SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                 PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
                  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                            (Amendment No.   )
                                     
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [  ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]  Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
     Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12

                                GRACO INC.
             (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
                                     
                
 (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(j)(2)
     or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
[ ]  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
     0-11.

     1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:____
          ___________________________________________________________________
     
     2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:_______
     
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     pursuant to Exchange Act Rule O-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
     filing fee is calculated and state how it was  determined): ____________
     
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     5)   Total fee paid:____________________________________________________

[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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                                 [LOGO]    
                                     
                                GRACO INC.
                        4050 Olson Memorial Highway
                    Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422-5332

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Dear Shareholder:

   Please join us on Tuesday, May 2, 1995, at 3:30 p.m. for Graco's  Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders in the first floor auditorium of the  Russell  J.
Gray Technical Center, 88-11th Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  At this meeting, shareholders will consider the following matters:

  1.  Election of three directors to serve for three-year terms.

  2.  Ratification of the selection of independent auditors for the current
year.

   3.   Transaction of such other business as may properly come before  the
meeting.

   Shareholders of record at the close of business on March  6,  1995,  are
entitled to vote at this meeting or any adjournment.

   We  encourage you to join us and participate in the meeting.  If you are
unable  to  do so, a Proxy Card is enclosed for your use.  When marked  and
returned,  it  will  authorize us to vote your  shares  according  to  your
instructions.

  If you do not return the Proxy Card and do not vote your shares in person
at  the  meeting,  you will lose your right to vote on  matters  which  are
important  to  you as a shareholder.  Accordingly, if you do  not  plan  to
attend  the  meeting,  please execute and return the  enclosed  Proxy  Card
promptly.  This will not prevent you from voting in person if you decide to
attend the meeting.

Sincerely,



/s/ David A. Koch                  /s/ Robert M. Mattison
David A. Koch                      Robert M. Mattison
Chairman And                       Secretary
Chief Executive Officer


March 29, 1995
Golden Valley, Minnesota



                          YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
     We  urge  you to mark, date and sign the enclosed Proxy  Card  and
     return  it  in the accompanying envelope as soon as possible.   If
     you  attend the meeting, you may still revoke your proxy and  vote
     in person if you wish.


                                     
                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                      Page
       
       Election of Directors                                             2
         Nominees and Other Directors                                    2
         Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors;
           Nomination of Directors                                       3
         Executive Compensation                                          4
           Report of the Management Organization and Compensation
              Committee                                                  4
           Comparative Stock Performance Graph                           6
           Summary Compensation Table                                    7
           Option/SAR Grants Table (Last Fiscal Year)                    8
           Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises In Last Fiscal Year and
              Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values                          9
           Barry A. Calhoon Retirement Agreement                         9
           Retirement Arrangements                                       9
           Directors' Fees                                              10
         Beneficial Ownership of Shares                                 10
           Principal Shareholders                                       11
           Section 16 Compliance                                        11
       Ratification of Appointment of Independent Public Auditors       12
       Other Matters                                                    12
       Shareholder Proposals                                            12







     
     A  copy  of  the  1994  Graco Inc. Annual Report  on  Form  10-K,
     including  the  Financial Statements and the Financial  Statement
     Schedule,  can be obtained free of charge by calling  (612)  623-
     6672 or writing:
     
                                 Treasurer
                                Graco Inc.
                               P.O. Box 1441
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota
                                55440-1441
     
     
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                 [LOGO]                                        
                                        
                                GRACO INC.
                        4050 Olson Memorial Highway
                   Golden Valley, Minnesota  55422-5332
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                                     
                              PROXY STATEMENT
                    FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD MAY 2, 1995
  
    Your  proxy,  represented by the accompanying Proxy  Card,  is  solicited by
the  Board  of  Directors of Graco Inc. in connection with  the  Annual  Meeting
of  the  Shareholders  of  the  Company to be held  on  May  2,  1995,  and  any
adjournments of that meeting.

    The  costs  of  the  solicitation,  including  the  cost  of  preparing  and
mailing  the  Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement, will be  paid  by  the
Company.   Solicitation  will be primarily by mailing this  Proxy  Statement  to
all  shareholders  entitled to vote at the meeting.  Proxies  may  be  solicited
by  officers  of  the  Company personally, but at no  compensation  in  addition
to   their   regular  compensation  as  officers.   The  Company  may  reimburse
brokers,  banks  and  others holding shares in their names  for  third  parties,
for  the  cost  of  forwarding proxy material to, and  obtaining  proxies  from,
third  parties.   The  Proxy  Statement and  accompanying  Proxy  Card  will  be
first mailed to shareholders on or about March 29, 1995.

   Proxies  may  be revoked at any time prior to being voted by  giving  written
notice   of   revocation  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Company.   All   properly
executed  proxies  received  by management will  be  voted  in  the  manner  set
forth  in  this  Proxy Statement or as otherwise specified  by  the  shareholder
giving the proxy.

   Shares  voted as abstentions on any matter (or a "withhold vote  for"  as  to
directors)  will  be  counted as shares that are present and  entitled  to  vote
for  purposes  of  determining the presence of a quorum at the  meeting  and  as
unvoted,  although  present and entitled to vote, for  purposes  of  determining
the  approval  of  each matter as to which the shareholder  has  abstained.   If
a  broker  submits  a  proxy  which indicates that  the  broker  does  not  have
discretionary  authority  as  to  certain  shares  to  vote  on  one   or   more
matters,  those  shares  will  be  counted  as  shares  that  are  present   and
entitled  to  vote  for  purposes of determining the presence  of  a  quorum  at
the  meeting,  but  will  not  be considered as present  and  entitled  to  vote
with respect to such matters.

   Only  shareholders of record as of the close of business on  March  6,  1995,
may  vote  at  the meeting or at any adjournment.  As of that date,  there  were
issued  and  outstanding  11,377,904 common shares  of  the  Company,  the  only
class  of  securities  entitled to vote at the meeting.  Each  share  registered
to  a  shareholder  of  record is entitled to one vote.   Cumulative  voting  is
not permitted.
                                     1


(Proposal 1)   ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 

NOMINEES AND OTHER DIRECTORS

   The  Board  of  Directors of the Company consists  of  ten  members,  two  of
whom  are  executive  officers  of  the  Company.   Members  of  the  Board   of
Directors  serve  for  three-year  terms, with  either  three  or  four  of  the
directors  being  elected each year.  Vacancies that occur  during  a  term  may
be  filled  by  a  majority vote of the directors then in  office,  though  less
than  a  quorum,  and  directors so chosen hold office for a  term  expiring  at
the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

   At  the  forthcoming Annual Meeting, three persons are to be elected  to  the
Company's  Board  of  Directors.   The  Board  has  nominated  Dale  R.  Olseth,
Charles  M.  Osborne and William G. Van Dyke for three-year  terms  expiring  in
1998.   One  nominee,  Dale  R.  Olseth,  has  previously  been  elected  as   a
director of the Company by the shareholders.

   Two  current  directors,  John  W. Lacey and Curtis  B.  Thompson,  will  not
stand for re-election at the forthcoming Annual Meeting.

   Unless  otherwise  instructed  not to vote for  the  election  of  directors,
proxies  will  be  voted  to  elect the nominees.   A  director  candidate  must
receive  the  vote  of a majority of the voting power of the shares  present  in
order to be elected.

   The  following  information,  as  of March  6,  1995,  is  given  as  to  the
nominees  for  election  and as to the seven directors  whose  terms  of  office
will  continue  after the Annual Meeting.  Except as noted below,  each  of  the
nominees  and  directors  has  held  the same  position,  or  another  executive
position with the same employer, for the past five years.

Nominees for election at this meeting to terms expiring in 1998:

Dale R. Olseth

  Mr.   Olseth,   64,   is  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive   Officer   of   BSI
  Corporation,  a  biotechnical  company specializing  in  the  modification  of
  material  surfaces.    Mr.  Olseth has been a director  of  Graco  since  1972
  and is a director of The Toro Company.
  
Charles M. Osborne

  Mr.  Osborne,  41,  is  Senior  Vice President  -  Administration/Finance  and
  Chief  Financial  Officer  of Deluxe Corporation,  a  printer  of  checks  and
  business  forms  and  a  supplier of electronic  processing  services  to  the
  financial   payments  industry.   Mr.  Osborne  is  a  director  of   Computer
  Petroleum Corporation.

William G. Van Dyke

  Mr.  Van  Dyke,  49,  is  President and Chief Operating Officer  of  Donaldson
  Company,  Inc.,  a  diversified  manufacturer of  air  and  liquid  filtration
  products.  Mr. Van Dyke is also a director of Donaldson Company, Inc.

Directors whose terms continue until 1996:

David A. Koch

  Mr.  Koch,  64,  is  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  Graco  Inc.,  and
  has  been  a  director  since  1962.  Mr. Koch  is  a  director  of  ReliaStar
  Financial Corp.

Richard D. McFarland

  Mr.  McFarland,  65,  is  Chairman, Inter-Regional Financial  Group,  Inc.,  a
  diversified  financial  services  company.   Dain  Bosworth  Incorporated,   a
  subsidiary   of   Inter-Regional  Financial   Group,   Inc.,   has   performed
  investment  banking  services  for Graco in the  past  and  this  relationship
  is  expected  to  continue.   Mr.  McFarland has  been  a  director  of  Graco
  since 1969.

Lee R. Mitau

  Mr.   Mitau,  46,  Attorney  at  Law,  is  a  Partner  of  Dorsey  &  Whitney.
  Dorsey  &  Whitney  has  provided legal services to  Graco  in  the  past  and
  continues  to  provide  such  services.  Mr. Mitau  has  been  a  director  of
  Graco since May 1990.
  
                                     2
  

Directors whose terms continue until 1997:

George Aristides

  Mr.  Aristides,  59,  is  President and Chief Operating  Officer,  Graco  Inc.
  He  was  formerly  Executive  Vice President  from  March  to  June  1993  and
  Vice   President,  Manufacturing  Operations  and  Controller  from  1985   to
  March 1993.  Mr. Aristides has been a director of Graco since June 1993.

Ronald O. Baukol

  Mr.   Baukol,  57,  is  Vice  President,  Asia  Pacific,  Canada   and   Latin
  America,   3M,   a   diversified  manufacturer  of   industrial,   commercial,
  consumer  and  health  care  products.  Mr. Baukol  has  been  a  director  of
  Graco since May 1989.

Joe R. Lee

  Mr.   Lee,   54,  is  Vice  Chairman,  General  Mills,  Inc.,  a   diversified
  marketer  of  packaged  food products and operator of  restaurants.   Mr.  Lee
  has  been  a  director  of Graco since February 1994  and  is  a  director  of
  General Mills, Inc.

Gerard C. Planchon

  Mr. Planchon, 63, is retired.  Prior to June 1992, he was Executive Vice
  President, Global Business, Medtronic, Inc., a developer and
  manufacturer of biomedical devices.  Mr. Planchon has been a director of
  Graco since May 1991.

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS

   The  Board  of  Directors  has an Audit Committee, a Management  Organization
and  Compensation  Committee, a Quality and Technology Committee,  and  a  Board
Structure and Policy Committee.

   The  Audit  Committee  was created by the Board of Directors  to  review  the
accounting,  control  and  legal  compliance  policies  and  procedures  of  the
Company.   The  Committee  currently consists of four  independent,  nonemployee
members  of  the  Board  of  Directors, who are Messrs.  Lacey,  Mitau,  Olseth,
and Planchon.  Three meetings of this Committee were held during 1994.

   The  Management  Organization and Compensation Committee  currently  consists
of  four  independent  nonemployee members of the Board of  Directors,  who  are
Messrs.  Baukol,  Lacey,  McFarland and Thompson.  This Committee  develops  the
Company's  philosophy  on  executive compensation, determines  the  compensation
of  the  executive  officers  and administers the  Company's  stock  option  and
incentive plans.  Three meetings of this Committee were held in 1994.

   The  Quality  and  Technology Committee reviews and evaluates  the  Company's
technology  and  manufacturing  programs,  policies,  practices,  personnel  and
investments,  and  assesses its technical resources  and  level  of  proprietary
protection.    Current  members  of  this  Committee  are   Messrs.   Aristides,
Baukol,  Koch,  Planchon  and  Thompson.  One  meeting  of  this  Committee  was
held in 1994.

   The  Board  Structure  and  Policy Committee evaluates  policies  related  to
Board  membership  and  procedure, reviews and  makes  recommendations  on  fees
and   benefits  for  directors,  and  recommends  to  the  Board  of   Directors
nominees  for  the  position  of director.  Current members  of  this  Committee
are   Messrs.  Aristides,  Koch,  Mitau,  and  Olseth.   Two  meetings  of  this
Committee   were  held  in  1994.  The  Committee  will  consider  shareholders'
recommendations  for  nomination of directors.  Any  recommendations  should  be
made  in  writing  and addressed to the Committee in care of  the  Secretary  of
the Company at the Company's corporate headquarters.

   In  addition,  shareholders  may  nominate candidates  for  election  to  the
Board   of  Directors.    The  By-laws  provide  that  timely  notice  must   be
received   by   the  Secretary  of  the  Company  at  the  Company's   corporate
headquarters  not  less  than 60 days prior to the date of  the  Annual  Meeting
of  Shareholders.  The nominations must set forth (i) the  name,  age,  business
and  residential  addresses  and  principal occupation  or  employment  of  each
nominee   proposed  in  such  notice;  (ii)  the  name  and   address   of   the
shareholder   giving  the  notice,  as  it  appears  in  the   Company's   stock
register;  (iii)  the  number of shares of capital stock of  the  Company  which
are  beneficially  owned  by  each such nominee and  by  such  shareholder;  and
(iv)   such  other  information  concerning  each  such  nominee  as  would   be
required,  under  the  rules  of the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  in  a
proxy  statement  soliciting proxies for the election  of  such  nominee.   Such
notice  must  also  include a signed consent of each such nominee  to  serve  as
a director of the Company, if elected.

   During  1994,  the  Board  of Directors met six  times.   Attendance  of  the
Company's   directors   at  all  Board  and  Committee  meetings   averaged   91
percent.   During  1994,  each  director,  with  the  exception  of  Ronald   O.
Baukol,  attended  at least 75 percent of the aggregate number  of  meetings  of
the Board and of all committees of the Board on which he served.

                                     3


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Report of the Management Organization and Compensation Committee

Overview

   The  Management  Organization and Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  of
Directors  (hereafter  called  "the Committee") is  responsible  for  developing
the  Company's  philosophy  on  executive compensation.   Consistent  with  this
philosophy,  the  Committee  develops  compensation  programs  for   the   Chief
Executive  Officer  and  each of the other executive officers  of  the  Company.
Compensation  plans  which provide for grants or awards  of  Company  stock  are
approved  by  the  Board of Directors and the shareholders of the  Company.   On
an  annual  basis,  the  Committee determines the compensation  to  be  paid  to
the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  other  executive  officers,  based  on  the
provisions  of  the  compensation plans.  The  Committee  is  composed  of  four
independent nonemployee directors.

Executive Compensation Philosophy and Program

    It   is   the   Company's  philosophy  to  set  its  executive  compensation
structure  at  levels  which  are  competitive  with  those  of  durable   goods
manufacturers   of   comparable   size.   These   levels   are   determined   by
consulting   a   variety  of  independent  third  party  executive  compensation
surveys.  Executive compensation is then delivered through:

o   base   salaries   which  recognize  the  experience  and   performance   of
individual executives;

o   aggressive, performance-driven incentives which:
    - enhance shareholder value,
    - balance annual and long-term corporate objectives, and
    - provide meaningful amounts of company stock; and

o   competitive benefits.
  
   The   specific  components  of  the  executive  compensation   program   are
described below:
  
   Base  salary  ranges  are established by the Committee,  using  the  fiftieth
percentile   salary   and   trend  data  for  comparably-sized   durable   goods
manufacturers,   as   published  in  a  variety  of  independent   third   party
executive  compensation  surveys.   The actual  base  salary  of  each  officer,
within  the  range,  is  determined  by the executive's  performance,  which  is
evaluated  annually  by  the  Chief Executive  Officer  and  the  President  and
reviewed   and  approved  by  the  Committee.   Both  financial  and  management
factors are considered in the evaluation.
  
   The  Annual  Bonus Plan, available in 1994 to 10 executive  officers  and  58
other  management  employees,  is structured to  encourage  growth  in  earnings
by   the   Company.   The  Plan  determines  individual  awards  for   executive
officers   by   measuring  Company  performance  compared   to   corporate   net
earnings  growth  targets  established by the Committee  in  the  first  quarter
of  each  year.   Net  earnings targets are always  set  to  exceed  prior  year
earnings  results.   The  Annual Bonus Plan provides an  award  ranging  from  0
to  80  percent  of  base  salary  for the Chief  Executive  Officer,  0  to  70
percent  of  base  salary  for the President, 0 to 60  percent  of  base  salary
for  each  Vice  President who is a Board-elected officer, and 0 to  50  percent
of   base  salary  for  each  Vice  President  appointed  by  management.    The
competitive  target  award  for the Annual Bonus Plan  is  40  percent  of  base
salary  for  the  Chief Executive Officer, 35 percent of  base  salary  for  the
President,  30 percent of base salary for each Vice President who  is  a  Board-
elected  Officer,  and  25 percent of base salary for each  Vice  President  who
is   appointed   by  management.   The  actual  Annual  Bonus  Plan   award   is
determined   by   company   performance   against   pre-established    financial
objectives.    Due   principally  to  strong  performance   by   the   operating
divisions   in  North  America  and  significant  success  in  the  control   of
expenses,  earnings  growth performance targets were exceeded  in  1994.   As  a
result,  awards  were  made to executive officers under the  1994  Annual  Bonus
Plan.   Under  the  Chairman's  Award Program, the Chief  Executive  Officer  is
also  able  to  grant  a  total of $100,000 in individual  discretionary  awards
to  recognize  significant  contributions by  selected  executive  officers  and
other management employees.

    The   Executive  Long  Term  Incentive  Program  is  structured   to   align
interests  of  executive  officers with those  of  all  Graco  shareholders,  by
providing  both  the  risks  and  rewards of stock  ownership.   The  Long  Term
Incentive  program  for  1994  consisted  of  stock  options  granted   to   the
executive  officers.   The  number of stock options granted  to  each  executive
officer  was  determined  using  competitive data for  comparably-sized  durable
goods   manufacturers,  as  reflected  in  independent  third  party   long-term
incentive  surveys.   These  options were non-incentive  stock  options  with  a
10-year  duration  and a vesting schedule of:  25 percent after  2  years,  with
25  percent  additional  vesting  after  years  3, 4  and  5.   Additional stock

                                     4


options  were  awarded  to selected executive officers  as  a  one-time  special
recognition  for  their efforts to reduce ongoing operating  costs  and  improve
business   structure  and  processes.   The  value  of  the  restricted   shares
remaining  to  be  vested  under  the 1991-1993 Executive  Long  Term  Incentive
program was considered in determining stock option awards made during 1994.

   Executive  officers  are  eligible to participate  in  the  employee  benefit
programs available to all Graco employees.

Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer

    On  an  annual  basis,  the  Committee  is  responsible  for  reviewing  the
individual  performance  of  the Chief Executive Officer,  David  A.  Koch,  and
determining   appropriate  adjustments  in  base  pay  and  award  opportunities
under the Annual Bonus Plan and Executive Long Term Incentive Program.

   In  reviewing Mr. Koch's performance, the Committee considered  a  number  of
positive  changes  within  the  Company during  the  past  year,  including  (a)
increased  focus  on  growing  the  Company's core  businesses  on  a  worldwide
basis;  (b)  commitment  to  new product development;  (c)  continuing  progress
in  the  development  of  cellular  manufacturing;  (d)  the  Company's  ongoing
business   process   improvements  through  the  ISO  9000  quality   management
system;  (e)  re-engineering efforts focused on increased  efficiency  and  cost
reductions  in  the  Company's  sales  processes  and  the  industrial   systems
business;  and  (f)  corporate-wide cost control  and  expense  management.   It
is  the  Committee's  belief that these actions position  the  Company  to  take
advantage  of  continued resurgence in domestic markets and  renewed  growth  in
international   markets.   The  Committee  and  the  Board  of   Directors   are
supportive  of  these  changes and Mr. Koch's overall  strategic  direction  and
management of the business.

   The  Committee  believes  that  the Company's earnings  performance  improved
significantly   in   1994  due  to  the  positive  changes   cited   above   and
particularly  to  expense  reduction and cost control  throughout  the  Company.
Graco's  total  return to shareholders significantly exceeded the  S&P  500  and
the   Dow   Jones  Factory  Index  during  the  past  year.   (See   Five   Year
Comparative  Stock  Performance  Graph  below.)   The  Committee  believes  that
the  Company's  performance will continue to improve as  the  world's  economies
recover.

   In  recognition  of  the  factors noted above, the  Committee  increased  Mr.
Koch's  salary  from  $350,000  to  $365,000  per  year,  effective  January  1,
1995.


                                   The Members of the Committee


                          Mr. Ronald O. Baukol         Mr. John W. Lacey
                       Mr. Richard D. McFarland      Mr. Curtis B. Thompson

                                     5




Comparative Stock Performance Graph

   The  graph  below  compares the cumulative total shareholder  return  on  the
common  stock  of  the  Company  for  the  last  five  fiscal  years  with   the
cumulative  total  return  of the S&P 500 Index and of  the  Dow  Jones  Factory
Equipment  Index  over  the same period (assuming the  value  of  investment  in
Graco  common  stock  and  each index was 100 on  December  30,  1989,  and  all
dividends were reinvested).

                                     
                                     
              Five Year* Cumulative Total Shareholder Returns
                                     
                                     
                                     
   
[GRAPH-Table Below Lists Data Points Included in Graph]



          Five Year* Cummulative Total Shareholder Returns

Dow Jones Year Graco Inc. S&P 500 Factory Equipment 1989 $100 $100 $100 1990 131 97 83 1991 151 126 104 1992 144 136 117 1993 227 150 137 1994 238 152 130 *Fiscal Year Ended Last Friday in December
6 Summary Compensation Table The following table shows both annual and long-term compensation awarded to or earned by the Chief Executive Officer and by the four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company whose total annual salary and bonus for 1994 exceeded $100,000.
Long Term Compensation ----------------------------------------- Annual Compensation Awards Payouts ------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ------- (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) Other Restricted Securities All Other Annual Stock Underlying LTIP Compen- Name and Salary Bonus Compen- Award(s) Options/ Payouts sation Principal Position Year ($) ($) sation ($) ($) SARs (#) ($) ($) David A. Koch 1994 $352,808 $232,596 0 0 6,628 0 $2,766 Chairman and Chief 1993 323,866 0 0 0 0 0 3,876 Executive Officer 1992 323,866 91,539 0 0 0 0 2,195 George Aristides 1994 281,800 187,817 0 0 10,420 0 2,407 President and Chief 1993 251,800 25,000 0 0 45,000 0 1,928 Operating Officer 1992 226,800 69,039 0 0 0 0 1,780 Roger L. King 1994 173,696 86,227 0 0 4,532 0 2,631 Sr. Vice President 1993 165,696 15,000 0 0 22,500 0 3,796 and General Manager, 1992 158,696 44,436 0 0 0 0 1,780 International Operations Barry A. Calhoon 1994 202,956 88,719 0 0 5,298 0 3,076 Sr. Vice President 1993 171,800 0 $33,010 0 0 0 3,127 and General Manager, 1992 165,873 34,872 0 0 0 0 2,136 Industrial/Automotive Equipment Division John L. Heller 1994 174,800 86,227 0 0 12,404 0 2,631 Sr. Vice President 1993 161,383 0 0 0 0 0 3,438 and General Manager, 1992 146,800 31,603 0 0 0 0 2,633 Contractor Equipment Division (1) Deferred compensation is included in Salary and Bonus in the year earned. (2) In addition to base salary, the reported figure includes amounts attributable to (a) the imputed value of the group term life insurance benefit for each of the named executive officers, (b) for 1992 and 1993, one week of pay in lieu of vacation time for Mr. Koch due to his long tenure with the Company, a benefit available to all Graco employees, (c) reimbursements for relocation expenses paid to Mr. Calhoon in 1992, and (d) the balance of vacation due Mr. Calhoon upon his December 31, 1994 retirement (see footnote 6 and Retirement Agreement below). (3) Bonus includes any awards under the Annual Bonus Plan and a $25,000 Chairman's Award for 1994 to Mr. Aristides under the Chairman's Award Program described in the Management Organization and Compensation Committee Report; and special bonuses in 1993 of $25,000 to Mr. Aristides and $15,000 to Mr. King, in connection with the change in their responsibilities within the Company. (4) Under the prior Graco Executive Long Term Incentive Program, participants were eligible to receive restricted stock awards and performance-based cash payouts. Restricted stock grants made in 1991 vested over six years (one-sixth per year), except that the unvested balance of the award had the potential to vest at the end of three years if certain financial goals were met. Since the financial goals for 1991-1993 were not met, the balance of the 1991 restricted stock grant did not vest at the end of 1993 and no cash awards were made under the program. One third of the remaining restricted shares will vest in 1995 and the balance will vest over the succeeding two years. As of December 30, 1994, the market value and number of the unvested restricted share holdings were: Mr. Koch, $479,479 (22,045 shares); Mr. Aristides, $197,903 (9,099 shares); Mr. King, $142,702 (6,561 shares); Mr. Calhoon, $122,735 (5,643 shares); and Mr. Heller, $119,886 (5,512 shares). 7 Quarterly dividends are paid on the restricted shares. The $2.70 one-time special dividend paid on March 21, 1994, to shareholders of record on March 7, 1994, will be held in custody by the Company with a portion of the dividend released to each executive as, and if, the corresponding shares vest over the next three years. Interest will be credited on the dividends at 4 percent per year, which is the U.S. Treasury bill rate for the average length of time before shares and dividends will be released to the executives. (5) On December 17, 1993, the Board of Directors approved a three-for-two stock split, effected in the form of a stock dividend, payable February 2, 1994, to shareholders of record on January 5, 1994. The number of restricted shares and the number of options in footnote 4 and shown on this table, as well as the exercise price for options shown in the Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises Table, have been restated to reflect the split. (6) The compensation reported includes the Company contributions under the Graco Employee Investment Plan (excluding employee contributions), plus Company contributions under the Graco Employee Stock Ownership Plan. For 1994, the Company contributions accrued under the Graco Employee Investment Plan were as follows: $2,406 for Mr. Koch; $2,047 for Mr. Aristides; $2,271 for Mr. King; $2,716 for Mr. Calhoon; and $2,271 for Mr. Heller. In 1994, Company contributions under the Graco Employee Stock Ownership Plan had a fair market value of $360 for each eligible executive officer. The compensation reported for Mr. Calhoon does not include the payments which will be made during 1995 pursuant to his Retirement Agreement, including a lump sum payment of $178,000, retirement supplement payments totaling $10,884, and retiree medical premium payments of $2,314. (7) This figure represents a tax equalization payment, attributable to a prior international assignment of Mr. Calhoon.
Option/SAR Grants Table (Last Fiscal Year) The following table shows the stock options granted to the named executives during 1994, their exercise price and their grant date present value.
Individual Grant Grant Date Value ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Number of % of Total Securities Options/SARs Exercise Grant Underlying Granted to or Base Date Options/SARs Employees in Price Expiration Present Name Granted (#) Fiscal Year ($/Sh) Date Value ($) David A. Koch 6,628 2.6% $22.625 05/01/04 $44,076 George Aristides 10,420 4.0% 22.625 05/01/04 69,293 Roger L. King 4,532 1.8% 22.625 05/01/04 30,138 Barry A. Calhoon 5,298 2.1% 22.625 12/30/97 35,232 John L. Heller 5,404 2.1% 22.625 05/01/04 35,937 John L. Heller 7,000 2.7% 18.875 12/14/04 37,100 (1) Non-incentive stock options were granted on May 2, 1994, in the amounts shown on the table. The options have a ten-year duration and may be exercised as follows: one-fourth after two years, one-fourth after three years, one-fourth after four years, and one-fourth after five years. (2) As a result of Mr. Calhoon's retirement, the stock options granted to him on May 2, 1994, became exercisable on December 31, 1994, and will expire on December 30, 1997. (3) Non-incentive stock options were granted on December 15, 1994, in the amount shown on the table. The options have a ten-year duration and may be exercised as follows: one-fourth after two years, one-fourth after three years, one-fourth after four years, and one-fourth after five years. (4) The Black-Scholes option pricing model has been used to determine the grant date present value of the grants. Annual volatility was calculated using monthly returns for 36 months prior to the grant date, the interest rate was set using U.S. Treasury securities of similar duration to the option period as of the grant date, and dividend yield was established as the yield on the grant date. A 10 percent discount for nontransferability and a 3 percent discount to reflect possibility of forfeiture over a two- year period were applied. For grants expiring on May 1, 2004, the assumptions used in the model were annual volatility of 21.33 percent, interest rate of 7.04 percent, dividend yield of 2.5 percent, and time to exercise of 10 years. For grants expiring on December 14, 2004, the assumptions used in the model were volatility of 19.47 percent, interest rate of 7.9 percent, dividend yield of 3.0 percent and time to exercise of 10 years.
8 Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises In Last Fiscal Year And Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values The following table shows options exercised during 1994 by Mr. Aristides, as well as the value of outstanding in-the-money options at the end of the fiscal year for the named executive officers.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Number of Securities Value of Underlying Unexercised Unexercised In-the-Money Options/SARs Options/SARs at FY-End (#) at FY-End ($) Shares Value Acquired On Realized Exercisable/ Exercisable/ Name Exercise (#) ($) Unexercisable Unexercisable David A. Koch 0/6,628 $0/$0 George Aristides 20,000 $53,330 10,000/25,420 $28,330/$52,080 Roger L. King 15,000/12,032 $52,080/$26,040 Barry A. Calhoon 0/5,298 $0/$0 John L. Heller 0/12,404 $0/$20,125 (1) "Value realized" is the difference between the closing price of the Company's common stock on the day of exercise and the option price of the options multiplied by the number of shares received. (2) "Value at fiscal year-end" is the difference between the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 30, 1994, and the option price multiplied by the number of shares subject to option. (3) Options where the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 30, 1994, is lower than the option price are valued at zero in this column.
Barry A. Calhoon Retirement Agreement Mr. Calhoon retired from the Company effective December 31, 1994. The Company entered into a Retirement Agreement with Mr. Calhoon in which the Company agreed to provide a lump sum payment of $178,000 upon his retirement, a supplemental retirement benefit of $907 per month payable for Mr. Calhoon's lifetime, and retiree medical coverage without cost for a period of two years. Based on the retirement provision of the prior Executive Long Term Incentive program, Mr. Calhoon will receive on March 1, 1995, 1,881 of his remaining unvested restricted shares, the balance of which will revert to the Company. Retirement Arrangements The Company has an Employee Retirement Plan which provides pension benefits for eligible regular, full- and part-time employees. Benefits under the Retirement Plan consist of a fixed benefit which is designed to provide retirement income at age 65 of 43.5 percent of average monthly compensation, less 18 percent of Social Security-covered compensation (calculated in a life annuity option) for an employee with 30 or more years of service. Average monthly compensation is defined as the average of the five consecutive highest years' salary during the last ten years of service, including base salary and Annual Bonus Plan awards, but excluding Executive Long Term Incentive Program awards. Benefits under the Graco Employee Retirement Plan vest upon five years of benefit service. Federal tax laws limit the annual benefits that may be paid from a tax- qualified plan such as the Graco Employee Retirement Plan. The Company has adopted an unfunded plan to restore benefits to executive officer retirees impacted by the benefit limits, so that they will receive, in aggregate, the benefits they would have been entitled to receive under the Graco Employee Retirement Plan had the limits imposed by the tax laws not been in effect. The following table shows the estimated aggregate annual benefits payable under the Graco Employee Retirement Plan and the restoration plan for the earnings and years of service specified. The years of benefit service for the Chief Executive Officer and the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table are: Mr. Koch, 38 years; Mr. Aristides, 21 years; Mr. King, 24 years; Mr. Calhoon, 24 years; and Mr. Heller, 22 years. A maximum of 30 years is counted in the pension benefit calculation. 9
Estimated Aggregate Annual Retirement Benefit Final Average 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years Compensation Service Service Service Service Service Service $200,000 $13,771 $27,541 $41,312 $55,083 $68,853 $82,624 300,000 21,021 42,041 63,062 84,083 105,103 126,124 400,000 28,271 56,541 84,812 113,083 141,353 169,624 500,000 35,521 71,041 106,562 142,083 177,603 213,124 600,000 42,771 85,541 128,312 171,083 213,853 256,624
From time to time, the Company has entered into deferred compensation agreements with its executive officers, including those named in the Summary Compensation Table. The agreements provide for the payment per year of $10,000 deferred compensation to each executive officer for ten years after retirement, or to a beneficiary in the event of death prior to the expiration of the ten year period. These agreements also include provisions for non-competition and the payment of $5,000 per year in the event the officer becomes disabled prior to age 65. The $5,000 per year disability payments cease upon the attainment of age 65. Directors' Fees During 1994, the Company paid each director, except directors who also served as officers, an annual retainer of $15,000, plus a meeting fee of $900 for each Board meeting and $700 for each Committee meeting attended. Upon cessation of service, nonemployee directors who have served for five full years will receive quarterly payments for five years at a rate equal to the director's annual retainer in effect on the director's last day of service on the Board. In 1994, shareholders approved a Nonemployee Director Stock Plan. Under this Plan, a nonemployee director may elect to receive all or part of the director's annual retainer in the form of shares of the Company's common stock instead of cash. Three directors have elected to receive part of their annual retainer in Company stock under this Plan. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES The following information, furnished as of March 6, 1995, indicates beneficial ownership of the common shares of the Company by each director, each nominee for election as director, the executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table who are still executive officers on that date, and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the persons listed have sole voting and investment power.
Percent of Amount and Nature of Common Stock Name of Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership Outstanding* D. A. Koch 3,264,641 28.7% G. Aristides 79,369 R. O. Baukol 1,500 J. L. Heller 33,897 R. L. King 40,110 J. W. Lacey 1,148 J. R. Lee 1,000 R. D. McFarland 40,264 L. R. Mitau 528 D. R. Olseth 4,500 C. M. Osborne 500 G. C. Planchon 150 C. B. Thompson 1,348 W. G. Van Dyke 200 All directors and executive officers as a group (23 persons) 3,500,623 30.8% * Less than one 1 percent, if no percentage is given. (1) All share data has been restated for the three-for-two stock split paid February 2, 1994. 10 (2) Includes the following shares owned by spouses of directors and named executive officers as to which the director or executive officer may be deemed to share voting and investment power: Mr. Aristides, 30,932; Mr. Koch, 29,996; Mr. Lacey, 574; Mr. McFarland, 10,264; and Mr. Thompson, 843 shares. (3) Includes 3,019,397 shares held by the Clarissa L. Gray Trust, of which Mr. Koch's wife, Barbara Gray Koch, and their children are the beneficiaries and as to which Mr. Koch shares voting and investment power as trustee. See "Principal Shareholders." (4) Excludes the following shares as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed: (i) 301,237 shares owned by the Graco Employee Retirement Plan and 89,866 unallocated shares held by the Graco Employee Stock Ownership Plan, as to which Messrs. Koch, McFarland, Lee and Mitau and certain executive officers of the Company share voting and investment power as members of the Company's Investment Committee; (ii) 18,587 shares held by The Graco Foundation; and (iii) 155,000 shares held by the Greycoach Foundation as to which Mr. Koch shares voting and investment power as a director. (5) If the shares referred to in footnote 4 above, as to which one or more directors and designated executive officers share voting power, were included, the number of shares beneficially owned by all directors, nominees for election as director and executive officers would be 4,065,313 shares, or 35.7 percent of the outstanding shares.
The Company also has 14,740 preferred shares outstanding, of which 3,793 shares (25.7 percent of the class) are held by Mrs. Koch and by a trust for which Mr. Koch serves as trustee. Principal Shareholders The following table identifies each person or group known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5 percent of the outstanding common shares of the Company, the only class of security entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting:
Beneficial Percent Ownership of Class Trust under the Will of Clarissa L. Gray, and David A. Koch 3,264,641 shares 28.7% State of Wisconsin Investment Board 818,000 shares 7.19% Mitchell Hutchins Institutional Investors Inc. 1,030,300 shares 9.06% (1) All share data has been restated for the three-for-two stock split paid February 2, 1994. (2) Includes 3,019,397 shares owned by the Clarissa L. Gray Trust. Mr. Koch is one of the trustees of the Trust and the beneficiaries of the Trust are Mrs. Koch and their children. The other trustees are Maynard B. Hasselquist, a former director of the Company, and First Bank of South Dakota, N.A., Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Trustees share voting and dispositive power. Also includes 245,244 shares owned by David A. Koch or Mrs. Koch. (3) Ownership information is as of December 31, 1994. A Schedule 13G filed by this independent agency of the State of Wisconsin indicates that the agency has sole voting and dispositive power. (4) Ownership information is as of December 31, 1994. A Schedule 13G filed by Mitchell Hutchins, an investment advisor, indicates that the investment advisor has shared power to vote and direct the disposition of the shares.
Section 16 Compliance The Company's executive officers, directors and 10 percent shareholders are required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and regulations promulgated thereunder to file initial reports of ownership of the Company's securities and reports of changes in that ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these reports must also be provided to the Company. Based upon its review of the reports and any amendments made thereto furnished to the Company, or written representations that no reports were required, the Company believes that all reports were filed on a timely basis by reporting persons during and with respect to 1994, except for an inadvertent late filing by Lee R. Mitau who purchased 28 shares in July, 1994. 11 (Proposal 2) PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC AUDITORS Deloitte & Touche has acted as independent auditors for the Company since 1962. The Board of Directors recommends ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche as independent auditors for the current year. If the shareholders do not ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche, the selection of the independent auditors will be reconsidered by the Board of Directors. A representative of Deloitte & Touche will be present at the meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if so desired. Such representative will also be available at the meeting to respond to any shareholder questions. OTHER MATTERS The Board of Directors is not aware of any matter, other than those stated above, which will or may properly be presented for action at the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy to vote the shares represented by such proxies in accordance with their best judgment. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS The Company did not receive any request from shareholders relating to matters to be submitted for a vote at the 1995 Annual Meeting. Any shareholder wishing to have any matter considered for submission at the next Annual Meeting must request such submission in writing, directed to the Secretary of the Company at the address shown on page 1 of this statement, not later than November 22, 1995. YOU ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED TO EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE BY FILLING IN AND SIGNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. In the event that you attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote your shares in person if you wish. For the Board of Directors /s/ Robert M. Mattison Robert M. Mattison Secretary Dated: March 29, 1995 c 1995 Graco Inc. 3/95 6.5M Printed in U.S.A. 12 GRACO INC. 4050 Olson Memorial Highway Golden Valley, Minnesota 55422 This Proxy is Solicited by the Board of Directors for use at the Graco Inc. Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 1995. The shares of common stock of Graco Inc. which you are entitled to vote on March 6, 1995, will be voted as you specify on this card. By signing this proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint David A. Koch and David M. Lowe as Proxies, each with full power of substitution, to vote your shares as specified on this card and on any other business which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Item 1. Election of Directors __ FOR ALL __ WITHHOLD FOR ALL NOMINEES: Dale R. Olseth Charles M. Osborne William G. Van Dyke (INSTRUCTION: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee's name in the list above) Item 2. Ratification of __ FOR __ AGAINST __ ABSTAIN Appointment of Deloitte & Touche as Independent Auditors PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. This proxy properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the undersigned. If no choice is specified, this proxy will be voted "FOR" Items 1 and 2. Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears at left. In the case of joint owners, each should sign. If signing as an executor, trustee, guardian or in any other representative capacity or as an officer of a corporation, please indicate your full title. Dated:_____________, 1995 _________________________ Signature _________________________ Signature PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.