(000GLYPH<213>s omitted, except per share data and number of associates) 2001 2000 OPERATIONS: Net sales $3,782,444 $3,777,777 Operating proGLYPH<222>t 502,011 552,149 Excluding restructuring charge 571,737 552,149 Net earnings 297,665 324,213 Earnings per common share (diluted) 2.01 2.23 Excluding restructuring charge 2.30 2.23 Depreciation expense  113,685 101,135 Capital expenditures, net 80,585 88,503 Free cash flow (operating cash flow less capital expenditures) 527,886 423,742 Number of associates (full-time and temporary) 23,000 26,000 FINANCIAL POSITION AT YEAR-END: Total assets 4,820,483 4,031,679 Total debt 1,191,689 795,190 ShareholdersGLYPH<213> equity 2,228.586 1,942,333 Total debt as a percent of total capitalization 35.0% 29.0% Return on equity 13.4% 16.7% Excluding restructuring charge 15.3% 16.7% FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS H. Lawrence Culp, Jr. PRESIDENT AND  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER * Operating profit excludes $70 million restructuring charge in 2001. EPS excludes $0.29 per share restructuring charge in 2001 and pooling charges of $0.07 per share in 1999 and $0.20 per share in 1998. ** Free cash flow defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditures. 10% compounded  annual growth rate NET SALES (dollars in millions) 97 98 99 00 01 2,619 3,047 3,197 3,778 3,782 16% compounded  annual growth rate OPERATING PROFIT* (dollars in millions) 97 98 99 00 01 319 384 458 552 572 15% compounded  annual growth rate EARNINGS PER SHARE* (in dollars) 97 98 99 00 01 1.31  1.53  1.86  2.23 2.30 21% compounded  annual growth rate FREE CASH FLOW** (dollars in millions) 97 98 99 00 01 246 251 330 424 528 18% compounded  annual growth rate YEAR-END MARKET PRICE OF STOCK (in dollars) 97 98 99 00 01 31.56 54.31 48.25 68.38 60.31