CyberOptics Corporation Form 10-Q for period ended September 30, 2006


 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q


(Check One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

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

For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File No. (0-16577)


CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota 41-1472057
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

5900 Golden Hills Drive
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

55416
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(763) 542-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


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 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  o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” or “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o            Accelerated filer x            Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    
Yes 
o     No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. At October 31, 2006, there were 9,060,807 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, issued and outstanding.


 
 



PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION

(Unaudited)

 

(In thousands except share information) September 30,
2006
December 31,
2005
 
ASSETS            
 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 37,253   $ 19,592  
Marketable securities    10,531    15,607  
Accounts receivable, net    9,807    9,775  
Inventories    8,192    7,512  
Other current assets    795    924  
Deferred tax assets    1,942    1,942  
   
     Total current assets    68,520    55,352  
   
 
Marketable securities    1,880    5,941  
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net    1,858    1,378  
Intangible and other assets, net    1,248    1,737  
Goodwill    5,050    4,856  
Deferred tax assets    3,871    3,763  
   
     Total assets   $ 82,427   $ 73,027  
   
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Accounts payable   $ 3,306   $ 2,633  
Advance customer payments    68    428  
Accrued expenses    5,194    3,776  
   
     Total current liabilities    8,568    6,837  
   
 
Commitments  
 
Stockholders’ equity:
   Preferred stock, no par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding          
   Common stock, no par value, 37,500,000 shares authorized, 9,060,857 and 8,899,409
      shares issued and outstanding, respectively    51,850    49,351  
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (638 )  (700 )
   Retained earnings    22,647    17,539  
   
 
     Total stockholders’ equity    73,859    66,190  
   
 
     Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 82,427   $ 73,027  
   

 

 

SEE THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands, except per share amount) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Revenues     $ 14,075   $ 10,339   $ 43,344   $ 30,057  
Cost of revenues    6,746    4,925    20,267    13,393  
       
 
Gross profit    7,329    5,414    23,077    16,664  
 
Research and development expenses    2,049    1,785    5,989    5,172  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    3,377    2,868    10,495    8,978  
Amortization of intangibles    136    208    515    622  
       
 
     Income from operations    1,767    553    6,078    1,892  
 
Interest income and other    568    268    1,380    671  
       
 
     Income before income taxes    2,335    821    7,458    2,563  
 
Income tax provision    590    195    2,350    615  
       
 
     Net income   $ 1,745   $ 626   $ 5,108   $ 1,948  
       
 
Net income per share – Basic   $ 0.19   $ 0.07   $ 0.57   $ 0.22  
       
Net income per share – Diluted   $ 0.19   $ 0.07   $ 0.56   $ 0.22  
       
 
Weighted average shares outstanding – Basic    9,050    8,890    8,992    8,872  
       
Weighted average shares outstanding – Diluted    9,121    9,070    9,089    9,023  
       

SEE THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.













2




CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION

(Unaudited)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
   Net income   $ 5,108   $ 1,948  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization    1,466    1,492  
       Provision for doubtful accounts    60    23  
       Provision for inventory obsolescence    165    59  
       Deferred income taxes    (108 )  152  
       Foreign currency adjustment    (203 )  283  
       Stock compensation costs    637      
       Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  
         Accounts receivable    (92 )  (1,839 )
         Inventories    (1,107 )  (895 )
         Other current assets    147    (465 )
         Accounts payable    670    1,096  
         Advance customer payments    (360 )  (176 )
         Accrued expenses    1,409    (2,229 )
   
         Net cash provided (used) by operating activities    7,792    (551 )
   
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:  
   Proceeds from maturities of available for sale marketable securities    15,142    5,326  
   Purchases of available for sale marketable securities    (5,924 )  (12,686 )
   Additions to equipment and leasehold improvements    (991 )  (610 )
   Additions to patents    (170 )  (166 )
   
         Net cash provided (used) by investing activities    8,057    (8,136 )
   
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:  
   Proceeds from exercise of stock options    1,410    373  
   Repurchase of common stock    (81 )  (252 )
   Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options    184      
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan    326    471  
   
         Net cash provided by financing activities    1,839    592  
   
 
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents    (27 )    
   
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    17,661    (8,095 )
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period    19,592    25,416  
   
 
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period   $ 37,253   $ 17,321  
   

SEE THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.






3




 

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION

(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

1.   INTERIM REPORTING:

The interim consolidated financial statements presented herein as of September 30, 2006, and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, are unaudited, but in the opinion of our management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 do not necessarily indicate the results to be expected for the full year. The December 31, 2005, consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

2.   ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION:

We have three stock option plans that are administered under the supervision of the Board of Directors and have 1,436,397 shares of common stock reserved in the aggregate for issuance to employees, directors, officers and others. Reserved shares underlying canceled options are available for future grant under all plans. Options are granted at an option price per share equal to or greater than the market value at the date of grant. Generally, options granted to employees vest over a four-year period and expire five, seven or ten years after the date of grant. The plans allow for option holders to tender shares of the Company’s common stock as consideration for the option price provided that the tendered shares have been held by the option holder at least six months. In anticipation of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) (described further below), we did not modify the terms of any previously granted options.

 

We have an Employee Stock Purchase Plan available to eligible U.S. employees. Under terms of the plan, eligible employees may designate from 1% to 10% of their compensation to be withheld through payroll deductions, up to a maximum of $6,500 in each plan year, for the purchase of common stock at 85% of the lower of the market price on the first or last day of the offering period. Under the plan, 800,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance. As of September 30, 2006, 629,824 shares have been issued under this plan.

 

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” applying the modified prospective method. This Statement requires all equity-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings based on the grant date fair value of the award. Under the modified prospective method, we are required to record equity-based compensation expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption, and for all unvested shares granted prior to the date of adoption. We utilize the straight-line method of expense recognition over the award’s service period for our graded vesting options. The fair values of stock options granted both before and after adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) have been determined using the Black-Scholes model. The compensation expense recognized for all equity based awards is net of estimated forfeitures. We have classified equity based compensation within our statement of operations in the same manner as our cash based employee compensation costs.

 

Prior to adoption of SFAS 123(R), we measured compensation cost related to our employee stock option plans and employee stock purchase plan using the intrinsic value method of accounting prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations. No compensation expense was recognized for share purchase rights granted under these plans. The following table presents the effect of adopting SFAS 123(R) on reported items during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006:

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2006
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006
(In thousands except per share information) As Reported Impact of
Adopting SFAS
No. 123 (R)
As Reported Impact of
Adopting SFAS
No. 123 (R)
 
Income from operations     $ 1,767   $ (140 ) $ 6,078   $ (637 )
Net income   $ 1,745   $ (127 ) $ 5,108   $ (529 )
 
Net income per share:
   Basic   $ 0.19   $ (0.01 ) $ 0.57   $ (0.06 )
   Diluted   $ 0.19   $ (0.01 ) $ 0.56   $ (0.06 )

4




The total equity based compensation expense includes $107,000 and $546,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, for the unvested portion of stock option awards outstanding as of the date of adoption and expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption. Total equity based compensation expense also includes $33,000 and $91,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, related to our employee stock purchase plan. Inventory balances at September 30, 2006 include $22,000 of equity compensation costs that have been capitalized.

 

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, stock option activity was as follows:

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts and years) Shares Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Options outstanding at December 31, 2005      901,176   $ 11.96          
Granted    19,500   $ 13.75  
Exercised    (143,550 ) $10.28      
Forfeited    (34,675 ) $18.08        
   
Options outstanding at September 30, 2006    742,451   $ 12.05    3.67   $ 1,475  
   
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2006    587,951   $ 12.21    3.30   $ 1,149  
   

The intrinsic value of an option is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds its exercise price. The total intrinsic value of all options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $617,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we received total proceeds of $1.4 million from the exercise of stock options. The excess tax benefit recognized as a credit to stockholders equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 for tax deductions related to option exercises was $184,000.

 

A summary of non vested shares as of September 30, 2006, and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 follows:

 

Non vested shares Shares Weighted- Average
Grant Date Fair
Value
 
Non vested at December 31, 2005      252,976   $ 6.81  
Granted    19,500   $ 7.90  
Vested    (114,776 ) $ 6.69  
Forfeited    (3,050 ) $ 9.44  
 
Non vested at September 30, 2006    154,650   $ 6.99  
 

We used historical data to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures. As of September 30, 2006, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to non vested equity-based compensation arrangements was $938,000 and the related weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately 1.6 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $768,000.

 

The fair values of the options granted to our employees during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. The Black Scholes valuation model incorporates ranges of assumptions that are disclosed in the table below. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve at the time of grant with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the awards. For graded vesting options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the expected life representing the length of time in years that the options are expected to be outstanding was calculated under the simplified approach allowed by SFAS No. 123 (R). For immediate vesting options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the expected life representing the length of time in years that the options are expected to be outstanding was calculated using historical exercise data. Expected volatility was computed based on fluctuations in the daily price of our common stock.

 

5




The following table provides the range of assumptions used for stock options valued during the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

Risk-free interest rates     4.30 – 5.04%    
Expected life in years   4.75 – 6.33  
Expected volatility   54% – 60%  
Expected dividends   None  

Fair Value Disclosures – Prior to Adopting SFAS No. 123(R)

 

Prior to the first quarter of 2006, we accounted for equity-based awards under the intrinsic value method, which followed the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations. As a result, no compensation expense for equity-based awards was recognized in our statement of operations prior to the first quarter of 2006, as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the award on the date of grant, and our employee stock purchase plan was deemed to be non-compensatory under APB No. 25. Results of operations for fiscal year 2005 and prior periods have not been restated to reflect recognition of compensation expense for equity-based awards. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share if we had adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005:

 

(In thousands except per share amounts) Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2005
Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2005
 
Net income as reported     $ 626   $ 1,948  
   Add: Stock-based compensation expense  
     included in net income, net of related tax effects          
 
   Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense  
     determined under fair value, net of related tax effects    (271 )  (969 )
   
 
Net income – Pro forma   $ 355   $ 979  
   
 
Net income per share:  
   As reported – Basic   $ 0.07   $ 0.22  
   
   Pro forma – Basic   $ 0.04   $ 0.11  
   
 
   As reported – Diluted   $ 0.07   $ 0.22  
   
   Pro forma – Diluted   $ 0.04   $ 0.11  
   

No tax benefit was applied to the fair value expense calculated under SFAS No. 123 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 due to establishing a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets during 2002. Our valuation allowance on deferred tax assets was substantially reduced during the fourth quarter of 2005.

 

3.   CERTAIN BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS:

Inventories consist of the following:

(In thousands) September 30,
2006
December 31,
2005
 
Raw materials and purchased parts     $ 3,576   $ 3,256  
Work in process    1,181    845  
Finished goods    3,435    3,411  
   
     Total inventories   $ 8,192   $ 7,512  
   

 

6




Warranty Costs:

We provide for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized. While we engage in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of component suppliers, warranty obligations are affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates, material usage or service delivery costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required. At the end of each reporting period we revise our estimated warranty liability, which is included as a component of accrued expenses in the accompanying balance sheets, based on these factors. A reconciliation of the changes in our estimated warranty liability is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Balance at beginning of period     $ 654   $ 546   $ 558   $ 646  
   Accrual for warranties    349    96    764    422  
   Settlements made during the period    (283 )  (173 )  (602 )  (599 )
       
 
Balance at end of period   $ 720   $ 469   $ 720   $ 469  
       

4.   INTANGIBLE ASSETS and GOODWILL:

Intangible assets consist of the following:

As of September 30, 2006 As of December 31, 2005
(In thousands) Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
 
Developed technology     $ 7,775   $ (6,866 ) $ 909   $ 7,775   $ (6,359 ) $ 1,416  
Patents and trademarks    2,269    (1,930 )  339    2,099    (1,778 )  321  
           
 
   Total   $ 10,044   $ (8,796 ) $ 1,248   $ 9,874   $ (8,137 ) $ 1,737  
           

Amortization expense for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Developed technology     $ 134   $ 206   $ 507   $ 614  
Patents and trademarks    53    59    152    176  
       
 
   Total   $ 187   $ 265   $ 659   $ 790  
       

As required by SFAS 142, we periodically reassess the carrying value, useful lives and classification of identifiable intangible assets. Estimated aggregate amortization expense based on current intangibles for the next five years is expected to be as follows: $153,000 for the remainder of 2006, $261,000 in 2007 and $200,000 in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Goodwill related to our Electronic Assembly segment increased by $194,000 during the first nine months of 2006 as the result of the translation impact on foreign denominated goodwill balances.

 

7




5.   BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS:

Our Electronic Assembly segment is the design, manufacture and sale of optical process control sensors and inspection systems for the electronics assembly equipment market. The Semiconductor segment is the design, manufacture and sale of optical and other process control sensors and related equipment for the semiconductor capital equipment market. Information regarding our segments is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Revenue                    
Electronic Assembly  
   OEM Sensors   $ 7,168   $ 5,085   $ 24,418   $ 14,546  
   SMT Systems    5,517    3,909    14,179    11,388  
       
   Total Electronic Assembly    12,685    8,994    38,597    25,934  
 
Semiconductor    1,390    1,345    4,747    4,123  
       
   Total   $ 14,075   $ 10,339   $ 43,344   $ 30,057  
       
 
Income from operations  
Electronic Assembly   $ 2,013   $ 722   $ 6,459   $ 2,344  
Semiconductor    (246 )  (169 )  (381 )  (452 )
       
   Total income from operations    1,767    553    6,078    1,892  
Interest income and other    568    268    1,380    671  
       
   Income before taxes   $ 2,335   $ 821   $ 7,458   $ 2,563  
       
 
Depreciation and amortization:  
Electronic Assembly   $ 314   $ 293   $ 947   $ 893  
Semiconductor    139    203    519    599  
       
   Total   $ 453   $ 496   $ 1,466   $ 1,492  
       

Export sales were 85% of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 82% of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2005. Export sales were 84% of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 79% of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. All of our export sales are negotiated, invoiced and paid in U.S. dollars. Export sales by geographic area are summarized as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Americas     $ 42   $ 61   $ 220   $ 95  
Europe    3,749    3,237    14,682    8,526  
Asia    8,148    5,184    21,714    15,226  
Other    1    4    2    8  
       
 
   Total export sales   $ 11,940   $ 8,486   $ 36,618   $ 23,855  
       

 

8




6.   NET INCOME PER SHARE:

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares plus common equivalent shares outstanding. Common equivalent shares consist of common shares to be issued upon exercise of stock options and the issuance of shares under our employee stock purchase plan, as calculated using the treasury stock method. The calculation of diluted net income per common share includes 71,000 and 97,000 common equivalent shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, and includes 180,000 and 151,000 common equivalent shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005. The calculation of diluted net income per common share excludes 294,000 and 217,000 of potentially dilutive outstanding stock options for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, and excludes 293,000 and 308,000 of potentially dilutive outstanding stock options for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005, because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

7.   COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

Components of comprehensive income include net income, foreign-currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on our available-for-sale marketable securities. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006, total comprehensive income amounted to $1,792,000 and $5,170,000, respectively. During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005, total comprehensive income amounted to $580,000 and $1,880,000, respectively. At December 31, 2005 and September 30, 2006, components of accumulated other comprehensive loss is as follows:

(In thousands) Foreign
Currency
Translation
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Available
for Sale
Securities
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Balance December 31, 2005     $ (630 ) $ (70 ) $ (700 )
Current Year Change    (19 )  81    62  
     
 
Balance September 30, 2006   $ (649 ) $ 11   $ (638 )
     

8.   INCOME TAXES:

During the third quarter of 2002, we concluded that a valuation allowance against all of our deferred tax assets was appropriate due to the cumulative U.S. losses we had incurred over the prior three years, continued operating losses and full utilization of our loss carryback potential in 2002. We continued to provide a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets during 2003, 2004 and the first three quarters of 2005. During the first nine months of 2005, we recorded a tax provision at an estimated annual effective rate of 24% because we had utilized our available tax operating losses and tax credit carryforwards and were subject to Alternative Minimum Tax limitations. Because we continued to maintain a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, projected current taxes payable comprised the entire tax provision and was the basis for determining our annual effective tax rate.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, we substantially reduced the existing valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets initially established in the third quarter of 2002.

During the third quarter of 2006, we recognized an income tax benefit of $232,000 as a discrete item resulting from a reduction in a tax contingency accrual for prior year’s income taxes. The discrete benefit was primarily attributable to the adjustment of tax contingency reserves related to the closing of domestic Statute of Limitations for certain prior years. As a result, the effective tax rate was 25% and 32% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. For the first nine months of 2006, excluding the discrete item described above, we recorded a tax provision at an estimated annual consolidated worldwide effective tax rate approximating 35%.

 

9




9.   DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES:

We enter into foreign currency swap agreements to hedge short term inter-company financing transactions with our subsidiary in the United Kingdom. These currency swap agreements are structured to mature on the last day of each quarter and are designated as cash flow hedges. At September 30, 2006, we had one open swap agreement that was purchased on that date. As a result, there were no material unrealized gains or losses as of September 30, 2006. During the three months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized a net loss of approximately $36,000 from the settlement of foreign currency swap agreements, with a corresponding transaction gain of approximately $28,000 on the underlying inter-company balance.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized a net loss of approximately $239,000 from the settlement of foreign currency swap agreements, with a corresponding transaction gain of approximately $203,000 on the underlying inter-company balance.

Our foreign currency swap agreements contain credit risk to the extent that our bank counter-parties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. We minimize such risk by limiting our counter-parties to major financial institutions. We do not expect material losses as a result of defaults by other parties.

10.   OPERATING LEASES:

On March 27, 2006 we signed a new lease for our primary office space consisting of 60,217 square feet. The lease has a term of 61 months and began on June 1, 2006. The lease also provides for one month of free rent, other lease incentives and escalating rents over the lease term. Rental expense, including the effects of lease incentives, will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Future minimum rental payments under this lease are $221,000 for the remainder of 2006, $885,000 in 2007 and 2008, $908,000 in 2009, $932,000 in 2010 and $466,000 in 2011.

 

11.   CONTINGENCIES:

 

In the normal course of business and to facilitate sales of our products and services, we at times indemnify other parties, including customers, with respect to certain matters. In these instances, we have agreed to hold the other parties harmless against losses arising out of intellectual property infringement or other types of claims. These agreements may limit the time within which an indemnification claim can be made, and almost always limit the amount of the claim. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Historically, payments made, if any, under these agreements have not had a material impact on our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are a defendant in miscellaneous claims and disputes. While the outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, management presently believes the disposition of these matters will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

12.   RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FASB Interpretation No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109. The Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Interpretation also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the interpretation on our financial position and results of operations.

 

10




13.   BOARD AUTHORIZATION OF STOCK REPURCHASE

 

Our board of directors has approved a stock repurchase program, effective July 31, 2006 for a period of one year, under which we may acquire up to 500,000 shares of our common stock from time to time in open market transactions, block purchases and other transactions. We have adopted a structured trading plan to implement the repurchase program. As of September 30, 2006, we have repurchased 6,500 shares of our common stock for $81,000 under this repurchase program.












11




ITEM 2 – MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES:

The preparation of the financial information contained in this 10-Q requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to allowances for doubtful accounts and returns, warranty obligations, inventory valuation, the carrying value and any impairment of intangible assets, income taxes and restructuring costs. These critical accounting policies are discussed in more detail in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:

General

Our results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflect the improving global market conditions for electronics and semiconductor capital equipment that began late in the third quarter of 2005. Overall, our revenues increased 36% for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 44% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the same periods in 2005. Our income from operations increased to $1.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $553,000 during the same period in 2005 and increased to $6.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $1.9 million during the same period in 2005. Our earnings continue to benefit from the streamlined cost structure established through several workforce reductions and restructurings over the past few years, which has resulted in a significantly reduced revenue break-even level. Our cash and marketable securities position increased by $8.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to $49.7 million.               

Our order rate increased approximately 35% in the three months ended September 30, 2006 to $12.8 million from $9.5 million in the same period in 2005, and our backlog increased 63% to $6.6 million at September 30, 2006 from $4.0 million at September 30, 2005. While we have seen significant increases in order rate and backlog compared to 2005, the order rate for the third quarter of 2006 decreased 9% from $14.2 million in the second quarter of 2006 and backlog at September 30, 2006 decreased 16% from $7.8 million at June 30, 2006. We believe sales for the fourth quarter of 2006 will be impacted by near-term softness in orders for our electronic assembly sensors. Despite the sequential decrease in orders during the third quarter of 2006, we remain optimistic about the prospects for our electronic assembly and semiconductor capital equipment markets, due to the drive for improved product quality by our customers, and the unrelenting technological trend toward component miniaturization in the end user electronics market.

Segment Results

 

Operating results for our Electronics Assembly and Semiconductor segments for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

Three months ended September 30, 2006 Three months ended September 30, 2005
(In thousands) Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total
 
Revenue     $ 12,685   $ 1,390   $ 14,075   $ 8,994   $ 1,345   $ 10,339  
Cost of revenue    6,268    478    6,746    4,481    444    4,925  
           
Gross profit    6,417    912    7,329    4,513    901    5,414  
Research and development expenses    1,583    466    2,049    1,398    387    1,785  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    2,793    584    3,377    2,365    503    2,868  
Amortization of intangibles    28    108    136    28    180    208  
           
   Total income (loss) from operations   $ 2,013   $ (246 ) $ 1,767   $ 722   $ (169 ) $ 553  
           

 

12




Nine months ended September 30, 2006 Nine months ended September 30, 2005
(In thousands) Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total
 
Revenue     $ 38,597   $ 4,747   $ 43,344   $ 25,934   $ 4,123   $ 30,057  
Cost of revenue    18,724    1,543    20,267    12,143    1,250    13,393  
           
Gross profit    19,873    3,204    23,077    13,791    2,873    16,664  
Research and development expenses    4,582    1,407    5,989    3,897    1,275    5,172  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    8,750    1,745    10,495    7,468    1,510    8,978  
Amortization of intangibles    82    433    515    82    540    622  
           
   Total income from operations   $ 6,459   $ (381 ) $ 6,078   $ 2,344   $ (452 ) $ 1,892  
           

Revenues

 

Our revenues increased by 36% to $14.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $10.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and increased 44% to $43.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $30.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The following table sets forth revenues by product line for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands) 2006 2005 2006 2005
 
Electronic Assembly                    
   OEM Sensors   $ 7,168   $ 5,085   $ 24,418   $ 14,546  
   SMT Systems    5,517    3,909    14,179    11,388  
       
   Total Electronic Assembly    12,685    8,994    38,597    25,934  
Semiconductor    1,390    1,345    4,747    4,123  
       
   Total   $ 14,075   $ 10,339   $ 43,344   $ 30,057  
       

Electronic Assembly

 

Revenues from our electronic assembly sensors increased by 41% to $7.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $5.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and increased 68% to $24.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $14.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, revenue from electronic assembly sensors were positively impacted by improved conditions in our SMT electronic assembly market that began late in the third quarter of 2005. However, revenue from electronic assembly sensors was down 25% sequentially from the second quarter of 2006, and we believe sales for the fourth quarter of 2006 will be impacted by near-term softness in orders for our electronic assembly sensors During the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, revenue from electronic assembly sensors were negatively impacted by a downturn in our SMT electronic assembly market, which began in the fourth quarter of 2004, and continued into the third quarter of 2005.

 

Revenues from our SMT systems products increased by 41% to $5.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $3.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and increased 25% to $14.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $11.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, revenue from SMT systems products were positively impacted by improved conditions in our SMT electronic assembly market that began late in the third quarter of 2005. Our SMT system products revenue for the first nine months of 2006 were also favorably impacted by a large sale in the first quarter to a single customer for 25 solder paste inspection systems. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2005, revenue from SMT systems were negatively impacted by a downturn in the SMT electronic assembly market, which began in the fourth quarter of 2004, and continued into the third quarter of 2005. We believe that increased use of outsourcing for circuit board assembly, production difficulties associated with smaller component sizes, increased production speeds and increased cost pressure on companies manufacturing circuit boards has caused increased demand for our inspection equipment.

 

13




International revenue from electronic assembly sensors and SMT systems comprised approximately 91% of our electronic assembly revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 90% of our electronic assembly revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2005. These revenues comprised approximately 91% of our electronic assembly revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 87% of our electronic assembly revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The international markets of China and the rest of Asia, Japan and Europe account for a significant portion of the production capability of capital equipment for the manufacture of electronics, the primary market for our electronic assembly sensor and SMT system product lines. An increasing proportion of our sales have been to international customers as manufacturing of electronic components has migrated offshore, particularly to China.

 

Semiconductor

 

Revenues from semiconductor products increased by 3% to $1.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $1.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and increased 15% to $4.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $4.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in 2006 was primarily due to higher revenues from our wafer mapping sensors and WaferSense™ products as a result of improved market conditions in the semiconductor fabrication capital equipment market that began late in the fourth quarter of 2005. Revenues from our frame grabber products increased slightly in 2006 compared to 2005.

 

Our wafer mapping and frame grabber products are relatively mature. We anticipate that future growth in our semiconductor revenues, exclusive of changes related to capital procurement cycles, will come from our new WaferSense™ products. WaferSense™ is a family of wireless, wafer like precision measurement tools for in-situ setup, calibration and process optimization in semiconductor processing equipment. We are currently working on several new additions to the WaferSense™ product line.

 

International revenue comprised approximately 31% of our semiconductor revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 29% of our semiconductor revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2005. These revenues comprised approximately 31% of our semiconductor revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 30% of our semiconductor revenue during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The slight increase in international revenue as a percentage of total semiconductor revenue for 2006, compared to 2005, is primarily due to increased frame grabber sales in Europe.

 

Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)

During the first quarter of 2006, we began recording compensation expense for equity-based awards as required by SFAS No. 123(R). The following table sets forth compensation expense by segment for our equity-based awards for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 (in thousands):

Three months ended September 30, 2006 Nine months ended September 30, 2006
(In thousands) Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total Electronic
Assembly
Semi-
Conductor
Total
 
Cost of revenue     $ 23   $ 3   $ 26   $ 50   $ 9   $ 59  
Research and development expenses    32    7    39    103    23    126  
Selling, general and administrative expenses    64    11    75    408    44    452  
           
   Total   $ 119   $ 21   $ 140   $ 561   $ 76   $ 637  
           

Gross Margin

Our gross margin as a percentage of sales for both our Electronic Assembly and Semiconductor products are somewhat dependent on the level of revenues and resulting production levels over which to spread fixed manufacturing overhead costs that do not vary with activity levels. In addition, with higher production volumes manufacturing processes become more efficient, and we are able to negotiate lower material costs from our suppliers, which reduces the overall cost of producing products for sale. The mix of products sold can also have an impact on Electronic Assembly and Semiconductor margins.

 

14




Electronic Assembly

 

Gross margin as a percentage of electronic assembly sales were 51% in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 50% in the three months ended September 30, 2005. Gross margin as a percentage of electronic assembly sales were 51% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 53% in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of sales in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, was due to higher margins on sales of SMT inspection systems, consisting of our Flex automated optical inspection (AOI) system and SE 300 solder paste inspection system. The higher margin Flex AOI system accounted for a larger percentage of SMT system sales in the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, was due to pricing pressures from increased competition for sales of our solder paste inspection machines. These pricing pressures offset an increase in sales of higher margin sensor products and sales of our new Flex Ultra AOI system, as a percentage of total electronic assembly sales.

 

We introduced our new Flex Ultra AOI system in the first quarter of 2006. The system inspects printed circuit boards for missing or misplaced electronic components, solder joint quality or other defects, and has been favorably received by the market. The Flex Ultra AOI system typically provides a somewhat better gross margin than our solder paste inspection system. We anticipate that sales of our new Flex Ultra AOI system will constitute a larger percentage of our SMT systems revenue in future periods. With respect to our systems products, and particularly our solder paste inspection machines, we anticipate that pricing pressures will continue throughout 2006 and into 2007, due to additional competition in the marketplace.

 

Semiconductor

 

Gross margin as a percentage of semiconductor sales were 66% in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 67% in the three months ended September 30, 2005. Gross margin as a percentage of semiconductor sales were 68% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 70% in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of sales in 2006, compared to 2005, is due to changes in product mix.

 

Operating Expenses

 

We believe continued investment in research and development of new products, coupled with continued investment and development of our sales channels, is critical to future growth and profitability. We maintain research and development and sales and marketing expenses at relatively high levels, even during periods of downturn in our electronic assembly and semiconductor capital equipment markets, as we continue to fund development of important new products, and continue to invest in our sales channels and develop new sales territories.

 

Our research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses have been generally higher in 2006, compared to 2005, as we continue new product development efforts, particularly related to SMT systems, and continue development of our sales channels and new sales territories, also related to SMT systems. We expect this trend to continue into the fourth quarter. The adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) has increased our research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses in 2006 compared to 2005. In addition, we are continually considering additional research and development projects, and may elect to increase expenditures based on an assessment of the future revenue and profit potential of these projects. Further, sales commissions and incentive compensation costs have been higher in 2006 compared to 2005, due to improvement in revenue and profit levels. We focus on expense management in all areas of our organization. We continually seek to control costs by maintaining a stream-lined organization and limiting discretionary spending where possible, without impacting our future growth opportunities.

 

Electronic Assembly

 

Research and development expenses were $1.6 million or 12% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $1.4 million or 16% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and were $4.6 million or 12% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $3.9 million or 15% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The 13% and 18% increases in research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, were due to increased compensation costs, including equity-based compensation and company wide incentive compensation costs resulting from higher levels of revenue and profits, and increased investment in R&D initiatives. Research and development initiatives were focused primarily on our SMT systems and the new Embedded Process Verification sensor (EPV®).

 

15




Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.8 million or 22% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $2.4 million or 26% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and were $8.8 million or 23% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $7.5 million or 29% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

The 18% and 17% increases in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, were due to higher costs for sales commissions, equity compensation and company wide incentive compensation costs associated with higher levels of revenue and profits. In addition, wages and other costs were higher for additional staff associated with the 25% increase in SMT system sales during the first nine months of 2006 compared to 2005.

 

Semiconductor

 

Research and development expenses were $466,000 or 34% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $387,000 or 29% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and were $1.4 million or 30% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $1.3 million or 31% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The 20% and 10% increases in research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, were due to increased compensation costs, including equity-based compensation and company wide incentive compensation costs resulting from higher levels of revenue and profits. In addition, prototype and contract labor costs were higher in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to 2005, for development of new WaferSense™ products to be introduced later in 2006 and 2007. During 2006 and 2005, research and development efforts were primarily focused on development of new enhancements and extensions of the WaferSense™ family of products for the semiconductor market.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $584,000 or 42% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $503,000 or 37% of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2005 and were $1.7 million or 37% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $1.5 million or 37% of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The 16% increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same periods of 2005 were due to costs for additional management and marketing employees, increased sales commissions, equity compensation costs and company wide incentive compensation costs associated with higher levels of revenue and profits.

 

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of acquired intangible assets related to our Electronic Assembly segment was approximately $28,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 and $82,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. We expect amortization expense for acquired intangible assets related to our Electronic Assembly segment to be $28,000 in the three months ended December 31, 2006.

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets related to our Semiconductor segment was $108,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $180,000 in the three months ended September 30, 2005. Amortization of acquired intangible assets related to our Semiconductor segment was $433,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $540,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. We expect amortization expense for acquired intangible assets related to our Semiconductor segment to be $49,000 in the three months ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in amortization of acquired intangible assets is due to certain acquired intangible assets becoming fully amortized in 2006.

 

Interest and Other

Interest income and other primarily includes interest earned on investments and gains and losses associated with foreign currency translation. Interest income and other increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same periods in 2005 as the result of additional invested funds and higher interest rates. In addition, we recognized foreign currency transaction losses (net of foreign currency swap settlements) of $8,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2006 and $26,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2005. We recognized foreign currency transaction losses (net of foreign currency swap settlements) of $36,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $91,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

16




Provision for Income Taxes and Effective Income Tax Rate

During the third quarter of 2002, we concluded that a valuation allowance against all of our deferred tax assets was appropriate due to the cumulative U.S. losses we had incurred over the prior three years, continued operating losses and full utilization of our loss carryback potential in 2002. We continued to provide a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets during 2003, 2004 and the first three quarters of 2005. During the first nine months of 2005, we recorded a tax provision at an estimated annual effective rate of 24% because we had utilized our available tax operating losses and tax credit carryforwards and were subject to Alternative Minimum Tax limitations. Because we continued to maintain a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, projected current taxes payable comprised the entire tax provision and was the basis for determining our annual effective tax rate.

During the fourth quarter of 2005, we substantially reduced the existing valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets initially established in the third quarter of 2002.

During the three months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized an income tax benefit of $232,000 as a discrete item resulting from a reduction in a tax contingency accrual for prior year’s income taxes. The discrete benefit was primarily attributable to the adjustment of tax contingency reserves related to the closing of domestic Statute of Limitations for certain prior years. As a result, our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was 25% and 32%, respectively. For the first nine months of 2006, excluding the discrete item described above, we recorded a tax provision at an estimated annual consolidated worldwide effective tax rate approximating 35%.

Order Rate and Backlog

Our orders totaled $12.8 million during the three month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to $9.5 million during the three month period ended September 30, 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, orders totaled $43.0 million compared to $30.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Backlog totaled $6.6 million at September 30, 2006 and $4.0 million at September 30, 2005. The scheduled shipment (or estimated timing of revenue for systems recognized upon acceptance) for backlog at September 30, 2006 is as follows:

(In thousands)
 
4th Quarter 2006     $ 6,446  
1st Quarter 2007 and after    106  
 
   Total backlog   $ 6,552  
 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our cash and cash equivalents increased by $17.7 million during the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, primarily because of $7.8 million of cash generated from operating activities, net maturities of $9.2 million of marketable securities, and $1.8 million from financing activities, primarily from stock option exercises, offset by $1.2 million used for the purchase of long-lived assets and $81,000 for the repurchase of our common stock. Our cash and cash equivalents fluctuate in part because of maturities of marketable securities and investment of cash balances resulting from those maturities or from other sources of cash in addition to marketable securities. Accordingly, we believe the combined balances of cash and marketable securities provide a more reliable indication of our available liquidity. Our combined balances of cash and marketable securities increased $8.5 million to $49.7 million as of September 30, 2006 from $41.1 million as of December 31, 2005.

We generated $7.8 million of cash from operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Cash generated from operations primarily included net income of $5.1 million which included $1.4 million of net non-cash expenses for depreciation and amortization, provision for inventory obsolescence and other non-cash items, non-cash equity compensation of $637,000, decreases in other assets of $147,000, increased accounts payable of $670,000 and increased accrued expenses of $1.4 million, which more than offset increases in accounts receivable of $92,000, increases in inventory of $1.1 million and decreases in advance customer payments of $360,000. Increased accounts payable is primarily the result of increased inventory purchases and the timing of vendor payments. The increase in accrued expenses is due to increases in wage and benefit accruals resulting from higher incentive compensation, warranty reserves resulting from higher revenue levels, and income taxes payable that result from higher levels of profitability. Increases in inventory resulted from lower than planned revenue from SMT system products and certain sensor products. The decrease in advance customer payments is due to lower sales from customers who pay prior to our recognition of revenue from the related sale.

 

17




During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we used $551,000 of cash from operations. Cash generated from operations primarily included net income of $1.9 million, which included $2.0 million of net non-cash expenses and an increase in accounts payable of $1.1 million. The cash generated was more than offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $1.8 million, an increase in inventory of $895,000 and a decrease in accrued expenses of $2.2 million.

We generated $8.1 million of cash from investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to using $8.1 million of cash during the same period in 2005. Changes in the level of investment in marketable securities resulting from purchases and maturities of those securities generated $9.2 million of cash in 2006 and used $7.5 million of cash in 2005. We used $1.2 million of cash for the purchase of fixed assets and capitalized patent costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and $776,000 of cash for the purchase of fixed assets and capitalized patent costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

We generated $1.8 million of cash from financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $592,000 in the same period in 2005. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 cash generated includes $1.7 million from stock option exercises and issuance of stock under our employee stock purchase plan, and an $184,000 excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options. We also used $81,000 of cash for the repurchase of our common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, $844,000 was generated from stock option exercises and the issuance of stock under our employee stock purchase plan, and $252,000 was used for the repurchase of our common stock.

 

A table of our contractual obligations was provided in Item 7 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. During the first quarter of 2006 we negotiated a new lease for our primary office space. This lease has a five-year term and began in the second quarter of 2006. Future minimum lease payments under this lease are $221,000 for the remainder of 2006, $885,000 in 2007 and 2008, $908,000 in 2009, $932,000 in 2010 and $466,000 in 2011. There were no other significant changes to our contractual obligations during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and we have not entered into any material commitments for capital expenditures outside of those normal contractual obligations. Purchase commitments for inventory can vary based on the volume of revenue and resulting inventory requirements. Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $49.7 million at September 30, 2006. We believe that our available balances of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, coupled with anticipated cash flow from operations, will be adequate to fund our cash flow needs for the foreseeable future.

 

At September 30, 2006, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of establishing off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, we are not exposed to the financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

OTHER FACTORS

Changes in revenues have resulted primarily from changes in the level of unit shipments and the relative strength of the worldwide electronics and semiconductor fabrication capital equipment markets. We believe that inflation has not had any significant effect on operations. All of our international export sales are negotiated, invoiced and paid in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, although currency fluctuations do not significantly affect our revenue and income per unit, they can influence the price competitiveness of our products and the willingness of existing and potential customers to purchase units.

We have sales office located in the United Kingdom, Singapore and China. We do not believe that currency fluctuations will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FASB Interpretation No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109. The Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Interpretation also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the interpretation on our financial position and results of operations.

 

18




ITEM 7A – QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We invest excess funds not required for current operations in marketable securities. The investment policy for these marketable securities is approved annually by the Board of Directors and administered by management. A third party, approved by our Board of Directors, manages the portfolio at the direction of management. The investment policy dictates that marketable securities consist of U.S. Government or U.S. Government agency securities, various tax exempt securities or certain approved corporate instruments with maturities of three years or less and an average portfolio maturity of not more that 18 months. As of September 30, 2006, our portfolio of marketable securities had an average term to maturity of less than one year. All marketable securities are classified as available for sale and carried at fair value. We estimate that a hypothetical 1% increase in market interest rates would result in a decrease in the market value of the portfolio of marketable securities of approximately $75,000. If such a rate increase occurred, our net income would only be impacted if securities were sold prior to maturity.

 

We enter into foreign currency swap agreements to hedge short term inter-company financing transactions with our subsidiary in the United Kingdom. These currency swap agreements are structured to mature on the last day of each quarter and are designated as cash flow hedges. At September 30, 2006, we had one open swap agreement that was purchased on that date. As a result, there were no unrealized gains or losses as of September 30, 2006. During the three months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized a net loss of approximately $36,000 from the settlement of foreign currency swap agreements and a transaction gain of approximately $28,000 on the underlying inter-company balance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized a net loss of approximately $239,000 from the settlement of foreign currency swap agreements and a transaction gain of approximately $203,000 on the underlying inter-company balance.

 

Our foreign currency swap agreements contain credit risk to the extent that our bank counter-parties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. The Company minimizes such risk by limiting its counter-parties to major financial institutions. We do not expect material losses as a result of defaults by other parties.

 

19




ITEM 4 – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a.             Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

b.             During the quarter ended September 30, 2006, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

ITEM 2 – UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)   Company Repurchase of Equity Securities

Period (a)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
(b)
Average Price
Paid per Share
(c)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
(d)
Maximum Number of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs (1)
 
August 1, 2006 to August 31, 2006      6,500   $ 12.5346    6,500    493,500  
       
 
    Total    6,500   $ 12.5346    6,500    493,500  
       

 

(1)   The Company repurchased an aggregate of 6,500 shares of its common stock pursuant to the repurchase program that it publicly announced on July 26, 2006 providing for the repurchase of 500,000 shares. The Company has adopted a 10b5-1 plan to facilitate the purchase of the shares during periods it might otherwise be prevented by insider trading laws from making such repurchases. Shares were purchased in open market transactions.

 

20




 

ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS

31.1:

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a)(17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2:

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a)(17 CFR 240.15d-14(a)) and Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002

32:

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 






















21




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.

 

 

CYBEROPTICS CORPORATION

 

 

/s/   Kathleen P. Iverson

 

By Kathleen P. Iverson, President and CEO

 

(Principal Executive Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

 
 

 

/s/   Jeffrey A. Bertelsen

 

By Jeffrey A. Bertelsen, Chief Financial Officer

 

(Principal Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)


 

Dated:   November 7, 2006

 












22