Annual Report on Form 10-K





For the Fiscal Year Ended October 1, 2011





MTS Systems Corporation







UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C.  20549





FORM 10-K





(Mark One)


x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE


SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011




OR




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.  0-2382





MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION


(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)




Minnesota

41-0908057(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)14000 Technology Drive Eden Prairie, MN

55344(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)




Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (952) 937-4000




Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:




Title of each class

Name of each exchange on which registeredCommon Stock, $.25 par value per share

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC(NASDAQ Global Select Market)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o  No x




Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x




Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No o




Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on it corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x  No o




Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x




Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).




Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o
Smaller reporting company o




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




State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $701,597,545.




As of November 25, 2011, the Registrant had outstanding 15,688,181shares of Common Stock.




DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:  Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held February 8, 2012 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K, to the extent described in such Part.














MTS Systems Corporation


Annual Report on Form 10-K





Table of Contents





PART IForward Looking Statements
1Item 1.

Business
2Products and Markets by Business Segment
2Sales and Service
3Manufacturing and Engineering
4Sources and Availability of Raw Materials and Components
4Patents and Trademarks
5Seasonality
5Working Capital
5Customers
5Order Backlog
5Government Contracts
6Competition
6Research and Development
6Environmental Matters
6Employees
6Available Information
6Item 1A.

Risk Factors
7Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments
11Item 2.

Properties
11Item 3.

Legal Proceedings
12PART IIItem 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters  and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
12Item 6.

Selected Financial Data
15Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  and Results of Operations
17Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
40Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
42Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
42Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures
42Item 9B.

Other Information
42PART IIIItem 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of Registrant
43Item 11.

Executive Compensation
43Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
44Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
44Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services
44PART IVItem 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
44


Table of Contents





PART 1





FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS





Statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). In addition, certain statements in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by us or with our approval that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenue, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other statements concerning future financial performance; (ii) statements of our plans and objectives by our management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of assumptions underlying such statements; (iv) statements regarding business relationships with vendors, customers or collaborators; and (v) statements regarding products, their characteristics, performance, sales potential or effect in the hands of customers. Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “targeted,” “should,” “potential,” “goals,” “strategy,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.





Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A, Risk Factors, below. The performance of our business and our securities may be adversely affected by these factors and by other factors common to other businesses and investments, or to the general economy. Forward-looking statements are qualified by some or all of these risk factors. Therefore, you should consider these risk factors with caution and form your own critical and independent conclusions about the likely effect of these risk factors on our future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which statements are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances. Readers should carefully review the disclosures and the risk factors described in this and other documents we file from time to time with the SEC, including our reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.




1
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Item 1.
Business





MTS Systems Corporation (the “Company” or “MTS”) is a leading global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. The Company's operations are organized and managed in two business segments, the Test segment and the Sensors segment, based upon global similarities within their markets, products, operations and distribution. The Test and Sensors segments represent approximately 80% and 20% of Company revenue, respectively. The Company was incorporated under Minnesota law in 1967.





On September 28, 2008, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of SANS Group (“SANS”). SANS manufactures material testing systems and offers a variety of test systems. The results of operations for SANS have been included in the Company’s results of operations since the date of the acquisition, and are reported in the Company’s Test segment.





Products and Markets by Business Segment





Test Segment:  The Test segment provides testing solutions including hardware, software and aftermarket support. Products are used by customers in their development of new products and in certain quality control applications to characterize the product’s mechanical properties. The Company’s products simulate forces and motions that these customers expect their products to encounter in use. Mechanical testing in a lab setting is an accepted method to accelerate product development compared to limited prototype release, proving ground testing and virtual testing as it provides more controlled simulation and accurate measurement. The need for mechanical simulation increases in proportion to the cost of a product, the range and complexity of the physical environment in which the product will be used, expected warranty or recall risk and expense, governmental regulation and potential legal liability. Because a significant portion of all of the products in the Test segment are considered by customers to be capital expenditures, the Company believes the timing of purchases may be impacted by interest rates, cyclical customer capital spending constraints, and product development cycles.





A typical test system includes a load frame to hold the prototype specimen, a hydraulic pump or electro-mechanical power source, piston actuators to create the force or motion, and a computer controller with specialized software to coordinate the actuator movement and record and manipulate results. Lower force and less dynamic testing can usually be accomplished with electro-mechanical power sources, which are generally less expensive than hydraulic systems. Higher force and more dynamic testing typically require hydraulically powered systems, which are usually more expensive. In addition to these basic components, the Test segment sells a variety of accessories and spare parts, as well as services, including installation, calibration, maintenance, training and consulting.





The Test segment has a diverse set of customers by industry and geography. Regionally, the Americas, Europe and Asia represent approximately 30%, 30% and 40% of orders, respectively, based upon customer location.





Products and customers are grouped by the Company into the following three global markets:





●
Ground Vehicles: This market consists of automobile, truck, motorcycle, motorsports vehicles, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, rail, and off-road vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. Test segment system and service products are utilized in customer testing of vehicles, subsystems and components. System examples include:


o
Road simulators for the purpose of durability simulation,


o
Tire performance and rolling resistance measurement systems, and


o
Moving road-plane systems and balances use for aerodynamics measurements in wind tunnels.





This is the largest Test segment market, representing approximately 50% of Test segment orders.




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●
Materials: This market covers diverse industries such as power generation, aerospace, vehicles, and bio-medical. The Company’s products and services support customers in the research and development of products through the physical characterization of materials, such as ceramics, composites and steel. Bio-medical applications include systems to test durability and performance of implants, prostheses, and other medical and dental materials and devices. This global market represents approximately 30% of Test segment orders.





●
Structures:This market serves the structural testing needs in the fields of aerospace, wind energy, structural engineering, and petroleum, among others. The aerospace structural testing market consists of manufacturers of commercial, military, and private aircraft and their suppliers, who use the Company's products, systems, and software to perform static and fatigue testing of aircraft and space vehicles. The wind energy market consists of wind turbine manufacturers and their component suppliers who use the Company’s products to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of blades, bearings, and entire wind turbines. Systems for structural engineering include high force static and dynamic testing, as well as seismic simulation tables used around the world to test the designs of structures, such as bridges and buildings, and to help governments set building codes. Structural engineering customers include government agencies, universities and the manufacturers of building materials. This global market represents approximately 20% of Test segment orders.





Sensors Segment: The Sensors segment products are used by industrial machinery and mobile equipment manufacturers to automate the operation of their products for improved safety and end-user productivity. Examples of customer industries include manufacturers of plastic injection molding machines, steel mills, fluid power, oil and gas, medical, wood product processing equipment, mobile equipment, and alternative energy. Sensors segment products are also used to measure fluid displacement, such as liquid levels for customers in the process industries.





The Sensors segment manufactures products exclusively utilizing magnetostriction technology. MTS has developed a unique implementation of the technology, known as Temposonics ®. This technology offers high speed and precise non-contact position sensing and is ideal for use in harsh operating environments.





Sensors segment customers are also diverse by industry and geography. Regionally, the Americas, Europe and Asia represent approximately 25%, 50% and 25% of orders, respectively, based upon customer location.





Financial and geographical information about the Company’s segments is included in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





Sales and Service





Test Segment: Test segment products are sold worldwide through a direct field sales and service organization, independent representatives, and to a much lesser extent, the internet and catalogs for standard products and accessories. Direct field sales and service personnel are compensated through salary and order incentive programs. Independent representatives are either compensated through commissions based upon orders or discounts off list pricing.





In addition to field sales and service personnel throughout the United States and China, the Test segment has sales and service subsidiaries in Toronto, Canada; Berlin, Germany; Paris, France; Cirencester, United Kingdom; Turin, Italy; Gothenburg, Sweden; Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.





In fiscal 2011, product orders in the Test segment ranged in value from a few hundred dollars to $17 million on an equivalent United States dollar basis. The average order size was approximately $150,000.




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The Test segment also markets services to customers on a per-call and contract basis, accounting for virtually all of the Company’s Service Revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009. Service orders in fiscal 2011 ranged from $100 to over $900,000 on a United States dollar-equivalent basis.





The timing and volume of large orders valued at $5 million or greater on a United States dollar-equivalent basis may produce volatility in orders, backlog, and quarterly operating results. Most customer orders are based on fixed-price quotations and typically have an average sales cycle of three to nine months due to the technical nature of the test systems and customer capital expenditure approval processes. The sales cycle for larger, more complex test systems may be two years or longer.





Sensors Segment:  Sensors segment products are sold worldwide through a direct sales organization as well as through independent distributors. The direct sales organization is compensated through salary and commissions based upon revenue. The independent distributors pay the Company a wholesale price and re-sell the product to their customers. Sensors segment products are sold at unit prices ranging from $25 to $10,000, with an average sales price of approximately $500 on a United States dollar-equivalent basis. While the average sales cycle for the Sensors segment is approximately one to four weeks for existing customers purchasing standard products, the sales cycle for a new account can range from three months to two years depending on customer specification requirements.





Manufacturing and Engineering





Test Segment: Test systems are largely built to order and primarily engineered and assembled at the Company’s headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The Company also operates manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen and Shanghai, China, which manufacture less complex test systems serving the materials market. Some smaller system assembly is performed at Company locations in Berlin, Germany; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. Installation of systems, training, service and consulting services are primarily delivered by the Test segment at customer sites. The engineering and assembly cycle for a typical Test segment system ranges from 1 to 12 months, depending on the complexity of the system and the availability of components. The engineering and assembly cycle for larger, more complex systems may be up to three years.




Sensors Segment:Sensors are primarily built to order, engineered and assembled regionally at facilities located in Cary, North Carolina; Ludenscheid, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan. Assembly cycles generally vary from several days to several months, depending on the degree of product customization, the size of the order and manufacturing capacity.





Sources andAvailability of Raw Materials and Components





A significant portion of test systems and sensors products consist of materials and component parts purchased from independent vendors. The Company is dependent, in certain situations, on a limited number of vendors to provide raw materials and components, such as mechanical and electronic components. While the Company has recently experienced some issues in procuring certain materials, parts, or components, none of them has caused significant delays in engineering or production processes.





As the Test segment generally sells products and services based on fixed-price contracts, fluctuations in the cost of materials and components between the date of the order and the delivery date may impact the expected profitability of any project. The material and component cost variability is considered in the estimation and customer negotiation process. The Company believes that fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and components have not had a significant impact on operating results during any of the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, or October 3, 2009.




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Patents and Trademarks





MTS specializes in the control and measurement of forces and motion. Technologies include application software for test parameter control and results analysis, precise hydraulic and electric actuation in the Test segment, and magnetostriction technology in the Sensors segment.





The Company relies on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and proprietary trade secrets to protect its proprietary technology, some of which are material to the Test and Sensors segments. The Company has obtained numerous patents and trademarks worldwide, and actively files and renews patents and trademarks on a global basis to establish and protect its proprietary technology.  The Company has also entered into exclusive and non-exclusive license and confidentiality agreements relating to its own and third-party technologies. The Company aggressively protects its processes, products, and strategies as proprietary trade secrets. The Company’s efforts to protect intellectual property and avoid disputes over proprietary rights include ongoing review of third-party patents and patent applications.





Seasonality





There is no significant seasonality to Test or Sensors segment revenue.





Working Capital





Neither the Test nor the Sensors segment have significant finished product inventory, but maintain inventories of materials and components to facilitate on time product delivery. The Test segment may have varying levels of work-in-process projects that are classified as inventory or unbilled receivables, depending upon the manufacturing cycle, timing of orders, project revenue recognition and shipments to customers.





In the Test segment, payments are often received from customers upon order or at milestones during the fulfillment of the order, depending upon the size and customization of the system. These are recorded as Advance Payments from Customers on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and reduced as revenue is recognized. Conversely, if revenue is recognized on a project prior to customer billing, an Unbilled Accounts Receivable is recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets until the customer is billed. Upon billing, it is recorded as Accounts Receivable. Changes in the average size, payment terms and revenue recognition for orders in the Test segment may have a significant impact on investment in Accounts Receivable, Unbilled Accounts Receivable, Advance Payments from Customers and Inventory. It has not been the Company’s practice to provide rights of return for its products. Payment terms vary and are subject to negotiation.





Customers





The Company does not have a significant concentration of sales with any individual customer. Therefore, the loss of any one customer would not have a material impact on the Company.





Order Backlog





Most of the Company’s products are built to order. The Company's backlog of orders, defined as firm orders from customers that remain unfulfilled, totaled approximately $287 million, $214 million, and $168 million at October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively. The majority of this backlog is related to the Test segment. Based on anticipated manufacturing schedules, the Company estimates that approximately $256 million of the backlog at October 1, 2011 will be converted to revenue during fiscal 2012. Delays may occur in the conversion of backlog into revenue as a result of export licensing compliance, technical difficulties, specification changes, manufacturing capacity, supplier issues, or access to the customer site for installation. While the backlog is subject to order cancellations, the Company has not historically experienced a significant number of order cancellations.




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Government Contracts





Revenue from U.S. Government contracts varies by year. A portion of the Company’s government business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the U.S. Government. In addition to contract terms, the Company must comply with procurement laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration, and performance of U.S. Government contracts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could lead to the termination of contracts at the election of the government or the suspension or debarment from U.S. Government contracting or subcontracting. U.S. Government revenue as a percentage of the Company’s total revenue was approximately 4% and 7% for fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.





Competition





Test Segment:  For relatively simple and inexpensive mechanical testing applications, customers may satisfy their needs internally by building their own test systems or using any of a large number of competitors who compete on price, quality, and service. For larger and more complex mechanical test systems, the Test segment competes directly with several other companies throughout the world based upon best total value including application knowledge, engineering capabilities, technical features, price, quality and service.





Sensors Segment:  The Sensors segment primarily competes on factors that include technical performance, price and service in new applications or in situations in which other position sensing technologies have been used. Competitors of the Sensors segment are typically either larger companies that carry multiple sensor product lines or smaller, privately held companies throughout the world.





Research and Development





The Company invests in significant product, system, and software application development. The Company also occasionally contracts with its customers to advance the state of technology and increase product functionality. Costs associated with R&D were expensed as incurred, totaling $14.8 million, $14.9 million and $16.3 million for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively. During the fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company allocated certain of its resources towards capitalized software development activities. Total software development costs capitalized during the fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $3.7 million, $3.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively.





Environmental Matters





The Company believes its operations are in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations within the jurisdictions in which it operates.





Employees





The Company had 2,003 employees as of October 1, 2011, including approximately 1,105 employees located outside the United States.





Available Information





The Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available on the “Investor Relations” pages of the Company’s website, www.mts.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The MTS Systems Corporation Code of Business Conduct, any waivers from and amendments to the Code, and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as well as the Charters for the Audit, Compensation, and Governance and Nominating Committees of the Company’s Board of Directors are also available free of charge on the “Investor Relations” pages at www.mts.com. The Company’s SEC filings are also available at the SEC online EDGAR database at www.sec.gov., as well as the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.




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Item 1A.
Risk Factors





The following summarizes, in no particular order, certain risks facing the Company that could adversely impact the Company’s businesses, financial condition and operating results. This list is not intended to be comprehensive or to predict in detail which risks could or will occur. All statements, other than statements of historic fact, in each of the Company’s public announcements and filings with the SEC are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws and should be read in light of these risk factors.




The Company’s business operations may be affected by government contracting risks.Government business is important to the Company.Revenue from U.S. Government contracts varies by year. Such revenue as a percent of the Company’s total revenue was approximately 4% and 7% for fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.





The Company must comply with procurement laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration, and performance of U.S. Government contracts. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could lead to suspension or debarment from U.S. Government contracting or subcontracting and result in administrative, civil or criminal penalties. Failure to comply could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, its ability to secure future U.S. Government contracts and export control licenses, and its results of operations and financial condition. These laws and regulations also create compliance risk and affect how the Company does business with federal agency clients. U.S. Government contracts, as well as contracts with certain foreign governments with which we do business, are also subject to modification or termination by the government, either for the convenience of the government or for default as a result of the Company’s failure to perform under the applicable contract.  Further, any investigation relating to, or suspension or debarment from, U.S. Government contracting could have a material impact on our results of operations as, during the duration of any suspension or debarment, the Company would be prohibited or otherwise limited in its ability to enter into prime contracts or subcontracts with U.S. Government agencies (to the extent that such contracts exceed $30,000), certain entities that receive U.S. Government funds or that are otherwise subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and certain state government or commercial customers who decline to contract with suspended or debarred entities. A federal suspension could also impact the Company’s ability to obtain export control licenses, which have material importance to the Company’s business.





The Company is the subject of an investigation relating to its past government contracting practices.  In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota (“USAO”) notified the Company that they were investigating why the Company had not disclosed, on the Company’s Online Representations and Certifications Application (“ORCA Certification”), that the Company had pled guilty in 2008 to two misdemeanors in regard to making false statements related to certain export matters in 2003. On January 12, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an administrative subpoena requesting, among other items, that the Company preserve, retain, and produce to the Government certain documents related to the Company’s ORCA Certifications. On April 7, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an additional administrative subpoena requesting further information relating to the Company’s ORCA Certifications and Government contracting compliance policies, and in July 2011 the USAO expanded the scope of its inquiry to include the Company’s general compliance record and practices in areas including export controls and government contracts.





In addition, on March 11, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Air Force (the “Air Force”) issued a notice suspending the Company from all U.S. Government contracting and from directly or indirectly receiving the benefits of federal assistance programs, based on the factual and legal issues underlying the investigation. On September 19, 2011, the Air Force lifted the suspension from Government contracting upon the Company’s entry into an Administrative Agreement specifying certain ethics, compliance, reporting and monitoring obligations.




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The USAO and DOC investigation continues. The Company has been responding to information requests from the USAO, DOC and Air Force, and the USAO has issued grand jury subpoenas to certain third party individuals. The Company is cooperating with the agencies and has conducted its own review of these matters. While the Company continues to respond to the government’s requests as appropriate, the Company is presently unable to determine the outcome or range of loss, if any, associated with these matters or predict with certainty the timeline for the resolution of these matters.  Any civil or criminal action that might be commenced against the Company as a result of the DOC’s and/or the USAO’s investigations could result in the imposition of significant penalties and/or fines against the Company. If the Company is subject to an adverse finding resulting from the DOC’s or the USAO’s investigations, it could be required to pay damages or penalties or have other remedies imposed upon it. In addition, the period of time necessary to resolve this matter is uncertain and could require significant management and financial resources that could otherwise be devoted to the operation of the Company’s business.





The Company’s business is significantly international in scope, which poses multiple risks.  Sales outside of the United States, including export sales from U.S. business locations, accounted for approximately 70% of the Company’s revenue in fiscal 2011. Accordingly, the Company’s business is subject to the political, economic and other risks that are inherent in operating in foreign countries. These risks include:




●
exposure to the risk of currency value fluctuations, where payment for products is denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars;


●
variability in the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency-denominated assets, earnings and cash flows;


●
difficulty of enforcing agreements, including patent and trademarks, and collecting receivables through foreign legal systems;


●
trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;


●
tax rates in certain foreign countries that exceed those in the U.S. and the imposition of withholding requirements on foreign earnings;


●
higher danger of terrorist activity, war or civil unrest, compared to domestic operations;


●
imposition of tariffs, exchange controls or other restrictions;


●
difficulty in staffing and managing global operations;


●
required compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations; and


●
changes in general economic and political conditions in countries where the Company operates, particularly in emerging markets.




Volatility in the global economy could adversely affect results.Long-term disruptions in the capital and credit markets would likely adversely affect the Company’s customers’ operations and financing of both the Company’s international and U.S. customers and could therefore result in a decrease in orders for the Company’s products and services. In addition, during periods of economic uncertainty, the Company’s customers’ spending patterns and financing availability could be negatively impacted, reducing demand for the Company’s products and services.





The Company’s business is subject to strong competition.The Company’s products are sold in competitive markets throughout the world. Competition is based on application knowledge, product features and design, brand recognition, reliability, technology, breadth of product offerings, price, delivery, customer relationships, and after-market support. If the Company is not perceived as competitive in overall value measured by these criteria, its customers would likely choose solutions offered by its competitors or which its customers develop internally.





The Company may not achieve its growth plans for the expansion of the business.  In addition to market penetration, the Company’s long-term success depends on its ability to expand the business through (a) new product development, (b) mergers and acquisitions and/or (c) geographic expansion.




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New product development requires that the Company maintain its ability to improve existing products, continue to bring innovative products to market in a timely fashion and adapt products to the needs and standards of current and potential customers. The Company’s products and services may become less competitive or eclipsed by technologies to which the Company does not have access or which render its solutions obsolete.





Geographic expansion will be primarily outside of the U.S., and hence will be disproportionately subject to the risks of international operations discussed herein.





Mergers and acquisitions will be accompanied by risks which may include:





●
difficulties identifying suitable acquisition candidates at acceptable costs;


●
unavailability of capital to conduct acquisitions;


●
failure to achieve the financial and strategic goals for the acquired and combined businesses;


●
difficulty assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired businesses;


●
disruption of ongoing business and distraction of management from the ongoing business;


●
dilution of existing stockholders and earnings per share;


●
unanticipated, undisclosed or inaccurately assessed liabilities, legal risks and costs; and


●
difficulties retaining key vendors, customers or employees of the Company’s or the acquired business.





Acquisitions of businesses having a significant presence outside the U.S. will increase the Company’s exposure to the risks of international operations discussed herein.





The Company may experience difficulties obtaining the services of skilled employees.  The Company relies on knowledgeable, experienced and skilled technical personnel, particularly engineers, sales management, and service personnel, to design, assemble, sell and service its products. The Company may be unable to attract, retain and motivate sufficient numbers of such people which could adversely affect its business.





The Company may fail to protect its intellectual property effectively, or may infringe upon the intellectual property of others.  The Company has developed significant proprietary technology and other rights that are used in its businesses. The Company relies on trade secret, copyright, trademark and patent laws and contractual provisions to protect the Company’s intellectual property. While the Company takes enforcement of these rights seriously, other companies such as competitors or analogous persons in markets the Company does not participate in, may attempt to copy or use for their own benefit its intellectual property.





In addition, intellectual property of others also has an impact on the Company’s ability to offer some of its products and services for specific uses or at competitive prices. Competitors’ patents or other intellectual property may limit the Company’s ability to offer products and services to its customers. Any infringement on the intellectual property rights of others could result in litigation and adversely affect the Company’s ability to continue to provide, or could increase the cost of providing, products and services.





Intellectual property litigation is very costly and could result in substantial expense and diversions of the Company’s resources, both of which could adversely affect its businesses and financial condition and results. In addition, there may be no effective legal recourse against infringement of the Company’s intellectual property by third parties, whether due to limitations on enforcement of rights in foreign jurisdictions or as a result of other factors.





The business could be adversely affected by product liability and commercial litigation.  The Company’s products or services may be claimed to cause or contribute to personal injury or property damage to its customers’ facilities or their employees. Additionally, the Company is, at times, involved in commercial disputes with third parties, such as customers, vendors and others. The ensuing claims may arise singularly, in groups of related claims, or in class actions involving multiple claimants. Such claims and litigation are frequently expensive and time-consuming to resolve, may result in substantial liability to the Company, which liability and related costs and expenses may not be recoverable through insurance or other forms of reimbursement.




9
 Table of Contents





The Company may experience difficulty obtaining materials or components for its products, or the cost of materials or components may increase. The Company purchases materials and components from third party suppliers, some of whom may be competitors. Other materials and components may be provided by a limited number of suppliers or by sole sources and could only be replaced with difficulty or at significant added cost. Additionally, some materials or components may become scarce, difficult to obtain in the market, or they may increase in price. This could adversely affect the lead-time within which the Company receives the materials or components, and in turn affect the Company’s commitments to its customers, or could adversely affect the material cost or quality.





Government regulation imposes significant costs and other constraints.The Company’s manufacturing operations and past and present ownership and operations of real property are subject to extensive and changing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, including laws and regulations pertaining to environmental, health and safety matters, as well as the handling or discharge of hazardous materials into the environment. The Company expects to continue to incur costs to comply with these laws, and may incur penalties for any failure to do so. The Company may also be identified as a responsible party and be subject to liability relating to any investigation and clean-up of properties used for industrial purposes or the generation or disposal of hazardous substances. Some of the Company’s export sales require approval from the U.S. government. Changes in political relations between the U.S. and foreign countries and/or specific potential customers for which export licenses may be required, may cause a license application to be delayed or denied, or a previously issued license withdrawn, rendering the Company unable to complete a sale, or vulnerable to competitors who do not operate under such restrictions.





The backlog, sales, delivery and acceptance cycle for many of the Company’s products is irregular and may not develop as anticipated.  Many of the Company’s products have a long sales, delivery and acceptance cycle.  Events may cause recognition of orders, backlog and results of operations to be aberrant over shorter periods of time. These factors include the timing of individual large orders, design and manufacturing problems, capacity constraints, delays in product readiness, damage or delays in transit, problems in achieving technical performance requirements, and various customer-initiated delays. Any such delay may cause fluctuation in the Company’s reported periodic financial results.





The Company’s customers are in cyclical industries.  For many of the Company’s products, orders are subject to customers’ procurement cycles and their willingness and ability to invest in capital, especially in the cyclical automotive, aircraft and machine tool industries. Any event which adversely impacts those customers’ new product development activities may reduce their demand for the Company’s products.





Interest rate fluctuations could adversely affect results.Significant changes in interest rates may affect the Company’s business in several ways, depending on the Company’s financial position, and short-term financing needs.The Company may, in the future, use debt to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, finance working capital needs or finance the growth of the business through acquisitions. Fluctuations in interest rates can increase borrowing costs. Increases in short-term interest rates may directly impact the amount of interest the Company is required to pay and reduce earnings accordingly. Conversely, lower interest rates will adversely impact the interest the Company earns on cash and short term investments.





The Company may be required to recognize impairment charges for long-lived assets.As of October 1, 2011, the net carrying value of long-lived assets (property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets) totaled approximately $98.1 million. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company periodically assesses these assets to determine if they are impaired. Significant negative industry or economic trends, disruptions to the Company’s businesses, significant unexpected or planned changes in use of the assets, divestitures and market capitalization declines may result in impairments to goodwill and other long-lived assets. Future impairment charges could significantly affect results of operations in the periods recognized.




10
 Table of Contents





Item1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments





None.





Item 2.
Properties





The Company’s primary owned and leased facilities at October 1, 2011 were as follows:





Owned Property:




Location
Use of Facility

Square

FootageEden Prairie, Minnesota, USA
Corporate headquarters and primary Test segment manufacturing and research


420,000Cary, North Carolina, USA
Sensors segment manufacturing, research and North American sales and service administration


65,000Berlin, Germany
Test segment manufacturing and European sales and service administration


80,000Shenzhen, China
Test segment manufacturing, research and sales and service administration


75,000Shanghai, China
Test segment manufacturing and sales and service administration


129,000




Leased Property:





Location
Use of Facility

Square

Footage


Lease

ExpiresChanhassen, Minnesota, USA
Test segment manufacturing


97,000



2013Ludenscheid, Germany
Sensors segment headquarters, manufacturing, research and European sales and service administration


55,000



2017Creteil, France
Test segment sales and service administration


16,000



2015Tokyo, Japan
Test segment sales and service administration


12,000



2011 - 2013Sensors segment manufacturing and Asia sales and service administration


8,000



2015Seoul, South Korea
Test segment sales, service administration and assembly


8,000



2012Shanghai, China
Test segment sales, service administration and assembly


13,000



2012Shenzhen, China
Test segment manufacturing, research and sales and service administration


13,000



2013Berlin, Germany
Land under Berlin facility


30,000



2052Shenzhen, China
Land under Shenzhen facility


31,000



2047Shanghai, China
Land under Shanghai facility


161,000



2056





The Company also leases space in the United States, Europe and Asia for sales and service administration for the Test segment, including locations in Michigan, France, United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and various other locations in the United States. Neither the amount of leased space nor the rental obligations in these locations are significant individually or in the aggregate. Additional information relative to lease obligations is included in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, appearing under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.




11
 Table of Contents





The Company considers its current facilities adequate to support its operations during fiscal year 2012.





Item 3.
Legal Proceedings





In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota (“USAO”) notified the Company that they were investigating why the Company had not disclosed, on the Government’s Online Representations and Certifications Application (“ORCA Certification”), that the Company had pled guilty in 2008 to two misdemeanors in regard to making false statements related to certain export matters in 2003. On January 12, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an administrative subpoena requesting, among other items, that the Company preserve, retain, and produce to the Government certain documents related to the Company’s ORCA Certifications. On April 1, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized its Audit Committee to serve as a special committee to initiate an independent review and monitoring of the Company’s suspension from U.S. Government contracting and to oversee an investigation by independent counsel of the events giving rise to the suspension and related to the USAO and DOC investigation. On April 7, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an additional administrative subpoena requesting further information relating to the Company’s ORCA Certifications and Government contracting compliance policies, and in July 2011, the USAO expanded the scope of its inquiry to include the Company’s general compliance record and practices in areas including export controls and government contracts.





In addition, on March 11, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Air Force (the “Air Force”) issued a notice suspending the Company from all U.S. Government contracting and from directly or indirectly receiving the benefits of federal assistance programs, based on the factual and legal issues underlying the investigation.  On September 19, 2011, the Air Force lifted the suspension from Government contracting upon the Company’s entry into an Administrative Agreement with the Air Force, that provides for, among other things, continuing enhancements to the Company’s business ethics and compliance program and associated procedures and policies, expanded employee ethics and compliance training, heightened self-reporting obligations and the retention by the Company of an independent compliance monitor.





The Company has been responding to information requests from the USAO, DOC and Air Force, and the USAO has issued grand jury subpoenas to certain third party individuals. The Company is cooperating with the agencies and has conducted its own review of these matters.





The Company’s known costs related to the suspension and investigation in fiscal 2011 totaled $6.0 million and active market opportunities estimated at approximately $9 million had been lost as of October 1, 2011. While the Company continues to respond to the government’s requests as appropriate, the Company is presently unable to determine the likely outcome or range of loss, if any, from the investigation or predict with certainty the timeline for the resolution of the investigation.





PART II





Item5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities





Shares of the Company's common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM under the symbol MTSC.




12
 Table of Contents




The following table sets forth the low and high share prices for the fiscal quarters indicated. *


Quarter Ended

Low


HighJanuary 2, 2010

$
25.00


$
30.00April 3, 2010

$
24.85


$
30.89July 3, 2010

$
25.50


$
31.66October 2, 2010

$
26.17


$
31.72January 1, 2011

$
30.33


$
39.46April 2, 2011

$
35.89


$
48.72July 2, 2011

$
37.48


$
46.19October 1, 2011

$
28.00


$
44.90





* Source: NASDAQ OnlineSM at www.nasdaq.net.





At November 25, 2011, there were 916 holders of record of the Company's common stock. This number does not reflect shareholders who hold their shares in the name of broker-dealers or other nominees.





Purchases of Company Equity Securities





The Company purchases its common stock to mitigate dilution related to new shares issued as employee equity compensation such as stock option, restricted stock, and employee stock purchase plan awards, as well as to return capital not immediately required to fund ongoing operations to shareholders.





On February 11, 2011 and August 20, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved and announced share purchase authorizations in the amount of 2.0 million and 3.0 million shares, respectively. Authority over pricing and timing for both authorizations has been delegated to management. The share purchase authorizations have no expiration date. The Company did not purchase any shares of its common stock under either of these share purchase authorizations during fiscal year 2011. At October 1, 2011, there are approximately 2.6 million aggregate shares available for purchase under the existing share purchase authorizations.





On May 26, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized an accelerated share purchase program to acquire shares of the Company’s common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $30 million. On August 18, 2010, the Company entered into an accelerated share purchase agreement with an unrelated third party investment bank to purchase approximately 0.9 million shares of its common stock for $25 million. The transaction was accounted for as a share retirement resulting in a reduction of common stock and additional paid-in capital of $0.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively, at the share retirement date. The accelerated share purchase agreement expired during the third quarter of fiscal year 2011. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company made a final settlement payment of $9.6 million, based on the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the contractual period, minus an agreed-upon discount. This settlement transaction was accounted for as a reduction in additional paid-in capital of $9.6 million. The Company paid an average price of $38.12 per share for shares purchased under the accelerated share purchase program.





Dividend Policy





The Company's dividend policy is to maintain a payout ratio that allows dividends to increase with the long-term growth of earnings per share, while sustaining dividends through economic cycles. The Company’s dividend practice is to target over time a payout ratio of approximately 40% of net earnings per share. During fiscal year 2011, the Company declared cash dividends of $0.20 per share for the first three quarters and $0.25 per share for the last quarter to holders of its common stock, which resulted in a payout ratio of approximately 26%. During the fiscal year 2010, the Company declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.15 per share to holders of its common stock, which resulted in a payout ratio of approximately 53%.





13
 Table of Contents





Debt Covenants





The Company’s unsecured credit agreement (“Credit Facility”) includes certain financial covenants, including the ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as well as the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense. These financial covenants may restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends and purchase outstanding shares of common stock. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants. Information on the Company’s debt agreements is included in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





Shareholder Return Performance





The graph and table below set forth a comparison of the cumulative total return of the Company’s common stock over the last five fiscal years. Assuming a $100 investment on September 30, 2006 and reinvestment of dividends, the total return over the same periods is compared to the Russell 2000 Index and a peer group of companies in the Laboratory Apparatus and Analytical, Optical, Measuring, and Controlling Instruments Standard Industrial Code (SIC Code 3820) who are traded on the NASDAQ, AMEX and NYSE exchanges. The table and graph are not necessarily indicative of future investment performance.









FISCAL YEAR ENDED9/30/06


9/29/07


9/27/08


10/3/09


10/2/10


10/1/11MTS Systems Corporation

$
100.00


$
130.19


$
135.19


$
91.73


$
104.90


$
104.30Russell 2000 Index


100.00



112.34



99.63



83.44



98.96



95.02*SIC Code 3820 Peer Group (Modified to remove non-exchange traded companies)


100.00



128.83



108.74



95.50



122.54



116.94




14
 Table of Contents




Item 6.
Selected Financial Data





The table below provides selected historical financial data for the Company which should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are included in Items 7 and 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statement of income data for each of the three fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 and the balance sheet data at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 are derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report. The statement of income data for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007 and the balance sheet data at October 3, 2009, September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007 are derived from audited financial statements of the Company that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.








Five-Year Financial Summary(October 1, 2011; October 2, 2010; October 3, 2009; September 27, 2008; and September 29, 2007)(expressed in thousands, except per share data and numbers of shareholders and employees)
  2011


2010



20091



2008



2007OperationsRevenue

$
467,368


$
374,053


$
408,881


$
460,515


$
410,091Gross profit


201,990



151,794



151,616



190,253



173,638Gross profit as a % of revenue


43.2
%


40.6
%


37.1
%


41.3
%


42.3
%Research and development expense

$
14,785


$
14,945


$
16,232


$
16,232


$
19,285Research and development as a % of revenue


3.2
%


4.0
%


4.0
%


3.5
%


4.7
%Effective income tax rate


30.5
%


31.7
%


27.2
%


28.0
%


27.5
%Income before discontinued operations

$
50,942


$
18,576


$
17,394


$
47,110


$
41,041Net income


50,942



18,576



17,394



49,191



41,996Net income as a % of revenue


10.9
%


5.0
%


4.3
%


10.7
%


10.2
%Diluted earnings per share of common stockbefore discontinued operations

$
3.24


$
1.14


$
1.03


$
2.68


$
2.24Diluted earnings per share of common stock


3.24



1.14



1.03



2.80



2.29Weighted average dilutive sharesoutstanding during the year2


15,739



16,347



16,831



17,544



18,330Net interest (expense) income

$
(915
)

$
(1,052
)

$
(916
)

$
2,950


$
2,590Depreciation and amortization


12,894



12,751



12,132



9,207



7,985Financial PositionCash, cash equivalents andshort-term investments

$
104,095


$
76,611


$
118,885


$
114,099


$
121,395Property and equipment, net


56,252



56,444



56,118



50,534



49,747Total assets


427,859



346,405



386,914



399,157



352,981Interest-bearing debt3


40,000



40,000



40,000



26,308



8,991Total shareholders’ investment


210,848



166,106



203,965



204,942



189,701Interest-bearing debt as a % ofshareholders’ investment


19.0
%


24.1
%


19.6
%


12.8
%


4.7
%Return on equity4


30.7
%


9.1
%


8.5
%


24.8
%


24.2
%Return on invested capital5


22.7
%


8.7
%


7.9
%


22.3
%


21.9
%Other StatisticsNumber of common shareholders ofrecord at year-end6


926



981



1,010



1,043



1,092Number of employees at year-end


2,003



1,948



2,015



1,660



1,575Orders

$
540,023


$
423,525


$
340,839


$
485,274


$
421,437Backlog of orders at year-end


287,371



214,330



167,726



234,710



204,558Dividends declared per share


0.85



0.60



0.60



0.60



0.48




15
 Table of Contents


1The fiscal year ended October 3, 2009 was a 53-week fiscal year, whereas all other fiscal years presented were 52-week periods.


2Assumes the conversion of potential common shares using the treasury stock method.


3Consists of short-term borrowings and the current and non-current portion of long-term debt.


4Calculated by dividing Income Before Discontinued Operations by beginning Shareholders’ Investment.


5The measure “Return on Invested Capital” (“ROIC”) is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). ROIC is calculated by dividing adjusted net income by average invested capital. Adjusted net income is calculated by excluding after-tax interest expense and after-tax income from discontinued operations from reported net income. Average invested capital is defined as the aggregate of average interest bearing debt and average shareholder’s investment and is calculated as the sum of current and prior year ending amounts divided by two. Because the ratio is not prescribed or authorized by GAAP, the ROIC percentage is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that ROIC is useful to investors as a measure of operating performance and of the effectiveness of the use of capital in its operations. The Company uses ROIC as one measure to monitor and evaluate operating performance relative to the invested capital of the Company. This measure should not be construed as an alternative to return on equity or any other measure determined in accordance with GAAP.





Reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP measure:





2011


2010


2009


2008


2007(expressed in thousands)Net income

$
50,942


$
18,576


$
17,394


$
49,191


$
41,996After-tax interest expense


892



968



1,472



779



949After-tax income from discontinued operations


-



-



-



(2,081
)


(955
)Adjusted net income *

$
51,834


$
19,544


$
18,866


$
47,889


$
41,990Total beginning shareholders' investment

$
166,106


$
203,965


$
204,942


$
189,701


$
169,321Total ending shareholders' investment


210,848



166,106



203,965



204,942



189,701Total beginning interest bearing debt


40,000



40,000



26,308



8,991



15,673Total ending interest bearing debt


40,000



40,000



40,000



26,308



8,991Sum of invested capital

$
456,954


$
450,071


$
475,215


$
429,942


$
383,686Average invested capital*

$
228,477


$
225,036


$
237,608


$
214,971


$
191,843Return on invested capital *


22.7
%


8.7
%


7.9
%


22.3
%


21.9
%* Denotes Non-GAAP financial measure




6Does not include shareholders whose stock is held in the name of broker dealers or other nominees.





16
 Table of Contents





Item7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations





MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. The Company’s testing hardware and software solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS’ high-performance position sensors provide controls for a variety of industrial and vehicular applications. MTS had 2,003 employees and revenue of $467 million for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011.





Fiscal Year


The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009 consisted of 52 weeks, 52 weeks, and 53 weeks, respectively.





Fiscal Year 2011 Compared to Fiscal Year 2010





Summary of Financial Results





Significant Items for Fiscal Year 2011 compared to Fiscal Year 2010 include:




●
Orders increased 27.5% to $540.0 million, compared to orders of $423.5 million for fiscal year 2010. The increase in orders represents worldwide growth of 28.1% and 24.9% in the Test and Sensors segments, respectively, reflecting strong base-order expansion in both segments. The results included five large (in excess of $5.0 million) Test segment orders totaling approximately $64 million, an increase of $31 million compared to large Test segment orders in fiscal year 2010. Backlog of undelivered orders at October 1, 2011 was $287.4 million, an increase of 34.1% from backlog of $214.3 million at October 2, 2010.





●
Revenue increased 24.9% to $467.4 million, compared to revenue of $374.1 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase represents growth of 22.8% and 33.0% in the Test and Sensors segments, respectively, both driven by higher beginning backlog and strong fiscal year orders.





●
Income from operations increased 158.7% to $73.2 million, compared to $28.3 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily driven by higher revenue and gross profit, net of $5.3 million increased operating expenses. Operating expenses in the current fiscal year included legal and consulting costs of $6.0 million related to investigations regarding U.S. Government matters. Operating expenses in fiscal year 2010 included a legal settlement charge of $6.3 million. As a percentage of revenue, operating expenses declined from 33.0% to 27.6%. See below for additional information regarding U.S. Government matters during the current fiscal year.





●
Earnings per diluted share increased to $3.24, compared to $1.14 for the fiscal year 2010. In addition to the benefit of higher income from operations, the reduction in shares outstanding, resulting from the Company’s share purchases in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, as well as a lower effective tax rate, positively impacted earnings per diluted share by $0.12 and $0.06, respectively.





●
Cash and cash equivalents at October 1, 2011 totaled $104.1 million, compared to $76.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2010. Cash flows from operations generated $43.0 million. During fiscal year 2011, the Company invested $10.1 million in capital expenditures, paid $9.6 million to settle an accelerated share repurchase agreement, and paid $9.3 million in dividends.




●
As was previously disclosed, in January 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota (“USAO”) notified the Company that they were investigating why the Company had not disclosed, on the Government’s Online Representations and Certifications Application (“ORCA Certification”), that the Company had pled guilty in 2008 to two misdemeanors in regard to making false statements related to certain export matters in 2003. In July 2011, the USAO expanded the scope of its inquiry to include the Company’s general compliance record and practices in areas including export controls and government contracts.




17
 Table of Contents





Further, in March 2011, the U.S. Department of the Air Force (the “Air Force”) issued a notice suspending the Company from all U.S. Government contracting and from directly or indirectly receiving the benefits of federal assistance programs, based on the factual and legal issues underlying the investigation; this suspension was lifted on September 19, 2011 in connection with the Company’s entry into an Administrative Agreement specifying certain ethics, compliance, reporting and monitoring obligations. The Company has been responding to information requests from the USAO and DOC, and the USAO has issued grand jury subpoenas to certain third party individuals. The Company will continue to review these matters and to cooperate fully with the Government’s requests, as appropriate.




The Company experienced a loss of revenue from contract opportunities lost or was not allowed to bid and from contracts cancelled during the suspension. The Company had approximately $15 million of active market opportunities from the suspension date through September 18, 2011 affected by the suspension for which the Company believes it had a reasonable opportunity to compete, but which may or may not have been awarded to the Company. The Company estimates that it lost approximately $9 million of such opportunities through October 1, 2011. During the suspension, the Company was unable to submit bids on U.S. Government prime contracts and subcontracts (to the extent that such contracts exceed $30,000), or with certain state governments or with commercial customers that decline to contract with suspended government contractors. The Company was permitted, under applicable regulations, to continue performing work under existing Government contracts during the investigation and suspension. During fiscal 2011, existing customer orders totaling approximately $100,000 in the aggregate were cancelled due to the suspension. Although revenue from U.S. Government contracts varies by year, such revenue as a percentage of the Company’s total revenue was approximately 4% and 7% for fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.




Further, the Company expects to incur additional General and Administrative expenses related to legal and consulting fees as part of the on-going investigation, as well as increased compliance costs. As previously mentioned, the Company incurred $6.0 million of costs related to these matters in fiscal 2011.




The Company is presently unable to determine the likely outcome or range of loss, if any, from the investigation or predict with certainty the timeline for the resolution of the investigation. Associated fines, penalties, or other actions, if any, could have a material adverse effect on MTS’s business.




Detailed Financial Results





Total Company




Orders and Backlog





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:




18
 Table of Contents





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Orders

$
540.0


$
103.2


$
13.3


$
423.5




Orders totaled $540.0 million, an increase of $116.5 million, or 27.5%, compared to orders of $423.5 million for fiscal year 2010, reflecting strong base-order growth across all geographies in both segments as well as the previously mentioned $31 million increase in large Test segment orders. Fiscal year 2011 orders included $64 million of large Test segment orders, compared to $33 million in fiscal year 2010. Test segment orders increased $95.9 million to $436.6 million, while Sensors segment orders increased $20.6 million to $103.4 million.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders by geography:





Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
162.1


$
143.5


$
18.6



13.0
%Europe


183.2



131.8



51.4



39.0
%Asia


194.7



148.2



46.5



31.4
%Total Orders

$
540.0


$
423.5


$
116.5



27.5
%




Backlog of undelivered orders at October 1, 2011 was $287.4 million, an increase of approximately $73.1 million, or 34.1%, compared to backlog of $214.3 million at October 2, 2010. The Company believes backlog is not an absolute indicator of future revenue because a portion of the orders in backlog could be cancelled at the customer’s discretion. While the Company’s backlog is subject to order cancellations, the Company seldom experiences order cancellations larger than $1.0 million.





Results of Operations





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 statements of operations (in millions, except per share data):





2011


2010


Variance


% VarianceRevenue

$
467.4


$
374.1


$
93.3



24.9
%Cost of sales


265.4



222.3



43.1



19.4
%Gross profit


202.0



151.8



50.2



33.1
%Gross margin


43.2
%


40.6
%


2.6
%

ptsOperating expenses:Selling and marketing


69.8



65.9



3.9



5.9
%General administrative


44.2



42.7



1.5



3.5
%Research and development


14.8



14.9



(0.1
)


-0.7
%Total operating expenses


128.8



123.5



5.3



4.3
%Income from operations


73.2



28.3



44.9



158.7
%Interest expense


(1.3
)


(1.4
)


0.1



-7.1
%Interest income


0.4



0.4



-



0.0
%Other income (expense), net


1.0



(0.1
)


1.1


NMIncome before income taxes


73.3



27.2



46.1



169.5
%Provision for income taxes


22.4



8.6



13.8



160.5
%Net income

$
50.9


$
18.6


$
32.3



173.7
%Diluted earnings per share

$
3.24


$
1.14


$
2.10



184.2
%





19
 Table of Contents





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 results of operations, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
467.4


$
81.5


$
11.8


$
374.1Cost of sales


265.4



35.8



7.3



222.3Gross profit


202.0



45.7



4.5



151.8Gross margin


43.2
%










40.6
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


69.8



2.5



1.4



65.9General administrative


44.2



0.6



0.9



42.7Research and development


14.8



(0.2
)


0.1



14.9Total operating expenses


128.8



2.9



2.4



123.5Income from operations

$
73.2


$
42.8


$
2.1


$
28.3




Revenue


Revenue was $467.4 million, an increase of $93.3 million, or 24.9%, compared to revenue of $374.1 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to 27.8% higher opening backlog as well as increased order volume, and an estimated $11.8 million favorable impact of currency translation. Test segment revenue increased 22.8% to $363.9 million, while Sensors segment revenue increased 33.0% to $103.5 million.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 revenue by geography:




Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
135.5


$
122.1


$
13.4



11.0
%Europe


150.1



112.9



37.2



32.9
%Asia


181.8



139.1



42.7



30.7
%Total Revenue

$
467.4


$
374.1


$
93.3



24.9
%





Although selective product price changes were implemented during each of these fiscal years, the overall impact of pricing changes did not have a material effect on revenue.





Gross profit


Gross profit was $202.0 million, an increase of $50.2 million, or 33.1%, compared to gross profit of $151.8 million for fiscal year 2010. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 43.2%, an increase of 2.6 percentage points from 40.6% for fiscal year 2010. The increase was driven by leverage on higher volume, favorable product mix, and reduced warranty expense.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $69.8 million, an increase of $3.9 million, or 5.9%, compared to $65.9 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to higher sales commissions driven by higher volume, increased compensation and benefits on higher headcount, as well as an estimated $1.4 million unfavorable impact of currency translation. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 14.9% on higher volume, compared to 17.6% for fiscal year 2010.




20
 Table of Contents





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $44.2 million, an increase of $1.5 million, or 3.5%, compared to $42.7 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to higher professional fees and other discretionary spending, and an estimated $0.9 million unfavorable impact of currency translation, partially offset by lower legal fees, as well as decreased salaries and benefits. Legal and consulting expenses for the current fiscal year included $6.0 million related to the previously mentioned U.S. Government matters, of which $4.7 million and $1.3 million was allocated to the Test segment and Sensors segment, respectively. Legal expenses for fiscal year 2010 included $6.3 million of costs associated with a legal settlement. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 9.5% on higher volume, compared to 11.4% for fiscal year 2010.





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $14.8 million, relatively flat compared to $14.9 million for fiscal year 2010. Total software development costs capitalized during fiscal years 2011 and 2010 were $3.7 million and $3.6 million, respectively. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 3.2% on higher volume, compared to 4.0% for fiscal year 2010.





Income from Operations


Income from operations was $73.2 million, an increase of $44.9 million, or 158.7%, compared to income from operations of $28.3 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily driven by volume and higher gross profit rate. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 15.7%, compared to 7.6% for fiscal year 2010.





Historically, the Company’s operating costs have been impacted by a level of inflation ranging from -1% to 4%. The Company uses a number of strategies to mitigate the effects of cost inflation including cost productivity initiatives such as global procurement strategies, as well as price increases. However, if the Company’s operating costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, it may not be able to fully offset such higher costs despite these strategies.





Interest Expense, net


Interest expense, net was $0.9 million, relatively flat compared to $1.0 million for fiscal year 2010.





Other Income (Expense), net


Other income (expense), net was $1.0 million of net other income, compared to $0.1 million of net other expense in fiscal year 2010. The increase was primarily due to net gains on foreign currency transactions compared to net losses on foreign currency transactions in fiscal year 2010, as well as $0.3 million higher royalty income.





Provision for Income Taxes


Provision for income taxes totaled $22.4 million, an increase of $13.8 million, compared to $8.6 million for the fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to increased income before taxes. The effective tax rate for the fiscal year was 30.5%, a decrease of 1.2 percentage points compared to 31.7% for fiscal year 2010. The decrease in the effective tax rate was driven by the Company’s geographic mix of earnings, with foreign income generally taxed at lower rates than domestic income, as well as a $1.0 million tax benefit from the retroactive extension to fiscal year 2010 of United States research and development credits in fiscal year 2011. This decrease in the effective tax rate was partially offset by $0.8 million of tax benefits recognized in fiscal year 2010 upon the release of certain contingencies due to the lapse of statute of limitations, as well as the benefit of foreign tax credits associated with the cash repatriation of earnings.





Net Income


Net income was $50.9 million, or $3.24 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2011, an increase of 173.7% compared to $18.6 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2010. The increase was primarily driven by higher income from operations. Additionally, the reduction in shares outstanding, resulting from the Company’s share purchases in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, as well as a lower effective tax rate, positively impacted earnings per diluted share by $0.12 and $0.06, respectively.




21
 Table of Contents





Segment Results





Test Segment




Orders and Backlog





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders for the Test segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Orders

$
436.6


$
86.2


$
9.7


$
340.7




Orders totaled $436.6 million, an increase of $95.9 million, or 28.1%, compared to orders of $340.7 million for fiscal year 2010, primarily due to increased demand across all geographies, particularly in the ground vehicle market, as well as an estimated $9.7 million favorable impact of currency translation. Fiscal year 2011 orders included five large orders totaling approximately $64 million, of which $35 million was associated with the structures market and $29 million was associated with the ground vehicles market. Fiscal year 2010 orders included four large custom orders totaling approximately $33 million, of which $26 million was associated with the structures market and $7 million was associated with the ground vehicles market. The Test segment accounted for 80.9% of total Company orders, compared to 80.4% for fiscal year 2010.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders for the Test segment by geography:





Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
133.9


$
120.0


$
13.9



11.6
%Europe


132.0



93.5



38.5



41.2
%Asia


170.7



127.2



43.5



34.2
%Total Orders

$
436.6


$
340.7


$
95.9



28.1
%





Backlog of undelivered orders at October 1, 2011 was $271.2 million, an increase of 36.8% from backlog of $198.2 million at October 2, 2010.





Results of Operations




The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 results of operations for the Test segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:
  22
 Table of Contents


EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
363.9


$
59.8


$
7.8


$
296.3Cost of sales


221.3



27.8



5.7



187.8Gross profit


142.6



32.0



2.1



108.5Gross margin


39.2
%










36.6
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


53.9



1.0



0.9



52.0General administrative


32.4



(2.2
)


0.5



34.1Research and development


10.1



(1.1
)


-



11.2Total operating expenses


96.4



(2.3
)


1.4



97.3Income from operations

$
46.2


$
34.3


$
0.7


$
11.2





Revenue


Revenue was $363.9 million, an increase of $67.6 million, or 22.8%, compared to revenue of $296.3 million for fiscal year 2010. The increase was primarily due to 26.7% higher opening backlog as well as increased order volume, and an estimated $7.8 million favorable impact of currency translation.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 revenue for the Test segment by geography:





Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
108.2


$
98.9


$
9.3



9.4
%Europe


98.6



77.6



21.0



27.1
%Asia


157.1



119.8



37.3



31.1
%Total Revenue

$
363.9


$
296.3


$
67.6



22.8
%




Gross Profit


Gross profit was $142.6 million, an increase of $34.1 million, or 31.4%, compared to gross profit of $108.5 million for fiscal year 2010. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 39.2%, an increase of 2.6 percentage points from 36.6% for fiscal year 2010. These increases were driven by volume leverage, favorable product mix, and reduced warranty expense.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $53.9 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 3.7%, compared to $52.0 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to increased sales commissions on higher volume and an estimated $0.9 million unfavorable impact of currency translation, partially offset by reduced discretionary spending on marketing initiatives. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 14.8% on higher volume, compared to 17.5% for fiscal year 2010.





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $32.4 million, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 5.0%, compared to $34.1 million for fiscal year 2010. This decrease was primarily due to lower legal fees and reduced compensation and benefits, partially offset by higher professional fees and increased other discretionary spending. As previously mentioned, legal and consulting expenses for fiscal year 2011 included $4.7 million related to the U.S. Government matters while legal expenses for the Fiscal Year 2010 included legal settlement costs of $6.3 million. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 8.9% on higher volume, compared to 11.5% for fiscal year 2010.




23
 Table of Contents





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $10.1 million, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 9.8%, compared to $11.2 million for fiscal year 2010, due to a lower level of planned expenditures. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 2.8% on higher volume, compared to 3.8% for fiscal year 2010.





Income from Operations


Income from operations was $46.2 million, an increase of $35.0 million, or 312.5%, compared to income from operations of $11.2 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase primarily reflects higher gross profit. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 12.7%, compared to 3.8% for fiscal year 2010.





Sensors Segment




Orders and Backlog





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders for the Sensors segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Orders

$
103.4


$
17.0


$
3.6


$
82.8




Orders totaled $103.4 million, an increase of $20.6 million, or 24.9%, compared to orders of $82.8 million for fiscal year 2010, primarily due to higher volume across all geographies, as well as an estimated $3.6 million favorable impact of currency translation. Sensors segment accounted for 19.1% of total Company orders, compared to 19.6% for fiscal year 2010.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 orders for the Sensors segment by geography:





Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
28.2


$
23.5


$
4.7



20.0
%Europe


51.2



38.3



12.9



33.7
%Asia


24.0



21.0



3.0



14.3
%Total Orders

$
103.4


$
82.8


$
20.6



24.9
%




Backlog of undelivered orders at October 1, 2011 was $16.2 million, flat compared to backlog at October 2, 2010.





Results of Operations





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 results of operations for the Sensors segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:




24
 Table of Contents





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2011


Change


Translation


2010(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
103.5


$
21.7


$
4.0


$
77.8Cost of sales


44.1



8.0



1.6



34.5Gross profit


59.4



13.7



2.4



43.3Gross margin


57.4
%










55.7
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


15.9



1.5



0.5



13.9General administrative


11.8



2.8



0.4



8.6Research and development


4.7



0.9



0.1



3.7Total operating expenses


32.4



5.2



1.0



26.2Income from operations

$
27.0


$
8.5


$
1.4


$
17.1




Revenue


Revenue was $103.5 million, an increase of $25.7 million, or 33.0%, compared to revenue of $77.8 million for the fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily driven by 43.0% higher opening backlog as well as increased worldwide order volume, and an estimated $4.0 million favorable impact of currency translation.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2010 revenue for the Sensors segment by geography:





Geography

2011


2010


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
27.3


$
23.2


$
4.1



17.7
%Europe


51.5



35.3



16.2



45.9
%Asia


24.7



19.3



5.4



28.0
%Total Revenue

$
103.5


$
77.8


$
25.7



33.0
%




Gross Profit


Gross profit was $59.4 million, an increase of $16.1 million, or 37.2%, compared to gross profit of $43.3 million for fiscal year 2010. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 57.4%, an increase of 1.7 percentage points from 55.7% for fiscal year 2010. These increases were primarily due to volume and leverage.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $15.9 million, an increase of $2.0 million, or 14.4%, compared to $13.9 million for fiscal year 2010. This increase was primarily due to higher compensation, benefits and incentives, as well as expenditures on marketing initiatives. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 15.4% on higher volume, compared to 17.9% for fiscal year 2010.





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $11.8 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 37.2%, compared to $8.6 million for fiscal year 2010, primarily due to the previously mentioned $1.3 million of legal and consulting expenses related to the U.S. Government matters, as well as increased other discretionary spending, partially offset by lower compensation and benefits. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 11.4% on higher volume, compared to 11.1% for fiscal year 2010.





25
 Table of Contents





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $4.7 million, an increase of $1.0 million, or 27.0%, compared to $3.7 million for fiscal year 2010, due to a higher level of planned expenditures. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 4.5% on higher volume, compared to 4.8% for fiscal year 2010.





Income from operations


Income from operations was $27.0 million, an increase of $9.9 million, or 57.9%, compared to income from operations of $17.1 million for fiscal year 2010, primarily due to higher gross profit, partially offset by increased operating expenses. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 26.1%, compared to 22.0% for fiscal year 2010.





Fiscal Year 2010 Compared to Fiscal Year 2009





Summary of Financial Results





Significant items for Fiscal Year 2010 compared to Fiscal Year 2009 include:




●
Orders increased 24.3% to $423.5 million, compared to orders of $340.8 million for fiscal year 2009. The increase in orders represents worldwide growth of 23.9% and 25.9% in the Test and Sensors segments, respectively, including four large Test segment orders, each in excess of $5.0 million, totaling approximately $33 million. Fiscal year 2009 orders included one large order totaling approximately $7 million. Backlog of undelivered orders at October 2, 2010 was $214.3 million, an increase of 27.8% from backlog of $167.7 million at October 3, 2009.





●
Revenue decreased 8.5% to $374.1 million, compared to revenue of $408.9 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to 28.5% lower opening backlog, partially offset by the strong execution of short-cycle orders in the Test segment and higher volume in the Sensors segment.





●
During each of the fiscal years 2010 and 2009, the Company initiated workforce reduction actions in order to align the Company’s operating cost structure with changing market conditions. As a result of these actions, the Company incurred severance and benefit costs totaling $1.6 million and $12.1 million during fiscal year 2010 and 2009, respectively. Severance and benefit costs recognized during fiscal year 2010 were associated entirely with the Test segment. For fiscal year 2009, $10.9 million and $1.2 million of severance and benefits costs were reported in the Test and Sensors segments, respectively. Of the $1.6 million severance costs in fiscal year 2010, $1.4 million, $0.1 million, and $0.1 million were reported in Cost of Sales, Selling and Marketing, and General and Administrative, respectively. Of the $12.1 million total severance costs in fiscal year 2009, $6.8 million, $4.0 million, $1.2 million, and $0.1 million were reported in Cost of Sales, Selling and Marketing, General and Administrative, and Research and Development expense, respectively.





●
The Company settled a legal claim for patent infringement for $7.5 million, of which $6.3 million and $1.2 million was expensed during fiscal year 2010 and 2009, respectively.





●
Income from operations increased 15.0% to $28.3 million, compared to $24.6 million for fiscal year 2009, primarily driven by reduced severance charges, lower warranty expense, and lower operating expenses from reduced headcount and discretionary spending. This was partially offset by decreased volume, higher variable compensation expense and the previously mentioned legal settlement costs recognized in fiscal year 2010.





●
Cash and cash equivalents at October 2, 2010 totaled $76.6 million, compared to $118.9 million at the end of fiscal year 2009. Cash flows from operations generated $33.2 million. During fiscal year 2010, the Company invested $11.2 million in capital expenditures, made $6.3 million of deferred payments associated with the acquisition of SANS, paid $12.1 million in dividends, and purchased approximately 1,362,000 shares of common stock for $38.2 million.




26
 Table of Contents





Detailed Financial Results





Total Company




Orders and Backlog





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 orders, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Orders

$
423.5


$
79.3


$
3.4


$
340.8




Orders totaled $423.5 million, an increase of $82.7 million, or 24.3%, compared to orders of $340.8 million for fiscal year 2009, reflecting increased order volume across all geographies in both segments, including four large Test segment custom orders totaling approximately $33 million, and an estimated $3.4 million favorable impact of currency translation. Fiscal year 2009 orders included one larger order totaling approximately $7 million. Test segment orders increased $65.7 million to $340.7 million, while Sensors segment orders increased $17.0 million to $82.8 million.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 orders by geography:





Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
143.5


$
108.3


$
35.2



32.5
%Europe


131.8



108.7



23.1



21.3
%Asia


148.2



123.8



24.4



19.7
%Total Orders

$
423.5


$
340.8


$
82.7



24.3
%





Backlog of undelivered orders at October 2, 2010 was $214.3 million, an increase of approximately $46.6 million, or 27.8%, compared to backlog of $167.7 million at October 3, 2009. The Company believes backlog is not an absolute indicator of future revenue because a portion of the orders in backlog could be cancelled at the customer’s discretion. The Company seldom experiences order cancellations larger than $1.0 million. However, current economic conditions could have an adverse impact on order cancellations in the future.





Results of Operations





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 statements of operations (in millions, except per share data):




27
 Table of Contents





2010


2009


Variance


% VarianceRevenue

$
374.1


$
408.9


$
(34.8
)


-8.5
%Cost of sales


222.3



257.3



(35.0
)


-13.6
%Gross profit


151.8



151.6



0.2



0.1
%Gross margin


40.6
%


37.1
%


3.5
%

ptsOperating expenses:Selling and marketing


65.9



71.6



(5.7
)


-8.0
%General administrative


42.7



39.1



3.6



9.2
%Research and development


14.9



16.3



(1.4
)


-8.6
%Total operating expenses


123.5



127.0



(3.5
)


-2.8
%Income from operations


28.3



24.6



3.7



15.0
%Interest expense


(1.4
)


(2.0
)


0.6



-30.0
%Interest income


0.4



1.1



(0.7
)


-63.6
%Other (expense) income, net


(0.1
)


0.2



(0.3
)


-150.0
%Income before income taxes


27.2



23.9



3.3



13.8
%Provision for income taxes


8.6



6.5



2.1



32.3
%Net income

$
18.6


$
17.4


$
1.2



6.9
%Diluted earnings per share

$
1.14


$
1.03


$
0.11



10.7
%




The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 results of operations, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
374.1


$
(38.1
)

$
3.3


$
408.9Cost of sales


222.3



(37.4
)


2.4



257.3Gross profit


151.8



(0.7
)


0.9



151.6Gross margin


40.6
%










37.1
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


65.9



(6.3
)


0.6



71.6General administrative


42.7



3.4



0.2



39.1Research and development


14.9



(1.4
)


-



16.3Total operating expenses


123.5



(4.3
)


0.8



127.0Income from operations

$
28.3


$
3.6


$
0.1


$
24.6




Revenue


Revenue was $374.1 million, a decrease of $34.8 million, or 8.5%, compared to revenue of $408.9 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a 28.5% decline in opening backlog, partially offset by higher volume in the Sensors segment and an estimated $3.3 million favorable impact of currency translation. Test segment revenue decreased 13.5% to $296.3 million, while Sensors segment revenue increased 17.3% to $77.8 million.




28
 Table of Contents


The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 revenue by geography:


Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
122.1


$
141.8


$
(19.7
)


-13.9
%Europe


112.9



128.7



(15.8
)


-12.3
%Asia


139.1



138.4



0.7



0.5
%Total Revenue

$
374.1


$
408.9


$
(34.8
)


-8.5
%





Although selective product price changes were implemented during each of these fiscal years, the overall impact of pricing changes did not have a material effect on revenue.





Gross profit


Gross profit was $151.8 million, relatively flat compared to gross profit of $151.6 million for fiscal year 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 40.6%, an increase of 3.5 percentage points from 37.1% for fiscal year 2009. The increase was driven by higher volume in the Sensors segment, and includes a 1.9 percentage point increase due to reduced warranty expense in the Test segment, as well as a 1.5 percentage point increase due to $5.4 million lower severance charges associated with the workforce reduction actions. This was partially offset by lower volume in the Test segment and a 1.0 percentage point decrease due to $3.7 million higher variable compensation expense.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $65.9 million, a decrease of $5.7 million, or 8.0%, compared to $71.6 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to reduced headcount and discretionary spending in both segments and $3.9 million lower severance charges associated with workforce reduction actions. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 17.6%, relatively flat compared to 17.5% for fiscal year 2009.





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $42.7 million, an increase of $3.6 million, or 9.2%, compared to $39.1 million for fiscal year 2009. This increase was primarily due to $5.3 million increased legal expense, driven by the previously mentioned legal settlement costs, and $1.9 million increased variable compensation expense. This was partially offset by reduced headcount and discretionary spending in both segments. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 11.4%, compared to 9.6% for fiscal year 2009.





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $14.9 million, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 8.6%, compared to $16.3 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to a lower level of planned expenditures. In addition, the Company continued to allocate certain of its resources towards capitalized software development activities during fiscal year 2010. Total software development costs capitalized during fiscal years 2010 and 2009 were $3.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 4.0%, flat compared to fiscal year 2009.





Income from Operations


Income from operations was $28.3 million, an increase of $3.7 million, or 15.0%, compared to income from operations of $24.6 million for fiscal year 2009. This increase was primarily driven by reduced severance and warranty charges and lower operating expenses from reduced headcount and discretionary spending. This was partially offset by decreased volume, higher variable compensation expense and legal settlement costs recognized in fiscal year 2010. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 7.6%, compared to 6.0% for fiscal year 2009.





Historically, the Company’s operating costs have been impacted by a level of inflation ranging from -1% to 4%. The Company uses a number of strategies to mitigate the effects of cost inflation including cost productivity initiatives such as global procurement strategies, as well as increasing prices. However, if the Company’s operating costs were to become subject to significant inflationary pressures, it may not be able to fully offset such higher costs despite these strategies.




29
 Table of Contents





Interest Expense


Interest expense was $1.4 million, a decrease of $0.6 million compared to $2.0 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to the lapse of the statute of limitations on certain tax contingencies in fiscal year 2010 which resulted in a reduction of the related interest expense previously recognized on those contingencies.





Interest Income


Interest income was $0.4 million, a decrease of $0.7 million compared to $1.1 million for fiscal year 2009, due to lower interest rates, primarily in Europe.





Other (Expense) Income, net


Other (expense) income, net was $0.1 million of net other expense, compared to $0.2 million of net other income in fiscal year 2009. The decrease was primarily due to higher net losses on foreign currency transactions in fiscal year 2010.





Provision for Income Taxes


Provision for income taxes totaled $8.6 million, an increase of $2.1 million, or 32.3%, compared to $6.5 million for the fiscal year 2009. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2010 was 31.7%, an increase of 4.5 percentage points compared to a tax rate of 27.2% for fiscal 2009. The increase was primarily due to a $1.0 million tax benefit from the retroactive extension of U.S. R&D credits in fiscal year 2009 coupled with the U.S. R&D tax legislation expiring at the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2010. This increase in the effective tax rate was partially offset by increased tax benefits of $0.8 million recognized in fiscal 2010 upon the release of certain contingencies, due to the lapse of statute of limitations, as well as the benefit of foreign tax credits associated with the cash repatriation of earnings. The tax benefits from the cash repatriation of earnings reflect the anticipated utilization of available foreign tax credits.





Net Income


Net income was $18.6 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2010, an increase of 6.9% compared to $17.4 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2009. The increase was primarily driven by higher income from operations.





Segment Results





Test Segment




Orders and Backlog





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 orders for the Test segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Orders

$
340.7


$
62.9


$
2.8


$
275.0




Orders totaled $340.7 million, an increase of $65.7 million, or 23.9%, compared to orders of $275.0 million for fiscal year 2009, primarily due to higher volume across all geographies, led by strength in the ground vehicles market in China and a broad-based increase in the infrastructure market, including the previously mentioned four large custom orders totaling approximately $33 million. Fiscal 2009 orders included one large order totaling approximately $7 million. Fiscal year 2010 orders also included an estimated $2.8 million favorable impact of currency translation. The Test segment accounted for 80.4% of total Company orders, compared to 80.7% for the fiscal 2009.




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The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 orders for the Test segment by geography:





Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
120.0


$
87.8


$
32.2



36.7
%Europe


93.5



78.2



15.3



19.6
%Asia


127.2



109.0



18.2



16.7
%Total Orders

$
340.7


$
275.0


$
65.7



23.9
%




Backlog of undelivered orders at October 2, 2010 was $198.2 million, an increase of 26.7% from backlog of $156.4 million at October 3, 2009.





Results of Operations





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 results of operations for the Test segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
296.3


$
(49.2
)

$
2.9


$
342.6Cost of sales


187.8



(41.8
)


2.2



227.4Gross profit


108.5



(7.4
)


0.7



115.2Gross margin


36.6
%










33.6
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


52.0



(4.5
)


0.4



56.1General administrative


34.1



4.4



0.1



29.6Research and development


11.2



(0.8
)


-



12.0Total operating expenses


97.3



(0.9
)


0.5



97.7Income (loss) from operations

$
11.2


$
(6.5
)

$
0.2


$
17.5




Revenue


Revenue was $296.3 million, a decrease of $46.3 million, or 13.5%, compared to revenue of $342.6 million for fiscal year 2009. The decrease was primarily due to a 29.8% decline in opening backlog, partially offset by the strong execution of short-cycle orders and an estimated $2.9 million favorable impact of currency translation. The long-cycle nature of custom projects in backlog caused the Test business to lag both the economic recession experienced in fiscal year 2009 as well as the recovery experienced in fiscal year 2010.




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The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 revenue for the Test segment by geography:


Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
98.9


$
122.8


$
(23.9
)


-19.5
%Europe


77.6



96.3



(18.7
)


-19.4
%Asia


119.8



123.5



(3.7
)


-3.0
%Total Revenue

$
296.3


$
342.6


$
(46.3
)


-13.5
%




Gross Profit


Gross profit was $108.5 million, a decrease of $6.7 million, or 5.8%, compared to gross profit of $115.2 million for fiscal year 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 36.6%, an increase of 3.0 percentage points from 33.6% for fiscal year 2009. This increase includes a 2.3 percentage point increase due to reduced warranty expense, as well as a 1.7 percentage point increase due to $5.1 million lower severance charges associated with the workforce reduction actions. This was partially offset by lower volume and a $3.5 million increase in variable compensation expense.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $52.0 million, a decrease of $4.1 million, or 7.3%, compared to $56.1 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily due to reduced headcount and discretionary spending, and $3.1 million lower severance charges associated with workforce reduction actions. This was partially offset by $1.6 million increased variable compensation expense. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 17.5%, compared to 16.4% for fiscal year 2009.





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $34.1 million, an increase of $4.5 million, or 15.2%, compared to $29.6 million for fiscal year 2009. This increase was primarily due to $5.3 million increased legal expense, driven by the previously mentioned legal settlement costs, and $1.4 million increased variable compensation expense. This was partially offset by reduced headcount and discretionary spending in both segments, and $1.0 million lower severance charges associated with workforce reduction. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 11.5%, compared to 8.6% for fiscal year 2009.





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $11.2 million, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 6.7%, compared to $12.0 million for fiscal year 2009, due to a lower level of planned expenditures. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 3.8%, compared to 3.5% for fiscal year 2009.





Income from Operations


Income from operations was $11.2 million, a decrease of $6.3 million, or 36.0%, compared to income from operations of $17.5 million for fiscal year 2009. This decrease was primarily driven by lower volume, higher variable compensation expense and legal settlement costs recognized in fiscal year 2010. This was partially offset by reduced severance and warranty charges and lower operating expenses from reduced headcount and discretionary spending. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 3.8%, compared to 5.1% for fiscal year 2009.





Sensors Segment




Orders and Backlog




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The following is a comparison of fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 orders for the Sensors segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:


EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Orders

$
82.8


$
16.4


$
0.6


$
65.8




Orders totaled $82.8 million, an increase of $17.0 million, or 25.8%, compared to orders of $65.8 million for fiscal year 2009, primarily due to higher volume across all geographies, resulting from customer inventory replenishment and modest end-market recovery, as well as an estimated $0.6 million favorable impact of currency translation. The strongest growth was experienced in the mobile hydraulic, wind, steel, plastics and rubber markets. Sensors segment accounted for 19.6% of total Company orders, compared to 19.3% for fiscal year 2009.





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 orders for the Sensors segment by geography:





Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
23.5


$
20.5


$
3.0



14.6
%Europe


38.3



30.5



7.8



25.6
%Asia


21.0



14.8



6.2



41.9
%Total Orders

$
82.8


$
65.8


$
17.0



25.8
%




Backlog of undelivered orders at October 2, 2010 was $16.1 million, an increase of 42.5% from backlog of $11.3 million at October 3, 2009.




Results of Operations





The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 results of operations for the Sensors segment, separately identifying the estimated impact of currency translation:





EstimatedBusiness


Currency2010


Change


Translation


2009(expressed in millions)Revenue

$
77.8


$
11.1


$
0.4


$
66.3Cost of sales


34.5



4.4



0.2



29.9Gross profit


43.3



6.7



0.2



36.4Gross margin


55.7
%










54.9
%Operating expenses:Selling and marketing


13.9



(1.8
)


0.2



15.5General administrative


8.6



(1.0
)


0.1



9.5Research and development


3.7



(0.6
)


-



4.3Total operating expenses


26.2



(3.4
)


0.3



29.3Income (loss) from operations

$
17.1


$
10.1


$
(0.1
)

$
7.1




Revenue


Revenue was $77.8 million, an increase of $11.5 million, or 17.3%, compared to revenue of $66.3 million for the fiscal year 2009. This increase was primarily driven by increased worldwide order volume.




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The following is a comparison of fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2009 revenue for the Sensors segment by geography:





Geography

2010


2009


Variance


% Variance(expressed in millions)Americas

$
23.2


$
19.0


$
4.2



22.1
%Europe


35.3



32.4



2.9



9.0
%Asia


19.3



14.9



4.4



29.5
%Total Revenue

$
77.8


$
66.3


$
11.5



17.3
%




Gross Profit


Gross profit was $43.3 million, an increase of $6.9 million, or 19.0%, compared to gross profit of $36.4 million for fiscal year 2009. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 55.7%, an increase of 0.8 percentage points from 54.9% for fiscal year 2009. This increase was primarily due to increased volume and $0.3 million of severance charges associated with workforce reduction actions recognized in fiscal year 2009. This was partially offset by $0.2 million increased variable compensation expense.





Selling and Marketing Expense


Selling and marketing expense was $13.9 million, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 10.3%, compared to $15.5 million for fiscal year 2009. The decrease is primarily due to reduced headcount and $0.8 million of severance charges associated with workforce reduction actions recognized in fiscal year 2009. This was partially offset by $0.4 million increased variable compensation expense. Selling and marketing expense as a percentage of revenue was 17.9%, compared to 23.4% for fiscal year 2009.





General and Administrative Expense


General and administrative expense was $8.6 million, a decrease of $0.9 million, or 9.5%, compared to $9.5 million for fiscal year 2009, primarily due to reduced headcount and discretionary spending, partially offset by a $0.5 million increased variable compensation expense. General and administrative expense as a percentage of revenue was 11.1%, compared to 14.3% for fiscal year 2009.





Research and Development Expense


Research and development expense was $3.7 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 14.0%, compared to $4.3 million for fiscal year 2009. The decrease was due to reduced headcount, partially offset by $0.3 million increased variable compensation expense. Research and development expense as a percentage of revenue was 4.8%, compared to 6.5% for fiscal year 2009.





Income from operations


Income from operations was $17.1 million, an increase of $10.0 million, or 140.8%, compared to income from operations of $7.1 million for fiscal year 2009, primarily due to higher gross profit and reduced operating expenses. Operating income as a percentage of revenue was 22.0%, compared to 10.7% for fiscal year 2009.





Cash Flow Comparison - Fiscal Years 2011, 2010 and 2009





Total cash and cash equivalents increased $27.5 million during fiscal year 2011. This increase was driven by earnings of $72.9 million and $12.9 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options, partially offset by $33.7 million increased working capital requirements, a $9.6 million payment to settle an accelerated share repurchase agreement, investment in property and equipment of $10.1 million, and dividend payments of $9.3 million.





Total cash and cash equivalents decreased $42.3 million during fiscal year 2010. This decrease was driven by purchases of the Company’s common stock of $38.2 million, dividend payments of $12.1 million, investment in property and equipment of $11.2 million, and $6.3 million deferred payments for the SANS acquisition. These decreases were partially offset by earnings of $36.4 million.




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Total cash and cash equivalents increased $4.8 million during fiscal year 2009. This increase was driven by earnings of $35.9 million, and $22.9 million decreased working capital requirements, partially offset by employee incentive and related benefit payments of $8.6 million, purchases of the Company’s common stock of $12.8 million, dividend payments of $10.1 million, $25.1 payments for the acquisition of SANS, and investment in property and equipment of $9.8 million.





Cash flow from operating activities provided cash of $43.0 million during fiscal year 2011, compared to cash provided of $33.2 million and $43.8 million in fiscal year 2010 and 2009, respectively. Fiscal year 2011 cash flow from operating activities was primarily due to earnings of $72.9 million, $19.1 million increased advance payments received from customers driven by higher custom orders, and $5.5 million increased accounts payable resulting from general timing of purchases and payments, partially offset by $44.7 million increased accounts and unbilled receivables resulting from higher volume as well as the general timing of billing and collections, and $13.6 million increased inventories to support future revenue.





Fiscal year 2010 cash flow from operating activities was primarily driven by earnings.





Fiscal year 2009 cash flow from operating activities was primarily due to earnings and $52.1 million decreased accounts and unbilled receivables driven by lower revenue volume. This cash provided was partially offset by $14.6 million decreased accounts payable primarily resulting from overall reduced spending levels, $20.7 million decrease in advance payments received from customers driven by decreased orders and negotiated payment terms, and $8.6 million incentive and benefit payments.





Cash flow from investing activities required the use of cash totaling $10.1 million during fiscal year 2011, compared to the use of cash totaling $17.5 million during fiscal year 2010, and $33.6 million use of cash during fiscal year 2009. The cash usage for fiscal year 2011 represents a $10.1 million investment in property and equipment.





During fiscal year 2010, the Company invested $11.2 million in property and equipment, and $6.3 million of deferred payments for the SANS acquisition.





During fiscal year 2009, the Company paid $25.1 million associated with the acquisition of SANS and invested $9.8 million in property and equipment. This was partially offset by $1.3 million of proceeds received from the sale of the Nano instruments product line in fiscal year 2008.





Cash flow from financing activities required the use of cash of $5.8 million during fiscal year 2011, compared to $49.2 million and $7.8 million used in fiscal year 2010 and 2009, respectively. The cash usage for fiscal year 2011 was primarily due to the use of $9.6 million to settle an accelerated share purchase agreement that was initially entered into during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, purchases of stock related to stock-based compensation arrangements of $0.3 million, and payment of cash dividends of $9.3 million. These cash usages were partially offset by $13.0 million received from stock option exercises and stock purchases under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.





During fiscal year 2010, the Company’s cash usage primarily resulted from purchases of the Company’s common stock of $38.2 million, including purchases of stock related to stock-based compensation arrangements of $0.1 million, payment of cash dividends of $12.1 million, partially offset by $1.0 million received from stock option exercises and stock purchases under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.





During fiscal year 2009, the Company’s cash usage primarily resulted from purchases of the Company’s common stock of $12.8 million, payment of cash dividends of $10.1 million, and repayment of interest-bearing debt of $2.3 million, partially offset by $16.0 million borrowings on the Company’s credit facility, and $1.6 million received from stock option exercises and stock purchases under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan.




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During fiscal year 2011, the Company purchased less than 0.1 million shares of its common stock for $0.3 million. During fiscal year 2010, the Company purchased approximately 1.4 million shares of its common stock, of which 0.9 million shares were purchased under an accelerated share purchase program, for $38.2 million. During fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased approximately 0.5 million shares of its common stock for $12.8 million.





Liquidity and Capital Resources


The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $104.1 million at October 1, 2011. Of this amount, approximately $43.6 million was located in North America, $36.5 million in Europe, and $24.0 million in Asia. The North American balance was primarily invested in money market funds and bank deposits. In Europe, the balances were primarily invested in Euro money market funds and bank deposits. In Asia, the balances were primarily invested in bank deposits. In accordance with its investment policy, the Company places cash equivalent investments with issuers who have high-quality investment credit ratings. In addition, the Company limits the amount of investment exposure it has with any particular issuer. The Company’s investment objectives are to preserve principal, maintain liquidity, and achieve the best available return consistent with its primary objectives of safety and liquidity. At October 1, 2011, the Company held no short-term investments.





At October 1, 2011, the Company’s capital structure was comprised of $40.3 million in short-term debt and $210.8 million in Shareholders’ Investment. Total interest-bearing debt at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was $40.0 million. The borrowings on the credit facility include, at the Company’s discretion, optional month-to-month term renewals and loan repricing until December 2012. Under the terms of the credit facility, the Company has agreed to certain financial covenants, including, among other covenants, the ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”), as well as the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense. These covenants may restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends and purchase outstanding shares of common stock. At October 1, 2011, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants.





Shareholders' Investment increased by $44.7 million during fiscal year 2011, primarily due to higher net income of $50.9 million and $12.9 million received from stock option exercises and stock purchases under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, partially offset by $13.2 million in dividends declared and $9.9 million in purchases of the Company’s common stock.





The Company believes that its liquidity, represented by funds available from cash, cash equivalents, the credit facility, and anticipated cash from operations are adequate to fund ongoing operations, internal growth opportunities, capital expenditures, dividends and share purchases, as well as to fund strategic acquisitions.





At October 1, 2011, the Company’s contractual obligations were as follows:





Payments Due by Period(expressed in thousands)Contractual Obligations(1)

Total


Less than 1 year


1 - 3 years


3 - 5 years


More than 5 yearsOperating Lease Obligations

$
12,862


$
4,332


$
4,914


$
1,857


$
1,759Other Long-Term Obligations(2)


7,875



1,332



2,433



1,560



2,550Total

$
20,737


$
5,664


$
7,347


$
3,417


$
4,309





(1)
Long-term income tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions have been excluded from the contractual obligations table as the Company is not able to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount and period of related future payments. At October 1, 2011, the Company’s long-term liability for uncertain tax positions was $5.1 million.


(2)
Other long-term obligations include liabilities under pension and other retirement plans.




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At October 1, 2011 the Company had letters of credit and guarantees outstanding totaling $18.6 million and $26.9 million, respectively, primarily to bond advance payments and performance related to customer contracts in the Test segment. The Company’s operating leases are primarily for office space and automobiles.





Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements


At the end of fiscal year 2011, the Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as such term is defined in rules promulgated by the SEC, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.





Critical Accounting Policies


The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which require the Company to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported. In preparing these financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company believes that of its significant accounting policies, the following are particularly important to the portrayal of the Company's results of operations and financial position, may require the application of a higher level of judgment by the Company's management, and as a result, are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. For further information see “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” under Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





Revenue Recognition:  The Company is required to comply with a variety of technical accounting requirements in order to achieve consistent and accurate revenue recognition. The most significant area of judgment and estimation is percentage of completion contract accounting. The Company develops cost estimates that include materials, component parts, labor and overhead costs. Detailed costs plans are developed for all aspects of the contracts during the bidding phase of the contract. Cost estimates are largely based on actual historical performance of similar projects combined with current knowledge of the projects in progress. Significant factors that impact the cost estimates include technical risk, inflationary cost of materials and labor, changes in scope and schedule, and internal and subcontractor performance. Actual costs incurred during the project phase are monitored and compared to the estimates on a monthly basis. Cost estimates are revised based on changes in circumstances. Anticipated losses on long-term contracts are recognized when such losses become evident.





Inventories: The Company maintains a material amount of inventory to support its engineering and manufacturing operations. This inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. On a regular basis, the Company reviews its inventory and identifies that which is excess, slow moving, and obsolete by considering factors such as inventory levels, expected product life, and forecasted sales demand. Any identified excess, slow moving, and obsolete inventory is written down to its market value through a charge to income from operations. It is possible that additional inventory write-down charges may be required in the future if there is a significant decline in demand for the Company’s products and the Company does not adjust its manufacturing production accordingly.





Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets or asset groups, such as property and equipment and intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in circumstances such as asset utilization, physical change, legal factors, or other matters indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When this review indicates the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group, the Company recognizes an asset impairment charge against operations. The amount of the impairment loss recorded is the amount by which the carrying value of the impaired asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.





Goodwill: The Company tests goodwill at least annually for impairment. Goodwill is also tested for impairment as changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill impairment testing first requires a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds fair value, goodwill is considered impaired.




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 Table of Contents





The Company has three discrete reporting units, two of which are assigned goodwill. At October 1, 2011, one reporting unit was assigned $14.4 million of goodwill while another was assigned $1.6 million. The fair value of a reporting unit is estimated using a discounted cash flow model that requires input of certain estimates and assumptions requiring management judgment, including projections of economic conditions and customer demand, revenue and margins, changes in competition, operating costs, and new product introductions. At October 1, 2011, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit assigned $1.6 million of goodwill is substantially in excess of its carrying value, while the estimated fair value of the reporting unit assigned $14.4 million of goodwill exceeds its carrying value by approximately 13 percent. While the Company believes the estimates and assumptions used in determining the fair value of its reporting units are reasonable, significant changes in estimates of future cash flows, such as those caused by unforeseen events or changes in market conditions could materially impact the fair value of a reporting unit which could result in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge.





Software Development Costs: The Company incurs costs associated with the development of software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed. Software development costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time future costs incurred are capitalized until the product is available for general release to the public. A certain amount of judgment and estimation is required to assess when technological feasibility is established, as well as the ongoing assessment of the recoverability of capitalized costs. In evaluating the recoverability of capitalized software costs, the Company compares expected product performance, utilizing forecasted revenue amounts, to the total costs incurred to date and estimates of additional costs to be incurred. If revised forecasted product revenue is less than, and/or revised forecasted costs are greater than, the previously forecasted amounts, the net realizable value may be lower than previously estimated, which could result in the recognition of an impairment charge in the period in which such a determination is made.





Warranty Obligations: The Company is subject to warranty obligations on sales of its products. A certain amount of judgment is required in determining appropriate reserve levels for anticipated warranty claims. While these reserve levels are based on historical warranty experience, they may not reflect the actual claims that will occur over the upcoming warranty period, and additional warranty reserves may be required.





Income Taxes: The Company records a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized. The Company believes it is more likely than not that forecasted income, including income that may be generated as a result of certain tax planning strategies, together with the tax effects of the deferred tax liabilities, will be sufficient to fully recover the remaining net realizable value of its deferred tax assets. In the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. In addition, the calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with management's expectations could have a material impact on the Company's financial condition and operating results.





Recent Accounting Pronouncements


In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) (the Boards) on fair value measurement. The collective efforts of the Boards and their staffs, reflected in ASU 2011-04, have resulted in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.”ASU 2011-04 amends ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” to provide guidance on how fair value measurement should be applied where existing U.S. GAAP already requires or permits fair value measurements. This ASU does not extend the use of fair value, but rather provides guidance on application. In addition, ASU 2011-04 requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. The provisions of ASU 2011-04 are effective prospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 which, for the Company, will be the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance, but does not expect the adoption of ASU 2011-04 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.




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 Table of Contents





In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Presentation of Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2011-05 amends Topic 220, “Comprehensive Income,” to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ investment. The amendments to the Codification in the ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The provisions of ASU 2011-05 should be applied retrospectively and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 which, for the Company, will be the beginning of fiscal year 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance, but does not expect the adoption of ASU 2011-05 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.





In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). ASU 2011-08 simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by allowing the entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Previous guidance under Topic 350 required an entity to test goodwill for impairment, on at least an annual basis, by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. Under the provisions of ASU 2011-08, an entity is no longer required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 which, for the Company, will be the beginning of fiscal year 2012. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2011-08 to have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.





Quarterly Financial Information


Revenue and operating results reported on a quarterly basis do not necessarily reflect trends in demand for the Company's products or its operating efficiency. Revenue and operating results in any quarter may be significantly affected by customer shipments, installation timing, or the timing of the completion of one or more contracts where revenue is recognized upon shipment or customer acceptance rather than on the percentage-of-completion method of revenue recognition. The Company's use of the percentage-of-completion revenue recognition method for large, long-term projects generally has the effect of smoothing significant fluctuations from quarter to quarter. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the Company's revenue recognition policy. Quarterly earnings also vary as a result of the use of estimates including, but not limited to, the rates used in recording federal, state, and foreign income tax expense. See Notes 1 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the Company's use of estimates and income tax related matters, respectively.




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Selected quarterly financial information for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was as follows:


First


Second


Third


Fourth


TotalQuarter


Quarter


Quarter


Quarter


Year(expressed in thousands, except per share data)2011Revenue

$
105,876


$
113,061


$
116,832


$
131,599


$
467,368Gross profit


46,672



48,907



49,830



56,581



201,990Income before income taxes


18,104



17,606



16,406



21,189



73,305Net income

$
13,289


$
11,808


$
10,953


$
14,892


$
50,942Earnings per share:Basic

$
0.87


$
0.77


$
0.70


$
0.95


$
3.29Diluted

$
0.86


$
0.75


$
0.69


$
0.94


$
3.242010Revenue

$
88,960


$
94,270


$
84,944


$
105,879


$
374,053Gross profit


35,182



38,528



33,249



44,835



151,794Income (loss) before income taxes


5,701



9,660



(1,563
)


13,414



27,212Net income

$
3,837


$
6,174


$
5


$
8,560


$
18,576Earnings per share:Basic

$
0.23


$
0.37


$
0.00


$
0.54


$
1.14Diluted

$
0.23


$
0.37


$
0.00


$
0.54


$
1.14




Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk





Foreign Currency Exchange Risk


Approximately 70-75% of the Company’s revenue has historically been derived from shipments to customers outside of the United States and about 60% of this revenue (approximately 45% of the Company's total revenue) is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company’s international subsidiaries have functional currencies other than the Company’s U.S. dollar reporting currency and, occasionally, transact business in currencies other than their functional currencies. These non-functional currency transactions expose the Company to market risk on assets, liabilities and cash flows recognized on these transactions.





The strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies decreases the value of foreign currency-denominated revenue and earnings when translated into U.S. dollars. Conversely, a weakening of the U.S. dollar increases the value of foreign currency-denominated revenue and earnings. The following table illustrates financial results utilizing currency exchange rates from the prior year to estimate the impact of currency on the following financial items:





Foreign Currency Exchange Rates





2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Increase (decrease) from currency translation on:Orders

$
13,325


$
3,430


$
(8,077
)Revenue


11,771



3,333



(9,921
)Net Income

$
1,433


$
105


$
(581
)




The estimated net effect of currency translation on orders, revenue, and net income was favorable in fiscal year 2011 in comparison to fiscal year 2010, primarily driven by the favorable translation impact associated with the weakening in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Japanese Yen and Chinese Yuan throughout fiscal year 2011, as well as against the Euro during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011.





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This was partially offset by an unfavorable translation impact associated with the strengthening in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Euro during the last three quarters of fiscal year 2011.





A hypothetical 10% appreciation or depreciation in foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar, assuming all other variables are held constant, would result in an increase or decrease in fiscal year 2011 revenue of approximately $20.7 million.





The Company has operational procedures to mitigate these non-functional currency exposures. The Company also utilizes foreign currency exchange contracts to exchange currencies at set exchange rates on future dates to offset expected gains or losses on specifically identified exposures. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.





Mark-to-market gains and losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges in the Company’s currency hedging program, as well as on the translation of non-current assets and liabilities, are recorded within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company recognizes gains and losses on fair value and cash flow hedges at the time a gain or loss is recognized on the hedged exposure in the Consolidated Statement of Income, or at the time the cash flow hedge is determined to be ineffective. The associated mark-to-market gains and losses are reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income to the same line item in the Consolidated Statements of Income that the underlying hedged transaction is reported. Net gains and losses on foreign currency transactions, included in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, were a net gain of $0.5 million in fiscal year 2011, a net loss of $0.1 million in fiscal year 2010, and a net loss of $1.6 million in fiscal year 2009.





Interest Rates


The Company is also directly exposed to changes in market interest rates on cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and debt and is indirectly exposed to the impact of market interest rates on overall business activity.





On floating-rate investments, increases and decreases in market interest rates will increase or decrease future interest income, respectively. On floating-rate debt, increases or decreases in market interest rates will increase or decrease future interest expense, respectively. On fixed-rate investments, increases or decreases in market interest rates do not impact future interest income but may decrease or increase the fair market value of the investments, respectively.





At October 1, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $104.1 million. Most of this balance was invested in interest-bearing bank deposits or money market funds, with interest rates that are reset every 1-89 days. A hypothetical increase or decrease of 1% in market interest rates, assuming all other variables were held constant, would increase or decrease interest income by approximately $1.0 million on an annualized basis.





The Company’s short-term borrowings outstanding at the end of fiscal year 2011 consisted of $40.0 million utilization of the revolving credit facility and $0.3 million in non-interest bearing notes payable to vendors. This utilization of the credit facility involves interest payments calculated at a floating rate. In order to mitigate the Company’s exposure to interest rate increases, the Company has entered into floating to fixed interest rate swap agreements. The notes payable to vendors are non-interest bearing and, therefore, are not impacted by the effect of increases or decreases in market interest rates.





A discount rate of 5.4% and an expected rate increase in future compensation levels of 3.0% was used in the calculation of the pension liability related to the non-contributory, defined benefit pension plan of one of the Company’s international subsidiaries. In addition, a 5.4% expected rate of return was used in the calculation of the plan assets associated with this defined benefit pension plan.




41
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Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data





The Company's audited financial statements and notes thereto described in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and appearing on pages F-1 through F-3 of this report, are incorporated by reference herein. See also "Quarterly Financial Data" in Management’s Discussion and Analysis under Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.





Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure





None.





Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures





The Company’s management, including the Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”)) as of October 1, 2011. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.





There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.





Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting


The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements. Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting as of October 1, 2011. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based on management’s assessment using this framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of October 1, 2011.





KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and, as part of this audit, has issued its report, included in Item 8, on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.





Item 9B.
Other Information





None.





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 Table of Contents





PART III





Item 10.
Directors and Executive Officers of Registrant





The required information with respect to the directors of the Company, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Company’s Audit Committee, including the Audit Committee financial experts, is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the headings "Election of Directors" and “Other Information” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on February 8, 2012.





Executive Officers serve at the discretion of and are elected by the Company’s Board of Directors. Business experience of the Executive Officers over the last five years is as follows:





Officer

Business Experience
Age
Executive

Officer

SinceWilliam V. Murray,Interim Chief Executive Officer

Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August 2011. Director of the Company since May 2010. President and Chief Executive Officer of ReShape Medical, Inc. from 2008 to December 2010. President and Chief Executive Officer of Murray Consulting, Inc. from 2006 to 2007.
51
2011Arthur R. Baker,

Senior Vice President, Test

Senior Vice President, Test since November 2011.Vice President and General Manager of the Test Segment during October 2011. Vice President of Engineering and Operations from May 2010 to September 2011. Vice President of Engineering from August 2005 to April 2010.
43
2011Joachim Hellwig,

Senior Vice President, Sensors

Senior Vice President, Sensors since November 2011. Vice President, Sensors from January 2003 to October 2011.
62
2003Susan E. Knight,

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2011.Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from October 2001 to October 2011.
57
2001Steven G. Mahon

Sr. Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

Senior. Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer since October 2011. Vice President & Assistant General Counsel for Alliant Techsystems Inc. from January 2003 to September 2011.
50
2011Kathleen M. Staby,

Vice President

Vice President of Human Resources and Strategy since January 2006.
65
2000





Item 11.
Executive Compensation





The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under headings "Executive Compensation" and “Election of Directors” in the Company's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on February 8, 2012.




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Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters





Equity Compensation Plan Information:





The following table sets forth the aggregate information regarding grants under all equity compensation plans as of October 1, 2011:





Number of Securities to

be Issued Upon Exercise of

Outstanding Options, Warrants

and Rights

(in thousands)


Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price of

Outstanding

Warrants and

Rights


Number of Securities

Remaining Available for

Future Issuance Under

Equity Compensation Plans

(Excluding Securities Reflected

in Column (a))(1)

(in thousands)Plan Category

(a)


(b)


(c)Equity compensation plans approved by security holders


1,115


$
33.66



1,291Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders


-



-



-Total


1,115


$
33.66



1,291




(1)
Includes 421 thousand shares available for issuance under the 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") as ofOctober 1, 2011. On February 11, 2011, the Company's shareholders approved a 2012 ESPP which is effective onJanuary 1, 2012. The 2012 ESPP will replace the 2002 ESPP, which expires on December 31, 2011. An aggregateof 750 thousand shares of the Company's stock will be available under the 2012 ESPP.




Certain other information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the heading "Other Information - Security Ownership of Principal Shareholders and Management” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on February 8, 2012.





Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Directors Independence





The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information set forth under the headings “Election of Directors – Other Information Regarding the Board” and “Other Information – Related Party Transactions” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held February 8, 2012.





Item14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services





The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the heading “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held on February 8, 2012.





PART IV





Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules





The following documents are filed as part of this report:




44
 Table of Contents




(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 Consolidated Balance Sheets – October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010
 
 Consolidated Statements of Income for the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009
 
 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Investment for the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009
 
 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009
 
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 (2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
 
 See accompanying Index to Financial Statements on page F-1.
 
 (3)
Exhibits:




ExhibitNumber

Description3.a

Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation, incorporated herein by reference from Exhibit 3.a of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996.3.b

Amended and Restated Bylaws, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.b of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on November 28, 2011.10.a

Executive Variable Compensation Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5.02 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on February 12, 2010.10.b

2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.d of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2005.10.c

2006 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on February 7, 2006.10.d

2011 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement filed on February 9, 2011.10.e

Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock (Director) under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on February 7, 2006.10.f

Uniform Terms and Conditions to Restricted Stock Awards (Director) under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on February 7, 2006.
  45
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  10.g

Description of the terms of employment of Susan E. Knight, pursuant to an offer letter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.r of the Company’s Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2001.10.h

Letter dated February 6, 1987 from MTS Sensor Technologie GmbH and Co. KG (formerly, Hellwig GmbH) regarding its pension commitment to Joachim Hellwig, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.p of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for fiscal year ended October 2, 2004.10.i

Employment Contract dated January 1, 1991 between MTS Sensor Technologie GmbH and Co. KG and Joachim Hellwig, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.q of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for fiscal year ended October 2, 2004.10.j

Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and each of its directors and executive officers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on September 1, 2006.10.k

First Amendment to the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, First Amendment to the Company’s Executive Variable Compensation Plan, amendments to the Company’s Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (2005), and amendments to the Company’s form of change in control agreements, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on October 27, 2008.10.l

Master Asset Purchase Agreement dated April 28, 2008, between the Company and the SANS Group, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed October 2, 2008.10.m

Credit Agreement dated December 18, 2007, among the Company, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Fifth Third Bank, The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., U.S. Bank National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed December 21, 2007.10.n

Change in Control Agreement, dated December 31, 2008, between the Company and Susan E. Knight incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.p of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009.10.o

Change in Control Agreement, dated December 31, 2008, between the Company and Kathleen M. Staby, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.q of the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009.10.p

Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on June 29, 2009.
  46
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  10.q

Uniform Terms and Conditions to Restricted Stock Units under 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Company’s Form 8-K Current Report filed on June 29, 2009.10.r

Letter Agreement Regarding Accelerated Share Repurchase Program by and between MTS Systems Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, dated August 18, 2010, incorporated by reference into Exhibit  10.1 of the Company's Form 8-K Current Report filed on August 19, 2010.10.s

Form of Notice of Grant and Terms and Conditions of Employee Options under 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 9, 2011.10.t

Form of Notice of Grant and Terms and Conditions of Employee Restricted Stock Units, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 9, 2011.10.u

Form of Notice of Grant and Terms and Conditions of Employee Restricted Stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 9, 2011.10.v

Form of Notice of Grant and Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock for Directors under 2011 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on February 9, 2011.10.w

Separation Agreement, dated August 25, 2011 between the Company and Laura B. Hamilton, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed August 25, 2011.10.x

Letter Amendment to Separation Agreement (Exhibit 10.w above), dated August 31, 2011, correcting base salary compensation payment  (Filed herewith).10.y

Form of Severance Agreement, dated October 6, 2011, between the Company and Steven G. Mahon (Filed herewith).10.z

Form of Change in Control Agreement, dated October 6, 2011, between the Company and Steven G. Mahon (Filed herewith).10.aa

Interim Chief Executive Officer Bonus Award Agreement, dated November 22, 2011, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 28, 2011.10.bb

Change in Control Agreement dated November 22, 2011, between the Company and Arthur R. Baker, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed November 28, 2011.21.

Subsidiaries of the Company (Filed herewith).23.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Filed herewith).31.1

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith).31.2

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith).32.1

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith).32.2

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Filed herewith).




47
 Table of Contents




SIGNATURES





Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.




MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATIONBy:
/s/ William V. MurrayWilliam V. MurrayInterim Chief Executive Officer


­


Date: November 29, 2011





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:




Signature

Title

Date/s/ WILLIAM V. MURRAY

Interim Chief  Executive Officer

November 29, 2011William V. Murray/s/ SUSAN E. KNIGHT

Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President

November 29, 2011Susan E. Knight/s/ DAVID J. ANDERSON

Chair of the Board

November 29, 2011David J. Anderson/s/ JEAN-LOU CHAMEAU

Director

November 29, 2011Jean-Lou Chameau/s/ BRENDAN C. HEGARTY

Director

November 29, 2011Brendan C. Hegarty/s/ EMILY M. LIGGETT

Director

November 29, 2011Emily M. Liggett/s/ BARB J. SAMARDZICH ­

Director

November 29, 2011Barb J. Samardzich/s/ GAIL P. STEINEL

Director

November 29, 2011Gail P. Steinel


48
 Table of Contents
 
 MTS Systems Corporation and Subsidiaries


Index to Financial Statements
 
 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PageReport of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-2Consolidated Balance Sheets – October 1, 2011and October 2, 2010

F-3Consolidated Statements of Income for the Fiscal Years EndedOctober 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009

F-4Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Investmentand Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Fiscal Years EndedOctober 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009

F-5Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years EndedOctober 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009

F-6Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-7 through F-33
  Financial Statement Schedule
 Schedule
DescriptionII
Summary of Consolidated Allowances For Doubtful Accounts

F-34
 
 F-1
 Table of Contents
 
 Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 The Board of Directors and Shareholders
 MTS Systems Corporation:
 
 We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MTS Systems Corporation and subsidiaries as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ investment and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended October 1, 2011. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedule II.  We also have audited MTS Systems Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 1, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). MTS Systems Corporation and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A of this Form 10-K. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
 
 We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
 
 A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
 Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
 In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MTS Systems Corporation and subsidiaries as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period ended October 1, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule II, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.  Also in our opinion, MTS Systems Corporation and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 1, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
 /s/ KPMG LLP
 Minneapolis, Minnesota
 November 29, 2011
  F-2
 Table of Contents
   Consolidated Balance Sheets
 (October 1 and October 2, respectively)
 Assets

2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Current Assets:Cash and cash equivalents

$
104,095


$
76,611Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,534 and $1,358 respectively


82,510



66,369Unbilled accounts receivable


54,554



26,389Inventories


65,987



51,792Prepaid expenses and other current assets


4,354



10,799Deferred income taxes


12,556



12,742Total current assets


324,056



244,702Property and equipment, net


56,252



56,444Goodwill


16,027



15,429Other intangibles, net


25,843



24,753Other assets


4,568



3,368Deferred income taxes


1,113



1,709Total assets

$
427,859


$
346,405Liabilities and Shareholders’ InvestmentCurrent Liabilities:Short-term borrowings

$
40,285


$
40,229Accounts payable


27,794



21,818Accrued payroll and related costs


33,577



32,725Advance payments from customers


63,307



44,000Accrued warranty costs


5,290



7,505Accrued income taxes


5,453



2,642Deferred income taxes


2,285



996Other accrued liabilities


17,623



11,925Total current liabilities


195,614



161,840Deferred income taxes


9,190



6,057Non-current accrued income taxes


5,106



4,181Pension benefit plan obligation


2,691



3,080Other long-term liabilities


4,410



5,141Total liabilities


217,011



180,299Shareholders’ Investment:Common stock, 25¢ par value; 64,000 shares authorized: 15,632 and 15,264 shares issued and outstanding, respectively


3,908



3,816Additional paid-in capital


5,319



-Retained earnings


185,332



147,609Accumulated other comprehensive income


16,289



14,681Total shareholders’ investment


210,848



166,106Total liabilities and shareholders’ investment

$
427,859


$
346,405
 The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  F-3
 Table of Contents
  Consolidated Statements of Income (For the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, October 2 and October 3, respectively)
 2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands, except per share data)Revenue:Product

$
400,840


$
315,691


$
349,502Service


66,528



58,362



59,379Total Revenue


467,368



374,053



408,881Cost of Sales:Product


231,040



192,454



224,279Service


34,338



29,805



32,986Total Cost of Sales


265,378



222,259



257,265Gross Profit


201,990



151,794



151,616Operating Expenses:Selling and marketing


69,781



65,841



71,571General and administrative


44,230



42,663



39,129Research and development


14,785



14,945



16,322Total Operating Expenses


128,796



123,449



127,022Income From Operations


73,194



28,345



24,594Interest expense


(1,283
)


(1,418
)


(2,024
)Interest income


368



366



1,108Other income (expense), net


1,026



(81
)


225Income Before Income Taxes


73,305



27,212



23,903Provision for Income Taxes


22,363



8,636



6,509Net Income

$
50,942


$
18,576


$
17,394Earnings Per ShareBasic

$
3.29


$
1.14


$
1.04Diluted

$
3.24


$
1.14


$
1.03
 The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  F-4
 Table of Contents
 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Investment and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 (For the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, October 2 and October 3, respectively, expressed in thousands)
  Common Stock


Additional





Accumulated

Other


TotalShares





Paid-In


Retained


Comprehensive


Shareholders'Issued


Amount


Capital


Earnings


Income


InvestmentBalance, September 27, 2008


16,976


$
4,244


$
-


$
175,216


$
25,482


$
204,942Net income


-



-



-



17,394



-



17,394Foreign currency translation


-



-



-



-



2,459



2,459Pension benefit obligation adjustments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



(982
)


(982
)Derivative instruments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



(1,436
)


(1,436
)Total comprehensive income


-



-



-



17,394



41



17,435Exercise of stock options


40



10



899



-



-



909Stock-based compensation


17



4



3,327



-



-



3,331Tax shortfall from equity compensation


-



-



(491
)


-



-



(491
)Issuance for employee stock purchase plan


36



9



709



-



-



718Common stock purchased and retired


(505
)


(126
)


(4,444
)


(8,253
)


-



(12,823
)Dividends, $0.60 per share


-



-



-



(10,056
)


-



(10,056
)Balance, October 3, 2009


16,564



4,141



-



174,301



25,523



203,965Net income


-



-



-



18,576



-



18,576Foreign currency translation


-



-



-



-



(10,100
)


(10,100
)Pension benefit obligation adjustments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



(1,130
)


(1,130
)Derivative instruments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



388



388Total comprehensive income


-



-



-



18,576



(10,842
)


7,734Exercise of stock options


16



4



319



-



-



323Stock-based compensation


19



5



2,378



-



-



2,383Tax shortfall from equity compensation


-



-



(1,151
)


-



-



(1,151
)Issuance for employee stock purchase plan


33



8



684



-



-



692Common stock purchased and retired


(1,368
)


(342
)


(2,230
)


(35,584
)


-



(38,156
)Dividends, $0.60 per share


-



-



-



(9,684
)


-



(9,684
)Balance, October 2, 2010


15,264


$
3,816


$
-


$
147,609


$
14,681


$
166,106Net income


-



-



-



50,942



-



50,942Foreign currency translation


-



-



-



-



777



777Pension benefit obligation adjustments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



327



327Derivative instruments, net of tax


-



-



-



-



504



504Total comprehensive income


-



-



-



50,942



1,608



52,550Exercise of stock options


332



83



12,129



-



-



12,212Stock-based compensation


18



5



2,699



-



-



2,704Tax shortfall from equity compensation


-



-



(307
)


-



-



(307
)Issuance for employee stock purchase plan


24



6



660



-



-



666Common stock purchased and retired


(6
)


(2
)


(9,862
)


-



-



(9,864
)Dividends, $0.85 per share


-



-



-



(13,219
)


-



(13,219
)Balance, October 1, 2011


15,632


$
3,908


$
5,319


$
185,332


$
16,289


$
210,848
 The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  F-5
 Table of Contents
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 (For the Fiscal Years Ended October 1, October 2, October 3, respectively)
 2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Cash Flows from Operating Activities:Net income

$
50,942


$
18,576


$
17,394Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Stock-based compensation


2,701



2,448



3,384Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation


(432
)


(65
)


(4
)Charge for fair value mark-up of acquired inventory


-



-



1,859Net periodic pension benefit cost


724



401



738Depreciation and amortization


12,894



12,751



12,132Deferred income taxes


5,357



2,121



(364
)Bad debt provision


729



159



755Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effect of the acquisition:Accounts and unbilled contracts receivable


(44,714
)


5,599



52,129Inventories


(13,610
)


(5,408
)


5,980Prepaid expenses


(268
)


(45
)


99Accounts payable


5,492



3,152



(14,582
)Accrued payroll and related costs


740



7,441



(8,571
)Advance payments from customers


19,123



(2,415
)


(20,654
)Accrued warranty costs


(2,191
)


(2,093
)


3,614Other asets and liabilities


5,471



(9,432
)


(10,071
)Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities


42,958



33,190



43,838Cash Flows from Investing Activities:Additions to property and equipment


(10,145
)


(11,214
)


(9,757
)Payments for acquisition


-



(6,314
)


(25,143
)Net proceeds from sale of business


-



-



1,330Net Cash Used in Investing Activities


(10,145
)


(17,528
)


(33,570
)Cash Flows from Financing Activities:Net receipts under short-term borrowings


37



29



15,796Repayments of long-term debt


-



-



(2,308
)Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation


432



65



4Cash dividends


(9,300
)


(12,107
)


(10,112
)Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employee stockpurchase plan


12,878



1,015



1,627Payments to purchase and retire common stock


(9,864
)


(38,156
)


(12,823
)Net Cash Used in Financing Activities


(5,817
)


(49,154
)


(7,816
)Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents


488



(8,782
)


2,334Cash and Cash Equivalents:Increase (decrease) during the year


27,484



(42,274
)


4,786Balance, beginning of year


76,611



118,885



114,099Balance, end of year

$
104,095


$
76,611


$
118,885Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flows:Cash paid during the year for:Interest

$
1,284


$
1,549


$
1,596Income taxes


7,061



9,669



13,250Non-cash financing activities:Dividends declared not yet paid

$
3,919


$
-


$
2,423
 The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  F-6
 Table of Contents
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
 
 Nature of Operations
 MTS Systems Corporation is a leading global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors. The Company’s hardware and software solutions help customers accelerate and improve their design, development, and manufacturing processes and are used for determining the mechanical behavior of materials, products, and structures. MTS’ high-performance position sensors provide controls for a variety of industrial and vehicular applications.
 
 Fiscal Year
 The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The Company’s fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 consisted of 52 weeks. The Company’s fiscal year ended October 3, 2009 consisted of 53 weeks.
 
 Consolidation
 The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of MTS Systems Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the "Company"). Significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
 
 Revenue Recognition
 The Company recognizes revenue on a sales arrangement when it is realized or realizable and earned, which occurs when all of the following criteria have been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; delivery and title transfer has occurred or services have been rendered; the sales price is fixed and determinable; collectability is reasonably assured; and all significant obligations to the customer have been fulfilled.
 
 Orders that are manufactured and delivered in less than six months with routine installations and no special acceptance protocols may contain multiple elements for revenue recognition purposes. The Company considers each deliverable that provides value to the customer on a standalone basis a separable element. Separable elements in these arrangements may include the design and manufacture of hardware and essential software, installation services, training and/or post contract software maintenance and support. The Company initially allocates consideration to each separable element using the relative selling price method. Selling prices are determined by the Company based on either vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) (the actual selling prices of similar products and services sold on a standalone basis) or, in the absence of VSOE, the Company’s best estimate of the selling price. Factors considered by the Company in determining estimated selling prices for applicable elements generally include overall economic conditions, customer demand, costs incurred by the Company to provide the deliverable, as well as the Company’s historical pricing practices. Under these arrangements, revenue associated with each delivered element is recognized in an amount equal to the lesser of the consideration initially allocated to the delivered element or the amount for which payment is not deemed contingent upon future delivery of other elements in the arrangement. Under arrangements where special acceptance protocols exist, installation services and training are not considered separable. Accordingly, revenue for the entire arrangement is recognized upon the completion of installation, training and fulfillment of any other significant obligations specific to the terms of the arrangement. Arrangements that do not contain any separable elements are typically recognized when the products are shipped and title has transferred to the customer.
 
 Certain contractual arrangements require longer production periods, generally longer than six months (long-term contracts), and may contain non-routine installations and special acceptance protocols. These arrangements often include hardware and essential software, installation services, training and support. Long-term contractual arrangements involving essential software typically include significant production, modification, and customization. For long-term arrangements with essential software and all other long-term arrangements with complex installations and/or unusual acceptance protocols, revenue is recognized using the percentage-of-completion method, based on the cost incurred to-date relative to estimated total cost of the contract. Elements of an arrangement that do not separately fall within the scope of the percentage of completion method (e.g. training and post contract software maintenance and support) are recognized as the service is provided in amounts determined based on VSOE, or in the absence of VSOE, the Company’s best estimate of the selling price.
  F-7
 Table of Contents
 
 Under the terms of the Company’s long-term contracts, revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method may not, in certain circumstances, be invoiced until completion of contractual milestones, upon shipment of the equipment, or upon installation and acceptance by the customer. Unbilled amounts for these contracts appear in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unbilled Accounts Receivable.
 
 Revenue from arrangements for services such as maintenance, repair, consulting and technical support are recognized either as the service is performed or ratably over the defined contractual period for service maintenance contracts. Revenue from post contract software maintenance and support services is recognized ratably over the defined contractual period of the maintenance agreement.
 
 The Company’s sales arrangements typically do not include specific performance-, cancellation-, termination-, or refund-type provisions. In the event a customer cancels a contractual arrangement, the Company would typically be entitled to receive reimbursement from the customer for actual costs incurred under the arrangement plus a reasonable margin.
 
 Revenue is recorded net of taxes collected from customers that are remitted to governmental authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.
 
 Shipping and Handling
 Freight revenue billed to customers is reported within Revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income, and expenses incurred for shipping products to customers are reported within Cost of Sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 Research and Development
 Research and development costs associated with new products are charged to operations as incurred.
 
 Foreign Currency
 The financial position and results of operations of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using fiscal period-end exchange rates, and monthly statements of income are translated using average exchange rates applicable to each month, with the resulting translation adjustments recorded as a separate component of Shareholders' Investment. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recorded net foreign currency transaction gains/(losses) of $0.5 million, ($0.1) million, and ($1.6) million in fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.
 
 Cash and Cash Equivalents
 Cash and cash equivalents represent cash, demand deposits, and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. Cash equivalents, both inside and outside the United States, are invested in money market funds and bank deposits in local currency denominations.
 
 Accounts Receivable and Long-Term Contracts
 The Company grants credit to customers, but it generally does not require collateral or other security from domestic customers. When deemed appropriate, receivables from customers located outside the United States are supported by letters of credit from financial institutions. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management's assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts and includes consideration of the credit worthiness and financial condition of those specific customers. The Company records an allowance to reduce receivables to the amount that is reasonably believed to be collectible and considers factors such as the financial condition of the customer and the aging of the receivables. If there is a deterioration of a customer's financial condition, if the Company becomes aware of additional information related to the credit worthiness of a customer, or if future actual default rates on trade receivables in general differ from those currently anticipated, the Company may have to adjust its allowance for doubtful accounts, which would affect earnings in the period the adjustments were made.
  F-8
 Table of Contents
 
 The Company enters into long-term contracts for customized equipment sold to its customers. Under the terms of such contracts, revenue recognized using the percentage-of-completion method may be invoiced upon completion of contractual milestones, shipment to the customer, or installation and customer acceptance. Unbilled amounts relating to these contracts are reflected as Unbilled Accounts Receivable in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts unbilled at October 1, 2011 are expected to be invoiced during fiscal year 2012.
 
 Inventories
 Inventories consist of material, labor, and overhead costs and are stated at the lower of cost or market value, determined under the first-in, first-out accounting method. Inventories at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 were as follows:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Customer projects in various stages of completion

$
19,026


$
16,126Components, assemblies and parts


46,961



35,666Total

$
65,987


$
51,792
  Software Development Costs
 The Company capitalizes certain software development costs related to software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed. Capitalized software development costs include purchased materials and services, salary and benefits of the Company’s development and technical support staff, and other costs associated with the development of new products and services. Software development costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time future costs incurred are capitalized until the product is available for general release to the public. Based on the Company’s product development process, technological feasibility is generally established once product and detailed program designs have been completed, uncertainties related to high-risk development issues have been resolved through coding and testing, and the Company has established that the necessary skills, hardware, and software technology are available for production of the product. Once a software product is available for general release to the public, capitalized development costs associated with that product will begin to be amortized to cost of sales over the product’s estimated economic life, using the greater of straight-line or a method that results in cost recognition in future periods that is consistent with the anticipated timing of product revenue recognition.
 
 The Company’s capitalized software development costs are subject to an ongoing assessment of recoverability, which is impacted by estimates and assumptions of future revenues and expenses for these software products, as well as other factors such as changes in product technologies. Any portion of unamortized capitalized software development costs that are determined to be in excess of net realizable value will be expensed in the period such a determination is made. The Company reached technological feasibility for certain software products and, as a result, capitalized software development costs during each of the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2,2010. Amortization expense for software development costs was $1.5 million and $1.3 million for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on capitalized software development costs.
 
 Impairment of Long-lived Assets
 The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets or asset groups, such as property and equipment and intangibles subject to amortization, when events or changes in circumstances such as asset utilization, physical change, legal factors, or other matters indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When this review indicates the carrying value of an asset or asset group exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group, the Company recognizes an asset impairment charge against operations. The amount of the impairment loss recorded is the amount by which the carrying value of the impaired asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.
  F-9
 Table of Contents
 
 Property and Equipment
 Property and equipment is stated at cost. Additions, replacements, and improvements are capitalized at cost, while maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is recorded over the following estimated useful lives of the property:
 
 Buildings and improvements: 10 to 40 years
 Machinery and equipment:  3 to 10 years
 
 Building and equipment additions are generally depreciated on a straight-line basis for financial reporting purposes and on an accelerated basis for income tax purposes. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on property and equipment.
 
 Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired.Goodwill is not amortized, but instead tested at least annually for impairment. Goodwill is also tested for impairment as changes in circumstances occur indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
 
 Goodwill impairment testing first requires a comparison of the fair value of each reporting unit to the carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds fair value, goodwill is considered impaired. Impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets requires a comparison between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value, the asset is reduced to fair value. At both October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, there were no indefinite-lived intangible assets.
 
 Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period to be benefited by future cash flows, and reviewed for impairment. Fair values of goodwill and intangible assets are primarily determined using discounted cash flow analyses. At both October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company determined there was no impairment of its goodwill or intangible assets. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on goodwill and intangible assets.
 
 Other Assets
 Other assets at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 include security deposits paid on leased property and cash redemption values on group insurance policies.
 
 Warranty Obligations
 Sales of the Company’s products and systems are subject to limited warranty obligations that are included in customer contracts. For sales that include installation services, warranty obligations typically extend for a period of twelve to twenty-four months from the date of either shipment or acceptance. Product obligations typically extend for a period of twelve to twenty-four months from the date of purchase. Under the terms of these warranties, the Company is obligated to repair or replace any components or assemblies it deems defective due to workmanship or materials. The Company reserves the right to reject warranty claims where it determines that failure is due to normal wear, customer modifications, improper maintenance, or misuse. The Company records general warranty provisions based on an estimated warranty expense percentage applied to current period revenue. The percentage applied reflects historical warranty claims experience over the preceding twelve-month period. Both the experience percentage and the warranty liability are evaluated on an ongoing basis for adequacy. In addition, warranty provisions are also recognized for certain nonrecurring product claims that are individually significant.
  F-10
 Table of Contents
 
 Warranty provisions and claims for the years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, were as follows:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Beginning balance

$
7,505


$
9,774Warranty claims


(5,679
)


(7,036
)Warranty provisions


2,970



5,439Adjustments to preexisting warranties


518



(496
)Translation adjustment


(24
)


(176
)Ending balance

$
5,290


$
7,505
  Derivative Financial Instruments
 The Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, as well as interest rates on its floating rate indebtedness. In an effort to manage exposure to these risks, the Company periodically enters into forward and option currency exchange contracts, interest rate swaps and forward interest rate swaps. Because the market value of these hedging contracts is derived from current market rates, they are classified as derivative financial instruments. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes. The derivative contracts contain credit risk to the extent that the Company’s bank counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. The amount of such credit risk is generally limited to the unrealized gains, if any, in such contracts. Such risk is minimized by limiting those counterparties to major financial institutions of high credit quality. For derivative instruments executed under master netting arrangements, the Company has the contractual right to offset fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral with obligations to return cash collateral. The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized on these derivative instruments. At both October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company did not have any foreign exchange contracts with credit-risk related contingent features.
 
 The Company’s currency exchange and interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and qualify as hedging instruments pursuant to ASC 815. The Company also has derivatives which are not designated as cash flow hedges and, therefore, are accounted for and reported under the guidance of ASC 830. Regardless of designation for accounting purposes, the Company believes that all of its derivative instruments are hedges of transactional risk exposures. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding designated and undesignated derivative assets and liabilities are reported in the October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows:
  October 1, 2011Prepaid Expenses

and Other

Current Assets


Other Accrued

LiabilitiesDesignated hedge derivatives:

(expressed in thousands)Foreign exchange cash flow hedges

$
746


$
1,041Interest rate swaps


-



617Total designated hedge derivatives


746



1,658Derivatives not designated as hedges:Foreign exchange balance sheet derivatives


222



-Total hedge and other derivatives

$
968


$
1,658
  F-11
 Table of Contents
 October 2, 2010Prepaid Expenses

and Other

Current Assets


Other Accrued

LiabilitiesDesignated hedge derivatives:

(expressed in thousands)Foreign exchange cash flow hedges

$
126


$
547Interest rate swaps


-



1,406Total designated hedge derivatives


126



1,953Derivatives not designated as hedges:Foreign exchange balance sheet derivatives


-



1,023Total hedge and other derivatives

$
126


$
2,976
 
 Cash Flow Hedging – Currency Risks
 Currency exchange contracts utilized to maintain the functional currency value of expected financial transactions denominated in foreign currencies are designated as cash flow hedges. Qualifying gains and losses related to changes in the market value of these contracts are reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) within Shareholders’ Investment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the underlying hedged transaction affects earnings. The effective portion of the cash flow hedges represents the change in fair value of the hedge that offsets the change in the functional currency value of the hedged item. The Company periodically assesses whether its currency exchange contracts are effective and, when a contract is determined to be no longer effective as a hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. Subsequent changes in the market value of ineffective currency exchange contracts are recognized as an increase or decrease in Revenue on the Consolidated Statement of Income, as that is the same line item upon which the underlying hedged transaction is reported.
 
 At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company had outstanding cash flow hedge currency exchange contracts with gross notional U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $54.7 million and $17.6 million, respectively. Upon netting offsetting contracts to sell foreign currencies against contracts to purchase foreign currencies, irrespective of contract maturity dates, the net notional U.S. dollar equivalent amount of contracts outstanding were $46.8 million and $15.2 million at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. At October 1, 2011 the net market value of the foreign currency exchange contracts was a net liability of $0.3 million, consisting of $1.0 million in liabilities and $0.7 million in assets. At October 2, 2010 the net market value of the foreign currency exchange contracts was a net liability of $0.4 million, consisting of $0.5 million in liabilities and $0.1 million in offsetting assets.
 
 The pretax amounts recognized in AOCI on currency exchange contracts for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, including gains (losses) reclassified into earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Income and gains (losses) recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”), are as follows:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Beginning unrealized net loss in AOCI

$
(384
)

$
(519
)Net loss reclassified into Revenue (effective portion)


1,005



148Net loss reclassified into Revenue upon the removal of hedge designations on underlying foreign currency transactions that were cancelled


12



-Net loss recognized in OCI (effective portion)


(998
)


(13
)Ending unrealized net loss in AOCI

$
(365
)

$
(384
)
  The amount recognized in earnings as a result of the ineffectiveness of cash flow hedges was less than $0.1 million in each of the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010. At October 1, 2011, the amount projected to be reclassified from AOCI into earnings in the next 12 months was a net loss of $0.4 million. The maximum remaining maturity of any forward or optional contract at October 1, 2011 was 2.8 years.
  F-12
 Table of Contents
 
 Cash Flow Hedging - Interest Rate Risks
 The Company uses floating to fixed interest rate swaps and forward interest rate swaps to mitigate its exposure to future changes in interest rates related to its floating rate indebtedness. The Company has designated these interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. As a result, changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded in AOCI within Shareholders’ Investment on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
 At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 the Company had outstanding interest rate swaps with total notional amounts of $24.0 million and $40.0 million, respectively. Every month, the Company pays fixed interest on these interest rate swaps in exchange for interest received at monthly U.S. LIBOR.  At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the weighted-average interest rate payable by the Company under the terms of the credit facility borrowings and outstanding interest rate swaps was 2.47% and 3.31%, respectively. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, there was a 45 basis-point and 63 basis-point differential, respectively, between the variable rate interest paid by the Company on its outstanding credit facility borrowings and the variable rate interest received on the interest rate swaps. As a result of this differential, the overall effective interest rate applicable to outstanding credit facility borrowings, under the terms of the credit facility and interest rate swap agreements, was 2.92% and 3.94%, respectively. The Company is currently paying a floating interest rate on $16.0 million of its outstanding debt at U.S. LIBOR plus 45 basis points (0.70% rate in effect at October 1, 2011).
 
 In January 2011, the Company entered into forward interest rate swaps with a total notional amount of $27.0 million effective December 2011 to pay fixed interest rates ranging from 1.02% to 1.08% in exchange for interest received at monthly U.S. LIBOR.
 
 The following table shows the contractual maturities of the interest rate hedging relationships at October 1, 2011:
 Outstanding Interest Rate Swaps:
 Start Date
End Date

Notional

Amount


Reference

Rate


Basis

Spread(in millions)July 25, 2008
July 25, 2012

$
13.0



4.24
%


0.45
%November 6, 2008
November 7, 2011


11.0



3.59
%


0.45
%$
24.0
 Forward Interest Rate Swaps:
 Start Date
End Date

Notional

Amount


Reference

Rate


Basis

Spread(in millions)December 7, 2011
September 7, 2012

$
11.0



1.02
%


0.45
%December 20, 2011
September 20, 2012


6.0



1.06
%


0.45
%December 29, 2011
September 28, 2012


10.0



1.08
%


0.45
%$
27.0
  The total market value of interest rate swaps and forward interest rate swaps at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was a liability of $0.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The pretax amounts recognized in AOCI on interest rate swaps and forward interest rate swaps for fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 are as follows:
  F-13
 Table of Contents
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Beginning unrealized net loss in AOCI

$
(1,406
)

$
(1,894
)Net loss reclassified into interest expense (effective portion)


965



1,223Net loss recognized in OCI (effective portion)


(176
)


(735
)Ending unrealized net loss in AOCI

$
(617
)

$
(1,406
)
  Foreign Currency Balance Sheet Derivatives
 The Company also uses foreign currency derivative contracts to maintain the functional currency value of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional foreign currencies. The gains and losses related to the changes in the market value of these derivative contracts are included in Other Income (Expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company had outstanding foreign currency balance sheet derivative contracts with gross notional U.S. dollar equivalent amounts of $15.9 million and $34.7 million, respectively. Upon netting offsetting contracts by counterparty banks to sell foreign currencies against contracts to purchase foreign currencies, irrespective of contract maturity dates, the net notional U.S. dollar equivalent amount of contracts outstanding at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was $4.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively. At October 1, 2011, the net market value of the foreign exchange balance sheet derivative contracts was a net asset of $0.2 million. At October 2, 2010, the net market value of the balance sheet foreign currency exchange derivative contracts was a net liability of $1.0 million.
 
 The net losses recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income on foreign exchange balance sheet derivative contracts for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 are as follows:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Net loss recognized in Other income (expense), net

$
(464
)

$
(834
)
  Income Taxes
 The Company records a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized. The Company believes it is more likely than not that forecasted income, including income that may be generated as a result of certain tax planning strategies, together with the tax effects of the deferred tax liabilities, will be sufficient to fully recover the remaining net realizable value of its deferred tax assets. In the event that all or part of the net deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. In addition, the calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with management’s expectations could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on income taxes.
 
 Earnings Per Common Share
 Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the daily weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the applicable periods. Diluted earnings per share include the potentially dilutive effect of common shares issued in connection with outstanding stock-based compensation options and grants, using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, shares associated with certain stock options have been excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding calculation because the exercise of those options would lead to a net reduction in common shares outstanding. As a result, stock options to acquire 0.4 million, 1.2 million, and 1.3 million weighted common shares have been excluded from the diluted weighted shares outstanding calculation for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009, respectively. The potentially dilutive effect of common shares issued in connection with outstanding stock options is determined based on income before discontinued operations. A reconciliation of these amounts is as follows:
  F-14
 Table of Contents
 2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands, except per share data)Net income

$
50,942


$
18,576


$
17,394Weighted average common shares outstanding


15,487



16,281



16,793Dilutive potential common shares


252



66



38Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding


15,739



16,347



16,831Earnings per share:Basic

$
3.29


$
1.14


$
1.04Diluted

$
3.24


$
1.14


$
1.03
  Stock Purchases
 During the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company paid $9.6 million pursuant to the settlement of an accelerated share purchase agreement with an unrelated third party investment bank. This agreement was initially entered into during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. During the entire term of the agreement, the forward contract was indexed to, and could potentially have been settled in, the Company’s common stock. As a result, the forward contract met the requirements of ASC 815-40 to be classified as permanent equity. In connection with the agreement, the Company made an initial $25.0 million payment to the investment bank and immediately received approximately 0.9 million shares of its common stock. Effective as of the date of the initial stock purchase, the transaction was accounted for as a share retirement resulting in a reduction of common stock and retained earnings of $0.2 million and $24.8 million, respectively. Upon settlement of the contract, the Company reduced additional paid-in capital by $9.6 million.
 
 Stock-Based Compensation
 The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for the award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant, and recognizes the cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award.
 
 For purposes of determining estimated fair value of stock-based payment awards, the Company utilizes a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of certain assumptions requiring management judgment. Because the Company’s employee stock option awards have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the input assumptions can materially affect fair value estimates, existing models may not provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of employee stock options. Management will continue to assess the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate estimated fair value of stock-based compensation. Circumstances may change and additional data may become available over time that could result in changes to these assumptions and methodologies and thereby materially impact the fair value determination of future grants of stock-based payment awards. If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions in future periods, the compensation expense recorded may differ significantly from the stock-based compensation expense recorded in the current period. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on stock-based compensation.
 
 Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 Comprehensive Income (Loss), a component of Shareholders’ Investment, for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009 consists of net income, pension benefit plan adjustments, derivative instrument gains or losses and foreign currency translation adjustments.
  F-15
 Table of Contents
  The accumulated balances for each component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income were as follows:
  Derivative

Financial

Instrument

Unrealized

Loss


Pension

Benefit Plan

Adjustments


Foreign

Currency

Translation

Adjustment


Total

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income(expressed in thousands)Balances at September 27, 2008

$
(72
)

$
(240
)

$
25,794



25,482Foreign exchange translation adjustments


-



-



2,459



2,459Pension benefit plan adjustments, net of tax of ($429)


-



(992
)


-



(992
)Change in unrealized loss, net of tax of ($1,910)


(3,397
)


-



-



(3,397
)Realized loss, net of tax of $1,028


1,961



10



-



1,971Balances at October 3, 2009


(1,508
)


(1,222
)


28,253



25,523Foreign exchange translation adjustments


-



23



(10,123
)


(10,100
)Pension benefit plan adjustments, net of tax of ($493)


-



(1,141
)


-



(1,141
)Change in unrealized loss, net of tax of ($277)


(470
)


-



-



(470
)Realized loss, net of tax of $517


858



11



-



869Balances at October 2, 2010


(1,120
)


(2,329
)


18,130



14,681Foreign exchange translation adjustments


-



50



727



777Pension benefit plan adjustments, net of tax of $96


-



221



-



221Change in unrealized loss, net of tax of ($433)


(741
)


-



-



(741
)Realized loss, net of tax of $783


1,245



106



-



1,351Balances at October 1, 2011

$
(616
)

$
(1,952
)

$
18,857


$
16,289
 
 Use of Estimates
 The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Ultimate results could differ from those estimates. Additionally, the Company frequently undertakes significant technological innovation on certain of its long-term contracts, involving performance risk that may result in delayed delivery of product and/or revenue and gross profit variation due to changes in the ultimate costs of these contracts versus estimates.
 
 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-14, Software (Topic 985) – “Certain Revenue Arrangements that Include Software Elements.” ASU 2009-14 changes the accounting model for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements. Specifically, tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product's essential functionality are excluded from the software revenue guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Subtopic 985-605, “Software-Revenue Recognition.” In addition, ASU 2009-14 requires that hardware components of a tangible product containing software components be excluded from the software revenue guidance. The provisions of ASU 2009-14 are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified by the Company as of the beginning of the current fiscal year. The Company’s adoption of the provisions of ASU 2009-14 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company incorporated the appropriate disclosure provisions of ASU 2009-14 upon adoption.
  F-16
 Table of Contents
 
 In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) - Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements.” ASU 2009-13 amends the criteria established in ASC 605-25, “Revenue Recognition – Multiple Element Arrangements,” for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. This guidance establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. Specifically, the selling price used for each deliverable is based on: (a) vendor-specific objective evidence if available; (b) third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available; or (c) estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific objective evidence nor third-party evidence is available. In addition, ASU 2009-13 eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. Also, ASU 2009-13 significantly expands required disclosures related to a vendor's multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. The provisions of ASU 2009-13 were effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified by the Company as of the beginning of the current fiscal year. The Company’s adoption of the provisions of ASU 2009-13 did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company incorporated the appropriate disclosure provisions of ASU 2009-13 upon adoption.
 
 2. Stock-Based Compensation:
 
 The Company compensates officers, directors, and employees with stock-based compensation under two stock plans approved by the Company’s shareholders in 2006 and 2011, and administered under the supervision of the Company’s Board of Directors. During the years ended October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, the Company awarded stock options, restricted stock grants, and restricted stock units, under the 2006 plan. The 2006 plan expired, and no further grants were made, following January 31, 2011. During the year ended October 1, 2011, the Company awarded stock options, restricted stock grants, and restricted stock units under the 2011 plan. At October 1, 2011, a total of 870,717 shares were available for future grant under the 2011 stock plan. Shares will be available for issuance under the 2011 stock plan until January 31, 2018.
 
 The Company issues shares of its common stock to participants in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under a stock plan approved by the Company’s shareholders in 2002. At October 1, 2011, a total of 420,631 shares were available for ESPP share issuances under the 2002 ESPP. On February 11, 2011, the Company's shareholders approved a 2012 ESPP which is effective on January 1, 2012. The 2012 ESPP will replace the 2002 ESPP, which expires on December 31, 2011. An aggregate of 750,000 shares of the Company's stock will be available under the 2012 ESPP until December 31, 2021.
 
 Stock-Based Compensation Expense
 The effect of recording stock-based compensation expense for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
  2011


2010


2009Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:Employee stock options

$
1,383


$
1,519


$
2,478Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)


159



175



242Restricted stock grants and units


1,162



691



612Amounts capitalized as inventory


(652
)


(639
)


(775
)Amounts recognized in income for amounts previously capitalized as inventory


649



702



827Total stock-based compensation included in income from operations


2,701



2,448



3,384Income tax benefit on stock-based compensation


(931
)


(828
)


(1,091
)Net compensation expense included in net income

$
1,770


$
1,620


$
2,293
 
 F-17
 Table of Contents
  At October 1, 2011, there was $3.1 million of total stock option expense related to non-vested awards not yet recognized, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.4 years. At October 1, 2011, there was $1.1 million and $0.3 million of total restricted stock expense related to non-vested awards of restricted stock units and restricted stock grants, respectively, not yet recognized, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.4 years and 0.9 years, respectively.
 
 The fair value of stock options granted under stock-based compensation programs has been estimated as of the date of each grant using the multiple option form of the Black-Scholes valuation model, based on the grant price and assumptions regarding the expected grant life, stock price volatility, dividends, and risk-free interest rates. Each vesting period of an option award is valued separately, with this value being recognized evenly over the vesting period. The weighted average per share fair value of stock options granted during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was $9.45, $6.73, and $4.71, respectively. The weighted average assumptions used to determine fair value of stock options granted during those fiscal years were as follows:
  2011


2010


2009Expected life (in years)


3.0



2.9



2.7Risk-free interest rate


0.8
%


1.0
%


1.4
%Expected volatility


35.4
%


40.0
%


41.4
%Dividend yield


1.8
%


2.1
%


2.9
%
  The expected life represents the period that the stock option awards are expected to be outstanding and was determined based on historical and anticipated future exercise and expiration patterns. The risk-free interest rate used is based on the yield of constant maturity U.S. Treasury bonds on the grant date with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the grant. The Company estimates stock price volatility based on a historical weekly price observation. The dividend yield assumption is based on the annualized current dividend divided by the share price on the grant date.
 
 Awards of restricted stock grants and restricted stock units both are valued based on the market value of the Company’s shares at the date of grant. The value of restricted stock grants and restricted stock units is allocated to expense evenly over the restricted period. Employee stock purchase plan share awards are valued based on the value of the discount feature plus the fair value of the optional features, which is determined as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The value of these share awards is allocated to expense evenly over each purchase period.
 
 Stock Options
 Stock options are granted at exercise prices equal to the closing market price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Generally, options vest proportionally on the first three anniversaries of the grant date and expire five years from the grant date.
 
 Stock option activity for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
  2011


2010


2009Shares


WAEP*


Shares


WAEP*


Shares


WAEP*Options outstanding at beginning of year


1,329


$
34.53



1,492


$
35.56



1,572


$
37.59Granted


292


$
43.61



252


$
28.62



273


$
20.60Exercised


(332
)

$
36.80



(16
)

$
20.55



(40
)

$
22.40Forfeited or expired


(241
)

$
36.91



(399
)

$
35.20



(313
)

$
34.36Options outstanding at end of year


1,048


$
35.80



1,329


$
34.53



1,492


$
35.56Options eligible for exercise at year-end


653


$
36.13



811


$
38.93



892


$
38.90
 *Weighted Average Exercise Price
  F-18
 Table of Contents
 Options outstanding at October 1, 2011 had a weighted average remaining contractual term of 2.4 years, and an aggregate intrinsic value of $2.1 million. Options eligible for exercise at October 1, 2011 had a weighted average remaining contractual term of 1.4 years, and an aggregate intrinsic value of $1.2 million.
 
 The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was $2.3 million, $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively.
 
 Restricted Stock
 The Company awards directors and key employees restricted stock grants and restricted stock units that vest over three years. For restricted stock grants awarded to directors, participants are entitled to cash dividends and voting rights on unvested shares, but the sale and transfer of these shares is restricted during the vesting period. For restricted stock grants awarded to employees, participants are not entitled to cash dividends and voting rights on unvested shares.
 
 Restricted stock grant activity for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
  2011


2010


2009Shares


WAGDFV*


Shares


WAGDFV*


Shares


WAGDFV*Unvested shares at beginning of year


29


$
27.18



36


$
28.72



20


$
39.29Granted


13


$
42.89



20


$
26.47



29


$
24.76Vested


(12
)

$
28.32



(10
)

$
33.71



(10
)

$
38.99Forfeited


-


$
-



(17
)

$
25.85



(3
)

$
26.91Unvested shares at end of year


30


$
33.61



29


$
27.18



36


$
28.72
 *Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
  Restricted stock unit activity for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
  2011


2010


2009Shares


WAGDFV*


Shares


WAGDFV*


Shares


WAGDFV*Outstanding at beginning of year


59


$
25.51



38


$
20.55



-


$
-Granted


18


$
42.50



37


$
28.62



39


$
20.55Vested


(22
)

$
24.71



(12
)

$
20.55



-


$
-Forfeited


(18
)

$
27.50



(4
)

$
21.61



(1
)

$
20.55Outstanding at end of year


37


$
33.37



59


$
25.51



38


$
20.55
 *Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 The Company’s U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Employee purchases of Company stock are funded by payroll deductions over calendar six-month periods. The purchase price is 85% of the lower of the market price at either the beginning or end of the six-month period. The shares are required to be held by the employee for at least eighteen months subsequent to the purchase. Two purchase periods closed in fiscal year 2011 with the combined issuance of 24,028 shares at a weighted average price of $27.72. In fiscal years 2010 and 2009, purchases were 33,249 and 36,333 shares, respectively, with weighted average share prices of $20.82 and $19.75, respectively.
 
 3. Acquisitions
  On September 28, 2008, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of SANS. SANS has manufacturing facilities in both Shenzhen and Shanghai, China, and is headquartered in Shenzhen. SANS manufactures material testing solutions and offers a variety of products, including electro-mechanical and static-hydraulic testing machines. The total purchase price for SANS was $48.1 million, including direct acquisition costs of $2.9 million. The results of operations for SANS have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income since the date of acquisition, and are reported in the Company’s Test segment.
  F-19
 Table of Contents
 
 Subsequent to the acquisition, the company entered into a transition services agreement with SANS to facilitate order processing and product delivery while the Company obtained manufacturing permits and export licenses from the Chinese Government. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company was entitled to all the profit and risk of loss on these transactions. Many of the shareowners of SANS are currently employed by the Company and thus the transactions executed under this agreement are considered related party transactions. The transition services agreement expired during fiscal year 2009; however, as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 the outstanding receivables from SANS were $0.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively. All of these outstanding receivables as of October 1, 2011 are expected to be collected within the next twelve months.
 
 4. Capital Assets:
 
 Property and Equipment
 Property and equipment at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 consist of the following:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Land and improvements

$
1,713


$
1,714Buildings and improvements


52,764



52,535Machinery and equipment


108,143



104,405Total


162,620



158,654Less accumulated depreciation


(106,368
)


(102,210
)Property and equipment, net

$
56,252


$
56,444
  Goodwill
 Goodwill at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was $16.0 million and $15.4 million, respectively. The increase in goodwill during each of the years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was due to currency translation.
 
 Other Intangible Assets
 Other intangible assets consist of the following:
  October 1, 2011Gross Carrying

Amount


Accumulated

Amortization


Net Carrying

Value


Weighted

Average

Useful Life

(in Years)(expressed in thousands)Software development costs

$
15,370


$
(3,574
)

$
11,796



5.8Patents


9,903



(2,114
)


7,789



15.3Trademarks and trade names


5,924



(815
)


5,109



30.2Non-compete agreements


2,596



(2,596
)


-



3.0Land-use rights


1,219



(70
)


1,149



47.8Total

$
35,012


$
(9,169
)

$
25,843



13.6
  F-20
 Table of Contents
  October 2, 2010Gross Carrying

Amount


Accumulated

Amortization


Net Carrying

Value


Weighted

Average

Useful Life

(in Years)(expressed in thousands)Software development costs

$
11,640


$
(2,062
)

$
9,578



6.0Patents


9,484



(1,347
)


8,137



15.3Trademarks and trade names


5,689



(603
)


5,086



30.2Non-compete agreements


2,485



(1,657
)


828



3.0Land-use rights


1,167



(43
)


1,124



47.8Total

$
30,465


$
(5,712
)

$
24,753



14.7
  Amortization expense recognized during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was $3.3 million, $3.0 million, and $2.4 million, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense related to other intangible assets for the next five fiscal years is as follows:
 
 AmortizationFiscal Year

Expense(expressed inthousands)2012

$
3,5032013

$
3,7152014

$
3,7152015

$
3,7032016

$
2,191
 
 Future amortization amounts presented above are estimates. Actual future amortization expense may be different, due to future acquisitions, impairments, changes in amortization periods, or other factors.
 
 5. Business Segment Information:
 
 The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and management regularly review financial information for the Company’s three discrete operating segments. Based on similarities in the economic characteristics, nature of products and services, production processes, type or class of customer served, method of distribution and regulatory environments, the operating segments have been aggregated for financial statement purposes and categorized into two reportable segments, “Test” and “Sensors.” The Test segment provides testing equipment, systems, and services to the ground vehicles, materials and structures markets. The Sensors segment provides high-performance position sensors for a variety of industrial and mobile hydraulic applications.
 
 In evaluating each segment's performance, management focuses on income from operations. This measure excludes interest income and expense, income taxes and other non-operating items. Corporate expenses, including costs associated with various support functions such as human resources, information technology, legal, finance and accounting, and general and administrative costs, are allocated to the reportable segments on the basis of revenue.
  F-21
 Table of Contents
  Financial information by reportable segment for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009, were as follows:
  2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)RevenueTest

$
363,918


$
296,230


$
342,595Sensors


103,450



77,823



66,286Total Revenue

$
467,368


$
374,053


$
408,881Income from OperationsTest

$
46,211


$
11,204


$
17,494Sensors


26,983



17,141



7,100Total Income from Operations

$
73,194


$
28,345


$
24,594Identifiable AssetsTest

$
333,290


$
261,109


$
289,700Sensors


94,569



85,296



97,214Total Assets

$
427,859


$
346,405


$
386,914Other Segment DataTest:Goodwill

$
14,435


$
13,817


$
13,538Capital expenditures


7,289



8,702



8,134Depreciation and amortization

$
10,658


$
10,686


$
10,090Sensors:Goodwill

$
1,592


$
1,612


$
1,668Capital expenditures


2,856



2,512



1,623Depreciation and amortization

$
2,236


$
2,065


$
2,042 Geographic information was as follows:
 2011



2010



2009(expressed in thousands)RevenueUnited States

$
109,133


$
109,638


$
123,336Europe, excluding Germany


107,111



71,155



95,368China


104,461



77,600



61,209Japan


37,394



27,540



47,500Germany


43,021



41,710



33,341Asia, excluding Japan & China


38,768



33,673



29,439Other


27,480



12,737



18,688Total Revenue

$
467,368


$
374,053


$
408,881Property and Equipment, NetUnited States

$
35,972


$
36,216


$
34,613Germany


10,585



10,748



12,092China


6,944



6,915



7,043Asia, excluding China


1,974



2,028



1,794Europe, excluding Germany


777



537



576Total Property and Equipment, Net

$
56,252


$
56,444


$
56,118
  Revenue by geographic area is presented based on customer location. No countries other than the United States, China, Japan and Germany had revenue in excess of 10% of the Company's total revenue during any of the periods presented. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenue for any of the periods presented.
  F-22
 Table of Contents
 
 6. Fair Value Measurements
 
 In determining the fair value of financial assets and liabilities, the Company currently utilizes market data or other assumptions that it believes market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and adjusts for non-performance and/or other risk associated with the Company as well as counterparties, as appropriate.
 
 ASC 820-10 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
 
 Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices which are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
  Level 2: Inputs are other-than-quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets. Level 2 includes those financial assets and liabilities that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies. The models used are primarily industry-standard, and consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices, time value, volatility factors, and current contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of the assumptions used in these valuation models are observable in the marketplace.
  Level 3: Inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company’s own assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value.
 
 The hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1, as this level provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while giving the lowest priority to Level 3.
 
 Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
 Financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis are as follows:
  October 1, 2011Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


TotalAssets:

(expressed in thousands)Currency contracts(1)

$
-


$
968


$
-


$
968Total assets

$
-


$
968


$
-


$
968Liabilities:Currency contracts(1)

$
-


$
1,041


$
-


$
1,041Interest rate swaps(2)






617



-



617Total liabilities

$
-


$
1,658


$
-


$
1,658
 
 October 2, 2010Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


TotalAssets:

(expressed in thousands)Currency contracts(1)

$
-


$
126


$
-


$
126Total assets

$
-


$
126


$
-


$
126
 Liabilities:Currency contracts(1)

$
-


$
1,570


$
-


$
1,570Interest rate swaps(2)






1,406



-



1,406Total liabilities

$
-


$
2,976


$
-


$
2,976
 F-23
 Table of Contents
  (1)
Based on observable market transactions of spot currency rates and forward currency rates on equivalently-termed instruments.
  (2)
Based on LIBOR and swap rates.
 
 Nonfinancial Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
 The Company’s goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets are nonfinancial assets that were acquired either as part of a business combination, individually or with a group of other assets. These nonfinancial assets were initially, and are currently, measured and recognized at amounts equal to the fair value determined as of the date of acquisition. Periodically, these nonfinancial assets are tested for impairment, by comparing their respective carrying values to the estimated fair value of the reporting unit or asset group in which they reside. In the event any of these nonfinancial assets were to become impaired, the Company would recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit, impaired asset or asset group exceeds its estimated fair value. Fair value measurements of reporting units are estimated using an income approach involving discounted or undiscounted cash flow models that contain certain Level 3 inputs requiring management judgment, including projections of economic conditions and customer demand, revenue and margins, changes in competition, operating costs, working capital requirements, and new product introductions. Fair value measurements of the reporting units associated with the Company’s goodwill balances are estimated at least annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year for purposes of impairment testing. Fair value measurements associated with the Company’s intangible assets and other long-lived assets are estimated when events or changes in circumstances such as market value, asset utilization, physical change, legal factors, or other matters indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
 
 Financial Instruments not Measured at Fair Value
 Certain of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value but nevertheless are recorded at carrying amounts approximating fair value, based on their short-term nature or variable interest rate. These financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term borrowings.
 
 7. Financing:
 
 Short-term borrowings at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 consist of the following:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Bank line of credit, monthly U.S. LIBOR plus 45 basis points (0.70% rate in effect at October 1, 2011), maturing October 2011, with optional month-to-month term renewal and loan repricing until December 2012

$
40,000


$
40,000Notes payable, non-interest bearing


288



229Total Short-Term Borrowings

$
40,288


$
40,229
  The Company’s unsecured Credit Facility provides for up to $75.0 million for working capital financing, acquisitions, share purchases, or other general corporate purposes and expires in December 2012. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility were $40.0 million. At October 1, 2011, the Company had outstanding letters of credit drawn from the Credit Facility totaling $11.3 million, leaving approximately $23.7 million of unused borrowing capacity.
  F-24
 Table of Contents
  The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was 0.70% and 0.80%, respectively. In order to mitigate its exposure to interest rate increases on its floating rate indebtedness, the Company has entered into floating to fixed interest rate swaps. Subsequent to October 1, 2011, the Company renewed each of the outstanding borrowings on the Credit Facility for an additional month. The Company intends to continue to renew each of the outstanding borrowings on the Credit Facility monthly throughout the entire term of the Credit Facility. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the interest rate swaps.
 
 At the Company’s election, future borrowings under the Credit Facility can be structured to bear interest at either an alternate base rate (“ABR”) or an adjusted LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The ABR is the greater of the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.5%. At October 1, 2011, the prime rate of 3.25% was the applicable ABR. The adjusted LIBOR is generally determined based on the multiple of the applicable LIBOR and a statutory reserve factor, considering the projected period of use of the loan proceeds. The applicable margin applied to adjusted LIBOR on borrowings varies based on the Company’s leverage ratio. At October 1, 2011, the spread of the adjusted LIBOR plus the applicable margin ranged from 0.64% to 0.94%. Commitment fees are payable on the unused portion of the Credit Facility at rates between 0.09% and 0.18%, based on the Company’s leverage ratio. During each the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, commitment fees incurred on the Credit Facility were less than $0.1 million.
 
 Notes payable at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 consisted of non-interest bearing notes payable to vendors by the Company’s Japanese Sensors subsidiary.
 
 The Company is subject to financial covenants, among other restrictions, under the Credit Facility, including, among other covenants, the ratio of consolidated total indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as well as the ratio of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense. These covenants restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends and purchase outstanding shares of common stock. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants.
 
 At October 1, 2011, the Company had outstanding letters of credit and guarantees totaling $18.6 million and $26.9 million, respectively, primarily to bond advance payments and performance related to customer contracts in the Test segment.
 
 8. Income Taxes:
  The components of income before income taxes for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 were as follows:
 2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Income before income taxes:Domestic

$
35,243


$
10,659


$
15,965Foreign


38,062



16,553



7,938Total

$
73,305


$
27,212


$
23,903
 F-25
 Table of Contents
 
 The provision for income taxes for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 was as follows:
 2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Current provision (benefit):Federal

$
5,855


$
357


$
(601
)State


553



65



5Foreign


10,627



6,046



7,435Deferred


5,328



2,168



(330
)Total provision

$
22,363


$
8,636


$
6,509
 A reconciliation from the federal statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 is as follows:
 2011


2010


2009United States federal statutory income tax rate


35
%


35
%


35
%Foreign provision (less than) greater than U.S. tax rate


(2
)


(1
)


1Settlement of audits, favorable resolution of accrued tax matters


-



(2
)


-State income taxes, net of federal benefit


1



1



1Research and development tax credits


(3
)


(1
)


(13
)Domestic production activities deduction


(1
)


-



(1
)Foreign tax credits


-



(3
)


-Valuation allowances against deferred tax assets


-



-



1Nondeductible stock option expense and other permanent items


1



3



3Effective income tax rate


31
%


32
%


27
%
  A summary of the deferred tax assets and liabilities for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 is as follows:
 2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Deferred Tax Asset:Accrued compensation and benefits

$
7,584


$
8,509Inventory reserves


3,299



3,246Intangible and other assets


4,851



4,473Allowance for doubtful accounts


216



175Net operating loss carryovers


758



2,080Unrealized derivative instrument losses


495



634Research and foreign tax credit carryovers


621



2,050Total deferred tax asset before valuation allowance


17,824



21,167Less valuation allowance


(643
)


(986
)Total Deferred Tax Asset

$
17,181


$
20,181
 Deferred Tax Liability:Property and equipment

$
12,221


$
10,026Foreign deferred revenue and other


2,766



2,757Total Deferred Tax Liability

$
14,987


$
12,783Net Deferred Tax Asset

$
2,194


$
7,398
 F-26
 Table of Contents
 
 As of October 1, 2011, the Company’s French and one of its German subsidiaries had net operating loss carryovers of $0.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively. These net operating loss carryovers will not expire under local tax law.The Company determined that the benefit of the German subsidiary’s net operating loss carryover of $1.9 million is not likely to be realized. Accordingly, as of October 1, 2011, the Company had a full valuation allowance against the German subsidiary’s deferred tax asset in the amount of $0.6 million.
 
 During fiscal year 2011, the Company repatriated $14.9 million of current earnings from its German and Japanese subsidiaries. The Company recorded $0.5 million tax expense during fiscal year 2011 related to these repatriations. Also during fiscal year 2011,U.S. research and development tax credit legislation was extended with an effective date retroactive to January 1, 2010. This legislation allowed the Company to recognize $2.8 million of tax benefits in fiscal year 2011, partly due to tax credits available on applicable research and development spending by the Company during the last three fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2010 and partly due to a full year of credit for fiscal year 2011.
 
 During fiscal year 2010, the Company repatriated $51.0 million of historic earnings from its German, Japanese, Korean and Canadian subsidiaries, a portion of which constituted previously taxed income.  The Company recorded a $0.3 million tax benefit during fiscal year 2010 related to these dividends.  Also during fiscal year 2010, the Company was only allowed to recognize research and development credits on applicable spending during the first fiscal quarter, as the provision in the U.S. tax law allowing for these credits expired on December 31, 2009.
 
 During fiscal year 2009, U.S. research and development tax credit legislation was extended with an effective date retroactive to January 1, 2008. This legislation allowed the Company to recognize $3.0 million of tax benefits in fiscal year 2009, partly due to tax credits available on applicable research and development spending by the Company during the last three fiscal quarters of fiscal year 2008 and partly due to a full year of credit for fiscal year 2009.
 
 In accordance with ASC 740-30, the Company has not recognized a deferred tax liability for the undistributed earnings of certain of its foreign operations because those subsidiaries have invested or will invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely. At October 1, 2011, undistributed earnings were approximately $70 million. It is impractical for the Company to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liabilities on these indefinitely reinvested earnings. Deferred taxes are recorded for earnings of foreign operations when the Company determines that such earnings are no longer indefinitely reinvested.
 
 A summary of changes in the Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 is as follows:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Beginning balance

$
4,181


$
3,591Increase due to tax positions related to the current year


1,408



1,274Decrease due to tax positions related to prior years


(240
)


-Decrease due to lapse of statute of limitations


(232
)


(657
)Exchange rate change


(11
)


(27
)Ending balance

$
5,106


$
4,181
 
 F-27
 Table of Contents
  Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at October 1, 2011 are potential benefits of $1.5 million that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.
 
 At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company had accrued interest related to uncertain income tax positions of approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively. At October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009, no accrual for penalties related to uncertain tax positions existed. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are included in Interest Expense and General and Administrative Expense, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
 
 The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of numerous state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations for fiscal years before 2008 and with limited exceptions, state and foreign income tax examinations for fiscal years before 2006. The Company’s U.S. tax return is currently under audit by the IRS for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The Company’s French tax returns have been examined by the tax authorities through fiscal year 2006 and are currently under audit for fiscal years 2007 through 2010. The Company’s German tax returns have been examined by the tax authorities through fiscal year 2008. The Company’s Japanese tax returns have been examined by the tax authorities through fiscal year 2010. The Company’s Chinese tax returns for calendar years 2008 through 2010 have not been examined by the tax authorities. As of October 1, 2011, the Company does not expect significant changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits during the next twelve months.
 At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries were expected to receive income tax refunds within the next fiscal year. As a result, at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company recognized a current income tax receivable of $0.1 million and $7.7 million, respectively, which is included in Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
 9. Employee Benefit Plans:
 
 Retirement Savings Plan
 The Company offers a contributory retirement savings plan that has two components: (1) a 401(k) component with a Company match and (2) a fiscal year Company contribution.
 
 The 401(k) component of the retirement savings plan allows eligible U.S. employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax income to the plan each pay period. The Company matches 50% of employees’ pre-tax contributions (excluding “catch-up” contributions that employees age 50 or older may make to the plan), up to 6% of compensation, subject to limitations imposed by federal law. The Company’s matching contributions were $2.0 million, $1.9 million, and $2.2 million in fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. Employees may also contribute a percentage of their salary to the plan on an after-tax basis.
 
 The Company also provides an annual fiscal year contribution to the retirement plan for eligible U.S. employees. Employees who are active as of the end of the fiscal year and whom have been paid for 1,000 hours or more of service during a plan year are eligible for a fiscal year contribution. After three years as a participant, employees have a vested interest equal to 100% of the total Company fiscal year contributions. The plan provides for a minimum fiscal year contribution of 3% of participant compensation below the Social Security taxable wage base and 6% of participant compensation in excess of the Social Security taxable wage base, up to the maximum contribution allowed by federal law. The Company’s Board of Directors approves any changes to the contribution levels under the plan. The Company's fiscal year contributions under the plan totaled $2.5 million, $2.4 million, and $2.6 million in fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.
 
 Defined Benefit Pension Plan
 One of the Company's German subsidiaries has a non-contributory, defined benefit retirement plan for eligible employees. This plan provides benefits based on the employee's years of service and compensation during the years immediately preceding retirement, termination, disability, or death, as defined in the plan. The Company uses a September 30 measurement date for this defined benefit retirement plan.
 During the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009, the Company initiated workforce reduction actions, in order to align the Company’s operating cost structure with changing market conditions. These actions resulted in both voluntary and involuntary terminations of German employees who are eligible to receive future benefits under the German defined benefit pension plan. The voluntary termination actions were executed under early retirement plan arrangements which provide, among other benefits, special termination benefits involving the Company’s funding of the defined benefit pension plan for future service periods in effect throughout the contractual term of each early retirement arrangement. During the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009, the Company recognized costs of $0.3 million associated with these special termination benefits. The special termination benefits are to be paid directly from the Company’s assets throughout the contractual terms of the arrangements. At October 1, 2011, the remaining terms of outstanding early retirement plan arrangements ranged from approximately 1.0 to 4.5 years.
 F-28
 Table of Contents
 
 The Company recognizes the funded status of the defined benefit pension in its statement of financial position, recognizes changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income, and measures the plan’s assets and its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year.
 
 The pretax amount recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 consists of the following:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Actuarial net loss

$
2,796


$
3,337
  The portion of the pretax amount in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income at October 2, 2010 that was recognized during the fiscal year ended October 1, 2011 was $0.2 million. The portion of the pretax amount in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income at October 1, 2011 that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic retirement cost during the next fiscal year is $0.1 million.
 
 The following is a summary of the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets during the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010:
 
 2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Change in benefit obligation:Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year

$
16,885


$
15,593Service cost


481



349Interest cost


795



784Actuarial (gain) loss


(1,428
)


1,331Exchange rate change


(336
)


(829
)Benefits paid


(475
)


(343
)Projected benefit obligation, end of year

$
15,922


$
16,885Change in plan assets:Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year

$
13,334


$
13,676Actual return on plan assets


(372
)


444Employer contributions


475



343Exchange rate change


(286
)


(786
)Benefits paid


(475
)


(343
)Fair value of plan assets, end of year

$
12,676


$
13,334
 
 F-29
 Table of Contents
  The following is a summary of the funded status of the defined benefit retirement plan and amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010:
  2011


2010(expressed in thousands)Funded status:Funded status, end of year

$
(3,246
)

$
(3,551
)Accumulated other comprehensive loss


2,796



3,337Net amount recognized

$
(450
)

$
(214
)Amounts recognized in consolidated balance sheets:Accrued payroll and related costs

$
(555
)

$
(471
)Pension benefit plan obligation


(2,691
)


(3,080
)Deferred income taxes


844



1,007Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax


1,952



2,330Net amount recognized

$
(450
)

$
(214
)
  The weighted average assumptions used to determine the defined benefit retirement plan obligation at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, and also the net periodic benefit cost for the following fiscal year, were as follows:
  2011


2010Discount rate


5.4
%


4.7
%Expected rate of return on plan assets


5.4
%


5.2
%Expected rate of increase in future compensation levels


3.0
%


2.7
%
  The discount rate is calculated based on zero-coupon bond yields published by the Deutsche Bundesbank for maturities that match the weighted average duration of the pension liability, adjusted for the average credit spread of corporate bond rates above the government bond yields.
 
 The expected rate of return on plan assets represents the weighted average of the expected returns on individual asset categories in the portfolio. The Company uses investment services to assist with determining the overall expected rate of return on pension plan assets. Factors considered in the Company’s determination include historical long-term investment performance and estimates of future long-term returns by asset class.
 
 The overall objective of the Company’s investment policy and strategy for the defined benefit retirement plan is to maintain sufficient liquidity to pay benefits and minimize the volatility of returns while earning the highest possible rate of return over time to satisfy the benefit obligations. The plan fiduciaries assist the Company with setting the long-term strategic investment objectives for the defined benefit retirement plan assets. The objectives include preserving the funded status of the trust and balancing risk and return. Investment performance and plan asset mix are reviewed periodically.
 
 Plan assets are currently invested in a single mutual fund, the underlying assets of which are allocated to fixed income, equity, cash and cash equivalents, and other investment categories (see table below). Any decisions to change the asset allocation are made by the plan fiduciaries. However, investment into equity securities is limited to a maximum of 40% of total plan assets while investment into fixed income securities is not limited.
  F-30
 Table of Contents
  The actual defined benefit retirement plan asset allocations within the balanced mutual fund at October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 are as follows:
  Percentage of Plan Assets2011


2010Fixed income securities(1)


80.6
%


76.5
%Equity securities(2)


15.3
%


17.5
%Cash and cash equivalents


0.5
%


1.8
%Other(3)


3.6
%


4.2
%100.0
%


100.0
%
  (1)
Fixed income securities are comprised primarily of international government agency and international corporate bonds with investment grade ratings.
  (2)
Equity securities consist of an international mutual fund that invests solely in international stocks that are actively traded on international exchanges.
  (3)
Other asset holdings are comprised primarily of international bond futures and a derivatives-based mutual fund that invests in various assets.
 
 As of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the defined benefit retirement plan assets subject to fair value measurements, as described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, are as follows:
  October 1, 2011Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


Total(expressed in thousands)Mutual fund(1)

$
-


$
12,676


$
-


$
12,676
 
 October 2, 2010Level 1


Level 2


Level 3


Total(expressed in thousands)Mutual fund(1)

$
-


$
13,334


$
-


$
13,334
  (1)
The fair value of the mutual fund is generally valued based on closing prices from national exchanges, if the underlying securities are traded on an active market, or fixed income pricing models that use observable market inputs.
 
 Net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan for the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 included the following components:
  2011


2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Service cost

$
481


$
349


$
400Interest cost


795



784



764Expected return on plan assets


(704
)


(748
)


(702
)Net amortization and deferral


152



16



14Special termination benefits


-



-



262Net periodic benefit cost

$
724


$
401


$
738
  The accumulated benefit obligation of the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan as of October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 was $14.7 million and $15.6 million, respectively.
  F-31
 Table of Contents
 
 The future pension benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, for the next five fiscal years, and the combined five fiscal years thereafter, are as follows:
 
 Future Benefit payments:
 Fiscal Year

Pension

Benefits(expressed inthousands)2012

$
5552013


6332014


6872015


7392016


8132017 through 2021


4,906$
8,333
  Other Retirement Plans
 Certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries have non-contributory, unfunded postretirement benefit plans that provide retirement benefits for eligible employees and managing directors. Generally, these postretirement plans provide benefits that accumulate based on years of service and compensation levels. At both October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the aggregate liabilities associated with these postretirement benefit plans was $3.4 million.
 
 10. Severance Costs:
 
 The Company initiated workforce reduction actions during each of the fiscal years ended October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, in order to align the Company’s operating cost structure with changing market conditions. As a result of these actions, the Company incurred severance and benefit costs totaling $1.6 million and $12.1 million during the fiscal years ended October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively. Severance and benefit costs recognized during the fiscal year ended October 2, 2010 were associated entirely with the Test segment. For the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009, $10.9 million and $1.2 million of severance and benefits costs were reported in the Test and Sensors segments, respectively. At October 1, 2011, the remaining severance liability was $2.0 million, of which $0.6 million will be paid over the next twelve months.
 
 The following table summarizes the severance charges included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income for the fiscal years ended October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009:
  2010


2009(expressed in thousands)Cost of sales

$
1,391


$
6,770Selling and marketing


100



3,989General and administrative


133



1,171Research and development


-



155Total severance costs

$
1,624


$
12,085
  11. Commitments and Contingencies:
 
 Litigation
 During the fiscal year ended October 2, 2010, the Company settled a legal claim for patent infringement of $7.5 million. Of the total settlement amount, $6.3 million and $1.2 million was expensed during the fiscal years ended October 2, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively.
 
 The Company is subject to various claims, legal actions, and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the final resolution of legal matters outstanding as of October 1, 2011 will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company. The Company expenses legal costs as incurred.
  F-32
 Table of Contents
 
 Government Investigation
 In January 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota (“USAO”) notified the Company that they were investigating why the Company had not disclosed, on the U.S. Government’s Online Representations and Certifications Application (“ORCA Certification”), that the Company had pled guilty in 2008 to two misdemeanors in regard to making false statements related to certain export matters in 2003. On January 12, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an administrative subpoena requesting, among other items, that the Company preserve, retain and produce to the U.S. Government certain documents related to the Company’s ORCA Certifications. On April 1, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized its Audit Committee to serve as a special committee to initiate an independent review and monitoring of the Company’s suspension from U.S. Government contracting and to oversee an investigation by independent counsel of the events giving rise to the suspension and the USAO and DOC investigation. On April 7, 2011, the DOC issued to the Company an additional administrative subpoena requesting further information relating to the Company’s ORCA Certifications and U.S. Government contracting compliance policies, and in July 2011, the USAO expanded the scope of its inquiry to include the Company’s compliance record and practices in areas including export controls and government contracts.
 
 On March 11, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Air Force (the “Air Force”) issued a notice suspending the Company from all U.S. Government contracting and from directly or indirectly receiving the benefits of federal assistance programs, based on the factual and legal issues underlying the investigation. On September 19, 2011, the Air Force lifted the suspension from U.S. Government contracting upon the Company’s entry into an Administrative Agreement, that provides for, among other things, continuing enhancements to the Company’s business ethics, and compliance, program and associated procedures and policies, expanded employee ethics and compliance training, heightened self-reporting obligations and the retention by the Company of an independent compliance monitor.
 
 The Company has been responding to information requests from the USAO, DOC and Air Force, and the USAO has issued grand jury subpoenas to certain third party individuals. The Company is cooperating with the agencies and has conducted its own review of these matters.
 
 The Company’s known costs related to the suspension and investigation in fiscal 2011 totaled $6.0 million. While the Company continues to respond to the government’s requests as appropriate, the Company is presently unable to determine the likely outcome or range of loss, if any, from the investigation or predict with certainty the timeline for the resolution of the investigation.
 
 Leases
 Total lease expense associated with continuing operations was $5.3 million, $5.3 million, and $5.9 million for fiscal years 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. The Company has operating lease commitments for equipment, land, and facilities that expire on various dates through 2056. Minimum annual rental commitments for the next five fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:
  Year

Payments(expressed inthousands)2011

$
4,3322012


3,1882013


1,7262014


1,2622015


595Thereafter


1,759$
12,862
 
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 Table of Contents
  12. Related Party Transactions:
 
 During the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009, MTS Sensors purchased mechanical components and remote-mechanic workbench services from Mark-Tronik GmbH (“Mark-Tronik”) aggregating approximately $2.0 million, $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively. MTS Sensors is owned by MTS Systems GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The owner and general manager of Mark-Tronik is a related party to a member of management of the Company. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, net outstanding payments due to Mark-Tronik by MTS Sensors were less than $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
 
 During the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009 the Company purchased legal services from Gray Plant Mooty Mooty and Bennett, P.A. (“GPM”) aggregating to approximately $1.2 million, $0.3 million, and $0.2 million, respectively. A shareholder of GPM is a related party to a former employee that was a member of management of the Company during each of the fiscal years ended October 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, and October 3, 2009. At October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, net outstanding payments due to GPM by the Company were less than $0.1 million.
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 Table of Contents
 
 MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
  SCHEDULE II - SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED ALLOWANCES
  FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
  FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2011, OCTOBER 2, 2010,
 AND OCTOBER 3, 2009
 (expressed in thousands)
 Balance

Beginning

of Year


Provisions/

(Recoveries)


Amounts

Written-Off/

Payments


Balance

End of

YearAllowance for Doubtful Accounts:2011

$
1,358


$
729


$
(553
)

$
1,5342010


1,410



159



(211
)


1,3582009


1,008



755



(353
)


1,410






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