Pexus posts fourth quarter results

NEENAH, Wis., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Plexus Corp. (NASDAQ:PLXS) today announced that revenues for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 ended September 30, 2006 increased 23% to $396.9 million from $322.2 million in the same quarter last year. Net income in the fourth quarter was a record $42.6 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, which included $0.03 for share-based compensation expense. Net income in the comparable prior year period was $10.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share. The most recent quarter’s net income included two non-operational adjustments: a $17.7 million favorable adjustment to the tax provision for a reduction in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and a $0.5 million net loss on the adoption of “FIN 47” concerning conditional asset retirement obligations. On a non-GAAP basis that excludes these adjustments, the Company earned record quarterly net income of $25.5 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter.


Revenues for the full year were a record $1.461 billion, a 19% increase over the prior year. Net income for fiscal 2006 was a record $100.0 million, equivalent to $2.15 per diluted share, which included $0.06 for share-based compensation expense. Fiscal 2005’s net loss was $(12.4) million, or $(0.29) per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes the adjustments noted above, the Company earned net income of $82.9 million, or $1.78 per diluted share in fiscal 2006. The non-GAAP net income for fiscal 2005, which excludes restructuring and impairment costs, was $26.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share.


Dean Foate, President and CEO, commented, “We are pleased with the progress made this year to return the Company to solid profitability and sustainable growth. We delivered on our commitment to achieve profitable growth in 2006. Revenues increased 19%, and we expanded our operating margins to 5.5%. Our 28.8% after-tax return on capital employed for the year was among the highest in the EMS industry. The turnaround, which we started four years ago, is complete, and we can now turn all of our attention on enhancing long- term value for our shareholders. Consistent with our recent experience, we are targeting annual revenue growth in the range of 15% to 18% in fiscal 2007.”


Addressing the first quarter of fiscal 2007, Mr. Foate added, “We currently anticipate revenues for the first quarter to be in the range of $385 million to $395 million and expect diluted earnings per share (before any restructuring costs) in the range of $0.31 to $0.35. Earnings guidance includes approximately $0.03 per diluted share for share-based compensation. The slightly lower sequential revenues anticipated in the first quarter are attributable to lower expectations for a large defense program offset, in part, by the ramp of recent new program wins. In addition, after-tax earnings comparisons this year will be more difficult due to an increase in the expected effective tax rate to about 25% from the current rate of less than 1%.”


Gordon Bitter, CFO commented, “The balance sheet was strengthened in 2006 by strong cash flows from operations. Cash and Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments at year-end 2006 were $194.9 million, an increase of $86.2 million over the prior year-end balance. We currently expect capital expenditures to increase substantially in fiscal 2007 to approximately $70 million to support anticipated growth in Asia and reinvestment requirements in North America.”


Plexus provides non-GAAP supplemental information. These non-GAAP income statements exclude transactions that are not expected to have an effect on future operations. Such transactions include restructuring and asset impairment costs, as well as the establishment or reduction of the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. These non-GAAP financial data are provided to facilitate meaningful period-to-period comparisons of underlying operational performance by eliminating infrequent or unusual charges. Similar non-GAAP financial measures are used for internal management assessments because such measures provide additional insight into ongoing financial performance. Please refer to the attached accompanying reconciliations of the GAAP net income and EPS to the non-GAAP supplemental data.


SECTOR BREAKOUT


Plexus reports revenues based on the industry sector breakout set forth in the table below, which reflects the Company’s sales and marketing focus.

           Industry                  Q4 – Fiscal 2006      Q3 – Fiscal 2006
Wireline/Networking 38% 38%
Wireless Infrastructure 8% 6%
Medical 25% 25%
Industrial/Commercial 18% 17%
Defense/Security/Aerospace 11% 14%

Fiscal Q4 Highlights

— Top 10 customers comprised 59% of sales during the quarter, down 4
percentage points from the previous quarter.
— Juniper Networks Inc., with 17% of sales, and General Electric Corp.,
with 12% of sales, were the only customers representing 10% or more of
revenues for the fourth quarter.
— Cash flow provided by operations was approximately $33.5 million for
the quarter.
— Capital expenditures for the quarter were $8.6 million.
— Cash Conversion Cycle:

Cash Conversion Cycle Q4 – Fiscal 2006 Q3 – Fiscal 2006
Days in Accounts Receivable 48 Days 50 Days
Days in Inventory 58 Days 60 Days
Days in Accounts Payable (56) Days (60) Days
Annualized Cash Cycle 50 Days 50 Days

Conference Call/Webcast and Replay Information

What: Plexus Corp.’s Fiscal Q4 Earnings Conference Call

When: Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time

Where: 888-823-7459 or 973-935-8751 with conference ID: 7947092
http://www.videonewswire.com/PLXS/110206/
(requires Windows Media Player)

Replay: The call will be archived until November 9, 2006 at noon Eastern
Time
http://www.videonewswire.com/PLXS/110206/
Or via telephone replay at 877-519-4471 or 973-341-3080
PIN: 7947092

About Plexus Corp. – The Product Realization Company


Plexus ( http://www.plexus.com/ ) is an award-winning participant in the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry, providing product design, test, manufacturing and fulfillment and aftermarket solutions to branded product companies in the Wireline/Networking, Wireless Infrastructure, Medical, Industrial/Commercial and Defense/Security/Aerospace industries.


The Company’s unique Focused Factory manufacturing model and global supply chain solutions are strategically enhanced by value-added product design and engineering services. Plexus specializes in customer programs that require flexibility, scalability, technology and quality.


Plexus provides award-winning customer service to more than 150 branded product companies in North America, Europe and Asia.


Safe Harbor and Fair Disclosure Statement


The statements contained in this release which are guidance or which are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target” and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: the economic performance of the electronics, technology and defense industries; the risk of customer delays, changes or cancellations in both ongoing and new programs; the Company’s ability to secure new customers and maintain its current customer base; material cost fluctuations and the adequate availability of components and related parts for production; the effect of changes in average selling prices; the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, including our planned expansions in Asia; the adequacy of restructuring and similar charges as compared to actual expenses; possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs; the effect of general economic conditions and world events (such as terrorism and war in the Middle East); the impact of increased competition; and other risks detailed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

                        (Financial tables follow)

PLEXUS CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
September 30, October 1, September 30, October 1,
2006 2005 2006 2005

Net sales $396,942 $322,207 $1,460,557 $1,228,882
Cost of sales 352,061 291,448 1,301,857 1,123,146

Gross profit 44,881 30,759 158,700 105,736

Operating expenses:
Selling and
administrative
expenses 20,354 19,704 78,438 76,319
Goodwill impairment – – – 26,915
Restructuring and
asset impairment
costs – – – 12,247
20,354 19,704 78,438 115,481

Operating income
(loss) 24,527 11,055 80,262 (9,745)

Other income (expense):
Interest expense (855) (831) (3,507) (3,471)
Interest income 1,937 985 6,163 2,688
Miscellaneous income
(expense) (223) (169) 434 (470)

Income (loss) before
income taxes and
cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle – net of
income tax
25,386 11,040 83,352 (10,998)

Income tax expense
(benefit) (17,758) 523 (17,178) 1,419

Income (loss) before
cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle 43,144 10,517 100,530 (12,417)

Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle,
– net of income tax 505 – 505 –

Net income (loss) $42,639 $10,517 $100,025 $(12,417)

Earnings per share:
Basic:
Income (loss) before
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting principle $0.93 $0.24 $2.23 $(0.29)
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle,
– net of income tax 0.01 – 0.01 –
Net income (loss) $0.92 $0.24 $2.22 $(0.29)
Diluted:
Income (loss) before
cumulative effect of
change accounting
principle $0.92 $0.24 $2.16 $(0.29)
Cumulative effect of
change in accounting
principle,
– net of income tax 0.01 – 0.01 –
Net income (loss) $0.91 $0.24 $2.15 $(0.29)

Weighted average
shares outstanding:
Basic 46,208 43,622 45,146 43,373
Diluted 46,860 44,393 46,490 43,373

PLEXUS CORP.
NON-GAAP SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
September 30, October 1, September 30, October 1,
2006 2005 2006 2005
(unaudited)
Net income (loss) –
GAAP $42,639 $10,517 $100,025 $(12,417)

Add cumulative
effect of change in
accounting principle
– net of income tax 505 – 505 –

Add income tax expense
(benefit) (17,758) 523 (17,178) 1,419

Income (loss) before
income taxes and
cumulative effect
of change in
accounting principle
– net of income tax –
GAAP 25,386 11,040 83,352 (10,998)

Add: Restructuring
and impairment costs* – – – 39,162

Income before cumulative
effect of change in
accounting principle
(net of income tax)
and income taxes and
excluding restructuring
and impairment costs
– Non-GAAP 25,386 11,040 83,352 28,164

Income tax expense
(benefit) – Non-GAAP** (83) 477 496 1,419

Net income – Non-GAAP $25,469 $10,563 $82,856 $26,745

Earnings per share
– Non-GAAP:

Basic $0.55 $0.24 $1.84 $0.62
Diluted $0.54 $0.24 $1.78 $0.61

Weighted average
shares outstanding:
Basic 46,208 43,622 45,146 43,373
Diluted 46,860 44,393 46,490 43,913

* Summary of restructuring and impairment costs

Restructuring and
impairment costs:
Goodwill impairment $- $- $- $26,915
Lease exit costs and
other – – – 5,754
Asset impairments – – – 4,303
Severance costs – – – 2,190
Total restructuring
and impairment costs $- $- $- $39,162

** Impact related to the reversal of the valuation allowance

Reversal of the
valuation allowance
to income taxes $(17,674) $- $(17,674) $-

PLEXUS CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)

September 30, October 1,
2006 2005
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $164,912 $98,727
Short-term investments 30,000 10,000
Accounts receivable 209,737 167,345
Inventories 224,342 180,098
Deferred income taxes 10,232 127
Prepaid expenses and other 6,226 5,693

Total current assets 645,449 461,990

Property, plant and equipment, net 134,437 123,140
Goodwill, net 7,400 6,995
Deferred income taxes 4,542 1,572
Other 9,634 8,343

Total assets $801,462 $602,040

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt
and capital lease obligations $997 $770
Accounts payable 215,332 159,068
Customer deposits 7,091 7,707
Accrued liabilities:
Salaries and wages 33,153 24,052
Other 29,808 31,001

Total current liabilities 286,381 222,598

Long-term debt and capital lease
obligations 25,653 22,310
Other liabilities 7,861 13,499
Deferred income taxes – 3,618

Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000
shares authorized, 46,217 and 43,752
shares issued and outstanding, respectively 462 438
Additional paid-in-capital 312,785 273,419
Retained earnings 158,868 58,843
Accumulated other comprehensive income 9,452 7,315

Total shareholders’ equity 481,567 340,015

Total liabilities and
shareholders’ equity $801,462 $602,040