FORM 10-Q

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               WASHINGTON, D. C.  20549

(Mark One)

/X/  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
               SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1996

                                          OR

/ /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
              SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                to
                               --------------    ---------------

Commission File No. 1-2189


                                 ABBOTT LABORATORIES

An Illinois Corporation                    I.R.S. Employer Identification
                                                    No. 36-0698440

                                 100 Abbott Park Road
                          Abbott Park, Illinois  60064-3500

                              Telephone:  (847) 937-6100



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.             Yes   X  .  No      .
                                                   -----      -----

As of April 30, 1996, the Corporation had 784,373,984 common shares without par
value outstanding.





                         PART  1  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION

                     ABBOTT  LABORATORIES  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS

                                   (UNAUDITED)



                      ABBOTT LABORATORIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

                  (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 --------------------------- 1996 1995 ---------- ---------- Net Sales..................................... $2,672,177 $2,524,397 ---------- ---------- Cost of products sold......................... 1,156,217 1,088,911 Research and development...................... 268,616 247,175 Selling, general and administrative........... 572,346 598,832 ---------- ---------- Total Operating Cost and Expenses........... 1,997,179 1,934,918 ---------- ---------- Operating Earnings............................ 674,998 589,479 ---------- ---------- Interest expense.............................. 17,607 13,952 Interest income............................... (10,490) (11,010) Other (income) expense, net................... (13,124) (5,313) ---------- ---------- Earnings Before Taxes......................... 681,005 591,850 Taxes on Earnings............................. 200,896 174,596 ---------- ---------- Net Earnings.................................. $ 480,109 $ 417,254 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net Earnings Per Common Share................. $.61 $.52 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share............................ $.24 $.21 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 2 ABBOTT LABORATORIES AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Dollars in Thousands)
MARCH 31 DECEMBER 31 1996 1995 ----------- ---------- (unaudited) ASSETS Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 87,922 $ 281,197 Investment securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44,035 34,500 Trade Receivables, less allowances of $156,167 in 1996 and $157,990 in 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,562,321 1,563,038 Inventories: Finished products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573,346 560,637 Work in process. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268,983 238,943 Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314,589 311,361 ----------- ----------- Total Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,156,918 1,110,941 Prepaid expenses, income taxes, and other receivables. . . . . . 1,262,070 1,237,035 ----------- ----------- Total Current Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,113,266 4,226,711 ----------- ----------- Investment Securities Maturing after One Year. . . . . . . . . . . 398,063 422,547 ----------- ----------- Property and Equipment, at Cost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,895,249 7,762,442 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . 3,621,131 3,512,904 ----------- ----------- Net Property and Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,274,118 4,249,538 Deferred Charges and Other Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526,573 513,784 ----------- ----------- $ 9,312,020 $ 9,412,580 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT Current Liabilities: Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt. . . $ 675,337 $ 1,049,863 Trade accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 709,148 755,921 Salaries, income taxes, dividends payable, and other accruals. . 2,107,010 1,984,530 ----------- ----------- Total Current Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,491,495 3,790,314 ----------- ----------- Long-Term Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433,724 435,198 ----------- ----------- Other Liabilities and Deferrals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821,134 790,221 ----------- ----------- Shareholders' Investment: Preferred shares, $1 par value Authorized - 1,000,000 shares, none issued Common shares, without par value Authorized - 1,200,000,000 shares Issued at stated capital amount - Shares: 1996: 794,800,514; 1995: 797,021,211. . . . . . . . 608,933 581,562 Earnings employed in the business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,074,555 3,926,917 Cumulative translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (60,503) (55,646) ----------- ----------- 4,622,985 4,452,833 Less: Common shares held in treasury, at cost - Shares: 1996: 9,667,579; 1995: 9,714,379 . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,021 51,268 Unearned compensation - restricted stock awards. . . . . . . . . . 6,297 4,718 ----------- ----------- Total Shareholders' Investment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,565,667 4,396,847 ----------- ----------- $ 9,312,020 $ 9,412,580 ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 3 ABBOTT LABORATORIES AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (Dollars in thousands)
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 --------------------------- 1996 1995 ---------- --------- Cash Flow From (Used in) Operating Activities: Net earnings....................................... $ 480,109 $ 417,254 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities - Depreciation and amortization...................... 163,308 137,083 Trade receivables.................................. (4,861) (74,377) Inventories........................................ (48,893) 16,549 Other, net......................................... 94,503 11,820 ---------- --------- Net Cash From Operating Activities............ 684,166 508,329 ---------- --------- Cash Flow From (Used in) Investing Activities: Acquisitions of property, equipment, and businesses (229,823) (280,568) Investment securities transactions................. 14,818 (119,487) Other.............................................. 5,670 3,930 ---------- --------- Net Cash (Used in) Investing Activities....... (209,335) (396,125) ---------- --------- Cash Flow From (Used in) Financing Activities: Borrowing transactions............................. (374,476) 104,179 Common share transactions.......................... (126,639) (167,091) Dividends paid..................................... (165,395) (152,616) ---------- --------- Net Cash (Used in) Financing Activities....... (666,510) (215,528) ---------- --------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents................................... (1,596) (2,738) ---------- --------- Net (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents............ (193,275) (106,062) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year........... 281,197 290,272 ---------- --------- Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period............... $ 87,922 $ 184,210 ---------- --------- ---------- ---------
The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 4 ABBOTT LABORATORIES AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996 (UNAUDITED) NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PREPARATION: The accompanying unaudited, condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, do not include all information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements. However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only normal adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, cash flows, and results of operations have been made. It is suggested that these statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995. NOTE 2 - EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: Earnings per common share amounts are computed by using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. These shares averaged 785,836,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and 801,262,000 for the same period in 1995. NOTE 3 - TAXES ON EARNINGS: Taxes on earnings reflect the estimated annual effective tax rates. The effective tax rates are less than the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate principally due to tax incentive grants related to subsidiaries operating in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands. 5 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 1996 (Unaudited), Continued NOTE 4 - LITIGATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS: The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings including numerous antitrust suits and investigations in connection with the sale and marketing of infant formula products and the pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals. In addition, the Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party for investigation and cleanup costs at a number of locations in the United States and Puerto Rico under Federal remediation laws and is voluntarily investigating potential contamination at a number of Company-owned locations. The matters above are discussed more fully in Item 1, Business - Environmental Matters, and Item 3, Legal Proceedings, in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available upon request, and in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, in this Form. The Company expects that within the next year, progress in the legal proceedings described above may cause a change in the estimated reserves recorded by the Company. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of such pending claims, proceedings, investigations and remediation activities with certainty, management is of the opinion that their ultimate disposition should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows, or results of operations. NOTE 5 - ACQUISITIONS: In March 1996, the Company and MediSense, Inc. ("MediSense") signed a definitive agreement through which Abbott will acquire MediSense, a manufacturer of blood glucose self-testing products. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has made a tender offer to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of MediSense for approximately $876 million in cash. The purchase price will be allocated to purchased research and development, goodwill, and the fair value of net assets acquired based on pending valuations. Acquisition of the majority of the outstanding shares of MediSense will occur in the second quarter of 1996. Had this acquisition taken place on January 1, 1995, consolidated sales and net income would not have been significantly different from reported amounts. The Company currently owns 70 percent of the capital stock of a Japanese subsidiary. During the first quarter, the Company entered into an agreement with the minority interest shareholder to purchase their 30 percent ownership over a ten-year period. 6 FINANCIAL REVIEW RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - FIRST QUARTER 1996 COMPARED WITH FIRST QUARTER 1995 Worldwide sales for the first quarter increased 5.9 percent to $2.672 billion from $2.524 billion in 1995. Net earnings and earnings per share increased 15.1 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively, over the prior year quarter. Gross profit margin (sales less cost of products sold, including freight and distribution expenses) of 56.7 percent for the first quarter was down from 56.9 percent one year ago. This decrease was primarily due to higher project expense for new products and the effects of inflation; partially offset by favorable product mix, especially sales of pharmaceuticals, and productivity improvements. Research and development expenses increased to $268.6 million in the first quarter 1996. This represented 10.1 percent of net sales, compared to 9.8 percent in 1995. The majority of research and development expenditures continues to be concentrated on pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the first quarter decreased 4.4 percent from the prior year as the result of lower charges for litigation in 1996 and non-recurring contributions to the Company's charitable foundation in 1995. These decreases were partially offset by additional selling and marketing support for new and existing products, primarily pharmaceuticals and nutritionals. Other (income) expense, net, includes net foreign exchange losses of $9.3 million in the 1996 first quarter, compared with net foreign exchange losses of $8.4 million in the same quarter last year. 7 FINANCIAL REVIEW (Continued) INDUSTRY SEGMENTS Industry segment sales for the first quarter 1996 and the related change from the comparable 1995 period are shown in the table below. The Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Products segment includes a broad line of adult and pediatric pharmaceuticals and nutritionals, which are sold primarily on the prescription or recommendation of physicians or other health care professionals; consumer products; agricultural and chemical products; and bulk pharmaceuticals. The Hospital and Laboratory Products segment includes diagnostic systems for blood banks, hospitals, commercial laboratories and alternate-care testing sites; intravenous and irrigation fluids and related administration equipment; drugs and drug delivery systems; anesthetics; critical care products; and other medical specialty products for hospitals and alternate-care sites. Domestic and international sales for the first quarter primarily reflect unit growth. International sales were unfavorably affected 0.1 percent by the relatively stronger U.S. dollar in the first quarter.
First Quarter - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SEGMENT SALES 1996 Percent (in millions of dollars) Sales Increase - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pharmaceutical and Nutritional Products: Domestic $1,040.5 6.2 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- International 559.2 12.8 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,599.7 8.4 Hospital and Laboratory Products: Domestic 575.1 0.1 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- International 497.4 4.9 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,072.5 2.2 Total All Segments: Domestic 1,615.6 3.9 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- International 1,056.6 8.9 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- $2,672.2 5.9 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------
8 FINANCIAL REVIEW (Continued) LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES AT MARCH 31, 1996 COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 31, 1995 Net cash from operating activities for the first quarter 1996 totaled $684 million. The Company expects annual cash flow from operating activities to continue to approximate or exceed the Company's capital expenditures and cash dividends. The Company will fund its acquisition of MediSense through commercial paper borrowings. The Company has maintained its favorable bond ratings (AAA by Standard & Poor's Corporation and Aa1 by Moody's Investors Service) and continues to have readily available financial resources, including unused domestic lines of credit of $400 million at March 31, 1996. These lines of credit support domestic commercial paper borrowing arrangements. During the first quarter 1996, the Company continued its program to purchase its common shares. The Company purchased and retired 3,655,000 shares during this period at a cost of $152 million. As of March 31, 1996, an additional 9,715,000 shares may be purchased in future periods under authorization granted by the Board of Directors in September 1995. LEGISLATIVE ISSUES The Company's primary markets are highly competitive and subject to substantial government regulation. The Company expects debate to continue at both the federal and the state levels over the availability, method of delivery, and payment for health care products and services. The Company believes that if legislation is enacted, it could have the effect of reducing prices, or reducing the rate of price increases for medical products and services. International operations are also subject to a significant degree of government regulation. It is not possible to predict the extent to which the Company or the health care industry in general might be adversely affected by these factors in the future. A more complete discussion of these factors is contained in Item 1, Business, in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available upon request. 9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company's 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 described 23 antitrust suits, one shareholder derivative suit, and 5 investigations (as of January 31, 1996) that had been brought in connection with the Company's marketing and sale of infant formula products. During the first quarter, the Company entered into an agreement to settle 20 of these 23 antitrust suits. The 20 cases that are covered by the settlement agreement are the cases that are pending or on appeal in the following courts: Calhoun County, Alabama (2 cases); Boulder County, Colorado; Okaloosa County, Florida; St. Clair County, Illinois; Sedgwick County, Kansas; Jefferson County, Kentucky; Calhoun County, Michigan; Hennepin County, Minnesota; Ramsay County, Minnesota; Holmes County, Mississippi; Washoe County, Nevada; Jackson County, North Carolina; Burleigh County, North Dakota; Holmes County, South Dakota; Blount County, Tennessee; Kanwaha County, West Virginia; and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2 cases) and one (1) case pending in federal court in Louisiana. Except for Mississippi, where the settlement has become final, each state's settlement becomes final only when it has been approved by the court in that state. Under the terms of the agreement, without admitting any liability, the Company will pay an aggregate amount of approximately $25 million in cash to resolve the cases pending in Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin and will provide infant formula products having an aggregate value of approximately $7.5 million dollars to resolve the cases pending in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Company's 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 described 133 antitrust suits (as of January 31, 1996) in connection with the Company's pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals. As of March 31, 1996, a total of 139 cases and one investigation were pending in connection with the Company's pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals. In a letter dated March 13, 1996, the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") informed the Company that the FTC is conducting an investigation to determine whether the Company has engaged or is engaging in unfair competition in relation to the pricing of pharmaceutical products in the United States. During the first quarter of 1996, four new federal antitrust suits regarding the Company's pricing of prescription pharmaceuticals commenced and were consolidated in litigation that is pending in federal court in Chicago, Illinois, and is known as IN RE: BRAND NAME PRESCRIPTION DRUG ANTITRUST LITIGATION, MDL 997 ("MDL 997"). In addition, the following cases have been filed in state or local courts since January 31, 1996: RICHARD M. KERR V. ABBOTT, ET. AL., pending in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and HERBERT L. GODA V. ABBOTT, ET. AL., pending in the District of Columbia. The above-mentioned cases allege that various pharmaceutical manufacturers have conspired to fix prices for prescription pharmaceuticals and/or discriminate in pricing to retail pharmacies by providing discounts to mail-order pharmacies, institutional pharmacies, and health maintenance organizations in violation of various state and federal antitrust laws. The suits have been brought on behalf of retail pharmacies and/or individual consumers and name the Company and other pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as pharmaceutical wholesalers, and at least one mail-order pharmacy as defendants. The plaintiffs seek treble damages in an unspecified amount, civil penalties and other relief. The Company has filed or intends to file a response to each of the complaints denying all substantive allegations. The Company's 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1995 also reported that the Company had entered into an agreement to settle the class action portion of the MDL 997 litigation. That settlement agreement had to be approved by the federal court before it became final and effective. On April 4, 1996, the federal court disapproved the settlement agreement. The Company has filed a request for permission to seek an interlocutory appeal of the denial of the settlement agreement to the Federal Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On March 15, 1996, the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (the "Department") issued a Notice of Initiation of Enforcement Action to the Company. The Department alleges that during the period between 1987 and 1993 the Company violated certain air quality regulations in North Carolina. The Company has filed a response to the notice. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of such pending claims, proceedings, and investigations with certainty, management is of the opinion that their ultimate disposition should not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, cash flows, or results of operations. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS OF A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS The Company held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 26, 1996. The following is a summary of the matters voted on at that meeting. (a) The shareholders elected the Company's entire Board of Directors. The persons elected to the Company's Board of Directors and the number of shares cast for, and the number of shares withheld, with respect to each of these persons were as follows: Name Votes For Votes Withheld ---- --------- -------------- K. Frank Austen, M.D. 683,785,349 3,221,275 Duane L. Burnham 682,835,825 4,170,799 H. Laurance Fuller 683,883,006 3,123,618 Thomas R. Hodgson 684,025,152 2,981,472 Allen F. Jacobson 683,069,092 3,937,532 David A. Jones 682,282,831 4,723,793 The Lord Owen CH 683,488,130 3,518,494 Boone Powell, Jr. 683,998,818 3,007,806 Addison Barry Rand 683,886,662 3,119,962 W. Ann Reynolds, Ph.D. 682,553,675 4,452,949 William D. Smithburg 683,755,886 3,250,738 John R. Walter 683,080,262 3,926,362 William L. Weiss 683,385,399 3,621,225 (b) The shareholders approved the Abbott Laboratories 1996 Incentive Stock Program. FOR 614,012,674 AGAINST 63,982,488 ABSTAIN 8,990,176 BROKER NON-VOTE 21,286 (c) The shareholders ratified the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as auditors of the Company. FOR 682,607,776 AGAINST 2,014,558 ABSTAIN 2,384,290 ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K (a) Exhibits 11. Statement re: computation of per share earnings - attached hereto. 12. Statement re: computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges - attached hereto. 27. Financial Data Schedule - attached hereto. (b) Reports on Form 8-K One report on Form 8-K was filed during the quarter ended March 31, 1996. In a Form 8-K dated March 29, 1996, the Company reported that the Company and MediSense, Inc. ("MediSense") had signed a definitive agreement through which the Company will acquire MediSense and pursuant to which the Company would make a tender offer to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of MediSense. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ABBOTT LABORATORIES Date: May 14, 1996 /s/ Theodore A. Olson Theodore A. Olson, Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)



                                                                    EXHIBIT 11


                         ABBOTT LABORATORIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   CALCULATION OF FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

              (Dollars and Shares in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)


THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31 --------------------------- 1996 1995 -------- -------- 1. Net Earnings $ 480.1 $ 417.3 --------- --------- 2. Average number of shares outstanding 785.8 801.3 --------- --------- 3. Earnings per share based upon average outstanding shares (1 divided by 2) $ .61 $ .52 --------- --------- --------- --------- 4. Fully diluted earnings per share: a. Stock options granted and outstanding for which the market price at quarter-end exceeds the option price 27.8 26.8 --------- --------- --------- --------- b. Aggregate proceeds to the Company from the exercise of options in 4.a. $ 786.6 $ 652.4 --------- --------- --------- --------- c. Market price of the Company's common stock at quarter-end $ 40.75 $ 35.75 --------- --------- --------- --------- d. Shares which could be repurchased under the treasury stock method (4.b. divided by 4.c.) 19.3 18.2 --------- --------- --------- --------- e. Addition to average outstanding shares (4.a. - 4.d.) 8.5 8.6 --------- --------- --------- --------- f. Shares for fully diluted earnings per share calculation (2. + 4.e.) 794.3 809.9 --------- --------- --------- --------- g. Fully diluted earnings per share (1. divided by 4.f.) $ .60 $ .52 --------- --------- --------- ---------



                                                                    EXHIBIT 12


                                 ABBOTT LABORATORIES

                  CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                                     (Unaudited)

                                (Millions of Dollars)

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 ------------------ Net Earnings $ 480 Add (deduct): Income taxes 201 Minority interest 4 -------- Net earnings as adjusted $ 685 -------- Fixed Charges: Interest on long-term and short-term debt $ 18 Capitalized interest cost 3 Rental expense representative of an interest factor 7 -------- Total Fixed Charges 28 -------- Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges $ 713 -------- -------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 25.5 -------- --------
NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting net earnings for taxes on earnings; interest expense; capitalized interest cost, net of amortization; minority interest; and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor, (ii) the Company considers one-third of rental expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii) fixed charges comprise total interest expense, including capitalized interest and such portion of rentals.
 


5 1,000 3-MOS DEC-31-1996 MAR-31-1996 87,922 44,035 1,718,488 156,167 1,156,918 4,113,266 7,895,249 3,621,131 9,312,020 3,491,495 433,724 0 0 608,933 3,956,734 9,312,020 2,672,177 2,672,177 1,156,217 1,156,217 268,616 13,838 17,607 681,005 200,896 480,109 0 0 0 480,109 .61 .60