FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996

                                       OR

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

          For the transition period from ............. to ............

          Commission file number:       0-11676

                                   BEL FUSE INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                  New Jersey                                   22-1463699
      (State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

                              198 Van Vorst Street
                          Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

                                  201-432-0463
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed
                               since last report)

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  X            No
    ---              ---

      Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes
of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

      At November 1, 1996, there were 5,070,195 shares of Common Stock, $.10 par
value, outstanding.


                                  BEL FUSE INC.

                                      INDEX

                                                                  Page Number
                                                                  -----------

Part I.   Financial Information

  Item 1. Financial Statements                                         1

          Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30,
          1996 (unaudited) and December 31, 1995                     2 - 3

          Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Nine
          and Three Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995
          (unaudited)                                                  4

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine
          Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995
          (unaudited)                                                5 - 6

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
          (unaudited)                                                7 - 8

  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
          Condition and Results of Operations                        9 - 12

Part II.  Other Information

  Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                           13

  Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                            13

Signatures                                                            14


PART I.  Financial Information

   Item 1. Financial Statements
           --------------------

      Certain information and footnote disclosures required under generally
accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted from the following
consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. It is suggested that the following
consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the year-end
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

      The results of operations for the nine month period ended September 30,
1996, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the
entire fiscal year or for any other period.


                                       -1-


                         BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                     ASSETS

                                                September 30,    December 31,
                                                     1996             1995
                                                -----------       -----------

Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                    $21,373,843       $ 8,343,925
   Marketable securities                          2,002,036         5,556,740
   Accounts receivable, less allowance
    for doubtful accounts of $155,000             9,781,200        11,705,344
   Inventories                                    8,585,970        10,799,731
   Prepaid expenses and other current
    assets                                          492,360           239,511
                                                -----------       -----------
      Total Current Assets                       42,235,409        36,645,251

Property, plant and equipment - net              26,188,294        26,662,351

Other assets                                      1,035,954         1,168,072
                                                -----------       -----------

      TOTAL ASSETS                              $69,459,657       $64,475,674
                                                ===========       ===========

                                                                  (Continued)

                  See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                       -2-


                         BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

                                                September 30,     December 31,
                                                    1996              1995
                                                -----------       -----------

Current Liabilities:
   Accounts payable                             $ 2,068,613       $ 3,374,433
   Accrued expenses                               4,782,679         4,049,366
  Income taxes payable                            1,010,334           539,924
   Deferred income taxes                               -               38,000
                                                -----------       -----------

      Total Current Liabilities                   7,861,626         8,001,723

Deferred income taxes                               350,000           584,000
                                                -----------       -----------
      Total Liabilities                           8,211,626         8,585,723
                                                -----------       -----------

Stockholders' Equity:
   Preferred stock, no par value -
    authorized 1,000,000 shares;
    none issued                                        -                 -
   Common stock, par value $.10 per
    share - authorized 10,000,000
    shares; outstanding 5,070,195 and
    5,051,445 shares                                507,020           505,145

   Additional paid-in capital                     6,974,587         6,811,900

   Retained earnings                             53,766,424        48,115,306

   Net unrealized gain on marketable
    securities                                         -              457,600
                                                -----------       -----------

      Total Stockholders' Equity                 61,248,031        55,889,951
                                                -----------       -----------

      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
       EQUITY                                   $69,459,657       $64,475,674
                                                ===========       ===========

                  See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       -3-


                         BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended --------------------------- --------------------------- September 30, September 30, --------------------------- --------------------------- 1996 1995 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Sales $47,832,403 $51,527,885 $14,426,471 $17,567,632 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Costs and Expenses: Cost of sales 33,984,034 37,617,231 10,620,540 12,589,829 Selling, general and administrative expenses 8,472,248 9,047,109 2,772,584 3,276,672 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- 42,456,282 46,664,340 13,393,124 15,866,501 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Income from operations 5,376,121 4,863,545 1,033,347 1,701,131 Other income - net 1,691,570 847,311 237,942 732,307 Interest (expense) (1,573) (3,849) (353) (738) ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Earnings before income taxes 7,066,118 5,707,007 1,270,936 2,432,700 Income tax provision 1,415,000 757,000 39,000 453,000 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net earnings $ 5,651,118 $ 4,950,007 $ 1,231,936 $ 1,979,700 =========== =========== =========== =========== Earnings per common share $1.12 $.99 $.24 $.39 ===== ==== ==== ==== Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 5,061,564 4,997,173 5,070,195 5,028,415 =========== =========== =========== ===========
See notes to consolidated financial statements. -4- BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 5,651,118 $ 4,950,007 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,149,570 2,023,331 Deferred income taxes (272,000) 255,000 Bad debt reserve - 12,000 Inventory obsolescence reserve 450,000 270,000 Loss on disposition of equipment - 111,000 Tax effect of non-qualifying disposition of incentive stock options 42,000 116,000 Net (gain) on sale of marketable securities (1,158,957) (565,490) Changes in operating assets and liabilities 3,387,153 (2,219,024) ----------- ----------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 10,248,884 4,952,824 ----------- ----------- Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,659,339) (6,653,591) Purchase of marketable securities (2,002,786) - Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 6,258,847 3,265,361 Proceeds from repayment by contractor 61,750 21,750 ----------- ----------- Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities 2,658,472 (3,366,480) ----------- ----------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from exercise of stock options 122,562 299,662 Repayment of borrowings - (300,000) ----------- ----------- Net Cash Provided by (used in) Financing Activities 122,562 (338) ----------- ----------- Net Increase in Cash 13,029,918 1,586,006 Cash and Cash Equivalents - beginning of period 8,343,925 2,842,894 ----------- ----------- Cash and Cash Equivalents - end of period $21,373,843 $ 4,428,900 =========== =========== (Continued) See notes to consolidated financial statements. -5- BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued) Nine Months Ended --------------------------- September 30, --------------------------- 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable $ 1,924,144 $(3,392,210) Decrease (increase) in inventories 1,763,761 (2,003,587) (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets (314,599) 606,321 Decrease in other assets 115,944 85,553 Increase (decrease) in accounts payable (1,305,820) 486,234 Increase in accrued expenses 733,313 1,717,672 Increase in income taxes payable 470,410 280,993 ----------- ----------- $ 3,387,153 $(2,219,024) =========== =========== Supplementary information: Cash paid during the period for: Interest $ 1,573 $ 3,849 =========== =========== Income taxes $ 778,775 $ 33,000 =========== =========== Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities: Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities $ (457,600) $ 1,300,188 =========== =========== Investment advisory fee $ - $ 322,000 =========== =========== See notes to consolidated financial statements. -6- BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) 1. The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1996, and the consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 have been prepared by the Company and are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made. Certain items in the September 30, 1995 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to September 30, 1996 classifications. The information for December 31, 1995 was derived from audited financial statements. 2. Earnings Per Share - Earnings per common share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of outstanding options at September 30, 1996 and 1995 was not material. 3. In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", which is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 1996. SFAS No. 123 requires expanded disclosures of stock-based compensation arrangements with employees in Notes to Annual Financial Statements and encourages (but does not require) compensation cost to be measured based on the fair value of the equity instrument awarded. Companies are permitted, however, to continue to apply APB Opinion No. 25, which recognizes compensation cost based on the intrinsic value of the equity instrument awarded. The Company will continue to apply APB Opinion No. 25 to its stock based compensation awards to employees and will disclose the required pro forma effect on net income and earnings per share in notes to its annual financial statements. 4. Inventories consist of the following: September 30, 1996 December 31, 1995 ------------------ ----------------- Raw materials $ 5,621,444 $ 7,059,330 Work-in-process 73,759 191,518 Finished goods 2,890,767 3,548,883 ----------- ----------- $ 8,585,970 $10,799,731 =========== =========== -7- BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) 5. Property, plant and equipment consists of the following: September 30, 1996 December 31, 1995 ------------------ ----------------- Land $ 835,218 $ 835,218 Buildings and improvements 13,579,480 13,481,550 Machinery and equipment 31,941,048 30,379,639 Idle property held for sale 935,000 935,000 ----------- ----------- 47,290,746 45,631,407 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 21,102,452 18,969,056 ----------- ----------- Net property, plant and equipment $26,188,294 $26,662,351 =========== =========== 6. INCOME TAXES Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS 109), provides for the recognition of deferred assets subject to a valuation allowance. At December 31, 1994, the Company established a valuation allowance equal to the full amount of the tax effect of the net operating loss carryforward. For the nine months ended September 30, 1995, the Company recognized $286,000, as a reduction of United States and Far East tax expense. -8- Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results ----------------------------------------------------------------------- of Operations - ------------- a. Results of Operations --------------------- The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage relationship to net sales of certain items included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Percentage of Net Sales -------------------------------------------------- Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, 1996 1995 1996 1995 ---------- ---------- ---------- ------- Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Cost of sales 71.0 73.0 73.6 71.7 Selling, general and administrative expenses 17.7 17.5 19.2 18.7 Other income, net of interest expense 3.5 1.6 1.6 4.2 Earnings before income tax provision 14.8 11.1 8.8 13.8 Income tax provision 3.0 1.5 .3 2.6 Net earnings 11.8 9.6 8.5 11.2 The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage increase or decrease of such items included in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Increase (Decrease) from Prior Period --------------------------------------------- Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, 1996 September 30, 1996 compared with 1995 compared with 1995 ------------------ ------------------ Net sales (7.2) % (17.9) % Cost of sales (9.7) (15.6) Selling, general and administrative expenses (6.4) (15.4) Other income - net 100.4 (67.5) Earnings before income tax provision 23.8 (47.8) Income tax provision 86.9 (91.4) Net earnings 14.2 (37.8) -9- Nine Months 1996 vs. Nine Months 1995 - ------------------------------------- Sales ----- Net sales decreased 7.2% from $51,527,885 during the first nine months of 1995 to $47,832,403 during the first nine months of 1996. The Company attributes this decrease primarily to a general softening in the market as previously disclosed and the elimination of certain low margin products. Cost of Sales ------------- Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales decreased 2.0% from 73.0% during the first nine months of 1995 to 71.0% during the first nine months of 1996. The decrease in the cost of sales percentage is primarily attributable to lower material content associated with the current sales mix and the elimination of certain low margin products. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses -------------------------------------------- The percentage relationship of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales remained relatively constant for the first nine months of 1996 compared to the first nine months of 1995. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in dollar amount by 6.4%. The Company attributes the decrease in the dollar amount of such expenses primarily to accrued severance and bonus amounts, the write-off of certain expenses related to the unrealized acquisition of Pulse Engineering, Inc. and the abandonment of certain fixed assets during the first nine months of 1995 along with the Company's continued cost containment measures during the first nine months of 1996. Other Income and Expenses ------------------------- Other income, consisting of net realized gains on the sale of marketable securities and interest and dividends earned on marketable securities and on cash equivalents, increased by $844,259 from the first nine months of 1996 compared to the first nine months of 1995. This increase is primarily due to the gain on the sale of 112,485 shares of Technitrol, Inc. common stock and to higher earnings on invested funds due to higher average balances in the first nine months of 1996 compared to the first nine months of 1995, offset in part by a loss on other marketable securities. Provision for Income Taxes -------------------------- The provision for income taxes for the first nine months of 1996 was $1,415,000 as compared to $757,000 for the first nine months of 1995. This increase is due primarily to the higher pretax earnings, including the gain on the sale of the Technitrol, Inc. common stock, for the first nine months of 1996 versus 1995. The 1995 provision for income taxes was reduced by the use of a net operating loss carry-forward which was no longer available in 1996. The Company's effective tax rate has been lower than the statutory United States corporate rate primarily as a result of the lower tax rates in the Far East and the utilization of tax benefits arising from the operating loss carryforward in the United States and the Far East. -10- Three Months 1996 vs. Three Months 1995 - --------------------------------------- Sales ----- Sales decreased 17.9% to $14,426,471 during the third quarter of 1996 from $17,567,632 during the third quarter of 1995. The Company attributes this decrease primarily to those reasons set forth in the nine month analysis. Cost of Sales ------------- Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales increased 1.9% to 73.6% during the third quarter of 1996 from 71.7% during the third quarter of 1995. The Company attributes this increase primarily to the higher percentage relationship of labor and overheads to sales due to decreased sales, despite lower actual expenditures in these areas during the third quarter of 1996 vs. 1995 offset in part by lower material costs during the third quarter of 1996 vs. 1995 due to the reasons set forth in the nine month analysis. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses -------------------------------------------- The percentage relationship of selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales increased .5% from the third quarter of 1995 to the third quarter of 1996 and selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in dollar amount by 15.4%. The Company attributes the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses to net sales primarily to lower sales and the decrease in dollar amount of selling, general and administrative expenses primarily to accrued severences and bonus amounts and the write-off of certain expenses related to the unrealized acquisition of Pulse Engineering, Inc. during the third quarter of 1995. Other Income and Expenses ------------------------- Other income for the third quarter of 1996 compared to the third quarter of 1995 decreased due to a gain of approximately $650,000 on the partial liquidation of the Company's investment in Pulse Engineering, Inc. common stock during the third quarter of 1995, offset in part by higher earnings on invested funds due to higher average balances during the third quarter of 1996. Provision for Income Taxes -------------------------- The provision for income taxes decreased to $39,000 for the third quarter 1996 from $453,000 for the third quarter of 1995 primarily due to certain tax benefits arising from the write-off of the Company's investment in its foreign subsidiary, Bel Fuse SARL, (France), reduced pre-tax earnings and tax overaccruals from 1995 recognized during the third quarter of 1996. Liquidity and Capital Resources ------------------------------- Historically, the Company has financed its capital expenditures through operating cash flows. Management believes that the cash flow from operations, combined with its existing capital base and the Company's available lines of credit, will be sufficient to fund its operations for the near term. -11- Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued) ------------------------------- The Company has lines of credit, all of which were unused at September 30, 1996, in the aggregate amount of $7,000,000, of which $5,000,000 is from domestic banks and $2,000,000 is from foreign banks. During the first nine months of 1996, the Company's cash increased by $13.0 million, principally reflecting $10.2 million provided by operating activities and $6.3 million from the sale of marketable securities offset in part by $2.0 million in purchases of marketable securities and $1.7 million in purchases of plant and equipment. The Company has historically followed a policy of reinvesting the earnings of foreign subsidiaries in the Far East. If the unrepatriated funds were distributed to the parent corporation, such funds would be subject to United States federal income taxes. No funds were repatriated during the first nine months of 1996 or 1995. The Company's shareholders' equity increased by $5.4 million from December 31, 1995 to September 30, 1996, reflecting the Company's first nine months profit of $5.7 million and the exercise of incentive stock options of $122,000 offset by a decrease of $457,000 in net unrealized gain on marketable securities as all gains and losses were realized during the second quarter of 1996. Cash, accounts receivable and marketable securities comprised approximately 47.7% and 39.7% of the Company's total assets at September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. The Company's current ratio (i.e., the ratio of current assets to current liabilities) was 5.4 to 1 and 4.6 to 1 at September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively. -12- PART II. Other Information Item 1. Legal Proceedings ----------------- See Item 3 of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K -------------------------------- (a) Exhibits: Exhibit 27.1 Financial Data Schedule. (b) There were no Current Reports on Form 8-K filed by the registrant during the quarter ended September 30, 1996. -13- SIGNATURES ---------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. BEL FUSE INC. By:/s/ Daniel Bernstein --------------------------- Daniel Bernstein, President (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) Dated: November 12, 1996 -14-
 


5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND THE NINE MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. YEAR DEC-31-1996 SEP-30-1996 21,373,843 2,002,036 9,936,200 155,000 8,585,970 42,235,409 47,290,746 21,102,452 69,459,657 7,861,626 0 507,020 0 0 60,741,011 69,459,657 47,832,403 47,832,403 33,984,034 42,456,282 0 0 0 7,066,188 1,415,000 0 0 0 0 5,651,118 1.12 0