MSA Safety
MSA
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HK$54.85 B
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(COVER PAGE)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
----------------------------------
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 Commission file number 0-2504

MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania 25-0668780
- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

121 Gamma Drive
RIDC Industrial Park
O'Hara Township
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 412/967-3000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value American Stock Exchange
-------------------------- --------------------------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class)

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 and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.

Yes X No _____
-----

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in the definitive proxy statement incorporated
by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
[X]

As of February 25, 2000, there were outstanding 4,857,673 shares of common
stock, no par value, including 567,630 shares held by the Mine Safety Appliances
Company Stock Compensation Trust. Total market value of outstanding voting
stock as of February 25, 2000 was $305,450,478. The aggregate market value of
voting stock held by non-affiliates as of February 25, 2000 was $159,731,109.

1
(COVER PAGE)

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE


The following documents have been incorporated by reference:

FORM 10-K
DOCUMENT PART NUMBER
- -------- -----------

(1) Annual Report to Shareholders
for the year ended
December 31, 1999 I, II, IV

(2) Proxy Statement filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A
in connection with the registrant's
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on May 10, 2000 III

2
PART I



Item 1. Business
- -----------------

Operating Segments:
------------------

The company is organized into three geographic operating segments - United
States, Europe and Other non-U.S. Further information with respect to the
registrant's operating segments is reported at Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements contained in the registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders
for the year ended December 31, 1999, incorporated herein by reference.

Products and Markets:
--------------------

The primary business of the registrant and its affiliated companies is the
manufacture and sale of products designed to protect the safety and health of
workers throughout the world.

Principal products include respiratory protective equipment that is air-
purifying, air-supplied and self-contained in design. The registrant also
produces instruments that monitor and analyze workplace environments and control
industrial processes. Personal protective products include head, eye and face,
body and hearing protectors. Many of these products are sold under the
registered trademark "MSA", and have wide application for workers in industries
that include manufacturing, fire service, power generation, telecommunications,
mining, chemicals, petroleum, construction, pulp and paper processing,
transportation, government, automotive, aerospace, asbestos abatement, and
hazardous materials clean-up.

Other products manufactured and sold, which do not fall within the category
of safety and health equipment, include boron-based and other specialty
chemicals. Additional information concerning the registrant's products is
reported at Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in
the registrant's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31,
1999, incorporated herein by reference.

The registrant and its affiliated companies are in competition with many
large and small enterprises. For most of the registrant's products and in most
markets, principal methods of competition include product features, quality and
price. In the opinion of management, the registrant is a leader in the
manufacture of safety and health equipment.

3
Orders, except under contracts with U.S. government agencies, are generally
filled promptly after receipt and the production period for special items is
usually less than one year. The year-end backlog of orders under contracts with
U.S. government agencies was $10,225,000 in 1999, $18,265,000 in 1998 and
$19,600,000 in 1997. Approximately $1,025,000 under contracts with U.S.
government agencies is expected to be shipped after December 31, 2000.

Sales of products to U.S. government agencies increased in 1999; however,
incoming orders were lower than shipments in 1999, and were slightly lower than
1998 incoming orders. The company's business is not dependent upon a single
customer or group of related customers, the loss of which would have a material
adverse effect on the registrant's results.

Research:
--------

The registrant and its affiliated companies engage in applied research with
a view to developing new products and new applications for existing products.
Most of the products are designed and manufactured to meet currently applicable
performance and test standards published by groups such as ANSI (American
National Standards Institute), MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration), NIOSH
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), UL (Underwriters'
Laboratories), SEI (Safety Equipment Institute), FM (Factory Mutual), CEN
(European Committee for Standardization) and CSA (Canadian Standards
Association). The registrant also from time to time engages in research
projects for others such as the Bureau of Mines and the Department of Defense or
its prime contractors. Registrant-sponsored research and development costs were
$17,097,000 in 1999, $17,415,000 in 1998, and $16,668,000 in 1997.

In the aggregate, patents have represented an important element in building
the business of the registrant and its affiliates, but in the opinion of
management no one patent or group of patents is of material significance to the
business as presently conducted.

General:
-------

The company was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. As of December 31, 1999, the registrant and its affiliated
companies had approximately 4,100 employees, of which 2,200 were employed by
international affiliates. None of the U.S. employees are subject to the
provisions of a collective bargaining agreement.

4
In the United States and in those countries in which the registrant has
affiliates, its products are sold by its own salespersons, independent
distributors and/or manufacturers' representatives. In international countries
where the registrant has no affiliate, products are sold primarily through
independent distributors located in those countries.

The registrant is cognizant of environmental responsibilities and has taken
affirmative action regarding this responsibility. There are no current or
expected legal proceedings or expenditures with respect to environmental matters
which would materially affect the operations of the registrant and its
affiliates.

Generally speaking, the operations of the registrant and its affiliates are
such that it is possible to maintain sufficient inventories of raw materials and
component parts on the manufacturing premises.

Equipment and machinery for processing chemicals and rubber, plastic
injection molding equipment, molds, metal cutting, stamping and working
equipment, assembly fixtures and similar items are regularly acquired, repaired
or replaced in the ordinary course of business at prevailing market prices as
necessary.

Further information about the registrant's business is included in
Management's Discussion and Analysis at pages 12 to 15 of the Annual Report to
Shareholders, incorporated herein by reference.

5
Executive Officers:
------------------

All Positions and Offices
Name Age Presently Held
---- --- -------------------------

J. T. Ryan III 56 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

T. B. Hotopp 58 President

J. H. Baillie 53 Vice President

J. M. Barendt 40 Vice President

J. A. Bigler 50 Vice President

D. H. Cuozzo 66 Vice President and Secretary

B. V. DeMaria 52 Vice President

J. E. Herald 58 Vice President - Finance
(Chief Financial Officer)

W. M. Lambert 41 Vice President

G. W. Steggles 65 Senior Vice President

D. L. Zeitler 51 Vice President and Treasurer

All the executive officers have been employed by the registrant since prior
to January 1, 1995 and have held their present positions since prior to that
date except as follows:

(a) Mr. Hotopp was elected President on December 18, 1996. Prior to that
time, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager, Safety
Products.

(b) Mr. Baillie was employed by the registrant on January 21, 1999 and was
elected Vice President. From prior to January 1, 1995 until October
8, 1996, he was Vice President, Europe of Teledyne Industries
International. Until November 1, 1997, he was Executive Vice
President of Sylvania Lighting International.

(c) Mr. Barendt was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior
to January 1, 1995 until April 1996, he was Manager, Research and
Development at the Company's Callery Chemical Division. From
April 1996 until December 1996, he was Acting General Manager of
Callery Chemical Division. From December 1996, he was General Manager
of the Callery Chemical Division.

6
(d)  Mr. Bigler was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998.  Prior to
that time, he was Director of Sales.

(e) Mr. Cuozzo was elected Vice President on April 27, 1995.

(f) Mr. DeMaria was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. Prior to
that time, he was Director, Human Resources.

(g) Mr. Lambert was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. From prior
to January 1, 1995 until March 1995, he was a Senior Product Line
Manager. From March 1995 until August 1996, he was Marketing Manager.
From August 1996 until December 1996, he was Director of Marketing.
From December 1996 he was General Manager of the Safety Products
Division.

(h) Mr. Steggles was elected Senior Vice President on January 1,1999.
Prior to that time he was Vice President.

(i) Mr. Zeitler was elected Vice President on January 9, 1998. Prior to
that time, he was Treasurer.

The executive officers of the registrant serve at the pleasure of the Board
of Directors and are not elected to any specified term of office.

7
The primary responsibilities of these officers follow:

Individual Responsibilities
- ---------- ----------------

Mr. Hotopp U. S. operations

Mr. Baillie European operations

Mr. Barendt Research, product development, manufacturing and
marketing of specialty chemical products

Mr. Bigler U.S. sales and distribution

Mr. Cuozzo General Counsel and corporate taxes

Mr. DeMaria Human resources and corporate communications

Mr. Lambert Research, product development, manufacturing and
marketing of safety products in the U.S.

Mr. Steggles International operations outside the U.S. and
Europe

Mr. Zeitler Treasury and risk insurance management


Item 2. Properties
- ------------------

World Headquarters:
------------------

The registrant's executive offices are located at 121 Gamma Drive, RIDC
Industrial Park, O'Hara Township, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238. This facility
contains approximately 138,000 sq. ft.

Production and Research Facilities:
----------------------------------

The registrant's principal U.S. manufacturing and research facilities are
located in the Greater Pittsburgh area in buildings containing approximately
951,000 square feet. Other U.S. manufacturing and research facilities of the
registrant are located in Jacksonville, North Carolina (107,000 sq. ft.),
Sparks, Maryland (54,000 sq. ft.), Lawrence, Massachusetts (62,000 sq. ft.), and
Englewood, Colorado (41,000 sq. ft.).

Manufacturing facilities of the European operating segment of the
registrant are located in France, Germany, Italy, Scotland and Sweden. The most
significant is located in Germany (approximately 390,000 sq. ft., excluding
168,000 sq. ft. leased to others); research activities are also conducted at
most of these facilities. Manufacturing facilities for the Other non-U.S.
operating segment are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Japan,
Mexico, Peru and South Africa.

8
Virtually all of these buildings are owned by the registrant and its
affiliates and are constructed of granite, brick, concrete block, steel or
other fire-resistant materials. The German facility is owned subject to
encumbrances collateralizing indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $773,000 as
of December 31, 1999.

Sales Offices and Warehouses:
----------------------------

Sales offices and distribution warehouses are owned or leased in the United
States and 27 other countries in which the registrant's affiliates are located.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings
- --------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- ------------------------------------------------------------

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during fourth
quarter 1999.

9
PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

________________________________________________________________________________

Incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Rule 12b - 23 are

Item 5 - "Common Stock" appearing at page 15

Item 6 - "Five-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data" appearing at page
28

Item 7 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis" appearing at pages 12 to 15

Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements" appearing at pages 16 to 27

of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1999. Said
pages of the Annual Report are submitted with this report and pursuant to Item
601(b)(13) of Regulation S-K shall be deemed filed with the Commission only to
the extent that material contained therein is expressly incorporated by
reference in Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 14 (a) hereof.

Item 7a. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
- -------------------------------------------------------------------

Incorporated by reference to "Financial Instrument Market Risk" appearing
on page 15 of the Annual Report to the Shareholders for the year ended December
31, 1999.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Disclosure
--------------------

Not applicable.

10
PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

________________________________________________________________________________

Incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Rule 12b - 23 are (1)
"Election of Directors" appearing at pages 1 to 3, (2) "Other Information
Concerning Directors and Officers" appearing at pages 6 to 12 (except as
excluded below), and (3) "Stock Ownership" appearing at pages 14 to 16 of the
Proxy Statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the
registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 10, 2000. The
information appearing in such Proxy Statement under the caption "Compensation
Committee Report on Executive Compensation," and the other information appearing
in such Proxy Statement and not specifically incorporated by reference herein is
not incorporated herein.

11
PART IV

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) 1 and 2. Financial Statements

The following information appearing on pages 16 to 27 inclusive in the
Annual Report to Shareholders of the registrant for the year ended December 31,
1999, is incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Rule 12b-23.

Report of Independent Accountants

Consolidated Balance Sheet - December 31, 1999 and 1998

Consolidated Statement of Income - three years ended December 31, 1999

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Retained Earnings and Accumulated

Other Comprehensive Income - three years ended December 31, 1999

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - three years ended December 31, 1999

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Said pages of the Annual Report are submitted with this report and, pursuant to
Item 601(b)(13) of Regulation S-K shall be deemed to be filed with the
Commission only to the extent that material contained therein is expressly
incorporated by reference in Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 14 (a)(1) and (2) hereof.

The following additional financial information for the three years ended
December 31, 1999 is filed with the report and should be read in conjunction
with the above financial statements:

Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not material or
the required information is shown in the financial statements and notes to the
financial statements listed above.

12
(a)  3.   Exhibits

(3)(i) Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended to April 27,
1989, filed as Exhibit 3(i) to Form 10-Q on August 12, 1999,
are incorporated herein by reference.

(3)(ii) By-laws of the registrant, as amended to August 29, 1990,
filed as Exhibit 3 to Form 10-Q on November 13, 1995, are
incorporated herein by reference.

(4) Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 1997 between the
registrant and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights
Agent, filed as Exhibit 1 to the registrant's Form 8-A on
February 25, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(a) * 1987 Management Share Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10(a)
to Form 10-K on March 26, 1999, is incorporated herein by
reference.

(10)(b) * 1998 Management Share Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by
reference to Annex A to the registrant's Definitive Proxy
Statement filed March 24, 1998 for its 1998 Annual Meeting.

(10)(c) * Retirement Plan for Directors, as amended on December 15,
1999 is filed herewith.

(10)(d) * Supplemental Pension Plan as of May 5, 1998, filed as
Exhibit 10(g) to Form 10-Q on August 14, 1998, is
incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(e) * 1990 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan as amended to
May 5, 1998, filed as Exhibit 10(h) to Form 10-Q on August
14, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(f) * Form of First Amendment dated June 2, 1998 to the Restricted
Stock Agreements dated as of March 15, 1996, under the 1987
Management Share Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10(i) to
Form 10-Q on August 14, 1998, is incorporated herein by
reference.

13
(10)(g) * Executive Insurance Program as Amended and Restated as of
May 5, 1998, filed as Exhibit 10(j) to Form 10-Q on August
14, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(h) * Annual Incentive Bonus Plan as of May 5, 1998, filed as
Exhibit 10(k) to Form 10-Q on August 14, 1998, is
incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(i) * Form of Severance Agreement as of May 20, 1998 between the
registrant and John T. Ryan III, filed as Exhibit 10(m) to
Form 10-Q on August 14, 1998, is incorporated herein by
reference.

(10)(j) * Form of Severance Agreement as of May 20, 1998 between the
registrant and the other executive officers filed as Exhibit
10(n) to Form 10-Q on August 14, 1998, is incorporated
herein by reference.

(10)(k) * First Amendment to the 1998 Management Share Incentive Plan
as of March 10, 1999, filed as Exhibit 10(l) to Form 10-K on
March 26, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(l) Trust Agreement as of June 1, 1996 between the registrant
and PNC Bank, N.A. re the Mine Safety Appliances Company
Stock Compensation Trust, filed as Exhibit 10(f) to Form 10-
K on March 26, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference.

(10)(m) * MSA Supplemental Savings Plan, filed as Exhibit 10(n) to
Form 10-Q on November 12, 1999, is incorporated herein by
reference.

(10)(n) * Employment Agreement dated as of January 18, 1999 between
the registrant and James H. Baillie re the registrant's
operations outside Germany is filed herewith.

(10)(o) * Employment Agreement dated as of January 18, 1999 between
the registrant and James H. Baillie re the registrant's
operations in Germany is filed herewith.

* The exhibits marked by an asterisk are management contracts or compensatory
plans or arrangements.

14
(13)    Annual Report to Shareholders for year ended December 31,
1999

(21) Affiliates of the registrant

(23) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants


(27) Financial Data Schedule (filed in electronic format only)

The registrant agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request copies
of all instruments with respect to long-term debt referred to in Note
6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of
Exhibit 13 to this annual report which have not been previously filed
or are not filed herewith.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the year
ended December 31, 1999.

15
SIGNATURES
----------

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY



March 24, 2000 By /s/ John T. Ryan III
- ----------------------- ---------------------------------
(Date) John T. Ryan III
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature Title Date
------------- --------- --------


/s/ John T. Ryan III Director; Chairman of the Board March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
John T. Ryan III and Chief Executive Officer


/s/ James E. Herald Vice President - Finance; March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
James E. Herald Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer

/s/ Joseph L. Calihan Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
Joseph L. Calihan


/s/ Calvin A. Campbell, Jr. Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
Calvin A. Campbell, Jr.


/s/ G. Donald Gerlach Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
G. Donald Gerlach


/s/ Helen Lee Henderson Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
Helen Lee Henderson


/s/ Thomas B. Hotopp Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
Thomas B. Hotopp


/s/ L. Edward Shaw, Jr. Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
L. Edward Shaw, Jr.


/s/ Thomas H. Witmer Director March 24, 2000
- ---------------------------
Thomas H. Witmer
Report of Independent Accountants on
Financial Statement Schedule

To the Board of Directors
of Mine Safety Appliances Company:

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our report
dated February 17, 2000 appearing in the 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders of
Mine Safety Appliances Company (which report and consolidated financial
statements are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K)
also included an audit of the Financial Statement Schedule listed in Item
14(a)(2) of this Form 10-K. In our opinion, this Financial Statement Schedule
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein
when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 17, 2000

F-1
SCHEDULE II

MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY AND AFFILIATES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
(IN THOUSANDS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
----------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

Balance at beginning of year $3,004 $3,704 $2,993

Additions -
Charged to costs and expenses 878 588 1,229
Balance from acquisitions 45 288

Deductions -
Deductions from reserves (1) 928 1,135 806
Reversal of allowance (2) 632
Reduction from divestitures 198
----------- ---------- ------------

Balance at end of year $2,322 $3,004 $3,704
=========== ========== ============
</TABLE>

(1) Bad debts written off, net of recoveries.
(2) Reversal of allowance due to sale of accounts receivable.

F-2