Item 1. BUSINESS
Dionex Corporation* designs, manufactures, markets and services analytical instrumentation and related accessories and chemicals. The Company's products are used to analyze chemical substances in the environment and in a broad range of industrial and scientific applications. Since July 1, 1995, there have been no material changes in the mode of conducting the business of the Company.
Industry Segment Information
The Company operates in a single industry segment consisting of analytical instruments and related services.
Products
Dionex develops, manufactures, markets and services a range of chromatography systems, sample preparation devices and related products that are used by chemists to isolate and quantify the individual components of complex chemical mixtures in many major industrial, research and laboratory markets. Typically, the Company's chromatography systems include several components: a specially designed liquid pumping and flow system, a sample injection system, a separator column, a suppressor or other post-column device, a detector and a data collection and analysis system. These components are designed to be modular so that systems can be configured to meet the particular analytical requirements of individual customers. Moreover, individual components may be sold separately to existing customers who wish to expand their systems.
The Company's chromatography systems are currently focused in several product areas: ion chromatography, bioseparations and sample extraction. In addition to these product areas, the Company develops and manufactures columns, detectors, data analysis systems and other products. Each of these product areas is described below.
ION CHROMATOGRAPHY - Ion Chromatography (IC) is a form of chromatography that separates ionic (charged) molecules, usually found in water-based solutions, and typically identifies them based on their electrical conductivity. The sale of Dionex IC systems and related columns, suppressors, detectors, and automation and other products accounts for a majority of the Company's revenues.
--------------------- * Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "Dionex" and "the Company" as used herein include Dionex Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. Dionex was initially incorporated in California in 1980. In 1986, the Company reincorporated in Delaware.
Dionex IC products are used in a wide range of applications, including environmental monitoring, corrosion monitoring, evaluation of raw materials, quality control of industrial processes, research and development, and regulation of the chemical composition of food, beverage and cosmetic products. Major customers include environmental testing laboratories, life science and food companies, chemical and petrochemical firms, power generating facilities, electronics manufacturers, government agencies and academic institutions.
In the first quarter of fiscal 1994, the Company introduced the DX 500 Series of chromatography systems for Ion Chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in the North American and European markets. In the third quarter of fiscal 1995, the DX 500 line was introduced in Japan and it is now marketed worldwide. These modular, high performance systems meet the needs of various applications, including classical IC as well as bioscience and environmental HPLC analyses.
In April 1996, the Company introduced the DX-120, a cost-effective IC system for the customers who need simple, dedicated instrumentation for routine ion analysis. The DX-120 was designed for improved reliability and automation and allows quick set-up, simple operation and high quality isocratic performance. The DX-120 is marketed worldwide and is gradually replacing the DX-100 that was introduced in 1990.
The Company also manufactures the Series 8200 Process Analyzer, a product designed for continuous on-line monitoring of ions in industrial applications. The Series 8200, introduced in fiscal 1992, uses industry standard PC-based automation, similar to that used in laboratory chromatography. A major application for the Company's process analyzer has been in the power industry for the continuous monitoring of corrosive contaminants in boiler water.
BIOSEPARATIONS - The Company offers certain configurations of the DX 500 Series chromatograph to analyze biological molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids. The Company's customers include biological research and biotechnology groups and pharmaceutical companies. In the field of bioseparations, the Company offers several detection modes based on conductivity, electrochemistry and optics. This versatility of detection allows customers to perform a wide range of bioseparations applications.
SAMPLE EXTRACTION - The Company offers the ASE(TM) 200 system for automated sample extraction. In March 1995, the Company introduced a new extraction technology called Accelerated Solvent Extraction or ASE. The ASE 200 system is based upon a new extraction technology that extracts solid samples using common solvents at elevated temperatures and pressures. The ASE 200 system extracts solid samples in an automated fashion using the same solvents
used in traditional soxhlet techniques. Competitive techniques include soxhlet, sonication, microwave extraction and supercritical extraction. The ASE 200 system offers several advantages over other solvent based extraction techniques including lower solvent consumption, reduced extraction time, higher throughput and ease of use. ASE 200 systems are used worldwide for a number of environmental, industrial and food and beverage applications.
AUTOMATION PRODUCTS - As part of its efforts to make chemical analyses simpler, faster and more reliable, Dionex offers a family of products that automate sample handling, system operation and data analysis for chromatography systems. These products include the PeakNet and AI-450 chromatography workstations and integrators. In addition, automated sample injectors are available.
In fiscal 1994, the PeakNet PC-based Chromatography Workstations were introduced to complement the DX 500 systems. PeakNet is the Company's latest release of Windows-based applications for chromatography. PeakNet Workstations are multi-featured, high performance computer systems that automate control, data acquisition, analysis and reporting for the DX-120 and DX 500 systems. In fiscal 1996, the Company introduced its latest version of the software, PeakNet 4.3, which offers new capabilities including data smoothing options to reduce noise and enhanced reporting formats to meet the changing documentation requirements of our customers.
In March 1994, the universal interface (UI20) module was added to the PeakNet/DX 500 Series. It allows PeakNet workstations to accept data from other Dionex instruments such as the DX-100, as well as instruments manufactured by other vendors. A revision of the PeakNet software was also introduced at that time to support the new interfacing capabilities.
Also in March 1994, a new Automated Sample Injection module (AS40) was added to the DX 500 Series.
COLUMNS AND SUPPRESSORS - A chromatography column generally consists of a hollow cylinder packed under high pressure with a chemical resin. The column's function is to separate various chemical components in a sample. The Company develops and manufactures its own resins using proprietary processes. Dionex currently manufactures and markets a broad range of column types designed for particular applications in the liquid chromatography market.
Several consumable products were introduced in fiscal 1996, including the IonPac AS14 for faster separation and superior flouride retention, the IonPac CS5A for transition metals analysis and the CarboPac PA10 for quantification of monosacharides.
These products follow a steady stream of columns and chemistry introduced previously, including the AS12A IonPac, the IonPac CS12A, the ICE-AS6 columns and the OnGuard Barium sample prep cartridge in the two previous fiscal years. These products cover a range of applications.
In addition to columns, Dionex manufactures suppressors that are used to enhance detection in ion chromatography. The Company has proprietary positions in the technology of suppression used in ion chromatography as well as in the application of suppression techniques. The Company's suppressors lower background conductivity while allowing separations using higher capacity columns and more concentrated eluents (liquids used to carry a sample through a liquid chromatography system). In fiscal 1993, Dionex enhanced its suppression technology with the introduction of a new AutoSuppression product. The product, called the Self-Regenerating Suppressor (SRS(TM)), enhances IC performance while operating with low maintenance requirements.
DETECTORS - Detectors are used to measure the quantity of various sample components after they have been separated in a chromatography column. Dionex currently offers several detector products based on conductivity, electrochemistry and optics, including a photodiode array detector introduced in 1995. This range of detectors is designed to meet customer requirements for analysis of organics, inorganics, metals, amino acids and other biological compounds.
SERVICE AND OTHER - The Company also generates revenue from its Customer Service organization through service contracts, spare part sales, customer training and sales of other products and services. (See Technical Support, Installation and Service below.)
Marketing and Customers
The Company's market strategy is twofold. First, in those applications where Dionex technology is well established, the Company works to increase demand for its chromatography systems through direct mailings, advertising in trade publications, seminars and workshops, conferences and expositions, and direct sales calls. Growth in these markets results from identifying new customers in existing sales regions, extending geographic penetration and increasing demand for the Company's products and technical support capabilities among existing customers.
The second component of the Company's marketing strategy is to work closely with existing and potential customers to develop new applications. Technical support staff assist such customers in problem definition, development of applications chemistry needed to solve problems and providing user training and ongoing user support. By combining this support function with
direct sales efforts, the Company works to increase the range of applications and the potential market for its products.
The Company currently markets and distributes its products and services through its own sales force in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the United States. In each of these countries, the Company maintains one or more local sales offices in order to service customers in regional markets. In other international locations where it does not have a sales force, the Company has developed a network of distributors and sales agents.
The Company's products are used extensively in environmental analysis and by the pharmaceutical, life science, biotechnology, chemical, petrochemical, power generation, food and beverage, and electronics industries. Its customers include a number of the largest industrial companies worldwide, as well as government agencies, research institutions and universities. Geographically, sales outside of North America accounted for 61% of consolidated sales in fiscal 1996, 59% of consolidated sales in fiscal 1995 and 57% of consolidated sales in fiscal 1994. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's sales in fiscal 1996, 1995 or 1994.
Demand for the Company's products is dependent upon the size of the markets for its chromatography systems, the level of capital expenditures of the Company's customers, the rate of economic growth in the Company's major markets and competitive considerations. There can be no assurances that the Company's results of operations will not be adversely impacted by a decline in any of the factors listed above. The Company believes that demand for its products does not exhibit any significant seasonal pattern.
Dionex manufactures its products based upon its forecast of customer demand and maintains inventories of completed modules in advance of receipt of firm orders from its customers. Orders are generally placed by the customer on an as-needed basis, and products are usually shipped within four to six weeks after receipt of an order. Dionex does not maintain a substantial backlog, and backlog as of any particular date may not be indicative of the Company's actual sales in any succeeding period. The level of backlog at June 30, 1996 was $19.1 million and at June 30, 1995 was $17.5 million.
Competition
Companies competing with Dionex in the analytical instruments market include Hewlett-Packard Company, Perkin-Elmer Company, Varian Associates, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation and Waters Corporation. The analytical instruments market is comprised of many different analytical techniques. One of these analytical techniques is Ion Chromatography (IC). The Company
believes it has a major position in IC. Competitors of the Company in IC include HPLC vendors such as Hewlett-Packard Company, Waters Corporation, Alltech Associates and other smaller companies. The Company believes no single competitor has a dominant position in the analytical instruments market.
Competition in the Company's business segment is based upon the performance capabilities of the analytical instrument, technical support and after-market service, the manufacturer's reputation as a technological leader, and price. Management believes that performance capabilities are the most important of these criteria. Customers measure system performance in terms of sensitivity (the ability to discern minute quantities of a particular sample component), selectivity (the ability to distinguish between similar components), speed of analysis and the breadth of samples which the system can effectively analyze. Management believes that Dionex enjoys a favorable reputation in terms of performance capabilities, technical support and service.
Dionex ion chromatography systems generally compete with a number of analytical techniques used in identifying and quantifying ionic and polar compounds. The two primary sources of competition for ion chromatography are conventional manual and automated wet chemistry procedures and certain modified liquid chromatography systems. Some suppliers of liquid chromatography systems have developed a single column ion chromatography (SCIC) method that does not use a suppressor device. SCIC methods compete favorably with Dionex ion chromatography for the analysis of a limited number of ions and in situations when chemical composition of the sample is not complex or when high sensitivity is not required. The introduction in 1993 by the Company of AutoSuppression technology considerably improves the ease of use of chemical suppression. In addition to SCIC products, the Company's competitors also offer other products to compete in ion analysis and chromatography products using technology similar to that of the Company.
The Company's DX 500 Series competes directly with other manufacturers' HPLC systems in certain traditional HPLC applications. Dionex is a relatively new entrant in the highly competitive HPLC and biological separations markets. Nonetheless, management believes that the DX 500 Series has certain benefits over competing systems, including a totally non-metallic flow system and the capability of performing gradient ion chromatography, as well as HPLC, on a single analytical system.
The Company's ASE 200 competes directly with standard soxhlet, sonication and microwave extraction techniques provided by other companies. Management believes that the ASE 200, a new extraction technology, has certain benefits compared to competing techniques, including faster extraction time, reduced solvent usage and built-in automation.
The Company believes that competition in the ion analysis market will continue to increase in the future. Moreover, the Company's entrance into the HPLC, biological separations and sample extraction markets has resulted in increased competition. Many of the companies whose products compete with those of the Company have substantially greater financial resources and larger technical staffs and sales forces at their disposal. There can be no assurances that the Company's marketing and sales efforts will compete successfully against such other companies in the future.
Patents and Licenses
The Company has exclusive rights under patents and patent applications licensed from the Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") (except for rights retained by Dow and its subsidiaries) covering certain of the Company's current products. The primary benefits of this exclusivity are presently limited to the United States and certain other foreign countries where patents have been issued. The licenses reserve to Dow and its subsidiaries the right to practice the patents, and Dow has made products covered by the patent rights for its own use. The Company believes that Dow has not made products covered by the patent rights for sale to third parties.
As a matter of Company policy, the Company vigorously protects its intellectual property rights and seeks patent coverage on all developments that it regards as material and patentable. However, there can be no assurances that any patents held by the Company will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or that the rights granted thereunder will provide competitive advantages to the Company. The Company's patents, including those licensed from others, expire on various dates through 2007. The Company believes that, while its patent portfolio has value, no single patent or patent application is in itself essential and that the invalidity or expiration of any single patent would not have a material adverse effect on its business.
The Company regards its PeakNet software as proprietary and relies on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, trade secret laws and other proprietary rights, laws, license agreements and other restrictions on disclosure, copying and transferring title to protect its rights to its software products. The Company has no patents covering its software, and existing copyright laws afford only limited practical protection. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
International Operations
Financial information about foreign and domestic operations and export sales required by Item 1 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to Note 12 of
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements at page 27 of the Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders. A copy of the applicable page is attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1.
The Company has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan and Canada. The Company's foreign sales are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and by regulations adopted by foreign governments. Export sales are subject to certain controls and restrictions, but the Company has not experienced any material difficulties related to these limitations. There can be no assurances that the Company's results of operation will not be adversely impacted by fluctuations in currency exchange rates in the future.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
The Company produces chemicals and resins and assembles systems and components in its California manufacturing facilities. Dionex has developed proprietary processes for the manufacture of polystyrene-based resins and for packing columns with these resins. The Company believes that its resins, columns and suppressor manufacturing know-how are critical to the performance and reliability of its chromatography systems. The Company requires each employee to sign a nondisclosure agreement to protect its proprietary processes. However, there can be no assurances that these agreements will provide meaningful protection or adequate remedies for the Company's proprietary processes in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure.
The Company has emphasized a modular design for the principal subsystems of its pumping flow systems, sample injection systems, chromatography modules, detectors, and control and data analysis systems. The Company believes that this modular approach has enabled it to meet the wide range of system configurations required by its customers while effectively managing inventory levels.
Many components used in the Company's products, including proprietary analog and digital circuitry, are manufactured by Dionex. Other components, including packaging materials, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcomputers and certain detector and data analysis modules, are acquired from other manufacturers. Most of the raw materials, components and supplies purchased by the Company are available from a number of different suppliers; however, a number of items are purchased from limited or single sources of supply, and disruption of these sources could have a temporary adverse effect on shipments and the financial results of the Company. The Company believes alternative sources could ordinarily be obtained to supply these materials, but a prolonged inability to obtain certain materials or components could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations and could result in damage to its relationship with its customers.
Technical Support, Installation and Service
Users of the Company's chromatography systems require substantial technical support before and after the system sale to ensure that analysis problems are resolved. As part of its support services, the Company's technical support staff provides, typically at no additional cost, individual assistance in solving chemical analysis problems. The Company offers training courses and periodically sends its customers information on applications development. Chromatography systems sold by the Company generally include a one-year warranty, installation and certain user training, all at no additional cost. Service contracts may be purchased by customers to cover equipment no longer under warranty. Service work not performed under warranty or service contracts is performed on a time and materials basis. The Company installs and services its products through its own field service organization in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the United States. Installation and service in other foreign countries are typically provided by the Company's distributors or agents.
Research and Development
The Company's research and development efforts are focused on increasing the performance of its chromatography and other products and expanding the number of chemical compounds that can be analyzed efficiently with its products. Research and product development expenditures were $11,527,000, $10,500,000 and $9,902,000 in fiscal 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The Company pursues active development programs in the areas of system hardware, applications, computer software, and resin and column technologies. There can be no assurances that the Company's product development efforts will be successful or that the products developed will be accepted by the marketplace.
Environmental Laws and Regulations
Compliance by the Company with federal, state and local environmental laws during fiscal 1996 had no material effect upon capital expenditures, earnings or its competitive position.
Employees
Dionex had 665 employees at June 30, 1996, compared with 647 employees at June 30, 1995. The Company believes that its future success
depends in large part upon its continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees.
Item 2.

Item 2. PROPERTIES
As of September 18, 1996 the Company owns nine buildings in Sunnyvale, California, providing 252,000 square feet of space utilized for Administration, Marketing, Sales, Service, Research and Product Development, and Manufacturing. The Company also owns a building utilized for Sales, Service and Administration in Idstein, Germany.
The Company leases sales and service offices in: Smyrna, Georgia; Houston, Texas; Westmont, Illinois; Marlton, New Jersey; Sunnyvale, California; and in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan and Canada. In addition, the Company leases marketing and research and development offices in Salt Lake City.
As of the date of this report, the Company's facilities are well maintained, adequate to conduct the Company's current business, and substantially utilized by the Company.
Several of the Company's properties are located in an area under investigation by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (the "Water Board".) The Water Board's investigation addresses the presence of certain volatile organic compounds in portions of the local groundwater system and focuses principally on the activities of several other companies located near the Company. The Water Board review has encompassed the property acquired by the Company in July 1986. The Company believes that any remedial work affecting the subject property will be performed by or at the expense of other parties responsible for any release of chemicals onto the property, or at the expense of the previous owner of the property. As a result, management believes that any action required by the Water Board's investigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Item 3.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table lists the names and positions of all current executive officers of the Company, and their ages, as of September 18, 1996. There are no family relationships between any director or executive officer and any other director or executive officer of the Registrant. Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Bowman has served as the Registrant's President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director since the Registrant began operations in 1980.
Mr. Evans has served as Senior Vice President, Operations for the Registrant since September 1993. Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Operations and in various other capacities for the Registrant since it began operations in 1980.
Dr. Avdalovic has served as Vice President, Research and Development for the Registrant since August 1990. Prior to joining the Registrant, Dr. Avdalovic served as Research Manager and Manager of Technology Assessment for Beckman Instruments Spinco Division in Palo Alto, California.
Mr. Barton has served as Vice President, International Operations for the Registrant since July 1996. Prior to that, he served as Director of International Operations and in various other capacities since joining the Company in 1987.
Mr. Pohl has served as Vice President, Consumables for the Registrant since September 4, 1996. Prior to that, he served as Technical Director and in various other capacities for the Registrant since joining the Company in 1979.
Mr. Pope has served as Vice President, Finance and Administration for the Registrant since April 1995. Prior to that, he served as Director of Finance and Senior Financial Analyst with the Company. Mr. Pope has been with the Company since June 1992. Before joining the Company, Mr. Pope was employed at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Ms. Strong has served as Vice President, Marketing for the Registrant since July 1995. Prior to that, she served as Director of Marketing and in various other capacities since joining the Company in August 1990.
PART II
Item 5.

Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 5 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the section captioned "Supplemental Information" at page 30 of the Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders. A copy of the applicable page is attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1.
Item 6.

Item 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The information required by Item 6 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the section captioned "Selected Financial Information" at page 15 of the Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders. A copy of the applicable page is attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1.
Item 7.

Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Result of Operations
The following table summarizes the consolidated income statement items as a percentage of sales.
Net Sales and Gross Profit. In fiscal 1996, the Company reported record sales and earnings for the 16th consecutive year. The Company's total sales increased 11% to $133.0 million in fiscal 1996, compared with $120.0 million in fiscal 1995 and $109.5 million in fiscal 1994. Sales growth was fueled by our international markets, especially our European market, in fiscal 1996 and 1995. Sales in our North American market increased moderately in both years.
Sales outside of North America accounted for 61% of consolidated sales in fiscal 1996, compared to 59% in fiscal 1995 and 57% in fiscal 1994. The Company sells directly through its sales forces in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the United States. Direct sales accounted for 89% of consolidated sales in fiscal 1996, compared to 91% in fiscal 1995 and 90% in fiscal 1994. International distributors and representatives in Europe, the Far East and other international markets accounted for the balance of consolidated sales. The Company is subject to the effects of currency fluctuations, which can have an impact on reported sales and margins. Currency fluctuations had no effect on reported sales in fiscal 1996, increased reported sales by 5% in fiscal 1995 and reduced reported sales in fiscal 1994 by 1%. There were no significant price changes during the three-year period.
Gross profit as a percentage of consolidated sales was 68.9% in fiscal 1996, compared with 68.0% in fiscal 1995 and 67.9% in fiscal 1994. The increase in gross profit in fiscal 1996 was attributable to a larger percentage of international shipments, increased sales of higher-margin products, and lower manufacturing costs. In fiscal 1995, gross profit was essentially unchanged from fiscal 1994. However, gross profit was positively affected by a weaker U.S. dollar, offset by an increase in manufacturing costs in fiscal 1995.
Operating Expenses. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses as a percentage of consolidated sales decreased to 34.8% in fiscal 1996 from 36.2% in fiscal 1995 and 36.1% in fiscal 1994. SG&A expenses increased 7% to $46.3 million in fiscal 1996 from $43.4 million in fiscal 1995, due to increased selling costs and higher personnel-related costs. SG&A expenses in fiscal 1995 increased by $3.8 million, due primarily to the effects of currency fluctuations and the addition of a subsidiary in Switzerland in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1994. The Company anticipates that SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales will be in the range of 34% to 38% in the near term.
Research and product development expenses in fiscal 1996 were 8.7% of consolidated sales, compared with 8.7% in fiscal 1995 and 9.0% in fiscal 1994. The Company's research and product development expenses increased 10% to $11.5 million in fiscal 1996 due to higher personnel and project material costs associated with various product development projects. Research and development spending depends on both the breadth of the Company's research and product development efforts and the stage of specific product development projects. The Company expects the level of research and product development expenses as a percentage of sales to remain in the 8% to 10% range in the near term.
Write-off of Goodwill. In the first quarter of fiscal 1995, the Company wrote off the remaining goodwill of $2.2 million that resulted from the 1988 acquisition of Lee Scientific, Inc. as the Company determined that the goodwill was not recoverable.
Other Income. Other income in fiscal 1996 included a gain of $1.0 million on the sale of undeveloped property. Proceeds (net of selling expenses) from the sale of the property were $3.9 million. The proceeds consisted of cash and the assumption by the buyer of an industrial revenue bond associated with the property. In fiscal 1995, other income included a payment of $4.1 million (net of expenses) received by the Company when a proposed acquisition by Dionex of a business was terminated by the seller in favor of another buyer.
Interest Income and Expense. Interest income in fiscal 1996 was $2.0 million, compared with $2.2 million in fiscal 1995 and $1.5 million in fiscal 1994. The decrease in interest income was due to lower average cash balances and lower yields. The increase in interest income in fiscal 1995 was due to higher average
cash balances and higher yields on invested cash. Interest expense in fiscal 1996 decreased to $93,000 due to lower average foreign borrowings and lower interest rates on the borrowings. Interest expense in fiscal 1995 declined due to lower interest rates on foreign borrowings.
Income Taxes. The Company's effective tax rate for fiscal 1996 was 34.8%, compared with 37.6% in fiscal 1995 and 34.8% in fiscal 1994. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate in fiscal 1995 was due to the write-off of goodwill, discussed above, which was not deductible for income tax purposes. The Company anticipates that its effective tax rate will be in the 34% to 35% range in the near term.
Earnings Per Share. Earnings per share in fiscal 1996 increased to $1.75 per share, compared with $1.34 per share in fiscal 1995 and $1.10 per share in fiscal 1994. Common and equivalent shares outstanding for fiscal 1996 were 13.7 million, compared with 14.7 million in fiscal 1995 and 15.4 million in fiscal 1994. The common and equivalent shares outstanding decreased each year due to the Company's continuing stock repurchase program. On December 29, 1995, the Company effected a two-for-one split of its common stock. All per-share and share amounts have been restated to reflect the split.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
In fiscal 1996, the Company maintained its strong liquidity and financial condition. The Company's working capital was $47.9 million at June 30, 1996. Working capital declined in fiscal 1996 due to the Company's stock repurchase programs. In fiscal 1996, the Company repurchased 1,601,000 shares for $49.1 million, compared with 1,633,156 shares in fiscal 1995 for $30.9 million and 250,000 shares in fiscal 1994 for $4.0 million.
Cash generated by operating activities decreased to $27.7 million, compared with $28.3 million in fiscal 1995 and $19.7 million in fiscal 1994. The decrease in operating cash flow was due to changes in operating assets and liabilities partially offset by better operating results.
Net capital expenditures in fiscal 1996 increased to $3.0 million, compared with $2.0 million in fiscal 1995 and $7.8 million in fiscal 1994. The increase in fiscal 1996 was due to the renovation of a manufacturing building which was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996. In fiscal 1994, capital expenditures included the purchase of two buildings and the addition of capital equipment related to the DX 500 product line.
At June 30, 1996, the Company's international subsidiaries had utilized $273,000 of the Company's $15.0 million bank lines of credit, which are used to meet working capital requirements and reduce exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. The Company believes that its cash flow from operations, its current cash and cash investments, and the remainder of the bank lines of credit are sufficient to meet its cash requirements for the foreseeable future.
The impact of inflation on the Company's financial position and results of operations was not significant during any of the periods presented.
Except for historical information contained herein, the above discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed here. Such risks and uncertainties include: new product development, including market receptiveness, competition from other products, existing product obsolescence, worldwide demand for analytical instrumentation, general economic conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, the ability to manufacture products on an efficient and timely basis and at reasonable cost and in sufficient volume, the ability to attract and retain talented employees and other risks as detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See "Business" for a more complete discussion of the risk factors outlined above.
Item 8.

Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules appearing on page 24 of this Form 10-K.
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
Identification of Directors
The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K with respect to identification of directors is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the section captioned "Nominees" at page 2 of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held October 25, 1996, which has been previously filed.
Identification of Officers
See Page 13 of this Report.
Item 11.

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the section captioned "Executive Compensation," at pages 6 through 8 of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held October 25, 1996, which has been previously filed.
Item 12.

Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by Item 12 of Form 10-K is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the sections captioned "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" at pages 4 and 5 of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held October 25, 1996, which has been previously filed.
Item 13.

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
None.
PART IV
Item 14.

Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) Financial Statements - See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules at page 24 of this Report.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules - See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules at page 24 of this Report.
(3) Exhibits - See Exhibit Index at page 21 and 22 of this Report.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K - The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
DIONEX CORPORATION
EXHIBIT INDEX
(1) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in Amendment No. 1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed December 7, 1982.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed March 3, 1987.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 27, 1988.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit in the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 29, 1989.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 20, 1989
(6) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Registrant's Statement on Form S-8 filed May 6, 1994.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed September 26, 1995.
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.
DIONEX CORPORATION (Registrant)
Date September 23, 1996 By /s/ A. Blaine Bowman ----------------------------- --------------------------------- A. Blaine Bowman 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.
DIONEX CORPORATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
*Incorporated by reference to information contained on pages 16 through 29 of the Registrant's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders. A copy of the applicable pages is attached hereto as Exhibit 13.1
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Independent Auditors' Report 25
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves 26
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required, are not applicable or then formation is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
Dionex Corporation
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Dionex Corporation and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1996, and have issued our report thereon dated July 19, 1996; such financial statements and report are included in your 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule of Dionex Corporation and its subsidiaries, listed in the accompanying Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHLLP
San Jose, California July 19, 1996
SCHEDULE II
DIONEX CORPORATION VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (IN THOUSANDS)
(1) Effects of exchange rate changes (2) Accounts written off, net of recoveries (3) Product warranty and installation costs


ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Crown Crafts, Inc., a Georgia corporation which was founded in 1957, operates, both directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, in a single business segment within the textile industry. Crown Crafts, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") are principally engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of home furnishings products. These products are marketed under a variety of Company-owned trademarks, under trademarks licensed from others, without trademarks as unbranded merchandise and with customers' private labels.
The Company completed four acquisitions during its 1996 fiscal year which ended March 31, 1996. In April 1995, the Company acquired privately-held Textile, Inc. ("Textile"), a contract manufacturer of jacquard-woven products. Subsequent to this acquisition, Textile's manufacturing capacity was used primarily to supplement the Company's existing manufacturing capacity for woven throws.
In October 1995, the Company acquired privately-held The Red Calliope and Associates, Inc. ("Red Calliope"). Red Calliope is a designer, marketer and distributer of infant bedding products and related accessories. The Company did not manufacture or sell infant bedding prior to this acquisition.
In December 1995, the Company acquired KKH Corporation, a marketer of patented animal-shaped pillows and similar products.
In January 1996, the Company acquired Churchill Weavers, Inc. ("Churchill Weavers"), a manufacturer of hand-woven luxury adult and infant throws and ladies fashion accessories.
Prior to fiscal 1996, the Company's operations were highly integrated. Since these acquisitions, Red Calliope and Churchill Weavers have, however, operated largely on a stand-alone basis.
PRODUCTS
The Company offers a broad range of textile home furnishings products, including adult and infant comforters, comforter sets, infant crib sets and accessories, sheets, pillowcases, pillow shams, bedskirts, duvet covers, daybed sets, window treatments, decorative pillows, coverlets, bedspreads, rugs and throws. These products are made from a variety of fabrics such as 100% cotton, cotton/polyester blend, fleece, denim, velvet, corduroy and wool.
The Company offers its bedcovering products in a wide variety of styles and patterns, from comforters to woven bedspreads and
from solid colors to designer prints. The Company believes the trend toward coordination of the bedroom will remain strong and expects to continue its emphasis on comforter sets with coordinated sheets and accessories, and on woven products such as matelasse coverlets.
The Company manufactures throws in a variety of colors and designs. Throws may be constructed of either 100% cotton, 100% acrylic, cotton/acrylic blends, rayon, wool or chenille.
Adult comforters and accessories are produced primarily at the Company's facilities in Roxboro, North Carolina (the "Roxboro Plant"). Infant bedding products, which are marketed by Red Calliope, are produced by a variety of independent contractors in the greater Los Angeles, California, area. All comforters are filled with polyester fiberfill.
The Company's facilities in Dalton, Chatsworth and Calhoun, Georgia produce and warehouse the majority of jacquard-woven products. Throws are also manufactured at the Textile facility in Ronda, North Carolina, and by Churchill Weavers at its facility in Berea, Kentucky. Some of the Company's throws, including all printed and fleece throws, are also manufactured in Mexico by independent companies.
PRODUCT DESIGN AND STYLING
The Company's research and development expenditures focus primarily on product design and styling. The Company believes styling and design are key components to its success. In recent years the Company has significantly increased the number of people and other resources dedicated to this area. The Company's designs include traditional, contemporary, textured and whimsical patterns. The Company designs and manufactures products across a broad spectrum of retail price points. The Company is continually developing new designs for both bedcoverings and throws.
The Company's designers and stylists work closely with the marketing staff to develop new designs. The Company obtains its designs from numerous sources, including graphic artists, decorative fabric manufacturers, apparel designers, the Company's employees and museums. The Company utilizes computer aided design systems to increase its design flexibility and reduce costs. In addition, these systems significantly shorten the time for responding to customer needs and changing market trends. The Company creates many designs for exclusive sale by certain of its customers.
SALES AND MARKETING; CUSTOMERS
The Company markets its products through a national sales force consisting of salaried sales executives and employees and independent commissioned sales representatives. Independent representatives are used most significantly in sales to the gift trade through Goodwin Weavers and Churchill Weavers, and to the infant bedding market through Red Calliope. Sales outside the United States and Canada are primarily through distributors.
The Company's customers consist principally of department stores, chain stores, mass merchants, specialty home furnishings stores, wholesale clubs, gift stores and catalogue and direct mail houses. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, April 2, 1995 and April 3, 1994, sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. accounted for 18.2%, 17.3% and 16.1% of net sales, respectively. The Company's sales to JCPenney Company constituted 11.8% of net sales in fiscal 1994. During fiscal 1995 and 1996, sales to JCPenney Company were less than 10% of the Company's net sales. The loss of any major customers would have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results. The Company believes, however, that its relationships with both Wal-Mart and JCPenney are excellent and that the loss of either customer is unlikely.
The Company's primary showroom and sales office is located in New York City. Sales offices are also maintained in Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Tyler, Texas, and Bellevue, Washington. An additional showroom is located in the Company's Atlanta corporate headquarters location. The Goodwin Weavers division also has a showroom in the Atlanta Merchandise Mart. Red Calliope maintains a showroom in Dallas, Texas.
The Company sells the majority of its products to retailers for resale to consumers. The Company generally introduces new products to the retail trade during the industry's April and October home textile markets. Initial shipments of successful new designs generally occur at least six months after the product introduction as more conservative buyers follow the lead of market innovators. New product introductions for the gift shop trade are concentrated in January-March and June-August when Goodwin Weavers and Churchill Weavers participate in numerous local and regional gift shows. Red Calliope introduces products once each year during the November Juvenile Products Manufacturers' Association trade show. Private label products manufactured by the Company are introduced throughout the year.
The Company uses visually appealing and informative packaging, point-of-sale displays and advertising materials for retailers. Most of these are produced in the Company's own print shop, which offers design, typesetting and finishing services. The Company
also regularly advertises its products in publications directed to the trade.
MANUFACTURING
The Company has made significant investments in modernization and expansion to lower manufacturing costs, maximize design flexibility, improve quality and service, and increase productive capacity.
The Company produces adult comforters and accessories at the Roxboro Plant. The Roxboro Plant utilizes an automated warehouse and distribution system which allows the Company to reduce inventories, improve physical control over inventories, reduce order fulfillment lead times, and provide enhanced levels of service.
The Company produces its jacquard-woven products at its weaving mills in Dalton, Georgia, and Ronda, North Carolina. A new 90,000 square-foot weaving facility in Dalton, Georgia, became operational in October 1995. The products are then finished, packed and shipped from the Calhoun, Georgia, facilities. In fiscal 1996, the Company completed the expansion of its warehouse and distribution facility in Calhoun, Georgia. This expanded warehouse and distribution center has enabled the Company to continue to increase its efficiency and improve on-time deliveries of its products. The Company also uses a warehouse and distribution center in Chatsworth, Georgia.
OUTLET STORES
The Company markets primarily close-out and irregular products through its outlet stores which are located in Calhoun, Georgia, Roxboro, North Carolina, Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and in several outlet malls and resort areas located primarily in the southeastern United States. In fiscal 1996, less than 4% of the Company's sales were made through its outlet stores.
RAW MATERIALS
The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of adult and infant comforters, sheets and accessories are wide-width and narrow printed and solid color cotton and polycotton fabrics, and polyester fibers used as filling material. The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of jacquard-woven products are natural-color and pre-dyed 100% cotton yarns. Although the Company usually maintains supply relationships with only a limited number of suppliers, the Company believes these raw materials presently are available from several sources in quantities sufficient to meet the Company's requirements.
The Company uses significant quantities of cotton, either in the form of cotton yarn, cotton fabric or polycotton fabric. Cotton is subject to ongoing price fluctuations. The price fluctuations are a result of cotton being an agricultural product subject to weather patterns, disease and other factors as well as supply and demand considerations, both domestically and internationally. To reduce the effect of potential price fluctuations, the Company often makes commitments for future purchases of cotton yarns and fabrics up to a year before delivery. Nonetheless, significant increases in the price of cotton could adversely affect the Company's operations.
SEASONALITY, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Historically, the Company has experienced a seasonal sales pattern, with a greater sales volume in each of the last three fiscal quarters of the year (July through March). This seasonality results from retailers having higher sales in the second half of the year.
The Company carries normal inventory levels to meet delivery requirements of customers. Customer returns of merchandise shipped are not material. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis. Excluding the inventories of companies acquired during fiscal 1996, inventories declined to $40,100,000 at March 31, 1996 from $44,900,000 at April 2, 1995.
BACKLOG ORDERS
The Company's backlog of unfilled customer orders believed by management to be firm were $19,279,000 and $22,510,000 at May 24, 1996 and May 26, 1995(1), respectively. The majority of these unfilled orders are scheduled to be shipped within eight weeks.
The Company believes that its backlog of unfilled orders is not a meaningful indicator of its future sales volume, as customers have increasingly followed the practice of placing orders as close to the requested delivery date as possible. Many orders are placed using electronic data interchange, and the Company fills many of such orders on a quick response basis.
TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND PATENTS
The Company's products are marketed in part under well-known trademarks. The Company considers its trademarks to be of material
- ------------------- (1) To enhance comparability, backlog orders for May, 1995 have been adjusted to include backlog orders of companies acquired during fiscal 1996.
importance to its business. Adult comforters and accessories primarily carry the trademark Crown Crafts(R). The majority of throws carry the trademarks Crown Crafts(R) and Goodwin Weavers(R). Infant bedding products carry the trademarks Red Calliope(R) and Little Bedding(R). Protection for these marks is obtained through domestic and foreign registrations. Also important to the Company is the trademark Royal Sateen(R), which was developed in a joint effort with Kitan Consolidated, Ltd. of Israel. Kitan is the registered owner of the mark and the Company is the exclusive marketer of Royal Sateen products in the United States and other parts of the Western Hemisphere.
In addition, certain products are manufactured and sold pursuant to licensing agreements that include, among others: Bob Timberlake(TM), Colonial Williamsburg(R), Department 56(R), Warner Bros.(R), Hallmark(R), Ungaro(R),and Disney(R). The licensing agreements for the Company's designer brands generally are for a term of 3 to 6 years, and may or may not be subject to renewal. No one of these licenses has accounted for more than 10% of the Company's total sales volume during any of the last five fiscal years. Although revenue has not been material, the Company has licensed and has sold fabric for certain of its more successful designs to manufacturers of other products such as bath accessories, table linens, wallpaper borders and rugs. The Company believes that its licensing activities, both as a licensee and licensor, will continue to increase in importance as the Company grows.
Many of the designs used by the Company are copyrighted by other parties including trademark licensors and are available to the Company through copyright licenses. Other designs are the subject of copyrights and design patents owned by the Company.
COMPETITION
The textile industry, including the market for home furnishings products, is highly competitive. The Company competes with a variety of manufacturers, many of which are vertically-integrated textile companies with substantially greater resources than the Company, and many of which are of similar size to the Company. Competitors may have customer relationships which may be superior to those of the Company and may have substantially greater resources. The Company believes that it is the sixth largest domestic manufacturer of bed coverings, including comforters, comforter sets and jacquard-woven bedspreads, with a total market share of approximately 8%. The Company also believes that it is the largest domestic manufacturer of throws with a total market share of approximately 40%.
The Company competes on the basis of quality, design, price, service and packaging. Except for acrylic throws, luxury linens, and matelasse coverlets and bedspreads, the Company's products have
not experienced significant competition from imports. The Company believes that its ability to implement future price increases for its products may be limited by current or future overcapacity in the domestic textile industry.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION; ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
The Company is subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations which regulate, among other things, the discharge, storage, handling and disposal of a variety of substances and wastes. The Company's operations are also governed by laws and regulations relating to employee safety and health, principally the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act and regulations thereunder.
The Company believes that it currently complies in all material respects with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Although the Company believes that future compliance with such existing laws or regulations will not have a material adverse effect on its capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position, there can be no assurances that such requirements will not become more stringent in the future or that the Company will not incur significant costs in the future to comply with such requirements.
EMPLOYEES
At June 14, 1996, the Company had 2,220 employees. None of the Company's employees is represented by a labor union, and the Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good. The Company attracts and maintains qualified personnel by paying competitive salaries and benefits and offering opportunities for advancement.
INTERNATIONAL SALES
Sales to customers in foreign countries are not currently material to the Company's business. The Company believes, however, its presence in foreign countries will increase in the future as a result of, among other factors, the passage of NAFTA and the expansion of its sales efforts in Europe, Japan, Mexico and Australia. The Company had anticipated substantial sales growth in Mexico in fiscal 1996 in connection with its strategic alliance with the Mexican textile company, Grupo Textil San Marcos. As a result of the devaluation of the peso and the resulting impact on the Mexican economy, however, the Company made only a minor amount of export sales to Mexico during fiscal 1996.
ITEM 2.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's headquarters are located in executive offices in Atlanta, Georgia. A showroom is also located in these offices. The Company occupies approximately 41,213 square feet at this location under leases that expire June 29, 2002 and September 30, 2000.
The following table summarizes certain information regarding the Company's principal properties.
- --------------------------- (1) Lease expires May 31, 2001 (renewable for one two-year period and one three-year period) (2) Leases expire June 29, 2002 and September 30, 2000. (3) Leases expire as follows: (a) 75,000 square feet on February 28, 2005; (b) 50,000 square feet on September 30, 1997 (renewable for one five-year period); and (c) 223,000 square feet on April 30, 1998 (renewable for one five-year period). (4) Leases expire December 31, 1996. The Company is currently in the final stage of lease negotiations for appropriate space located in Midtown Manhattan for its sales and design offices and showroom. (5) Lease term commences January 1, 1997 and expires April 30, 2007 (renewable for up to two additional five-year periods).
The Company also leases space for its various sales offices and outlet stores.
Management believes that its properties are suitable for the purposes for which they are used, are in generally good condition, substantially utilized and provide adequate production capacity for current and anticipated future operations.
ITEM 3.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, the Company is a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not currently engaged in any material legal proceedings.
ITEM 4.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the year ended March 31, 1996.
PART II
ITEM 5.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company is authorized by its Articles of Incorporation to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of capital stock, all of which are designated Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share.
COMMON STOCK
The Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "CRW". The following table presents quarterly information on the price range of the Company's Common Stock for the fiscal years ended April 2, 1995 and March 31, 1996. This information indicates the high and low sale prices as reported by the NYSE.
As of June 14, 1996 there were issued and outstanding 7,944,201 shares of the Company's Common Stock held by approximately 1,750 beneficial holders. The estimated number of beneficial holders does not reflect the approximately 1,900 individual employee accounts in the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan. At June 14, 1996, the Company's Common Stock closed at $9.75.
In fiscal 1996, the Company continued its policy, begun in February 1989, of paying dividends on a quarterly basis. The Company paid a dividend of $0.03 per share on its Common Stock on June 20, 1995, September 19, 1995, December 19, 1995 and March 26, 1996. Dividends paid by the Company on its Common Stock in the future will depend upon the earnings and financial condition of the Company. The Company presently anticipates paying dividends for the foreseeable future.
ITEM SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected financial data presented below are derived from the Company's financial statements for the five years ended March 31, 1996. The data should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
ITEM 7.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 2, 1995
Consolidated net sales increased $8.0 million, or 3.8 percent, to $219.0 million in 1996. The increase was attributable to incremental net sales of $15.7 million from the four businesses acquired by the Company during 1996 and an increase in net sales of woven products, offset by declines in net sales of comforters, comforter accessories and imported quilts.
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales declined to 19.4 percent in 1996 from 22.2 percent in 1995, primarily due to
capacity underutilization at the Company's manufacturing facilities for jacquard-woven products and for comforters and related accessories. This underutilization was the result of less than expected demand for the Company's products, as an extremely weak retailing environment prevailed for most of the fiscal year. The Company further reduced its production schedules, particularly during the fourth quarter, as part of a plan to reduce its inventory levels. Retail demand for jacquard-woven products, comforters and related accessories has remained sluggish in April and May, indicating that the Company's manufacturing capacity will continue to exceed demand for at least a portion of the 1997 fiscal year.
Marketing and administrative expenses increased $4.0 million, or 14.3 percent, to $31.8 million in 1996. Of the increase, $2.7 million represents the incremental marketing and administrative expenses of the businesses acquired by the Company during 1996. The remaining increase was primarily attributable to increases in staffing costs and advertising, the total of which was partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in executive incentive compensation payments.
Interest costs incurred increased to $4.2 million (including capitalized interest of $402,000) in 1996 from a total of $2.1 million (including capitalized interest of $125,000) in 1995. This increase was primarily the result of a substantial increase in the overall levels of debt outstanding. Such higher debt levels were the result of capital spending ($23.7 million), acquisition activity ($20.5 million) and purchases of treasury stock ($7.5 million). See "Financial Position, Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.
The effective income tax rate increased to 39.6 percent in 1996 from 36.8 percent in 1995, partially because of the increase of $352,000 in financial statement expenses for nondeductible amortization of goodwill, and in part due to the higher state and local income tax rates applicable to acquired companies. These higher state and local rates were partially offset by the availability and utilization of employment-related tax credits in certain other states.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 2, 1995 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED APRIL 3, 1994
Consolidated net sales increased $23.6 million, or 12.6 percent, to $211.0 million in 1995. Higher net sales of woven throws, woven bedspreads and sheets were partially offset by declines in net sales of comforters and quilts.
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 22.2 percent in 1995 from 20.3 percent in 1994, as new automated
manufacturing, warehousing and distribution facilities were operated more efficiently.
Marketing and administrative expenses increased $5.2 million, or 23.1 percent, to $27.9 million in 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to increased staffing and occupancy costs incurred to support the growth in net sales.
Interest costs incurred increased to $2.1 million (including capitalized interest of $125,000) in 1995 from a total of $2.0 million (including capitalized interest of $407,000) in 1994. The increased costs were the result of an increase in the overall levels of debt outstanding.
The effective income tax rate increased to 36.8 percent in 1995 from 36.2 percent in 1994 due to higher effective state income tax rates.
FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company acquired four businesses during fiscal 1996. On April 3, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Textile, Inc., a contract manufacturer of jacquard-woven products. Subsequent to the acquisition, Textile, Inc. was utilized primarily to supplement the Company's manufacturing capacity for woven throws. On October 31, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of The Red Calliope and Associates, Inc., a leading designer and marketer of infant bedding products and related accessories. This acquisition marked the Company's entry into the infant home furnishings market. On December 19, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of KKH Corporation, a designer and marketer of imported patented animal-shaped children's pillows and similar products. On January 4, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Churchill Weavers, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of hand-woven luxury textile products. The total consideration for these four acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was $20.5 million. The Company disbursed substantially all of such purchase consideration in cash prior to the end of fiscal 1996. As part of its strategy to grow sales and earnings, the Company expects to continue to consider acquisitions of other home furnishings businesses.
The Company also completed two significant construction projects during fiscal 1996. Approximately mid-year, a 90,000 square foot weaving facility in Dalton, Georgia, began operations, and the Company completed an expansion of its distribution center for jacquard-woven products in Calhoun, Georgia. Capital expenditures totaled $23.7 million during fiscal 1996, the highest annual level in the Company's history.
The Company believes that its facilities are among the most modern in the textile home furnishings industry, and that its production capacity is sufficient to meet current and projected demand over the next fiscal year. Accordingly, the Company expects capital spending to decline to less than $10 million for fiscal 1997.
During fiscal 1996, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. The Company has purchased a total of 636,200 shares of its stock for a total of $7.5 million. No decision has been made as to whether the Company will acquire the remaining shares covered under this authorization.
The Company's fiscal 1996 cash needs, which were driven by the acquisitions, capital expenditures and common stock purchases described herein, were met primarily by outside financing sources. On August 25, 1995, the Company entered into long-term unsecured revolving credit facilities totaling $30 million with two commercial banks. The variable interest rates for funds borrowed under these facilities are based on LIBOR. At March 31, 1996, borrowings of $19.0 million were outstanding under these facilities at a weighted average interest rate of 5.9 percent. The Company pays facility fees on the unused portions of these committed credit lines. Among other covenants, these bank facilities contain a requirement that the Company maintain minimum levels of shareholders' equity, one effect of which is to restrict the payment of cash dividends. At March 31, 1996, retained earnings of approximately $8.6 million were available for dividend payments. Other covenants place restrictions on the amounts the Company may expend on acquisitions and purchases of treasury stock. On October 12, 1995, the Company entered into a $50 million note purchase and private shelf agreement with an insurance company. An initial borrowing of $25 million was made on that date, and the remaining $25 million was borrowed on January 25, 1996. The weighted average interest rate for the entire amount borrowed was 6.9 percent. Repayments will be made in equal annual installments of $7.1 million each, commencing October 12, 1999, with the final installment due October 12, 2005. In addition, the Company has short-term uncommitted credit lines totaling $40 million. The Company believes that cash generated by operations and borrowings under its existing credit facilities will be sufficient to meet its anticipated requirements for capital expenditures, annual debt repayments and operating expenses.
To reduce its exposure to credit losses and to enhance its cash flow forecasts, the Company factors the majority of its trade accounts receivable. The Company's factor establishes customer credit lines, and accounts for and collects receivables balances. The factor remits payment to the Company on the due dates of the factored invoices. The Company does not take advances against its
factored receivables balances. The factor assumes all responsibility for credit losses on sales within approved credit lines, but may deduct from its remittances to the Company the amounts of customer deductions for returns, allowances, disputes and discounts. The Company's factor may, at any time, terminate or limit its approval of shipments to a particular customer. If such a termination occurs, the Company may either assume the credit risks for shipments after the date of such termination or cease shipments to such customer.
OTHER MATTERS
In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued 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. SFAS No. 121 addresses issues surrounding the measurement and recognition of losses when the value of certain assets has been deemed to be permanently impaired. This Statement will be effective for the Company's 1997 fiscal year. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 121 to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS No. 123 establishes a method of accounting for stock compensation plans based on fair value, but also permits companies to continue to account for stock options under the intrinsic value method established by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The Company plans to continue to account for stock-based compensation following the intrinsic value method. Beginning in fiscal 1997, SFAS No. 123 requires disclosure in the notes to financial statements of pro forma net income and earnings per share as if the alternative method established in SFAS No. 123 had been used to measure compensation cost.
ITEM 8.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See pages through herein.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
F - 1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Crown Crafts, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Crown Crafts, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 1996. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed at Item 14. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based upon 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, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Crown Crafts, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flow for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Atlanta, Georgia May 24, 1996
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995
see notes to consolidated financial statements
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS Fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, April 2, 1995 and April 3, 1994
see notes to consolidated financial statements
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, April 2, 1995 and April 3, 1994
number of shares of common stock issued: 9,050,636 at March 31, 1996 and 9,003,991 at April 2, 1995
see notes to consolidated financial statements
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, April 2, 1995 and April 3, 1994
see notes to consolidated financial statements
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Fiscal years ended March 31, 1996, April 2, 1995 and April 3, 1994
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Crown Crafts, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain amounts appearing in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.
The Company's fiscal year ends on the Sunday nearest March 31. Fiscal years are designated in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto by reference to the calendar year within which the fiscal year ends. The consolidated financial statements encompass 52 weeks of operations for 1996 and 1995, and 53 weeks of operations for 1994.
The Company operates in a single business segment within the textile industry and is principally engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of home furnishings products. Sales are generally made directly to retailers, primarily department and specialty stores, mass merchants, large chain stores and gift stores.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out basis, or market.
Depreciation and Amortization: Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment are provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets using principally the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 15 to 40 years for buildings, 4 to 7-1/2 years for machinery and equipment, and 8 years for furniture and fixtures. The cost of improvements to leased premises is amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the improvement or the term of the lease.
Goodwill represents the unamortized excess of the cost of acquired enterprises over the fair value of the net identifiable assets at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is amortized using the straight-line method over 10 to 30 years. The recoverability of goodwill is periodically assessed based on anticipated profitability of the related acquired entity.
Revenue Recognition: Sales are recorded on the date merchandise is shipped to customers, and are reported net of returns and allowances in the consolidated statements of earnings.
Cotton Futures Transactions: Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the fair values of cotton futures contracts are recognized in earnings during the periods in which such changes occur. No futures contracts were outstanding at March 31, 1996.
Provisions for Income Taxes: The provisions for income taxes include all currently payable federal, state and local taxes which are based upon the Company's taxable income and the change during the fiscal year in net deferred income tax assets and liabilities. The Company provides for deferred income taxes based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates which will be in effect during the years in which such differences are expected to reverse.
Earnings Per Share: Earnings per share have been computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for each period presented. Such computations excluded the effect of outstanding stock options since they did not have a material dilutive effect.
2. ACQUISITIONS
During the fiscal year that ended March 31, 1996, the Company completed four acquisitions, all of which were accounted for as purchases. Accordingly, the consolidated statement of earnings for 1996 includes the revenues, expenses and operating results for each business commencing with its respective acquisition date.
On October 31, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of The Red Calliope and Associates, Inc. for $8.9 million in cash and $5.8 million in short-term notes. The Red Calliope is a leading designer and marketer of infant bedding products and related accessories. The notes issued in connection with this transaction were paid prior to March 31, 1996, in accordance with their terms.
On April 3, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Textile, Inc., a contract manufacturer of jacquard-woven products. On December 19, 1995, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of KKH Corporation, a designer and marketer of imported patented animal-shaped children's pillows and related products. On January 4, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Churchill Weavers, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of hand-woven luxury textile products. The total consideration for these three acquisitions was $6.4 million. Contingent consideration of $0.5 million is payable if KKH Corporation's separate-company profits exceed certain amounts through 1999. Any such payments will increase goodwill in the fiscal years during which the earnings requirements are met.
The net purchase price for these four acquisitions was allocated based upon the respective acquisition-date fair market values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as follows:
Goodwill of $10.2 million was associated with the acquisition of The Red Calliope and Associates, Inc., and is being amortized over a period of thirty years. The remaining goodwill arises principally from the acquisition of Textile, Inc. and is being amortized primarily over fifteen years.
The following unaudited pro forma information presents the Company's consolidated results of operations as though the acquisition of The Red Calliope and Associates, Inc. had occurred on the first day of fiscal 1995. These pro forma results do not purport to be indicative of the results which would have been achieved had the acquisition been made on that date, or of future results of operations. The pro forma information does not include the other three acquired companies, since their inclusion would not materially alter the information shown therein or the Company's reported consolidated results of operations.
3. INVENTORIES
Major classes of inventory were as follows:
4. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
Factoring Agreement: The Company assigns the majority of its trade accounts receivable to a commercial factor. The Company does not borrow funds from its factor or take advances against receivables so assigned. Under the terms of the factoring agreement, the factor remits payments to the Company on the approximate due dates of the assigned invoices. The factor bears credit losses with respect to assigned receivables which are within approved credit lines. The Company bears losses resulting from returns, allowances, claims and discounts. Factoring fees, which are included in marketing and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were: $ 1,477,000 (1996), $1,702,000(1995) and $1,501,000 (1994).
Notes Payable: At March 31, 1996, the Company had uncommitted lines of credit totaling $40,000,000 with two banks at floating rates of interest which generally do not exceed the banks' respective prime lending rates. No fees or compensating balances are required under these arrangements, and the lines are cancelable at the banks' discretion. Annual average borrowings and weighted average interest rates under these arrangements were $18,291,000 at 6.4% in 1996 and $17,720,000 at 5.6% in 1995. The weighted average interest rates on borrowings outstanding under these arrangements at March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995, were 6.0% and 6.7%, respectively.
4. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (continued)
Long-Term Debt: At March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995, long-term debt consisted of:
During the second quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company entered into unsecured revolving credit agreements totaling $30 million with two banks. The interest rate on borrowings under these lines is based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). At March 31, 1996, the weighted average interest rate on amounts outstanding under these facilities was 5.9%. The Company pays facility fees on the unused portions of the committed credit lines.
The unsecured notes, which are placed with an insurance company, and the bank revolving credit facilities contain similar restrictive covenants requiring the Company to maintain certain ratios of earnings to fixed charges and of total debt to total capitalization. In addition, the bank revolving credit facilities contain certain covenants requiring the Company to maintain minimum levels of shareholders' equity and certain ratios of total debt to cash flow. The bank facilities also place restrictions on the amounts the Company may expend on acquisitions and purchases of treasury stock. At March 31, 1996, the Company was in compliance with all restrictive covenants, and retained earnings of approximately $8.6 million were available for dividend payments.
Scheduled maturities of long-term debt in each of the next five fiscal years are: $5,100,000 in 1997, $100,000 in 1998, $19,100,000 in 1999, $7,243,000 in 2000 and $7,143,000 in 2001. The fair value at March 31, 1996 of the Company's long-term obligations, which amount has been estimated by discounting the projected cash flows using rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities, approximates their carrying value.
5. INCOME TAXES
The provisions for income taxes are summarized as follows:
The tax effects of temporary differences which comprise the deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows:
A reconciliation between the provisions for income taxes computed by applying the applicable maximum federal statutory rates to earnings before income taxes and the provisions for income taxes is as follows:
6. RETIREMENT PLANS
The Company maintains an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which provides for annual contributions by the Company at the discretion of the Board of Directors for the benefit of eligible employees. Contributions can be made either in cash or in shares of the Company's common stock. Participation in the Plan is open to all Company employees who are at least twenty-one years of age and who have been employed by the Company for at least one year. The Company recognized expense of $600,000, $750,000 and $650,000 for its cash contributions to the Plan in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Effective January 1, 1996, the Company established an Employee Savings Plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers substantially all employees. Under the Plan, employees generally may elect to exclude up to 15% of their compensation from amounts subject to income tax as a salary deferral contribution. The Board of Directors determines each calendar year the portion, if any, of employee contributions which will be matched by the Company. For calendar 1996, the Company will make a matching contribution to each employee in an amount equal to the first 2% of such contributions. The Company's matching contributions to the Plan were approximately $118,000 for fiscal 1996 during the three months of that fiscal year in which this Plan was in effect.
7. STOCK OPTIONS
The Company's 1976 and 1995 Stock Option Plans provide for the grant of non-qualified stock options to officers and key employees at prices no less than the price of the stock on the date of each grant. In addition, the 1995 Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options to employees and a fixed annual grant of 2,000 non-qualified stock options to each non-employee director on the day after each year's annual meeting of shareholders. Through March 31, 1996, non-qualified options covering a total of 6,000 shares have been issued to non-employee directors and no incentive options have been issued. One-third of the non-qualified options become exercisable on each of the first three anniversaries of their issuance. The non-qualified options expire on the fifth anniversary of their issuance.
A total of 5,225,000 shares of common stock have been authorized for issuance under the Plans. At March 31, 1996, 1,228,101 options were reserved for future issuance. The options outstanding at March 31, 1996 expire through March 2001, have an average exercise price of $13.97, and include 779,840 options exercisable at March 31, 1996.
The following table summarizes stock option activity during each of the most recent three fiscal years:
7. STOCK OPTIONS (continued)
Optionees may pay the option price of options exercised by surrendering to the Company shares of the Company's stock that the optionee has owned for at least six months prior to the date of such exercise. Further, optionees may satisfy their required income tax withholding obligations upon the exercise of options by requesting the Company to withhold the number of otherwise issuable shares with a market value equal to such tax withholding obligation.
On March 29, 1996, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to issue new options on April 12, 1996, in exchange for stock options which had been issued after December 31, 1991, were held by active employees who elected to participate in the exchange, and for which the closing market price on April 12, 1996 was at least $0.25 below the option exercise price. The number of options so issued would be equal to 80% of any option exchanged which had originally been issued in calendar 1992 and 100% of options exchanged which had originally been issued after December 31, 1992. Under this program, options covering a total of 1,613,474 shares at an average option price of $14.14 were canceled and options for 1,569,936 shares were issued at an exercise price of $10.25 per share, or $0.25 in excess of the closing market price of the Company's stock on April 12, 1996. The replacement options will vest and expire on the same basis as any other options issued by the Company.
8. MAJOR CUSTOMERS
The Company's sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. constituted 18.2%, 17.3% and 16.1% of net sales, respectively, in 1996, 1995 and 1994. The Company's sales to JC Penney Company constituted 11.8% of net sales in 1994.
9. COMMITMENTS
Lease Commitments: At March 31, 1996, the Company's minimum annual rentals under noncancelable operating leases, principally for manufacturing, warehousing and office facilities, were as follows:
Total rent expense was $2,990,000, $2,486,000 and $1,620,000 for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Letters of Credit: At March 31, 1996, the Company had outstanding letters of credit, primarily for purchases of inventory, aggregating $4.4 million.
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K Selected Quarterly Financial Information
ITEM 9.

ITEM 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
The Company has neither changed its independent accountants nor had any disagreements on accounting or financial disclosure with such accountants.
PART III
The Company's Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on August 8, 1996 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14.

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(A)1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following consolidated financial statements of Registrant are filed with this report and included in Part II, Item 8:
Page
Report of Independent Auditors....................
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1996 and April 2, 1995................
Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three Fiscal Years in the Period Ended March 31, 1996.....................
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Three Fiscal Years in the Period Ended March 31, 1996........
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Fiscal Years in the Period Ended March 31, 1996.....................
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements......................................
(A)2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following financial statement schedule of Registrant is filed with this report:
Page Schedule VIII- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts......... 18
All other schedules not listed above have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K Schedule VIII-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
($ in thousands)
* Deductions from the reserve for doubtful accounts represent the amount of accounts written off reduced by any subsequent recoveries.
(A)3. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS
The following Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements are filed with this Form 10-K or have been previously filed as indicated below:
1. Crown Crafts, Inc. 1976 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan. (6)(Exhibit 10(b)(i))
2. Philip Bernstein Death Benefits Agreement dated March 30, 1992 (5) (Exhibit 10(b)(ii))
3. Description of Crown Crafts, Inc. Executive Incentive Bonus Plan (5) (Exhibit 10(b)(iii))
4. Crown Crafts, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan (1) (Exhibit 10(b)(iv))
5. Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement (pursuant to 1995 Stock Option Plan) (1) (Exhibit 10(b)(v))
6. Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement for Nonemployee Directors (pursuant to 1995 Stock Option Plan) (1) (Exhibit 10(b)(vi))
(A)5. EXHIBITS
Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are included as Exhibits to this report as follows:
There were no reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended March 31, 1996. - ----------------------
(1) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 1995.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Report on Current Form 8-K dated August 22, 1995.
(3) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1991.
(4) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 1992.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 28, 1993.
(6) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed April 8, 1994. (Reg. No. 33-77558).
(7) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrants Report on Current Form 8-K dated November 13, 1995.
(8) Incorporated herein by reference to exhibit of same number to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 2, 1995.
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.
CROWN CRAFTS, INC.
BY:/s/ MICHAEL H. BERNSTEIN --------------------------- Michael H. Bernstein 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: