,  Mexican,
Irish,  state and local laws and  regulations  that are  designed to protect the
environment and employee health and safety.

      These laws and regulations  include  requirements of periodic reporting to
governmental agencies regarding the use and disposal of hazardous substances and
compliance  with  rigorous  criteria  regarding  exposure to  employees  and the
disposal of scrap.  In the opinion of the Company,  the Company  complies in all
material respects with these laws and regulations.

      Notwithstanding  such compliance,  if damage to persons or the environment
has been or is caused by hazardous  substances  used or generated in the conduct
of the Company's business,  the Company may be held liable for the damage and be
required  to pay the cost of  remedying  the  same,  and the  amount of any such
liability might be material to the results of operations or financial condition.
However,  under  the  terms  of the  purchase  agreement  with  Allied  for  the
Acquisition of the Company (the Acquisition  Agreement),  Allied is obligated to
indemnify the Company for any liabilities of this type resulting from conditions
existing at January 28, 1986 that were not disclosed by Allied to the Company in
the schedules to the Acquisition Agreement.

      The Company,  along with numerous  other  parties,  has been  requested to
provide  information to the United States  Environmental  Protection Agency (the
EPA) in connection with investigations of the source and extent of contamination
at several lead smelting  facilities  (the Third Party  Facilities) to which the
Company had made scrap lead shipments for  reclamation  prior to the date of the
Acquisition.  As of January 16,  1989,  the  Company,  with the  concurrence  of
Allied,  entered into an agreement with other  potentially  responsible  parties
(PRPs)  relating  to  remediation  of a  portion  of  one  of  the  Third  Party
Facilities,  the former NL Industries (NL), facility in Pedricktown,  New Jersey
(the  NL  Site),   which  agreement  provides  for  their  joint  funding  on  a
proportionate  basis of certain  remedial  investigation  and feasibility  study
activities with respect to that site.

      In fiscal 1993 in accordance  with an EPA order, a group  comprised of the
Company and 30 other parties  commenced  work on the cleanup of a portion of the
NL Site based on a  specified  remedial  approach  which is now  completed.  The
Company did not incur costs in excess of the amount previously reserved.

                                      F-22

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                     -------


8.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

      With  regard  to the  remainder  of  the  NL  Site,  the  EPA is  pursuing
negotiations  with NL and the other PRPs,  including the Company,  regarding the
conduct  and  funding of the  remedial  work plan.  The EPA has  proposed a cost
allocation plan,  however,  the allocation  percentages  between parties and the
basis  for  allocation  of  cost  are not  defined  in the  plan  or  elsewhere.
Therefore,  a reliable  range of the potential cost to the Company of this phase
of the clean-up cannot currently be determined. Accordingly, the Company has not
created any reserve for this potential exposure.

      The remedial  investigation  and feasibility study at a second Third Party
Facility, the former Tonolli Incorporated facility at Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania
(the Tonolli  Site),  was  completed  in fiscal  1993.  The EPA and the PRPs are
continuing to evaluate the draft remedial  design work plan for the site.  Based
on the estimated cost of the remedial  approach selected by the EPA, the Company
believes  that the  potential  cost of remedial  action at the  Tonolli  Site is
likely to range between  $16,000 and $17,000.  The Company's  allocable share of
this cost has not been finally determined,  and will depend on such variables as
the  financial  capability  of  various  other  PRPs  to fund  their  respective
allocable shares of the remedial cost. Based on currently available information,
however,  the Company believes that its most likely exposure with respect to the
Tonolli Site will be the approximately $579 previously reserved, the majority of
which is expected to be paid over the next three to five years.

      The Company has  responded to requests for  information  from the EPA with
regard to four other Third Party  Facilities,  one in September  1991,  one (the
Chicago  Site) in October  1991,  one (the ILCO  Site) in  October  1993 and the
fourth  (Bern  Metal  Super Fund Site) in March  1997.  Of the four  sites,  the
Company has been identified as a PRP at the ILCO and Chicago Sites only.

      Based on currently  available  information,  the Company believes that the
potential  cost of  remediation  at the ILCO  Site is  likely  to range  between
$54,000 and  $59,000  (based on the  estimated  costs of the  remedial  approach
selected by the EPA).  The Company's  allocable  share of this cost has not been
finally determined and will depend on such variables as the financial capability
of various other PRPs to fund their respective  allocable shares of the remedial
cost.  However,  on October 31, 1995 the Company received  confirmation from the
EPA that it is a de minimis PRP at the ILCO Site.  Based on currently  available
information,  however,  the Company  believes that its most likely exposure with
respect  to the ILCO Site is an  immaterial  amount  which  has been  previously
reserved,  the  majority  of which is expected to be paid over the next three to
five years.

      Based on currently  available  information,  the Company believes that the
potential cost of the remediation at the Chicago Site is likely to range between
$8,000 and $10,500 (based on the preliminary  estimated costs of the remediation
approach  negotiated with the EPA).  Sufficient  information is not available to
determine  the  Company's  allocable  share of this  cost.  Based  on  currently
available  information,  however,  the  Company  believes  that its most  likely
exposure  with  respect  to the  Chicago  Site  will be the  approximately  $283
previously reserved,  the majority of which is expected to be paid over the next
two to five years.

                                      F-23

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                     -------


8.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

      Allied has accepted  responsibility  under the  Acquisition  Agreement for
potential  liabilities  relating  to all Third Party  Facilities  other than the
aforementioned  Sites. Based on currently available  information,  management of
the Company  believes that the foregoing will not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

      (C)  PURCHASE COMMITMENTS:

      The Company has  long-term  relationships  pertaining  to the  purchase of
certain raw materials with various  suppliers  through  December 31, 1998. These
purchase commitments are not expected to exceed usage requirements.


9.    MAJOR CUSTOMER

      AT&T accounted for 11.1%,  11.4% and 9.9% of net sales for the years ended
January  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.  AT&T spun off its  equipment
manufacturing operations into an independent company named "Lucent Technologies,
Inc.," which  began  operations  on October 1, 1996. Lucent  Technologies,  Inc.
accounted  for 4.0% of sales for the year ended  January  31,  1997.  Had Lucent
Technologies,  Inc. been an operating company for the full fiscal year, it would
have  accounted for 12.0% of net sales and AT&T would have accounted for 3.1% of
net sales for the year ended January 31, 1997.


10.   CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

      Financial instruments which subject the Company to potential concentration
of credit risk consist  principally  of trade  receivables  and  temporary  cash
investments.  The Company  places its temporary  cash  investments  with various
financial  institutions and, generally,  limits the amount of credit exposure to
any one financial institution.  Except as discussed in Note 9, concentrations of
credit risk with  respect to trade  receivables  is limited by a large  customer
base  and  its  geographic  dispersion.  The  Company  performs  ongoing  credit
evaluations of its customers' financial condition and requires collateral,  such
as letters of credit, in certain circumstances.

                                      F-24

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


11.   FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

      The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value
of each class of financial instruments:

      Cash and cash  equivalents - the carrying amount  approximates  fair value
      because of the short maturity of these instruments.

      Debt  (excluding  capital lease  obligations)  - the carrying value of the
      Company's long term debt, including the current portion, approximates fair
      value based on the incremental  borrowing rates currently available to the
      Company for loans with similar terms, maturity and tax exempt status.

      The  estimated  fair  values of the  Company's  financial  instruments  at
January 31, 1997 and 1996 were as follows:

                                        1997                      1996
                                ---------------------    -----------------------
                                Carrying                 Carrying
                                 Amount    Fair Value     Amount      Fair Value
                                 ------    ----------     ------      ----------
Cash and cash equivalents ..... $   952    $    952       $ 5,472     $  5,472
Restricted cash and cash
   equivalents ................       1           1         5,402        5,402
Debt (excluding capital
   lease obligations) .........  29,500      29,500        15,617       15,617

      The fair  value of  accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable  and  accrued
liabilities  consistently  approximate  the carrying value due to the relatively
short maturity of these instruments and are excluded from the above table.

      On  December  20,  1995 the Company  entered  into an  interest  rate swap
agreement  with a notional  amount of $6,500.  This swap  agreement  effectively
fixed the interest rate on a like amount of the Company's  floating rate debt at
6.01% plus the Company's  LIBOR spread in effect at any time. The effective rate
was 6.76% and 7.26% at January 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The swap expires
on December 20, 2002. At January 31, 1997 and 1996 the  estimated  fair value of
this interest rate swap agreement is not material.  The ultimate amounts paid or
received under this agreement,  however,  depends on future interest rates.  The
estimates of fair value are based on market  prices or current rates offered for
debt and swaps with similar terms and maturities.


                                      F-25

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


12.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

      In connection with the Acquisition,  the Company entered into a consulting
agreement  with an affiliate  of certain of the  Company's  major  stockholders.
Effective  January 1, 1992, the agreement was amended to eliminate the Company's
obligation to pay regular periodic  consulting fees and to substitute  therefore
an obligation to pay certain fees in connection  with potential  acquisitions by
the Company.  The  agreement was  terminated on November 1, 1995.  For the years
ended  January  31,  1997,  1996  and  1995 the  Company  paid  $0,  $0 and $80,
respectively.

      In May 1988, the Company entered into an agreement with a former executive
providing  for (i) the  purchase  of 316,515  shares of Common  Stock at $4.20 a
share,  payable in cash in the amount of $.01 a share and the balance of $4.19 a
share in a noninterest  bearing note and (ii) the grant of certain  options (see
Note 6). The note  matured on October  31, 1995 and was  repaid.  For  financial
reporting  purposes,  the note was discounted to present value as of the date of
issuance.

      In May 1989, the Company entered into an agreement with another  executive
providing  for (i) the  purchase  of 60,000  shares  of Common  Stock at $5.50 a
share,  payable  in cash in the amount of $.01 a share and an  interest  bearing
note at 12.5% (6.0% per annum  effective  July 1, 1992)  maturing April 30, 1998
(subject to  acceleration  under certain  circumstances),  and (ii) the grant of
certain  options (see Note 6). The note was repaid  during the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1996. The option was exercised on April 30, 1996. Under the terms of
the  Option   Agreement,   this  executive  paid  the  exercise  price  with  an
interest-free  promissory note in the original  principal amount of $664 that is
collateralized  by the shares  received on exercise and is due October 31, 1997.
The  Company  loaned this  executive  $1,057 to pay the tax  withholding  on the
exercise of such option,  evidenced by a promissory note (the Tax Note), bearing
interest at 5.33% per annum payable annually, and due on April 29, 1997, subject
to extension until April 29, 1999 at the option of this executive.  The Tax Note
is also  collateralized  by the shares received on exercise of such option.  The
Company further agreed to make payments to the executive in an amount sufficient
to reimburse the executive,  on an after-tax  basis, for all interest on the Tax
Note incurred through the earlier of April 29, 1997 or the prepayment of the Tax
Note.

      The  consolidated  statements  of income for the years  ended  January 31,
1997,  1996 and 1995 include  executive  contract  expenses of $238, $0 and $66,
respectively.

      The Company  had a  consulting  agreement  with a firm of which one of the
former  executives is the sole  stockholder and chief executive  officer,  under
which the firm agreed to provide  business  consulting  services to the Company.
The agreement terminated on April 30, 1994 and provided for an annual consulting
fee under which the Company paid $25 for the year ended January 31, 1995.


                                      F-26

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


13.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

      (A) The Company has various noncontributory defined benefit pension plans,
which cover certain employees.

      The Company's funding policy is to contribute  annually an amount that can
be deducted for federal  income tax purposes  using a different  actuarial  cost
method  and  different  assumptions  than  those  used for  financial  reporting
purposes. Pension benefits for the Company's defined benefit plans are generally
based on  employee's  years of service and  qualifying  compensation  during the
years of  employment.  Plan  assets  are  invested  in  commingled  trust  funds
consisting primarily of equity and U.S. Government securities.

      The following  table  represents the funded status of the Company's  plans
and amounts included in the Company's balance sheets:

                                              JANUARY 31, 1997  JANUARY 31, 1996
                                              ----------------  ----------------
                                               Over-     Under-       Under-
                                               funded    funded       funded
                                               Plans     Plans        Plans
                                               -----     -----        -----

Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:

Vested benefit obligation................      $3,679     $20,116     $23,225
                                                =====      ======      ======

Accumulated benefit obligation...........      $4,107     $21,506     $24,699
                                                =====      ======      ======

Projected benefit obligation.............      $4,107     $25,581     $28,726
Plan assets at fair value................       4,243      24,771      25,423
                                                -----      ------      ------
Projected benefit obligation (in excess
   of) less than plan assets.............         136        (810)     (3,303)
Unrecognized net loss....................         702         855       3,659
Prior service cost not yet recognized
   in net periodic pension cost..........           8         (10)         (2)
Adjustment required to recognize
   minimum liability.....................        -           (240)     (1,341)
                                                -----      ------      ------
Prepaid (accrued) pension cost ..........      $  846     $  (205)    $  (987)
                                                =====      ======      ======


                                      F-27

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------

13.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)

     As required by SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," for plans
where the  accumulated  benefit  obligation exceeds  the fair  value of the plan
assets,  the Company has  recognized in the  accompanying  consolidated  balance
sheets the minimum liability of the unfunded accumulated benefit obligation as a
long-term  liability with an offsetting  intangible asset and equity adjustment,
net of tax  impact.  As of January  31, 1997 and 1996,  this  minimum  liability
amounted to $240 and $1,341, respectively. The reduction in equity as of January
31, 1997 and 1996 amounted to $136 and $760, respectively.

     For the years  ended  January  31,  1997,  1996 and 1995,  the  actuarially
computed net pension expense included the following components:

                                         1997          1996         1995
                                         ----          ----         ----

Service cost ....................       $1,257        $   733      $   864
Interest cost....................        2,100          1,906        1,794
Actual return on plan assets.....       (3,314)        (6,216)         116
Net amortization and deferrals...        1,179          4,506       (1,858)
                                         -----          -----       ------
Net pension expense..............       $1,222        $   929      $   916
                                         =====         ======       ======

      Actuarial assumptions used in accounting for the plans for the years ended
January 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 were as follows:

                                         1997          1996         1995
                                         ----          ----         ----

Discount rate:
     Pension expense.............       7.25%          9.25%         7.675%
     Benefits obligations........       7.80%          7.25%          9.25%
Rates of increase in
     compensation levels.........   4.6% to 8.6%    4.6% to 8.6%    4.6% to 8.6%
Expected long-term rate
     of return on assets.........       8.75%          8.75%         8.75%

      (B) The Company provides  certain health care and life insurance  benefits
for retired employees who meet certain service  requirements under a frozen plan
(the Plan). Under the Plan, the Company  contributes a fixed amount and requires
the retiree to fund the remaining cost. As the Company's contribution is frozen,
the  change in future  health  care  costs  should  not  materially  impact  the
accumulated postretirement benefit obligation.



                                      F-28

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


13.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)

 The components of postretirement benefit expense follow:

                                         1997      1996       1995
                                         ----      ----       ----

Service cost of benefits earned......  $  58     $  49       $  63
Interest cost on liability...........    106       111         119
Net amortization.....................    (16)      (37)         -
                                         ---       ---         ---
Postretirement benefit costs.........   $148      $123        $182
                                         ===       ===         ===

     The following table sets forth the Plan's postretirement  benefit liability
as of January 31, 1997 and 1996:
                                                      1997         1996
                                                      ----         ----

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:

    Current retirees..............................  $  600       $  638
    Fully eligible actives........................     582          602
    Other actives.................................     293          270
                                                     -----        -----
Total accumulated postretirement
    benefit obligation............................   1,475        1,510

Unrecognized net gain.............................    (322)        (279)
                                                     -----        -----
    Accrued postretirement benefit liability......  $1,797       $1,789
                                                     =====        =====

      The accumulated  postretirement  benefit obligation was determined using a
discount  rate of 7.8% and 7.25% for the years ended  January 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

      (C) Certain  salaried  employees  are eligible to  participate  in various
defined  contribution  retirement plans. The Company's  contributions  under the
plans  are  based  on  specified  percentages  of  employee  contributions.  The
Company's  cost was $684,  $633 and $526 for the years ended  January 31,  1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.



                                      F-29

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


14.  ACQUISITIONS

     (A)  Effective  March  29,  1994,  the  Company,  through  its  subsidiary,
International  Power Systems,  Inc., (IPS) acquired for cash, certain assets and
assumed  specific  liabilities  of  the  custom  power  supply  business  of ITT
PowerSystems Corporation.

     The  acquisition  was recorded using the purchase  method of accounting and
the net purchase price of $5,966  approximated  the fair value of the net assets
acquired.  The results of  operations  of this  acquisition  are included in the
Company's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

     The  following  unaudited  pro forma  financial  information  combines  the
consolidated results of operations as if the custom power supply business of ITT
PowerSystems  Corporation  had been  acquired as of the  beginning of the period
presented.  Pro forma  adjustments  include only the effects of events  directly
attributed to a transaction that are factually  supportable and expected to have
a continuing impact.

                                               January 31,
                                                  1995
                                                  ----

      Net sales   .........................      $204,505

      Net income...........................      $  9,495
      Net income per common share
          on a fully diluted basis.........      $   1.52

     The pro  forma  financial  information  does not  necessarily  reflect  the
operating  results that would have occurred had the acquisition been consummated
as of the above dates,  nor is such  information  indicative of future operating
results.

     (B) Effective  January 24, 1995, the Company  purchased  certain assets and
assumed certain  liabilities  from the switching power supply business of Basler
Electric  Company,  a  Highland,   Illinois based   manufacturer  of  electrical
components.   These  power  supplies  are  used  for  office   electronics   and
communications applications.

     The  acquisition  was recorded using the purchase  method of accounting and
the net  purchase  price of  $3,197,  of which  $1,125 was  included  in current
portion of long-term  debt at January 31, 1995,  approximated  the fair value of
the net assets  acquired.  The results of  operations  of this  acquisition  are
included in the Company's  consolidated  financial  statements  from the date of
acquisition  and are not  material  in relation  to the  Company's  consolidated
financial statements.

                                      F-30

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


14.  ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)

     (C) Effective  February 22, 1996 the Company acquired certain equipment and
inventory of LH Research, Inc. used in its power supply business, along with all
rights to the name "LH  Research"  for  $4,428  of which  $892 was  recorded  as
current  portion of long-term debt and paid during the year.  The  Company  used
available cash to finance the acquisition.

     The  acquisition  was recorded using the purchase  method of accounting and
the net purchase  price has been  allocated on the basis of the  estimated  fair
market values of the assets acquired and liabilities  assumed. The excess of the
aggregate purchase price over the estimated fair market values of the net assets
acquired was  recognized as goodwill and is being  amortized over a period of 10
years.  The results of  operations  are included in the  Company's  consolidated
financial statements from the date of acquisition.

     Effective March 12, 1996, the Company acquired from Burr-Brown  Corporation
its entire  interest  in Power  Convertibles  Corporation  (PCC)  consisting  of
1,044,418  shares of PCC common stock and all  outstanding  preferred  stock. In
addition the Company  acquired or repaid $5,158 of indebtedness of PCC. On April
26,  1996,  the Company  acquired  190,000  shares of PCC common  stock from the
former chief executive  officer of PCC which together with the shares previously
acquired  represented in excess of 99.6% of the outstanding PCC common stock. As
of May 29, 1996, the Company  purchased all remaining shares of PCC common stock
and shares of PCC common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.

     The source of funds for the  acquisition  was advances  under the Company's
existing credit facility with NationsBank,  N.A., National  Westminster Bank, NJ
and  CoreStates  Bank,  N.A.  PCC is engaged in the  business of  designing  and
manufacturing DC-to-DC converters used in communications,  computer, medical and
industrial and  instrumentation  markets and also produces  battery chargers for
cellular phones.

     The  acquisition has been recorded using the purchase method of accounting.
The aggregate  purchase  price was $16,932 of which $466 was recorded as current
portion of long-term debt and paid during the year.  The purchase price has been
allocated  on the  basis of the  estimated  fair  market  values  of the  assets
acquired and  liabilities  assumed.  The excess of the aggregate  purchase price
over the estimated fair market values of the net assets  acquired was recognized
as goodwill  and is being  amortized  over a period of 20 years.  The results of
operations are included in the Company's  consolidated financial statements from
the date of acquisition.

                                      F-31

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


14.  ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED)

     The  following  unaudited  pro forma  financial  information  combines  the
consolidated  results of operations as if both  acquisitions  had occurred as of
the beginning of the periods presented.  Pro forma adjustments  include only the
effects  of events  directly  attributed  to a  transaction  that are  factually
supportable and expected to have a continuing  impact. The pro forma adjustments
contained  in the table below  include  amortization  of  intangibles,  interest
expense on the  acquisition  debt,  elimination of interest  expense on debt not
acquired,  reduction of certain selling, general and administrative expenses and
the related income tax effects.

                                                JANUARY 31,
                                                -----------
                                           1997              1996
                                           ----              ----

     Net sales.......................   $288,830          $278,309
     Net income......................   $ 14,683          $ 12,938
     Net income per common share on
         a fully diluted basis.......   $   2.28          $   2.00


     The pro  forma  financial  information  does not  necessarily  reflect  the
operating results that would have occurred had the acquisitions been consummated
as of the above dates,  nor is such  information  indicative of future operating
results.  In addition,  the pro forma financial  results contain estimates since
the acquired businesses did not maintain information on a period comparable with
the Company's fiscal year-end.




                                      F-32

<PAGE>



                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                    --------


15.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

     Quarterly  financial  data for the years  ended  January  31, 1997 and 1996
follow:

                                           First     Second     Third    Fourth
                                          Quarter    Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
                                          -------    -------   -------   -------

  For the year ended January 31, 1997:

  Net sales...........................    $62,429    $71,748   $76,576   $76,154
  Gross profit........................     15,121     15,281    18,262    18,424
  Operating income....................      5,804      4,466     6,857     7,319
  Net income..........................      3,646      2,650     4,130     4,511
  Net income per share................        .56        .40       .65       .72

  For the year ended January 31, 1996:

  Net sales...........................    $58,777    $63,381   $61,456   $58,808
  Gross profit........................     13,792     15,324    14,744    12,754
  Operating income....................      5,134      6,495     6,124     4,884
  Net income..........................      3,175      3,930     3,896     3,043
  Net income per share................        .50        .61       .60       .47






                                      F-33

<PAGE>












                  REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON SCHEDULE



To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Charter Power Systems, Inc.

Our report on the  consolidated  financial  statements of Charter Power Systems,
Inc. and  Subsidiaries  is included on page F-2 of this Form 10-K. In connection
with our audits of such financial  statements,  we have also audited the related
financial statement schedule listed in item 14(a) (2) of this Form 10-K.

In our  opinion,  the  financial  statement  schedule  referred  to above,  when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents  fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the  information  required to be
included therein.




/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
- ----------------------------


COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

2400 Eleven Penn Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 14, 1997





                                                    S-1

<PAGE>


                  CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                  SCHEDULE II.
                        VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
               FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   Additions
                                                    Charged     Additions                  Balance
                                     Balance at    (Credited)    Charged                      at
                                     Beginning     to Costs &    to Other                   End of
                                     of Period      Expenses    Accounts(b)   Deductions    Period
                                     ---------      --------    -----------   ----------    ------

Deducted From Assets
- --------------------

<S>                                   <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>          <C> 
  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Year ended January 31, 1997.........  $1,421         $ 128         $109        $244 (a)     $1,414
Year ended January 31, 1996.........   1,404           136          -           119 (a)      1,421
Year ended January 31, 1995.........   1,622          (151)         137         204 (a)      1,404
</TABLE>

- ---------

(a)  Amounts written-off, net of recoveries.
(b)  Additions related to business acquisitions.


                                       S-2

<PAGE>




                                                                  EXHIBIT 21

                   SUBSIDIARIES OF CHARTER POWER SYSTEMS, INC.



C&D Charter Power Systems, Inc., incorporated in the state of Delaware

Charter Power of  California,  incorporated  in the state of  California,  DBA -
     CalPacific Power Systems, Inc., CalPacific and CalPacific Power Systems

Ratelco Electronics, Inc., incorporated in the state of Delaware

C&D Charter Holdings, Inc., incorporated in the state of Delaware

Cactus Holdings, Inc., incorporated in the state of Delaware

International Power Systems, Inc., incorporated in the state of Arizona

Charter Power F. S. Ltd., incorporated in the Islands of Bermuda

LH Research, Inc., incorporated in the state of Delaware

Power Convertibles Corporation, incorporated in the state of Arizona

Power Convertibles Ireland Ltd., organized under the laws of Ireland

PCC de Mexico, S. A. de C. V., organized under the laws of Sonora, Mexico



<PAGE>




                                                                  EXHIBIT 23





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the registration  statements of
Charter Power Systems,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries on Forms S-8  (Registration  Nos.
33-31978,  33-71390, 33-86672 and 333-17979) of our reports dated March 14, 1997
on our audits of the consolidated  financial  statements and financial statement
schedule of Charter Power Systems,  Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 31, 1997
and 1996,  and for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 1997,
which reports are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.




/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
- ----------------------------

COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

2400 Eleven Penn Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
April 29, 1997


<PAGE>




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF 1/31/97 AND STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR
ENDED 1/31/97 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1997
<CASH>                                             953
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    43096
<ALLOWANCES>                                      1414
<INVENTORY>                                      38943
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 89330
<PP&E>                                          104205
<DEPRECIATION>                                   51736
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  159973
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            43894
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            65
<OTHER-SE>                                       74841
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    159973
<SALES>                                         286907
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                286907
<CGS>                                           219819
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   219819
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  8143
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                1396
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  23058
<INCOME-TAX>                                      8121
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              14937
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     14937
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.32
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission