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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, 1999
STEPAN COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-4462 36-1823834
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State or other jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation Identification Number)
Edens and Winnetka Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 446-7500
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. STEPAN REPORTS 3RD QUARTER EARNINGS
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NORTHFIELD, Illinois, October 21, 1999 -- Stepan Company today reported
lower quarterly earnings that reflected higher legal charges relating to an
agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit. Excluding these legal charges,
third quarter earnings would have been up 25 percent.
Net income for the third quarter declined 100 percent to $14,000, or $0.00
per share (diluted), from $5,032,000, or $0.45 per share (diluted), for the same
quarter of 1998. Net sales increased to $166,932,000, up eight percent from
$154,134,000 reported a year ago. The third quarter results included a
$6,252,000 after-tax charge, or $0.59 per share (diluted), for legal charges
relating to an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit. Excluding the third
quarter legal charges, diluted earnings per share would have been $0.59, up 31
percent.
Year-to-date earnings decreased 21 percent to $14,112,000, or $1.32 per
share (diluted), compared to $17,864,000, or $1.62 per share (diluted), reported
in 1998. Net sales for this period increased eight percent to $497,652,000,
compared to $460,031,000. Excluding the third quarter legal charges, diluted
earnings per share would have been $1.91, up 18 percent.
Higher legal charges recorded in the third quarter related to an agreement
in principle, reached October 21, 1999, to settle a lawsuit in New Jersey,
alleging possible personal injuries relating to environmental claims. F. Quinn
Stepan, Chairman and CEO, said, "While the company believes it would have
prevailed on the merits of the case if it had gone to trial, it was judged to be
in the shareholders best interest to settle the lawsuit to avoid protracted and
expensive litigation." The company is pursuing recovery from third parties.
Polymer earnings were down slightly due to lower sales volumes of polyester
polyols.
While led by the strong North American surfactant results, global
surfactant earnings also rose due to increased sales volumes. Earnings included
$0.07 per share (diluted) relating to a contract settlement. Surfactants
represent 79 percent of company revenues.
Excluding the third quarter legal charges, operating expenses rose two
percent for the quarter. Research and development expenses increased 14 percent
due to higher salary and fringe benefit costs. Administrative costs declined
nine percent due to reimbursement of certain costs by our joint venture.
Interest expense was up 11 percent due to higher levels of debt.
"As a result of the legal charges," said Mr. Stepan, "the company no longer
anticipates a record year in 1999 assuming no significant recovery of legal
costs. We are very optimistic about the future of the company and we expect
record sales and earnings in 2000."
Stepan Company, headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, is a leading
producer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in household, industrial,
personal care, agricultural, food and insulation related products. The common
and the convertible preferred stocks are traded on the New York and Chicago
Stock Exchanges under the symbols SCL and SCLPR.
# # # # #
table follows
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STEPAN COMPANY
Statements of Income
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1999 and 1998
(Unaudited - 000's Omitted)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30 September 30
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% %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
------------ ------------ -------------- ------------ --------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales $ 166,932 $ 154,134 + 8 $ 497,652 $ 460,031 + 8
Cost of Sales 138,683 128,307 + 8 408,093 376,721 + 8
------------ --------- ------------ ---------
Gross Profit 28,249 25,827 + 9 89,559 83,310 + 8
Operating Expenses:
Marketing 5,810 5,593 + 4 17,636 17,137 + 3
Administrative 15,187 5,428 - 26,732 15,810 +69
Research, Development
and Technical Services 5,624 4,955 + 14 16,411 15,531 + 6
------------ --------- ------------ ---------
26,621 15,976 + 67 60,779 48,478 +25
Operating Income 1,628 9,851 - 83 28,780 34,832 -17
Other Income (Expense):
Interest, Net (2,052) (1,853) + 11 (6,320) (5,529) +14
Income (Loss) from Equity Joint
Ventures 447 133 - 674 225 -
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(1,605) (1,720) - 7 (5,646) (5,304) + 6
Income Before Income Taxes 23 8,131 -100 23,134 29,528 -22
Provision for Income Taxes 9 3,099 -100 9,022 11,664 -23
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Net Income $ 14 $ 5,032 -100 $ 14,112 $ 17,864 -21
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Net Income Per Common Share
Basic $ (0.02) $ 0.49 -104 $ 1.40 $ 1.74 -20
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Diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.45 -100 $ 1.32 $ 1.62 -19
============ ========= ============ =========
Average Common Shares
Outstanding 9,560 9,881 - 3 9,619 9,861 - 2
============ ========= ============ =========
</TABLE>
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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.
Date: October 22, 1999 Stepan Company
By: /s/ Walter J. Klein
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Name: Walter J. Klein
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Title: Vice President - Finance
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