Graco's Form 10-Q, First Quarter 2008

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 28, 2008

Commission File Number: 001-9249

  GRACO INC.  
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Minnesota   41-0285640


(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

88 - 11th Avenue N.E.    
Minneapolis, Minnesota   55413


(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(612) 623-6000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

  Large accelerated filer       X       Accelerated filer              
 
Non-accelerated filer              Smaller reporting company             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

  Yes                  No        X         

60,571,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $1.00 par value were outstanding as of April 17, 2008.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

      Page Number
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
         
  Item 1. Financial Statements  
         
          Consolidated Statements of Earnings 3
          Consolidated Balance Sheets 4
          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 5
          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6-12
         
         
  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis  
        of Financial Condition and  
        Results of Operations 13-16
         
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 17
         
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 17
         
         
PART II OTHER INFORMATION  
         
  Item 1A. Risk Factors 18
         
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 18
         
  Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 18
         
  Item 6. Exhibits 19
         
         
         
SIGNATURES    
         
         
EXHIBITS    
  PART I  
     
  GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
Item 1. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS  
  (Unaudited)  
  (In thousands, except per share amounts)  


  Thirteen Weeks Ended
  March 28, 2008   March 30, 2007  
                
Net Sales     $ 204,120   $ 197,495  
                
     Cost of products sold       92,267     92,633  




Gross Profit       111,853     104,862  
                
     Product development       7,940     8,272  
                
     Selling, marketing and distribution       33,821     29,263  
                
     General and administrative       17,738     15,240  




Operating Earnings       52,354     52,087  
                
     Interest expense       1,603     258  
                
     Other expense (income), net       (115 )   (106 )




Earnings before Income Taxes       50,866     51,935  
                
     Income taxes       15,300     18,200  




Net Earnings     $ 35,566   $ 33,735  




Basic Net Earnings per Common Share     $ .58   $ .51  
                
Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share     $ .57   $ .50  
                
Cash Dividends Declared per Common Share     $ .19   $ .17  


See notes to consolidated financial statements.

  GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
  (Unaudited)  
  (In thousands)  

  March 28, 2008 Dec. 28, 2007
ASSETS   
   
Current Assets  
   Cash and cash equivalents   $ 6,778   $ 4,922  
   Accounts receivable, less allowances of  
     $7,900 and $6,500    150,726    140,489  
   Inventories    88,496    74,737  
   Deferred income taxes    25,510    21,650  
   Other current assets    2,741    7,034  




      Total current assets    274,251    248,832  
   
Property, Plant and Equipment  
     Cost    311,180    306,073  
     Accumulated depreciation    (169,625 )  (165,479 )




      Property, plant and equipment, net    141,555    140,594  
   
Prepaid Pension    32,495    31,823  
Goodwill    84,887    67,204  
Other Intangible Assets, net    58,021    41,889  
Other Assets    6,538    6,382  




          Total Assets   $ 597,747   $ 536,724  




   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   
   
Current Liabilities  
     Notes payable to banks   $ 19,566   $ 18,991  
     Trade accounts payable    32,393    27,379  
     Salaries, wages and commissions    14,085    20,470  
     Dividends payable    11,169    11,476  
     Other current liabilities    57,052    47,561  




     134,265    125,877  
   
Long-Term Debt    178,595    107,060  
Retirement Benefits and Deferred Compensation    40,944    40,639  
Uncertain Tax Positions    1,650    5,400  
Deferred Income Taxes    19,104    13,074  
   
Shareholders' Equity  
     Common stock    60,692    61,964  
     Additional paid-in capital    166,080    156,420  
     Retained earnings    4,792    32,986  
     Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)    (8,375 )  (6,696 )




       Total shareholders' equity    223,189    244,674  




       Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   $ 597,747   $ 536,724  






See notes to consolidated financial statements.

  GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
  (Unaudited)  
  (In thousands)  

Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
Cash Flows from Operating Activities            
     
   Net Earnings   $ 35,566   $ 33,735  
     Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash  
      provided by operating activities  
        Depreciation and amortization    7,395    6,959  
        Deferred income taxes    (2,885 )  (3,478 )
        Share-based compensation    2,553    2,218  
        Excess tax benefit related to share-based payment  
         arrangements    (1,723 )  (848 )
        Change in  
          Accounts receivable    (5,296 )  (7,631 )
          Inventories    (9,836 )  (10,985 )
          Trade accounts payable    4,801    1,711  
          Salaries, wages and commissions    (6,808 )  (12,469 )
          Retirement benefits and deferred compensation    (887 )  (989 )
          Other accrued liabilities    9,204    15,081  
          Other    (228 )  (165 )




Net cash provided by operating activities     31,856    23,139  




Cash Flows from Investing Activities   
     
   Property, plant and equipment additions    (5,130 )  (13,267 )
   Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment    39    149  
   Capitalized software and other intangible asset additions    (222 )    
   Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired    (35,266 )    




Net cash used in investing activities     (40,579 )  (13,118 )




Cash Flows from Financing Activities   
     
   Net borrowings (payments) on short-term lines of credit    (818 )  14,939  
   Borrowings on long-term line of credit    83,335      
   Payments on long-term line of credit    (11,800 )    
   Excess tax benefit related to share-based payment  
    arrangements    1,723    848  
   Common stock issued    9,811    8,355  
   Common stock retired    (59,528 )  (23,985 )
   Cash dividends paid    (11,376 )  (11,010 )




Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     11,347    (10,853 )




Effect of exchange rate changes on cash    (768 )  (272 )




Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    1,856    (1,104 )
     
Cash and cash equivalents  
     
   Beginning of year    4,922    5,871  




   End of period   $ 6,778   $ 4,767  






See notes to consolidated financial statements.

GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. The consolidated balance sheet of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of March 28, 2008 and the related statements of earnings and cash flows for the thirteen weeks then ended have been prepared by the Company and have not been audited.

  In the opinion of management, these consolidated statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Graco Inc. and Subsidiaries as of March 28, 2008, and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented.

  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

  The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that will be realized for the full fiscal year.

2. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

    Thirteen Weeks Ended
    March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
       
  Net earnings available to common shareholders $35,566 $33,735
   
  Weighted average shares outstanding for basic
  earnings per share 61,254 66,667
   
  Dilutive effect of stock options computed
  based on the treasury stock method using the average
  market price 663 1,048
   
  Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted
        earnings per share 61,917 67,715
   
  Basic earnings per share $      .58 $      .51
   
  Diluted earnings per share $      .57 $      .50

  Stock options to purchase 2,215,000 and 948,000 shares were not included in the 2008 and 2007 calculations of diluted earnings per share, respectively, because they would have been anti-dilutive.

3. Information on option shares outstanding and option activity for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2008 is shown below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

  Option
Shares
Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
Price 
Options
Exercisable
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
                 
Outstanding, December 28, 2007       3,779   $ 28.63     2,228   $ 21.41  
     Granted       676     35.87  
     Exercised       (210 )   15.90  
     Canceled       (160 )   38.95  
Outstanding, March 28, 2008      
4,085
  $ 30.08     2,353   $ 24.02  
       
 
       

  The aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable option shares was $30.7 million as of March 28, 2008, with a weighted average contractual term of 4.8 years. There were approximately 4 million vested share options and share options expected to vest as of March 28, 2008, with an aggregate intrinsic value of $31.1 million, a weighted average exercise price of $29.94 and a weighted average contractual term of 6.6 years.

  Information related to options exercised in the first three months of 2008 and 2007 follows (in thousands):

          Thirteen Weeks Ended
  March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
Cash received $3,329 $1,305
Aggregate intrinsic value 4,134 3,407
Tax benefit realized 1,500 1,200

  The Company recognized share-based compensation of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. As of March 28, 2008, there was $12.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options, expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years.

  The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions and results:

Thirteen Weeks Ended
  March 28, 2008    March 30, 2007   
Expected life in years 6.0    6.0   
Interest rate 3.1% 4.6%
Volatility 25.0% 26.2%
Dividend yield 2.1% 1.6%
Weighted average fair value per share $8.32    $12.05   

  Under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Company issued 216,000 shares in 2008 and 202,000 shares in 2007. The fair value of the employees’ purchase rights under this Plan was estimated on the date of grant. The benefit of the 15 percent discount from the lesser of the fair market value per common share on the first day and the last day of the plan year was added to the fair value of the employees’ purchase rights determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions and results:

Thirteen Weeks Ended
  March 28, 2008    March 30, 2007   
Expected life in years 1.0    1.0   
Interest rate 1.5% 4.9%
Volatility 27.1% 24.4%
Dividend yield 2.1% 1.6%
Weighted average fair value per share $8.14    $9.79   

4. The components of net periodic benefit cost for retirement benefit plans were as follows (in thousands):

Thirteen Weeks Ended
 March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
Pension Benefits    
Service cost     $ 1,391   $ 1,479  
Interest cost   3,146     2,882  
Expected return on assets    (4,850 )  (4,800 )
Amortization and other    152    255  
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)  
$

(161
)
$

(184
)
     

 

 
Postretirement Medical   
Service cost   $ 125   $ 150  
Interest cost    375    300  
Amortization and other        (50 )
Net periodic benefit cost    
$

500
 
$

400
 
     

 

 

5. Total comprehensive income was as follows (in thousands):

Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
             
Net earnings     $ 35,566   $ 33,735  
Pension and postretirement medical liability adjustment    124    (14 )
Gain (loss) on interest rate hedge contracts    (2,775 )    
Cumulative translation adjustment    (5 )  (7 )
Income Taxes    977    5  
Comprehensive income  
$

33,887
 
$

33,719
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

  Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were (in thousands):

  March 28, 2008 Dec. 28, 2007
Pension and postretirement medical liability adjustment     $ (5,597 ) $ (5,672 )
Gain (loss) on interest rate hedge contracts    (2,821 )  (1,072 )
Cumulative translation adjustment    43    48  
Total  
$

(8,375
)
$

(6,696
)





6. The Company has three reportable segments: Industrial, Contractor and Lubrication. The Company does not track assets by segment. Sales and operating earnings by segment for the thirteen weeks ended March 28, 2008 and March 30, 2007 were as follows (in thousands):

       Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 28, 2008   March 30, 2007  
Net Sales                
Industrial     $ 114,251   $ 105,065  
Contractor    66,180    69,751  
Lubrication    23,689    22,679  
Consolidated    
$

204,120
 
$

197,495
 




Operating Earnings   
Industrial   $ 37,898   $ 34,418  
Contractor    13,696    17,027  
Lubrication    4,317    3,064  
Unallocated corporate    (3,557 )  (2,422 )
Consolidated    
$

52,354
 
$

52,087
 





7. Major components of inventories were as follows (in thousands):

  March 28, 2008   Dec. 28, 2007  
                 
Finished products and components   $ 55,402   $ 46,677  
Products and components in various stages  
     of completion    26,262    24,805  
Raw materials and purchased components    40,231    37,311  
   
 

121,895
 
 

108,793
 
Reduction to LIFO cost    (33,399 )  (34,056 )
Total  
$

88,496
 
$

74,737
 





8. Information related to other intangible assets follows (dollars in thousands):

  Estimated
Life (Years)
Original
Cost
Amorti-
zation
Foreign
Currency
Translation
and Other
Book
Value
March 28, 2008                          
Customer relationships   3 - 8      $ 37,230   $ (9,021 ) $ 28   $ 28,237  
Patents, proprietary technology  
  and product documentation   3 - 15    23,598    (8,566 )  14    15,046  
Trademarks and trade names   3 - 10    4,684    (2,878 )  22    1,828  
           
 

65,512
 
 

(20,465
)
 

64
 
 

45,111
 
Not Subject to Amortization:  
Brand names             12,910             12,910  
Total          
$

78,422
 
$

(20,465
)
$

64
 
$

58,021
 








December 28, 2007    
Customer relationships and    
  distribution network     4 - 8      $ 26,102   $ (11,092 ) $ 29   $ 15,039  
Patents, proprietary technology    
  and product documentation     5 - 15       22,243     (7,720 )   16     14,539  
Trademarks, trade names and    
  other     3 - 10       4,684     (2,555 )   22     2,151  
           
 

53,029
 
 

(21,367
)
 

67
 
 

31,729
 
Not Subject to Amortization:  
Brand names        10,160            10,160  
Total          
$

63,189
 
$

(21,367
)
$

67
 
$

41,889
 









  Amortization of intangibles was $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2008. Estimated annual amortization expense is as follows: $10.2 million in 2008, $9.5 million in 2009, $8.5 million in 2010, $7.5 million in 2011, $6.8 million in 2012 and $4.9 million thereafter.

9. Components of other current liabilities were (in thousands):

  March 28, 2008 Dec. 28, 2007
     
Accrued self-insurance retentions $  7,909 $  7,842
Accrued warranty and service liabilities 7,423 7,084
Accrued trade promotions 3,787 6,480
Payable for employee stock purchases 825 5,829
Income taxes payable 12,807 678
Other 24,301 19,648
   
$57,052 

$47,561 
   
 

 

  A liability is established for estimated future warranty and service claims that relate to current and prior period sales. The Company estimates warranty costs based on historical claim experience and other factors including evaluating specific product warranty issues. Following is a summary of activity in accrued warranty and service liabilities (in thousands):

  Thirteen Weeks
Ended       
March 28, 2008
  Year Ended  
Dec. 28, 2007
 
                 
Balance, beginning of year     $ 7,084   $ 6,675  
Charged to expense    1,421    6,053  
Margin on parts sales reversed    1,253    3,186  
Reductions for claims settled    (2,335 )  (8,830 )
Balance, end of period  
$

7,423
 
$

7,084
 





10. The examination of the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for 2004 and 2005 was completed in the first quarter of 2008. Completion of the examination resulted in a payment of approximately $1 million and reductions of uncertain tax positions totaling approximately $4 million. The settlement of the examination decreased the Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter to 30 percent.

  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or foreign income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2002.

11. In February 2008, the Company acquired GlasCraft Inc. for approximately $35 million cash. GlasCraft has an office and manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana and had sales of approximately $18 million in 2007. It designs, manufactures and sells spray systems for the composites manufacturing industry and high performance dispense systems for the polyurethane foam and polyurea coatings industries. The products, brands, distribution channels and engineering capabilities of GlasCraft will expand and complement the Company’s Industrial Equipment business.

  The purchase price has not been finalized and is subject to final determination of acquired asset and liability balances. The preliminary purchase price was allocated based on estimated fair values as follows (in thousands):

Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses     $ 2,200  
Inventories    3,700  
Deferred income taxes    700  
Property, plant and equipment    700  
Identifiable intangible assets    18,200  
Goodwill    17,700  


Total purchase price    43,200  
Current liabilities assumed    (1,000 )
Deferred income taxes    (6,900 )


Net assets acquired   $ 35,300  


  Identifiable intangible assets and weighted average estimated useful life are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Product documentation (5 years) $     900
Customer relationships (6 years) 14,100
Proprietary technology (3 years) 500
Total (6 years)
15,500
Brand name (indefinite useful life) 2,700
Total identifiable intangible assets
$18,200

  None of the goodwill or identifiable intangible assets is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

12. In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This statement establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures on fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 was effective for the Company starting in fiscal 2008 with respect to financial assets and liabilities. The impact of the initial adoption of SFAS No. 157 in 2008 had no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

The Company uses significant other observable inputs to value the derivative instruments used to hedge interest rate volatility and net monetary positions. The fair market value of such instruments follows (in thousands):

  March 28, 2008 Dec. 28, 2007
Gain (loss) on interest rate hedge contracts $(4,475) $(1,700)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency forward contracts (401) (282)


Total $(4,876) $(1,982)



With respect to non-financial assets and liabilities, SFAS No. 157 is effective for the Company starting in fiscal 2009. The Company has not determined the impact, if any, the adoption of this statement as it pertains to non-financial assets and liabilities will have on its consolidated financial statements.

  In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” This statement expands disclosures but does not change accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The statement is effective for the Company starting in fiscal 2009.

Item 2. GRACO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
     
  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 

Results of Operations

Net sales, net earnings and earnings per share were as follows (in thousands except per share amounts and percentages):

               Thirteen Weeks Ended %     
  March 28, 2008  March 30, 2007  Change
Net Sales $204,120  $197,495  3%
Net Earnings 35,566  33,735  5%
Diluted Net Earnings per Common Share $      0.57  $      0.50  14%

Foreign currency translation rates had a favorable impact on first quarter sales and net earnings. Translated at consistent exchange rates, sales were flat compared to 2007 and net earnings decreased 4 percent.

Results include sales of $1.5 million from GlasCraft, which was acquired in late February 2008.

Earnings per share increased at a higher rate than net earnings due to purchases and retirement of approximately 1.7 million shares of Company common stock.

Consolidated Results

Sales by geographic area were as follows (in thousands):

    Thirteen Weeks Ended
  March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
Americas1 $115,833 $120,546
Europe2 59,508 49,377
Asia Pacific 28,779 27,572
Consolidated
$204,120

$197,495


1

North and South America, including the U.S.

2

Europe, Africa and Middle East


The decrease in the Americas, driven by weakness in the Contractor business, was more than offset by the increase in Europe, where net sales were 21 percent higher than last year. Translated at consistent exchange rates, net sales in Europe increased 9 percent. In the Asia Pacific region, net sales were 4 percent higher than last year, with half of the increase from favorable currency translation.

Gross profit margin, expressed as a percentage of sales, was 54.8 percent versus 53.1 percent for the same period last year. The increase was due mainly to favorable currency translation rates. The benefits of integrating Lubriquip and consolidating the Lubrication Equipment operations in the Company’s Anoka facility are also beginning to be reflected in the gross profit margin percentage.

Operating profit margin, expressed as a percentage of sales, was 25.6 percent for the first quarter versus 26.4 percent last year. Operating expenses in 2008 include approximately $1 million related to the rollout of the new sprayer line in the home center channel, approximately $1 million from GlasCraft operations and a $1 million contribution to the Company’s charitable foundation. The effects of currency translation increased operating expenses by approximately $2 million.

The $1.3 million increase in interest expense resulted from borrowings used to purchase and retire Company shares and for the acquisition of GlasCraft.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the first quarter was 30 percent, down from 35 percent for the first quarter last year. The decrease resulted from the completion of the examination of the Company’s income tax returns.

Segment Results

Certain measurements of segment operations compared to the first quarter of last year are summarized below:

Industrial

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
Net sales (in thousands) March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
 
   Americas     $ 53,403   $ 50,475  
   Europe       39,650     32,447  
   Asia Pacific       21,198     22,143  




   Total     $ 114,251   $ 105,065  




Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales       33%     33%  




Net sales in the Industrial segment were up 6 percent in the Americas and 22 percent in Europe. Approximately half of the percentage increase in Europe came from currency translation.

Contractor

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
Net sales (in thousands) March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
 
   Americas     $ 42,362   $ 50,580  
   Europe       17,962     15,134  
   Asia Pacific       5,856     4,037  




   Total     $ 66,180   $ 69,751  




Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales       21%     24%  




In the Contractor segment, net sales increases in Europe and Asia Pacific were not enough to offset a 16 percent decrease in the Americas, where sales were down in both the paint store and home center channels. Operating earnings in this segment were affected by $2.5 million related to the launch and production of new paint sprayer units in the home center channel.

Lubrication

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
Net sales (in thousands) March 28, 2008 March 30, 2007
 
   Americas     $ 20,068   $ 19,491  
   Europe       1,896     1,796  
   Asia Pacific       1,725     1,392  




   Total     $ 23,689   $ 22,679  




Operating earnings as a percentage of net sales       18%     14%  





Most sales, and sales growth, in the Lubrication segment came from the Americas. The improvement in operating profitability is related to the integration and consolidation of Lubrication operations completed in 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company used cash and borrowings under its long-term line of credit to purchase and retire $60 million of Company shares. Other significant uses of cash in the first quarter of 2008 included $35 million to acquire GlasCraft and $11 million for payment of dividends. Significant uses of cash in the first quarter of 2007 included $24 million for purchases and retirement of Company common stock, $13 million for capital additions and $11 million for payment of dividends.

At March 28, 2008, the Company had various lines of credit totaling $295 million, of which $101 million was unused. Internally generated funds and unused financing sources provide the Company with the financial flexibility to meet liquidity needs.

Outlook

Management is encouraged by the gains in the Company’s Industrial and Lubrication segments in North America and by the continued strength of its international business, including the Asia Pacific region, where orders were 15 percent higher than last year. Based on continuing weakness in the U.S. housing market, management remains cautious about the outlook for the Contractor business in North America and will manage the business accordingly. The Company will continue to make long-term investments in key growth strategies including new product development, expanding distribution, entering new markets and pursuing strategic acquisitions.



SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

A forward-looking statement is any statement made in this report and other reports that the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in press or earnings releases, analyst briefings and conference calls, which reflects the Company’s current thinking on market trends and the Company’s future financial performance at the time they are made. All forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements.

The Company desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 by making cautionary statements concerning any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. The Company cannot give any assurance that the results forecasted in any forward-looking statement will actually be achieved. Future results could differ materially from those expressed, due to the impact of changes in various factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: economic conditions in the United States and other major world economies, currency fluctuations, political instability, changes in laws and regulations, and changes in product demand. Please refer to Item 1A of, and Exhibit 99 to, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2007 for a more comprehensive discussion of these and other risk factors.

Investors should realize that factors other than those identified above and in Item 1A and Exhibit 99 might prove important to the Company’s future results. It is not possible for management to identify each and every factor that may have an impact on the Company’s operations in the future as new factors can develop from time to time.

Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes related to market risk from the disclosures made in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

As of the end of the fiscal quarter covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the Vice President and Controller, and the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Based upon that evaluation, they concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in gathering, analyzing and disclosing information needed to satisfy the Company’s disclosure obligations under the Exchange Act.

Changes in internal controls

During the quarter, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On September 28, 2007, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to a total of 7,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock, primarily through open-market transactions. This authorization expires on September 30, 2009.

In addition to shares purchased under the Board authorizations, the Company purchases shares of common stock held by employees who wish to tender owned shares to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding on option exercises.

Information on issuer purchases of equity securities follows:

Period                                     (a)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
(b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share
(c)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
(d)
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs (at
end of period)
                    
Dec 29, 2007 - Jan 25, 2008 709,319 $34.40 709,319 5,438,214
                    
Jan 26, 2008 - Feb 22, 2008 169,032 $34.08 159,000 5,279,214
                    
Feb 23, 2008 - Mar 28, 2008 821,501 $35.03 819,259 4,459,955

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

  None
Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1 Graco Restoration Plan (2005 Statement). Third Amendment adopted March 27, 2008.

 

10.2 Stock Option Agreement. Form of agreement used for award in 2008 of non-incentive stock options to executive officers under the Graco Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (2006). Form of agreement for award made to Chief Executive Officer in 2008.

 

31.1 Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

 

31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

 

32 Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18, U.S.C.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

GRACO INC.      
 
 
Date:  April 23, 2008 By: /s/Patrick J. McHale
 
 
Patrick J. McHale
    President and Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
Date:  April 23, 2008 By: /s/James A. Graner
 
 
James A. Graner
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
      (Principal Financial Officer)
 
Date:  April 23, 2008 By: /s/Caroline M. Chambers
 
 
Caroline M. Chambers
    Vice President and Controller
      (Principal Accounting Officer)