Cohu, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   October 23, 2008

Cohu, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 001-04298 95-1934119
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, California   92064
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   858-848-8100

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 23, 2008, Cohu, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release regarding its financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2008. The Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

The information in this Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.





Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The exhibit listed below is being furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Exhibit No. - 99.1

Description - Third Quarter 2008 Earnings Release, dated October 23, 2008, of Cohu, Inc.






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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    Cohu, Inc.
          
October 23, 2008   By:   Jeffrey D. Jones
       
        Name: Jeffrey D. Jones
        Title: VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Third Quarter 2008 Earnings Release, dated October 23, 2008, of Cohu, Inc.
EX-99.1

Cohu Reports Third Quarter 2008 Operating Results

POWAY, Calif., October 23, 2008 — Cohu, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU) today announced that net sales were $48.0 million for the third quarter ended September 27, 2008 compared to $64.5 million for the third quarter ended September 29, 2007 and $51.8 million for the second quarter ended June 28, 2008. Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $37,000, or $0.00 per share compared to $2.2 million or $0.10 per share for the third quarter of 2007 and $0.2 million or $0.01 per share in the second quarter of 2008.

Net sales for the first nine months of 2008 were $158.3 million with net income of $2.2 million or $0.09 per share compared to net sales of $184.3 million with net income of $5.9 million or $0.26 per share for the first nine months of 2007.

Semiconductor test handling equipment accounted for 79.3% of total third quarter 2008 sales, microwave communications equipment contributed 11.9% and closed circuit television cameras and related equipment were 8.8% of sales for the same period.

Consolidated orders for the third quarter of 2008 were $46.0 million compared to $50.1 million for the second quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2008 orders for semiconductor equipment decreased from $39.0 million in the second quarter of 2008 to $31.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. Backlog was $52.0 million at September 27, 2008 compared to $54.0 million at June 28, 2008. Cohu expects fourth quarter 2008 sales to be approximately $37.0 million.

James A. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “An already challenging environment for semiconductor equipment has been further impacted by the global financial crisis. Last week, SEMI reported that preliminary September orders for test and assembly equipment declined 47% compared to September 2007 and that the book to bill ratio fell to 0.70.”

Donahue concluded, “Visibility in the backend semiconductor industry is limited to several quarters at best, and over this time horizon, we expect business conditions to remain difficult. Despite the current economic headwinds, we are optimistic about the long term prospects for our industry and confident in our products, people and strategy. Through this downturn, we plan to continue to invest in new product development and key initiatives to improve gross margin and operating performance that will benefit the Company when industry conditions improve.”

Cohu’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share payable on January 2, 2009 to shareholders of record on November 28, 2008. Cohu has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends since 1977.

Certain matters discussed in this release, including statements concerning Cohu’s new products and expectations of business conditions, orders, revenues and operating performance are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or forecasted. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the concentration of our revenues from a limited number of customers; our ability to convert new products under development into production on a timely basis, support product development and meet customer delivery and acceptance requirements for next generation equipment; failure to obtain customer acceptance resulting in the inability to recognize revenue and accounts receivable collection problems; inventory write-offs; intense competition in the semiconductor test handler industry; our reliance on patents and intellectual property; compliance with U.S. export regulations; the cyclical and unpredictable nature of capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers; difficulties in integrating acquisitions and new technologies and other risks addressed in Cohu’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Cohu assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

Cohu is a supplier of test handling, burn-in and thermal solutions used by the global semiconductor industry, microwave communications and closed circuit television equipment.

Cohu will be conducting a conference call on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. The call will be webcast at www.cohu.com. Replays of the call can be accessed at www.cohu.com.

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    Cohu, Inc.

    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

    (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
                                 
     Three months ended (1)    Nine months ended (1)
 
   September 27, 2008    September 29, 2007    September 27, 2008    September 29, 2007
 
                               
Net sales
  $ 48,016     $ 64,490     $ 158,258     $ 184,265  
Cost and expenses:
                               
Cost of sales
    30,458       43,885       101,453       124,691  
Research and development
    9,140       9,575       29,582       29,298  
Selling, general and administrative
    9,693       9,861       27,652       27,408  
 
                               
 
    49,291       63,321       158,687       181,397  
 
                               
Income (loss) from operations
    (1,275 )     1,169       (429 )     2,868  
Interest and other, net
    1,391       2,106       4,282       6,286  
 
                               
Income from continuing operations before
    116       3,275       3,853       9,154  
income taxes
                               
Income tax provision
    79       1,040       1,690       3,163  
 
                               
Income from continuing operations
    37       2,235       2,163       5,991  
 
                               
Discontinued operations (2):
                               
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (66 )
before income taxes
                               
Income tax benefit
                      (23 )
 
                               
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (43 )
 
                               
Net income
  $ 37     $ 2,235     $ 2,163     $ 5,948  
 
                               
Income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.10     $ 0.09     $ 0.26  
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (0.00 )
 
                               
Net income
  $ 0.00     $ 0.10     $ 0.09     $ 0.26  
 
                               
Diluted:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.10     $ 0.09     $ 0.26  
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (0.00 )
 
                               
Net income
  $ 0.00     $ 0.10     $ 0.09     $ 0.26  
 
                               
Weighted average shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic
    23,233       22,945       23,142       22,830  
Diluted
    23,477       23,433       23,380       23,282  
 
                               

(1)   The three- and nine-month periods ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007 each contain 13 weeks and 39 weeks, respectively.  Total share-based compensation recorded in the three-month period ended September 27, 2008 under SFAS 123R was approximately $1,094,000 and is included in cost of sales ($88,000); research and development ($331,000); and selling, general and administrative expense ($675,000). Total share-based compensation recorded in the nine-month period ended September 27, 2008 was approximately $3,188,000 and is included in cost of sales ($266,000); research and development ($951,000); and selling, general and administrative expense ($1,971,000). Total share-based compensation recorded in the three-month period ended September 29, 2007 was approximately $1,016,000 and is included in cost of sales ($119,000); research and development ($322,000); and selling, general and administrative expense ($575,000). Total share-based compensation recorded in the nine-month period ended September 29, 2007 was approximately $3,138,000 and is included in cost of sales ($347,000); research and development ($937,000); and selling, general and administrative expense ($1,854,000).

(2)   In May, 2006, Cohu sold its metal detection equipment business, Fisher Research Laboratory (FRL). As a result of the disposition, the operating results of FRL have been presented as discontinued operations and all prior period amounts have been reclassified accordingly.

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Cohu, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands) (unaudited)

                 
 
          ,
 
   September 27, 2008    December 29, 2007
 
               
Assets:
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and investments
  $ 171,179   $ 170,118
Accounts receivable
  34,464   45,491
Inventories
  48,337   42,165
Deferred taxes and other
  21,984   25,952
Current assets of discontinued operations
  5   28
 
               
Total current assets
  275,969   283,754
Property, plant & equipment, net
  29,095   29,818
Goodwill
  16,370   16,377
Other assets
  8,284   9,959
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations
  471   471
 
               
Total assets
  $ 330,189   $ 340,379
 
               
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Current liabilities:
               
Deferred profit
  $ 4,784   $ 4,868
Other current liabilities
  32,957   44,383
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
  144   158
 
               
Total current liabilities
  37,885   49,409
Deferred taxes and other noncurrent liabilities
  6,604   7,502
Stockholders’ equity
  285,700   283,468
 
               
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity
  $ 330,189   $ 340,379
 
               

For press releases and other information of interest to investors, please visit Cohu’s website at www.cohu.com
Contact: Jeffrey D. Jones — Investor Relations (858) 848-8106

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