- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                  UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549         

                                     FORM 10-K
                                          
                                          
/X/  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934
     For Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 1997.
                                          
/ /  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934
     For the transition period from                      to 
                                    --------------------    --------------------

                          Commission File Number  1-8649 
                                          
                                  THE TORO COMPANY
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                          
               DELAWARE                                41-0580470
     (State of incorporation)           (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                             8111 LYNDALE AVENUE SOUTH
                         BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA  55420-1196
                          TELEPHONE NUMBER: (612) 888-8801
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                     registrant's principal executive offices)

                             --------------------------
            Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                          
                                          
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS                   NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH REGISTERED
 Common Stock, par value $1.00         
  per share                            New York Stock Exchange 
 Preferred Share Purchase Rights       New York Stock Exchange

            Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                                        None
                                          
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 definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
Registrant, based upon the closing price of the Common Stock on January 16, 1998
as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $499,841,000.

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 16, 1998 was
12,823,964.

                        DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year
ended October 31, 1997 are incorporated by reference into Parts I, II and IV.

Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held March 18, 1998 are incorporated by reference into Part
III.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                       Part I
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                  ITEM 1. BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION
The company designs, manufactures and markets consumer and professional turf
maintenance equipment, snow removal products and irrigation systems and provides
landscaping and turf maintenance services.  The company produced its first lawn
mower for golf course fairways in 1922 and its first lawn mower for home use in
1939 and has continued to enhance its product lines ever since.

The company emphasizes quality and innovation in its products, manufacturing 
and marketing.  The company strives to provide well built, dependable 
products supported by an extensive service network.  The company's 
substantial funding of research and development, as well as its acquisition 
strategy and its licensing and related agreements, have all contributed to 
its new product development efforts.  Through these efforts the company also 
attempts to be responsive to trends which may affect its target markets, now 
and in the future.  The company believes that a significant portion of its 
revenues in recent years have been attributable to its new and enhanced 
products.  Examples of recently introduced products include Toro's Contour 
Deck for undulating terrain, the Toro-Registered Trademark-Wheel 
Horse-Registered Trademark- 5xi garden tractor which completed the redesign 
of the entire Toro riding product line and a new low emission snowthrower 
engine scheduled for  introduction in 1998.  Other new products include a new 
line of solar-powered and metal low voltage outdoor lighting for landscapes, 
a more powerful Toro-Registered Trademark- Super BlowerVac and a redesigned 
string trimmer line.

The company has also expanded its product lines and services by making 
acquisitions and strategic alliances.  See "Recent Developments" below.
  
The company was incorporated in Minnesota in 1935 as a successor to a 
business founded in 1914.  It was reincorporated in Delaware in 1983.  The 
company's executive offices are located at 8111 Lyndale Avenue South, 
Bloomington, Minnesota  55420-1196, telephone number (612) 888-8801.  Unless 
the context indicates otherwise, the terms "company" and "Toro" refer to The 
Toro Company and its subsidiaries.  The company finances a significant 
portion of its receivables through Toro Credit Company ("Toro Credit"), its 
wholly-owned finance subsidiary.

OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
The company classifies its operations into one industry segment, outdoor 
maintenance equipment.  The company continues to be a leader in transforming 
advanced technologies into products and services that provide solutions for 
landscape and turf care maintenance and beautification demands.  Following is 
a summary of Toro's product lines:

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

     WALK-BEHIND POWER MOWERS.  The company has manufactured walk-behind 
     power mowers for residential use since 1939. Its walk-behind power lawn 
     mowers are gasoline and electric powered. The company manufactures 
     numerous models of walk-behind power mowers under its brand names 
     Toro-Registered Trademark- and Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark-, including 
     both four-cycle and two-cycle engine models, battery and electric models. 
     Models differ as to cutting width, type of starter mechanism, type of 
     bagging, controls and power sources, and are either self-propelled or 
     push mowers. Certain of the lawn mowers are backed by the company's 
     "Guaranteed To Start" program and some Lawn-Boy-Registered 
     Trademark- models are equipped with a two-cycle engine manufactured by the
     company.  

     RIDING MOWERS AND LAWN AND GARDEN TRACTORS.  The company manufactures 
     riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors under its brand name 
     Toro-Registered Trademark-Wheel Horse-Registered Trademark- which range 
     from an eight horsepower, 25 inch deck, rear engine model to a 23 
     horsepower, front engine, air and liquid cooled, gas and diesel models. 
     The front engine model is available with a variety of decks and 
     accessories.  Recycler technology is available in select models. Some 
     models are equipped with hydrostatic transmissions and/or low emission 
     engines. The company introduced in 1997 the new Toro-Registered 
     Trademark-Wheel Horse-Registered Trademark- 5xi garden tractor which 
     completed the redesign of the entire Toro riding product line.


                                      2


     HOME SOLUTIONS PRODUCTS.  The company designs and markets electrical 
     and gas products under the Toro-Registered Trademark- brand name for 
     dealers, mass merchandisers and "do-it-yourself" home improvement 
     markets. These products, which include homeowner-installed, plastic and 
     metal low voltage and solar lighting, flexible line trimmers and electric 
     blowers, are intended to require little or no after sales service.  Among 
     recently introduced products include a new line of solar-powered and 
     metal low voltage outdoor lighting, a more powerful Toro-Registered 
     Trademark- Super BlowerVac and a redesigned string trimmer line.  

     SNOW REMOVAL PRODUCTS.  The company manufactures and markets 
     lightweight and larger self-propelled walk-behind snowthrowers and 
     electric Power Shovel snowthrowers under the Toro-Registered Trademark- 
     and Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- brand names. Single-stage 
     snowthrowers, developed by the company and first introduced in 1965, are 
     walk-behind units with a lightweight gasoline engine or electric motor 
     and the Power Curve-Registered Trademark- snowthrower technology for 
     general residential use. Two-stage snowthrowers are designed for 
     relatively large areas with engines ranging from five to 12 horsepower. 
     Units with eight horsepower and above can be equipped with the Power 
     Shift-Registered Trademark- snowthrower technology. 

PROFESSIONAL TURF PRODUCTS

     COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS.  Professional turf maintenance equipment marketed 
     under the Toro-Registered Trademark- brand name is the company's oldest 
     product line, which began in 1922 with the sale of tractor-pulled reel 
     mowers to golf courses. Today the company's expanded product line 
     includes products designed for the large turf areas of schools, parks, 
     cemeteries, sports fields, plant sites, apartment buildings and townhouse 
     complexes, as well as golf courses. Management believes that golf courses 
     will continue to be a significant market for turf maintenance equipment 
     as new golf course construction continues throughout the world. 
     Increasing emphasis is being placed on the sports field and landscape 
     contractor markets.
     
     Products for the golf course include turf sprayer equipment, riding and 
     walk-behind reel mowers for the putting green, and riding and pull-behind 
     large reel products for the fairway, rough and trim cutting, turf 
     aeration and sandtrap/bunker maintenance.  
     
     Exmark, one of the company's recent acquisitions, produces mid-sized 
     walk-behind power mowers and zero-turning-radius riding mowers for 
     professional contractors.  
     
     Other products which service all commercial markets include riding rotary 
     units with out-front cutting decks ranging from 52 inches to 16 feet 
     widths of cut, turf sweepers and multipurpose vehicles and attachments 
     designed for flexibility.  Among recently introduced products include the 
     Toro Contour Deck and a small liquid-cooled riding rotary.
     
     IRRIGATION PRODUCTS.  Turf irrigation products marketed under the 
     Toro-Registered Trademark- and Irritrol-Registered Trademark- Systems 
     brand names include sprinkler heads and electric and hydraulic control 
     devices designed to be used in turf irrigation systems for residential, 
     commercial and golf course use. These products are installed in new 
     systems and can also be used to replace or retrofit existing systems. 
     Most of the product line is designed for underground irrigation systems. 
     Control valves activate the sprinkler heads and controllers typically 
     activate electric or hydraulic lines to control the valves and sprinkler 
     heads. The acquisition of the James Hardie Irrigation Group enhanced 
     Toro's product line for residential and commercial irrigation systems and 
     provided products for the agricultural micro-irrigation segment, 
     including drip tape, hose, emitters and other micro-irrigation products. 
     Recently introduced products include more efficient sprinkler heads and 
     automatic electronic controllers for residential, commercial and golf 
     course irrigation systems. Specific introductions in 1997 included the 
     SitePro-TM- central controller which has made computer technology an easy 
     and effective way for superintendents to manage the irrigation lifeblood 
     of a golf course. The company's irrigation products are used in 75 of the 
     golf courses rated among the top 100 courses in the United States by GOLF 
     DIGEST.


                                        3



See the table entitled "Net Sales By Product Line" under the caption "Results 
of Operations" in the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on page 16 of the company's 
Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 for 
information regarding revenues in the consumer, commercial and irrigation 
product lines, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS  

The company currently distributes its products worldwide with sales and/or 
distribution offices in Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Australia, 
Singapore, Japan, Italy and Greece.

New product development is primarily pursued in the United States.  Products 
marketed outside of North America are sold in compliance with local safety 
standards.  All products shipped to Europe conform to the European Community 
Certification standards.

In addition to developing new market-specific products, the International 
business is adding customers in new regions.  Emerging markets in Eastern 
Europe (such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) and in South 
America (such as Argentina) have recently been added to the distribution base.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 

On December 1, 1996 the company acquired James Hardie Irrigation Group 
(Hardie) from James Hardie Industries Limited of Australia (JHI Limited).  
Hardie is a worldwide leader in the production of irrigation systems to the 
commercial landscape market.  Hardie manufactures products for all major 
segments of the irrigation market, except for the golf market, and sells to 
distributors and retailers worldwide.  Hardie offers a broad range of 
irrigation products and has leading positions in valves and controllers 
worldwide.  In Australia, Hardie has a leading position in hose, hose-end and 
micro-irrigation products.  Hardie products are marketed under the 
Irritrol-Registered Trademark- Systems brand through Hardie's existing global 
distribution network.  Toro and Hardie's Lawn Genie-Registered Trademark- 
brand for the mass merchant retail market is expected to become a leading 
presence in do-it-yourself home irrigation.  

Effective November 1, 1997 the company acquired Exmark Manufacturing Company 
Incorporated (Exmark), a leading manufacturer of equipment for the 
professional landscape contractor industry.  Exmark is headquartered in 
Beatrice, Nebraska and produces mid-sized walk-behind power mowers and 
zero-turning-radius riding mowers for professional contractors.  Exmark 
employs approximately 280 people in a 164,000 square-foot facility.  

In September 1997, the company acquired the manufacturing, sales and 
distribution rights to Dingo Digging Systems (Dingo).  The Dingo utility 
loader is the cornerstone product for the newly established Toro Sitework-TM- 
Systems product line.  The Dingo is a rugged, compact and powerful piece of 
equipment with more than 35 attachments that dramatically increase 
productivity.  The company will manufacture and sell Dingo landscape products 
under the Toro Siteworks-TM- brand name for North and South American markets. 
Dingo began distributing its products in North America in 1995 under an 
agreement with Dingo Mini Diggers of Australia.  These products will be 
manufactured at the company's manufacturing facility in Tomah, Wisconsin.  

The company also completed several other alliances in key business areas. 
Product alliances with Bluebird International and Parker Sweeper Company 
contributed to development of the company's landscape contractor business.  
The company also formed alliances with Pinehurst Resort, home of the 1999 
U.S. Men's Open, and Whitbread-Marriott, a European chain of golfing resorts. 
As the official turf maintenance provider to Disney's Wide World of Sports 
complex in central Florida, the company's scientists and engineers developed 
"tomorrowland" turf solutions for Disney's new complex.  The Wide World of 
Sports and the Toro Town Green, centerpiece of the complex, opened in 1997 
and featured the latest in Toro equipment, irrigation systems and organic 
nutrient applications utilizing the company's "fertigation" technology.


                                      4


In 1997, the company launched a major initiative to increase the speed, 
efficiency and cost effectiveness of its supply chain, including raw material 
procurement, customer ordering, manufacturing, distribution and product 
delivery.  The company focused on reducing costs and realizing synergies and 
efficiencies of combined resources.  The company transferred valve and 
controller production to El Paso, Texas and sprinkler head production to 
Riverside, California to take advantage of each plant's expertise. The 
company also closed a facility and moved consumer electric product 
manufacturing to the El Paso plant and other manufacturing facilities.    

New innovations like Toro's Contour Deck for undulating terrain were 
developed from the company's longstanding knowledge and understanding of the 
golf course superintendent.  The Toro-Registered Trademark- Wheel 
Horse-Registered Trademark- 5xi garden tractor completed the redesign of the 
entire Toro riding product line and received acclaim from national news media 
for breakthrough technology.  A new, low emission snowthrower engine is 
scheduled for 1998 introduction.  Other new products include a new line of 
solar-powered and metal low voltage outdoor lighting for landscapes, a more 
powerful Toro-Registered Trademark- Super BlowerVac, and a redesigned string 
trimmer line.     

In 1997, the company completed the second year of an enterprise-wide software 
system implementation that consolidates and integrates all of the company's 
operations.  ISO 9000 continues to be a high priority for the company. 
Facilities at Riverside, California, Tomah, Wisconsin and Shakopee, Minnesota 
were again certified in 1997 and Sardis and Oxford, Mississippi and Windom, 
Minnesota are working toward ISO 9000 certification in 1998.

MANUFACTURING
The company's consumer spring and summer products are generally manufactured 
in the winter and spring months and its consumer fall and winter products are 
generally manufactured in the summer and fall months.  The company's 
irrigation and commercial products are manufactured throughout the year.

In some areas of its business the company is primarily an assembler while in 
others it is a fully integrated manufacturer.  Most of the components for the 
company's products are commercially available from a number of sources and 
the company is generally not dependent on any one supplier.  The largest 
component costs are generally engines, transmissions and electric motors.  
The company purchases most of its engines and motors for consumer and 
commercial products from several suppliers.  In addition, the company 
manufactures two types of two-cycle engines for its consumer products.

Management continues to seek greater efficiencies and improve work processes 
throughout the company.  Toro's total quality process is focused upon 
improving product quality, customer response time and reducing overall 
product cost.

TRADEMARKS AND PATENTS
Products manufactured by the company are nationally advertised and sold at the
retail level under the trademarks Toro-Registered Trademark-, Wheel
Horse-Registered Trademark-, Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- and
Irritrol-Registered Trademark- Systems, all of which are registered in the
United States and in the principal foreign countries in which the company
markets its products.  The company holds patents in the United States and
foreign countries and applies for patents as applicable.  Although management
believes patents have value to the company, patent protection does not deter
competitors from attempting to develop similar products.  Although patent
protection is considered to be very beneficial, the company is not materially
dependent on any one or more of its patents.

In connection with the acquisition of Hardie, the following brand names were 
acquired:  Lawn Genie-Registered Trademark-, Irritrol-Registered Trademark-, 
Richdel-Registered Trademark-, Pope, Blue Stripe, and Aqua-Traxx.  The 
company agreed to discontinue use of the name "Hardie" or any similar name 
within one year after the acquisition and therefore, Toro will now market 
former Hardie brand name products under the Irritrol-Registered Trademark- 
brand name. Inventory manufactured prior to that one year may continue to 
carry the name "Hardie" or similar name.


                                      5


With the recent acquisition of Exmark, the company acquired the Exmark brand 
name.  The company will also manufacture and sell Dingo landscape products 
under the Toro Siteworks-Registered Trademark- brand name for North and South 
American markets.

SEASONALITY
Sales of the company's consumer products, which accounted for approximately 43%
of total sales in fiscal 1997, are seasonal with greater sales of consumer
products, excluding snow removal equipment, occurring between February and April
and snow removal equipment between August and January.  Opposite seasons in some
global markets somewhat moderate this seasonality in consumer product sales. 
Seasonality in irrigation and commercial product sales also exists, but is
tempered because the selling season in west coast and southern states continues
for a longer portion of the year than in northern states.  Overall, worldwide
sales levels are highest in the second quarter.  Historically, accounts
receivable balances increase between January and March as a result of extended
payment terms made available to the company's customers.  Accounts receivable
balances decrease between April and July when payments are made.  The seasonal
requirements of the business are financed from operations and with short-term
bank lines of credit.

DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
The company markets the majority of its Toro branded products principally 
through approximately 40 domestic and 96 foreign distributors and a number of 
mass merchandisers worldwide.  Toro-Registered Trademark- and 
Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- consumer products such as walk-behind power 
mowers, riding mowers and snowthrowers are sold to distributors for resale to 
retail dealers throughout the United States.  Home solutions products and 
most Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- products are sold directly to mass 
merchandisers and "do-it-yourself" home improvement retailers.  Commercial 
and irrigation products are sold to distributors for resale to irrigation 
contractors and golf courses. Irrigation products are also sold through 
distributors to irrigation dealers and direct to irrigation dealers, mass 
merchandisers and "do-it-yourself" home improvement retailers for resale to 
contractors, golf courses and end-users. Internationally, consumer products 
are sold to distributors for resale to retail dealers and mass merchandisers 
outside the United States, principally in Canada and Western Europe.  Some 
irrigation and consumer products are sold directly to retail dealers in 
Canada, Australia and Western Europe.  

The company's current marketing strategy is to maintain distinct and separate 
brands and brand identification for Toro-Registered Trademark-, 
Toro-Registered Trademark- Wheel Horse-Registered Trademark- and 
Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- products and the recently acquired Hardie and 
Exmark products.  The product lines included in the acquisition of Hardie 
have been branded Irritrol and are distributed through both Toro and non-Toro 
irrigation dealers.  The Exmark brand is distributed through approximately 25 
distributors for resale to retail dealers throughout North America.

The company's distribution systems for the sale of its products are intended 
to assure quality of sales and market presence as well as effective 
after-market service.  The company considers its distribution network to be a 
significant competitive asset in marketing Toro-Registered Trademark-, 
Toro-Registered Trademark- Wheel Horse-Registered Trademark-, 
Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark-, Irritrol and Exmark products.

The company advertises its products during appropriate seasons throughout the 
year on television, radio and in print.  Most of the company's advertising 
emphasizes its brand names.  Advertising is directly paid by the company as 
well as through cooperative programs with distributors, dealers and mass 
merchants.

BACKLOG OF ORDERS
The approximate backlog of orders believed to be firm at October 31, 1997 and
1996 was as follows:

                                    1997                         1996
                                ------------                 ------------
Consumer                        $ 21,729,000                 $ 51,373,000
Commercial                        38,695,000                   55,138,000
Irrigation                         8,101,000                    4,333,000


                                      6


The decline in the consumer product backlog resulted primarily from a 
reduction in the overall snow sales for the current season.  In addition, 
with the increase in sales to mass merchants as some sales have shifted from 
dealers to mass merchants, there has been a reduction in order lead time.  
The reduction in commercial backlog was caused by a change in the way orders 
are taken, from an order covering a three month period to an order covering a 
one month period. Irrigation backlog is up due to increased sales from the 
Hardie acquisition. The company expects that all of the existing backlog can 
be filled in fiscal 1998.  

COMPETITION
The principal competitive factors in the company's markets are product
innovation, quality, service and pricing.  Management believes the company
offers high quality products with the latest technology and design innovations. 
Also, by selling Toro-Registered Trademark-, Toro-Registered Trademark-Wheel
Horse-Registered Trademark-, Lawn-Boy-Registered Trademark- and
Irritrol-Registered Trademark- Systems brand products through a network of
distributors, dealers and mass merchants who provide service, the company offers
competitive service during and after the relevant warranty period.

The company competes in all product lines with numerous manufacturers, many 
of which have substantially greater financial resources than the company. 
Management believes that its commitment to product innovation, its 
distribution systems and its focus on target markets, position it well to 
compete in these various markets.

     CONSUMER
     The company's principal competitors for mowing and snow equipment are
     Frigidaire Home Products, Inc. (a subsidiary of Electrolux AB), Deere &
     Company, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., MTD Products, Inc., Murray Ohio
     Manufacturing Co., Inc. (a subsidiary of Tompkins Corp.), Sears, Roebuck
     and Co., Snapper Power Equipment (a division of Metro Media),  Ariens
     Company, Garden Way, Incorporated and Simplicity Manufacturing Company. 
     The principal competitors in home solutions products are The Black and
     Decker Corporation, Malibu Lighting (a registered trademark of Intermatic,
     Inc.), Poulan/Weed Eater and Homelite(a division of Deere & Company).
     
     COMMERCIAL
     The company's commercial products compete with products from numerous
     manufacturers, but the principal competitors across most of the company's
     commercial product lines are Deere & Company, American Honda Motor Co.,
     Inc., Echo Inc., Stihl Inc., Scag Power Equipment, Shindaiwa Inc., Snapper
     Inc., Gravely International, Lesco Inc., Walker Manufacturing Co., Cub
     Cadet Power Equipment, American Yard Products, Husqvarna Forest and Garden
     Co., The Ariens Co., MTD Products Inc., Textron Jacobsen and Ransomes Sims
     & Jefferies PLC (based in the United Kingdom).

     IRRIGATION
     The company's principal competitors in irrigation products are Hunter
     Industries and Rain Bird Sprinkler Manufacturing Corporation.  

     INTERNATIONAL
     The international market is generally fragmented so that the degree of
     competition varies among the different countries in which the company
     markets its consumer, commercial and irrigation products.  Most competitors
     in the irrigation and commercial product lines are based in the United
     States.  Consumer product lines can face more competition where foreign
     competitors manufacture and market competing products in their countries at
     a lower cost.  In addition, fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar
     may affect the price of the company's products in such markets, thereby
     affecting their competitiveness.


                                      7


RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The company conducts research and development activities in an effort to 
improve existing products and develop new products.  Amounts expended on such
activities, including engineering costs, aggregated approximately $36.6 
million, or 3.5% of net sales for the year ended October 31, 1997, $31.3 
million, or 3.4% of net sales for the year ended October 31, 1996,  $6.9 
million, or 3.6% of net sales for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and 
$26.5 million, or 2.8% of net sales for the year ended July 31, 1995.  
Management believes that the company's research and development efforts are 
important to the quality, mix and growth of its businesses and plans to 
continue its strong commitment to such activities.

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION
The company's products are subject to various federal statutes designed to 
protect consumers and are subject to the administrative jurisdiction of the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The company is also subject to certain 
federal and state environmental, occupational safety, transportation and 
other regulations, none of which has had a material adverse affect on its 
operations or business.  Management believes the company is in substantial 
compliance with all such regulations.  The Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) released Phase I regulations for all gas engines under 25 horsepower in 
June of 1995.  Toro's four-cycle engine suppliers are currently in compliance 
with these regulations. The company received certification in January 1998 on 
its own two-cycle walk-behind power mower engines and earlier on the 
two-cycle walk-behind power snowthrowers engines.  Both now comply with Phase 
I regulations.  This will allow the company to continue producing its 
two-cycle walk-behind power mower engines at its Oxford, Mississippi plant 
through the year 2002.

EMPLOYEES 
During fiscal 1997 the company employed an average of 3,911 employees.  The 
total number of employees at October 31, 1997 was 3,908.  Approximately 20 % 
of these employees are covered by four collective bargaining agreements, one 
expiring in May 2000, two expiring in September 2000 and one expiring in 
October 1999.

As a result of the acquisition of Hardie, the company added approximately 
1,070 employees.  Hardie's Australian employees have three local agreements 
with the National Union of Workers and the Australian Workers Union which 
cover approximately 15% of all Hardie employees.  These agreements will 
expire in June 2000.  None of the Hardie U.S. employees are represented by 
unions.

As a result of the acquisition of Exmark, the company added approximately 260 
employees, none of which are represented by a union.

Management considers its overall relations with its employees to be good.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
With the exception of the Hardie production facilities in Australia, all of the
company's production facilities are located within the United States.  Except
for the sales of the company's foreign subsidiaries, which are not significant
when compared to total company sales, substantially all financial transactions
have been made in U.S. dollars.  Consequently, although the Hardie acquisition
has brought an increase in transactions denominated in Australian dollars, the
company did not realize any significant impact to earnings due to fluctuations
in foreign currencies during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997. 

A portion of the company's cash flow is derived from sales and purchases 
denominated in foreign currencies.  To reduce the uncertainty of foreign 
currency exchange rate movements on these sales and purchase commitments, the 
company enters into foreign currency exchange contracts.  These contracts are 
designed to hedge firm and anticipated foreign currency transactions. 

Export sales were $161,836,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, 
$140,919,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $18,557,000 for the 3 
months ended October 31, 1995, and $126,560,000 for the year ended July 31 
1995.  The identifiable assets attributable to foreign operations were not 
significant as of October 31, 1997.


                                      8


See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the company contained 
in the company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended 
October 31, 1997 for additional information relating to international and 
export sales, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
                                          
                                 ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The company utilizes manufacturing and office facilities which total 
approximately 4,115,000 square feet of space.  The manufacturing facilities, 
excluding Hardie, operated at about 57% of total plant capacity in fiscal 
1997. Actual plant utilization varies during the year depending upon the 
production cycle.  In fiscal 1997, the company announced the closing of its 
production facility at Mound, Minnesota.  Management believes that its 
current facilities are sufficient for current production needs.  The 
following schedule outlines the company's facilities by location, plant size, 
ownership and function:


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Location Square Feet Ownership Products Manufactured / Use - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Plymouth, WI 420,000 Owned Parts distribution center, office Windom, MN 305,000 Owned Consumer components and products Lakeville, MN 304,000 Leased Finished Goods distribution center, office Bloomington, MN 300,000 Owned Corporate headquarters Tomah, WI 274,000 Owned Consumer and Commercial products Sardis, MS 245,000 Owned Consumer products and Finished Goods distribution center, office Baraboo, WI 228,000 Leased Finished Goods distribution center, office Riverside, CA 217,000 Owned Irrigation and Consumer products Evansville, IN 178,000 Leased Consumer and Commercial products Beatrice, NE 164,000 Owned Commercial products, office Olathe, KS 98,000 Leased Commercial products Mound, MN 162,000 Leased Plant to be closed and production moved to other manufacturing plants in fiscal 1998. Shakopee, MN 146,000 Owned Components for consumer and commercial products El Paso, TX 143,000 Owned Hardie irrigation products and warehouse Braeside, Australia 47,000 Leased Hardie irrigation products warehouse Beverley, Australia 109,000 Owned Hardie Corporate office and distribution center Murray Bridge, Australia 101,000 Owned Hardie irrigation products and warehouse El Cajon, California 92,000 Owned Hardie irrigation products and warehouse Oxford, MS 67,000 Owned Components for consumer products Oevel, Belgium 63,000 Owned Finished goods distribution center, office - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total Square Feet 3,663,000
Other leased office and warehouse space located in various cities in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom totaled approximately 452,000 square feet. 9 ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The company is a party to litigation in the ordinary course of its business. Ongoing litigation primarily involves claims for damages arising out of the use of the company's products, some of which include claims for punitive as well as compensatory damages. The company is also subject to administrative proceedings in respect to certain claims involving the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. Certain of these claims assert damages and liability for remedial investigations and clean up costs. Management is of the opinion that the amounts which may be awarded or assessed in connection with these matters will not have a material effect on the company's financial position. Further, the company maintains insurance against product liability losses. Such insurance presently covers claims in excess of $1,000,000 per claim or $2,000,000 in the aggregate during any fiscal year. The company regularly reviews these dollar limits. ITEM 4. SUBMISSIONS OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF THE SECURITY HOLDERS None. 10 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT The list below identifies those persons deemed to be executive officers of the company, discloses their age and position with the company as of January 21, 1998 and positions held by them during the last five years. Officers are elected or appointed annually. A complete list of all officers of the company is found on the inside back cover of the company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended October 31, 1997. Name, Age and Position with Business Experience During the Last Five Years the Company - ------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- Randy B. James Appointed Vice President and Controller in 54, Vice President and December 1988. Controller Stephen P. Wolfe Elected Chief Financial Officer May 1997 and 49, Vice President-Finance and Vice President-Finance/Treasurer June 1997. Chief Financial Officer Appointed Vice President in August 1994. Elected President, Toro Credit Company in July 1990. Charles B. Lounsbury Elected Group Vice President September 1996. 55, Group Vice President From November 1993 to September 1996 was Office of the President appointed Vice President, Distribution Parts and Debris Management. From May 1991 to November 1993 was President and Chief Operating Officer of Leaseway Transportation Corporation. While Mr. Lounsbury served as President and a director of Leaseway, it filed for protection under Chapter 11 and during that period it was discharged. J. David McIntosh Elected Group Vice President September 1996. 54, Group Vice President From January 1992 to September 1996 was Office of the President appointed Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Division. J. Lawrence McIntyre Elected Vice President in July 1993. Elected 55, Vice President, Secretary Secretary and General Counsel in August 1993. and General Counsel Prior to July 1993, was a shareholder with Doherty, Rumble & Butler Professional Association. Kendrick B. Melrose Elected Chairman of the Board in December 1987 57, Chairman and Chief and Chief Executive Officer in December 1983. Executive Officer Office of the President Karen M. Meyer Elected Vice President, Human 48, Vice President, Resources/Administrative Services in December Human Resources/Administrative 1991. Services Richard R. Pollick Appointed Vice President, International 58, Vice President and General Division in March 1990. Manager International Division James H. Beardsley Appointed Vice President and General Manager, 54, Vice President and General Consumer Business June 1997. From October Manager 1990 to October 1996 was President and Chief Consumer Business Executive Officer of Master Lock Company. Michael J. Hoffman Appointed Vice President and General Manager, 42, Vice President and General Commercial Business November 1997. From Manager November 1996 to November 1997 he served as Commercial Business General Manager of the Commercial Division. He served as Managing Director, Recycling Division from March 1994 to October 1996 and as Director of Marketing and Service, Commercial Division from September 1989 to March 1994. 11 William J. Miller Appointed Vice President, Operations June 50, Vice President, Operations 1997. From January 1992 to June 1997 he served as Group Vice President of the Frigidaire Company in various divisions. Richard W. Parod Appointed Vice President and General Manager, 44, Vice President and General U.S. Irrigation Business March 1997. From Manager December 1993 to March 1997 he served as U.S. Irrigation Business President of James Hardie Irrigation, Inc. and from September 1993 to December 1993 as Chief Financial Officer of James Hardie Irrigation, Inc. There are no family relationships between any director, executive officer or person nominated to become a director or executive officer. There are no arrangements or understandings between any executive officer and any other person pursuant to which he or she was selected as an officer. 12 Part II - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All information incorporated by reference in this Part II is from the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 ("Annual Report"). ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Toro Common Stock (including related Preferred Share Purchase Rights) is listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. As of January 19, 1998 there were 6,564 holders of record of the company's common stock. See "Quarterly Financial Data" on page 39 of the Annual Report for dividends paid on and range of high and low sales prices for the company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on a quarterly basis for the period from November 1, 1995 to October 31, 1997 which information is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA See "Selected Financial Data" on page 23 of the Annual Report for financial data for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 month period ended October 31, 1995 and the years ended July 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 which information for these periods is incorporated herein by reference. 13 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS See the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of the Annual Report to Stockholders on pages 16 through 22 which section is incorporated herein by reference. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the company's Annual Report to Stockholders for fiscal 1997 referred to above contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In addition, forward-looking statements may be made orally in the future by or on behalf of the company. Statements that are not historical are forward-looking. When used by or on behalf of the company, the words "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market, as well as matters specific to the company and the markets it serves. Particular risks and uncertainties facing the company at the present include political and economic uncertainty and instability in many of the company's markets in Asia; the warm winter being experienced in many of the company's markets; the strong dollar which increases the cost of the company's products in foreign markets and limits the company's ability to increase prices; more cautious buying patterns affecting the company's consumer business and European sales; increased competition in the company's businesses; the company's ability to integrate business acquisitions and to manage alliances successfully; changes in distributor, dealer or mass merchant purchasing practices; and occasional production delays affecting selected consumer products. In addition, the company is subject to risks and uncertainties facing its industry in general, including changes in business and political conditions and the economy in general in both foreign and domestic markets; weather conditions affecting demand, including warm winters and wet spring and summer weather; lack of growth in the company's markets; financial market changes including increases in interest rates and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; a slowing in housing starts or new golf course starts; inability to raise prices of products due to market conditions; changes in market demographics; actions of competitors; unanticipated problems or costs associated with implementation by the company of computer applications that will accommodate the Year 2000; the inability of the company's suppliers, customers, creditors and financial service organizations to implement computer applications accommodating the Year 2000; the company's ability to develop, manufacture and sell both new and existing products profitably; seasonal factors in the company's industry; unforeseen litigation; government actions including budget levels, regulation and legislation, primarily legislation relating to the environment, commerce, infrastructure spending and health and safety; labor relations; and availability of materials. The company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and to recognize that the statements are not predictions of actual future results. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, as a result of the risks and uncertainties described, as well as others not now anticipated. The foregoing statements are not exclusive and are in addition to other factors discussed elsewhere in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. 14 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The financial statements described in Item 14(a)1 of this report are incorporated herein by reference. See "Quarterly Financial Data" appearing on page 39 of the Annual Report to Stockholders which is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 9. DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. 15 Part III - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT See "Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Part I of this report for information regarding the executive officers of the company, which information is herein incorporated by reference. Information regarding the directors of the company and additional information regarding certain executive officers is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the next meeting of stockholders which involves the election of directors or, if such Proxy Statement is not filed within such 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, such information will be filed as part of an amendment to this Form 10-K not later than the end of the 120-day period. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the next meeting of stockholders which involves the election of directors or, if such Proxy Statement is not filed within such 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, such information will be filed as part of an amendment to this Form 10-K not later than the end of the 120-day period. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT Information regarding the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the company is incorporated herein by reference to the information to be contained in the company's Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the next meeting of stockholders which involves the election of directors or, if such Proxy Statement is not filed within such 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, such information will be filed as part of an amendment to this Form 10-K not later than the end of the 120-day period. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS None. 16 Part IV - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) 1. INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Incorporated by reference into Part II, Item 8 of Pages in Fiscal this report: 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders --------------- Independent Auditors' Report......................................... 24 Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995.......................... 24 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 1997 and 1996.................................... 25 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995..................................... 26 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................... 27-39 (a) 2. INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES Included in Part IV of this report. Independent Auditors' Report.................................... 22 Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts................. 23 All other schedules are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes. (a) 3. EXHIBITS 2 and 10(i) Stock Purchase Agreement among The Toro Company, James Hardie (USA) Inc., James Hardie Industries Limited and RCI Pty. Ltd. (incorporated by reference to the Exhibit to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 18, 1996). 2 and 10(ii) Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 23, 1997 by and among Exmark, Merger Subsidiary and The Toro Company, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit Number 2.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-39769). 3(i)(a) and 4(a) Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 33-16125). 17 3(i)(b) and 4(b) Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant dated December 9, 1986 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 30, 1987, Commission File No. 1-8649). 3(ii) and 4(c) Bylaws of Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1991, Commission File No. 1-8649). 4(d) Specimen form of Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c) to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 2-94417). 4(e) Rights Agreement dated as of June 14, 1988, between Registrant and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association relating to rights to purchase Series B Junior Participating Voting Preferred Stock, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated June 17, 1988 and Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 14, 1990, Commission File No. 1-8649). 4(f) Indenture as dated as of January 31, 1997, between Registrant and First National Trust Association, as Trustee, relating to the Registrant's 7.125% Notes due June 15, 2007 and its 7.80% Debentures due June 15, 2027 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K for June 24, 1997, Commission File No. 1-8649). 10(iii)(a) Form of Employment Agreement in effect for certain officers of Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1995).* 10(iii)(b) 1992 Directors Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(iii)(b) to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996).* 10(iii)(c) Annual Management Incentive Plan for certain key employees and officers of Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B to Registrant's Proxy Statement dated February 10, 1997).* 10(iii)(d) 1985 Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1993).* 10(iii)(e) 1989 Stock Option Plan, as amended.* 10(iii)(f) 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.* 10(iii)(g) Continuous Performance Award Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(iii)(g) to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996).* 10(iii)(h) The Toro Company Supplemental Management Retirement Plan (incorporated 18 by reference to Exhibit 10(iii)(h) to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996).* 10(iii)(i) Chief Executive Officer Succession Incentive Agreement dated as of July 31, 1995, as amended.* 11 Computation of Earnings per Share of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalent (page 24 of this report). 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (page 25 of this report). 13 Fiscal 1997 Annual Report to Stockholders for The Toro Company. 21 Subsidiaries of Registrant (page 26 of this report). 23 Independent Auditors' Consent (page 27 of this report). 27 Supplemental Data Schedule; electronic filing only. *Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Item 14(c). 19 (b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K None. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997, at the time of its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall modify and supersede all prior documents filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act for purposes of any offers or sales of any securities after the date of such filing pursuant to any Registration Statement or Prospectus filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 which incorporates by reference such Annual Report on Form 10-K. 20 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. THE TORO COMPANY -------------------------------- (Registrant) Dated: January 21, 1998 /s/ Stephen P. Wolfe ----------------------- Stephen P. Wolfe Vice President - Finance Chief Financial 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/ Kendrick B. Melrose Chairman, Chief Executive January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Officer, and Director Kendrick B. Melrose (principal executive officer) /s/ Stephen P. Wolfe Vice President - Finance, January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Chief Financial Officer Stephen P. Wolfe (principal financial officer) /s/ Randy B. James Vice President, Controller January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- (principal accounting officer) Randy B. James /s/ Ronald O. Baukol Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Ronald O. Baukol /s/ Robert C. Buhrmaster Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Robert C. Buhrmaster /s/ Janet K. Cooper Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Janet K. Cooper /s/ Alex A. Meyer Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Alex A. Meyer /s/ Robert H. Nassau Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Robert H. Nassau /s/ Dale R. Olseth Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Dale R. Olseth /s/ Edwin H. Wingate Director January 21, 1998 - -------------------------- Edwin H. Wingate 21 [LETTERHEAD] INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors The Toro Company: Under the date of December 12, 1997, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of The Toro Company and subsidiaries (the Company) as of October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the three-month period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995, as contained in the 1997 annual report to stockholders. These consolidated financial statements and our report thereon are incorporated by reference in the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 1997. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the related consolidated financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule 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. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota December 12, 1997 22 [LOGO] Schedule II THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BALANCE CHARGED TO DESCRIPTION AT BEGINNING COSTS AND OTHER (a) DEDUCTIONS (b) BALANCE AT END OF YEAR EXPENSES OF YEAR - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997 Allowance for doubtful accounts $10,005,000 $ 812,000 $ (425,000) $ 560,000 $ 9,832,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1996 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 7,542,000 $ 3,358,000 $ 330,000 $ 1,225,000 $ 10,005,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1995 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 7,343,000 $ 720,000 $ 0 $ 521,000 $ 7,542,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1995 Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 7,702,000 $ 1,543,000 $ 20,000 $ 1,922,000 $ 7,343,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Additions to allowance for doubtful accounts due to acquisitions and reductions due to reclassification. (b) Uncollectible accounts charged off, net of recoveries. 23


                                  THE TORO COMPANY
                                1989 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
1.   PURPOSE. The purpose of the 1989 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to
     advance the interests of The Toro Company (the "Company") and its 
     stockholders by providing an incentive to certain employees of the 
     Company and its subsidiaries and to certain other key individuals who 
     perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries, to contribute 
     significantly to the strategic and long-term performance objectives and 
     growth of the Company and its subsidiaries. This purpose is expected to be
     achieved by granting options to acquire the Common Stock, $1.00 par value,
     and related preferred share purchase rights of the Company (the "Common 
     Stock"). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, options may contain such 
     terms and conditions as shall be required so as to be either nonqualified 
     stock options ("nonqualified options") or incentive stock options
     ("Incentive Stock Options") as defined in Section 422 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Subject to such limits as 
     may be imposed by the Plan, nonqualified options or Incentive Stock Options
     or both may be granted to an eligible individual. 

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of the Plan shall be August 8, 1989. 

3.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall be administered by the
     Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the
     Company (the "Board"), provided that members of the Committee shall be 
     Non-employee Directors as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or any successor rule
     and shall qualify to administer the Plan as contemplated by Section 162(m)
     of the Code and the regulations thereunder ("Section 162(m)").  A majority
     of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting 
     of the Committee and the acts of a majority of the members present at any 
     meeting at which a quorum is present or the acts unanimously approved in 
     writing by all members of the Committee shall be the acts of the Committee.
     The decision of the Committee on any matter affecting the Plan and 
     obligations arising under the Plan or any option granted thereunder shall
     be deemed final and binding upon all persons. No member of the Board or 
     of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination taken or
     made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option granted 
     thereunder. Committee members shall be reimbursed for out-of-pocket 
     expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of the Plan.

     Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
     plenary authority, in its discretion, to interpret the Plan; to prescribe,
     amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine
     the exercise price of each option to purchase Common Stock, the individuals
     to whom and the time or times at which options shall be granted, the number
     of shares to be subject to each option, when an option may be exercisable 
     and the other terms and provisions (and amendments thereto) of the 
     respective option agreements (which need not be identical); to determine 
     whether a particular option is to be an Incentive Stock Option and the 
     terms and provisions thereof that shall be required in the judgment of the
     Committee to provide therefor or to conform to any change in any law or 
     regulation applicable thereto, or to any other law or regulation that may
     hereafter become effective to provide similar or related tax benefits to 
     option holders; and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or 
     advisable for the administration of the Plan. 





4.   COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment as provided in 
     this paragraph and subject to increase by amendment of the Plan, the 
     total number of shares of Common Stock that is reserved and available for 
     issuance pursuant to options granted under the Plan shall be 1,700,000 
     shares. If any option granted hereunder terminates, expires unexercised,
     is exchanged for other options without the issuance of shares of Common 
     Stock or is exercised by the delivery or constructive delivery of shares 
     of Common Stock already owned by the option holder, the shares of Common 
     Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to such option shall, to the extent 
     of any such termination or to the extent shares covered by an option are 
     not issued or used, again be available for option grants under the Plan. 
     Any shares issued by the Company in connection with the assumption or
     substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not
     reduce the shares available for option grants under the Plan. Shares of 
     Common Stock that may be issued hereunder may be authorized but unissued 
     shares, reacquired or treasury shares, or outstanding shares acquired in 
     the market or from private sources, or a combination thereof. Appropriate 
     adjustments in the number of shares of the Common Stock that may be 
     available for option grants under the Plan and adjustments in the option 
     price per share of outstanding options may be made by the Committee in its
     discretion to give effect to adjustments made in the number of shares of 
     Common Stock of the Company through any merger, consolidation, 
     recapitalization, reclassification, combination, stock dividend, stock 
     split or other similar change in the corporate structure of the Company 
     affecting the Common Stock, or a sale by the Company of all or part of its
     assets or any distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash 
     dividend. 

5.   ELIGIBILITY. Options may be granted to any employee of the Company or 
     any subsidiary thereof who is regularly employed in an executive, 
     managerial, professional or technical position, and to any other 
     individual who performs services for the Company or any subsidiary and 
     who contributes significantly to the strategic and long-term performance 
     objectives of the Company and its subsidiaries. Options may be granted 
     to directors of the Company who are also employees of the Company. More 
     than one option may be granted to the same individual. No option may be 
     granted to an individual who owns, directly or indirectly, Common Stock 
     or other capital stock of the Company possessing more than 5% of the 
     total combined voting power or value of any class of capital stock of 
     the Company or a subsidiary immediately after such option is granted. 
     Except for the foregoing limitations, there is no minimum or maximum 
     number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options may be 
     granted to any individual under the Plan. Individuals to whom options 
     are granted are at times referred to as "option holders". 

6.   DURATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall remain in effect until all shares 
     reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan shall have been purchased 
     pursuant to options granted under the Plan, provided that options under 
     the Plan must be granted within ten years from the effective date of the 
     Plan. 

7.   GENERAL TERMS OF OPTIONS. Options shall be evidenced by stock option 
     agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the 
     Committee shall approve from time to time, which agreements shall 
     contain in substance the following terms and conditions: 

                                       2



     A.   DATE OF GRANT. An option agreement shall specify the date of grant, 
          which shall be the date on which the Committee grants an option or 
          any later date which the Committee specifically designates. 

     B.   NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. An option agreement shall specify 
          the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains. 
          Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the maximum number 
          of shares that may be covered by any option grant during any 
          calendar year shall be 100,000 shares. 

     C.   EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of all stock options will be 
          granted at fair market value, except for performance based stock 
          options, such as those granted in connection with the Continuous 
          Performance Award Plan, where the exercise price is an average and 
          on the date of grant could be higher or lower than fair market 
          value.  Fair market value is generally determined to be the closing 
          price for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as 
          reported by The Wall Street Journal or other readily available 
          quotation of composite transactions. 

     D.   TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each option shall be fixed by the 
          Committee. 

     E.   EXERCISABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY. 

          (i)  The Committee shall have the authority to determine whether an 
               option agreement shall specify periods after the date of grant 
               of an option during which the option or any portion thereof 
               may not yet be exercisable, including provisions applicable to 
               persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 

          (ii) During the lifetime of an option holder, options held by such 
               individual may be exercised only by the option holder and only 
               while an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary of 
               the Company or otherwise performing services for the Company 
               or a parent or subsidiary and only if the option holder has 
               been continuously so employed or engaged since the date such 
               options were granted; provided, however, that (a) in the event 
               of disability of an option holder, options may be exercised by 
               such individual not later than the earlier of the date the 
               option expires or one year after the date such employment or 
               performance of services ceases by reason of disability, but 
               only with respect to an option exercisable at the time such 
               employment or performance of services ceases and (b) options 
               may be exercised (I) by an option holder after such individual 
               ceases to be an employee (for reasons other than disability or 
               retirement at or after age 60) up to three months after the 
               day of termination of employment but not later than the date 
               the option expires, (II) by reason of retirement, either at or 
               after age 60 but not later than the earlier of the date the 
               option expires or four years after the date of retirement, or, 
               if approved by the Committee, after retirement at an age less 
               than age 60 but not later than the earlier of the date the 
               option expires or three years after the date of retirement; 
               and (III) in the event a salary replacement option is granted 
               by the Committee and the option holder is involuntarily 
               terminated during the option term or becomes disabled or dies, 

                                       3



               the Committee shall have the right to grant to the option 
               holder or his personal representative, as the case may be, the 
               right to request either (1) that the option be cancelled and 
               the option holder or his estate be paid an amount equal to the 
               compensation the option holder has given up from the date of 
               grant to the date of such termination, disability or death 
               together with interest at the prime rate less the then market 
               gain on that portion of the shares covered by the option which 
               is then vested; or (2) that the stock option accelerates such 
               that the option be deemed to have vested at an appropriate 
               rate per month (as determined by the Committee) from the date 
               of grant to the last date of the month in which the date of 
               termination, disability or death occurs, such accelerated 
               option to be then exercisable for a period of three years 
               following such date but only with respect to an option 
               exercisable at the time such individual ceases to be an 
               employee. 

        (iii)  Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph 7.E, if within 
               one year after the termination of employment with or 
               performance of services for the Company, an option holder is 
               employed or retained by a company that competes with the 
               business of the Company or such individual violates any 
               confidentiality agreement with the Company, the Company may 
               cancel and rescind all options held by such individual and 
               demand return of the economic value of any option which was 
               realized or obtained (measured at the date of exercise) by 
               such individual at any time during the period beginning on the 
               date which is twelve months prior to the date of termination. 

          (iv) Absence on leave or any other interruption in the performance 
               of services by an option holder with the Company shall, if 
               approved by the Committee, not be deemed a cessation or 
               interruption of employment or services for the purposes of the 
               Plan. 

          (v)  No option shall be assignable or transferable by the 
               individual to whom it is granted except that it may be 
               transferable by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 
               An option so transferred may be exercised after the death of 
               the individual to whom it is granted only by such individual's 
               legal representatives, heirs or legatees, not later than the 
               earlier of the date the option expires or one year after the 
               date of death of such individual, and only with respect to an 
               option exercisable at the time of death. 

          (vi) In no event shall any option be exercisable at any time after 
               its expiration date unless extended by the Committee. When an 
               option is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have 
               lapsed or terminated. 

     F.   METHODS OF EXERCISE. Subject to the terms and conditions of the 
          Plan and the terms and conditions of the option agreement, an 
          option may be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time 
          to time, by delivery to the Company at its principal office of a 
          written notice of exercise specifying the number of shares with 
          respect to which the option is being exercised, accompanied by 
          payment in full of the exercise price for shares to be purchased at 
          that time. Payment may be made (i) in cash, 

                                       4




          (ii) in shares of Common Stock valued at the fair market value of 
          the Common Stock on the date of exercise or (iii) in a combination 
          of cash and Common Stock. The Committee may also, in its sole 
          discretion, permit option holders to deliver a notice of exercise 
          of options and to simultaneously sell the shares of Common Stock 
          thereby acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar arrangement 
          approved in advance by proper officers of the Company, using the 
          proceeds from such sale as payment of the exercise price, or may 
          authorize such other methods as it deems appropriate and as comply 
          with requirements of the Code and the Exchange Act.

          No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment 
          therefor has been made. 

     G.   ACCELERATED OWNERSHIP FEATURE. An option may, in the discretion of 
          the Committee, include the right to acquire an accelerated 
          ownership nonqualified stock option ("AO Option"). An option which 
          provides for the grant of an AO Option shall entitle the option 
          holder, upon exercise of that option and payment of the appropriate 
          exercise price in shares of Common Stock that have been owned by 
          such option holder for not less than six months prior to the date 
          of exercise, to receive an AO Option. An AO Option is an option to 
          purchase, at fair market value at the date of grant of the AO 
          Option, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the sum of the 
          number of whole shares delivered by the option holder in payment of 
          the exercise price of the original option and the number of whole 
          shares, if any, withheld by the Company as payment for withholding 
          taxes. An AO Option shall expire on the same date that the original 
          option would have expired had it not been exercised. All AO Options 
          shall be nonqualified options. 

     H.   CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of a threatened or actual Change of 
          Control of the Company as hereinafter defined, whether or not 
          approved by the Board of Directors, all options shall fully vest, 
          unless otherwise limited by the Committee at the time of the option 
          grant, and be exercisable in their entirety immediately, and 
          notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, shall continue to 
          be exercisable for three years following the later of the 
          threatened or actual Change of Control, but not later than ten 
          years after the date of grant. A Change of Control means the 
          earliest to occur of (i) a public announcement that a party shall 
          have acquired or obtained the right to acquire beneficial ownership 
          of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the 
          Company, (ii) the commencement or announcement of an intention to 
          make a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which 
          would result in the beneficial ownership by a party of 30% or more 
          of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or (iii) 
          the occurrence of a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, 
          consolidation, sale of assets or contested election or any 
          combination thereof, that causes (or would cause) the persons who 
          were directors of the Company immediately before such Change of 
          Control to cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors 
          of the Company or any parent of or successor to the Company. 

     I.   REORGANIZATION. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, make 
          provisions in any option agreement for the protection of 
          outstanding options in the event of a merger, 

                                       5





          consolidation, reorganization or liquidation of the Company or the
          acquisition of stock or assets of the Company by another entity. 

     J.   RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. An option holder shall have no rights as a 
          stockholder with respect to any Common Stock covered by an option 
          until exercise of such option and issuance of shares of Common 
          Stock. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, no 
          adjustments shall be made for dividends or other rights for which 
          the record date is prior to issuance of the Common Stock. 

     K.   GENERAL RESTRICTION. Each option shall be subject to the 
          requirement that, if at any time the Board shall determine in its 
          discretion that the listing, registration or qualification of the 
          Common Stock subject to such option on any securities exchange or 
          under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any 
          government regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a 
          condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such option or 
          the issue or purchase of Common Stock thereunder, such option may 
          not be exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, 
          registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been 
          effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the 
          Board. 

     L.   FOREIGN NATIONALS. Without amending the Plan, awards may be granted 
          to individuals who are foreign nationals or are employed or 
          otherwise performing services for the Company or any subsidiary 
          outside the United States or both, on such terms and conditions 
          different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment 
          of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose 
          of the Plan. 

8.   INCENTIVE AND NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS. It is intended that certain options 
     granted under the Plan shall be Incentive Stock Options and shall meet 
     the applicable requirements of and contain or be deemed to contain all 
     provisions required under Section 422 of the Code or corresponding 
     provisions of subsequent revenue laws and regulations in effect at the 
     time such options are granted; that other options shall not meet such 
     requirements and shall be nonqualified stock options; and that any 
     ambiguities in construction shall be interpreted in order to effectuate 
     such intent. The Committee may grant one or more options of either type, 
     or of both types, to any one or more individuals either at different 
     times or concurrently. Such options shall be subject to the terms and 
     conditions set forth elsewhere in the Plan and to the following: 

     A.   INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The term of any Incentive Stock Option 
          shall meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Any 
          Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as "outstanding" until it 
          is exercised in full or expires by reason of lapse of time. To the 
          extent that the aggregate fair market value of Common Stock 
          (determined at the time of grant of the Incentive Stock Option in 
          accordance with paragraph 7.C of the Plan) with respect to which 
          Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an 
          option holder during any calendar year (under all such plans of the 
          Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations) exceeds 
          $100,000 or such other limit as may be imposed by the Code, such 
          options to the extent they exceed such limit shall be treated as 
          options which are not Incentive 

                                       6





          Stock Options. In applying the foregoing limitation, options shall 
          be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. 

     B.   NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS. There is no limitation on the maximum amount 
          of nonqualified options which may be exercised in any year. 

9.   WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any 
     settlement made under the Plan, including the exercise of an option or 
     the sale of shares of Common Stock, any federal, state or local taxes of 
     any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments or 
     to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the 
     Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. If 
     Common Stock is withheld or surrendered to satisfy tax withholding, such 
     stock shall be valued at its fair market value as of the date such 
     Common Stock is withheld or surrendered. 

10.  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. The Plan may be amended, suspended or 
     discontinued in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by 
     the Board, including an amendment to increase the number of shares of 
     Common Stock with respect to which options may be granted, provided 
     however that no amendment shall be effective unless and until the same 
     is approved by stockholders of the Company where the failure to obtain 
     such approval would adversely affect the availability of any exemption 
     under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or successor rule and with other 
     applicable law, including the Code. No amendment of the Plan shall 
     adversely affect in a material manner any right of any option holder 
     with respect to any option theretofore granted without such option 
     holder's written consent. 

11.  MISCELLANEOUS. 

     A.   USE OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds derived from the sale of shares of 
          Common Stock pursuant to options granted under the Plan shall 
          constitute general funds of the Company. 

     B.   PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY. As used herein, the terms "parent" and 
          "subsidiary" shall mean "parent corporation" and "subsidiary 
          corporation", respectively, as defined in Section 424 of the Code.


                                       7








                             THE TORO COMPANY
                          1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN


1.  PURPOSE. The purpose of the 1993 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to 
    advance the interests of The Toro Company (the "Company") and its 
    stockholders by providing an incentive to certain employees of the 
    Company and its subsidiaries and to certain other key individuals who 
    perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries, to contribute 
    significantly to the strategic and long-term performance objectives and 
    growth of the Company and its subsidiaries. This purpose is expected to 
    be achieved by granting options to acquire the Common Stock, $1.00 par 
    value, and related preferred share purchase rights of the Company (the 
    "Common Stock"). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, options may 
    contain such terms and conditions as shall be required so as to be either 
    nonqualified stock options ("nonqualified options") or incentive stock 
    options ("Incentive Stock Options") as defined in Section 422 of the 
    Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Subject to such 
    limits as may be imposed by the Plan, nonqualified options or Incentive 
    Stock Options or both may be granted to an eligible individual. 

2.  EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of the Plan shall be August 17, 1993. 

3.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.  The Plan shall be administered by the 
    Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the 
    Company (the "Board"), provided that members of the Committee shall be 
    Non-employee Directors as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under 
    the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or any successor 
    rule and shall qualify to administer the Plan as contemplated by Section 
    162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder ("Section 162(m)").  A 
    majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for 
    any meeting of the Committee and the acts of a majority of the members 
    present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or the acts 
    unanimously approved in writing by all members of the Committee shall be 
    the acts of the Committee. The decision of the Committee on any matter 
    affecting the Plan and obligations arising under the Plan or any option 
    granted thereunder shall be deemed final and binding upon all persons. No 
    member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any action or 
    determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any 
    option granted thereunder. Committee members shall be reimbursed for 
    out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of the 
    Plan.

    Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have 
    plenary authority, in its discretion, to interpret the Plan; to 
    prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; 
    to determine the exercise price of each option to purchase Common Stock, 
    the individuals to whom and the time or times at which options shall be 
    granted, the number of shares to be subject to each option, when an 
    option may be exercisable and the other terms and provisions (and 
    amendments thereto) of the respective option agreements (which need not 
    be identical); to determine whether a particular option is to be an 
    Incentive Stock Option and the terms and provisions thereof that shall be 
    required in the judgment of the Committee to provide therefor or to 
    conform to any change in any law or regulation applicable thereto, or to 
    any other law or regulation that may hereafter become effective to 
    provide similar or related tax benefits to option holders; and to make 
    all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the 
    administration of the Plan. 




4.  COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment as provided in 
    this paragraph and subject to increase by amendment of the Plan, the 
    total number of shares of Common Stock that is reserved and available for 
    issuance pursuant to options granted under the Plan shall be 1,600,000 
    shares. If any option granted hereunder terminates, expires unexercised, 
    is exchanged for other options without the issuance of shares of Common 
    Stock or is exercised by the delivery or constructive delivery of shares 
    of Common Stock already owned by the option holder, the shares of Common 
    Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to such option shall, to the extent 
    of any such termination or to the extent shares covered by an option are 
    not issued or used, again be available for option grants under the Plan. 
    Any shares issued by the Company in connection with the assumption or 
    substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall 
    not reduce the shares available for option grants under the Plan. Shares 
    of Common Stock that may be issued hereunder may be authorized but 
    unissued shares, reacquired or treasury shares, or outstanding shares 
    acquired in the market or from private sources, or a combination thereof. 
    Appropriate adjustments in the number of shares of the Common Stock that 
    may be available for option grants under the Plan and adjustments in the 
    option price per share of outstanding options may be made by the 
    Committee in its discretion to give effect to adjustments made in the 
    number of shares of Common Stock of the Company through any merger, 
    consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, stock 
    dividend, stock split or other similar change in the corporate structure 
    of the Company affecting the Common Stock, or a sale by the Company of 
    all or part of its assets or any distribution to stockholders other than 
    a normal cash dividend. 

5.  ELIGIBILITY. Options may be granted to any employee of the Company or any 
    subsidiary thereof who is regularly employed in an executive, managerial, 
    professional or technical position, and to any other individual who 
    performs services for the Company or any subsidiary and who contributes 
    significantly to the strategic and long-term performance objectives of 
    the Company and its subsidiaries. Options may be granted to directors of 
    the Company who are also employees of the Company. More than one option 
    may be granted to the same individual. No option may be granted to an 
    individual who owns, directly or indirectly, Common Stock or other 
    capital stock of the Company possessing more than 5% of the total 
    combined voting power or value of any class of capital stock of the 
    Company or a subsidiary immediately after such option is granted. Except 
    for the foregoing limitations, there is no minimum or maximum number of 
    shares of Common Stock with respect to which options may be granted to 
    any individual under the Plan. Individuals to whom options are granted 
    are at times referred to as "option holders". 

6.  DURATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall remain in effect until all shares 
    reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan shall have been purchased 
    pursuant to options granted under the Plan, provided that options under 
    the Plan must be granted within ten years from the effective date of the 
    Plan. 

7.  GENERAL TERMS OF OPTIONS. Options shall be evidenced by stock option 
    agreements in such form and not inconsistent with the Plan as the 
    Committee shall approve from time to time, which agreements shall contain 
    in substance the following terms and conditions: 

                                        2



    A. DATE OF GRANT. An option agreement shall specify the date of grant, 
       which shall be the date on which the Committee grants an option or any 
       later date which the Committee specifically designates. 

    B. NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. An option agreement shall specify 
       the number of shares of Common Stock to which it pertains. 
       Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the maximum number of 
       shares that may be covered by any option grant during any calendar year
       shall be 100,000 shares. 

    C. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price of all stock options will be granted
       at fair market value, except for performance based stock options, such
       as those granted in connection with the Continuous Performance Award
       Plan, where the exercise price is an average and on the date of grant 
       could be higher or lower than fair market value. Fair market value is 
       generally determined to be the closing price for the Common Stock on the
       New York Stock Exchange as reported by The Wall Street Journal or other
       readily available quotation of composite transactions.

    D. TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each option shall be fixed by the 
       Committee. 

    E. EXERCISABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY. 

       (i)  The Committee shall have the authority to determine whether an 
            option agreement shall specify periods after the date of grant of 
            an option during which the option or any portion thereof may not 
            yet be exercisable, including provisions applicable to persons 
            subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 

       (ii) During the lifetime of an option holder, options held by such 
            individual may be exercised only by the option holder and only 
            while an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary of the 
            Company or otherwise performing services for the Company or a 
            parent or subsidiary and only if the option holder has been 
            continuously so employed or engaged since the date such options 
            were granted; provided, however, that (a) in the event of 
            disability of an option holder, options may be exercised by such 
            individual not later than the earlier of the date the option 
            expires or one year after the date such employment or performance 
            of services ceases by reason of disability, but only with respect 
            to an option exercisable at the time such employment or 
            performance of services ceases and (b) options may be exercised 
            (I) by an option holder after such individual ceases to be an 
            employee (for reasons other than disability or retirement at or 
            after age 60) up to three months after the day of termination of 
            employment but not later than the date the option expires, (II) 
            by reason of retirement, either at or after age 60 but not later 
            than the earlier of the date the option expires or four years 
            after the date of retirement, or, if approved by the Committee, 
            after retirement at an age less than age 60 but not later than 
            the earlier of the date the option expires or three years after 
            the date of retirement; and (III) in the event a salary 
            replacement option is granted by the Committee and the option 
            holder is involuntarily terminated during the option term or 
            becomes disabled or dies, 

                                          3



            the Committee shall have the right to grant to the option holder 
            or his personal representative, as the case may be, the right to 
            request either (1) that the option be cancelled and the option 
            holder or his estate be paid an amount equal to the compensation 
            the option holder has given up from the date of grant to the date 
            of such termination, disability or death together with interest 
            at the prime rate less the then market gain on that portion of 
            the shares covered by the option which is then vested; or (2) 
            that the stock option accelerates such that the option be deemed 
            to have vested at an appropriate rate per month (as determined by 
            the Committee) from the date of grant to the last date of the 
            month in which the date of termination, disability or death 
            occurs, such accelerated option to be then exercisable for a 
            period of three years following such date but only with respect 
            to an option exercisable at the time such individual ceases to be 
            an employee. 

      (iii) Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph 7.E, if within 
            one year after the termination of employment with or performance 
            of services for the Company, an option holder is employed or 
            retained by a company that competes with the business of the 
            Company or such individual violates any confidentiality agreement 
            with the Company, the Company may cancel and rescind all options 
            held by such individual and demand return of the economic value 
            of any option which was realized or obtained (measured at the 
            date of exercise) by such individual at any time during the 
            period beginning on the date which is twelve months prior to the 
            date of termination. 

      (iv)  Absence on leave or any other interruption in the performance of 
            services by an option holder with the Company shall, if approved 
            by the Committee, not be deemed a cessation or interruption of 
            employment or services for the purposes of the Plan. 

       (v)  No option shall be assignable or transferable by the individual 
            to whom it is granted except that it may be transferable by will 
            or the laws of descent and distribution. An option so transferred 
            may be exercised after the death of the individual to whom it is 
            granted only by such individual's legal representatives, heirs or 
            legatees, not later than the earlier of the date the option 
            expires or one year after the date of death of such individual, 
            and only with respect to an option exercisable at the time of 
            death. 

      (vi)  In no event shall any option be exercisable at any time after its 
            expiration date unless extended by the Committee. When an option 
            is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or 
            terminated. 

    F.  METHODS OF EXERCISE. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan 
        and the terms and conditions of the option agreement, an option may 
        be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time to time, by 
        delivery to the Company at its principal office of a written notice 
        of exercise specifying the number of shares with respect to which the 
        option is being exercised, accompanied by payment in full of the 
        exercise price for shares to be purchased at that time. Payment may 
        be made (i) in cash, 

                                       4



        (ii) in shares of Common Stock valued at the fair market value of the 
        Common Stock on the date of exercise or (iii) in a combination of 
        cash and Common Stock. The Committee may also, in its sole 
        discretion, permit option holders to deliver a notice of exercise of 
        options and to simultaneously sell the shares of Common Stock thereby 
        acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar arrangement approved in 
        advance by proper officers of the Company, using the proceeds from 
        such sale as payment of the exercise price, or may authorize such 
        other methods as it deems appropriate and as comply with requirements 
        of the Code and the Exchange Act.

        No shares of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment therefor 
        has been made. 

    G.  ACCELERATED OWNERSHIP FEATURE. An option may, in the discretion of 
        the Committee, include the right to acquire an accelerated ownership 
        nonqualified stock option ("AO Option"). An option which provides for 
        the grant of an AO Option shall entitle the option holder, upon 
        exercise of that option and payment of the appropriate exercise price 
        in shares of Common Stock that have been owned by such option holder 
        for not less than six months prior to the date of exercise, to 
        receive an AO Option. An AO Option is an option to purchase, at fair 
        market value at the date of grant of the AO Option, a number of 
        shares of Common Stock equal to the sum of the number of whole shares 
        delivered by the option holder in payment of the exercise price of 
        the original option and the number of whole shares, if any, withheld 
        by the Company as payment for withholding taxes. An AO Option shall 
        expire on the same date that the original option would have expired 
        had it not been exercised. All AO Options shall be nonqualified 
        options. 

    H.  CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of a threatened or actual Change of 
        Control of the Company as hereinafter defined, whether or not 
        approved by the Board of Directors, all options shall fully vest, 
        unless otherwise limited by the Committee at the time of the option 
        grant, and be exercisable in their entirety immediately, and 
        notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, shall continue to 
        be exercisable for three years following the later of the threatened 
        or actual Change of Control, but not later than ten years after the 
        date of grant. A Change of Control means the earliest to occur of (i) 
        a public announcement that a party shall have acquired or obtained 
        the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the 
        outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, (ii) the 
        commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer 
        or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in the 
        beneficial ownership by a party of 30% or more of the outstanding 
        shares of Common Stock of the Company or (iii) the occurrence of a 
        tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of assets 
        or contested election or any combination thereof, that causes (or 
        would cause) the persons who were directors of the Company 
        immediately before such Change of Control to cease to constitute a 
        majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any parent of or 
        successor to the Company. 

    I.  REORGANIZATION. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, make 
        provisions in any option agreement for the protection of outstanding 
        options in the event of a merger, 

                                       5



        consolidation, reorganization or liquidation of the Company or the 
        acquisition of stock or assets of the Company by another entity. 

    J.  RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. An option holder shall have no rights as a 
        stockholder with respect to any Common Stock covered by an option 
        until exercise of such option and issuance of shares of Common Stock. 
        Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, no adjustments 
        shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date 
        is prior to issuance of the Common Stock. 

    K.  GENERAL RESTRICTION. Each option shall be subject to the requirement 
        that, if at any time the Board shall determine in its discretion that 
        the listing, registration or qualification of the Common Stock 
        subject to such option on any securities exchange or under any state 
        or federal law, or the consent or approval of any government 
        regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in 
        connection with, the granting of such option or the issue or purchase 
        of Common Stock thereunder, such option may not be exercised in whole 
        or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent 
        or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any 
        conditions not acceptable to the Board. 

    L.  FOREIGN NATIONALS. Without amending the Plan, awards may be granted 
        to individuals who are foreign nationals or are employed or otherwise 
        performing services for the Company or any subsidiary outside the 
        United States or both, on such terms and conditions different from 
        those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, 
        be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan. 

8.  INCENTIVE AND NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS. It is intended that certain options 
    granted under the Plan shall be Incentive Stock Options and shall meet 
    the applicable requirements of and contain or be deemed to contain all 
    provisions required under Section 422 of the Code or corresponding 
    provisions of subsequent revenue laws and regulations in effect at the 
    time such options are granted; that other options shall not meet such 
    requirements and shall be nonqualified stock options; and that any 
    ambiguities in construction shall be interpreted in order to effectuate 
    such intent. The Committee may grant one or more options of either type, 
    or of both types, to any one or more individuals either at different 
    times or concurrently. Such options shall be subject to the terms and 
    conditions set forth elsewhere in the Plan and to the following: 

    A.  INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The term of any Incentive Stock Option shall 
        meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Any Incentive Stock 
        Option shall be treated as "outstanding" until it is exercised in 
        full or expires by reason of lapse of time. To the extent that the 
        aggregate fair market value of Common Stock (determined at the time 
        of grant of the Incentive Stock Option in accordance with paragraph 
        7.C of the Plan) with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are 
        exercisable for the first time by an option holder during any 
        calendar year (under all such plans of the Company and its parent and 
        subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000 or such other limit as may 
        be imposed by the Code, such options to the extent they exceed such 
        limit shall be treated as options which are not Incentive Stock 
        Options. In applying the foregoing limitation, options shall be taken 
        into account in the order in which they were granted. 

                                     6



    B.  NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS. There is no limitation on the maximum amount of 
        nonqualified options which may be exercised in any year. 

9.  WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any 
    settlement made under the Plan, including the exercise of an option or 
    the sale of shares of Common Stock, any federal, state or local taxes of 
    any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments or 
    to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the 
    Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. If 
    Common Stock is withheld or surrendered to satisfy tax withholding, such 
    stock shall be valued at its fair market value as of the date such Common 
    Stock is withheld or surrendered. 

10. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN. The Plan may be amended, suspended or discontinued 
    in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by the Board, 
    including an amendment to increase the number of shares of Common Stock 
    with respect to which options may be granted, provided however that no 
    amendment shall be effective unless and until the same is approved by 
    stockholders of the Company where the failure to obtain such approval 
    would adversely affect the availability of any exemption under Rule 16b-3 
    under the Exchange Act or successor rule and with other applicable law, 
    including the Code. No amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect in a 
    material manner any right of any option holder with respect to any option 
    theretofore granted without such option holder's written consent. 

11. MISCELLANEOUS. 

    A.  USE OF PROCEEDS. The proceeds derived from the sale of shares of 
        Common Stock pursuant to options granted under the Plan shall 
        constitute general funds of the Company. 

    B.  PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY. As used herein, the terms "parent" and 
        "subsidiary" shall mean "parent corporation" and "subsidiary 
        corporation", respectively, as defined in Section 424 of the Code.

                                        7



                                       ADDENDUM
                              DATED AS OF JULY 31, 1997
                                          TO
                                   THE TORO COMPANY
                  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER INCENTIVE AWARD AGREEMENT

     ADDENDUM ("Addendum") dated as of July 31, 1997, by and between The Toro
Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Kendrick B. Melrose, its
Chief Executive Officer ("Mr. Melrose"), to The Toro Company Chief Executive
Officer Incentive Award Agreement dated as of July 31, 1995 (the "Agreement").

1.   The section of the Agreement identified as Section 2. Terms, Conditions and
     Restrictions is hereby renumbered to become Section 3, in order to 
     eliminate duplicate numbering, and each reference to Section 2 or to a 
     subsection of Section 2 throughout the Agreement shall be revised to be a 
     reference to Section 3, and each reference to Section 1 or to a subsection 
     of Section 1 throughout the Agreement shall be revised to be a reference to
     Section 2.

2.   Section 3.a.i.(A) of the Agreement, as renumbered, be and hereby is amended
     in connection with the schedule for achievement of each Performance Goal, 
     as follows:

     (a)  The deadline for achievement of Goal 2 shall be changed from July 31,
          1999, to October 31, 2000; and
     
     (b)  The deadline for achievement of Goal 3 shall be changed from July 31,
          2000, to October 31, 2003.

3.   A new Section 3.a.i.(D) shall be added to the Agreement, as follows:

     (D)  The terms of this Agreement are not intended to, and do not, impose 
          on Mr. Melrose a mandatory retirement date not otherwise applicable 
          to employees of the Company generally, and Mr. Melrose shall not be 
          obligated to retire as an officer of the Company in order to obtain 
          the benefits of this Agreement.

4.   Except as provided in this Addendum, all other terms and provisions of the
     Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Addendum to the Agreement has been executed and
delivered by the Company of the date first above set forth.

                              THE TORO COMPANY

                              By   /s/ J. Lawrence McIntyre
                                 ------------------------------------
                                   Vice President and Secretary




     I hereby agree to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, as amended by
this Addendum, which together memorialize the terms and conditions of the
Restricted Stock and Performance Unit Award grant made to me as of July 31,
1995, and approved by stockholders of the Company at the 1994 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and amended by the Compensation Committee and Board of Directors in
July, 1997.

                              By   /s/ Kendrick B. Melrose
                                 ------------------------------------
                                   Chairman, CEO and President




                  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SUCCESSION PLAN



1.   PURPOSE.  The purpose of this Chief Executive Officer Succession Plan (the
"Plan") is to assist The Toro Company (the "Company") in preparing for
succession in the management of the Company at the retirement of Kendrick B.
Melrose, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company ("Mr. Melrose"); to
encourage Mr. Melrose to assure the identification, development and readiness of
his successor prior to his retirement, subject to such successor's approval by
the Board of Directors; and to discourage Mr. Melrose from seeking employment
with, consulting for or serving on the board of directors of any competitor of
the Company.

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE.  The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on October
18, 1994, and became effective on July 31, 1995, following approval by the
holders of the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock") at the 1994 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

3.   ADMINISTRATION.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company ("the Committee"), which
shall be comprised of not fewer than two members of the Board of Directors of
the Company who shall meet the requirements for service pursuant to Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
Section 162(m) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder.  The Committee shall
have the authority to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend and rescind the
rules and regulations relating to it, and to make all other determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.  Such
determinations shall be conclusive.

4.   SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  Subject to the provisions of Section 5.a. and
Section 6.e.ii, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may
be awarded as Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be 23,960.  Such shares may
be in whole or in part authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares
of Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company.

5.   AWARD.  The Company shall have the authority to enter into an agreement
with Mr. Melrose, to become effective as of July 31, 1995, embodying the terms
and conditions of this Plan,  pursuant to which Mr. Melrose shall be granted an
award comprised of the components set forth in Sections 5.a. through 5.c.  Mr.
Melrose shall not have any rights with respect to the award authorized under
this Plan until and unless he shall have executed an agreement or other
instrument evidencing the award and containing the terms and conditions set
forth in this Plan and shall have delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the
Company, and otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions.

     a.   GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK.  The Company shall grant to Mr. Melrose on
July 31, 1995 the number of whole shares of Common Stock having an aggregate
fair market value 





of $500,000 on such date of grant (the "Restricted Stock"), subject to 
forfeiture or reduction of the number of shares in the event performance 
goals set forth in Section 6 (the "Performance Goals") are not achieved and 
to the other terms and conditions of the Plan; provided however that in the 
event the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of vesting of the 
Restricted Stock is less than the fair market value on July 31, 1995, the 
Company shall make an aggregate payment to Mr. Melrose of the difference 
between the fair market value on the date of vesting of the Restricted Stock 
and the fair market value on July 31, 1995.  Fair market value shall mean the 
closing price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as reported 
in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.  

     b.   GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS AND ANNUITY PURCHASE.  Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Plan, the Company shall grant to Mr. Melrose on July 31,
1995, performance units equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock
having an aggregate fair market value of $500,000 on such date of grant (the
"Performance Units"), subject to forfeiture or reduction in the event the
Performance Goals set forth in Section 6 are not achieved and to the other terms
and conditions of the Plan.  Each Performance Unit shall have a value equal to
the fair market value of one share of Common Stock, from time to time, provided
however that the value shall not be less than the fair market value of one share
of Common Stock on July 31, 1995.  Performance Units shall be evidenced by the
agreement to be entered into between Mr. Melrose and the Company pursuant to the
preamble to this Section 5.  An amount equal to the aggregate value of the
Performance Units remaining at the date of Mr. Melrose's retirement, after
forfeiture, if any, shall be utilized by the Company to purchase a retirement
annuity payable to Mr. Melrose until his 75th birthday, or to his estate or
beneficiaries, and for no other purpose, subject to the condition that Mr.
Melrose enter into and comply with the terms and conditions of a noncompetition
agreement, in accordance with Section 5.c. and 6.b.

     c.   POST-RETIREMENT CONSULTING AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT.  Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Company shall have the authority to
enter into a post-retirement consulting and non-competition agreement with Mr.
Melrose, providing for the payment of an aggregate amount of up to $500,000,
which amount shall be adjusted not less than once annually to reflect increases
in the consumer price index and which may be utilized to pay expenses of office
and support services for Mr. Melrose for a period of five years following the
date of his retirement.

6.   TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS.

     a.   RESTRICTED STOCK AND PERFORMANCE UNIT PERFORMANCE GOAL RESTRICTIONS. 
The obligation of the Company to deliver certificates representing the
Restricted Stock granted hereunder and to utilize the aggregate value of the
Performance Units to purchase a retirement annuity shall be subject to the
terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in this Section 6.a.


                                       2


          i.   Vesting of Restricted Stock and Performance Units.  Mr. Melrose's
right to receive the Restricted Stock and the value of the Performance Units
shall be subject to the vesting requirements set forth in this Section 6.a.i.
and to the achievement by Mr. Melrose of the Performance Goals set forth in
Section 6.a.i. hereof not later than the last day of the period specified to
achieve such performance (the "Restricted Period").  Upon achievement of a
Performance Goal within an applicable Restricted Period, the restrictions shall
lapse with respect to the specified portion of Restricted Stock, which specified
portion shall vest and become nonforfeitable.  Upon achievement of a Performance
Goal within an applicable Restricted Period, the restrictions shall lapse with
respect to the specified portion of Performance Units, which specified portion
shall vest and become nonforfeitable, subject to the further condition that Mr.
Melrose enter into and comply with the terms and conditions of a noncompetition
agreement in accordance with Section 6.b.  If Mr. Melrose does not enter into a
noncompetition agreement or does not comply with the terms and conditions of
such a noncompetition agreement, then Mr. Melrose shall forfeit his rights to
the Performance Units and the right to receive the benefits of the retirement
annuity referred to in Section 5.b.

               (A)  The following table sets forth the Performance Goals, the
schedule for achievement of each Performance Goal and the portion of Restricted
Stock and Performance Units in which rights vest upon such achievement.

Performance Goal             Restricted Period    Portion of        Portion of
to be Achieved               (July 31, 1995       Shares of Re-     Performance
                             through earlier of   stricted Stock    Units to 
                             date shown or        to Vest Upon      Vest Upon
                             Goal Achievement)    Achievement       Achievement

Goal 1:
CEO and senior management
succession plan developed
and progress toward 
fulfillment of the plan, 
both approved by Board of
Directors                       July 31, 1998         15%              15%

Goal 2:
Continued development of
senior management team and
identification of 
potential CEO successor 
identified with approval 
of Board of Directors        October 31, 2000         15%              15%


                                             3


Goal 3:
CEO identified and developed
by Mr. Melrose and elected as
CEO by the Board of Directors      October 31, 2003         70%       70%  


               (B)  Early Selection of Successor.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan, in the event that the Board of Directors elects as Mr.
Melrose's successor the individual identified and developed by Mr. Melrose, and
such successor is in place as chief executive officer of the Company and Mr.
Melrose elects to retire prior to the last day of the final Restricted Period,
but no earlier than July 31, 1997, all Restricted Stock and Performance Units
shall vest in full and become nonforfeitable, subject to the condition with
respect to the Performance Units that Mr. Melrose enter into and comply with the
terms and conditions of a noncompetition agreement in accordance with Section
6.b. 

               (C)  The Committee shall be responsible for certifying in writing
to the Company that the applicable Performance Goal has been met by Mr. Melrose
prior to release and delivery of certificates representing the shares of
Restricted Stock or payment of the value of Performance Units for the purchase
of a retirement annuity to Mr. Melrose. 

               The terms of this Plan are not intended to, and do not, impose on
Mr. Melrose a mandatory retirement date not otherwise applicable to employees of
the Company generally, and Mr. Melrose shall not be obligated to retire as an
officer of the Company in order to obtain the benefits of this Agreement.

          ii.  Limits on Transfer of Restricted Stock and Performance Units. 
Shares of the Restricted Stock which have not vested in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6.a. hereof may not be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned or otherwise encumbered.   Performance Units may not be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered at any time.

          iii. Termination, Death or Disability.  In the event that the Board of
Directors terminates Mr. Melrose's employment other than for cause and elects as
Mr. Melrose's successor a chief executive officer who was identified and
developed by Mr. Melrose, or in the event of the termination of Mr. Melrose's
employment due to his death or disability, then all shares of Restricted Stock
and Performance Units shall automatically and immediately vest in full and
become nonforfeitable.

     b.   POST-RETIREMENT CONSULTING AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT.  The
Company's agreement to pay any amount in connection with post-retirement
consulting services to be provided by Mr. Melrose and the Company's agreement to
pay the value of 


                                   4


Performance Units to purchase a retirement annuity payable to Mr. Melrose 
pursuant to Section 5.c. shall be subject to and in consideration of Mr. 
Melrose's execution, not later than July 31, 1995,  of an agreement not to 
compete with the Company by serving as an employee or member of the board of 
directors of or consultant to any competitor to the Company identified in an 
SEC Annual Report on Form 10-K or any successor thereof or similar competitor 
of the Company for a period of five years following the date of Mr. Melrose's 
retirement as Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  The Company's 
agreement to pay any amount in connection with post-retirement consulting 
services to be provided by Mr. Melrose shall be subject to his agreement to 
provide consulting services to the Company for a period of five years 
following the date of his retirement; provided however that Mr. Melrose may 
elect to terminate the consulting agreement, but not the agreement not to 
compete, in which event any balance of the $500,000 amount referred to in 
Section 5.c. not then expended for Mr. Melrose's benefit shall be paid to Mr. 
Melrose over the remainder of the five year period.  Mr. Melrose shall not 
have any right to receive payments pursuant to Section 5.c. or this Section 
6.b. until and unless he shall have executed an agreement not to compete with 
the Company and delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and 
otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions of the Plan. 

     c.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  Except as otherwise provided by Section
6.a. hereof, if Mr. Melrose resigns his employment with the Company or if his
employment is terminated by the Board of Directors for cause during any
Restricted Period, all shares of Restricted Stock and all Performance Units then
subject to restrictions and all other rights under this Plan shall be forfeited
by Mr. Melrose and the Restricted Stock shall be reacquired by the Company.  For
purposes of the Plan, "Cause" shall mean:
     
          i.   the willful and continued failure of Mr. Melrose to perform
substantially his duties with the Company or one of its affiliates (other than
any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness),
after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Mr. Melrose
by the Board of Directors of the Company which specifically identifies the
manner in which the Board of Directors believes that Mr. Melrose has not
substantially performed his duties, or

          ii.  the willful engaging by Mr. Melrose in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
     
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of Mr.
Melrose, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done,
by Mr. Melrose in bad faith or without reasonable belief that Mr. Melrose's
action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.  Any act, or
failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted
by the Board of Directors or upon the instructions of a senior officer of the
Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Mr. Melrose in good
faith and in the best interests of the 


                                         5


Company.  The cessation of employment of Mr. Melrose shall not be deemed to 
be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to Mr. Melrose 
a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than 
three quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the 
Board of Directors called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice 
is provided to Mr. Melrose and Mr. Melrose is given an opportunity, together 
with counsel, to be heard before the Board of Directors), finding that, in 
the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, Mr. Melrose is guilty of 
the conduct described in subparagraph i. or ii. above, and specifying the 
particulars thereof in detail.
     
     d.   STOCK CERTIFICATES.

          i.   ISSUANCE.  The Company shall issue a stock certificate or
certificates representing the shares of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan.
Such certificates shall be registered in Mr. Melrose's name and shall bear an
appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions
applicable to the grant, substantially in the following form:

          The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock
          represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
          forfeiture) of the Chief Executive Officer Succession Plan and an 
          agreement entered into between the registered owner and The Toro 
          Company.  Copies of the plan and agreement are on file in the offices 
          of The Toro Company, 8111 Lyndale Avenue South, Bloomington, Minnesota
          55420.

          ii.  ESCROW.  Certificates representing the Restricted Stock shall be
physically held by the Company or its nominee during any Restricted Period, and
the Company may require, as a condition of the grant, that Mr. Melrose shall
have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, with respect to any shares of
the Restricted Stock.  Upon the achievement of the Performance Goals with
respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, as certified to by the Committee, the
Company shall cause the certificate representing such shares of Restricted Stock
to be removed from escrow and delivered to the Company for reissuance and
delivery of Common Stock in the name of Mr. Melrose in accordance with
instructions from or agreed upon with Mr. Melrose.   If any shares of Restricted
Stock are to be forfeited, certificates representing such shares shall be
delivered to the Company for reissuance in the name of the Company or
cancellation and Mr. Melrose shall have no further interest in such stock.
     
          iii. LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS.  When the Performance Goals set forth in
Section 6.a. have been achieved with respect to any portion of the shares of the
Restricted Stock, the Company shall not later than 60 days thereafter, cause the
certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Stock to be reissued
without the legend referred to in Section 6.d.i. hereof.  The number of shares
of Common Stock to be reissued shall be the same number as to which the
Performance Goals have been achieved in accordance with Section 6.a.


                                     6


     e.   RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER.

          i.   RIGHT TO VOTE AND DIVIDENDS.  Except as provided in Section 5 and
this Section 6, Mr. Melrose shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted
Stock, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to
vote the shares and the right to receive cash dividends with respect to the
shares.  Certificates for shares of Restricted Stock shall be delivered to Mr.
Melrose after, and only after, the Restricted Period shall expire without
forfeiture of such shares of Restricted Stock, in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.a. 

          ii.  ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or other change in
corporate structure affecting the Common Stock, the Committee shall make such
substitution or adjustment in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under this Plan or in the number of shares outstanding as
Restricted Stock or in the number of Performance Units, as may be determined to
be appropriate by the Committee, acting in its sole discretion, provided that
the number of shares or Performance Units shall always be a whole number.

     f.   CHANGE IN CONTROL.  In the event of a threatened or actual Change of
Control of the Company as hereinafter defined, whether or not approved by the
Board of Directors, all shares of Restricted Stock shall immediately fully vest
and be freely transferable.  A Change of Control means the earliest to occur of
(i) a public announcement that a party shall have acquired or obtained the right
to acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company, (ii) the commencement or announcement of an
intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a party of 30% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or (iii) the occurrence of a
tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or contested
election or any combination thereof, that causes (or would cause) the persons
who were directors of the Company immediately before such Change of Control to
cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any
parent of or successor to the Company.

7.   WITHHOLDING TAXES.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from any
settlement made under the Plan any federal, state or local taxes of any kind,
including FICA and related taxes, required by law to be withheld with respect to
the vesting of rights or payment of remuneration or to take such other action as
may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for
the payment of such taxes.  If Common Stock is withheld or surrendered to
satisfy tax withholding, such stock shall be valued at its fair market value as
of the date such Common Stock is withheld or surrendered or the obligation to
pay such taxes becomes fixed.  


                                       7



8.   REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Mr. Melrose shall have the right to require that the
Company promptly take all necessary steps to register or qualify the Restricted
Stock, or Common Stock issued upon vesting of the Restricted Stock, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the securities laws of such states as
Mr. Melrose may reasonably request.  The Company shall keep effective and
maintain any registration, qualification, notification or approval for such
period as is reasonably necessary for Mr. Melrose to dispose of the Restricted
Stock or Common Stock and from time to time shall amend or supplement the
prospectus used in connection therewith to the extent necessary in order to
comply with applicable law.  The Company shall bear all fees, costs and expenses
of such registration, qualification, notification or approval.

9.   COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3 AND SECTION 162(m).  The grants of Restricted
Stock and Performance Units made under this Plan and the remuneration to be paid
to Mr. Melrose as a consequence of the grants are intended to comply with all
applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and to avoid the loss
of the deduction referred to in paragraph (1) of Section 162(m) of the Code. 
Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent any
provision of this Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply or to avoid
the loss of such deduction, it shall be deemed null and void to the extent
permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

10.  EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in this Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way
the right of the Company to terminate Mr. Melrose's employment at any time, with
the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or shall confer upon Mr. Melrose
any right to continue in the employ of the Company.

11.  NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board
nor the submission of the Plan to stockholders for approval shall be construed
to limit the power of the Board or the Committee to adopt such other incentive
arrangements as either may deem desirable, including without limitation, the
award of stock and cash awards otherwise than under the Plan, or to set
compensation and retirement benefits and make such awards to Mr. Melrose as
either may deem desirable.
 
12.  EXCLUSION FROM PENSION, PROFIT SHARING AND OTHER BENEFIT CALCULATIONS.  By
acceptance of an award under the Plan, Mr. Melrose shall be deemed to have
agreed that the award or vesting of Restricted Stock and Performance Units under
the award constitutes special incentive compensation that is not taken into
account as "salary" or "compensation" or "bonus" in determining the amount of
any payment under any pension, retirement or profit sharing plan of the Company
or any subsidiary.  In addition, Mr. Melrose shall be deemed to have agreed that
such award shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any life
insurance coverage, short or long-term disability coverage or any other 
pay-based benefit provided by the Company or any subsidiary.


                                     8



13.  AMENDMENT.  This Plan may be amended, modified or terminated from time to
time, provided however that no amendment may be adopted without the approval of
the stockholders of the Company if such amendment requires stockholder approval
pursuant to Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m).  No amendment, modification or
termination may be adopted without the written agreement of Mr. Melrose if such
amendment, modification or termination would adversely affect his rights. 
Subject to the foregoing and the requirements of Section 162(m), the Board may,
in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee and without further
action on the part of stockholders of the Company or the consent of Mr. Melrose,
amend the Plan to preserve the employer deduction under Section 162(m).
 
14.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Plan shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

15.  SUCCESSORS.  Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, this Plan shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns
and Mr. Melrose, his beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. 


     As amended, effective July 31, 1997.


                                      9


                                                                     Exhibit 11

                       THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
 Computation of Earnings per Share of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents
                 (Not Covered by Independent Auditors' Report)

YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED 3 MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED ------------------------------------------------------------- 10/31/97 10/31/96 10/31/95 7/31/95 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $34,845,000 $ 36,409,000 $ 3,997,000 $36,667,000 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Primary: Shares of common stock and common stock equivalents: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 12,095,475 12,140,689 12,117,815 12,556,039 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock options (1) 371,007 414,026 424,225 476,374 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 12,466,482 12,554,715 12,542,040 13,032,413 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalents $ 2.80 $ 2.90 $ 0.32 $ 2.81 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fully Diluted: Shares of common stock and common stock equivalents: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 12,095,475 12,140,689 12,117,815 12,556,039 Dilutive effect of outstanding stock options (2) 478,098 414,026 424,225 511,133 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 12,573,573 12,554,715 12,542,040 13,067,172 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalents $ 2.77 $ 2.90 $ 0.32 $ 2.81 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Outstanding stock options and options exercised in the current period are converted to common stock equivalents by the treasury stock method using the average market price of the company's stock during each period. (2) Outstanding stock options and options exercised in the current period are converted to common stock equivalents by the treasury stock method using the greater of the average market price or the year-end market price of the company's shares during each period. 24

                                                                     Exhibit 12

                          THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                    (Not Covered by Independent Auditors' Report)


3 MONTHS YEAR ENDED ENDED YEAR ENDED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/31/97 10/31/96 10/31/95 7/31/95 7/31/94 7/31/93 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes $60,344,000 $ 60,180,000 $6,606,0000 $61,112,000 $37,050,000 $21,355,000 Plus: Fixed charges (1) 23,186,000 16,728,000 3,266,000 14,892,000 15,989,000 19,142,000 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings available to cover fixed charges $83,530,000 $76,908,000 $9,872,000 $76,004,000 $53,039,000 $40,497,000 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 3.53 4.60 3.02 5.10 3.32 2.12 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest Expense $20,400,000 $13,590,000 $2,532,000 $11,902,000 $13,562,000 $17,150,000 Rentals (Interest factor) 3,286,000 3,138,000 734,000 2,990,000 2,427,000 1,992,000 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total fixed charges $23,686,000 $16,728,000 $3,266,000 $14,892,000 $15,989,000 $19,142,000 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Fixed charges consist of those above. In 1997, $500,000 of capitalized interest was excluded. 25


THE TORO COMPANY is one of the world's leading producers of integrated solutions
for outdoor landscapes. While Toro has many competitors, few if any can match
the company's comprehensive offerings focused exclusively on maintaining turf
and landscapes in a beautiful, productive and ecological way. Toro customers are
caretakers of the environment, whether they are golf course superintendents,
major league or youth league sportsfield groundskeepers, or homeowners. These
caretakers want and need integrated products and systems that create, maintain,
enhance, and conserve beautiful landscapes.

   For 83 years, Toro has built on a rich tradition of providing customers with
the tools and equipment necessary to protect and preserve outdoor environments.
Toro experts have walked the fairways with superintendents and backyards with
homeowners to listen to customers and build products that often become the
standard of innovation excellence.

   Toro's long-term strategies have focused on reducing the cyclical impacts of
weather and economic variations. Toro is more diversified by product, market,
and global focus than the Toro of 10 or 15 years ago. Today, professional turf
maintenance products make up the majority of Toro sales as the company has
capitalized on growth opportunities in these markets. Residential products are
still a dynamic part of Toro and several new products were added to the Toro
portfolio in 1997. Toro has high brand equity because of superior quality and
customer satisfaction.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Years ended October 31 1997 1996 % Change - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $1,051,204 $930,909 12.9% Net earnings, before extraordinary loss* 36,508 36,409 0.3 Percent of net sales 3.5% 3.9% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent, before extraordinary loss* $ 2.93 $ 2.90 1.0 Dividends paid per share of common stock outstanding 0.48 0.48 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return on: Beginning common stockholders' equity 16.3% 19.1% Average common stockholders' equity 15.3 18.0 Average invested capital 12.1 15.2 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT YEAR END Working capital $ 234,211 $197,144 18.8 Total assets 661,634 496,877 33.2 Total debt 219,015 94,390 132.0 Common stockholders' equity 241,163 213,567 12.9 Book value per common share 19.78 17.75 11.4 Number of common stockholders 6,560 6,841 (4.1) Average number of employees 3,911 3,509 11.5 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. *In 1997, the company recognized an extraordinary loss on the early retirement of debt of $1,663,000 or $0.13 per share. FISCAL 1997 / / PROFESSIONAL TURF 57% / / RESIDENTIAL 43% [CHART] FISCAL 1996 / / PROFESSIONAL TURF 50% / / RESIDENTIAL 50% [CHART] CONTENTS Letter to Shareholders 1 Business Overview 4 Operations Overview 8 Eleven-Year Selected Financial Data 14 Management's Discussion and Analysis 16 Financial Statements 24 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 27 Directors, Officers and Stockholders' Information 41 ON THE COVER [LOGO] Toro is the preferred supplier of equipment and irrigation systems for the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, including the recently opened Pinehurst No. 8 (cover) and the legendary Pinehurst No. 2, site of the 1999 U.S. Men's Open Championship. ELEVEN-YEAR SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The Toro Company
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Years ended October 31(6) 1997(2) 1996 1995 1994 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPERATING DATA: Net sales $1,051,200 $930,900 $919,400 $864,300 EARNINGS: Net earnings (loss), before extraordinary loss(1) 36,500 36,400 32,400 32,400 Percent of sales 3.5% 3.9% 3.5% 3.8% Per share of common stock and common stock equivalent, before extraordinary loss(1) $ 2.93 $ 2.90 $ 2.50 $ 2.49 DIVIDENDS: On common stock outstanding 5,794 5,834 5,953 6,022 Per share of common stock outstanding 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 RETURN ON: Beginning common stockholders' equity 16.3% 19.1% 18.1% 22.9% Average common stockholders' equity 15.3% 18.0% 17.5% 20.2% SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION: Current assets $ 472,000 $405,000 $386,300 $373,400 Current liabilities 237,800 207,900 221,200 197,200 Working capital 234,200 197,100 165,100 176,200 Non-current assets 189,600 91,900 86,400 78,200 Total assets 661,600 496,900 472,700 451,600 Non-current liabilities, excluding long-term debt 5,000 22,400 7,200 5,300 CAPITALIZATION: Long-term debt, less current portion 177,700 53,000 53,400 70,400 Redeemable preferred stock - - - - Common stockholders' equity 241,200 213,600 190,900 178,700 Total capitalization 418,900 266,600 244,300 249,100 Book value per common share 19.78 17.75 15.69 14.05 STOCK DATA: Number of shares of common stock outstanding (in thousands) 12,189 12,032 12,168 12,720 Number of common stockholders(7) 6,560 6,841 7,243 7,541 Low price $ 31 1/2 $ 28 3/8 $ 25 5/8 $ 20 7/8 High price 43 3/4 36 1/4 32 1/4 30 1/2 Close price 42 3/4 31 3/8 28 7/8 27 3/4 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) 1997 net earnings and earnings per share after the extraordinary loss on early retirement of debt of $1,663,000, or $0.13 per share, were $34,845,000 and $2.80, respectively. (2) The company's consolidated financial statements include results of operations of the James Hardie Irrigation Group from December 1, 1996, the date of acquisition. (3) Includes restructuring costs of $24.9 million, or $1.41 per share. (4) The company's consolidated financial statements include results of operations of Lawn-Boy Inc. from November 7, 1989, the date of acquisition. (5) The company's consolidated financial statements include results of operations of Wheel Horse Products, Inc. from December 19, 1986, the date of acquisition. (6) The actual date of the year-end for years prior to 1995 was the Friday closest to October 31. (7) Represents the number of stockholders at July 31 for the years starting in 1987 and ending in 1994. - ---------------------------------------- NET EARNINGS (1) - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 32.4 32.4 36.4 36.5 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- The Toro Company 14
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Years ended October 31(6) 1993 1992(3) 1991 1990(4) 1989 1988 1987(5) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPERATING DATA: Net sales $706,600 $638,700 $706,200 $747,300 $639,200 $626,200 $551,600 EARNINGS: Net earnings (loss), before extraordinary loss(1) 15,300 (21,700) 9,100 8,400 20,000 20,500 17,900 Percent of sales 2.2% (3.4)% 1.3% 1.1% 3.1% 3.3% 3.2% Per share of common stock and common stock equivalent, before extraordinary loss(1) $ 1.22 $(1.81) $ 0.77 $ 0.84 $ 1.90 $ 1.90 $ 1.60 DIVIDENDS: On common stock outstanding 5,858 5,765 5,710 6,074 4,774 4,613 3,730 Per share of common stock outstanding 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.45 0.37 RETURN ON: Beginning common stockholders' equity 12.1% (14.2)% 6.2% 8.5% 23.5% 28.4% 28.8% Average common stockholders' equity 11.4% (15.5)% 6.1% 6.8% 21.7% 26.1% 26.7% SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION: Current assets $326,100 $324,200 $322,000 $306,800 $271,200 $296,400 $262,600 Current liabilities 169,200 132,500 103,800 133,000 125,000 144,200 121,800 Working capital 156,900 191,700 218,200 173,800 146,200 152,200 140,800 Non-current assets 73,700 85,100 93,400 103,900 57,100 55,800 52,800 Total assets 399,800 409,300 415,400 410,700 328,300 352,200 315,400 Non-current liabilities, excluding long-term debt 1,400 2,500 4,100 6,100 2,400 1,700 1,100 CAPITALIZATION: Long-term debt, less current portion 87,300 147,900 154,100 125,300 95,600 112,200 109,800 Redeemable preferred stock - - - - 6,000 9,000 10,500 Common stockholders' equity 141,900 126,400 153,400 146,300 99,300 85,100 72,200 Total capitalization 229,200 274,300 307,500 271,600 200,900 206,300 192,500 Book value per common share 11.47 10.5 12.84 12.34 9.98 8.46 7.12 STOCK DATA: Number of shares of common stock outstanding (in thousands) 12,370 12,041 11,950 11,859 9,946 10,059 10,144 Number of common stockholders(7) 7,968 8,386 8,503 7,706 7,527 6,802 5,587 Low price $ 14 1/8 $ 11 3/8 $ 11 $ 12 $ 17 7/8 $ 11 1/8 $ 13 1/2 High price 26 3/4 17 1/2 20 1/2 30 24 3/8 24 7/8 23 3/4 Close price 25 3/8 14 1/8 14 3/4 12 3/4 21 5/8 18 3/8 15 1/8 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- OPERATING EARNINGS - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 59.0 58.1 63.4 72.3 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- TOTAL DEBT TO CAPITAL - ---------------------------------------- (In percentages) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 33.8 36.6 30.7 47.6 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- CASH FLOW COVERAGE - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 1.1 1.3 1.0 2.0 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 30.6 20.0 32.4 83.9 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 1997 Annual Report 15 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The Toro Company INCLUDED IN THIS ANALYSIS ARE STATEMENTS WHICH ARE FORWARD-LOOKING. STATEMENTS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING AND INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS A PREDICTION OF ACTUAL FUTURE RESULTS. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH STATEMENT IS MADE, OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. In November 1995, the company changed its fiscal year from a fiscal year ended July 31 to a fiscal year ended October 31. The following comparisons are based on the company's new fiscal year-end. The financial information relating to results of operations for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995 has been restated from the previous July 31 year-end and is unaudited. All other financial information has been derived from the audited financial statements. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS In 1997, the company achieved its fifth consecutive year of earnings per share growth prior to the impact of an extraordinary loss on the early retirement of debt as discussed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. This growth was sustained despite a one-time charge which included the closing of one manufacturing facility. The refinancing of the company's debt and restructuring of its manufacturing facilities are expected to have a positive impact on future company performance. In 1997, as in the year before, the company continued to feel the impact of weather patterns worldwide. In addition, priorities continued to change for both dealers and consumers as they became more and more price and value conscious, not only in the consumer and residential markets, but also in the professional
SUMMARY - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended October 31 --------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions, except per share data) 1997 % Change 1996 % Change 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $1,051.2 12.9% $930.9 1.2% $919.4 Cost of sales 663.2 12.6 589.2 - 589.2 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 388.0 13.6 341.7 3.5 330.2 Selling, general and administrative expense 315.7 13.4 278.3 2.3 272.1 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings from operations 72.3 14.0 63.4 9.2 58.1 Interest expense 19.9 46.4 13.5 13.7 11.9 Other income, net (7.9) (23.6) (10.3) 33.4 (7.7) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes, and extraordinary loss 60.3 0.3 60.2 11.7 53.9 Provision for income taxes 23.8 0.3 23.8 10.5 21.5 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings before extraordinary loss 36.5 0.3 36.4 12.5 32.4 Extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit of $1.1 1.7 - - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $ 34.8 (4.3)% $ 36.4 12.5% $ 32.4 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent before extraordinary loss $ 2.93 1.0% $ 2.90 16.0% $ 2.50 Extraordinary loss per share, net of income tax benefit 0.13 - - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent $ 2.80 (3.4)% $ 2.90 16.0% $ 2.50 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET SALES BY PRODUCT LINE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) 1997 % Change 1996 % Change 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumer $ 421.9 (8.5)% $461.0 (1.3)% $467.2 Commercial 344.6 7.0 322.0 3.6 310.8 Irrigation 284.7 92.5 147.9 4.6 141.4 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total* $1,051.2 12.9% $930.9 1.2% $919.4 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Includes international sales of $ 232.8 33.6% $174.2 16.5% $149.6 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Toro Company 16 markets. The company faced increasing competitive pressures, both domestically and internationally. While the international market remains a potentially high growth market and the company continues to enjoy high market share, increasingly difficult economic conditions made this a very volatile market in 1997. Although the James Hardie Irrigation Group (Hardie) acquisition had a substantial impact on 1997 net sales, the acquisition was still both a resource and dollar drain. In response to these challenges, the company continued to evaluate its business units and reinvest in opportunities and initiatives that will help sustain competitiveness and maintain a leadership position in 1998 and beyond. In order to hold and/or obtain additional market share in all its businesses, the company began implementing supply chain management strategies which will reduce costs in both the manufacturing and distribution systems. In addition, funds will be earmarked to develop new and innovative products for its markets. The company also made key investments for the future that helped differentiate it by broadening its offering of products. This included the acquisition of Hardie and the manufacturing, sales and distribution rights to Dingo-TM- Digging Systems (Dingo) under which the company will manufacture and sell Dingo landscape products under the Toro Sitework-TM- Systems brand name for North and South American markets. Alliances were formed with Maruyama Manufacturing and Bluebird International. The company is implementing marketing strategies for fiscal 1998 including the lowering of prices for the consumer walk-behind power mowers to reverse share erosion. Finally, the company has established an international currency fund to protect market share and has continued to develop long-term relationships with key accounts. NET SALES Fiscal 1997 Compared With Fiscal 1996 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Effective December 1, 1996 the company acquired Hardie from James Hardie Industries Limited of Australia (JHI Limited). Hardie is a worldwide leader in the production of irrigation systems for the residential and commercial landscape markets, and agricultural irrigation market. Comparisons of fiscal 1997 to fiscal 1996 are significantly impacted by the acquisition. Worldwide net sales increased 12.9% to $1.1 billion in 1997 versus $930.9 million in 1996. The following is a discussion of the sales by product group: - - CONSUMER Worldwide consumer product sales declined by 8.5% to $421.9 million in 1997. Although retail demand for Toro and Lawn-Boy walk-behind power mowers increased slightly over last year, sales to dealers and distributors declined as their levels of field inventories were managed down and they shifted their buying patterns to more closely reflect retail demand. Sales to hardware, home centers and mass merchant retailers were very strong, partially offsetting the reduction in dealer and distributor sales. This reflects a shift in consumer buying patterns from brand specific purchases from dealer outlets to price and value conscious purchases from hardware, home centers and mass merchant retailers, a trend throughout the industry. Consumer international sales increased 14.9% due primarily to product penetration in newer markets such as Eastern Europe. Although the consumer business did not grow in 1997, the company has taken aggressive steps to reposition the business for 1998, and these steps, combined with several new products coming on line in 1998, brighten the outlook of residential products for 1998 and beyond. - - COMMERCIAL Worldwide commercial product sales increased by 7.0% to $344.6 million. The increase in sales reflected growth in the golf market as well as the landscape maintenance sector. This was partially offset by reduced sales for recycling equipment and commercial parts. Although competitors in the commercial market are aggressively pursuing market share, the company believes it is maintaining its leadership position. International sales included in the worldwide commercial totals were up 2.2%. The strong U.S. dollar dampened growth in foreign golf projects, especially - ---------------------------------------- CONSUMER SALES - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 476.2 467.2 461.0 421.9 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- COMMERCIAL SALES - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 262.3 310.8 322.0 344.6 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- IRRIGATION SALES - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 125.8 141.4 147.9 284.7 - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL SALES* - ---------------------------------------- (Dollars in millions) - ---------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------- 94 95 96 97 - ---------------------------------------- 140.7 149.6 174.2 232.8 - ---------------------------------------- *(Included in charts at left) 1997 Annual Report 17 in emerging markets. The company is currently developing strategies to protect against loss of sales due to fluctuations in foreign currencies. - - IRRIGATION Worldwide irrigation product sales totaled $284.7 million, an increase of 92.5% over the prior year. This increase was almost entirely attributable to the acquisition of Hardie. Irrigation sales discussed here include sales to both the residential and professional markets. Golf irrigation and do-it-yourself retail irrigation product sales also did well for the year. The strength in these two areas was partially offset by a sluggish residential and commercial irrigation season. International irrigation sales were up 167.4% from the prior year, mainly due to the acquisition of Hardie. International sales without Hardie were flat due principally to the weakening of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar. Many new golf projects were postponed or cancelled as a result of weakened foreign economies. The company is currently developing strategies to guard against loss of sales due to fluctuations in foreign currencies. - - INTERNATIONAL MARKETS Total international product sales, included in the preceding net sales table, increased by 33.6% over the previous year to $232.8 million. This was primarily the result of additional sales added by the Hardie acquisition. The remaining increase occurred as a result of the growth of newer target markets in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Competitive pressures and the strong U.S. dollar slowed growth in international markets. International sales are principally denominated in U.S. dollars, although a portion of the company's international sales are denominated in foreign currencies. To reduce the uncertainty of foreign currency exchange rate movements on these sales commitments, the company enters into foreign currency exchange contracts and, although the risks of foreign currency transactions are getting larger, the company is proactively addressing these fluctuations in currency and their impact on the financial statements. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 In fiscal 1996, net earnings increased by $4.0 million to $36.4 million from $32.4 million in the prior fiscal year. Worldwide net sales increased by $11.5 million to $930.9 million in 1996 versus $919.4 million in 1995. The following is a discussion of the sales by product group for fiscal 1996 as compared to fiscal 1995: - - CONSUMER Worldwide consumer product sales in 1996 fell by 1.3% to $461.0 million from $467.2 million in 1995. The decrease was primarily the result of a slow start to the lawn and garden season due to cold, wet weather throughout most of the United States during the spring season. This decline was offset partially by increased snowthrower shipments. Snowthrower demand, especially in the northeast, was high in anticipation of strong retail activity and abnormally low field inventory levels. For the year, snowthrower sales were up 31.0%, primarily the result of sales volume increases. International sales included in the worldwide consumer totals increased by 8.4% from the prior year. Walk behind mower sales were lower, but this decline was offset by strong riding product sales. - - COMMERCIAL Worldwide commercial product sales increased $11.2 million or 3.6% over the prior year to $322.0 million. International sales were up 22.1% due primarily to a strong golf market in Europe and Asia. The late spring had an adverse effect on sales to the domestic golf course market. Many golf courses were forced to cut their equipment budgets due to loss of income from fewer rounds played during the inclement spring weather. In addition, the market saw increased competitive actions among the major equipment manufacturers. - - IRRIGATION Worldwide irrigation sales totaled $147.9 million representing an increase of $6.5 million or 4.6% over the prior year. International irrigation sales were strong, up 15.5% from the prior year, fueled by strong golf market sales. This was partially offset by lower sales to the residential/commercial markets which were impacted by the cold, wet spring. - - INTERNATIONAL MARKETS Total international sales, included in the preceding net sales table, increased by 16.5% over the previous year to $174.2 million. This was primarily the result of increased sales volumes in the European and Asian golf markets. COST TRENDS AND PROFIT MARGINS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended October 31 ------------------------- Margins (Percent of net sales) 1997 1996 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 36.9% 36.7% 35.9% Operating profit 6.9% 6.8% 6.3% Pretax earnings, before extraordinary loss 5.7% 6.5% 5.9% Net earnings, before extraordinary loss 3.5% 3.9% 3.5% - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Toro Company 18 FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 The gross profit of $388.0 million represents a 13.6% increase over the gross profit of $341.7 million in 1996. As a percent of net sales, gross profit rose to 36.9% from 36.7% in the prior year. The increase was due primarily to improved production efficiencies, partially offset by the addition of Hardie products which carry somewhat lower gross margins. The company is focusing on cost containment and supply chain management strategies to partially offset the lower margin contribution of Hardie and the effects of competitive pressures. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 The gross profit of $341.7 million represented an $11.5 million or 3.5% increase over the gross profit of $330.2 million in 1995. As a percent of net sales, gross profit rose to 36.7% from 35.9% in the prior year. The percentage margin improvement resulted primarily from reduced production costs, notably materials and product mix. This improvement was partially offset by costs resulting from lowered production levels in selected plants to match market needs. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE (SG&A) FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 For 1997, SG&A expenses totaled $315.7 million or 30.0% of net sales, a slight percentage increase over 1996. Of this increase of $37.4 million, Hardie accounted for $34.8 million. Increases in sales and marketing, warranty, and research and development expenses were completely offset by lower administrative expense, after the impact of Hardie, due to cost containment efforts initiated during the second half of the year. The remaining increase in SG&A expenses over the prior year occurred as the company incurred a one-time charge of $2.6 million related to the closing of the manufacturing facility at Mound, Minnesota and relocation of those operations to other company facilities throughout the U.S. This move is part of a long-term corporate strategy to reduce costs and provide opportunities for longer term capacity increases. SG&A expense includes distributor/dealer financing costs totaling $10.2 million in 1997 and $10.3 million in 1996 incurred by the company to contract with a third party financing source to finance dealer inventory purchases. This charge represents interest for a pre-established length of time at a rate of prime plus a negotiated markup. This cost includes related expenses such as credit line origination costs. These financing arrangements are used by the company as a marketing tool to enable customers to buy inventory. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 For 1996, SG&A expenses totaled $278.3 million or 29.9% of net sales compared to $272.1 million or 29.6% of net sales in 1995. The increase in administrative expense of $4.8 million was comprised primarily of additional operating expenses associated with new businesses acquired in 1996. This was partially offset by a decline in sales and marketing expense of $1.5 million due to reduced direct expenses from the decrease in consumer lawn and garden sales combined with savings from added expense controls. In addition, warranty expense declined $3.4 million from the prior year as a result of lower warranty reserve requirements due to continuing product quality improvements and experience factors. Research and development expenditures increased by $3.9 million reflecting the company's commitment to invest in product innovation and development. INTEREST EXPENSE FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 Interest expense in 1997 increased by $6.3 million to $19.9 million due to higher overall debt levels during the year. The Hardie acquisition debt accounted for approximately $7.1 million of the interest expense. This was offset by reductions in previously outstanding debt and related interest expense as cash generated by operations was used to pay off debt. In addition, the company redeemed higher rate debt by replacing the 11% debentures with lower rate debt during the year. 1997 Annual Report 19 FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 Interest expense in 1996 increased by $1.6 million to $13.5 million. Although the average cost of funds declined from the prior year, the benefit was diminished by higher overall debt levels resulting from higher levels of average working capital. In addition to working capital needs, the company purchased $13.3 million of its own common stock during the year which was funded with short-term borrowings. This cash outflow was offset partially by $12.1 million received as a result of an interest rate swap entered into during 1996. OTHER INCOME, NET FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 Other income, net, totaled $7.9 million in 1997 versus $10.3 million for 1996. The reduction is primarily attributable to favorable results from a patent infringement lawsuit settlement in the prior year. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 Other income, net, totaled $10.3 million in 1996 versus $7.7 million for 1995. The increase was primarily the result of favorable patent infringement litigation settlements. PROVISION FOR TAXES FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 The effective tax rate for 1997 and 1996 was 39.5%. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, the company has determined that it is not necessary to establish a valuation reserve for the deferred income tax asset because it is more likely than not that the net deferred income tax asset of $43.5 million will be principally realized through carryback to taxable income in prior years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and, to a lesser extent, future taxable income. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 The effective tax rate of 39.5% for 1996 was consistent with the 39.9% rate in 1995. NET EARNINGS FISCAL 1997 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1996 Net earnings for 1997 were $34.8 million after the effect of an extraordinary loss of $1.7 million, on the early retirement of debt. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Net earnings before the extraordinary loss were $36.5 million, a slight increase from the 1996 net earnings of $36.4 million. Earnings per share before the effect of the extraordinary loss in 1997 were $2.93 up slightly from earnings per share in 1996. On a per share basis, earnings decreased from $2.90 in 1996 to $2.80 after the effect of the extraordinary loss of $0.13 in 1997. Although Hardie contributed most of the sales increase, in the first year of the acquisition, Hardie resulted in a loss of $.08 per share, a significant improvement from the original estimate. It is expected that Hardie will contribute positive earnings in the future. Beginning in 1998, Hardie operations will be completely integrated into the company's irrigation business. FISCAL 1996 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1995 Net earnings for 1996 were $36.4 million, representing a 12.5% increase over 1995 earnings of $32.4 million. The increase was primarily the result of improved operating margins. On a per share basis, earnings increased 16% to $2.90 from $2.50 in 1995. FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS Total assets at October 31, 1997 increased by 33.2% to $661.6 million compared to $496.9 million for the prior year. Hardie accounted for $103.1 million of this increase. Property, plant and equipment, net of Hardie, increased $23.8 million as a result of corporate facility expenditures and tooling for new products. Other assets, net of Hardie, increased $21.2 million as a result of costs related to a debt issuance and interest rate swap terminations, capitalization of patents and purchase of property for future corporate expansion. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. WORKING CAPITAL Working capital at October 31, 1997 was $234.2 million, an 18.8% increase from $197.1 million reported for 1996. The current ratio for 1997 was 1.98 versus 1.95 in 1996. Working capital as a percent of sales was 22.3% in 1997 and 21.2% in 1996. The increase in working capital was due primarily to the additional working capital requirements due to the growth of the business. The Toro Company 20 CAPITAL STRUCTURE The company's capital structure is managed on a consolidated basis. Long-term debt at October 31, 1997 was $178.0 million, up $124.7 million from $53.4 million at October 31, 1996. Total debt at October 31, 1997 was $219.0 million, up $124.6 million from $94.4 million at October 31, 1996. The total debt to total capital ratio increased from 30.7% in 1996 to 47.6% in 1997 as additional debt was issued in connection with the acquisition of Hardie. Total capitalization at October 31, 1997 consisted of $178.0 million of long-term debt, $41.0 million of short-term borrowing and $241.2 million of stockholders' equity. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES In 1997, the company improved its liquidity position by increasing its current ratio after the acquisition of Hardie. The short-term financing used to initially fund the acquisition of Hardie was replaced during the year with long-term notes and debentures. In addition, the company completed the restructuring of its higher rate debt by redeeming $50.0 million of 11% debentures on August 1, 1997. Management believes that the combination of funds available to the company through its existing financing options, coupled with forecasted cash flows, will continue to provide the capital resources for its anticipated needs. - - CASH FLOW Cash and cash equivalents declined slightly from 1996 to 1997. Cash provided by operating activities increased by $51.4 million due principally to Hardie and an improvement in working capital from the prior year. Cash used in investing activities increased significantly in 1997 from 1996 due almost entirely to the acquisition of Hardie. In addition, property, plant and equipment expenditures were up as a result of corporate facility expenditures and new product tooling. Cash flows from financing activities increased primarily due to a net increase in long-term debt of $124.7 million predominantly used to finance the Hardie acquisition. The termination of interest rate swap agreements in connection with the debt issue and the purchase of common stock reduced cash flows from financing activities. - - CREDIT LINES AND OTHER CAPITAL RESOURCES The company's seasonal working capital requirements are funded with $190.0 million of unsecured bank credit lines. Average borrowings under these lines were $149.6 million in 1997 and $95.2 million in 1996. The increase in the average borrowings was mainly the result of the Hardie acquisition which was initially funded with temporary bank debt of $118.0 million. In addition, borrowings were up as a result of increases in seasonal working capital. At October 31, 1997 the company had $149.0 million of unutilized availability under these credit lines. The $150.0 million unsecured credit line used to initially finance the acquisition of Hardie terminated upon the issuance of long-term debt in June 1997. The company's business is seasonal, with accounts receivable balances historically increasing between January and March as a result of extended payment terms made available to the company's customers, and decreasing between April and June when payments become due. The company's peak borrowing usually occurs between February and May. The seasonal working capital requirements are financed primarily with the short-term financing arrangements described above. - - ACQUISITION FINANCING In November 1997, the company completed the acquisition of Exmark Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Exmark). The initial purchase price of approximately $31.0 million has been financed through the issuance of 598,051 shares of the company's common stock and approximately $5.5 million in cash. In addition, under the terms of the purchase agreement, the company will be required to make contingent payments to Exmark shareholders if Exmark's post-acquisition earnings and sales growth from November 1, 1997 through October 31, 1999 exceed minimum levels established in the purchase agreement. The maximum amount of these contingent payments is $28.0 million. Contingent payments will be paid with a combination of cash and the company's common stock. See Acquisitions and Strategic Alliances included in this MD&A. 1997 Annual Report 21 INFLATION The company is subject to the effects of changing prices. The company has been able to deal successfully with inflationary pressures through a combination of internal cost reduction efforts and selected increases in selling prices of products. ACQUISITIONS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES In December 1996, the company acquired Hardie from JHI Limited for $118.0 million. The purchase price is subject to adjustment based upon final audit results and the resolution of certain matters concerning the purchase price submitted by the company to JHI Limited. See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In November 1997, the company acquired Exmark, a leading manufacturer of equipment for the professional landscape contractor industry. Exmark is headquartered in Beatrice, Nebraska and produces mid-sized walk-behind power mowers and zero-turning radius riding mowers for professional contractors. Exmark employs approximately 280 people in a 164,000 square-foot facility. Exmark had $53.4 million in net sales for its fiscal year ended August 31, 1997. In addition, in September 1997, the company announced that it had acquired the manufacturing, sales and distribution rights to Dingo under which the company will manufacture and sell Dingo landscape products under the Toro Sitework-TM- Systems brand name for North and South American markets. Dingo began distributing their products in North America in 1995 under an agreement with Dingo Mini Diggers of Australia. These products will be manufactured at the company's manufacturing facility in Tomah, Wisconsin. The company also completed several other alliances in key business areas. Product alliances with Maruyama Manufacturing, Bluebird International and Parker Sweeper Company are contributing to development of the company's landscape contractor business. The company has also formed alliances with Pinehurst Resort, home of the 1999 U.S. Men's Open, and Whitbread-Marriott, a European chain of golfing resorts. YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE The company is in the process of implementing a year 2000 compliant enterprise-wide information system. This process was initiated in 1995 and is currently operational in many locations within the company. This implementation will be largely completed during 1998. The company has also initiated an assessment project which addresses those other significant systems that may have year 2000 compliance issues. The company presently believes that with the implementation of the new system and modifications to existing software, year 2000 compliance will not pose a significant operational issue for the company. However, if these modifications and conversion are not completed on a timely basis, including implementation by its business partners, year 2000 compliance may have a material impact on the operations of the company. SUMMARY The company experienced a 12.9% increase in net sales, almost entirely attributable to the acquisition of Hardie. Earnings before the extraordinary loss increased 0.3% over the prior year. Hardie, in its first year of integration, had a negative impact on earnings as did costs associated with the closing of a Toro manufacturing facility. These items, plus the addition of Exmark, Dingo and other alliances, are expected to have a favorable impact on earnings in future periods. The company has maintained a strong balance sheet and improved liquidity by refinancing short-term debt used to acquire Hardie with long-term debt, and replacing higher interest rate debt with debt at more favorable interest rates. The Toro Company 22
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The Toro Company - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 Months Year Ended Ended Year Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands, OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 July 31 July 31 except per share data) 1997* 1996 1995 1995 1994 1993 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OPERATING DATA: Net sales $1,051,204 $930,909 $192,278 $932,853 $794,341 $684,324 EARNINGS: Net earnings, before extraordinary loss** 36,508 36,409 3,997 36,667 22,230 13,040 Percent of sales 3.5% 3.9% 2.1% 3.9% 2.8% 1.9% Per share of common stock and common stock equivalent, before extraordinary loss** $ 2.93 $ 2.90 $ 0.32 $ 2.81 $ 1.71 $ 1.05 DIVIDENDS: On common stock outstanding 5,794 5,834 1,459 6,002 5,993 5,824 Per share of common stock outstanding 0.48 0.48 0.12 0.48 0.48 0.48 RETURN ON: Beginning common stockholders' equity 16.3% 19.1% 2.2% 21.7% 15.4% 9.8% Average common stockholders' equity 15.3% 18.0% 2.1% 20.7% 14.2% 9.4% SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION: Current assets $472,044 $405,001 $386,259 $381,610 $364,495 $344,130 Current liabilities 237,833 207,857 221,173 212,659 188,712 150,260 Working capital 234,211 197,144 165,086 168,951 175,783 193,870 Non-current assets 189,590 91,876 86,394 86,705 79,144 75,073 Total assets 661,634 496,877 472,653 468,315 443,639 419,203 Non-current liabilities, excluding long-term debt 4,988 22,438 7,223 5,250 5,250 1,372 CAPITALIZATION: Long-term debt, less current portion 177,650 53,015 53,365 64,935 81,025 122,970 Common stockholders' equity 241,163 213,567 190,892 185,471 168,652 144,601 Total capitalization 418,813 266,582 244,257 250,406 249,677 267,571 Book value per common share 19.78 17.75 15.69 15.40 13.43 11.78 STOCK DATA: Number of shares of common stock outstanding (in thousands) 12,189 12,032 12,168 12,040 12,561 12,270 Number of common stockholders 6,560 6,841 7,243 7,347 7,541 7,968 Low price $ 31 1/2 $ 28 3/8 $ 28 1/8 $ 21 5/8 $ 19 3/4 $ 11 3/8 High price 43 3/4 36 1/4 32 1/4 30 3/8 30 1/2 21 7/8 Close price 42 3/4 31 3/8 28 7/8 28 5/8 22 5/8 19 3/4 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The company's consolidated financial statements include results of operations of the James Hardie Irrigation Group from December 1, 1996, the date of acquisition. ** 1997 net earnings and earnings per share after the extraordinary loss on early retirement of debt of $1,663,000, or $0.13 per share, were $34,845,000 and $2.80, respectively. 1997 Annual Report 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Stockholders and Board of Directors The Toro Company: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Toro Company and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the three month period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on 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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Toro Company and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the three month period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota December 12, 1997
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS The Toro Company - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended -------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 1997 1996 1995 1995 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $1,051,204 $930,909 $192,278 $932,853 Cost of sales 663,167 589,186 120,575 598,275 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 388,037 341,723 71,703 334,578 Selling, general and administrative expense 315,690 278,284 65,048 269,757 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings from operations 72,347 63,439 6,655 64,821 Interest expense 19,900 13,590 2,532 11,902 Other income, net (7,897) (10,331) (2,483) (8,193) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary loss 60,344 60,180 6,606 61,112 Provision for income taxes 23,836 23,771 2,609 24,445 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings before extraordinary loss 36,508 36,409 3,997 36,667 Extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit of $1,087 1,663 - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $ 34,845 $ 36,409 $ 3,997 $ 36,667 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent before extraordinary loss $ 2.93 $ 2.90 $ 0.32 $ 2.81 Extraordinary loss per share, net of income tax benefit 0.13 - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent $ 2.80 $ 2.90 $ 0.32 $ 2.81 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Toro Company 24 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS The Toro Company - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) October 31 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 8 $ 66 Receivables: Customers 255,318 244,434 Other 13,648 5,208 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal 268,966 249,642 Less allowance for doubtful accounts 9,832 10,005 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total receivables 259,134 239,637 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inventories 160,122 130,288 Prepaid expenses 10,454 5,133 Deferred income taxes 42,326 29,877 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current assets 472,044 405,001 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Property, plant and equipment: Land and land improvements 9,334 6,816 Buildings and leasehold improvements 67,627 46,107 Equipment 220,880 176,157 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal 297,841 229,080 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 180,989 155,270 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total property, plant and equipment 116,852 73,810 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred income taxes 1,182 1,600 Other assets 71,556 16,466 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets $661,634 $496,877 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES AND COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 365 $ 350 Short-term borrowing 41,000 41,025 Accounts payable 58,397 43,524 Accrued warranty 40,792 34,722 Accrued marketing programs 22,691 22,600 Other accrued liabilities 74,588 65,636 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current liabilities 237,833 207,857 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term debt, less current portion 177,650 53,015 Other long-term liabilities 4,988 22,438 Common stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value $1.00, authorized 35,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 12,189,244 shares in 1997 (net of 720,760 treasury shares) and 12,032,143 shares in 1996 (net of 877,861 treasury shares) 12,189 12,032 Additional paid-in capital 31,371 28,462 Retained earnings 202,681 173,630 Foreign currency translation adjustment (5,078) (557) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total common stockholders' equity 241,163 213,567 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total liabilities and common stockholders' equity $661,634 $496,877 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 1997 Annual Report 25
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS The Toro Company - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ----------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 (Dollars in thousands) 1997 1996 1995 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net earnings $ 34,845 $ 36,409 $ 3,997 $ 36,667 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt 1,663 - - - Provision for depreciation and amortization 30,878 18,170 3,590 17,240 Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment 573 (260) (34) (135) Change in deferred income taxes 2,053 784 194 (1,282) Tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions 2,611 1,490 - 1,178 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Net receivables 15,067 (40,821) 13,640 (28,773) Inventories 1,353 15,574 (22,142) (4,956) Prepaid expenses and deferred income tax benefits (6,595) (1,131) 1,962 (10,024) Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,425 2,218 (9,770) 5,622 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 83,873 32,433 (8,563) 15,537 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (37,023) (21,389) (3,302) (28,162) Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 1,163 543 43 843 (Increase) decrease in other assets/liabilities (12,784) (857) 1,793 3,935 Acquisition of James Hardie Irrigation, net of cash acquired (118,030) - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash used in investing activities (166,674) (21,703) (1,466) (23,384) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: (Decrease) increase in sale of receivables - - (2,331) 2,331 (Decrease) increase in short-term borrowing (2,627) (550) 19,040 22,535 Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 175,000 - - - Repayments of long-term debt (50,350) (15,334) (12,326) (20,300) Payments of debt issue costs and prepayment penalty (5,770) - - - Net payments for termination of interest rate swap agreements (23,650) - - - Proceeds from interest rate swap agreement - 12,742 - - Proceeds from exercise of stock options 8,407 4,627 3,586 8,251 Purchases of common stock (7,952) (13,339) (891) (26,225) Dividends on common stock (5,794) (5,834) (1,459) (6,002) Repayments from ESOP - - - 2,612 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 87,264 (17,688) 5,619 (16,798) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign currency translation adjustment (4,521) (678) 188 338 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (58) (7,636) (4,222) (24,307) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 66 7,702 11,924 36,231 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 8 $ 66 $ 7,702 $ 11,924 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for: Interest $ 16,829 $ 15,335 $ 4,694 $ 9,567 Income taxes 25,459 20,447 109 34,936 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Toro Company 26 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Toro Company SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RELATED DATA FISCAL YEAR CHANGE Effective November 1995, the company changed its fiscal year from a fiscal year ended July 31 to a fiscal year ended October 31. The 3 month transition period ended October 31, 1995 bridges the gap between the company's old and new fiscal year-ends. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Toro Company and all wholly-owned and majority-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries (the company). Investments in 50% or less owned companies are accounted for by the equity method. The accounts of foreign subsidiaries, which are not material, have been adjusted to conform to U.S. accounting principles and practices and have been translated to appropriate U.S. dollar equivalents. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. In fiscal 1997, the consolidated financial statements include the results of the James Hardie Irrigation Group (Hardie) from December 1, 1996, the effective date of the acquisition. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS The company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of 3 months or less to be cash equivalents. At October 31, 1997 and 1996 the company had $4,598,000 and $4,908,000, respectively, included in trade payables that represented the reclassification of outstanding checks in excess of related bank balances. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS The provision for doubtful accounts included in selling, general and administrative expense was $812,000 and $3,358,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, $720,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and $1,543,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. INVENTORIES The majority of all inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Had the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method of cost determination been used, inventories would have been $27,219,000 and $25,642,000 higher than reported at October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Under the FIFO method, work-in-process inventories were $78,570,000 and $69,182,000 and finished goods inventories were $108,771,000 and $86,748,000 at October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. PROPERTY AND DEPRECIATION Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost including capitalization of interest incurred during the construction period for significant capital projects. During the year ended October 31, 1997 the company capitalized $500,000 of interest. The company provides for depreciation of plant and equipment utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Buildings, including leasehold improvements, are generally depreciated over 10 to 45 years, and equipment over 3 to 7 years. Tooling costs are generally amortized using the units of production method. Expenditures for major renewals and betterments which substantially increase the useful lives of existing assets are capitalized, and maintenance and repairs are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Software is expensed at the time of purchase. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of all plant and equipment disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss from such disposal is included in current period earnings. 1997 Annual Report 27 INTANGIBLE ASSETS Intangible assets, consisting primarily of goodwill, are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from 3 to 20 years. The company periodically reviews the value of its goodwill and other intangible assets to determine if impairment has occurred. Goodwill included in "Other assets" totaled $53,667,000 and $9,267,000 at October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $13,744,000 at October 31, 1997 and $3,625,000 at October 31, 1996. ACCRUED WARRANTY The company provides an accrual for estimated future warranty costs based upon the historical relationship of warranty costs to sales. FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION AND TRANSACTIONS The functional currency of the company's foreign operations is the applicable local currency. The functional currency is translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," which is translated for balance sheet accounts using current exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using a weighted average exchange rate during the period. The gains or losses resulting from such translations are included in stockholders' equity. Gains or losses resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are included in other income, net. ACCOUNTING FOR REVENUES Revenue is recognized at the time products are shipped to distributors, dealers or mass merchandisers. COST OF FINANCING DISTRIBUTOR/DEALER INVENTORY Included in selling, general and administrative expense are costs associated with programs in which the company shares the expense of financing distributor and dealer inventories. These costs of $10,192,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, $10,252,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $2,063,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995, and $9,675,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995, are charged against operations as incurred. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Expenditures for research and development, including engineering, of $36,574,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, $31,343,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $6,864,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995, and $26,513,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995 are charged against operations as incurred. DISTRIBUTION Included in selling, general and administrative expense are costs associated with changes to the company's distribution channels. These costs were $898,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, $2,533,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $823,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and $3,400,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. Those costs associated with business changes are accrued on the basis of historical experience, while costs related to specific changes to the company's distribution system are recorded when authorized. INCOME TAXES In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized The Toro Company 28 in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The company has reflected the necessary deferred tax asset/liability in the accompanying balance sheets. Management believes the future tax deductions will be realized principally through carryback to taxable income in prior years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and to a lesser extent, future taxable income. NET EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalents are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalents outstanding during the respective periods. Common stock equivalents include potentially dilutive stock options. These shares are included under the treasury stock method using the average market price of the company's stock during each period. The effect of full dilution using the year-end price of the company's stock was not significant. ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS During fiscal 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," which establishes new standards for computing and presenting earnings per share information. The company will be required to adopt the new standard beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 1998; earlier application is not permitted. Prior period information is required to be restated to conform with the requirements of the new standard. Pro forma earnings per share for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 month period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995 as computed under SFAS No. 128 are as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 1997 1996 1995 1995 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic earnings per share, before extraordinary loss $ 3.02 $3.00 $0.33 $2.92 Extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit (0.14) - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basic earnings per share $ 2.88 $3.00 $0.33 $2.92 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted earnings per share, before extraordinary loss $ 2.93 $2.90 $0.32 $2.81 Extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit (0.13) - - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted earnings per share $ 2.80 $2.90 $0.32 $2.81 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In fiscal 1997, the FASB also issued SFAS 129, SFAS 130 and SFAS 131. SFAS 129, "Disclosure of Information about Capital Structure," consolidates existing disclosure requirements and will have no impact on the company's financial statements. SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," establishes standards for reporting and displaying the components of comprehensive income and will be adopted by the company in fiscal 1998. The statement requires additional disclosures, but has no impact on consolidated net earnings. SFAS 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information," establishes standards for determining operating segments and reporting operating segment information. SFAS 131 is required to be adopted beginning with the company's fiscal 1999 year-end annual report. The company has not yet evaluated the effects of this pronouncement to determine what changes, if any, to its current reporting format will be required. 1997 Annual Report 29 BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS Effective December 1, 1996 the company acquired the James Hardie Irrigation Group (Hardie) from James Hardie Industries Limited (JHI Limited) for $118,030,000 based on estimated, unaudited aggregate shareholders' equity of Hardie on December 1, 1996, subject to further adjustment based on final audit results. Based on the financial statements of Hardie as of the acquisition date, shareholders' equity at the acquisition date was approximately $10,545,000 less than the estimated equity used as the closing date purchase price, and this $10,545,000 is to be returned from JHI Limited to the company. In addition, under the procedures established in the purchase agreement, the company and JHI Limited have entered into an arbitration process related to the valuation of assets, accounting methods applied, estimates used and other items. The resolution of these matters may result in an additional reduction of the purchase price. The acquisition is accounted for using the purchase accounting method and, accordingly, the initial purchase price of $118,030,000 has been allocated based on the estimated fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of net tangible assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Any additional reductions in the purchase price, as a result of resolution of the objections discussed in the preceding paragraph, will result in a reduction of goodwill. The related effect of these adjustments on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings of the company is not expected to be material. The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of consolidated results of operations of the company and Hardie as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 1996, with pro forma adjustments to give effect to amortization of goodwill, interest expense on acquisition debt and certain other adjustments, together with the related income tax effects. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended ------------------------ OCTOBER 31 October 31 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $1,065,370 $1,074,783 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings before extraordinary loss $ 34,811 $ 30,423 Extraordinary loss, net of income tax benefit 1,663 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net earnings $ 33,148 $ 30,423 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary earnings per share before extraordinary loss $ 2.79 $ 2.42 Extraordinary loss per share, net of income tax benefit 0.13 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary earnings per share $ 2.66 $ 2.42 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Effective November 1, 1997 the company acquired Exmark Manufacturing Company Incorporated (Exmark), a leading manufacturer of equipment for the professional landscape contractor industry. Exmark is headquartered in Beatrice, Nebraska and produces mid-sized walk-behind power mowers and zero-turning-radius riding mowers for professional contractors. Exmark had net sales of $53.4 million and net earnings of $2.8 million for its fiscal year ended August 31, 1997. In exchange for all of the capital stock of Exmark, the company issued 598,051 shares of its common stock and paid approximately $5.5 million in cash. In addition, under the terms of the purchase agreement, the company will be required to make contingent payments to Exmark shareholders if Exmark's post-acquisition earnings and sales growth from November 1, 1997 through October 31, 1999 exceed minimum levels established in the purchase agreement. The maximum amount of these contingent payments is $28,000,000. Contingent payments will be paid with a combination of cash and the company's common stock. The acquisition is accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and accordingly, the purchase price is allocated based on the fair The Toro Company 30 value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The excess of the purchase price, including any contingent payment amounts, over the fair value of net assets acquired will be recorded as goodwill, and amortized on a straight-line basis over a 20 year period. SHORT-TERM CAPITAL RESOURCES At October 31, 1997 the company had available unsecured lines of credit with four banks in the aggregate of $190,000,000. Most of these agreements require the company to pay a fee of 0.175% per year on the available lines of credit, which is included in interest expense. The company had $41,000,000 outstanding at October 31, 1997 and $41,025,000 outstanding at October 31, 1996. The weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowing was 5.95% and 6.18% at October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. LONG-TERM DEBT A summary of long-term debt is as follows: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) October 31 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.125% Notes, due June 15, 2007 $ 75,000 $ - 7.80% Debentures, due June 15, 2027 100,000 - 11% Sinking Fund Debentures due annually August 1998-2017 called August 1, 1997 - 50,000 Industrial Revenue Bond due annually June 1997-2004 with various interest rates 3,015 3,365 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 178,015 53,365 Less current portion 365 350 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term debt, less current portion $177,650 $53,015 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In June 1997, the company issued $175.0 million of debt securities consisting of $75.0 million of 7.125% coupon 10-year Notes and $100.0 million of 7.80% coupon 30-year Debentures. The proceeds from the debt securities issued were used, in part, to repay short-term indebtedness, which was primarily related to the acquisition of Hardie, and to redeem on August 1, 1997 the company's $50.0 million principal amount of 11% Sinking Fund Debentures. The company paid a prepayment penalty of $2.8 million for the early retirement of the 11% Debentures. This penalty is reported in the consolidated statement of earnings as an extraordinary loss, net of the related income tax benefit. In connection with the issuance of the $175.0 million in long-term debt securities, the company paid $23.7 million to terminate three forward-starting interest rate swap agreements with notational amounts totaling $125.0 million. These swap agreements had been entered into to reduce exposure to interest rate risk prior to the issuance of the new long-term debt securities. At the inception of one of the swap agreements, the company had received payments which were recorded as deferred income to be recognized as an adjustment to interest expense over the term of the new debt securities. At the date the swaps were terminated, this deferred income totaled $18.7 million. The excess of the termination fees over the deferred income recorded has been deferred and is being recognized as an adjustment to interest expense over the term of the new debt securities issued. Under the terms of the long-term debt agreements the company is subject to certain covenants. At October 31, 1997 the company was in compliance with all such covenants. Principal payments required on long-term debt in each of the next five years ending October 31 are as follows: 1998, $365,000; 1999, $385,000; 2000, $405,000; 2001, $425,000; 2002, $450,000; and after 2002, $175,985,000. 1997 Annual Report 31 INCOME TAXES A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the company's consolidated effective tax rate is summarized as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ---------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 1997 1996 1995 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statutory federal income tax rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Increase (reduction) in income taxes resulting from: Benefits from foreign sales corporation (1.4) (0.8) (0.2) (0.8) State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 2.9 2.5 4.6 2.4 Effect of foreign source income 0.9 - 1.5 0.5 Goodwill amortization 2.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 Other, net (0.2) 2.4 (2.0) 2.5 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consolidated effective tax rate 39.5% 39.5% 39.5% 40.0% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ---------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 (Dollars in thousands) 1997 1996 1995 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current: Federal $15,985 $22,479 $ 731 $24,878 State 1,445 2,754 238 2,942 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current provision 17,430 25,233 969 27,820 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred: Federal 4,182 (1,051) 1,414 (2,689) State 1,137 (411) 226 (686) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deferred provision 5,319 (1,462) 1,640 (3,375) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total provision for income taxes $22,749 $23,771 $2,609 $24,445 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to the net deferred income tax assets at October 31, 1997 and 1996 are presented below. - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) 1997 1996 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 5,070 $ 5,151 Inventory reserves 1,900 536 Uniform capitalization 2,328 2,252 Depreciation 2,201 1,600 Warranty reserves 15,028 12,881 Marketing programs 1,811 2,018 Distributor reserves 2,044 2,603 Restructuring reserves 1,954 1,091 Product liability 2,316 1,957 Accrued retirement 3,961 3,410 Accrued vacation pay 2,087 1,912 Other 2,808 (3,934) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consolidated deferred income tax assets $43,508 $31,477 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- During the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, $2,611,000 and $1,490,000 was added to additional paid-in capital in accordance with Accounting Principal Board Opinion 25 reflecting the permanent book to tax difference in accounting for tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions. 32 COMMON STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Changes in the components of common stockholders' equity during the fiscal years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and the fiscal year ended July 31, 1995 were as follows:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foreign Currency Common Additional Retained Receivable Translation (Dollars in thousands) Stock Paid-In Capital Earnings from ESOP Adjustment - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at July 31, 1994 $12,561 $ 49,420 $109,688 $(2,612) $ (405) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common dividends paid ($0.48 per share) - - (6,002) - - Issuance of 444,783 shares under stock option plans 445 7,806 - - - Purchase of 965,757 common shares (966) (25,259) - - - Payment received from ESOP - - - 2,612 - Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - - 338 Tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions - 1,178 - - - Net earnings - - 36,667 - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at July 31, 1995 $12,040 $ 33,145 $140,353 $ 0 $ (67) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common dividends paid ($0.12 per share) - - (1,459) - - Issuance of 156,263 shares under stock option plans 156 3,431 - - - Purchase of 28,204 common shares (28) (864) - - - Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - - 188 Net earnings - - 3,997 - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at October 31, 1995 $12,168 $ 35,712 $142,891 $ 0 $ 121 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common dividends paid ($0.48 per share) - - (5,834) - - Issuance of 294,324 shares under stock option plans 294 4,333 - - - Purchase of 429,692 common shares (430) (13,073) - - - Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - - (678) Tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions - 1,490 - - - Other - - 164 - - Net earnings - - 36,409 - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance at October 31, 1996 $12,032 $ 28,462 $173,630 $ 0 $ (557) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common dividends paid ($0.48 per share) - - (5,794) - - Issuance of 389,101 shares under stock option plans 389 8,018 - - - Purchase of 232,000 common shares (232) (7,720) - - - Foreign currency translation adjustment - - - - (4,521) Tax benefits related to employee stock option transactions - 2,611 - - - Net earnings - - 34,845 - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BALANCE AT OCTOBER 31, 1997 $12,189 $ 31,371 $202,681 $ 0 $(5,078) - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the terms of a Rights Agreement established June 14, 1988 each share of the company's common stock entitles its holder to one preferred share purchase right. Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the company one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Voting Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value at a price of $85 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share. The rights become exercisable and tradable 10 days after a person or a group acquires 20% or more, or makes an offer to acquire 20% or more, of the company's outstanding common stock. At no time do the rights have any voting power. The rights may be redeemed by the company for $0.01 per right at any time prior to the time that a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the common shares. 1997 Annual Report 33 STOCK OPTION PLANS The company grants incentive and nonqualified stock options under the terms of the 1989 and 1993 Stock Option Plans. Each option is granted at an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, except for performance based stock options, such as those granted in connection with the Continuous Performance Award Plan (CPAP) for which the exercise price is an average of the closing stock prices for the 3 months preceding the grant date and may be higher or lower than fair market value. Stock options other than performance based options are generally exercisable immediately and can be exercised in whole or in part until expiration or termination of employment. Stock options granted under the plans, with the exception of options granted in connection with the CPAP, expire 5 to 10 years from the date of grant. Performance based options are granted under the CPAP and generally vest at the end of the succeeding three fiscal years. Vested options expire 90 days after the public release of the fiscal year-end earnings. Based on performance over the three year term, some or all of the options granted may be cancelled. Options granted under this plan totaled 40,474 and 48,768 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, zero for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and 40,031 for the year ended July 31, 1995. CPAP options cancelled were 33,812 during the year ended October 31, 1997 and 18,532 during the year ended July 31, 1995. There were no CPAP options cancelled during the year ended October 31, 1996 or during the 3 months ended October 31, 1995. The company also grants options to members of its Board of Directors under the 1992 Director Stock Plan. Each option granted under the plan is exercisable at 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under this plan were 7,000 and 6,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. A summary of stock option activity under the plans described above is presented below: - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted Options available Options average for grant outstanding exercise price - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 1, 1994 1,005,486 1,259,509 $16.35 Granted (323,474) 323,474 23.69 Exercised - (394,432) 16.61 Cancelled 21,972 (21,972) 19.37 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 31, 1995 703,984 1,166,579 18.24 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Granted (256,496) 256,496 29.00 Exercised - (161,694) 17.49 Cancelled 8,070 (8,070) 15.12 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 31, 1995 455,558 1,253,311 20.56 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Granted (48,768) 48,768 29.77 Exercised - (193,221) 18.85 Cancelled 1,000 (1,000) 29.13 Increase in options available for grant 600,000 - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 31, 1996 1,007,790 1,107,858 21.25 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Granted (251,620) 251,620 32.74 Exercised - (443,516) 21.93 Cancelled 33,812 (33,812) 24.49 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31, 1997 789,982 882,150 $24.06 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Toro Company 34 The table below presents the number, weighted average remaining contractual life and weighted average exercise price for options outstanding at October 31, 1997.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted Weighted Number average average time Exercise price range of options exercise price to expiration - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options exercisable at October 31, 1997: $14.75 300,000 $14.75 8.1 years $20.40 - $23.625 118,098 23.09 1.6 years $25.50 - $29.125 204,059 28.30 2.4 years $31.75 - $36.375 162,208 33.85 4.0 years - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 784,365 $23.48 4.8 years - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options not exercisable at October 31, 1997: $24.12 - $32.31 97,785 $28.76 1.3 years - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand total 882,150 $24.06 4.4 years - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The company applies APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its stock options. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized for stock option grants, except performance based options. The company recognized compensation expense of $545,000, $483,000, $127,000 and $534,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, the 3 month transition period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995, respectively. If the company had elected to recognize compensation cost consistent with the methodology prescribed under SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," the company's net income and earnings per share for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 would have been as follows: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year ended ---------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 1997 1996 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income, as reported $34,845 $36,409 Pro forma net income 34,289 36,640 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per share, as reported $ 2.80 $ 2.90 Pro forma earnings per share 2.75 2.92 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The fair market value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and using an expected dividend yield of 1.5%, expected stock price volatility of 20%, risk free interest rate of 5.75% and an expected life of 3.5 years for performance based options and 3 years for all other options. The weighted average fair market value of options on the grant date was $6.44 and $6.07 for options issued during the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. On July 31, 1995 the company issued 17,467 shares of restricted stock and 17,467 performance units to the CEO under the terms of the Chief Executive Officer Succession Plan. The value of each performance unit is equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock. The restricted stock and performance units vest based upon achievement of specified succession planning goals. Dividends are paid and the shares may be voted. Portions of the restricted stock and performance unit awards 1997 Annual Report 35 will be forfeited if certain goals are not achieved at various dates, ending on October 31, 2003 or termination of employment. Compensation expense related to this plan was $350,000, $254,000 and $57,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996 and the 3 month transition period ended October 31, 1995 respectively. There was no expense for the period ended July 31, 1995. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAMS The company adopted a new employee benefit program effective August 1, 1995 replacing the existing employee benefit plans. Under this new benefit program, eligible employees receive a pre-established percentage of their salary. Contributions to the plan were $7,245,000 in fiscal 1997 for benefits earned in fiscal 1996, and $2,539,000 in fiscal 1996 for benefits earned during the 3 month transition period ended October 31, 1995. In addition, this plan provides for company matching contributions of up to two percent of salary. Matching contributions were $2,024,000 and $1,679,000 for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Prior to August 1, 1995 employee benefits consisted of a leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), as well as a profit sharing and matching stock plan. At July 31, 1995 the ESOP indebtedness was repaid in full. For the year ended July 31, 1995 principal payments of ESOP debt were $2,612,000, interest incurred on ESOP debt and received by the company was $258,000 and dividends on ESOP shares used for debt service were $107,000. The company's contributions to the ESOP, net of dividends, were $639,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996 and $2,762,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. Contributions to the former profit sharing and matching stock plans were $3,833,000 for the 3 month period ended October 31,1995 and $4,760,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. In addition, the company and its subsidiaries have supplemental and other retirement plans covering certain employees. The expense related to these plans is not significant. SEGMENT DATA The company classifies its operations into one industry segment, outdoor maintenance equipment. International sales were $232,808,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, $174,249,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $20,935,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and $152,409,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. Of these amounts, export sales were $161,836,000 for the year ended October 31, 1997, $140,919,000 for the year ended October 31, 1996, $18,557,000 for the 3 months ended October 31, 1995 and $126,560,000 for the year ended July 31, 1995. Export sales by geographic area are as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 (Dollars in thousands) 1997 1996 1995 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Europe $ 79,515 $ 71,325 $ 6,098 $ 60,239 Canada 33,349 29,578 4,848 31,921 Pacific Rim 34,417 34,975 6,955 28,979 Other 14,555 5,041 656 5,421 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total export sales $161,836 $140,919 $18,557 $126,560 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Toro Company 36 LEASE COMMITMENTS Minimum lease commitments in future years under noncancelable operating leases are as follows: 1998, $7,555,000; 1999, $5,431,000; 2000, 3,339,000; 2001, $2,135,000; 2002, $845,000; and after 2002, $178,000. Total lease expense was as follows:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Ended 3 Months Ended Year Ended ------------------------------------------------------------ OCTOBER 31 October 31 October 31 July 31 (Dollars in thousands) 1997 1996 1995 1995 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Warehouse and office space $3,604 $3,291 $ 905 $3,360 Trucks and autos 1,959 2,191 374 1,890 Equipment 4,297 3,933 924 3,721 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $9,860 $9,415 $2,203 $8,971 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The company was contingently liable to repurchase $9,438,000 at October 31, 1997 and $10,578,000 at October 31, 1996 of inventory relating to receivables under dealer financing arrangements. Additionally, debts incurred by certain distributors, aggregating $5,600,000 at October 31, 1997 and $1,008,000 at October 31, 1996 have been guaranteed by the company. In the ordinary course of business the company may become liable with respect to pending and threatened litigation, tax, environmental, and other matters. While the ultimate results of investigations, lawsuits, and claims involving the company cannot be determined, management does not expect that these matters will have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the company. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK Letters of credit are issued by the company during the ordinary course of business, as required by certain vendor contracts, through major domestic banks. As of October 31, 1997 and 1996 the company had $25,985,000 and $19,705,000, respectively, in outstanding letters of credit. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK Financial instruments which potentially subject the company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable which are concentrated in a single business segment, outdoor maintenance equipment. The credit risk associated with this segment is limited because of the large number of customers in the company's customer base and their geographic dispersion. 1997 Annual Report 37 FOREIGN CURRENCY INVESTMENTS A portion of the company's cash flow is derived from sales and purchases denominated in foreign currencies. To reduce the uncertainty of foreign currency exchange rate movements on these sales and purchase commitments, the company enters into foreign currency exchange contracts. These contracts are designed to hedge firm anticipated foreign currency transactions. Gains and losses on foreign currency contracts are deferred and recognized upon settlement of the underlying hedged transaction. At October 31, 1997 the company had contracts maturing at various dates to purchase $5,781,000 in foreign currencies and to sell $42,478,000 in foreign currencies at the contract rates. In addition, the company had range forward options of $3,000,000 at October 31, 1997. The company enters into forward currency exchange contracts on behalf of certain distributors in order to cover a portion of the payments owed by the distributor to the company. Any currency losses incurred by the company are reimbursed by the distributor. Changes in the market value of the foreign currency instruments are recognized in the financial statements upon settlement of the hedged transaction. As discussed under the Long-term Debt caption in these Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the company entered into interest rate exchange or swap agreements to hedge interest rate exposure on the anticipated issuance of new long-term debt securities. The net loss on these swap agreements has been deferred and is being amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the term of the debt securities. In June 1997, the company terminated all of its outstanding interest rate exchange agreements upon the issuance of the new long-term debt securities. FAIR VALUE The following disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with the requirements of FAS Statement 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments." Estimated fair value amounts have been determined using available information and appropriate valuation methodologies. Because considerable judgment is required in developing the estimates of fair value, these estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange. For cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable, carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value. At October 31, 1997 the estimated fair value of long-term debt with fixed interest rates was $187,713,000 compared to its carrying value of $178,015,000. The fair value is estimated by discounting the projected cash flows using the rate at which similar amounts could currently be borrowed. The Toro Company 38 (unaudited) Summarized quarterly financial data for 1997 and 1996 is as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997 ----------------------------------------------------- Quarter (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $208,957 $352,203 $249,274 $240,770 Gross profit 75,227 125,117 92,395 95,298 Net earnings, before extraordinary loss 2,491 19,040 9,949 5,028 Net earnings 2,491 19,040 8,286 5,028 Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent, before extraordinary loss 0.20 1.53 0.80 0.40 Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent 0.20 1.53 0.67 0.40 Dividends per common share 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 Market price of common stock High bid 36 5/8 36 7/8 38 7/8 43 3/4 Low bid 31 1/2 33 35 1/8 35 7/16 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 1996 --------------------------------------------------- Quarter (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) First Second Third Fourth - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net sales $211,501 $288,646 $232,565 $198,197 Gross Profit 76,329 103,810 85,884 75,700 Net earnings 8,498 16,820 6,465 4,626 Net earnings per share of common stock and common stock equivalent 0.67 1.33 0.52 0.37 Dividends per common share 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.12 Market price of common stock High bid 36 1/4 35 1/4 34 5/8 34 1/8 Low bid 28 3/8 30 5/8 30 30 1/4 - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 Annual Report 39

                                                                    Exhibit 21
                                   THE TORO COMPANY
                              SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT




All of the following are subsidiaries of The Toro Company as of December 17, 
1997.


                                     STATE OR OTHER       PERCENTAGE OF VOTING 
                                     JURISDICTION          SECURITIES OWNED BY
            NAME                     OF INCORPORATION       IMMEDIATE PARENT
                   

 Toro Australia Pty. Limited           Australia                 100%

 Toro Credit Company                   Minnesota                 100%

 Toro Europe                           Belgium                   100%

 Toro Foreign Sales Corporation        Barbados                  100%

 Lawn-Boy Inc.                         Delaware                  100%

 Toro Probiotic Products, Inc.         Minnesota                 100%

 Toro Sales Company                    Minnesota                 100%

 Toro Southwest, Inc.                  California                100%

 Toro International Company            Minnesota                 100%

 Hahn Equipment Co.                    Minnesota                 100%

 Professional Turf Products of         Texas                     100%
    Texas, Inc.

 Integration Control Systems &         Texas                     100%
    Services, Inc.

 Turf Management Systems, Inc.         Minnesota                 100%

 James Hardie Irrigation Pty.          Australia                 100%
    Limited

 Irritrol Systems of Europe S.p.A.     Italy                     100%

 Exmark Manufacturing Company          Nebraska                  100%
    Incorporated                          


                                      26




                             [LETTERHEAD]

                                                                    Exhibit 23


                           INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
                                          
                                          
                                          
The Board of Directors
The Toro Company:


We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Nos. 
33-26268, 33-31586, 33-38308, 33-44668, 33-51563, 33-55550, 33-59563, 
333-4521 and 333-20901) on Forms S-3 and  S-8 of The Toro Company of our 
reports dated December 12, 1997, relating to the consolidated balance sheets 
of The Toro Company and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the 
related consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows and related 
financial statement schedule for the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996, 
three-month period ended October 31, 1995 and the year ended July 31, 1995, 
which reports are included in or incorporated by reference in the annual 
report on Form 10-K of The Toro Company.




                                                     KPMG Peat Marwick LLP





Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 29, 1998

                                      27


 


5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS, THE BALANCE SHEETS AND 10-K SCHEDULE II AND EXHIBIT 11 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 1,000 YEAR OCT-31-1997 NOV-01-1996 OCT-31-1997 8 0 255,318 9,832 160,122 472,044 297,841 180,989 661,634 237,833 178,015 0 0 12,189 228,974 661,634 1,051,204 1,051,204 663,167 315,690 (7,897) 812 19,900 60,344 23,836 36,508 0 (1,663) 0 34,845 2.80 2.77 Total long-term debt Does not include additional-paid-in capital Other income, net