Note 8. Employee Benefit Plans

A. Stock Plans. The Company has stock option plans which provide for the issuance to eligible employees of incentive and non-qualified stock options, which may expire as much as 10 and 12 years, respectively, from the date of grant, at prices not less than the fair market value on the date of grant. At June 30, 1997, there were 6,200 participants in the plans. The aggregate purchase price for options outstanding at June 30, 1997 was approximately $615 million. The options expire between 1997 and 2007.

A summary of changes in the stock option plans for the three years ended June 30, 1997 is as follows:

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Number of Options
Weighted Average Price
Years ended June 30
1997
1996
1995
1997
1996
1995
Options outstanding, beginning of year
22,707
20,724
19,340
$25
$21
$18
Options granted
3,566
6,080
5,384
$45
$37
$28
Options exercised
(2,952)
(2,445)
(2,282)
$18
$14
$11
Options canceled
(2,036)
(1,652)
(1,718)
$29
$28
$24
Options outstanding, end of year
21,285
22,707
20,724
$29
$25
$21
Options exercisable, end of year
7,250
6,677
5,652
$19
$16
$14
Shares available for future grants, end of year
8,485
10,015
4,442
Shares reserved for issuance under stock option plans
29,770
32,722
25,166

Summarized information about stock options outstanding as of June 30, 1997 is as follows:

Outstanding
Exercisable
Exercise Price Range
# of Shares
(In Thousands)
Remaining
(Life In Years)
Average Exercise Price
# of Shares
(In Thousands)
Average Exercise Price
Under $10
482
1.4
$9
482
$9
$10 to $20
3,613
3.3
$15
3,386
$14
$20 to $30
7,630
6.2
$25
2,597
$25
$30 to $40
6,065
8.2
$36
776
$35
Over $40
3,495
9.5
$46
9
$42

The Company has stock purchase plans under which eligible employees have the ability to purchase shares of common stock at 85% of the lower of market value as of the date of purchase election or end of the plan. Approximately 2.0 million shares are scheduled for issuance on December 31, 1997 and on December 31, 1998. Approximately 1.8 million and 1.9 million shares were issued during the years ended June 30, 1997 and 1996 respectively. At June 30, 1997 and 1996, there were approximately 8.6 million shares reserved for purchase under the plan. Included in liabilities as of June 30, 1997 and 1996 are employee stock purchase plan withholdings of approximately $56 million and $51 million, respectively.

The Company has elected to continue to follow APB 25 to account for its stock plans. FASB Statement No. 123 requires that the Company disclose the pro forma net income impact of options and stock purchase plan rights granted subsequent to July 1, 1995. The fair value for these instruments was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

Years ended June 30,
1997
1996
Risk-free interest rate
5.8-6.6%
5.2-6.5%
Dividend yield
1.0-1.1%
1.1%
Volatility factor
12.7-13.2%
11.9-13.3%
Expected life:
Options
6.2
6.2
Purchase rights
2.0
2.0
Weighted average fair value:
Options
$12.43
$9.53
Purchase rights
$11.94
$9.53

The Company's pro forma information, amortizing the fair value of the stock options and stock purchase plan rights issued in 1997 and 1996 over their vesting period, is as follows:

(In millions, except per share amounts)

Years Ended June 30,
1997
1996
Pro forma net earnings
$492
$442
Pro forma earnings per share
$1.69
$1.53

The Company has a restricted stock plan under which shares of common stock have been sold for nominal consideration to certain key employees. These shares are restricted as to transfer and in certain circumstances must be resold to the Company at the original purchase price. The restrictions lapse over periods of up to six years. During the years ended June 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Company issued 148,800, 186,800, and 106,300 restricted shares, and repurchased 20,000, 47,200 and 50,200 shares, respectively.

B. Pension Plan. The Company has a defined benefit cash balance pension plan covering substantially all U.S. employees, under which employees are credited with a percentage of base pay each plus 7% interest. Employees are fully vested on completion of five years service. The Company's policy is to make contributions within the range determined by generally accepted actuarial principles.

The plan's funded status is as follows:

(In thousands)

June 30,
1997
1996
Funded plan assets at market value, primarily stocks and bonds
$264,400
$191,400
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
Vested benefits
170,900
140,900
Non-vested benefits
9,200
8,200
Accumulated/projected benefit obligation
180,100
149,100
Plan assets in excess of projected benefits
84,300
42,300
Prior service cost
(2,500)
(3,400)
Transition obligation
1,200
1,500
Unrecognized net actuarial loss due to different experience than that assumed
(8,100)
22,700
Prepaid pension cost
$74,900
$63,100

The components of net pension expense were as follows:

(In thousands)

Years ended June 30,
1997
1996
1995
Service cost - benefits earned during the period
$15,500
$13,600
$12,600
Interest cost on projected benefits
11,800
10,000
8,400
Return on plan assets
(53,500)
(20,000)
(11,600)
Net amortization and deferral
36,500
9,900
3,600
$10,300
$13,500
$13,000

Assumptions used to develop the actuarial present value of benefit obligations for the three years ended June 30, 1997 were:

1997
1996
1995
Discount rate
7.75%
8.0%
8.0%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets
8.5%
8.5%
8.5%
Rate of increase in compensation levels
6.0%
6.0%
6.0%

C. Retirement and Savings Plan. The Company has a 401(k) retirement and savings plan which allows eligible employees to contribute up to 12% of their compensation annually. The Company matches a portion of this contribution which amounted to approximately $19 million, $18 million and $11 million for calendar years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.