SNAP ON INC
8-K, 1998-10-22
INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


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


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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


                     Date of Report
                     (Date of earliest
                     event reported):      October 22, 1998



                              Snap-on Incorporated
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



     Delaware                      1-7724                     39-0622040
- --------------------        ---------------------         --------------------
  (State or other              (Commission File              (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of                  Number)                 Identification No.)
   incorporation)

                  10801 Corporate Drive, Kenosha, WI 53141-1430
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
           (Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
                                 (414) 656-5200
                       ----------------------------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number)



<PAGE>



Item 5.   Other Events.

        On October 22, 1998, Snap-on Incorporated (the "Corporation")  delivered
a "bulletin" to analysts and others in connection with the Corporation's release
of  third  quarter  earnings  information,  which  included  additional  details
concerning  certain  restructuring  charges.  The text of the  bulletin is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99 and incorporated  herein by reference.  The bulletin also
contains cautionary  statements  identifying  important factors that could cause
actual results of the  Corporation to differ  materially from those described in
any forward-looking statement of the Corporation.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (c)      Exhibits.

        The exhibit listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index is filed as part of
this Current Report on Form 8-K.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                               SNAP-ON INCORPORATED



Date:  October 22, 1998                        By: /s/ Susan F. Marrinan  
                                                   Susan F. Marrinan
                                                   Vice President, Secretary and
                                                     General Counsel


<PAGE>

                              SNAP-ON INCORPORATED

                            EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
                          Report Dated October 22, 1998


Exhibit
   No.                              Description

  (99)   "Analyst Bulletin" of Snap-on Incorporated distributed October 22, 1998



                                                                October 22, 1998
                                3RD QUARTER, 1998

Note: All numbers are excluding  restructuring and other non-recurring  charges,
unless otherwise indicated.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  (Amounts in thousands except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         Third Quarter Ended                      Nine Months Ended
                                          -------------------                     -----------------
                                     1998          1997        % Chg.       1998            1997          % Chg.
                                     ----          ----        ------       ----            ----          ----- 
<S>                                <C>           <C>           <C>        <C>           <C>               <C> 
Net Sales                          $427,272      $391,162        9.2      $1,295,877    $1,175,692         10.2
Net Earnings                       $ 22,464      $ 35,514      (36.7)     $   79,051    $  108,339        (27.0)
Earnings Per Share - Diluted       $    .38      $    .58      (34.5)     $     1.32    $     1.76        (25.0)
Earnings Per Share - Basic         $    .38      $    .58      (34.5)     $     1.33    $     1.78        (25.3)

Operating Expenses as a
    Percent of Sales                  41.3%         39.5%                      40.5%         39.5%

Margins:
      Gross Profit                    47.3%         50.9%                      47.7%         51.0%
      Operating Income                 9.5%         16.1%                      10.8%         16.1%
      Earnings Before Income
        Taxes                          8.2%         14.4%                       9.5%         14.6%
      Net Earnings                     5.3%          9.1%                       6.1%          9.2%
</TABLE>

Overview

Diluted  earnings per share for the 1998 third quarter were $0.38  compared with
$0.58 for the same period last year, a decrease of 34.5%,  and  consistent  with
the September 3 preannouncement. The shortfall results primarily from short-term
expenses incurred as Snap-on realigns its internal processes to synchronize with
the new computer system.  Weakness in the economies of the  Asia/Pacific  region
was a secondary factor.

Much work has been done to address the process issues. Because more time will be
required to  complete  implementation  of the  solutions,  1998  fourth  quarter
earnings per share might be below last year's fourth  quarter  earnings of $0.68
per share by  between  10 and 15  percent.  There are  factors  that  could more
positively or negatively affect this outlook.

If we are able to  implement  the  early  stages  of  Project  Simplify  without
complication,  it could have a more positive effect on the quarter. If, however,
the process  corrections  require a longer than  anticipated  timeframe to carry
out, or if the economic situation and consumer confidence  significantly weaken,
there could be a more negative effect on the quarter.

Net sales for the quarter rose 9.2% over last year's  comparable  quarter,  with
increases  recorded in the North America and Europe  regions.  Foreign  currency
translation  rates  negatively  affected  sales  growth  in  the  quarter  by  2
percentage points. Net sales in the quarter,  excluding acquisitions,  increased
1%. Net  earnings  declined  36.7% from 1997's third  quarter.  The quarter also
included a $2.5 million gain on the disposal of property,  which was offset by a
one-time charge for warranty expenses.

<PAGE>
                                     - 2 -

For the first nine months of 1998,  diluted  earnings  per share were  $1.32,  a
25.0%  decline  from the first nine months of 1997.  Net sales rose 10.2%,  with
foreign currency translation  negatively affecting sales by 2 percentage points.
Excluding acquisitions, sales increased 3%.

During the quarter,  the company repurchased 420,000 shares of its common stock,
bringing shares repurchased year to date to 1,959,400.

Snap-on's pursuit of a format to optimize the returns on its financial  services
business has  resulted in the signing of a letter of intent with a partner,  and
negotiations for this venture are proceeding.

Restructuring and Other Non-recurring Charges

As previously  disclosed,  restructuring and other non-recurring charges related
to Project Simplify will total $175 million.  In the 1998 third quarter,  $133.1
million was taken with the remainder of the charges expected over the next year.

Attached is the income statement detailing the effect of the charges.

Operating Expenses/Finance Income
                                         Third Quarter Ended
                                         % of                  % of  
                             1998       Sales        1997      Sales    % Chg.
                             ----       -----        -----     -----    ------
Total operating expense    $176,366      41.3      $154,344     39.5      14.3
 
Finance income (net)       $ 14,657       3.4      $ 18,126      4.6     (19.1)

                                          Nine Months Ended
                                                     % of               % of
                             1998       Sales        1997      Sales    % Chg.
                             ----       -----        ----      -----    ------
Total operating expense    $525,346      40.5      $464,775     39.5      13.0

Finance income (net)       $ 47,529       3.7      $ 53,953      4.6     (11.9)


Total  operating  expense as a percentage of sales increased 1.8 basis points in
the quarter because of higher short-term expenses (such as freight and temporary
workers) related to the previously  discussed internal process issues, and lower
productivity  as  employees  resolved  the  problems  and  were  trained  on the
processes.

Net finance income in the 1998 third quarter  declined  because of the increased
securitization  of extended  credit  receivables and the sale of the majority of
the lease portfolio in the past year.

<PAGE>
                                     - 3 -

Geographic Sales  (Amounts in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   Third Quarter Ended                  Nine Months Ended 
                                   -------------------                  ------------------
                              1998         1997      % Chg.        1998            1997        % Chg.
                              ----         ----      ------        ----            ----        ------
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>             <C>            <C>
North American Sales
 (U.S., Canada,
 Mexico, export)           $ 323,786    $ 313,730      3.2      $  984,608      $  917,672       7.3
European Sales             $  85,821    $  56,475     52.0      $  257,597      $  197,532      30.4
Other Non-U.S. Sales
 (Australia, Japan, all    $  17,665    $  20,957    (15.7)     $   53,672      $   60,488     (11.3)
 other)

Total Net Sales            $ 427,272    $ 391,162      9.2      $1,295,877      $1,175,692      10.2
</TABLE>


The North American region  includes sales from all channels in the U.S.,  Canada
and Mexico,  along with certain U.S. exports.  North American sales rose 3.2% in
the  quarter;  foreign  currency  translation  negatively  affected  sales  by 1
percentage point. Excluding acquisitions, sales were even with a year ago. Sales
through  the dealer and  industrial  channels  increased,  but  difficult  sales
comparisons versus a year ago when a high level of  emissions-testing  equipment
was sold and weakness in exports to the Asia/Pacific  region offset this growth.
For the first nine months of 1998,  North  American sales in local currency were
8% higher.  Excluding acquisitions,  sales increased 5% in the first nine months
of 1998.

Europe  includes sales from all channels in various  country  markets.  In local
currency,  sales in the third quarter  increased  50%.  Excluding  acquisitions,
sales were up 17%.  Tool and  equipment  sales within  Europe were  strong,  but
weakness  continued in  equipment  exports to Asia and Eastern  Europe.  For the
first  nine  months  of  1998,  sales  grew  33% in  local  currency.  Excluding
acquisitions, sales in the first nine months of 1998 were even with last year.

The Other  Non-U.S.  category  includes  sales  throughout  the  balance  of the
company's non-U.S.  markets, with the majority derived from Japan and Australia.
Net sales in the third quarter were negatively  affected by 18 percentage points
because of the effects of foreign currency translation. In local currency, sales
advanced 2%, with both Japan and Australia  posting very modest  increases.  For
the first nine months of 1998,  sales in local currency  increased 3%;  currency
was a 15% negative effect in the nine-month period.


<PAGE>

                                     - 4 -

Key Financial Data

    Balance  Sheet  (includes  third  quarter  1998   restructuring   and  other
non-recurring charges)

o    Accounts receivable decreased 5.9% ($31.8 million) to $507.8 million at the
     1998 quarter end,  compared with $539.6 million at the end of 1997.  Growth
     related to  acquisitions  was more than offset by the sale of $73.1 million
     of installment receivables in the first nine months of 1998.
o    Excluding the  non-recurring  charge and  acquisitions,  inventories in the
     third quarter  increased 2% ($8.7  million) from the end of the 1998 second
     quarter.   Inventory   reductions  in  North  America   Transportation  and
     Diagnostics  were offset by  inventories  built for fourth quarter sales in
     Europe and the  additive  effect of foreign  currency  on them.  Industrial
     channel  inventories  also increased as planned  September  shipments for a
     private label program for a national retailer were shipped in October.
o    Cash and marketable  securities were $13.5 million at quarter end, compared
     with $25.7 million at the end of 1997.
o    Total short- and long-term  debt was $308.1  million at the end of the 1998
     third quarter,  compared with $175.0 million at the end of 1997, because of
     funding  requirements  for  acquisitions,  share  repurchases  and  working
     capital increases.
o    Total debt to total  capital at quarter end was 28.5%,  compared with 16.4%
     at the end of 1997.
o    The  current  ratio was 2.4 to 1 at the end of the third  quarter  of 1998,
     compared with 2.9 to 1 at the end of 1997.
o    Working  capital  decreased to $629.0  million at third  quarter end,  from
     $669.2 million at the end of 1997.

Income Statement

o    Interest  expense for the third  quarter of 1998  increased to $5.9 million
     from the $4.1  million  in 1997's  comparable  quarter.  For the first nine
     months of 1998,  interest expense was $15.4 million versus $13.0 million in
     1997's comparable  period.  The increase in both periods is due to a higher
     level of average debt outstanding.
o    The impact of foreign  exchange  transactions for the third quarter of 1998
     was a net loss of $0.8  million  versus a net loss of $0.7  million  in the
     third quarter of 1997. In the first nine months of 1998,  foreign  exchange
     transactions  represented  a net loss of $2.5 million  versus a net loss of
     $1.3  million  last  year.  (Note:  gains or  losses  in  foreign  currency
     transactions  are related to changes in currency  value in connection  with
     inter-company  transactions and are included in "Other  income/expense"  on
     the  income  statement.  This  amount  does not  include  the impact of the
     translations of foreign  currencies into U.S.  dollars that also affect the
     income statement.  These translation  effects are discussed on the previous
     pages of this Bulletin.)
o    The  effective  tax rate was 36.0% in both the 1998 third quarter and first
     nine months  (excluding the effects of non-recurring  charges) versus 37.0%
     in both the third quarter and first nine months of 1997.
o    Average  shares  outstanding  for diluted EPS in 1998's third  quarter were
     59.7 million shares versus 61.8 in last year's third  quarter.  Diluted EPS
     shares for the first nine months of 1998 were 60.0  million  versus 61.7 in
     1997. For basic EPS in the third quarter,  average shares were 59.0 million
     compared with 61.0 million in 1997. Actual shares outstanding at October 3,
     1998 were 58,887,947.

<PAGE>
                                     - 5 -

Consolidated Cash Flows
(Amounts in thousands)
(includes third quarter 1998
restructuring and                                   Nine Months Ended    
other non-recurring charges)                    October 3,    September 27,
                                                   1998           1997

Net earnings                                    $ (17,410)     $ 108,339

Depreciation & amortization                        32,814         28,087
Changes in operating assets
  & liabilities                                   (33,600)       (67,123)
Changes due to restructuring and
  other non-recurring charges                      96,461          - 0 -
                                                ---------      ---------
      Net cash from operations                     78,265         69,303

Capital expenditures                              (32,332)       (35,597)
Acquisition of businesses                         (76,155)       (52,609)
Cash dividends                                    (38,030)       (37,151)
Increase in debt, net                             122,699         58,173
Purchase of treasury stock                        (75,723)       (14,562)
Other                                               9,067         12,515
                                                ---------      ---------
      Increase (Decrease) in cash &
        cash equivalents                          (12,209)            72

Cash & cash equivalents at beginning of period     25,679         15,350
                                                =========      =========
Cash & cash equivalents at end of period        $  13,470      $  15,422
                                                =========      =========


The 1998  estimate  for  depreciation  and  amortization  remains  unchanged  at
approximately $44 million.  Capital expenditures for 1998 are expected to be $45
to $50 million.


<PAGE>

                                      - 6 -

Statements in this analyst  bulletin that are not  historical  facts,  including
statements (i) that include the words "believes,"  "expects,"  "anticipates," or
"estimates" or words of similar  importance with reference to the Corporation or
management; (ii) specifically identified as forward-looking; or (iii) describing
the  Corporation's  or  management's  future  plans,  objectives  or goals,  are
forward-looking statements. The Corporation or its representatives may also make
similar  forward-looking  statements from time to time orally or in writing. The
Corporation  cautions  the reader  that these  statements  are subject to risks,
uncertainties  or other factors that could cause (and in some cases have caused)
actual results to differ  materially from those described in any such statement.
Those  important  factors  include  the  Corporation's  ability to  manufacture,
distribute,  and/or record the sale of products during the  implementation  of a
new  computer  system   involving  the  replacement  of  hardware  and  software
components and the enterprise-wide linking of all functions; the timing or speed
with which the  Corporation can implement the Project  Simplify  initiatives and
the  absence  of  unanticipated  complications;  the  Corporation's  ability  to
withstand  external negative factors  including  changes in trade,  monetary and
fiscal  policies,  laws and  regulations,  or other activities of governments or
their  agencies;  significant  changes in the current  competitive  environment;
inflation;  currency  fluctuations or the material worsening of the economic and
political  situation in Asia; and the achievement of  productivity  improvements
and cost  reductions.  These factors may not  constitute  all factors that could
cause  actual  results  to  differ   materially  from  those  discussed  in  any
forward-looking  statement.  The Corporation  operates in a continually changing
business  environment  and new factors emerge from time to time. The Corporation
cannot  predict  such  factors  nor can it assess the  impact,  if any,  of such
factors  on  the  Corporation  or  its  results.  Accordingly,   forward-looking
statements  should not be relied upon as a  prediction  of actual  results.  The
Corporation disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statement
provided in this analyst bulletin.



Lynn L. McHugh                              Snap-on Incorporated
Vice President                              10801 Corporate Drive
Investor Relations                          Pleasant Prairie, WI  53158-1603
414/656-6488
e-Mail:  [email protected]



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