SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                     Washington, D.C. 20549

                           Form 10-Q


(Mark One)

(X)  Quarterly  Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)  of  the
     Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 For the quarterly  period
     ended December 31, 1997

                               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 1-10596


                  ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION

     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Missouri                                      43-1554045
(State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)            Identification No.)

8888 Ladue Road, Suite 200                         63124-2090
St. Louis, Missouri                                (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (314) 213-7
200


  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

Number  of  common stock trust receipts outstanding at  January
31, 1998: 11,844,478 receipts.





PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements



         ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                          (Unaudited)
        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                            Three Months Ended
                                               December 31,
                                            ------------------

                                             1997        1996
                                             ----        ----
                                                  
Net sales                                 $ 78,077      68,899
                                           -------      ------
Costs and expenses:
 Cost of sales                              56,048      51,939
 Selling, general and administrative expenses15,532     12,951
 Interest expense                            1,691         277
 Other, net                                  1,071         730
                                            ------      ------
    Total costs and expenses                74,342      65,897
                                            ------      ------
Earnings before income taxes                 3,735       3,002
Income tax expense                           1,125         820
                                            ------      ------
Net earnings                              $  2,610       2,182
                                           =======      ======
Earnings per share: -  Basic              $    .22         .18
                                           =======      ======
                    -  Diluted                 .21         .18
                                           =======      ======  

See  accompanying  notes  to condensed  consolidated  financial
statements.
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in thousands) December 31, September 30, 1997 1997 Assets (Unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,735 5,818 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $415 and $462, respectively 44,107 48,612 Costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts, less progress billings of $60,774 and $56,451, respectively 52,373 54,633 Inventories 66,098 45,110 Other current assets 3,933 2,794 ------- ------- Total current assets 168,246 156,967 ------- ------- Property, plant and equipment, at cost 138,765 135,002 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 42,557 38,470 ------- ------- Net property, plant and equipment 96,208 96,532 Excess of cost over net assets of purchased businesses, less accumulated amortization of $3,152 and $2,735, respectively 57,647 54,996 Deferred tax assets 47,451 48,510 Other assets 21,043 21,182 ------- ------- $390,595 378,187 ======= ======= Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt $ 44,000 25,500 Accounts payable 33,061 38,238 Advance payments on long-term contracts, less costs incurred of $1,422 and $1,624, respectively 5,548 6,348 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 24,481 24,590 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 107,090 94,676 ------- ------- Other liabilities 26,535 28,548 Long-term debt 49,000 50,000 ------- ------- Total liabilities 182,625 173,224 ------- ------- Commitments and contingencies - - Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 10,000,000 shares - - Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued 12,490,674 and 12,478,328 shares, respectively 125 125 Additional paid-in capital 195,115 194,663 Retained earnings since elimination of deficit of $60,798 at September 30, 1993 18,591 15,981 Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment (101) 196 Minimum pension liability (181) (181) ------- ------- 213,549 210,784 Less treasury stock, at cost; 656,445 and 689,945 common shares, respectively (5,579) (5,821) ------- ------- Total shareholders' equity 207,970 204,963 ------- ------- $390,595 378,187 ======= ======= See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended December 31, ------------------ 1997 1996 ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 2,610 2,182 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash used by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 4,773 2,558 Changes in operating working capital (21,448) (6,374) Other 219 365 ------- ------- Net cash used by operating activities(13,846) (1,269) ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (3,747) (1,753) Acquisition of business, less cash acquired (3,460) - ------- ------- Net cash used by investing activities (7,207) (1,753) ------- ------- Cash flows from financing activities: Net increase in short-term borrowings 18,500 - Principal payments on long-term debt (1,000) (325) Other (530) 15 ------- ------- Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 16,970 (310) ------- ------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (4,083) (3,332) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 5,818 22,209 ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 1,735 18,877 ====== ====== See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 1. Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. For further information refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the fiscal 1998 presentation. The results for the three month period ended December 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire 1998 fiscal year. 2. Earnings Per Share During the three months ended December 31, 1997, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive common share options and performance shares by using the treasury stock method. The number of shares used in the calculation of earnings per share for each period presented is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended December 31, ------------------ 1997 1996 ---- ---- Weighted Average Shares Outstanding - Basic 11,818 11,818 Dilutive Options and Performance Shares 764 227 ------ ------ Adjusted Shares - Diluted 12,582 12,045 ====== ======
Options to purchase 22,750 shares of common stock at $18.00 per share were outstanding during the quarter ended December 31, 1997, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the options' exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares. These options expire in 2007. At December 31, 1996 all outstanding options were included in the computation of dilutive EPS. Approximately 167,000 and 498,000 performance shares were outstanding but unearned at December 31, 1997, and 1996, respectively, and therefore, were not included in the respective computations of diluted EPS. The unearned performance shares expire in 2001. 3. Inventories Inventories consist of the following (dollars in thousands): December 31, September 30, 1997 1997 ------------ ------------- Finished Goods $ 8,923 8,542 Work in process, including long-term contracts 42,146 22,971 Raw materials 15,029 13,597 ------ ------ Total inventories $ 66,098 45,110 ======== ======
Under the contractual arrangements by which progress payments are received, the U.S. Government has a security interest in the inventories associated with specific contracts. Inventories are net of progress payment receipts of $2.7 million and $3.2 million at December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, respectively. Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition Results of Operations - Three months ended December 31, 1997 compared with three months ended December 31, 1996. Net sales of $78.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1998 increased $9.2 million (13.3%) from net sales of $68.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The sales increase in the current quarter reflects additional commercial sales resulting from the Filtertek acquisition ($18.0 million) and higher volume at PTI and Rantec, offset by lower defense sales at Systems & Electronics Inc. (SEI). Commercial sales were $46.7 million (59.8%) and defense sales were $31.4 million (40.2%) for the first quarter of fiscal 1998, compared with commercial and defense sales of $26.5 million (38.5%) and $42.4 million (61.5%), respectively, in the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The Filtertek acquisition effectively increases the commercial content of the Company's annualized sales in fiscal 1998 to over 50%. Order backlog at December 31, 1997 was $238.9 million, compared with $228.2 million at September 30, 1997. During the fiscal 1998 first quarter, new orders aggregating $88.8 million were received, compared with $57.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The increase in fiscal 1998 orders includes $18.9 million related to Filtertek. The most significant orders in the current period were for filtration/fluid flow products, airborne radar systems and fire support mission equipment. The gross profit percentage was 28.2% in the first quarter of fiscal 1998 and 24.6% in the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The margin improvement in the first quarter of fiscal 1998 is due to an improved sales mix throughout the Company. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the first quarter of fiscal 1998 were $15.5 million, or 19.9% of net sales, compared with $13 million, or 18.8% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. The increase in fiscal 1998 SG&A expenses is primarily due to the addition of Filtertek. Interest expense increased to $1.7 million in fiscal 1998 from $.3 million in fiscal 1997 as a result of higher average outstanding borrowings. A significant amount of the outstanding borrowings in 1998 were incurred in February 1997 with the acquisition of Filtertek. Other costs and expenses, net, were $1.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1998 compared to $.7 million in the same period of fiscal 1997. The increase in fiscal 1998 primarily reflects additional goodwill amortization expense associated with the acquisition of Filtertek in February 1997. The effective income tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 1998 was 30.1% compared to 27.3% in the first quarter of fiscal 1997. The fiscal 1998 effective tax rate was favorably impacted by the earnings contributed from the Company's Puerto Rican operations, and refunds received relating to state and local taxes. The effective tax rate during the first quarter of fiscal 1997 was favorably impacted by the settlement of a state tax liability. Management estimates the annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 1998 to be approximately 34%. Financial Condition Working capital decreased to $61.2 million at December 31, 1997 from $62.3 million at September 30, 1997. During the first three months of fiscal 1998: accounts receivable decreased by $4.5 million as a result of cash collections; costs and estimated earnings on long-term contracts and inventories increased in the aggregate by $18.7 million as a result of near-term production requirements (primarily TUNNER 60K Loader); and accounts payable and accrued expenses decreased by $5.3 million through payments necessary to satisfy commitments outstanding at September 30, 1997. Net cash used by operating activities was $13.8 million in the first three months of fiscal 1998 and $1.3 million in the same period of fiscal 1997. The 1998 cash usage was primarily due to the TUNNER 60K Loader inventory requirements at SEI. Capital expenditures were $3.7 million in the first three months of fiscal 1998 compared with $1.8 million in the comparable period of fiscal 1997. Major expenditures in the current period include manufacturing equipment at Filtertek and PTI. On December 31, 1997, the Company completed the purchase of Euroshield OY for approximately $3.5 million. Euroshield, based in Eura, Finland, designs and manufactures high quality shielding products used in the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) industry. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. a) Exhibits Exhibit Number 4 Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 1990 (as most recently amended and restated as of February 7, 1997 and amended as of November 21, 1997) among the Company, Defense Holding Corp., the Banks listed therein and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as agent. b) Reports on Form 8-K - There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended December 31, 1997. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION /s/ Philip M. Ford ------------------- Philip M. Ford Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (as duly authorized officer and principal financial Dated: February 12, 1998 officer of the registrant)
 

5 1,000 3-MOS SEP-30-1998 DEC-31-1997 1,735 0 44,522 415 66,098 168,246 138,765 42,557 390,595 107,090 0 0 0 125 207,845 390,595 78,077 78,077 56,048 71,580 1,071 0 1,691 3,735 1,125 2,610 0 0 0 2,610 .22 .21 THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE $61 MILLION OF COSTS AND ESTIMATED EARNINGS ON LONG-TERM CONTRACTS.
          Amendment  dated as of November 21,  1997,  to  the
          Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 1990 (as
          amended  and restated as of February 7, 1997)  (the
          "Credit   Agreement"),   among   ESCO   Electronics
          Corporation,   a  Missouri  corporation   ("ESCO"),
          Defense Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation  (the
          "Borrower"), the Banks party thereto (the  "Banks")
          and  Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,  as
          agent (the "Agent").

  A.   Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
shall  have  the  meanings assigned to  them  in  the  Credit
Agreement, as amended hereby.

  B.    ESCO  and  the Borrower have requested  that  certain
provisions  of the Credit Agreement be amended as  set  forth
herein.  The  Banks  are  willing  to  so  amend  the  Credit
Agreement  subject  to  the terms and  conditions  set  forth
herein.

     Accordingly,  in consideration of the mutual  agreements
herein  contained and other good and valuable  consideration,
the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
  
     Section  1.  Amendments. (a) Section 1.01 of the  Credit
Agreement  is  amended  to add the following  definitions  in
alphabetical order:
  
     "Euroshield" means Euroshield OY.
  
     "Euroshield  Acquisition  Corporation"  means  EMC  Test
Systems or any other Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary.
  
     "PTI Filters" means Sanmar - PTI Filters Limited.
  
     (b)  The second proviso in the second sentence of Section
5.08  of  the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated
as follows:

     provided  further,  that  the  Borrower  shall  not  be
     required to pledge or create a security interest in any
     of  the  assets of SFL, FBV FGMBH, FSA, Filtrotec,  PPD
     (including the capital stock of PPD) or Euroshield, nor
     shall   SFL,  FBV,  FGMBH,  FSA,  Filtrotec,   PPD   or
     Euroshield  be  required  to  become  a  party  to  the
     Guarantee Agreement or the Security Agreement, and  the
     pledge by the Borrower of the capital stock of SFL, the
     pledge by Filtertek of the capital stock of FBV, FGMBH,
     FSA   and  Filtrotec,  and  the  pledge  by  Euroshield
     Acquisition  Corporation  of  the  capital   stock   of
     Euroshield  shall be limited to 65% of  each  class  of
     such capital stock.
        
     (c)  Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
and restated as follows:
  
        Section 5.09. Subsidiaries; Partnerships. ESCO  will
     not   have  any  direct  Subsidiaries  other  than  the
     Borrower  and any Restricted Subsidiaries. The Borrower
     will  not  have  any  direct or indirect  Subsidiaries,
     other   than   the  Specified  Subsidiaries   and   any
     Subsidiaries  resulting from any  Investments  made  in
     accordance with clause (f), (l), or (n) of Section 5.16
     and any restricted Subsidiaries, all of which shall  be
     direct  Subsidiaries (except that (i) PPD  shall  be  a
     direct  Subsidiary  of SFL, (ii)  Comtrak  shall  be  a
     direct Subsidiary of SEI, (iii) EMC Test Systems  shall
     be a limited partnership as described in the definition
     of "EMC Test Systems Reorganization", (iv) Rantec shall
     be  a  direct Subsidiary of Rantec Holding as described
     in the definition of "EMC Test Systems Reorganization",
     (v)  Rantec Commercial shall be a direct Subsidiary  of
     Rantec  as  described in the definition  of  "EMC  Test
     Systems  Reorganization", (vi) FBV,  FGMBH,  Filtrotec,
     FDPR and FDB shall be direct subsidiaries of Filtertek,
     (vii)  FSA shall be a subsidiary of Filtertek and  FBV,
     and   (vii)   Euroshield  shall  be  a  subsidiary   of
     Euroshield Acquisition Corporation). Neither  ESCO  nor
     the  Borrower  will, and they will not  permit  any  of
     their  Subsidiaries to, enter into any  partnership  or
     joint  venture other than EMC Test Systems, PTI Filters
     and a Permitted Joint Venture. Notwithstanding anything
     to  the Contrary contained in this Section (i) Uniexcel
     shall  be  a  partially-owned Subsidiary of  SFL,  (ii)
     Filtertek de Puerto Rico S.A. may issue Class B  Common
     Stock  to  certain  of  its  senior  executives,  (iii)
     Filtertek  may own less than all of, but not less  than
     85%  of,  the outstanding common stock of FDB and  (iv)
     PTI may own not less than 40% and not more than 49%  of
     the outstanding common stock of PTI Filters.
        
     (d)  Section 5.11 (a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
amended to add the following clauses (xiii) and (xiv) at the
end of such Section:

   (xiii)    Debt consisting of unsecured guarantees by ESCO,
  the Borrower or PTI of 49% of the outstanding amount of loans
  to PTI Filters made by local banks in India; provided that
  the aggregate principal amount of such unsecured guarantees
  at any time outstanding under this clause (xiii) shall not
  exceed $800,000; and
     
   (xiv)     following the completion of the acquisition  of
  Euroshield by Euroshield Acquisition Corporation, unsecured
  and secured debt of Euroshield and unsecured guarantees by
  ESCO, the Borrower or Euroshield Acquisition Corporation of
  Debt of Euroshield, in each case, in an amount not to exceed
  $2,500,000.

     (d)  Section 5.16 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
to  add the following clauses (m) and (n) at the end of such
Section:

     (m)  if at the time thereof and after giving effect thereto
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Investments
by PTI in PTI Filters consisting of (i) contributions of cash
and equipment with a book value not exceeding $255,000, which
shall  be treated as an equity contribution, and (ii)  loans
made to, or guarantees of loans made to, PTI Filters, to the
extent  permitted  by  clause (xiii) of  Section  5.11  (a);
provided  that all Investments in PTI Filters, made pursuant
to  this clause (m), including any guarantees of Debt of PTI
Filters, shall be treated as an Investment made pursuant  to
clause  (f)  of  this  Section for purposes  of  determining
compliance with the limitations of such clause (f).

     (n)  if at the time thereof and after giving effect thereto
no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Investments
by   Euroshield  Acquisition  Corporation  to   effect   the
acquisition  of Euroshield consisting of (i)  $3,500,000  of
cash, (ii) $750,000 of deferred purchase price payable  over
three  years following such acquisition, and (iii)  $750,000
payable in the third year if certain performance targets are
met;  provided  that  all Investments  in  Euroshield,  made
pursuant to this caluse (n) shall be treated as an Investment
made pursuant to clause (f) of this Section for purposes  of
determining  compliance with the limitations of such  clause
(f).

     (e)  Section 5.17 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended
to add the following clause (n) at the end of such Section:

     (n)   Liens  of Euroshield to secure Debt of Euroshield
       permitted by Section 5.11(a) (xiv).

     Section 2. Representations and Warranties. Each of ESCO
and  the  Borrower  hereby represents and warrants  to  each
Bank, on and as of the date hereof, that:
     
     (a)  This Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and
       delivered by each of ESCO and the Borrower, and each of this
       Amendment and the Credit Agreement as amended by this
       Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
       of each of ESCO and the Borrower, enforceable in accordance
       with its terms.

     (b)  The representations and warranties of each of ESCO and
       Borrower contained in the Credit Agreement and in each other
       Loan Document are true and correct in all respects with the
       same effect as if made on and as of the date hereof, except
       to the extent that such representations and warranties
       expressly relate to an earlier date.

     (c)  After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default has
       occurred and is continuing.

     Section  3. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall  become
effective  upon receipt by the Agent of counterparts  hereof
signed by each of ESCO, the Borrower and the Required Banks.
     
     Section  4 Miscellaneous (a) This Amendment constitutes
the  entire agreement and understanding of the parties  with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any  and
all  prior  agreements and understandings, oral or  written,
relating to the subject matter hereof.
     
     (b)  Section headings used herein are for convenience of
reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or
to   be  taken  into  consideration  in  interpreting,  this
Amendment.

     (c)  This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the law of the State of New York.

     (d)  Each reference to a party hereto shall be deemed to
include  its  successors and assigns, all of whom  shall  be
bound  by this Amendment and to whose benefit the provisions
of this Amendment shall inure.

     (e)   This  Amendment may be executed in any number  of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all  of
which,  when  taken  together,  shall  constitute  but   one
instrument.

     (f)  Except as specifically amended or modified hereby, the
Credit Agreement shall continue in full force and effect  in
accordance with the provisions thereof.

     In witness whereof, the parties hereto have caused this
Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized
officers as of the date first above written:


                         ESCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
                         
                         by
                           /S/  Donald H. Nonnenkamp
                         ---------------------------
                         Name: Donald H. Nonnenkamp
                         Title: Vice President & Treasurer
                         
                         DEFENSE HOLDINGS CORP.
                         
                         by
                           /S/  Philip M. Ford
                         ---------------------
                         Name: Philip M. Ford
                         Title: Sr. Vice President & CFO
                         
                         MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF
                         NEW YORK, individually and as Agent
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Kevin J. O'Brien
                         -----------------------
                         Name: Kevin J. O'Brien
                         Title: Vice President
                         
                         NATIONSBANK, N.A.
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Kenneth J. Schult
                         ------------------------
                         Name: Kenneth J. Schult
                         Title: Vice President
                         
                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Christopher C. Jacobs
                         ----------------------------
                         Name: Christopher C. Jacobs
                         Title: Assistant Treasurer
                         
                         THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
                         
                         by
                           /s/  F.C.H. Ashby
                         -------------------
                         Name: F.C.H. Ashby
                         Title: Senior Manager Loan
                                Operations
                              
                         THE SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED
                         
                         by
                         
                           /s/  Teresa A. Lekich
                         -----------------------
                         Name: Teresa A. Lekich
                         Title: Vice President
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Michael F. Murphy
                         ------------------------
                         Name: Michael F. Murphy
                         Title: Vice President & Manager

                         FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK OF
                         NORTH CAROLINA
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Glenn Edwards
                         --------------------
                         Name: Glenn Edwards
                         Title: Vice President
                         
                         SANWA BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION
                         
                         by
                           /s/  Lawrence J. Placek
                         -------------------------
                         Name: Lawrence J. Placek
                         Title: Vice President