Item 1. Business - -----------------
Products and Markets: --------------------
The primary business of the registrant and its affiliated companies is the manufacture and sale of products designed to protect the safety and health of workers throughout the world.
Principal products include respiratory protective equipment that is air- purifying, air-supplied and self-contained in design. The registrant also produces instruments that monitor and analyze workplace environments and control industrial processes. Personal protective products include head, eye and face, body and hearing protectors. Many of these products are sold under the registered trademark "MSA", and have wide application for workers in industries that include manufacturing, fire service, power generation, telecommunications, mining, chemicals, petroleum, construction, pulp and paper processing, transportation, government, automotive, aerospace, asbestos abatement, and hazardous materials clean-up.
Other products manufactured and sold, which do not fall within the category of safety and health equipment, include boron-based and other specialty chemicals.
The registrant and its affiliated companies are in competition with many large and small enterprises. In the opinion of management, the registrant is a leader in the manufacture of safety and health equipment.
Orders, except under contracts with U.S. government agencies and with international governments, are generally filled promptly after receipt and the production period for special items is usually less than one year. The backlog of orders under contracts with U.S. government agencies and certain international governments is summarized as follows:
December 31 --------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 ---- ---- ---- (In thousands) --------------------------------- U.S. Government Agencies $19,600 $14,400 $30,400 International Governments 0 900 7,900
Approximately $300,000 under contracts with U.S. government agencies is expected to be shipped after December 31, 1998.
Sales of products to U.S. government agencies continued to decrease in 1997; however, incoming orders were slightly higher than shipments in 1997, and about the same as 1996 incoming orders. The company's business is not dependent upon a single customer or group of related customers, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on the registrant's results. Further information with respect to the registrant's products, operations in different geographic areas, equity in earnings and assets of international affiliated companies is reported at Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1997, incorporated herein by reference.
Research: --------
The registrant and its affiliated companies engage in applied research with a view to developing new products and new applications for existing products. Most of its products are designed and manufactured to meet currently applicable performance and test standards published by groups such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute), MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration), NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), UL (Underwriters' Laboratories), SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) and FM (Factory Mutual). The registrant also from time to time engages in research projects for others such as the Bureau of Mines and the Department of Defense or its prime contractors. Registrant-sponsored research and development costs were $16,668,000 in 1997, $19,122,000 in 1996, and $20,366,000 in 1995.
In the aggregate, patents have represented an important element in building up the business of the registrant and its affiliates, but in the opinion of management no one patent or group of patents is of material significance to the business as presently conducted.
General: -------
The company was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As of December 31, 1997, the registrant and its affiliated companies had approximately 4,200 employees, of which 2,100 were employed by international affiliates. None of the U.S. employees is subject to the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement.
In the United States and in those countries in which the registrant has affiliates, its products are sold by its own salespersons, independent distributors
and/or manufacturers' representatives. In international countries where the registrant has no affiliate, products are sold primarily through independent distributors located in those countries.
The registrant is cognizant of environmental responsibilities and has taken affirmative action regarding this responsibility. There are no current or expected legal proceedings or expenditures with respect to environmental matters which would materially affect the operations of the registrant and its affiliates.
Generally speaking, the operations of the registrant and its affiliates are such that it is possible to maintain sufficient inventories of raw materials and component parts on the manufacturing premises.
Equipment and machinery for processing chemicals and rubber, plastic injection molding equipment, molds, metal cutting, stamping and working equipment, assembly fixtures and similar items are regularly acquired, repaired or replaced in the ordinary course of business at prevailing market prices as necessary.
In January 1998, the company announced that it had initiated action to sell its domestic affiliate, HAZCO Services, Inc. (due to its incompatibility with MSA's newly-established network of distributors). Further information about the registrant's business is included in Management's Discussion and Analysis at pages 10 to 12 of the Annual Report to Shareholders, incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Officers: ------------------
All the executive officers have been employed by the registrant since prior to January 1, 1993 and have held their present positions since prior to that date except as follows:
(a) Mr. Hotopp was elected President on December 18, 1996. Prior to that time, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager, Safety Products.
(b) Mr. Cuozzo was elected Vice President on April 27, 1995. Prior to that time, he was Secretary.
(c) Mr. Zeitler was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. Prior to that time, he was Treasurer.
(d) Mr. Barendt was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior to January 1, 1993 until April 1996, he was Manager, Research and Development at the company's Callery Chemical Division. From April 1996 until December 1996, he was Acting General Manager of Callery Chemical Division. From December 1996, he was General Manager of the Callery Chemical Division.
(e) Mr. Bigler was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior to January 1, 1993 until April 1995, he was National Sales Manager. From April 1995 he was Director of Sales.
(f) Mr. DeMaria was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior to January 1, 1993 until September 1994, he was Manager, Employee Benefits. From September 1994 he was Director, Human Resources.
(g) Mr. Lambert was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior to January 1, 1993 until August 1993, he was a Product Line Manager. From August 1993 until March 1995, he was a Senior Product Line Manager. From March 1995 until August 1996, he was Marketing Manager. From August 1996 until December 1996, he was Director of Marketing. From December 1996 he was General Manager of the Safety Products Division.
(h) Mr. McGee was employed by the registrant on January 2, 1997 and was elected Vice President and General Manager, Instrument Division. From prior to January 1, 1993 until July 1996, Mr. McGee was President and Chief Executive Officer of Balzer High Vacuum Products. From July 1996 until he joined the registrant, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology, Inc., which is a spinoff of Balzer High Vacuum Products.
The executive officers of the registrant serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and are not elected to any specified term of office.
The primary responsibilities of these officers follow:
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties - ------------------
World Headquarters: ------------------
The registrant's executive offices are located at 121 Gamma Drive, RIDC Industrial Park, O'Hara Township, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238. This facility contains approximately 138,000 sq. ft.
Production and Research Facilities: ----------------------------------
The registrant's principal U.S. manufacturing and research facilities are located in the Greater Pittsburgh area in buildings containing approximately 968,000 square feet. Other U.S. manufacturing and research facilities of the registrant are located in Jacksonville, North Carolina (107,000 sq. ft.), Lyons, Colorado (10,000 sq. ft.), Sparks, Maryland (41,000 sq. ft.), Dayton, Ohio (33,000 sq. ft.), Lawrence, Massachusetts (42,000 sq. ft.), and Englewood, Colorado (41,000 sq. ft.).
Manufacturing facilities of international affiliates of the registrant are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. The most significant are located in Germany (approximately 431,000 sq. ft., excluding 127,000 sq. ft. leased to others),
and in Glasgow, Scotland (approximately 130,000 sq. ft., excluding 10,000 sq. ft. leased to others); research activities are also conducted at these facilities.
Virtually all of these buildings are owned by the registrant and its affiliates and are constructed of granite, brick, concrete block, steel or other fire-resistant materials. The German facility is owned subject to encumbrances securing indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $1,931,000 as of December 31, 1997.
Sales Offices and Warehouses: ----------------------------
The registrant and its U.S. affiliates own one warehouse and lease 9 other distribution warehouses with aggregate floor space of approximately 55,000 sq. ft. in or near principal cities in 9 states in the United States. Leases expire at various dates through 1999. Sales offices and distribution warehouses are owned or leased in or near principal cities in 26 other countries in which the registrant's affiliates are located.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings - --------------------------
Not Applicable.
Item 4.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - ------------------------------------------------------------
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during fourth quarter 1997.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters Item 6.
Item 6 - "Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data" appearing at page Item 7
Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis" appearing at pages 10 to 12 Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" appearing at pages 13 to 22
of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1997. Said pages of the Annual Report are submitted with this report and pursuant to Item 601(b)(13) of Regulation S-K shall be deemed filed with the Commission only to the extent that material contained therein is expressly incorporated by reference in Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 14 (a) hereof.
Item 7a.
Item 7a. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk - -------------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
Item 9.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Financial Disclosure --------------------
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant Item 11.
Item 11. Executive Compensation Item 12.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management Item 13.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Rule 12b - 23 are (1) "Election of Directors" appearing at pages 1 to 3, (2) "Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers" appearing at pages 4 to 10 (except as excluded below), and (3) "Stock Ownership" appearing at pages 11 to 13 of the Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 5, 1998. The information appearing in such Proxy Statement under the caption "Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation," and the other information appearing in such Proxy Statement and not specifically incorporated by reference herein, including without limitation the information under the captions "Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return" and "1998 Management Share Incentive Plan" is not incorporated herein.
PART IV
Item 14.
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K - --------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) 1 and 2. Financial Statements
The following information appearing on pages 13 to 22 inclusive in the Annual Report to Shareholders of the registrant for the year ended December 31, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Rule 12b-23.
Report of Independent Accountants
Consolidated Balance Sheet - December 31, 1997 and 1996
Consolidated Statement of Income - three years ended December 31, 1997
Consolidated Statement of Earnings Retained in the Business - three years ended December 31, 1997
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - three years ended December 31, 1997
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Said pages of the Annual Report are submitted with this report and, pursuant to Item 601(b)(13) of Regulation S-K shall be deemed to be filed with the Commission only to the extent that material contained therein is expressly incorporated by reference in Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 14 (a)(1) and (2) hereof.
The following additional financial information for the three years ended December 31, 1997 is filed with the report and should be read in conjunction with the above financial statements:
Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not material or the required information is shown in the financial statements and notes to the financial statements listed above.
(a) 3. Exhibits
(3)(i) Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended to April 27, 1989, filed in Form 10-Q on August 5, 1994, are incorporated herein by reference.
(3)(ii) By-laws of the registrant, as amended to August 29, 1990, filed in Form 10-Q on November 13, 1995, are incorporated herein by reference.
(4) Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 1997 between the registrant and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent, filed as Exhibit 1 to the registrant's Form 8-A on February 25, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.
(10)(a) * 1987 Management Share Incentive Plan, filed in Form 10-K on March 25, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference.
(10)(b) * 1990 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended to April 27, 1994, filed in Form 10-Q on August 5, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference.
(10)(c) * Executive Insurance Program, filed in Form 10-Q on August 5, 1994, is incorporated herein by reference.
(10)(d) * Board of Directors April 24, 1984 Resolution providing for payment by the Company to officers the difference between amounts payable under terms of the Company's Non- Contributory Pension Plan and the benefit limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code, filed in Form 10-Q on May 11, 1995 is incorporated herein by reference.
(10)(e) Trust Agreement as of June 1, 1996 between the registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. re the Mine Safety Appliances Company Stock Compensation Trust, filed in Form 10-K on March 26, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.
* The exhibits marked by an asterisk are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
(a) 3. Exhibits (continued)
(13) Annual Report to Shareholders for year ended December 31,
(21) Affiliates of the registrant
(23) Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants
(27) Financial Data Schedule (filed in electronic format only)
The registrant agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request copies of all instruments with respect to long-term debt referred to in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of Exhibit 13 to this annual report which have not been previously filed or are not filed herewith.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the year ended December 31, 1997.
Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule
February 18, 1998
To the Board of Directors of Mine Safety Appliances Company
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our report dated February 18, 1998, appearing on page 13 of the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of Mine Safety Appliances Company (which report and consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K), also included an audit of the Financial Statement Schedule listed in Item 14(a) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion, this Financial Statement Schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
SCHEDULE II
MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY AND AFFILIATES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (IN THOUSANDS)
(1) Bad debts written off, net of recoveries.
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.
MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
March 26, 1998 By /s/ John T. Ryan III ---------------------- --------------------------------- (Date) John T. Ryan III Chairman of the Board 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.