10-K 1 littelfuse_10k-010111.htm ANNUAL REPORT littelfuse_10k-010111.htm


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 
[X]
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
   
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Mark one)
 
for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011
     
   
Or
     
 
[   ]
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
   
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
   
for the transition period from       to       .

Commission file number 0-20388
 
LITTELFUSE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
36-3795742
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 
   
8755 West Higgins Road, Suite 500,
 
Chicago, Illinois
60631
(Address of principal executive offices)
(ZIP Code)

773/628-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

 
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class On Which Registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [X] No [  ]

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 [  ] 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 [  ]

 
 

 
 
(Cover continued from previous page)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 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 [  ] No [  ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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 “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one): Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [X] Non-accelerated filer [  ] Smaller reporting company [  ]

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

The aggregate market value of 21,846,038 shares of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $684,217,910 based on the last reported sale price of the registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM on July 3, 2010.

As of February 18, 2011, the registrant had outstanding 22,551,386 shares of Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Littelfuse, Inc. Proxy Statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
   
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
4
     
PART I
   
Item 1.
Business.
4
Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
11
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments.
16
Item 2.
Properties.
16
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings.
18
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
18
     
PART II
   
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
19
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
21
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
21
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
35
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
37
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure...
78
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures.
78
Item 9B.
Other Information.
79
     
PART III
   
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. 
80
Item 11.
Executive Compensation.
82
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
82
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
82
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
82
     
PART IV
   
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
83
 
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves.
84
 
Signatures.
85
 
Exhibit Index.
86

 
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not historical facts are intended to constitute “forward-looking statements” entitled to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSRLA”). These statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks relating to product demand and market acceptance, economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, product quality problems or product recalls, capacity and supply difficulties or constraints, coal mining exposures, failure of an indemnification for environmental liability, exchange rate fluctuations, commodity price fluctuations, the effect of the company’s accounting policies, labor disputes, restructuring costs in excess of expectations, pension plan asset returns being less than assumed, integration of acquisitions and other risks that may be detailed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” below and in the company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS.

GENERAL

Littelfuse, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “company” or “Littelfuse” or “we” or “our”) is the world’s leading supplier of circuit protection products for the electronics industry, providing the broadest line of circuit protection solutions to worldwide customers. In the electronics market, the company supplies leading manufacturers such as Alcatel-Lucent, Apple, Cisco, Celestica, Delta, Flextronics, Foxconn, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Jabil, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Quanta, Samsung, Sanmina-SCI, Seagate, Siemens and Sony.

The company is also the leading provider of circuit protection for the automotive industry and the third largest producer of electrical fuses in North America. In the automotive market, the company’s end customers include major automotive manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia such as BMW, Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Hyundai Group, and Volkswagen. The company also supplies wiring harness manufacturers and auto parts suppliers worldwide, including Advance Auto Parts, Continental, Delphi, Lear, Leoni, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Sumitomo, Valeo, and Yazaki. In the electrical market, the company supplies representative customers such as Abbott, Acuity Brands, Dow Chemical, DuPont, GE, General Motors, Heinz, International Paper, John Deere, SMA, First Solar, Samsung, Merck, Poland Springs, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell, United Technologies and 3M. Through the company’s Electrical business, the company supplies industrial ground fault circuit protection in mining and other large industrial operations to customers such as Potash Corporation, Mosaic, Agrium, and Cameco. See “Business Environment: Circuit Protection Market.”

The company reports its operations by three business unit segments: Electronics, Automotive, and Electrical. For segment and geographical information and consolidated net sales and operating earnings see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations” and Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statments included in this report.

 
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Net sales by business unit segment for the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):

   
Fiscal Year
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Electronics
  $ 389,940     $ 262,984     $ 342,489  
Automotive
    130,299       98,530       126,867  
Electrical
    87,782       68,633       61,513  
Total
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869  

The company operates in three geographic territories: the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The company manufactures products and sells to customers in all three territories. There has been and continues to be a shift in the company’s revenues, and consequently manufacturing, to the Asia-Pacific region.

Net sales in the company’s three geographic territories, based upon the shipped to destination, are as follows (in thousands):

   
Fiscal Year
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Americas
  $ 227,747     $ 166,137     $ 201,771  
Europe
    115,113       83,449       118,559  
Asia-Pacific
    265,161       180,561       210,539  
Total
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869  

The company’s products are sold worldwide through a direct sales force and manufacturers’ representatives. For the year ended January 1, 2011, approximately 69.1% of the company’s net sales were to customers outside the United States (exports and foreign operations), including 18.9% in Hong Kong.

The company manufactures many of its products on fully integrated manufacturing and assembly equipment. The company maintains product quality through a Global Quality Management System with most manufacturing sites certified under ISO 9001:2000. In addition, several of the Littelfuse manufacturing sites are also certified under TS 16949 and ISO 14001.

References herein to “2010” or “fiscal 2010” refer to the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011. References herein to “2009” or “fiscal 2009” refer to the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010. References herein to “2008” or “fiscal 2008” refer to the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008. The company operates on a “4-4-5” fiscal calendar that normally keeps the number of weeks constant during the quarter. As a result of using this convention, fiscal year 2009 contained 53 weeks whereas each of fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2008 contained 52 weeks.

The company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge through the “Investors” section of the company’s Internet web site (http://www.littelfuse.com), as soon as practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible via a link to the web site maintained by the SEC. Except as otherwise provided herein, such information is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
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BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: CIRCUIT PROTECTION MARKET

Electronic Products
Electronic circuit protection products are used to protect circuits in a multitude of electronic systems. The company’s product offering includes a complete line of overcurrent and overvoltage solutions, including (i) fuses and protectors, (ii) positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) resettable fuses, (iii) varistors, (iv) polymer electrostatic discharge (“ESD”) suppressors, (v) discrete transient voltage suppression (“TVS”) diodes, TVS diode arrays and protection thyristors, (vi) gas discharge tubes, (vii) power switching components and (viii) fuseholders, blocks and related accessories.

Electronic fuses and protectors are devices that contain an element that melts in an overcurrent condition. Electronic miniature and subminiature fuses are designed to provide circuit protection in the limited space requirements of electronic equipment. The company’s fuses are used in a wide variety of electronic products, including wireless telephones, consumer electronics, computers, modems and telecommunications equipment. The company markets these products under the trademarked brand names PICO® II and NANO2® SMF.

Resettable fuses are PTC polymer devices that limit the current when an overcurrent condition exists and then reset themselves once the overcurrent condition has cleared. The company’s product line offers both radial leaded and surface mount products. Varistors are ceramic-based, high-energy absorption devices that provide transient overvoltage and surge suppression for automotive, telecommunication, consumer electronics and industrial applications. The company’s product line offers both radial leaded and multilayer surface mount products.

Polymer ESD suppressors are polymer-based devices that protect an electronic system from failure due to rapid transfer of electrostatic charge to the circuit. The company’s PulseGuard® line of ESD suppressors is used in PC and PC peripherals, digital consumer electronics and wireless applications.

Discrete diodes, diode arrays and protection thyristors are fast switching silicon semiconductor structures. Discrete diodes protect a wide variety of applications from overvoltage transients such as ESD, inductive load switching or lightning, while diode arrays are used primarily as ESD suppressors. Protection thyristors are commonly used to protect telecommunications circuits from overvoltage transients such as those resulting from lightning. Applications include telephones, modems, data transmission lines and alarm systems. The company markets these products under the following trademarked brand names: TECCOR®, SIDACtor® and Battrax®.

Gas discharge tubes are very low capacitance devices designed to suppress any transient voltage event that is greater than the breakover voltage of the device. These devices are primarily used in telecommunication interface and conversion equipment applications as protection from overvoltage transients such as lightning.

Power switching components are used to regulate energy to various type loads most commonly found in industrial and home equipment. These components are easily activated from simple control circuits or interfaced to computers for more complex load control. Typical applications include heating, cooling, battery chargers and lighting.

In addition to the above products, the company is also a supplier of fuse holders (including OMNI-BLOK®), fuse blocks and fuse clips primarily to customers that purchase circuit protection devices from the company.
 
 
6

 
 
Automotive Products
Fuses are extensively used in automobiles, trucks, buses and off-road equipment to protect electrical circuits and the wires that supply electrical power to operate lights, heating, air conditioning, radios, windows and other controls. Currently, a typical automobile contains 30 to 100 fuses, depending upon the options installed. The fuse content per vehicle is expected to continue to grow as more electronic features are included in automobiles. The company also supplies fuses for the protection of electric and hybrid vehicles.

The company is a primary supplier of automotive fuses to United States, Asian and European automotive original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”), automotive component parts manufacturers and automotive parts distributors. The company also sells its fuses in the replacement parts market, with its products being sold through merchandisers, discount stores and service stations, as well as under private label by national firms. The company invented and owns most of the U.S. patents related to the blade-type fuse, which is the standard and most commonly used fuse in the automotive industry. The company’s automotive fuse products are marketed under trademarked brand names, including ATO®, MINI®, MAXI™, MIDI®, MEGA™, MasterFuse®, JCASE® and CablePro™.

A majority of the company’s automotive fuse sales are made to main-fuse box and wire harness manufacturers that incorporate the fuses into their products. The remaining automotive fuse sales are made directly to automotive manufacturers, retailers who sell automotive parts and accessories, and distributors who in turn sell most of their products to wholesalers, service stations and non-automotive OEMs.

Electrical Products
The company entered the electrical market in 1983 and manufactures and sells a broad range of low-voltage and medium-voltage circuit protection products as well as protection relays to electrical distributors and their customers in the construction, OEM and industrial maintenance, repair and operating supplies (“MRO”) markets.

Power fuses are used to protect circuits in various types of industrial equipment and in industrial and commercial buildings. They are rated and listed under one of many Underwriters Laboratories’ fuse classifications. Major applications for power fuses include protection from over-load and short-circuit currents in motor branch circuits, heating and cooling systems, control systems, lighting circuits and electrical distribution networks.

The company’s POWR-GARD® product line features the Indicator™ series power fuse used in both the OEM and MRO markets. The Indicator™ technology provides visual blown-fuse indication at a glance, reducing maintenance and downtime on production equipment. The Indicator™ product offering is widely used in motor protection and industrial control panel applications.

Protection relays are used to protect personnel and equipment in industrial environments and commercial buildings from excessive currents, over voltages and electrical shock hazards called ground-faults. Major applications for protection relays include protection of motor, transformer and power-line distribution circuits. Ground-fault relays are used to protect personnel and equipment in wet environments such as underground mining or water treatment applications where there is a greater risk for electricity to come in contact with water and create a shock hazard.

 
7

 

PRODUCT DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

The company employs scientific, engineering and other personnel to continually improve its existing product lines and to develop new products at its research and engineering facilities in Champaign and Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts, Canada, China, Germany, the Philippines and Mexico. The Product & Development Technology departments maintain a staff of engineers, chemists, material scientists and technicians whose primary responsibility is to design and develop new products.

Proposals for the development of new products are initiated primarily by sales and marketing personnel with input from customers. The entire product development process usually ranges from a few months to 18 months based on the complexity of development, with continuous efforts to reduce the development cycle. During fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008, the company expended $17.6 million, $18.1 million and $24.1 million, respectively, on research, product design and development (“R&D”). During 2010, the company completed moving R&D operations to lower cost locations closer to its customers. R&D operations are now in Canada, China, Germany, the Philippines and Mexico as well as the United States.

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The company generally relies on patent and trademark laws and license and nondisclosure agreements to protect intellectual property and proprietary products. In cases where it is deemed necessary by management, key employees are required to sign an agreement that they will maintain the confidentiality of the company’s proprietary information and trade secrets.

As of January 1, 2011, the company owned 223 patents in North America, 105 patents in the European Union and 135 patents in other foreign countries. The company also has registered trademark protection for certain of its brand names and logos. The 223 North American patents are in the following product categories: 138 electronics, 57 automotive and 28 electrical. Patents and licenses are amortized over a period of 4-12 years, with a weighted average life of 11.9 years. Distribution networks are amortized over a period of 4-20 years, with a weighted average life of 14.7 years. Trademarks and tradenames are amortized over a period of 5-20 years, with a weighted average life of 14.9 years. The company recorded amortization expense of $5.0 million, $5.0 million and $3.9 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to intangible assets.

New products are continually being developed to replace older products. The company regularly applies for patent protection on such new products. Although, in the aggregate, the company’s patents are important in the operation of its businesses, the company believes that the loss by expiration or otherwise of any one patent or group of patents would not materially affect its business.

License royalties amounted to $0.2 million, $0.1 million and $0.2 million for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in other expense (income), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

MANUFACTURING

The company performs the majority of its own fabrication, stamps some of the metal components used in its fuses, holders and switches from raw metal stock and makes its own contacts and springs. In addition, the company fabricates silicon wafers for certain applications and performs its own plating (silver, nickel, zinc, tin and oxides). All thermoplastic molded component requirements used for such products as the ATO®, MINI® and MAXI™ fuse product lines are met through the company’s in-house molding capabilities. After components are stamped, molded, plated and readied for assembly, final assembly is accomplished on fully automatic and semi-automatic assembly machines. Quality assurance and operations personnel, using techniques such as statistical process control, perform tests, checks and measurements during the production process to maintain the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction.

 
8

 
 
The principal raw materials for the company’s products include copper and copper alloys, heat-resistant plastics, zinc, melamine, glass, silver, raw silicon, solder and various gases. The company uses a sole source for several heat-resistant plastics and for zinc, but believes that suitable alternative heat-resistant plastics and zinc are available from other sources at comparable prices. All of the other raw materials are purchased from a number of readily available outside sources.

A computer-aided design and manufacturing system (CAD/CAM) expedites product development and machine design and the company’s laboratories test new products, prototype concepts and production run samples. The company participates in “just-in-time” delivery programs with many of its major suppliers and actively promotes the building of strong cooperative relationships with its suppliers by utilizing early supplier involvement techniques and engaging them in pre-engineering product and process development.

MARKETING

The company’s domestic sales and marketing staff of over 35 people maintains relationships with major OEMs and distributors. The company’s sales, marketing and engineering personnel interact directly with OEM engineers to ensure appropriate circuit protection and reliability within the parameters of the OEM’s circuit design. Internationally, the company maintains a sales and marketing staff of over 100 people with sales offices in the U.K., Germany, Spain, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Brazil, Hong Kong, Korea, China and India. The company also markets its products indirectly through a worldwide organization of over 60 manufacturers’ representatives and distributes through an extensive network of electronics, automotive and electrical distributors.

Electronics
The company uses manufacturers’ representatives to sell its electronics products domestically and to call on major domestic and international OEMs and distributors. The company sells approximately 15%  of its domestic products directly to OEMs, with the remainder sold through distributors nationwide.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the company maintains a direct sales staff and utilizes distributors in Japan, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. In Europe, the company maintains a direct sales force and utilizes manufacturers’ representatives and distributors to support a wide array of customers.

Automotive
The company maintains a direct sales force to service all the major automotive OEMs and system suppliers domestically. Approximately 23 manufacturers’ representatives sell the company’s products to aftermarket fuse retailers such as O’Reilly Auto Parts and Pep Boys. In Europe, the company uses both a direct sales force and manufacturers’ representatives to distribute its products to OEMs, major system suppliers and aftermarket distributors. In the Asia-Pacific region, the company uses both a direct sales force and distributors to supply to major OEMs and system suppliers.

Electrical
The company markets and sells its power fuses and protection relays through approximately 38 manufacturers’ representatives across North America. These representatives sell power fuse products through an electrical and industrial distribution network comprised of approximately 2,000 distributor buying locations. These distributors have customers that include electrical contractors, municipalities, utilities and factories (including both MRO and OEM).

 
9

 
 
The company’s field sales force (including regional sales managers and application engineers) and manufacturers’ representatives call on both distributors and end-users (consulting engineers, municipalities, utilities and OEMs) in an effort to educate these customers on the capabilities and characteristics of the company’s products.

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The company has three operating business unit segments: Electronics, Automotive and Electrical. For information with respect to the company’s operations in its three reportable business unit segments for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011, see Business Unit Segment Information included as part of “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

CUSTOMERS

The company sells to approximately 4,000 direct customers worldwide.  Sales to Arrow Pemco were 10.4% in 2010 but less than 10% for 2009 and 2008.  No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales during the last three years.  During fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, net sales to customers outside the United States (exports and foreign operations) accounted for approximately 69.1%, 67.5% and 62.0%, respectively, of the company’s total net sales.

COMPETITION

The company’s products compete with similar products of other manufacturers, some of which have substantially greater financial resources than the company. In the electronics market, the company’s competitors include AVX, Bel Fuse, Bourns, Cooper Industries, EPCOS, On Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics and Tyco Electronics. In the automotive market, the company’s competitors include Cooper Industries, Pacific Engineering (a private company in Japan) and MTA (a private company in Italy). In the electrical market, the company’s major competitors include Cooper Industries and Ferraz Shawmut. The company believes that it competes on the basis of innovative products, the breadth of its product line, the quality and design of its products and the responsiveness of its customer service, in addition to price.

BACKLOG

The backlog of unfilled orders at January 1, 2011, was approximately $107.5 million, compared to $59.0 million at January 2, 2010. Substantially all of the orders currently in backlog are scheduled for delivery in 2011.

EMPLOYEES

As of January 1, 2011, the company employed approximately 6,000 employees worldwide. Approximately 750 employees in Mexico and 28 employees in Germany are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Mexico collective bargaining agreement, covering employees in Piedras Negras, expires January 31, 2012.  During 2010, a collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 160 employees at the company’s Matamoros, Mexico facility was terminated as a result of plant closure.

 
10

 
 
In Germany the company has two separate collective bargaining agreements, one for 24 employees in Dünsen, expiring June 30, 2011, and the second for 4 employees in Essen, expiring March 31, 2012.

Previously in 2009 a collective bargaining agreement covered approximately 30 employees at the company’s Des Plaines, Illinois facility.  This agreement expired on March 31, 2009 and currently no U.S.-based employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

Approximately 13% of the company's total workforce are employed under collective bargaining agreements at January 1, 2011.  Those employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within one year of January 1, 2011 approximate less than 1% of the company's total workforce.

Overall, the company has historically maintained satisfactory employee relations, and many of its employees have long service with the company.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

The company is subject to numerous foreign, federal, state and local regulations relating to air and water quality, the disposal of hazardous waste materials, safety and health. Compliance with applicable environmental regulations has not significantly changed the company’s competitive position, capital spending or earnings in the past and the company does not presently anticipate that compliance with such regulations will change its competitive position, capital spending or earnings for the foreseeable future.

The company employs an environmental engineer to monitor regulatory matters and believes that it is currently in compliance in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and regulations, except with respect to its facilities located in Ireland. The Ireland facility was acquired in October 1999 in connection with the acquisition from Harris Corporation of its suppression products division. Certain containment actions have been ongoing and full disclosure with appropriate agencies in Ireland has been initiated. The company received an indemnity from Harris Corporation with respect to these matters.

Littelfuse GmbH, which was acquired by the company in May 2004, is responsible for maintaining closed coal mines from legacy acquisitions. The company is compliant with German regulations pertaining to the maintenance of the mines and has an accrual related to certain of these coal mine shafts based on an engineering study estimating the cost of remediating the dangers (such as a shaft collapse) of certain of these closed coal mine shafts in Germany. The reserve is reviewed annually and calculated based upon the cost of remediating the shafts that the study deems most risky. Further information regarding the coal mine liability reserve is provided in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors we have identified below. These factors are not necessarily listed in order of importance. We may amend or supplement the risk factors from time to time by other reports that we file with the SEC in the future.

 
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Our industry is subject to intense competitive pressures.
 
We operate in markets that are highly competitive. We compete on the basis of price, quality, service and/or brand name across the industries and markets we serve. Competitive pressures could affect the prices we are able to charge our customers or the demand for our products.
 
We may not always be able to compete on price, particularly when compared to manufacturers with lower cost structures. Some of our competitors have substantially greater sales, financial and manufacturing resources and may have greater access to capital than Littelfuse. As other companies enter our markets or develop new products, competition may intensify further. Our failure to compete effectively could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to manufacture and deliver products in a manner that is responsive to our customers’ needs.
 
The end markets for our products are characterized by technological change, frequent new product introductions and enhancements, changes in customer requirements and emerging industry standards. The introduction of products embodying new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards could render our existing products obsolete and unmarketable before we can recover any or all of our research, development and commercialization expenses on capital investments. Furthermore, the life cycles of our products may change and are difficult to estimate.

Our future success will depend upon our ability to manufacture and deliver products in a manner that is responsive to our customers’ needs. We will need to develop and introduce new products and product enhancements on a timely basis that keep pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards and address increasingly sophisticated requirements of our customers. We invest heavily in research and development without knowing that we will recover these costs. Our competitors may develop products or technologies that will render our products non-competitive or obsolete. If we cannot develop and market new products or product enhancements in a timely and cost-effective manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
 
Our business may be interrupted by labor disputes or other interruptions of supplies.
 
A work stoppage could occur at certain of our facilities, most likely as a result of disputes under collective bargaining agreements or in connection with negotiations of new collective bargaining agreements. In addition, we may experience a shortage of supplies for various reasons, such as financial distress, work stoppages, natural disasters or production difficulties that may affect one of our suppliers. A significant work stoppage, or an interruption or shortage of supplies for any reason, if protracted, could substantially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The transfer of our manufacturing operations and changes in our distribution model could disrupt operations for a limited time.

Our revenues may vary significantly from period to period.
 
Our revenues may vary significantly from one accounting period to another due to a variety of factors including:
 
 
·
changes in our customers’ buying decisions;
 
·
changes in demand for our products;
 
·
our product mix;
 
 
12

 
 
 
·
our effectiveness in managing manufacturing processes;
 
·
costs and timing of our component purchases;
 
·
the effectiveness of our inventory control;
 
·
the degree to which we are able to utilize our available manufacturing capacity;
 
·
our ability to meet delivery schedules;
 
·
general economic and industry conditions;
 
·
local conditions and events that may affect our production volumes, such as labor conditions and political instability; and
 
·
seasonality of certain product lines.

The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major customer could adversely affect us.
 
The bankruptcy or insolvency of a major customer could result in lower sales revenue and cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the bankruptcy or insolvency of a major U.S. auto manufacturer or significant supplier likely could lead to substantial disruptions in the automotive supply base, resulting in lower demand for our products, which likely would cause a decrease in sales revenue and have a substantial adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our ability to manage currency or commodity price fluctuations or shortages is limited.
 
As a resource-intensive manufacturing operation, we are exposed to a variety of market and asset risks, including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. We have multiple sources of supply for the majority of our commodity requirements. However, significant shortages that disrupt the supply of raw materials or result in price increases could affect prices we charge our customers, our product costs, and the competitive position of our products and services. We monitor and manage these exposures as an integral part of our overall risk management program, which recognizes the unpredictability of markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects on our results. Nevertheless, changes in currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates cannot always be predicted. In addition, because of intense price competition and our high level of fixed costs, we may not be able to address such changes even if they are foreseeable. Substantial changes in these rates and prices could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. For additional discussion of interest rate, currency or commodity price risk, see "Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks.”
 
Operations and supply sources located outside the United States, particularly in emerging markets, are subject to greater risks.
 
Our operating activities outside the United States contribute significantly to our revenues and earnings. Serving a global customer base and remaining competitive in the global marketplace requires the company to place our production in countries outside the United States, including emerging markets, to capitalize on market opportunities and maintain a cost-efficient structure. In addition, we source a significant amount of raw materials and other components from third-party suppliers in low-cost countries. Our international operating activities are subject to a number of risks generally associated with international operations, including risks relating to the following:
 
 
·
general economic conditions;
 
·
currency fluctuations and exchange restrictions;
 
·
import and export duties and restrictions;

 
13

 
 
 
·
the imposition of tariffs and other import or export barriers;
 
·
compliance with regulations governing import and export activities;
 
·
current and changing regulatory requirements;
 
·
political and economic instability;
 
·
potentially adverse income tax consequences;
 
·
transportation delays and interruptions;
 
·
labor unrest;
 
·
natural disasters;
 
·
terrorist activities;
 
·
public health concerns;
 
·
difficulties in staffing and managing multi-national operations; and
 
·
limitations on our ability to enforce legal rights and remedies.

Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are in the process of relocating our manufacturing operations and changing our distribution and customer service model.
 
We are a company that, from time to time, seeks to optimize its manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies through restructurings, consolidations, plant closings or asset sales. We may make further specific determinations to consolidate, close or sell additional facilities. Possible adverse consequences related to such actions may include various charges for such items as idle capacity, disposition costs, severance costs, impairments of goodwill and possibly an immediate loss of revenues, in addition to normal or attendant risks and uncertainties. We may be unsuccessful in any of our current or future efforts to restructure or consolidate our business. Our plans to minimize or eliminate any loss of revenues during restructuring or consolidation may not be achieved. These activities may have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
We engage in acquisitions and may encounter difficulties in integrating these businesses.
 
We are a company that, from time to time, seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions. We have in the past acquired a number of businesses or companies and additional product lines and assets. We intend to continue to expand and diversify our operations with additional acquisitions. The success of these transactions depends on our ability to integrate the assets and personnel acquired in these acquisitions. We may encounter difficulties in integrating acquisitions with our operations and may not realize the degree or timing of the benefits that we anticipated from an acquisition.
 
Environmental liabilities could adversely impact our financial position.
 
Federal, state and local laws and regulations impose various restrictions and controls on the discharge of materials, chemicals and gases used in our manufacturing processes or in our finished goods. These environmental regulations have required us to expend a portion of our resources and capital on relevant compliance programs. Under these laws and regulations, we could be held financially responsible for remedial measures if our current or former properties are contaminated or if we send waste to a landfill or recycling facility that becomes contaminated, even if we did not cause the contamination. We may be subject to additional common law claims if we release substances that damage or harm third parties. In addition, future changes in environmental laws or regulations may require additional investments in capital equipment or the implementation of additional compliance programs. Any failure to comply with new or existing environmental laws or regulations could subject us to significant liabilities and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
 
14

 
 
In the conduct of our manufacturing operations, we have handled and do handle materials that are considered hazardous, toxic or volatile under federal, state and local laws. The risk of accidental release of such materials cannot be completely eliminated. In addition, we operate or own facilities located on or near real property that was formerly owned and operated by others. Certain of these properties were used in ways that involved hazardous materials. Contaminants may migrate from, within or through these properties. These releases or migrations may give rise to claims. Where third parties are responsible for contamination, the third parties may not have funds, or not make funds available when needed, to pay remediation costs imposed upon us under environmental laws and regulations.
 
The company is responsible for the maintenance of discontinued coal mining operations in Germany.  To date there have been no claims by any regulatory agency that would require the company to incur regulatory environmental remediation.  The risk of environmental remediation exists and the company is in the process of remediating the mines considered to be the most at risk.

We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from customers in the automotive, consumer electronics and communications industries, and we are susceptible to trends and factors affecting those industries as well as the success of our customers’ products.
 
Net sales to the automotive, consumer electronics and communications industries represent a substantial portion of our revenues. Factors negatively affecting these industries and the demand for products also negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any adverse occurrence, including industry slowdown, recession, political instability, costly or constraining regulations, armed hostilities, terrorism, excessive inflation, prolonged disruptions in one or more of our customers’ production schedules or labor disturbances, that results in significant decline in the volume of sales in these industries, or in an overall downturn in the business and operations of our customers in these industries, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. For example, the automotive industry as well as the consumer electronics market is highly cyclical in nature and sensitive to changes in general economic conditions, consumer preferences and interest rates. In addition, the global automotive and electronic industries have overall manufacturing capacity far exceeding demand. To the extent that demand for certain of our customers’ products declines, the demand for our products may decline. Reduced demand relating to general economic conditions, consumer preferences, interest rates or industry over-capacity may have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
The inability to maintain access to capital markets may adversely affect our business and financial results.
 
Our ability to invest in our businesses, make strategic acquisitions and refinance maturing debt obligations may require access to the capital markets and sufficient bank credit lines to support short-term borrowings. If we are unable to access the capital markets or bank credit facilities, we could experience a material adverse affect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Fixed costs may reduce operating results if our sales fall below expectations.
 
Our expense levels are based, in part, on our expectations for future sales. Many of our expenses, particularly those relating to capital equipment and manufacturing overhead, are relatively fixed. We might be unable to reduce spending quickly enough to compensate for reductions in sales. Accordingly, shortfalls in sales could materially and adversely affect our operating results.
 
 
15

 
 
The volatility of our stock price could affect the value of an investment in our stock and our future financial position.

The market price of our stock has fluctuated widely. Between January 2, 2010 and January 1, 2011, the closing sale price of our common stock ranged between a low of $28.96 and a high of $48.75, experiencing greater volatility over that time than the broader markets. The volatility of our stock price may be related to any number of factors, such as general economic conditions, industry conditions, analysts’ expectations concerning our results of operations, or the volatility of our revenues as discussed above under “Our Revenues May Vary Significantly from Period to Period.” The historic market price of our common stock may not be indicative of future market prices. We may not be able to sustain or increase the value of our common stock. Declines in the market price of our stock could adversely affect our ability to retain personnel with stock incentives, to acquire businesses or assets in exchange for stock and/or to conduct future financing activities with or involving our common stock.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.

LITTELFUSE FACILITIES

The company’s operations are located in 39 owned or leased facilities worldwide, representing an aggregate of 1,420,338 square feet. The company’s corporate headquarters is located in the U.S. in Chicago, Illinois.  The company has North American manufacturing facilities in Saskatoon, Canada, Piedras Negras, Mexico and Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico.  The manufacturing facilities previously located in Irving, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico were closed in 2010.  During 2010, the European headquarters and the primary European distribution center, previously located in Utrecht, the Netherlands, until the property was sold in 2010, were relocated to Dünsen, Germany. A manufacturing plant currently located in Dünsen, Germany is expected to close in 2011.  The company is currently marketing for sale its Des Plaines, Illinois, property and Dundalk, Ireland, facility, both of which closed during fiscal year 2009. The Des Plaines building was demolished in 2010 to facilitate the sale of the underlying property. Asia-Pacific operations include sales and distribution centers located in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, China and Korea, with manufacturing plants in China, Taiwan and the Philippines. The manufacturing plant in Taiwan is expected to close in 2011. The company does not believe that it will encounter any difficulty in renewing its existing leases upon the expiration of their current terms. Management believes that the company’s facilities are adequate to meet its requirements for the foreseeable future.

The following table provides certain information concerning the company’s facilities at January 1, 2011, and the use of these facilities during fiscal 2010:
 
 
16

 
 
Location
 
Use
 
Size
(sq. ft.)
 
Lease/Own
 
Lease Expiration Date
 
Primary Product
Chicago, Illinois
 
Administrative, Engineering, Research and Testing
 
 54,838
 
Leased
 
2024
 
Auto, Electronics and Electrical
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
 
Engineering and Research
 
 5,000
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Auto and Electronics
Bensenville, Illinois
 
Research and Development
 
 3,140
 
Leased
 
2013
 
Electronic
Champaign, Illinois
 
Research and Development
 
 13,503
 
Leased
 
2025
 
Auto and Electronics
Campbell, California
 
Engineering
 
 1,710
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronics
                     
Birmingham, Michigan
 
Sales
 
 2,076
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Auto
Boston, Massachusetts
 
Administrative, Engineering, Research and Development
 
 26,000
 
Leased
 
2016
 
Auto
Schertz, Texas
 
Warehouse and Distribution
 
 32,000
 
Leased
 
2014
 
Auto
Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico
 
Manufacturing
 
 39,365
 
Leased
 
2016
 
Auto
Savoy, Illinois
 
Warehouse
 
 566
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electrical
Piedras Negras, Mexico
 
Administrative / Manufacturing
 
 99,822
 
Leased
 
2015
 
Auto
Piedras Negras, Mexico
 
Manufacturing
 
 68,088
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electrical
Piedras Negras, Mexico
 
Manufacturing
 
 22,381
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electrical
Piedras Negras, Mexico
 
Manufacturing
 
 164,785
 
Owned
 
 
Auto
Eagle Pass, Texas
 
Distribution
 
 7,800
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Auto, Electronics and Electrical
Saskatoon, Canada
 
Manufacturing
 
 67,500
 
Owned
 
 
Electrical
Sao Paulo, Brazil
 
Sales
 
 380
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronic and Auto
Manaus, Brazil
 
Warehouse
 
 2,002
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronic and Auto
Swindon, U.K.
 
Administrative
 
 700
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronics
Essen, Germany
 
Administrative
 
 8,378
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Auto and Electronics
Essen, Germany
 
Leased to third party
 
 37,244
 
Owned
 
 
Dünsen, Germany
 
Manufacturing and Sales
 
 43,966
 
Owned
 
 
Auto
Amsterdam, Netherlands
 
Warehouse
 
 2,000
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Auto and Electronic
Dundalk, Ireland
 
Not in use/Idle
 
 120,000
 
Owned
 
 
Electronic
Singapore
 
Sales and Distribution
 
 1,572
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electronics
Taipei, Taiwan
 
Sales
 
 4,000
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronics
Seoul, Korea
 
Sales
 
 3,643
 
Leased
 
2011
 
 Auto and Electronics
Lipa City, Philippines
 
Manufacturing
 
 116,046
 
Owned
 
 
Electronics
Lipa City, Philippines
 
Manufacturing
 
 22,733
 
Leased
 
2011
 
Electronics
Dongguan, China
 
Manufacturing
 
 24,600
 
Leased
 
2013
 
Electronics
Suzhou, China
 
Manufacturing
 
 143,458
 
Owned
 
 
Electronics
Beijing, China
 
Sales
 
 344
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electronics
Shenzen, China
 
Sales
 
 3,100
 
Leased
 
2015
 
Electronics
Shanghai, China
 
Sales
 
 4,774
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electronics
Yangmei, Taiwan
 
Manufacturing, Sales, Distribution and Administrative
 
 40,080
 
Owned
 
 
Electronics
Chu-Pei City, Taiwan
 
Research and Development
 
 5,328
 
Leased
 
2013
 
Electronics
Wuxi, China
 
Manufacturing
 
 221,429
 
Owned
 
 
Electronics
Hong Kong, China
 
Sales
 
 2,478
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electronics
Yokohama, Japan
 
Sales
 
 3,509
 
Leased
 
2012
 
Electronics

Properties with lease expirations in 2011 renew at various times throughout the year. The company does not anticipate any material impact as a result of such expirations.

 
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

The company is not a party to any legal proceedings that it believes will have a material adverse effect upon the conduct of its business or its financial position.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

There were no matters submitted to the company’s stockholders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

 
18

 

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Shares of the company’s common stock are traded under the symbol “LFUS” on the NASDAQ Global Select MarketSM. As of February 18, 2011, there were 116 holders of record of the company’s common stock.

Stock Performance Graph

The following stock performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that the company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

The following stock performance graph compares the five-year cumulative total return on Littelfuse common stock to the five-year cumulative total returns on the Russell 2000 Index and the Dow Jones Electrical Components and Equipment Industry Group Index. The company believes that the Russell 2000 Index and the Dow Jones Electrical Components and Equipment Industry Group Index represent a broad market index and peer industry group for total return performance comparison. The stock performance shown on the graph below represents historical stock performance and is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
 
 
19

 
 
The Dow Jones Electrical Components and Equipment Industry Group Index includes the common stock of American Superconductor Corp.; Amphenol Corp.; Anaren Microwave, Inc.; Arrow Electronics, Inc.; Avnet, Inc.; AVX Corp.; Benchmark Electronics, Inc.; C&D Technologies, Inc.; Capstone Turbine Corp.; Commscope, Inc.; CTS Corp.; Emerson; Fuelcell Energy, Inc.; General Cable Corp.; Hubbell Inc. Class B; Jabil Circuit, Inc.; KEMET Corp.; Littelfuse, Inc.; Methode Electronics, Inc.; Molex, Inc. and Molex, Inc. Class A; Park Electrochemical Corp.; Plexus Corp.; Plug Power, Inc.; Power-One, Inc.; Powerwave Technologies, Inc.; Regal-Beloit Corp.; Sanmina Corp.; SPX Corp.; Technitrol, Inc.; Thomas & Betts Corp.; Three-Five Systems, Inc.; Valence Technology, Inc.; Vicor Corp.; and Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

In the case of the Russell 2000 Index and the Dow Jones Electrical Components and Equipment Industry Group Index, a $100 investment made on December 31, 2005, and reinvestment of all dividends is assumed. In the case of the company, a $100 investment made on December 31, 2005, is assumed (the company paid no dividends in 2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009. The company did pay dividends in 2010). Returns are at December 31 of each year, with the exception of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 for the company, which are at December 30, 2006, December 29, 2007, December 27, 2008, January 2, 2010, and January 1, 2011, respectively, which in each case was the last day of the company’s respective fiscal year.

The company previously had not paid any cash dividends prior to fiscal 2010. In the fourth quarter of 2010, a dividend of $0.15 per common share was paid by the company. Future dividend policy will be determined by the Board of Directors based upon its evaluation of earnings, cash availability and general business prospects. Currently, there are restrictions on the payment of dividends contained in the company’s credit agreements that relate to the maintenance of a minimum net worth and certain financial ratios. However, the company expects to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis for the foreseeable future.

The table below provides information with respect to purchases by the company of shares of its common stock during each fiscal month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES – Fourth Quarter
 
Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   
Average Price
Paid per Share
   
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   
Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Plans or Programs
 
Oct. 3, 2010 to Oct. 30, 2010
    72,483     $ 41.96       72,483       357,377  
Oct. 31, 2010 to Nov. 27, 2010
    1,154     $ 42.03       1,154       356,223  
Nov. 28, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2011
                      356,223  
Total
    73,637     $ 41.98       73,637          

The company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of the company’s common stock under a program for the period May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011, of which 643,777 shares have been purchased, at an average price of $39.42, through January 1, 2011, and 356,223 shares may yet be purchased under the program as of January 1, 2011.

The company withheld 11,207 shares of stock in lieu of withholding taxes on behalf of employees who became vested in restricted stock option grants during fiscal 2010. Shares withheld were 7,251 during the period May 1, 2010 to May 29, 2010 and 3,956 during the period July 3, 2010 to July 31, 2010.  Shares withheld are classified as Treasury Shares on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 
20

 
 
The table below provides information with respect to the company’s quarterly stock prices and cash dividends declared and paid for each quarter during fiscal 2010 and 2009:

   
2010
   
2009
    4Q   3Q   2Q   1Q     4Q   3Q   2Q   1Q
High
  $ 49.09   $ 44.65   $ 43.83   $ 40.18     $ 33.19   $ 28.79   $ 20.74   $ 18.11
Low
    41.39     30.74     30.54     28.30       24.37     19.63     10.30     8.82
Close
    47.06     43.79     31.32     38.13       32.15     26.71     20.65     10.60
Dividends
    0.15                              

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

The information presented below provides selected financial data of the company during the past five fiscal years and should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Item 7 and Item 8, respectively, for the respective years presented (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
      2006*  
Net sales
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869     $ 536,144     $ 534,859  
Gross profit
    233,872       125,361       143,669       171,537       161,263  
Operating income
    107,574       13,695       8,495       51,309       28,858  
Income from continuing operations
    78,663       9,411       8,016       36,835       23,236  
Net income
    78,663       9,411       8,016       36,835       23,824  
Per share of common stock:
                                       
Income from continuing operations
                                       
- Basic
    3.58       0.43       0.37       1.66       1.04  
- Diluted
    3.52       0.43       0.37       1.64       1.03  
Cash dividends paid
    0.15                          
Cash and cash equivalents
    109,720       70,354       70,937       64,943       56,704  
Total assets
    621,129       533,127       538,928       491,365       464,966  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    41,000       49,000       72,000       1,223       1,785  
 
* Results reflect Efen GmbH as a discontinued operation.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Littelfuse, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “company” or “Littelfuse”) design, manufacture, and sell circuit protection devices for use in the electronics, automotive and electrical markets throughout the world. The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is designed to provide the reader with information that will assist in understanding the company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect the Consolidated Financial Statements. The discussion also provides information about the financial results of the various business segments to provide a better understanding of how those segments and their results affect the financial condition and results of operations of Littelfuse as a whole.

 
21

 

Business Segment Information

U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) dictates annual and interim reporting standards for an enterprise's operating segments and related disclosures about its products, services, geographic areas and major customers. Within U.S. GAAP, an operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, and about which separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources. The CODM is the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

The company reports its operations by three business unit segments: Electronics, Automotive and Electrical. The following table is a summary of the company’s operating segments’ net sales by business unit and geography (in thousands):

   
Fiscal Year
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Business Unit
                 
Electronics
  $ 389.9     $ 263.0     $ 342.5  
Automotive
    130.3       98.5       126.9  
Electrical
    87.8       68.6       61.5  
Total
  $ 608.0     $ 430.1     $ 530.9  
                         
Geography*
                       
Americas
  $ 227.7     $ 166.1     $ 201.8  
Europe
    115.1       83.4       118.6  
Asia-Pacific
    265.2       180.6       210.5  
Total
  $ 608.0     $ 430.1     $ 530.9  
* Sales are defined based upon shipped to destination.                  
 
Business unit segment information is described more fully in Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The following discussion provides an analysis of the information contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes beginning on page 40 at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, and for the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010 and December 27, 2008.

Results of Operations — 2010 Compared with 2009

Net sales increased in the current year to $608.0 million compared to $430.1 million in 2009 reflecting strong growth in all market segments and geographies. The Automotive business segment sales increased $31.8 million or 32% to $130.3 million. The Electronics business segment sales increased $126.9 million or 48% to $389.9 million, and the Electrical business segment sales increased $19.2 million or 28% to $87.8 million. Sales levels were negatively impacted in 2009 due to the sharp downturn in the global economy and credit crisis. The strong revenue growth in 2010 was the result of the global economic recovery, distributor inventory replenishment and effective execution of the company’s strategic growth plans. The company experienced $1.4 million in favorable currency effects in 2010 as compared to 2009. This favorable impact resulted primarily from sales denominated in the Canadian dollar, Japanese yen and Korean won and were offset by the unfavorable impact of sales denominated in euros.

 
22

 
 
The increase in Automotive sales was due to continued growth in Asian demand for passenger vehicles and recovery in the North American and European passenger vehicle and off-road truck and bus markets. The positive impact from increases in sales volume in 2010 was partially offset by unfavorable currency effects of $1.9 million mainly due to the weaker euro.

The increase in Electronics sales reflected stronger demand and distributor inventory replenishment in all three geographic regions as well as successful new product introductions and other market share gains. The positive impact from an increase in volume was offset by net unfavorable currency effects of $0.3 million largely due to the weakness of the euro, partially offset by the favorable impact of a stronger Japanese yen and Korean won.

The increase in Electrical sales was due to continued strong growth for protection relays and custom products driven primarily by strength in the potash mining market. Additionally, electrical fuse products realized steady improvement in demand as the industrial market continued to recover in 2010. The Electrical segment experienced net favorable currency effects of $3.6 million primarily from sales denominated in the Canadian dollar.

On a geographic basis, sales in the Americas increased $61.6 million or 37% in 2010 compared to 2009. This increase resulted from increases at all three of the company’s business segments. Automotive sales increased $8.1 million or 23% primarily reflecting recovery in the passenger vehicle market. Electronics sales increased $35.3 million or 55% reflecting strong end market demand and distributor restocking. Electrical sales increased $18.2 million or 27% resulting from an increase in demand for protection relays, custom products and power fuses. The Americas region also experienced $3.6 million in favorable currency effects resulting from sales denominated in the Canadian dollar.

Europe sales increased $31.7 million or 38% in 2010 compared to 2009. This increase resulted from increases at all three of the company’s business segments. Automotive sales increased $13.4 million or 29% reflecting strong end market demand and increased production resulting from the economic recovery in Europe during 2010. Electronics sales increased $18.0 million or 48% reflecting strong end market demand and distributor inventory replenishment. Electrical sales increased $0.3 million. Current year results included unfavorable currency effects of $5.6 million, reflecting a weaker euro in 2010.

Asia-Pacific sales increased $84.6 million or 47% in 2010 compared to 2009. This increase resulted from increases at all three of the company’s business segments. Automotive sales increased $10.4 million or 59% reflecting continued increased demand for passenger vehicles in the developing Asian markets as well as gains in market share. Electronics sales increased $73.6 million or 46% primarily reflecting  growth in demand for consumer products and restocking by distributors. Electrical sales increased $0.6 million or 41%.  Current year results included favorable currency translation effects of $3.2 million primarily due to the impact of a stronger Japanese yen and Korean won.

Gross profit was $233.9 million or 38.5% of sales in 2010, compared to $125.4 million or 29.1% of sales in 2009. The increase in gross profit margin percentage in 2010 resulted from operating leverage on higher sales, an improved cost structure due to consolidation of manufacturing facilities and the impact of  restructuring activities in 2009. The company recorded approximately $4.2 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales in 2009 due primarily to the reorganization of the company’s European and Asian operations. The European restructuring charges included the transfer of its manufacturing operations from Dünsen, Germany, to Piedras Negras, Mexico. The Asian restructuring included the planned closure of a manufacturing facility in Taiwan.

 
23

 
 
The company continues to focus heavily on research and development (R&D) to develop new solutions for customers and expand product offerings. During 2010, the company continued moving R&D operations to lower cost locations closer to its customers. R&D operations are now in Canada, China, Germany, the Philippines and Mexico, as well as the United States.

Total operating expense was $126.3 million or 20.8% of net sales for 2010 compared to $111.7 million or 26.0% of net sales for 2009. The increase in operating expenses primarily reflects the increased cost of company incentive programs driven by significantly improved financial performance in 2010. Higher transportation costs driven by higher sales volumes also contributed to the increase in operating expenses. Operating expenses as a percentage of sales improved in 2010 as compared to 2009 as a result of cost reduction plans initiated in 2009 resulting in improved operating efficiencies across the company.

Operating income was $107.6 million or 17.7% of net sales in 2010 compared to $13.7 million or 3.2% of net sales in the prior year. The increase in operating income in the current year was due primarily to the increase in sales and reduction in costs as described above.

Interest expense, net, decreased to $1.4 million in 2010 compared to $2.4 million for 2009 primarily due to lower borrowing in 2010.

Other expense (income), net, consisting of interest income, royalties, non-operating income and foreign currency items, was $1.5 million of income in 2010 compared to $0.5 million of expense in 2009. The increase reflected a favorable net change of approximately $1.3 million in foreign currency translation effects primarily due to the strengthening of the Philippine peso and Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar.

Income before income taxes was $107.7 million in 2010 compared to $10.8 million in 2009. Income tax expense was $29.0 million in 2010 compared to $1.4 million in 2009. The 2010 effective income tax rate was 27.0% compared to 13.2% in 2009. The increase in the 2010 effective tax rate reflects more income earned in high tax jurisdictions in 2010 (primarily the U.S.) as well as the favorable effects of one-time tax adjustments in 2009.

Results of Operations — 2009 Compared with 2008

Net sales decreased in 2009 to $430.1 million compared to $530.9 million in 2008. These results reflected sales declines in the Automotive segment of $28.4 million or 22% to $98.5 million, along with a decrease in sales in the Electronics segment of $79.5 million or 23% to $263.0 million, partially offset by an increase in sales in the Electrical segment of $7.1 million or 12% to $68.6 million. The Electrical segment sales included a full year of sales ($23.7 million) in 2009 from the acquisition of Startco Engineering Ltd. (“Startco”), which was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The decrease in Automotive sales was due primarily to the continued weak passenger car and truck markets across all geographies, resulting in sharp declines in global vehicle production, as OEMs had extended plant shutdowns. The negative impact from declines in volume was further impacted by unfavorable currency effects of $2.6 million in 2009, mainly due to the weaker euro.

The decrease in Electronics sales primarily reflected continued weak demand as consumers continued to lose confidence in the economy and cut back on spending, particularly in the consumer electronics market. In addition, many customers in Asia, particularly contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers, had extensive plant shutdowns, and electronics distributors reduced inventories in response to weak demand. During the second half of 2009, demand for some consumer electronic items began to improve resulting in increased demand for the company’s products. The negative impact from declines in volume was further impacted by net unfavorable currency effects of $1.5 million largely due to the weakness of the euro and Korean won, partially offset by the favorable impact of a stronger Japanese yen.

 
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The increase in Electrical sales was due to incremental sales recorded in 2009 of $23.7 million from Startco, acquired at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2008, as compared to $3.9 million in sales recorded in 2008.  The base electrical business, which excludes Startco, declined 22% in 2009 as compared to 2008 due primarily to weakness in the non-residential construction and MRO markets.

On a geographic basis, sales in the Americas decreased $35.7 million or 18% in 2009 compared to 2008 due to decreased Automotive sales of $15.9 million and lower Electronics sales of $25.9 million, partially offset by increased Electrical sales of $6.1 million, which included Startco. Automotive and Electronics sales declined due to the impact of the global recession and inventory de-stocking throughout the supply chain. The Electrical sales increase was due to incremental sales from the company’s Startco acquisition.

Europe sales decreased $35.2 million or 30% in 2009 compared to 2008 due to decreased Automotive sales of $17.5 million and lower Electronics sales of $17.7 million due to the impact of the global recession and inventory de-stocking throughout the supply chain. Current year results included unfavorable currency effects of $3.4 million, reflecting a weaker euro in 2009.

Asia-Pacific sales decreased $29.9 million or 14% in 2009 compared to the prior year mainly due to lower Electronics sales of $36.0 million, which was partially offset by higher Automotive sales of $5.1 million and Electrical sales $1.0 million. The weaker Electronics sales reflected the impact of the global recession and inventory de-stocking throughout the supply chain. The increase in Automotive sales reflected strong growth in the China market and gains in market share. Current year results included unfavorable currency translation effects of $0.7 million primarily due to a sharp decline in the Korean won partially offset by a favorable impact of a stronger Japanese yen.

Gross profit was $125.4 million or 29.1% of sales in 2009, compared to $143.7 million or 27.1% of sales in 2008. The increase in gross profit margin percentage in 2009 primarily resulted from cost savings related to manufacturing plant consolidations and reductions in operating expenses. Higher restructuring and other costs related to plant transfer activities and a pension settlement charge of $5.7 million during 2008 also contributed to the margin improvement change in 2009.

The company recorded approximately $4.2 million of restructuring charges in cost of sales in 2009 due primarily to the reorganization of the company’s European and Asian operations. The European restructuring charges included the transfer of its manufacturing operations from Dünsen, Germany, to Piedras Negras, Mexico. The Asian restructuring included the planned closure of a manufacturing facility in Taiwan. The 2009 restructuring charges to cost of sales were approximately $4.6 million lower than restructuring charges to cost of sales for 2008.

Total operating expense was $111.7 million or 26.0% of net sales for 2009 compared to $135.2 million or 25.5% of net sales for 2008. The reduction in operating expenses primarily reflects cost savings initiatives implemented in late 2008 and early 2009 including headcount reductions, consolidation of Asian and European sites and transfer of certain activities to low-cost Asian locations.

Operating income was $13.7 million or 3.2% of net sales in 2009 compared to $8.5 million or 1.6% of net sales in the prior year. The increase in operating income in the current year was due primarily to the cost reductions and lower restructuring charges described above partially offset by lower sales.

 
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Interest expense, net, decreased to $2.4 million in 2009 compared to $3.4 million for 2008 primarily due to a $1.1 million loss on an interest rate swap transaction recognized in 2008.

Other expense (income), net, consisting of interest income, royalties, non-operating income and foreign currency items, was $0.5 million of expense in 2009 compared to $5.6 million of income in 2008. The decrease primarily reflected an unfavorable net change of approximately $3.8 million in foreign currency translation effects (primarily due to the weakening of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar) and a $1.1 million refund received in 2008 related to a recovery of Japanese output taxes paid in 2007.

Income before income taxes was $10.8 million in 2009 compared to $10.6 million in 2008. Income tax expense was $1.4 million in 2009 compared to $2.6 million in 2008. The 2009 effective income tax rate was 13.2% compared to 24.5% in 2008. The decrease in the 2009 effective tax rate reflects the mix of income earned in lower tax jurisdictions in 2009 as well as the release of $2.6 million of contingent income tax reserves due to the lapsing of statute of limitations and the close-out of open audit years by local tax authorities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company historically has financed capital expenditures through cash flows from operations. Management expects that cash flows from operations and available lines of credit will be sufficient to support both the company’s operations and its debt obligations for the foreseeable future.

Term Loan
 
On September 29, 2008, the company entered into a Loan Agreement with various lenders that provides the company with a five-year term loan facility of up to $80.0 million for the purposes of (i) refinancing certain existing indebtedness; (ii) funding working capital needs; and (iii) funding capital expenditures and other lawful corporate purposes, including permitted acquisitions. The Loan Agreement also contains an expansion feature, pursuant to which the company may from time to time request incremental loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40.0 million. The company had $49.0 million outstanding at January 1, 2011. Further information regarding this arrangement is provided in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

The Loan Agreement requires the company to meet certain financial tests, including a consolidated leverage ratio and a consolidated interest coverage ratio. The Loan Agreement also contains additional affirmative and negative covenants which, among other things, impose certain limitations on the company’s ability to merge with other companies, create liens on its property, incur additional indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliates except on an arm’s length basis, dispose of property, or issue dividends or make distributions. At January 1, 2011, and for the year then ended, the company was in compliance with these covenants. The Loan Agreement does not impact the existing debt covenants in the revolving credit facility described below.

Revolving Credit Facilities

On January 28, 2009, the company entered into an unsecured financing arrangement with a Canadian bank that provided a CAD 10.0 million (equivalent to approximately $10.0 million at January 1, 2011) revolving credit facility, for capital expenditures and general working capital, which expires on July 21, 2011. This facility consists of prime-based loans and overdrafts, bankers’ acceptances and U.S. base rate loans and overdrafts, and is guaranteed by the company. As of January 1, 2011, the company had approximately CAD 10.0 million (equivalent to approximately $10.0 million) available under the revolving credit.

 
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This agreement contains covenants that, among other matters, impose limitations on future mergers, sales of assets, and changes in control, as defined in the agreement. In addition, the company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants and tests relating to, among other matters, interest coverage, working capital, leverage and net worth. As of the fiscal year ended 2010, the company was in compliance with all covenants.

The company has an unsecured domestic financing arrangement consisting of a credit agreement with banks that provides a $75.0 million revolving credit facility, with a potential increase of up to $125.0 million upon request of the company and agreement with the lenders, which expires on July 21, 2011. At January 2, 2010, the company had available $50.0 million of borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.500% (0.76% as of January 1, 2011).

The domestic bank credit agreement contains covenants that, among other matters, impose limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, future mergers, sales of assets, payment of dividends, and changes in control, as defined in the agreement. In addition, the company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants and tests relating to, among other matters, interest coverage, working capital, leverage and net worth. At January 1, 2011, and for the year then ended, the company was in compliance with these covenants.

Other Obligations

The company had $2.3 million available in letters of credit at January 1, 2011. No amounts were drawn under these letters of credit at January 1, 2011.

Cash Flows and Working Capital

The company started 2010 with $70.4 million of cash. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2010 was approximately $104.1 million in the year and included $78.7 million in net income and $46.1 million in non-cash adjustments (primarily $32.0 million in depreciation and amortization), partially offset by $20.7 million of changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Changes in various operating assets and liabilities (including short-term and long-term items) that negatively impacted cash flows in 2010 consisted of increases in accounts receivable ($12.8 million) and inventories ($15.1 million), a decrease in accounts payable ($1.8 million) and accrued expenses (including post-retirement) ($13.6 million). The increase in accounts receivable result from increased sales activity. The increase in inventory results from increased sales activity and production rates in addition to higher prices for raw materials. Additionally, the company made contributions to its domestic and foreign pension plans of $16.2 million in 2010.  Positively impacting cash flows were increases in accrued payroll and severance ($2.4 million), accrued taxes ($14.9 million), and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets ($5.4 million).

Net cash used in investing activities in 2010 was approximately $65.7 million and included $22.4 million in purchases of property, plant and equipment (primarily related to the company’s plant expansion and new facilities in the Asia-Pacific region), and a net $48.3 million for the acquisition of Cole Hersee during the fourth quarter of 2010, partially offset by $5.0 million in cash receipts from the sale of property, plant and equipment. The majority of the receipts from asset sales resulted from the sale of the company’s land and building at its Utrecht, Netherlands location.

 
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Net cash provided by financing activities in 2010 was approximately $2.2 million, which included $10.7 million in net proceeds from borrowing and $18.5 million in cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options. Additionally the company repurchased $25.4 million of its common stock during 2010 and paid a cash dividend of $3.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2010. The net payments from debt include $21.0 million in gross payments under the company’s term loan discussed above. Further information regarding the company’s debt is provided in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

The effect of exchange rate changes decreased cash by $1.2 million in 2010. The net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used in financing and investing activities plus the effect of exchange rate changes, resulted in a $39.4 million increase in cash and cash equivalents in 2010. This left the company with a cash balance of $109.7 million at the end of 2010.

Days sales outstanding (DSO) in accounts receivable decreased to 58 days at year-end 2010 (excluding the year-end Cole Hersee balance), compared to 61 days at year-end 2009 and 53 days at year-end 2008. DSO in 2008 was unusually low due to the sharp drop-off in sales at the end of the year. The DSO levels for 2010 and 2009 of 58 and 61 days respectively, are more typical of what is expected going forward. Days inventory outstanding was 70 days at year-end 2010 (excluding the year-end Cole Hersee balance), compared to 62 days at year-end 2009 and 72 days at year-end 2008.

The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.9 to 1 at year-end 2010, compared to 3.2 to 1 at year-end 2009 and 3.1 to 1 at year-end 2008. The change in the current ratio at the end of the 2010 compared to the prior year reflected increased current liabilities in 2010, primarily related to higher current portion of long term debt balances as well as higher accrued payroll and accrued income tax balances offset by lower accrued severance balances. The carrying amounts of total debt increased $10.8 million in 2010, compared to a decrease of $16.8 million in 2009 and an increase of $66.7 million in 2008, due to an increase in the amount borrowed under the revolving credit facility in 2010.  The ratio of long-term debt to equity was 0.09 to 1 at year-end 2010, compared to 0.13 to 1 at year-end 2009 and 0.22 to 1 at year-end 2008. Further information regarding the company’s debt is provided in Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

The company started 2009 with $70.9 million of cash. Net cash provided by operating activities in 2009 was approximately $29.6 million in the year and included $9.4 million in net income and $41.1 million in non-cash adjustments (primarily $36.6 million in depreciation and amortization), partially offset by $20.9 million of changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Changes in various operating assets and liabilities (including short-term and long-term items) that negatively impacted cash flows in 2009 consisted of decreases in accrued payroll and severance ($9.0 million), net decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses ($7.9 million), increases in accounts receivable ($15.6 million), decreases in accrued taxes ($3.3 million), and increases in prepaid expenses and other current assets ($0.6 million), partially offset by decreases in inventory ($15.5 million).

The company’s capital expenditures were $22.4 million in 2010, $15.5 million in 2009 and $51.3 million in 2008. Higher capital expenditures in 2008 were primarily related to facilities and equipment to support the manufacturing transfers to Asia and Mexico. The company expects capital expenditures in 2011 will be approximately $29 to $32 million with the largest portion related to the completion of facility moves, capacity expansion and new product development. The company expects to fund 2011 capital investments from operating cash flows.

 
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The company’s Board of Directors has authorized the company to repurchase up to 1 million shares of its common stock, from time to time, depending on market conditions. The company repurchased 643,777 of its common shares in 2010 for $25.4 million and 218,000 common shares for $6.6 million in 2008. The company did not repurchase any common shares during 2009. As of January 1, 2011, the company is authorized to purchase up to 356,223 additional shares of its common stock.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes contractual obligations and commitments as of January 1, 2011:

(In thousands )
 
Total
   
< 1 Year
   
> 1 - < 3 Years
   
> 3 - < 5 Years
   
> 5 Years
 
Term loan
  $ 49,000     $ 8,000     $ 41,000     $     $  
Revolving credit facility
    25,000       25,000                    
Interest payments
    1,618       805       813              
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
     2,290        31        62        62        2,135  
Operating lease payments
    40,247       6,493       8,422       6,094       19,238  
Purchase obligations
    24,079       24,079                    
Total
  $ 142,234     $ 64,408     $ 50,297     $ 6,156     $ 21,373  

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of January 1, 2011, the company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Specifically, the company was not liable for guarantees of indebtedness owed by third parties; the company was not directly liable for the debt of any unconsolidated entity, and the company did not have any retained or contingent interest in assets; and the company does not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities. In 2009, the company entered into derivative financial instruments. Further information regarding these arrangements is provided in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that eliminates the qualifying special purpose entity concept, changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets and requires enhanced disclosures about transfers of financial assets. The guidance also revises earlier guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity, requires a new approach for determining who should consolidate a variable interest entity, changes when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a variable interest entity, and requires enhanced disclosures related to an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities. The guidance is effective for the first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
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In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends earlier guidance addressing the accounting for contractual arrangements in which an entity provides multiple products or services (deliverables) to a customer. The amendments address the unit of accounting for arrangements involving multiple deliverables and how arrangement consideration should be allocated to the separate units of accounting, when applicable, by establishing a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The selling price used for each deliverable will be based on vendor-specific objective evidence if available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific nor third-party evidence is available. The amendments also require that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of an arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends earlier guidance for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality are no longer within the scope of guidance for recognizing revenue from the sale of software, but would be accounted for in accordance with other authoritative guidance. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier application permitted. The company does not believe that the adoption of this accounting guidance will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance to improve fair value disclosures and increase the transparency in financial reporting. These enhancements include: (1) a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and (2) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. This new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2010, the SEC issued a statement that reaffirms its support for the potential use of IFRS in the preparation of financial statements by U.S. registrants. It announced a work plan by which it is expected to make a determination in 2011 whether or not it will mandate the conversion to IFRS. As of October 2010, the SEC continues to anticipate making the determination in 2011 of whether, when, and how to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. domestic financial reporting system. The company is currently assessing the potential impact of IFRS on its Consolidated Financial Statements and will continue to review progress of the work plan.
 
In December 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance related to disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The guidance specified that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The company does not believe that the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
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In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative guidance describing when to perform step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The amendments in this guidance modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance and examples, which require that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. For public entities, the amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The company expects to adopt this new guidance effective the beginning of fiscal year 2011, and does not expect it to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Certain of the accounting policies as discussed below require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting the appropriate estimates and assumptions for calculating amounts to record in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions, impacting the reported results of operations and financial position. Significant accounting policies are more fully described in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Certain accounting policies, however, are considered to be critical in that they are most important to the depiction of the company’s financial condition and results of operations and their application requires management’s subjective judgment in making estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The company believes the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating its reported financial results, as they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The company has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors.

Net Sales
 
Revenue Recognition: The company recognizes revenue on product sales in the period in which the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped (FOB origin) to the customer in accordance with the terms of the sale, the risk of loss has been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and the pricing is fixed and determinable. At the end of each period, for those shipments where title to the products and the risk of loss and rewards of ownership do not transfer until the product has been received by the customer, the company adjusts revenues and cost of sales for the delay between the time that the products are shipped and when they are received by the customer. The company’s distribution channels are primarily through direct sales and independent third party distributors.
 
Revenue and Billing: The company accepts orders from customers based on long term purchasing contracts and written sales agreements. Contract pricing and selling agreement terms are based on market factors, costs and competition. Pricing normally is negotiated as an adjustment (premium or discount) from the company’s published price lists. The customer is invoiced when the company’s products are shipped to them in accordance with the terms of the sales agreement.
 
 
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Returns and Credits: Some of the terms of the company’s sales agreements and normal business conditions provide customers (distributors) the ability to receive price adjustments on products previously shipped and invoiced. This practice is common in the industry and is referred to as a “ship and debit” program. This program allows the distributor to debit the company for the difference between the distributors’ contracted price and a lower price for specific transactions. Under certain circumstances (usually in a competitive situation or large volume opportunity), a distributor will request authorization to reduce its price to its buyer. If the company approves such a reduction, the distributor is authorized to “debit” its account for the difference between the contracted price and the lower approved price. The company establishes reserves for this program based on historic activity and actual authorizations for the debit and recognizes these debits as a reduction of revenue.

The company has a return to stock policy whereby a customer with previous authorization from Littelfuse management can return previously purchased goods for full or partial credit. The company establishes an estimated allowance for these returns based on historic activity. Sales revenue and cost of sales are reduced to anticipate estimated returns.

The company properly meets all of the criteria for recognizing revenue when the right of return exists. Specifically, the company meets those requirements because:
 
 
1.
The company’s selling price is fixed or determinable at the date of the sale.
 
 
2.
The company has policies and procedures to accept only credit worthy customers with the ability to pay the company.
 
 
3.
The company’s customers are obligated to pay the company under the contract and the obligation is not contingent on the resale of the product. (All “ship and debit” and “returns to stock” require specific circumstances and authorization.)
 
 
4.
The risk ownership transfers to the company’s customers upon shipment and is not changed in the event of theft, physical destruction or damage of the product.
 
 
5.
The company bills at the ship date and establishes a reserve to reduce revenue from the in-transit time until the product is delivered for FOB destination sales.
 
 
6.
The company’s customers acquiring the product for resale have economic substance apart from that provided by Littelfuse. All distributors are independent of the company.
 
 
7.
The company does not have any obligations for future performance to bring about resale of the product by its customers.
 
 
8.
The company can reasonably estimate the amount of future returns.
 
Volume Rebates: The company offers incentives to certain customers to achieve specific quarterly or annual sales targets. If customers achieve their sales targets, they are entitled to rebates. The company estimates the future cost of these rebates and recognizes this estimated cost as a reduction to revenue as products are sold.
 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: The company evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables based on a combination of factors. The company regularly analyzes its significant customer accounts and, when the company becomes aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, the company records a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount the company reasonably believes is collectible. The company also records allowances for all other customers based on a variety of factors including the length of time the receivables are past due, the financial health of the customer, macroeconomic considerations and past experience. Historically, the allowance for doubtful accounts has been adequate to cover bad debts. If circumstances related to specific customers change, the estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted.

 
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Inventory

The company performs regular detailed assessments of inventory, which include a review of, among other factors, demand requirements, product life cycle and development plans, component cost trends, product pricing, shelf life and quality issues. Based on the analysis, the company records adjustments to inventory for excess quantities, obsolescence or impairment when appropriate to reflect inventory at net realizable value. Historically, inventory reserves have been adequate to reflect inventory at net realizable values.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The company annually tests goodwill for impairment on the first day of its fiscal fourth quarter or at an interim date if there is an event or change in circumstances that indicates the asset may be impaired. The company has four reporting units for goodwill testing purposes.  Management determines the fair value of each of its reporting units by using a discounted cash flow model (which includes forecasted five-year income statement and working capital projections, a market-based weighted average cost of capital and terminal values after five years) to estimate market value. In addition, the company compares its derived enterprise value on a consolidated basis to the company’s market capitalization as of its test date to ensure its derived value approximates the market value of the company when taken as a whole.

As of the most recent annual test conducted on October 2, 2010, the company concluded the fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded its carrying value of invested capital and therefore, no goodwill impairment existed. Specifically, the company noted that its headroom, defined as the excess of fair value over the carrying value of invested capital, was 85%, 64%, 253% and 141% for its electronics, automotive, base electrical, and protection relay and custom products reporting units, respectively, at October 2, 2010. Certain key assumptions used in the annual test included a discount rate of 14% and a long-term growth rate of 3% for all four reporting units.

In addition, the company performed a sensitivity test at October 2, 2010 that showed a 100 basis point increase in its discount rate or a 100 basis point decrease in the long-term growth rate for each reporting unit would not have changed the company’s conclusion that no goodwill impairment existed at October 2, 2010.

The company will continue to perform a goodwill impairment test as required on an annual basis and on an interim basis, if certain conditions exist. Factors the company considers important, which could result in changes to its estimates, include underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and declines in acquisitions and trading multiples. Due to the diverse end user base and non-discretionary product demand, the company does not believe its future operating results will vary significantly relative to its historical and projected future operating results.

Long-Lived Assets

The company evaluates long-lived asset groups on an ongoing basis. Long-lived asset groups are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the related asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If it is determined to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. The company’s estimates of future cash flows from such assets could be impacted if it underperforms relative to historical or projected future operating results. The company recorded asset impairment charges of $3.0 million, $0.8 million and $3.2 million for the fiscal years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively. Further information regarding asset impairments is provided in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

 
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Environmental Liabilities
 
Environmental liabilities are accrued based on estimates of the probability of potential future environmental exposure. Expenses related to on-going maintenance of environmental sites are expensed as incurred. If actual or estimated probable future losses exceed the company’s recorded liability for such claims, it would record additional charges as other expense during the period in which the actual loss or change in estimate occurred.

Pension and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

Littelfuse has a number of company-sponsored defined benefit plans primarily in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The company recognizes the full unfunded status of the plan on the balance sheet. Actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Accounting for pensions requires estimating the future benefit cost and recognizing the cost over the employee’s expected period of employment with the company. Certain assumptions are required in the calculation of pension costs and obligations. These assumptions include the discount rate, salary scales and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The discount rate is intended to represent the rate at which pension benefit obligations could be settled by purchase of an annuity contract. These assumptions are subject to change based on stock and bond market returns and other economic factors. Actual results that differ from the company’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect its recognized expense and accrued liability in such future periods. While the company believes that its assumptions are appropriate given current economic conditions and its actual experience, significant differences in results or significant changes in the company’s assumptions may materially affect its pension obligations and related future expense. Further information regarding these plans is provided in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is recorded for stock-option grants, restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock awards based upon the fair values of the awards. The fair value of stock option awards is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which includes assumptions for volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. Expected volatility is based on implied volatilities from traded options on Littelfuse stock, historical volatility of Littelfuse stock and other factors. Historical data is used to estimate employee termination experience and the expected term of the options. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The company initiated a quarterly cash dividend in 2010 and expects to continue making cash dividend payments in the foreseeable future.

The performance-based restricted stock awards granted in 2008 vest after a three-year performance period and are paid completely in the company’s common stock at the end of the performance period. The fair value of performance-based restricted stock awards that are paid in common stock is measured at the market price on the grant date, and the fair value of the portion paid in cash is measured at the current market price of a share.

 
34

 
 
The number of shares issued is based on the company attaining certain financial performance goals relating to return on net tangible assets (“RONTA”) for performance-based restricted stock awards granted prior to 2008, or return on net assets (“RONA”) for performance-based restricted stock granted in 2008, as well as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) during the three-year performance period after the grant date. Stock-based compensation expense for performance-based restricted stock awards is based on the fair values and the company’s current estimate of the probable number of shares to be issued (based on the probable outcome at the end of the performance period). As the company’s estimate of the probable outcome changes in future periods, stock-based compensation expense is adjusted accordingly.

Total stock-based compensation expense was $5.2 million, $5.5 million and $5.1 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Further information regarding this expense is provided in Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Income Taxes
 
The company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred taxes are recognized for the future effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The company recognizes deferred taxes for temporary differences, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Federal and state income taxes are provided on the portion of foreign income that is expected to be remitted to the U.S. and be taxable.

The company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

Further information regarding income taxes, including a detailed reconciliation of current year activity, is provided in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Outlook

The company’s 2010 performance significantly rebounded from 2009 across all sectors. Sales for 2010 were $608.0 million compared to $430.1 million for 2009. Sales for 2011 are expected to be in the range of $670.0 to $690.0 million. Earnings for 2011 are expected to be in the range of $3.75 to $4.05 per diluted share. Capital expenditures for 2011 are expected to be in the range of $29.0 to $32.0 million.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

The company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodities.

Interest Rates
 
The company had $74.0 million in debt outstanding at January 1, 2011, primarily related to the term loan, which is described above in Item 7 under Liquidity and Capital Resources. While the remaining portion of this debt has a variable interest rate, the company’s interest expense is not materially sensitive to changes in interest rate levels since debt levels and potential interest expense increases are insignificant relative to earnings.

 
35

 
 
Foreign Exchange Rates
 
The majority of the company’s operations consist of manufacturing and sales activities in foreign countries. The company has manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Canada, Germany, China, Taiwan and the Philippines. During 2010, sales to customers outside the U.S. were 69.1% of total net sales. Substantially all sales in Europe are denominated in euros and substantially all sales in the Asia-Pacific region are denominated in U.S. dollars, Japanese yen, Korean won, Chinese yuan and Taiwanese dollars.

The company’s foreign exchange exposures result primarily from sale of products in foreign currencies, foreign currency denominated purchases, employee-related and other costs of running operations in foreign countries and translation of balance sheet accounts denominated in foreign currencies. The company’s most significant long exposure is to the euro, with lesser long exposures to the Canadian dollar, Japanese yen and Korean won. The company’s most significant short exposures are to the Mexican peso, Philippine peso and Chinese yuan. Changes in foreign exchange rates could affect the company’s sales, costs, balance sheet values and earnings. The company uses netting and offsetting intercompany account management techniques to reduce known foreign currency exposures where possible and also, from time to time, utilizes derivative instruments to hedge certain foreign currency exposures deemed to be material.

Commodities
 
The company uses various metals in the manufacturing of its products, including copper, zinc, tin, gold and silver. Prices of these commodities can and do fluctuate significantly, which can impact the company’s earnings. The most significant of these exposures is to copper and zinc, where at current prices and volumes, a 10% price change in copper would affect pretax profit by approximately $2.6 million. A 10% change in zinc would affect pretax profit by approximately $0.8 million.

The cost of oil fluctuated dramatically over the past several years. Consequently, there is a risk that a return to high prices for oil and electricity in 2011 could have a significant impact on the company’s transportation and utility expenses.

While the company is exposed to significant changes in certain commodity prices and foreign currency exchange rates, the company actively monitors these exposures and takes various actions to mitigate any negative impacts of these exposures.

 
36

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

Index
Page
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Financial Statements
38
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – Internal Controls
39
Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
40
 
Consolidated Statements of Income
41
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
42
 
Consolidated Statements of Equity
43
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information
44
 
Note 2. Acquisition of Business
50
 
Note 3. Inventories
53
 
Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
53
 
Note 5. Investments
54
 
Note 6. Debt
54
 
Note 7. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
56
 
Note 8. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
58
 
Note 9. Restructuring
59
 
Note 10. Coal Mine Liability
63
 
Note 11. Asset Impairments
63
 
Note 12. Benefit Plans
64
 
Note 13. Shareholders’ Equity
69
 
Note 14. Income Taxes
71
 
Note 15. Business Unit Segment Information 71
73
 
Note 16. Lease Commitments
76
 
Note 17. Earnings Per Share
76
 
Note 18. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
78

 
37

 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Littelfuse, Inc.
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Littelfuse, Inc. and subsidiaries (Company) as of January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2011.  Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a).  These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Littelfuse, Inc. and subsidiaries at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Littelfuse, Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2011, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
 
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Chicago, Illinois
February 25, 2011

 
38

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Littelfuse, Inc.

We have audited Littelfuse, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Littelfuse, Inc.’s management is responsible 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 Form 10-K. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

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 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, Littelfuse, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Littelfuse, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 1, 2011, and our report dated February 25, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Chicago, Illinois
February 25, 2011

 
39

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of USD)
 
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 109,720     $ 70,354  
Accounts receivable, less allowances (2010 - $13,469; 2009 - $9,975)
    97,753       79,521  
Inventories
    80,182       52,567  
Deferred income taxes
    10,588       13,804  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    13,882       18,196  
Assets held for sale
    6,831       9,573  
Total current assets
    318,956       244,015  
Property, plant, and equipment:
               
Land
    5,688       7,028  
Buildings
    53,089       55,466  
Equipment
    276,371       280,928  
Accumulated depreciation
    (205,001 )     (207,500 )
Net property, plant and equipment
    130,147       135,922  
Intangible assets, net of amortization:
               
Patents, licenses and software
    11,211       12,451  
Distribution network
    9,752       10,837  
Customer lists, trademarks and tradenames
    20,865       13,363  
Goodwill
    112,687       94,986  
Investments
    11,660       11,742  
Deferred income taxes
    3,271       8,460  
Other assets
    2,580       1,351  
Total assets
  $ 621,129     $ 533,127  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 24,079     $ 23,646  
Accrued payroll
    24,186       13,291  
Accrued expenses
    10,307       8,561  
Accrued severance
    3,279       11,418  
Accrued income taxes
    14,997       4,525  
Current portion of long-term debt
    33,000       14,183  
Total current liabilities
    109,848       75,624  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    41,000       49,000  
Accrued severance
    486       421  
Accrued post-retirement benefits
    5,564       18,271  
Other long-term liabilities
    11,571       11,212  
Shareholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share: 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share: 34,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding, 2010 –21,752,536; 2009 - 21,792,241
    218       218  
Treasury stock, at cost: 654,984 and 0 shares, respectively
    (23,546 )      
Additional paid-in capital
    150,548       130,870  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    21,241       18,727  
Retained earnings
    304,056       228,641  
Littelfuse, Inc. shareholders’ equity
    452,517       378,456  
Non-controlling interest
    143       143  
Total equity
    452,660       378,599  
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 621,129     $ 533,127  
 
See accompanying notes.

 
40

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

   
Year Ended
 
(In thousands of USD, except per share amounts)
 
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
   
December 27, 2008
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869  
Cost of sales
    374,149       304,786       387,200  
Gross profit
    233,872       125,361       143,669  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    103,671       88,506       107,239  
Research and development expenses
    17,602       18,134       24,069  
Amortization of intangibles
    5,025       5,026       3,866  
Total operating expenses
    126,298       111,666       135,174  
Operating income
    107,574       13,695       8,495  
                         
Interest expense, net
    1,437       2,377       3,440  
Other expense (income), net
    (1,542 )     481       (5,568 )
Income before income taxes
    107,679       10,837       10,623  
Income taxes
    29,016       1,426       2,607  
Net income
  $ 78,663     $ 9,411     $ 8,016  
                         
Income per share:
                       
Basic
  $ 3.58     $ 0.43     $ 0.37  
Diluted
  $ 3.52     $ 0.43     $ 0.37  
                         
Weighted-average shares and equivalent shares outstanding:
                       
Basic
    21,875       21,743       21,722  
Diluted
    22,214       21,812       21,826  

See accompanying notes.

 
41

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
Year Ended
 
(In thousands of USD)
 
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
   
December 27, 2008
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                 
Net income
  $ 78,663     $ 9,411     $ 8,016  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation
    26,980       31,596       28,333  
Impairment of assets
    2,988       829       3,169  
Impairment of investments
                2,787  
Amortization of intangibles
    5,025       5,026       3,866  
Provision for bad debts
    353       319       286  
  (Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (615 )     703       (511 )
Stock-based compensation
    5,243       5,503       5,058  
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation
    (1,617 )     (15 )     (172 )
Deferred income taxes
    7,784       (2,905 )     (3,947 )
Pension settlement expenses
                5,725  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable
    (12,804 )     (15,569 )     23,080  
Inventories
    (15,147 )     15,549       (6,593 )
Accounts payable
    (1,800 )     4,360       (6,177 )
Accrued expenses (including post-retirement)
    (13,645 )     (12,294 )     3,048  
Accrued payroll and severance
    2,384       (9,018 )     (15,705 )
Accrued taxes
    14,878       (3,322 )     (3,462 )
Prepaid expenses and other
    5,399       (562 )     (6,226 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    104,069       29,611       40,575  
                         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                       
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (22,433 )     (15,536 )     (51,288 )
Purchase of businesses, net of cash acquired
    (48,292 )     (920 )     (47,465 )
Proceeds from sale of investment
          133        
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    4,997       1,558       4,479  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (65,728 )     (14,765 )     (94,274 )
                         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                       
Proceeds from debt
    39,345       32,374       190,500  
Payments of debt
    (28,624 )     (50,076 )     (123,912 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    18,496       1,505       1,857  
Cash dividends paid
    (3,248 )            
Notes receivable, common stock
                5  
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation
    1,617       15       172  
Purchases of common stock
    (25,377 )           (6,623 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    2,209       (16,182 )     61,999  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (1,184 )     753       (2,306 )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    39,366       (583 )     5,994  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    70,354       70,937       64,943  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 109,720     $ 70,354     $ 70,937  

See accompanying notes.

 
42

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

   
Littelfuse, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
       
(In thousands of USD)
 
Common
Stock
   
Addl. Paid
in Capital
   
Treasury
Stock
   
Notes Rec.
Common Stock
   
Accum. Other
Comp. Inc. (Loss)
   
Retained
Earnings
   
Non-controlling
Interest
   
Total
 
Balance at December 29, 2007
  $ 219     $ 118,765     $     $ (5 )   $ 17,361     $ 217,074     $ 143     $ 353,557  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                               
Net income for the year
                                  8,016             8,016  
Change in net unrealized gain on derivatives*
                            (403 )                 (403 )
Min. pension liability adj.*
                            (11,653 )                 (11,653 )
Unrealized loss on invest.*
                            (2,892 )                 (2,892 )
Transfer of investment loss to income*
                            2,787                   2,787  
Foreign currency trans. adj.
                            (15,323 )                 (15,323 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
                                                            (19,468 )
Payments on notes receivable
                      5                         5  
Stock-based compensation
          5,058                                     5,058  
Purchase of 218,000 shares of common stock
    (2 )     (761 )                       (5,860 )           (6,623 )
Stock options exercised, including tax impact of ($361)
          1,322                                     1,322  
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 217     $ 124,384     $     $     $ (10,123 )   $ 219,230     $ 143     $ 333,851  
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                                               
Net income for the year
                                  9,411             9,411  
Change in net unrealized gain on derivatives*
                            311                   311  
Min. pension liability adj. *
                            11,657                   11,657  
Unrealized gain on invest.*
                            8,648                   8,648  
Foreign currency trans. adj.
                            8,234                   8,234  
Comprehensive income (loss)
                                                            38,261  
Stock-based compensation
          5,503                                     5,503  
Stock options exercised, including tax impact of ($521)
    1       983                                     984  
Balance at January 2, 2010
  $ 218     $ 130,870     $     $     $ 18,727     $ 228,641     $ 143     $ 378,599  
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net income for the year
                                  78,663             78,663  
Change in net unrealized gain on derivatives*
                            92                   92  
Min. pension liability adj. *
                            (3,044 )                 (3,044 )
Unrealized gain on invest.*
                            696                   696  
Foreign currency trans. adj.
                            4,770                   4,770  
Comprehensive income
                                                            81,177  
Stock-based compensation
          5,243                                     5,243  
Withheld 11,207 shares on restricted stock grants for withholding taxes
     —        —       (422 )      —        —        —        —       (422 )
Purchase of 643,777 shares of common stock
    (6 )     (2,247 )     (23,124 )                        —       (25,377 )
Stock options exercised, including tax impact of ($1,807)
     6        16,682        —        —        —        —        —        16.688  
Cash dividends paid ($0.15 per share)
                                  (3,248 )           (3,248 )
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 218     $ 150,548     $ (23,546 )   $     $ 21,241     $ 304,056     $ 143     $ 452,660  
 
*Including related tax impact.

See accompanying notes.

 
43

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information

Nature of Operations: Littelfuse, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “company”) design, manufacture, and sell circuit protection devices for use in the automotive, electronic and electrical markets throughout the world.

Fiscal Year: The company’s fiscal year ended January 1, 2011 contained 52 weeks. The fiscal year ended January 2, 2010 contained 53 weeks and the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008 contained 52 weeks.

Basis of Presentation: The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Littelfuse, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The company’s Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America and include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of all wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned subsidiaries over which the company exercises control.

Use of Estimates: The process of preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses and the accompanying notes. The company evaluates and updates its assumptions and estimates on an ongoing basis and may employ outside experts to assist in its evaluation, as considered necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Equivalents: All highly liquid investments, with a maturity of three months or less when purchased, are considered to be cash equivalents.

Investments: The company has determined that all of its investment securities are to be classified as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss).” Realized gains and losses and declines in unrealized value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities are included in other expense (income), net. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investments, derivative instruments and long-term debt. The carrying values of such financial instruments approximate their estimated fair values.

Accounts Receivable: The company performs credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. Credit losses are provided for in the financial statements based upon specific knowledge of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to the company. Historically, credit losses have consistently been within management’s expectations and have not been a material amount. A receivable is considered past due if payments have not been received within agreed upon invoice terms. Write-offs are recorded at the time a customer receivable is deemed uncollectible.

The company also maintains allowances against accounts receivable for the settlement of rebates and sales discounts to customers. These allowances are based upon specific customer sales and sales discounts as well as actual historical experience.
 
 
44

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued
 
Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market (first in, first out method), which approximates current replacement cost. The company maintains excess and obsolete allowances against inventory to reduce the carrying value to the expected net realizable value. These allowances are based upon a combination of factors including historical sales volume, market conditions, lower of cost or market analysis and expected realizable value of the inventory.

Property, Plant and Equipment: Land, buildings, and equipment are carried at cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method with useful lives of 21 years for buildings, seven to nine years for equipment, seven years for furniture and fixtures, five years for tooling and three years for computer equipment.

Goodwill: The company annually tests goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment on the first day of its fiscal fourth quarter or at an interim date if there is an event or change in circumstances that indicates the asset may be impaired. The company has four reporting units for testing purposes. Management determines the fair value of each of its reporting units by using a discounted cash flow model (which includes forecasted five-year income statement and working capital projections, a market-based weighted average cost of capital and terminal values after five years) to estimate market value.  In addition, the company compares its derived enterprise value on a consolidated basis to the company’s market capitalization as of its test date to ensure its derived value approximates the market value of the company when taken as a whole.

As of the most recent annual test conducted on October 2, 2010, the company concluded the fair value of each of the reporting units exceeded its carrying value of invested capital and therefore, no goodwill impairment existed. Specifically, the company noted that its headroom, defined as the excess of fair value over the carrying value of invested capital, was 85%, 64%, 253% and 141% for its electronics, automotive, base electrical, and protection relay and custom products reporting units, respectively, at October 2, 2010. Certain key assumptions used in the annual test included a discount rate of 14.0% and a long-term growth rate of 3% for all four reporting units.

In addition, the company performed a sensitivity test at October 2, 2010 that showed a 100 basis point increase in its discount rate or a 100 basis point decrease in the long-term growth rate for each reporting unit would not have changed the company’s conclusion that no goodwill impairment existed at October 2, 2010.

The company will continue to perform a goodwill impairment test as required on an annual basis and on an interim basis, if certain conditions exist. Factors the company considers important, which could result in changes to its estimates, include underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and declines in acquisitions and trading multiples. Due to the diverse end user base and non-discretionary product demand, the company does not believe its future operating results will vary significantly relative to its historical and projected future operating results.

Other Intangible Assets: Trademarks and tradenames are amortized using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives that have a range of five to 20 years. Patents, licenses and software are amortized using the straight-line method or an accelerated method over estimated useful lives that have a range of four to 12 years. The distribution networks are amortized on either a straight-line or accelerated basis over estimated useful lives that have a range of four to 20 years. Other intangible assets are also tested for impairment when there is a significant event that may cause the asset to be impaired.

 
45

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued
 
Environmental Liabilities: Environmental liabilities are accrued based on engineering studies estimating the cost of remediating sites. Expenses related to on-going maintenance of environmental sites are expensed as incurred. If actual or estimated probable future losses exceed the company’s recorded liability for such claims, the company would record additional charges during the period in which the actual loss or change in estimate occurred.

Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefits: Accounting for pensions requires estimating the future benefit cost and recognizing the cost over the employee’s expected period of employment with the company. Certain assumptions are required in the calculation of pension costs and obligations. These assumptions include the discount rate, salary scales and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. The discount rate is intended to represent the rate at which pension benefit obligations could be settled by purchase of an annuity contract. These assumptions are subject to change based on stock and bond market returns and other economic factors. Actual results that differ from the company’s assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and therefore generally affect its recognized expense and accrued liability in such future periods. While the company believes that its assumptions are appropriate given current economic conditions and its actual experience, significant differences in results or significant changes in the company’s assumptions may materially affect its pension obligations and related future expense. On April 1, 2009, the company elected to freeze its U.S. benefit plan.  As a result of the freeze decision, the company remeasured its pension plan assets and obligations which resulted in a decrease in the net obligation at that date. See Note 12 for additional information.

Reclassifications: Certain items in the 2009 and 2008 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

Revenue Recognition: The company recognizes revenue on product sales in the period in which the sales process is complete. This generally occurs when products are shipped (FOB origin) to the customer in accordance with the terms of the sale, the risk of loss has been transferred, collectability is reasonably assured and the pricing is fixed and determinable. At the end of each period, for those shipments where title to the products and the risk of loss and rewards of ownership do not transfer until the product has been received by the customer, the company adjusts revenues and cost of sales for the delay between the time that the products are shipped and when they are received by the customer. The company’s distribution channels are primarily through direct sales and independent third party distributors.

Revenue and Billing: The company accepts orders from customers based on long term purchasing contracts and written sales agreements. Contract pricing and selling agreement terms are based on market factors, costs, and competition. Pricing normally is negotiated as an adjustment (premium or discount) from the company’s published price lists. The customer is invoiced when the company’s products are shipped to them in accordance with the terms of the sales agreement.

 
46

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued

Returns and Credits: Some of the terms of the company’s sales agreements and normal business conditions provide customers (distributors) the ability to receive price adjustments on products previously shipped and invoiced. This practice is common in the industry and is referred to as a “ship and debit” program. This program allows the distributor to debit the company for the difference between the distributors’ contracted price and a lower price for specific transactions. Under certain circumstances (usually in a competitive situation or large volume opportunity), a distributor will request authorization to reduce its price to its buyer. If the company approves such a reduction, the distributor is authorized to “debit” its account for the difference between the contracted price and the lower approved price. The company establishes reserves for this program based on historic activity and actual authorizations for the debit and recognizes these debits as a reduction of revenue.

The company has a return to stock policy whereby a customer with prior authorization from Littelfuse management can return previously purchased goods for full or partial credit. The company establishes an estimated allowance for these returns based on historic activity. Sales revenue and cost of sales are reduced to anticipate estimated returns.

The company properly meets all of the criteria for recognizing revenue when the right of return exists. Specifically, the company meets those requirements because:

 
1.
The company’s selling price is fixed or determinable at the date of the sale.
 
2.
The company has policies and procedures to accept only credit worthy customers with the ability to pay the company.
 
3.
The company’s customers are obligated to pay the company under the contract and the obligation is not contingent on the resale of the product. (All “ship and debit” and “returns to stock” require specific circumstances and authorization.)
 
4.
The risk ownership transfers to the company’s customers upon shipment and is not changed in the event of theft, physical destruction or damage of the product.
 
5.
The company bills at the ship date and establishes a reserve to reduce revenue from the in transit time until the product is delivered for FOB destination sales.
 
6.
The company’s customers acquiring the product for resale have economic substance apart from that provided by Littelfuse, and all distributors are independent of the company.
 
7.
The company does not have any obligations for future performance to bring about resale of the product by its customers.
 
8.
The company can reasonably estimate the amount of future returns.
 
Volume Rebates: The company offers incentives to certain customers to achieve specific quarterly or annual sales targets. If customers achieve their sales targets, they are entitled to rebates. The company estimates the future cost of these rebates and recognizes this estimated cost as a reduction to revenue as products are sold.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: The company evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables based on a combination of factors. The company regularly analyzes its significant customer accounts and, when the company becomes aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, the company records a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount the company reasonably believes is collectible. The company also records allowances for all other customers based on a variety of factors including the length of time the receivables are past due, the financial health of the customer, macroeconomic considerations and past experience. Historically, the allowance for doubtful accounts has been adequate to cover bad debts. If circumstances related to specific customers change, the estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted. However, due to the company’s diverse customer base and lack of credit concentration, the company does not believe its estimates would be materially impacted by changes in its assumptions.
 
 
47

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued
 
Advertising Costs: The company expenses advertising costs as incurred, which amounted to $1.2 million in 2010, $1.1 million in 2009 and $2.3 million in 2008, and are included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs: Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenue. Costs incurred for shipping and handling of $10.9 million, $5.0 million, and $6.5 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, are classified in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Restructuring Costs: The company incurred severance charges and plant closure expenses as part of the company’s on-going cost reduction efforts. These charges are included in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses, or research and development expenses depending on the personnel being included in the charge. See Note 9 for additional information on restructuring costs.

Foreign Currency Translation: The company’s foreign subsidiaries use the local currency or the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, as appropriate. Assets and liabilities are translated using exchange rates at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated at weighted average rates. The amount of foreign currency conversion recognized in the income statement related to currency translation were losses of $3.3 million and $0.4 million in 2010 and 2009, respectively and a gain of $2.3 million in 2008 and is included as a component of other expense (income), net. Adjustments from the translation process are recognized in “Shareholders’ Equity” as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income”.

Stock-based Compensation: The company recognizes compensation expense for the cost of awards of equity compensation using a fair value method. Benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation expense are reported both in operating and financing cash flows.

On certain occasions, the company has granted stock options for a fixed number of shares with an exercise price below that of the underlying stock on the date of the grant and recognizes compensation expense accordingly. This compensation expense has historically not been significant. See Note 13 for additional information on stock-based compensation.

Income Taxes: The company accounts for income taxes using the liability method.  Deferred taxes are recognized for the future effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting using enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The company recognizes deferred taxes for temporary differences, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Federal and state income taxes are provided on the portion of foreign income that is expected to be remitted to the U.S. and be taxable.
 
 
48

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued
 
Subsequent Events: The company has evaluated subsequent events through February 25, 2011, the date the financial statements were issued.

Accounting Pronouncements: In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued authoritative guidance that eliminates the qualifying special purpose entity concept, changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets and requires enhanced disclosures about transfers of financial assets. The guidance also revises earlier guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity, requires a new approach for determining who should consolidate a variable interest entity, changes when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a variable interest entity, and requires enhanced disclosures related to an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities. The guidance is effective for the first annual reporting period that begins after November 15, 2009. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends earlier guidance addressing the accounting for contractual arrangements in which an entity provides multiple products or services (deliverables) to a customer. The amendments address the unit of accounting for arrangements involving multiple deliverables and how arrangement consideration should be allocated to the separate units of accounting, when applicable, by establishing a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. The selling price used for each deliverable will be based on vendor-specific objective evidence if available, third-party evidence if vendor-specific objective evidence is not available, or estimated selling price if neither vendor-specific nor third-party evidence is available. The amendments also require that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of an arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010 with early adoption allowed. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that amends earlier guidance for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality are no longer within the scope of guidance for recognizing revenue from the sale of software, but would be accounted for in accordance with other authoritative guidance. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with earlier application permitted. The company does not believe the accounting guidance will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued additional guidance to improve fair value disclosures and increase the transparency in financial reporting. These enhancements include: (1) a reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers; and (2) in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements. This new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. The company adopted the new accounting guidance on January 3, 2010, which did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
49

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Other Information, continued
 
In February 2010, the SEC issued a statement that reaffirms its support for the potential use of IFRS in the preparation of financial statements by U.S. registrants. It announced a work plan by which it is expected to make a determination in 2011 whether or not it will mandate the conversion to IFRS. As of October 2010, the SEC continues to anticipate making the determination in 2011 of whether, when, and how to incorporate IFRS into the U.S. domestic financial reporting system. The company is currently assessing the potential impact of IFRS on its Consolidated Financial Statements and will continue to review progress of the work plan.
 
In December 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance related to disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations. The guidance specified that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The company does not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an authoritative guidance describing when to perform step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The amendments in this guidance modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The qualitative factors are consistent with the existing guidance and examples, which require that goodwill of a reporting unit be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. For public entities, the amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The company expects to adopt this guidance effective the beginning of fiscal year 2011, and does not expect it to have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

2. Acquisition of Business

On February 29, 2008, the company acquired Shock Block Corporation (“Shock Block”), a leading manufacturer in ground fault technology located in Dallas, Texas, for $9.2 million less a holdback of $0.9 million subject to the fulfillment of certain contractual obligations by the seller. From February 29, 2008 and thereafter, the results of operations of Shock Block are included in the company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The company primarily acquired customer lists and intellectual property rights, including trademarks and tradenames. The customer lists were assigned a useful life of seven years. The company funded the acquisition with cash and has continued to operate Shock Block’s electrical business subsequent to the acquisition. The Shock Block acquisition expands the company’s portfolio of protection products for commercial and industrial applications and strengthens the company’s position in the circuit protection industry.
 
 
50

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. Acquisition of Business, continued
 
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the operations of Shock Block are included in the company’s consolidated results from the date of the acquisition. The following table sets forth the preliminary purchase price allocations for Shock Block’s net assets in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair market or net realizable values.

Shock Block purchase price allocation (in thousands):
 
Goodwill
  $ 7,595  
Customer lists
    2,442  
Other assets, net
    91  
Deferred tax liability
    (928 )
    $ 9,200  

All Shock Block goodwill and other assets are recorded in the Electrical business unit segment and reflected in the Americas geographical area. Goodwill for the above acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

On September 17, 2008, the company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the stock of Startco Engineering Ltd. (“Startco”), a leading manufacturer in ground-fault protection products and custom-power distribution centers located in Saskatchewan, Canada. On September 30, 2008, the company completed the purchase of Startco for approximately $37.7 million. From September 30, 2008 and thereafter, the results of operations of Startco are included in the company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The company funded the acquisition with proceeds from the Loan Agreement discussed in Note 6.

The Startco acquisition strengthens the company’s position in the industrial ground-fault protection business and provides industrial power distribution design and manufacturing capabilities that strengthen the company’s position within the growing mining industry. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the operations of Startco are included in the company’s consolidated results from the date of the acquisition.

The following table sets forth the purchase price allocation for Startco’s net assets in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair market or net realizable values.

 
51

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. Acquisition of Business, continued
 
Startco purchase price allocation (in thousands):
 
Cash
  $ 701  
Current assets, net
    6,438  
Property, plant and equipment
    5,000  
Patents and product designs
    5,300  
Customer lists and backlog
    7,225  
Trademarks and tradenames
    5,500  
Goodwill
    16,719  
Other assets
    32  
Current liabilities
    (5,610 )
Deferred tax liability
    (3,647 )
    $ 37,658  
 
All Startco goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Electrical business unit segment and reflected in the Americas geographical area. The patents and product designs are both being amortized over 12 years. Customer lists are being amortized over 15 years. Backlog is being amortized over 3 years. Trademarks and tradenames have indefinite lives and are not being amortized.  Goodwill for the above acquisition is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

On December 17, 2010, the company acquired the Cole Hersee Company (“Cole Hersee”), a leading manufacturer of power management products and heavy duty electromechanical and solid-state switches, for $50.0 million. The acquisition allows the company to further expand its off-road, truck and bus business. Cole Hersee is located in Boston, Massachusetts with manufacturing operations in Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico. The company funded the acquisition with available cash.

The following table sets forth the preliminary purchase price allocation for Cole Hersee’s net assets in accordance with the purchase method of accounting with adjustments to record the acquired net assets at their estimated fair market or net realizable values.
 
Cole Hersee preliminary purchase price allocation (in thousands):
 
Cash
  $ 1,708  
Current assets, net
    18,108  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    5,603  
Goodwill
    17,543  
Other intangibles
    9,000  
Other assets
    532  
Current liabilities
    (2,302 )
Other long-term liabilities
    (192 )
    $ 50,000  
 
All Cole Hersee goodwill and other assets and liabilities were recorded in the Automotive business unit segment and reflected in the Americas geographical area. These estimates are subject to revision after the company completes its fair value analysis, which will occur during 2011. Goodwill for the above acquisition is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

Pro forma financial information is not presented for Cole Hersee or in the aggregate for the aforementioned acquisitions due to amounts not being materially different than actual results.

 
52

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. Inventories

The components of inventories at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 are as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
 
Raw materials
  $ 20,994     $ 20,065  
Work in process
    9,719       9,111  
Finished goods
    49,469       23,391  
Total
  $ 80,182     $ 52,567  

4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The amounts for goodwill and changes in the carrying value by operating segment are as follows at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 (in thousands):

   
2010
   
Additions(a)
   
Adjust. (b)
   
2009
   
Reductions(c)
   
Adjust.(b)
   
2008
 
Electronics
  $ 35,306     $     $ 223     $ 35,083     $     $ (588 )   $ 35,671  
Automotive
    41,370       17,543       (858 )     24,685             292       24,393  
Electrical
    36,011             793       35,218       (13,915 )     2,236       46,897  
Total
  $ 112,687     $ 17,543     $ 158     $ 94,986     $ (13,915 )   $ 1,940     $ 106,961  
There were no accumulated goodwill impairment losses at January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010 or December 27, 2009.
(a) Automotive additions in 2010 of $17.5 million resulted from the acquisition of Cole Hersee.
(b) Adjustments reflect the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.
(c) Electrical reductions in 2009 of $13.9 million resulted from the finalization of the Startco purchase price allocation.

The company recorded amortization expense of $5.0 million in both 2010 and 2009 and $3.9 million in 2008. The details of other intangible assets and related future amortization expense of existing intangible assets at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 are as follows:

   
2010
   
2009
 
(in thousands)
 
Weighted Average
Useful Life
   
Gross
Carrying Value
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Weighted Average
Useful Life
   
Gross
Carrying Value
   
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Patents, licenses and software(a)
    11.9     $ 40,745     $ 29,534       11.9     $ 40,205     $ 27,754  
Distribution network(a)
    14.7       31,830       22,078       14.6       30,546       19,709  
Customer lists, trademarks and tradenames(a)
    14.9       22,341       7,318       14.7       14,103        6,299  
Tradenames(a) (b)
          5,842                   5,559        
Total
          $ 100,758     $ 58,930             $ 90,413     $ 53,762  
(a) Increase to gross carrying value for customer lists, trademarks and tradenames in 2010 are related to the preliminary Cole Hersee acquisition purchase price allocation discussed in Note 2.  Other changes are primarily due to the impact of changes in exchange rates.
(b) Tradenames with indefinite lives.
 
 
53

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, continued

Estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets with definite lives at January 1, 2011 is as follows (in thousands):

2011
  $ 5,752  
2012
    4,344  
2013
    3,821  
2014
    3,315  
2015
    2,916  
2016 and thereafter
    15,838  
    $ 35,986  

5. Investments

Included in investments are shares of Polytronics Technology Corporation Ltd. (“Polytronics”), a Taiwanese company.  In addition, the company had an immaterial investment in Sumi Motherson, an Indian company, which was sold during the quarter ended September 26, 2009 for €0.1 million (approximately $0.2 million).  Both of these investments were acquired as part of the Littelfuse GmbH (formerly known as Heinrich Industries, AG) acquisition.  The company’s Polytronics shares held at the end of fiscal 2010 and 2009 represent approximately 8.0% of total Polytronics shares outstanding for both years. The fair value of the Polytronics investment was €8.8 million (approximately $11.7 million) at January 1, 2011 and €8.2 million (approximately $11.7 million) at January 2, 2010. Included in 2010 other comprehensive income is an unrealized gain of $0.7 million, due to the increase in fair market value of the Polytronics investment. The remaining movement year over year was due to the impact of changes in exchange rates.

The investment in Polytronics stock had traded significantly below its acquisition cost of €4.1 million (approximately $4.3 million) from June 2008 through December 27, 2008 and had not traded above cost during that time period. As such, management concluded as of December 27, 2008 that it was more likely than not the loss was “other than temporary”. The cost basis of the security was adjusted down to the fair value as of the measurement date with a resulting charge to earnings. Consequently, the company recorded a realized loss on investment of €2.0 million (approximately $2.8 million) to other expense (income), net for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008.

6. Debt

The carrying amounts of long-term debt at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 are as follows:

In thousands
 
2010
   
2009
 
Term loan
  $ 49,000     $ 57,000  
Revolving credit facility
    25,000       6,183  
      74,000       63,183  
Less: Current maturities
    33,000       14,183  
Total
  $ 41,000     $ 49,000  

 
54

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. Debt, continued

Term Loan
 
On September 29, 2008, the company entered into a Loan Agreement with various lenders that provides the company with a five-year term loan facility of up to $80.0 million for the purposes of (i) refinancing certain existing indebtedness; (ii) funding working capital needs; and (iii) funding capital expenditures and other lawful corporate purposes, including permitted acquisitions. The Loan Agreement also contains an expansion feature, pursuant to which the company may from time to time request incremental loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $40.0 million. The company had $49.0 million outstanding on the term loan at January 1, 2011.

At the company’s option, any loan under the Loan Agreement bears interest at a rate equal to the applicable rate, as determined in accordance with the pricing grid set forth in the Loan Agreement, plus one of the following indexes: (i) LIBOR or (ii) the Base Rate (defined as the higher of (a) the prime rate publicly announced from time to time by the Agent under the Loan Agreement and (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%). Overdue amounts bear a fee of 2.0% per annum above the applicable rate. The actual interest rate paid on the term loan was approximately 1.8% for the year ended January 1, 2011.

The Loan Agreement requires the company to meet certain financial tests, including a consolidated leverage ratio and a consolidated interest coverage ratio. The Loan Agreement also contains additional affirmative and negative covenants which, among other things, impose certain limitations on the company’s ability to merge with other companies, create liens on its property, incur additional indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliates except on an arm’s length basis, or dispose of property. At January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010, and for the years then ended, the company was in compliance with these covenants. This Loan Agreement does not impact the existing debt covenants in the revolving credit facility described below.

Revolving Credit Facility
 
On January 28, 2009, the company entered into an unsecured financing arrangement with a Canadian bank that provided a CAD 10.0 million (equivalent to approximately $10.0 million at January 1, 2011) revolving credit facility, for capital expenditures and general working capital, which expires on July 21, 2011. This facility consists of prime-based loans and overdrafts, bankers’ acceptances and U.S. base rate loans and overdrafts, and is guaranteed by the company.  At January 1, 2011, the company had approximately CAD 10.0 million (equivalent to approximately $10.0 million) available under the revolving credit facility.  This agreement contains covenants that, among other matters, impose limitations on future mergers, sales of assets, and changes in control, as defined in the agreement. In addition, the company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants and tests relating to, among other matters, interest coverage, working capital, leverage and net worth. At January 1, 2011, the company was in compliance with all covenants.

The company has an unsecured domestic financing arrangement consisting of a credit agreement with banks that provides a $75.0 million revolving credit facility, with a potential increase of up to $125.0 million upon request of the company and agreement with the lenders, which expires on July 21, 2011. At January 1, 2011, the company had available $50.0 million of borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.500% (0.76% as of January 1, 2011). The company also had $2.3 million available in letters of credit at January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010, respectively. No amounts were outstanding under these letters of credit at fiscal year-end 2010 and 2009.
 
 
55

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. Debt, continued

The domestic bank credit agreement contains covenants that, among other matters, impose limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, future mergers, sales of assets, and changes in control, as defined in the agreement. In addition, the company is required to satisfy certain financial covenants and tests relating to, among other matters, interest coverage, working capital, leverage and net worth. At January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010, and for the years then ended, the company was in compliance with these covenants.

Interest paid on debt was approximately $1.3 million in 2010, $2.3 million in 2009, and $3.4 million in 2008. Aggregate maturities of obligations at January 1, 2011, are as follows (in thousands):

2011
  $ 33,000  
2012
    18,000  
2013
    23,000  
    $ 74,000  

7. Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Occasionally, the company uses financial instruments to manage its exposures to movements in commodity prices, foreign exchange and interest rates. The use of these financial instruments modifies the company’s exposure to these risks with the goal of reducing the risk or cost to the company. The company does not use derivatives for trading purposes and is not a party to leveraged derivative contracts.

The company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value is based upon either market quotes for actively traded instruments or independent bids for non-exchange traded instruments. The company formally documents its hedge relationships, including identifying the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transaction. This process includes linking derivatives that are designated as hedges of specific assets, liabilities, firm commitments or forecasted transactions to the hedged risk. On the date the derivative is entered into, the company designates the derivative as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge or a net investment hedge, and accounts for the derivative in accordance with its designation. The company also formally assesses, both at inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the derivatives are highly effective in offsetting changes in either the fair value or cash flows of the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative ceases to be a highly effective hedge, or if the anticipated transaction is no longer likely to occur, the company discontinues hedge accounting, and any deferred gains or losses are recorded in the respective measurement period. The company currently does not have any outstanding hedge instruments.

Cash Flow Hedges

A hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability is designated as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of the change in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as a cash flow hedge is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). When the impact of the hedged item is recognized in the income statement, the gain or loss included in other comprehensive income (loss) is reported on the same line in the Consolidated Statements of Income as the hedged item.

 
56

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7. Financial Instruments and Risk Management, continued
 
Cash Flow Hedge - Currency Risk Management
 
In January 2009, the company entered into a series of weekly forward contracts to buy Mexican pesos to manage its exposure to fluctuations in the cost of this currency through December 28, 2009. The company uses Mexican pesos to fund payroll and operating expenses at one of the company’s Mexico manufacturing facilities.  The operations of the Mexico facility are accounted for within an entity where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency. In September 2009, the company extended the arrangement through June 28, 2010. Amounts included in other comprehensive  income (loss) are reclassified into cost of sales in the period in which the hedged transaction is recognized in earnings. As of July 3, 2010, the company’s Mexican peso forward contracts expired.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The fair values of derivative financial instruments recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of the company are as follows (in thousands):

       
Fair Value
 
Description
 
Balance Sheet Item
 
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
 
Derivative Assets - Hedges
               
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Prepaid expenses and  other current assets
  $     $ 179  
Total Derivative Assets
      $     $ 179  

Net Derivative Gain or Loss
 
The effect of cash flow hedge derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) is as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized
in Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
(Effective Portion)
 
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified
from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
    Twelve Months Ended    into Income   Twelve Months Ended  
   
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
  (Effective Portion)  
January 1, 2011
   
January 2, 2010
 
Commodity contracts
  $     $ 422  
Cost of Sales
  $     $ (593 )
Foreign exchange contracts
    92       (111 )
Cost of Sales
    (191 )     358  
Total
  $ 92     $ 311       $ (191 )   $ (235 )

 
57

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7. Financial Instruments and Risk Management, continued

Derivative Transactions

At January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included $0.0 million and $0.1 million in unrealized losses, respectively, for derivatives, net of income taxes.

8. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

In determining fair value, the company uses various valuation approaches within the fair value measurement framework.  Fair value measurements are determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

Applicable accounting literature establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available.  Applicable accounting literature defines levels within the hierarchy based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

Level 1—Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;
Level 2—Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities or identical assets or liabilities in less active markets, such as dealer or broker markets; and
Level 3—Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable, such as pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques not based on market, exchange, dealer or broker-traded transactions.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value and their classification in the valuation hierarchy.

Available-for-sale securities

Equity securities listed on a national market or exchange are valued at the last sales price. Such securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

Derivative instruments

The fair values of commodity derivatives are valued based on quoted futures prices for the underlying commodity and are categorized as Level 2. The fair values of interest rate and foreign exchange rate derivatives are determined based on inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets and are categorized as Level 2.

The company does not have any financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis categorized as Level 3, and there were no transfers in or out of Level 3 during 2010 or 2009. There were no changes during the year ended January 1, 2011, to the company’s valuation techniques used to measure asset and liability fair values on a recurring basis. As of January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, the company held no non-financial assets or liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
 
 
58

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities, continued

The following table presents assets measured at fair value by classification within the fair value hierarchy as of January 1, 2011 (in thousands):

   
Fair Value Measurements Using
       
   
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total
 
                         
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 11,660     $           $ 11,660  
Total
  $ 11,660     $     $     $ 11,660  

The following table presents assets measured at fair value by classification within the fair value hierarchy as of January 2, 2010 (in thousands):

   
Fair Value Measurements Using
       
   
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total
 
                         
Available-for-sale securities
  $ 11,742     $     $     $ 11,742  
Currency derivative contracts
          179             179  
Total
  $ 11,742     $ 179     $     $ 11,921  

The company’s other financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and long-term debt. Due to their short-term maturity, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable approximate their fair values. The company’s long-term debt fair value approximates book value at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, respectively, as the long-term debt variable interest rates fluctuate along with market interest rates.

9. Restructuring

During 2006, the company announced the closing of its Ireland facility, resulting in restructuring charges of $17.1 million consisting of $20.0 million of accrued severance less a statutory rebate of $2.9 million recorded as a current asset, which were recorded as part of cost of sales. This restructuring, which impacted approximately 131 employees, is part of the company’s strategy to expand operations in Asia-Pacific region in order to be closer to current and potential customers and take advantage of lower manufacturing costs. The restructuring charges were based upon each employee’s salary and length of service with the company. The additions in 2009 and 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period. These costs will be paid through 2011. All charges related to the closure of the Ireland facility were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The total cost expected to be incurred is $26.1 million. The company has incurred $26.1 million through January 1, 2011. A summary of activity of this liability is as follows:

 
59

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Restructuring, continued
 
Ireland restructuring (in thousands)
   
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 1,651  
Additions
    11  
Payments
    (1,454 )
Exchange rate impact
    (25 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
    183  
Additions
    80  
Payments
     
Exchange rate impact
    (15 )
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 248  

During December 2006, the company announced the closure of its Irving, Texas facility and the transfer of its semiconductor wafer manufacturing from Irving, Texas to Wuxi, China in a phased transition from 2007 to 2010. A liability of $1.9 million was recorded related to redundancy costs for the manufacturing operation associated with this downsizing. This charge was recorded as part of cost of sales and included in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The additions in 2009 and 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period. This restructuring impacted approximately 180 employees in various production and support related roles and will be paid over the period 2007 to 2011.

During March 2007, the company announced the closure of its Des Plaines and Elk Grove, Illinois, facilities and the transfer of its manufacturing from Des Plaines, Illinois to the Philippines and Mexico in a phased transition from 2007 to 2009. A liability of $3.5 million was recorded related to redundancy costs for the manufacturing and distribution operations associated with this restructuring. Manufacturing related charges of $3.0 million were recorded as part of cost of sales and non-manufacturing related charges of $0.5 million were recorded as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. All charges related to this downsizing were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The additions in 2008 and 2009 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period. This restructuring impacted approximately 307 employees in various production and support related roles and the costs relating to the restructuring were paid over the period 2007 to 2010.

During December 2008, the company announced a reduction in workforce at its Des Plaines, Illinois corporate headquarters in a phased transition from 2008 to 2010. A liability of $0.9 million was recorded associated with this downsizing. Manufacturing related charges of $0.3 million were recorded as part of cost of sales and non-manufacturing related charges of $0.6 million were recorded as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. All charges related to this downsizing were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. During 2009, an additional $1.1 million liability was recorded related to severance and retention costs at the Des Plaines facility. The remaining additions in 2009 and 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that will be incurred over the transition period. This restructuring impacted 39 employees in various production and support related roles and the costs relating to the restructuring will be paid over the period 2009 to 2011.

 
60

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Restructuring, continued

The total cost expected to be incurred for the Irving, Texas and Des Plaines and Elk Grove, Illinois related restructuring programs is $19.2 million. The company has incurred $19.2 million through January 1, 2011. A summary of activity of this liability is as follows:

Irving, Des Plaines and Elk Grove restructuring (in thousands)
 
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 9,608  
Additions
    3,977  
Payments
    (8,993 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
    4,592  
Additions
    1,168  
Payments
    (4,324 )
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 1,436  

During March 2008, the company announced the closure of its Matamoros, Mexico facility and the transfer of its semiconductor assembly and test operation from Matamoros, Mexico to its Wuxi, China facility and various subcontractors in the Asia-Pacific region in a phased transition over two years. A total liability of $4.4 million was recorded related to redundancy costs for the manufacturing operations associated with this downsizing. This charge was recorded as part of cost of sales and included in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The total cost expected to be incurred is $5.1 million. The total cost incurred through 2010 was $5.1 million with no further costs expected. The additions in 2009 and 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period. This restructuring impacted approximately 950 employees in various production and support related roles and has been fully paid as of January 1, 2011.

A summary of activity of this liability is as follows:

Matamoros restructuring (in thousands)
 
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 3,111  
Additions
    404  
Payments
    (1,749 )
Exchange rate impact
    (25 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
    1,741  
Additions
    137  
Payments
    (1,893 )
Exchange rate impact
    15  
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $  

During September 2008, the company announced the closure of its Swindon, U.K., facility, resulting in restructuring charges of $0.8 million, consisting of $0.3 million that was recorded as part of cost of sales and $0.5 million that was recorded as part of research and development expenses. These charges, which impact 10 employees, were primarily for redundancy costs and will be paid through 2011. Restructuring charges are based upon each employee’s current salary and length of service with the company. All charges related to the closure of the Swindon facility were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The total cost expected to be incurred is $1.3 million. The company has incurred $1.3 million through January 1, 2011. A summary of activity of this liability is as follows:
 
 
61

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Restructuring, continued

Swindon, U.K., restructuring (in thousands)
 
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $ 834  
Additions
    299  
Payments
    (1,048 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
    85  
Additions
    26  
Payments
    (53 )
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 58  

During May 2009, the company announced the restructuring of its European organization. The restructuring included the transfer of its manufacturing operations from Dünsen, Germany to Piedras Negras, Mexico and the closure of its distribution facility in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Dünsen closure will impact approximately 58 production employees.

The Utrecht closure impacted approximately 37 employees primarily in customer service and administrative roles. The restructuring for Utrecht was completed in the first quarter of 2010.  The Dünsen closure is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2011.  The charges recorded for severance and retention and asset impairments were approximately $2.3 million in Utrecht, Netherlands (reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses) and approximately $3.2 million in Dünsen, Germany (reflected within cost of sales). All charges related to the closure of the Dünsen and Utrecht facilities were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The remaining additions in 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period.

The total cost related to the European restructuring program expected to be incurred is $5.6 million. The company has incurred $5.6 million in costs, including asset impairment charges, through January 1, 2011. A summary of the activity of this liability is as follows:

European restructuring (in thousands)
 
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $  
Additions
    5,453  
Payments
    (686 )
Exchange rate impact
    87  
Balance at January 2, 2010
    4,854  
Additions
    135  
Payments
    (3,983 )
Exchange rate impact
    (155 )
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 851  

During May 2009, the company also announced a restructuring of its Asian operations. The restructuring includes closure of a manufacturing facility in Taiwan and a consolidation of its Asian sales offices. The closure of the Taiwan facility and Asian sales offices will impact approximately 184 employees. The announced restructuring for both of the locations is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2011. The charge recorded for this restructuring totaled $0.9 million and was related to severance and retention costs with $0.4 million and $0.5 million included within cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses, respectively.  All charges related to the closure and the consolidation of the Asian facilities were recorded in “Other Operating Income (Loss)” for business unit segment reporting purposes. The remaining additions in 2009 and 2010 primarily relate to retention costs that were incurred during the transition period. The total cost expected to be incurred is $1.7 million. The company has incurred $1.7 million through January 1, 2011 related to the Asian restructuring program. A summary of activity of this liability is as follows:

 
62

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. Restructuring, continued
 
Asian restructuring (in thousands)
 
Balance at December 27, 2008
  $  
Additions
    1,456  
Payments
    (291 )
Exchange rate impact
    38  
Balance at January 2, 2010
    1,203  
Additions
    278  
Payments
    (372 )
Exchange rate impact
    63  
Balance at January 1, 2011
  $ 1,172  

10. Coal Mine Liability

Included in other long-term liabilities is an accrual related to former coal mining operations at Littelfuse GmbH (formerly known as Heinrich Industries, AG) for the amounts of €3.3 million ($4.4 million) and €3.8 million ($5.4 million) at January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010, respectively.  Management accrues for losses associated with litigation and environmental claims based on management's best estimate of future costs when such losses are probable and reasonably able to be estimated.  Management uses, in conjunction with an independent third-party to prepare an annual engineering study, performs an annual evaluation of the former coal mining operations in order to develop its estimate of their probable future obligations in regard to remediating the dangers (such as a shaft collapse) of abandoned coal mine shafts in the former coal mining operations.  The ultimate determination can only be done after respective investigations because the concrete conditions are mostly unknown at this time.  

The accrual recorded represents the lower end of management’s estimated range of potential future costs, which ranges from €3.36 million ($4.4 million) to €6.3 million ($7.6 million) at January 1, 2011 as management does not have reason to believe that any amount in the above range is a better estimate than another.  The accrual is not discounted as management cannot reasonably estimate when such remediation efforts will take place. While the ultimate exposure at these former coal mining operations continues to be evaluated, the company does not anticipate a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

11. Asset Impairments

During 2010, based on an estimated fair value of $6.8 million, the company recorded a charge of approximately $3.0 million within selling, general and administrative expenses related to asset impairments which resulted from the downturn in the commercial real estate market. The impairment charges were associated with the closure of the company’s manufacturing facilities in Des Plaines, Illinois and Dundalk, Ireland. The charge was recognized as an “other” charge for segment reporting purposes. Impairment charges and fair value measurements related to these facilities were based on independent broker valuations (market approach) and are considered Level 3 assets within the fair value hierarchy for financial reporting purposes.

 
63

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

11. Asset Impairments, continued
 
During 2009, the company recorded a charge of approximately $0.8 million within selling, general and administrative expenses related to asset impairments. The impairment charge was associated with the closure of the company’s distribution facility located in Utrecht, Netherlands. The charge was recognized as an “other” charge for segment reporting purposes.

During 2008, the company recorded a charge of approximately $3.2 million within cost of sales related to asset impairments incurred primarily in China. The charge was associated mainly with the discontinuation of equipment used to manufacture gas discharge tubes as the company had determined to utilize a third party manufacturer for its production beginning in 2009. The charge was recognized in the Electronics reporting segment.

12. Benefit Plans

The company has a company-sponsored defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all of its North American employees. The amount of the retirement benefit is based on years of service and final average pay. The plan also provides post-retirement medical benefits to retirees and their spouses if the retiree has reached age 62 and has provided at least ten years of service prior to retirement. Such benefits generally cease once the retiree attains age 65. The company also has company-sponsored defined benefit pension plans covering employees in the U.K., Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the Netherlands. The amount of the retirement benefits provided under the plans is based on years of service and final average pay.

Liabilities resulting from the plan that covers employees in the Netherlands are settled annually through the purchase of insurance contracts. Separate from the foreign pension data presented below, net periodic expense for the plan covering the Netherlands employees was $0.0 million, $0.2 million, and $0.2 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

During the fourth quarter of 2010, the company elected to fully fund its German pension liability for approximately $10.2 million in cash. The German pension plan was frozen in 2009.

The company’s contributions are made in amounts sufficient to satisfy legal requirements. The company is not expected to be required to make a minimum funding contribution in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) for fiscal year 2011.

Total pension (income) expense was ($0.2) million, $1.4 million and $9.8 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in pension expense resulting in income in 2010 resulted from net earnings from plan assets that exceeded the required service and interest cost for the year. The decrease in pension expense for 2009 was due to the amendment and resulting freeze to the U.S. pension plan as noted in the following table.

 
64

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Benefit Plans, continued

Benefit plan related information is as follows:

   
2010
   
2009
 
(In thousands)
 
U.S.
   
Foreign
   
Total
   
U.S.
   
Foreign
   
Total
 
Change in benefit obligation:
                                   
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 58,774     $ 12,670     $ 71,444     $ 69,235     $ 12,369     $ 81,604  
Service cost
    500       266       766       866       323       1,189  
Interest cost
    3,927       591       4,518       4,076       735       4,811  
Acquisition
    25,230             25,230                    
Curtailment loss (gain)
          8       8       (3,977 )     (397 )     (4,374 )
Settlement loss (gain)
                            (1,199 )     (1,199 )
Net actuarial gain
    7,124       726       7,850       (7,202 )     1,430       (5,772 )
Benefits paid from the trust
    (4,291 )     (99 )     (4,390 )     (4,224 )     (104 )     (4,328 )
Benefits paid directly by company
          (855 )     (855 )           (899 )     (899 )
Effect of exchange rate movements
          (680 )     (680 )           412       412  
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 91,264     $ 12,627     $ 103,891     $ 58,774     $ 12,670     $ 71,444  
                                                 
Change in plan assets at fair value:
                                               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
  $ 52,645     $ 974     $ 53,619     $ 38,315     $ 2,017     $ 40,332  
Actual return on plan assets
    7,938       16       7,954       10,784       139       10,923  
Employer contributions
    6,000       10,186       16,186       7,770             7,770  
Business acquisition
    25,230             25,230                    
Benefits paid
    (4,291 )     (99 )     (4,390 )     (4,224 )     (104 )     (4,328 )
Settlement loss (gain)
                            (1,199 )     (1,199 )
Effect of exchange rate movements
          81       81             121       121  
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    87,522       11,158       98,680       52,645       974       53,619  
Net amount recognized/unfunded status
  $ (3,742 )   $ (1,469 )   $ (5,211 )   $ (6,129 )   $ (11,696 )   $ (17,825 )
                                                 
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet consist of:
                                       
Prepaid benefit cost
  $     $ 353     $ 353     $     $ 446     $ 446  
Accrued benefit liability
    (3,742 )     (1,822 )     (5,564 )     (6,129 )     (12,142 )     (18,271 )
Net liability recognized
  $ (3,742 )   $ (1,469 )   $ (5,211 )   $ (6,129 )   $ (11,696 )   $ (17,825 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income)
  $ 10,188     $ 405     $ 10,593     $ 5,984     $ (385 )   $ 5,599  

On March 26, 2009, the company amended its U.S.-based Amended and Restated Littelfuse, Inc. Retirement Plan (the “Pension Plan”), freezing benefit accruals effective April 1, 2009. The amendment provides that participants in the Pension Plan will not receive credit, other than for vesting purposes, for eligible earnings paid or for any months of service worked after the effective date. All accrued benefits under the Pension Plan as of the effective date will remain intact, and service credits for vesting and retirement eligibility will continue in accordance with the terms of the Pension Plan. As a result of the formal decision to freeze the Pension Plan benefit accruals, the company re-measured its Pension Plan assets and obligations at April 1, 2009, which resulted in a decrease of the Pension Plan obligation of $10.5 million, with a corresponding adjustment to other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes, on that date.

 
65

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Benefit Plans, continued

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax consist of:

   
2010
   
2009
 
(In thousands)
 
U.S.
   
Foreign
   
Total
   
U.S.
   
Foreign
   
Total
 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
  $ 10,188     $ 423     $ 10,611     $ 5,984     $ (363 )   $ 5,621  
Prior service (cost) credit
          (18 )     (18 )           (22 )     (22 )
Net amount recognized / occurring, pre-tax
  $ 10,188     $ 405     $ 10,593     $ 5,984     $ (385 )   $ 5,599  

The estimated net actuarial loss (gain) which will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into benefit cost in 2011 is less than $0.1 million.

   
U.S.
   
Foreign
 
(In thousands)
 
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
                                   
Service cost
  $ 500     $ 866     $ 3,241     $ 266     $ 323     $ 848  
Interest cost
    3,927       4,076       4,294       591       735       2,150  
Expected return on plan assets
    (5,018 )     (4,343 )     (5,053 )     (15 )     (72 )     (1,353 )
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)
     —        2        10       (1 )     (12 )     (13 )
Amortization of transition asset
                                  (75 )
Amortization of losses/(gains)
                      (3 )     13       63  
Total cost of the plan for the year
    (591 )     601       2,492       838       987       1,620  
Expected plan participants’ contributions
     —        —        —        —        —        —  
Net periodic benefit cost
    (591 )     601       2,492       838       987       1,620  
Settlement loss (curtailment gain)
          74             27       (345 )     5,725  
Total expense for the year
  $ (591 )   $ 675     $ 2,492     $ 865     $ 642     $ 7,345  

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the years 2010, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
 
             
   
U.S.
   
Foreign
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Discount rate
    7.0 %     6.4/7.5 %*     6.5 %     5.6 %     6.6 %     5.2 %
Expected return on plan assets
    8.5 %     8.5 %     8.5 %     1.5 %     3.6 %     4.2 %
Compensation increase rate
          4.5 %     4.5 %     4.8 %     4.0 %     3.5 %
Measurement dates
 
1/01/10
   
1/01/09
   
1/01/08
   
1/01/10
   
1/01/09
   
1/01/08
 
* Denotes discount rate of 6.4% used through April 1, 2009, with an interest rate of 7.5% used thereafter.
 

The accumulated benefit obligation for the U.S. defined benefits plans was $66.0 million and $58.8 million at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, respectively. The accumulated benefit obligation for the foreign plan was $0.9 million and $11.5 million at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, respectively.

 
66

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Benefit Plans, continued

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at year-end 2010, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
 
   
U.S.
   
Foreign
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Discount rate
    5.9/5.4 %*     7.0 %     6.4 %     5.3 %     5.6 %     6.6 %
Compensation increase rate
                4.5 %     5.3 %     4.8 %     4.0 %
Measurement dates
 
12/31/10
   
12/31/09
   
12/31/08
   
12/31/10
   
12/31/09
   
12/31/08
 
*5.9% used for the Littelfuse, Inc. plan and 5.4% used for the Cole Hersee plan.
 

Expected benefit payments to be paid to participants for the fiscal year ending are as follows (in thousands):

Year
 
U.S.
   
Foreign
 
2011
  $ 5,017     $ 865  
2012
    5,027       1,258     
2013
    5,175       1,038    
2014
    5,332       854  
2015
    5,450       874  

Defined Benefit Plan Assets

Based upon analysis of the target asset allocation and historical returns by type of investment, the company has assumed that the expected long-term rate of return will be 8.5% on the Littelfuse, Inc domestic plan assets, 7.5% on the Cole Hersee domestic plan assets and 1.5% on foreign plan assets. Assets are invested to maximize long-term return taking into consideration timing of settlement of the retirement liabilities and liquidity needs for benefits payments. Pension plan assets were invested as follows, and were not materially different from the target asset allocation:

   
U.S. Asset Allocation
   
Foreign Asset Allocation
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Equity securities
    70%         73%       3%       24%  
Debt securities
    29%         27%       2%       28%  
Cash
    1%             95%         48%  
      100%         100%         100%         100%  

The following table presents the company’s  U.S and German pension plan assets measured at fair value by classification within the fair value hierarchy as of  January 1, 2011 (in thousands):

 
67

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. Benefit Plans, continued
 
   
Fair Value Measurements Using
       
   
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total
 
Equities:
                       
U.S. large cap growth funds
  $     $ 2,716     $     $ 2,716  
U.S. large cap value funds
          2,637             2,637  
U.S. large cap core funds
          27,717             27,717  
U.S. mid-cap core funds
          8,550             8,550  
U.S. small-cap growth funds
          1,497             1,497  
U.S. small-cap value funds
          1,489             1,489  
U.S. small cap core funds
          3,369             3,369  
International funds
          13,311             13,311  
Fixed income:
                               
Investment grade corporate bond funds
          28,648             28,648  
High yield corporate bond funds
          5,892             5,892  
Inflation protected securities
    1,324                   1,324  
Cash and equivalents
    558                   558  
Total pension plan assets
  $ 1,882     $ 95,826     $     $ 97,708  

Defined Contribution Plans

The company also maintains a 401(k) savings plan covering substantially all U.S. employees. The company matches 100% of the employee’s annual contributions for the first 4% of the employee’s gross wages. Employees vest in the company contributions after two years of service. Company matching contributions amounted to $1.1 million, $0.4 million and $0.6 million in each of the years 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

On January 1, 2010, the company adopted a non-qualified Supplemental Retirement and Savings Plan. The company will provide additional retirement benefits for certain management employees and named executive officers by allowing participants to contribute up to 90% of their annual compensation with matching contributions of 4% and 5% of the participant’s annual compensation in excess of the IRS compensation limits.

The company previously provided additional retirement benefits for certain key executives through its unfunded defined contribution Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”). The company amended the SERP during 2009 to freeze contributions and set the annual interest rate credited to the accounts until distributed at the five-year Treasury constant maturity rate. The charge to expense for the SERP plan amounted to $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million in each of the years 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
68

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13. Shareholders’ Equity

Equity Plans: The company has equity-based compensation plans authorizing the granting of stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, and other stock rights of up to 5,925,000 shares of common stock to employees and directors.

Stock options granted prior to 2002 vest over a five-year period and are exercisable over a ten-year period commencing from the date of vesting. The stock options granted in 2002 through February 2005, vest over a five-year period and are exercisable over a ten-year period commencing from the date of the grant. Stock options granted after February 2005, vest over a three, four or five-year period and are exercisable over either a seven or ten-year period commencing from the date of the grant. Restricted shares and share units granted by the company vest over three to four years.

The company also has performance share agreements under its equity-based compensation plans pursuant to which a target amount of performance share awards have been granted based on the company attaining certain financial performance goals relating to return on net tangible assets (for performance shares granted prior to 2008) or return on net assets (for performance shares granted in 2008 and 2009) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization over a three-year performance period. The performance-based restricted stock awards granted prior to 2008 vest in thirds over a three-year period (following the three-year performance period). When vested, half of the stock awards are paid in cash and half will be settled through the issuance of the company’s common stock. The performance-based restricted stock awards granted in 2008 and 2009 vest after a three-year performance period and are satisfied completely by the issuance of the company’s common stock at the end of the performance period. The fair value of the performance-based restricted stock awards that are settled in common stock is measured at the market price on the grant date, and the fair value of the portion paid in cash is measured at the current market price of a share.

The following table provides a reconciliation of outstanding stock options for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011.
 
   
Shares Under
Option
   
Weighted Average
Price
   
Weighted Average
Remaining Contract
Life (Years)
   
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value (000’s)
 
Outstanding January 2, 2010
    2,118,265       $29.46              
Granted
    107,924       42.13              
Exercised
    (558,844 )     27.80              
Forfeited
    (104,545 )     34.02              
Outstanding January 1, 2011
    1,562,800       30.63       4.0     $25,684  
Exercisable January 1, 2011
    1,059,554       31.80       3.5     16,173  

The following table provides a reconciliation of nonvested restricted share and share unit awards for the twelve month period ending January 1, 2011.

 
69

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13. Shareholders’ Equity, continued

   
Shares
   
Weighted Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Nonvested January 2, 2010
    181,534       $19.52  
Granted
    89,094       42.13  
Vested
    (55,170 )     21.20  
Forfeited
    (6,616 )     31.14  
Nonvested January 1, 2011
    208,842       28.36  

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $7.6 million, $0.2 million, and $0.5 million, respectively.

The following table provides a reconciliation of nonvested performance share awards (including only awards to be settled by the issuance of the company’s common stock) for the twelve month period ending January 1, 2011.
 
   
Shares
   
Weighted Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Nonvested January 2, 2010
    40,550       $30.27  
Granted
           
Vested
           
Forfeited
    (40,550 )     30.27  
Nonvested January 1, 2011
           

The company recognizes compensation cost of all share-based awards as an expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the awards. At January 1, 2011, the unrecognized compensation cost for options, restricted shares and performance shares was $7.4 million before tax, and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. Compensation cost included as a component of selling, general and administrative expense for all equity compensation plans discussed above was $5.2 million, $5.5 million and $5.1 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income was $1.9 million, $2.1 million and $2.1 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to determine the fair value of awards granted. The weighted average fair value of and related assumptions for options granted are as follows:

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Weighted average fair value of options granted
    $17.40       $5.72       $11.65  
Assumptions:
                       
Risk-free interest rate
    2.25 %     2.19 %     3.31 %
Expected dividend yield
    0 %     0 %     0 %
Expected stock price volatility
    47.0 %     43.5 %     34.8 %
Expected life of options
 
4.5 years
   
4.7 years
   
4.7 years
 
 
 
70

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13. Shareholders’ Equity, continued

Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of the company’s stock price. The expected life of options is based on historical data for options granted by the company and the SEC simplified method. The risk-free rates are based on yields available at the time of grant on U.S. Treasury bonds with maturities consistent with the expected life assumption.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss): The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at the end of the fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008 are as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Minimum pension liability adjustment*
  $ (6,875 )   $ (3,831 )   $ (15,488 )
Gain (loss) on investments**
    9,344       8,648        
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments***
          (92 )     (403 )
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    18,772       14,002       5,768  
Total
  $ 21,241     $ 18,727     $ (10,123 )
* Net of tax of $3,718, $1,768 and $6,499 for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
** Net of tax of $0, $0 and $0 for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
*** Net of tax of $191 and $247 for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Preferred Stock: The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series with such designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations, restrictions, and optional or other special rights as the Board may fix by resolution.

14. Income Taxes

Domestic and foreign income (loss) before income taxes is as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Domestic
  $ 15,956     $ (10,865 )   $ (15,284 )
Foreign
    91,723       21,702       25,907  
Income before income taxes
  $ 107,679     $ 10,837     $ 10,623  
                         
Federal, state, and foreign income tax (benefit) expense consists of the following (in thousands):
 
Current:
                       
Federal
  $ 2,917     $ (2,618 )   $ (215 )
State
    586       330       268  
Foreign
    17,729       6,619       6,501  
Subtotal
    21,232       4,331       6,554  
Deferred:
                       
Federal and State
    6,919       (2,100 )     (4,849 )
Foreign
    865       (805 )     902  
Subtotal
    7,784       (2,905 )     (3,947 )
Provision for income taxes
  $ 29,016     $ 1,426     $ 2,607  

 
71

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

14. Income Taxes, continued

A reconciliation between income taxes computed on income before income taxes at the federal statutory rate and the provision for income taxes is provided below (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Tax expense at statutory rate of 35%
  $ 37,688     $ 3,793     $ 3,718  
State and local taxes, net of federal tax benefit
    420       492       (322 )
Foreign income tax rate differential
    (10,555 )     (1,778 )     (1,168 )
Foreign losses for which no tax benefit is available
    1       37       1,068  
Tax on unremitted earnings
    1,267       904       (257 )
Uncertain tax positions
          (2,629 )     (140 )
Other, net
    195       607       (292 )
Provision for income taxes
  $ 29,016     $ 1,426     $ 2,607  

Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial reporting bases and the tax bases of the company’s assets and liabilities. Significant components of the company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities at January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, are as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
 
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
           
Accrued expenses
  $ 15,012     $ 11,459  
Foreign tax credit carryforwards
    13,009       9,817  
R&D credit carryforwards
    867       858  
AMT credit carryforwards
    1,318       1,318  
Accrued restructuring
    671       3,338  
Domestic and foreign net operating loss carryforwards
    3,411       9,547  
Gross deferred tax assets
    34,288       36,337  
Less:  Valuation allowance
    (708 )     (907 )
Total deferred tax assets
    33,580       35,430  
                 
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
               
Tax depreciation and amortization in excess of book
    17,549       12,329  
Other
    2,171       837  
Total deferred tax liabilities
    19,720       13,166  
                 
NET DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
  $ 13,860     $ 22,264  

The deferred tax asset valuation allowance is related to deferred tax assets from foreign net operating losses. The remaining domestic and foreign net operating losses either have no expiration date or are expected to be utilized prior to expiration. The foreign tax credit carryforwards begin to expire in 2015. The company paid income taxes of approximately $6.4 million, $9.9 million and $8.8 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. U.S. income taxes were not provided for on a cumulative total of approximately $105.0 million of undistributed earnings for certain non-U.S. subsidiaries as of January 1, 2011, and accordingly, no deferred tax liability has been established relative to these earnings. The determination of the deferred tax liability associated with the distribution of these earnings is not practicable. The company has two subsidiaries in China and one subsidiary in the Philippines on “tax holidays.” The “tax holidays” expire in China in one year and within two years in the Philippines.
 
 
72

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

14. Income Taxes, continued

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at December 29, 2007
  $ 3,779  
Settlements
    (179 )
Reductions based on lapse of statute
    (845 )
Balance at December 27, 2008
    2,755  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    204  
Additions for tax positions of current year
    62  
Settlements
    (668 )
Reductions based on lapse of statue
    (1,857 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
    496  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    233  
Settlements
    (617 )
Balance at January 1, 2011   $ 112  

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2011 was approximately $0.1 million. Of this total, approximately $0.1 million represents the amount of tax benefits that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods. The company does not reasonably expect a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.  None of the positions included in unrecognized tax benefits are related to tax positions for which the ultimate deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for 2009 onward. Foreign and U.S. state statute of limitations generally range from three to six years. The company is currently under examination in Germany for tax years 2005 through 2007 and in the Philippines for tax years 2007 through 2008. The company does not expect to recognize a significant amount of additional tax expense as a result of concluding either audit.

The company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of income tax expense. As of January 1, 2011, the company had approximately $0.01 million of accrued interest and penalties. Substantially this entire total represents the amount of interest and penalties that, if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in future periods.

15. Business Unit Segment Information
 
An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, and about which separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources. The CODM is the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).
 
The company reports its operations by the following business unit segments: Electronics, Automotive and Electrical.
 
 
73

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15. Business Unit Segment Information, continued

• 
Electronics. Provides circuit protection components and expertise to leading global manufacturers of a wide range of electronic products including mobile phones, computers, LCD TVs, telecommunications equipment, medical devices, lighting products and white goods. The Electronics business segment has the broadest product offering in the industry including fuses and protectors, positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) resettable fuses, varistors, polymer electrostatic discharge (“ESD”) suppressors, discrete transient voltage suppression (“TVS”) diodes, TVS diode arrays and protection thyristors, gas discharge tubes, power switching components and fuseholders, blocks and related accessories.
 
• 
Automotive. Provides circuit protection products to the worldwide automotive original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”) and parts distributors of passenger automobiles, trucks, buses and off-road equipment. The company also sells its fuses in the automotive replacement parts market. Products include blade fuses, high current fuses, battery cable protectors and varistors.
 
• 
Electrical. Provides circuit protection products and hazard assessments for industrial and commercial customers. Products include power fuses and other circuit protection devices that are used in commercial and industrial buildings and large equipment such as HVAC systems, elevators and machine tools.

Each of the operating segments is directly responsible for sales, marketing and research and development. Manufacturing, purchasing, logistics, customer service, finance, information technology and human resources are shared functions that are allocated back to the three operating segments. The CEO allocates resources to and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about its revenue and operating income (loss), but does not evaluate the operating segments using discrete asset information.

Sales, marketing and research and development expenses are charged directly into each operating segment. All other functions are shared by the operating segments and expenses for these shared functions are allocated to the operating segments and included in the operating results reported below. The company does not report inter-segment revenue because the operating segments do not record it. The company does not allocate interest and other income, interest expense, or taxes to operating segments. Although the CEO uses operating income to evaluate the segments, operating costs included in one segment may benefit other segments. Except as discussed above, the accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for the company as a whole.

 
74

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15. Business Unit Segment Information, continued

The company has provided this business unit segment information for all comparable prior periods. Segment information is summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net sales
                 
Electronics
  $ 389,940     $ 262,984     $ 342,489  
Automotive
    130,299       98,530       126,867  
Electrical
    87,782       68,633       61,513  
Total net sales
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869  
                         
Operating income (loss)
                       
Electronics
  $ 71,987     $ (171 )   $ 1,745  
Automotive
    14,902       6,165       2,216  
Electrical
    24,522       16,103       15,471  
Other*
    (3,837 )     (8,402 )     (10,937 )
Total operating income
    107,574       13,695       8,495  
                         
Interest expense, net
    1,437       2,377       3,440  
Other expense (income), net
    (1,542 )     481       (5,568 )
Income before income taxes
  $ 107,679     $ 10,837     $ 10,623  
 
* Included in “Other” Operating income (loss) for 2010 are asset impairment charges related to closure of the company’s Des Plaines, Illinois ($1.3 million) and Dundalk, Ireland ($1.7 millions) manufacturing facilities (see Note 11). Included in “Other” Operating income (loss) for 2009 are severance and asset impairment charges related to restructuring activities in the U.S. ($1.6 million), Europe ($5.5 million) and Asia-Pacific ($1.5 million) locations (see Note 9). Included in “Other” Operating income (loss) for 2008 are restructuring charges related to the closure of the company’s Matamoros, Mexico facility ($4.4 million - see Note 9) and Ireland pension settlement charge ($5.7 million – see Note 12).

The company’s revenues and long-lived assets (total net property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, goodwill and investments) by geographical area for the fiscal years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008 are as follows (in thousands):

   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net sales
                 
Americas
  $ 227,747     $ 166,137     $ 201,771  
Europe
    115,113       83,449       118,559  
Asia-Pacific
    265,161       180,561       210,539  
Total net sales
  $ 608,021     $ 430,147     $ 530,869  
                         
Long-lived assets
                       
Americas
  $ 58,869     $ 56,603     $ 78,210  
Europe
    3,080       11,101       15,199  
Asia-Pacific
    68,198       68,218       66,741  
Consolidated total
  $ 130,147     $ 135,922     $ 160,150  

For the year ended January 1, 2011, approximately 69.1% of the company’s net sales were to customers outside the United States (exports and foreign operations) including 18.9% in Hong Kong. Sales to Arrow Pemco were 10.4% in 2010 but less than 10% for 2009 and 2008.  No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales during the last three years.

 
75

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

16. Lease Commitments

The company leases certain office and warehouse space as well as certain machinery and equipment under non-cancellable operating leases. Rent expense under these leases was approximately $6.7 million in 2010, $7.1 million in 2009 and $6.0 million in 2008.

Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the leases. The difference between straight-line basis rent and the amount paid has been recorded as accrued lease obligations. The company also has leases that have lease renewal provisions. As of January 1, 2011, all operating leases outstanding were with third parties. The company did not have any capital leases as of January 1, 2011.

In February 2008, the company entered into an agreement to lease office space for its U.S. headquarters, which is located in Chicago, Illinois. The lease, with a stated commencement date of January 1, 2009, expires December 31, 2024, and contains two five-year renewal options. In addition, the lease contains leasehold improvement incentives and rent abatement for the first year of the lease. The company recognizes rental expense for this lease on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, including base rent and all considerations received. Annual rental expense under this lease is approximately $1.4 million.

In September 2009, the company entered into an agreement to lease office space for its Technical Center which is located in Champaign, Illinois. The lease, with a stated commencement date of March 1, 2010, expires February 28, 2025, and contains two five-year renewal options. The company recognizes rental expense for this lease on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Annual rental expense under this lease is approximately $0.2 million.

Future minimum payments for all non-cancelable operating leases with initial terms of one year or more at January 1, 2011, are as follows (in thousands):

2011
  $ 6,493  
2012
    5,159  
2013
    3,263  
2014
    3,159  
2015
    2,935  
2016 and thereafter
    19,238  
    $ 40,247  

17. Earnings Per Share

In June 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance titled “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities.” The guidance states that unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Upon adoption, a company is required to retrospectively adjust its earnings per share data presentation to conform with the guidance provisions. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The company adopted the new guidance on December 28, 2008. The company’s unvested share-based payment awards, such as certain performance shares, restricted shares and restricted share units that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends, meet the

 
76

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
17. Earnings Per Share, continued
 
criteria of a participating security as defined by the guidance. The adoption has changed the methodology of computing the company’s earnings per share to the two-class method from the treasury stock method. This change has not affected previously reported earnings per share, consolidated net earnings or net cash flows from operations. Under the two-class method, earnings are allocated between common stock and participating securities. The guidance provides that the presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share is required only for each class of common stock and not for participating securities. As such, the company will present basic and diluted earnings per share for its one class of common stock.

The two-class method includes an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock according to dividends declared and undistributed earnings for the period. The company’s reported net earnings is reduced by the amount allocated to participating securities to arrive at the earnings allocated to common stock shareholders for purposes of calculating earnings per share.

The dilutive effect of participating securities is calculated using the more dilutive of the treasury stock or the two-class method. The company has determined the two-class method to be the more dilutive. As such, the earnings allocated to common stock shareholders in the basic earnings per share calculation is adjusted for the reallocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities as prescribed by the guidance to arrive at the earnings allocated to common stock shareholders for calculating the diluted earnings per share.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share under the two-class method:

 (In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
                   
Net income as reported
  $ 78,663     $ 9,411     $ 8,016  
Less: Distributed earnings available to participating securities
    (3 )      —        —  
Less: Undistributed earnings available to participating securities
    (411 )     (78 )     (12 )
Numerator for basic earnings per share —
                       
Undistributed and distributed earnings available to    common shareholders
  $ 78,249     $ 9,333     $ 8,004  
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities
     411        78        12  
Less: Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities
    (405 )     (78 )     (12 )
Numerator for diluted earnings per share —
                       
Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 78,255     $ 9,333     $ 8,004  
Denominator for basic earnings per share —
                       
Weighted-average shares
    21,875       21,743       21,722  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Common stock equivalents
    339       69       104  
Denominator for diluted earnings per share —
                       
Adjusted for weighted-average shares & assumed conversions
     22,214        21,812        21,826  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 3.58     $ 0.43     $ 0.37  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 3.52     $ 0.43     $ 0.37  

 
77

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

17. Earnings Per Share, continued

The following potential shares of common stock attributable to stock options were excluded from the earnings per share calculation because their effect would be anti-dilutive: 77,729 in 2010; 1,812,414 in 2009; and 1,322,540 in 2008.

18. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The quarterly periods for 2010 are for the 13-weeks ending January 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, July 3, 2010 and April 3, 2010, respectively. The quarterly periods listed in the table below for 2009 are for the 14-weeks ending January 2, 2010 and the 13-weeks ending September 26, 2009, June 27, 2009 and March 28, 2009, respectively.

(In thousands, except per share data)  
   
2010
   
2009
 
    4Q    
3Qa
    2Q     1Q     4Q    
3Qb
   
2Qc
    1Q  
Net sales
  $ 142,646     $ 163,465     $ 157,508     $ 144,402     $ 127,928     $ 116,420     $ 101,396     $ 84,403  
Gross profit
    53,956       67,253       59,383       53,280       45,057       36,616       25,414       18,274  
Operating income (loss)
    24,316       34,108       27,507       21,643       17,240       10,011       (3,456 )     (10,100 )
Net income (loss)
    19,578       23,338       20,278       15,469       11,721       8,058       (2,584 )     (7,784 )
Net income (loss) per share:
                                                               
Basic
  $ 0.89     $ 1.06     $ 0.91     $ 0.70     $ 0.54     $ 0.37     $ (0.12 )   $ (0.36 )
Diluted
  $ 0.88     $ 1.04     $ 0.90     $ 0.69     $ 0.53     $ 0.37     $ (0.12 )   $ (0.36 )
a -
In the third quarter of 2010, the company recorded a $3.0 million charge related to asset impairments in the U.S. and Europe.
b -
In the third quarter of 2009, the company recorded a $1.7 million charge related to severance and asset impairments in Europe and Asia. In addition, the company realized an income tax benefit from the release of $2.6 million in contingent income tax reserves due to the lapsing of statutes of limitations.
c -
In the second quarter of 2009, the company recorded a $7.3 million charge related to severance charges and asset write-offs for the U.S., Europe and Asia.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management to include in this Annual Report on Form 10-K a report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting, as well as an attestation report from the company’s independent registered accounting firm on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
78

 
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The management of Littelfuse is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Littelfuse’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to its management and the Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

Littelfuse’s management assessed the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2011, based upon the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, the company’s management concluded that, as of January 1, 2011, the company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

Littelfuse’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has audited the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2011. Their report appears on page 39 hereof.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of January 1, 2011, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the company evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the company and concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

 
79

 

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The executive officers of the company are as follows:

Name
 
Age
 
Position
Gordon Hunter
 
59
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer
Philip G. Franklin
 
59
 
Vice President, Operations Support, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Dal Ferbert
 
57
 
Vice President and General Manager of the Electrical Business Unit
Dieter Roeder
 
54
 
Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Business Unit
Chen-Ming Wang
 
48
 
Vice President and General Manager of the Electronics Business Unit
David W. Heinzmann
 
47
 
Vice President of Global Operations
Ryan K. Stafford
 
43
 
General Counsel and Vice President, Human Resources
Paul Dickinson
 
39
 
Vice President and General Manager, Semiconductor Products
Mary S. Muchoney
 
65
 
Corporate Secretary

Officers of Littelfuse are elected by the Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board.

Gordon Hunter was elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company and President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2005. Mr. Hunter served as Chief Operating Officer of the company from November 2003 to January 2005. Mr. Hunter has been a member of the Board of Directors of the company since June 2002, where he has served as Chairman of the Technology Committee. Prior to joining Littelfuse, Mr. Hunter was employed with Intel Corporation, where he was Vice President, Intel Communications Group, and General Manager, Optical Products Group, responsible for managing the access and optical communications business segments, from 2002 to 2003. Mr. Hunter was CEO for Calmar Optcom during 2001. From 1997 to 2002, he also served as a Vice President for Raychem Corporation. His experience includes 20 years with Raychem Corporation in the United States and Europe, with responsibilities in sales, marketing, engineering and general management.

Philip G. Franklin, Vice President, Operations Support, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, joined the company in 1998 and is responsible for finance and accounting, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, and information systems. Prior to joining Littelfuse, Mr. Franklin was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for OmniQuip International, a private equity sponsored roll-up in the construction equipment industry, which he helped take public. Before that, Mr. Franklin served as Chief Financial Officer for both Monarch Marking Systems, a subsidiary of Pitney Bowes, and Hill Refrigeration, a company controlled by Sam Zell. Earlier in his career, he worked in a variety of finance and general management positions at FMC Corporation.

Dal Ferbert, Vice President and General Manager, Electrical Business Unit, is responsible for the management of daily operations, sales, marketing and strategic planning efforts of the Electrical Business Unit (POWR-GARD®) products. Mr. Ferbert joined the company in 1976 as a member of the electronic distributor sales team. From 1980 to 1989 he served in the Materials Management Department as a buyer and then Purchasing Manager. In 1990, he was promoted to National Sales Manager of the Electrical Business Unit and then promoted to his current position in 2004.

 
80

 
 
Executive Officers of the Registrant, continued

Dieter Roeder, Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Business Unit, is responsible for marketing, sales, product development and customer relationships for all automotive business units. Mr. Roeder joined the company in 2005 leading the Automotive Business Unit’s European sales team, based in Germany, before he was promoted to his current position in August 2007. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Roeder served as Director of Business Development Europe for TDS Automotive from 2002 to 2005. Before that, Mr. Roeder spent ten years with Raychem GmbH (later Tyco Electronics) where he had various sales and marketing responsibilities within the European automotive industry.

Chen-Ming Wang, Vice President and General Manager, Electronics Business Unit, is responsible for marketing, sales, product development and customer relationships of the Electronic Business Unit.  He is also responsible for leading the company’s overall operations, strategy and new business development in Asia.  He is located in Taiwan.  Mr. Wang has multinational experience in the electronics business, including the U.S., Mexico, Malaysia, China and Taiwan.  Mr. Wang joined the management team in November 2009, prior to which he was vice president of Lite-On Technology Corporation.  Lite-On Technology Corporation, a Taiwanese provider of consumer electrical products, is where Mr. Wang started his career in 1991, holding operation, sales and business development responsibilities.

David W. Heinzmann, Vice President, Global Operations, is responsible for Littelfuse’s manufacturing and supply chain groups for all three of the company’s business units. Mr. Heinzmann began his career at the company in 1985 and possesses a broad range of experience within the organization. He has held positions as a Manufacturing Manager, Quality Manager, Plant Manager and Product Development Manager. Mr. Heinzmann also served as Director of Global Operations of the Electronics Business Unit from early 2000 through 2003. He served as Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Business Unit, from 2004 through August 2007 and then was promoted to his current position.

Ryan K. Stafford, General Counsel and Vice President, Human Resources, is responsible for the company’s legal, compliance, internal audit and human resources functions. Mr. Stafford joined the company’s management team in January 2007. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Stafford served as Vice President of China Operations for Tyco Engineered Products & Services from 2005 to 2006 and Vice President and General Counsel from 2001 to 2005. He served as Associate General Counsel for Grinnell Corporation from 1998 to 2001.  Prior to that he was with the law firm Sulloway & Hollis P.L.L.C.

Paul Dickinson, Vice President and General Manager, Semiconductor Products, is responsible for the marketing, sales, product development and strategic planning efforts of the company’s semiconductor products. Mr. Dickinson joined the company in 1993 and has held a broad range of positions with responsibility for corporate and international accounting and finance. Most recently, Mr. Dickinson served as Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer from 2005 through 2008, with responsibility for corporate acquisition, strategy, treasury, tax and finance functions. Mr. Dickinson was promoted to his current position in August 2008.

Mary S. Muchoney has served as Corporate Secretary since 1991, after joining Littelfuse in 1977. She is responsible for providing all secretarial and administrative functions for the President and Littelfuse Board of Directors. Ms. Muchoney is a member of the Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals, as well as honorary member of the Society’s Silver Quill Society.

 
81

 

The information set forth under “Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference. The company maintains a code of conduct, which applies to all employees, executive officers and directors. The company’s code of conduct meets the requirements of a “code of ethics” as defined by Item 406 of Regulation S-K and applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer as well as all other executive officers and employees. The code of conduct is available for public viewing on the company’s web site at www.littelfuse.com under the heading “Investors – Corporate Governance.”

If the company makes substantive amendments to the code of conduct or grants any waiver to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or persons performing similar functions, Littelfuse will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on its website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The information contained on or connected to the company’s web site is not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K and should not be considered part of this or any other report Littelfuse files or furnishes with the SEC. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to the company’s Board of Directors in 2010.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The information set forth under “Election of Directors – Compensation of Directors” and “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference, except the section captioned “Compensation Committee Report” is hereby “furnished” and not “filed” with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

The information set forth under “Ownership of Littelfuse, Inc. Common Stock” and “Compensation Plan Information” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

The information set forth under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.

The information set forth under “Audit and Non-Audit Fees” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 
82

 

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
(a) Financial Statements and Schedules
       
  (1) The following Financial Statements are filed as a part of this report:
    (i) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (pages 38-39).
    (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010 (page 40).
    (iii) Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010, and December 27, 2008, (page 41).
    (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010, and December 27, 2008, (page 42).
    (v) Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended January 1, 2011, January 2, 2010, and December 27, 2008, (page 43).
    (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (pages 44-78).
       
  (2) The following Financial Statement Schedule is submitted herewith for the periods indicated therein.
    (i) Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves (page 84).
       
  All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
       
  (3) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index on pages 86-88.
 
 
83

 

SCHEDULE II

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
(In thousands of USD)


 
 
Description
 
Balance at
Beginning
Of Year
   
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses (1)
   
 
Deductions (2)
   
 
Other (3)
   
Balance at
End of
Year
 
                               
Year ended January 1, 2011
                             
Allowance for losses on accounts receivable
  $ 657     $ 353     $ 99     $ 216     $ 1,127  
Reserves for sales discounts and allowances
  $ 9,318     $ 53,942     $ 50,760     $ (158 )   $ 12,342  
                                         
Year ended January 2, 2010
                                       
Allowance for losses on accounts receivable
  $ 896     $ 319     $ 583     $ 25     $ 657  
Reserves for sales discounts and allowances
  $ 11,874     $ 40,512     $ 43,112     $ 44     $ 9,318  
                                         
Year ended December 27, 2008
                                       
Allowance for losses on accounts receivable
  $ 738     $ 286     $ 77     $ (51 )   $ 896  
Reserves for sales discounts and allowances
  $ 12,259     $ 47,081     $ 47,400     $ (66 )   $ 11,874  

 
(1)
Includes provision for doubtful accounts, sales returns and sales discounts granted to customers.
 
(2)
Represents uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries and credits issued to customers.
 
(3)
Represents business acquisition and translation adjustments.

 
84

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
Littelfuse, Inc.
 
       
 
By:
/s/ Gordon Hunter  
    Gordon Hunter,  
   
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Date: February 25, 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 on February 25, 2011 and in the capacities indicated.

/s/ Gordon Hunter
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and
Gordon Hunter
 
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/ Tzau-Jin Chung
 
Director
Tzau-Jin Chung
   
     
/s/ John P. Driscoll
 
Director
John P. Driscoll
   
     
/s/ Anthony Grillo
 
Director
Anthony Grillo
   
     
/s/ John E. Major
 
Director
John E. Major
   
     
/s/ William P. Noglows
 
Director
William P. Noglows
   
     
/s/ Ronald L. Schubel
 
Director
Ronald L. Schubel
   
     
/s/ Philip G. Franklin   Vice President, Operations Support, Chief Financial Officer and
Philip G. Franklin   Treasurer (Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer)

 
85

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following documents listed below that have been previously filed with the SEC (1934 Act File No. 0-20388) are incorporated herein by reference:
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended to date (filed as Exhibit 3(I) to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 1998).
   
3.2
Certificate of Designations of Series A Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 1, 1995).
   
3.3
Bylaws, as amended to date (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 26, 2007).
   
10.1
Amendment to Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement and Agreement for Deferred Compensation between Littelfuse, Inc., and Gordon Hunter (filed as Exhibit 10.27 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005).
   
10.2
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of December 31, 2007, between Littelfuse, Inc., and Gordon Hunter (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007).
   
10.3
Change of Control Agreement effective as of January 1, 2009, between Littelfuse, Inc., and Gordon Hunter (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
   
10.4
Change of Control Agreement effective as of January 1, 2009, between Littelfuse, Inc., and Philip G. Franklin (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
   
10.5
Change of Control Agreement effective as of January 1, 2009, between Littelfuse, Inc., and David W. Heinzmann (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
   
10.6
Change of Control Agreement effective as of January 1, 2009, between Littelfuse, Inc., and Hugh Dalsen Ferbert (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
   
10.7
Change of Control Agreement effective as of January 1, 2009, between Littelfuse, Inc., and Ryan K. Stafford (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008).
   
10.8
Summary of Director Compensation (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007).
   
10.9
Amended and restated Littelfuse, Inc. 401(k) Retirement and Savings Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 8-K dated October 9, 2009).
   
10.10
1993 Stock Plan for Employees and Directors of Littelfuse, Inc., as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 2, 2005).
   
10.11
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the 1993 Stock Plan for Employees and Directors of Littelfuse, Inc. for employees of the company (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 8, 2004).
   
10.12
Form of Performance Shares Agreement under the 1993 Stock Plan for Employees and Directors of Littelfuse, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005).
 
 
86

 
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
10.13
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the 1993 Stock Plan for Employees and Directors of Littelfuse, Inc., for non-employee directors of the company (filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005).
   
10.14
Stock Plan for New Directors of Littelfuse, Inc., as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 2, 2005).
   
10.15
Stock Plan for Employees and Directors of Littelfuse, Inc., as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 2, 2005).
   
10.16
Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the company’s Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 5, 2006).
   
10.17
First Amendment to the Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan dated as of July 28, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2009).
   
10.18
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2006).
   
10.19
Form of Performance Shares Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 12, 2008).
   
10.20
Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors’ Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit B to the company’s Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 5, 2006).
   
10.21
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.6 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2006).
   
10.22
Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors’ Equity Plan (filed as Exhibit A to the company’s Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 27, 2007).
   
10.23
First Amendment to the Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors’ Equity Plan, dated as of July 28, 2008 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2009).
   
10.24
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors' Equity Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 25, 2008).
   
10.25
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Outside Directors' Equity Plan (filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 25, 2008).
   
10.26
Amended and Restated, Littelfuse, Inc., Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007).
   
10.27
Termination Amendment to Littelfuse, Inc., Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the company’s Current Report on form 8-K dated October 9, 2009).
   
10.28
Amended and Restated, Littelfuse, Inc., Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-employee Directors (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007).
   
10.29
Amended and Restated Littelfuse, Inc., Retirement Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007).
   
10.30
Amendment to Amended and Restated Littelfuse, Inc., Retirement Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.30 to the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010).
 
 
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Exhibit No.
Description
   
10.31
Amended and Restated, Littelfuse, Inc., Annual Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 2, 2010).
   
10.32
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Current Report on form 8-K dated April 28, 2009).
   
10.33
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc., Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the company’s Current Report on form 8-K dated April 28, 2009).
   
10.34
Littelfuse, Inc., Supplemental Retirement and Savings Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the company’s Current Report on form 8-K dated October 9, 2009).
   
10.35
Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 8-K dated May 5, 2010).
   
10.36
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Outside Director) under the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the company’s Form S-8 dated May 19, 2010).
   
10.37
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Executive) under the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the company’s Form S-8 dated May 19, 2010).
   
10.38
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement under the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the company’s Form S-8 dated May 19, 2010).
   
10.39
Bank credit agreement among Littelfuse, Inc., as borrower, the lenders named therein and the Bank of America N.A., as agent, dated as of July 21, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006).
   
10.40
First Amendment, dated as of September 29, 2008, to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of July 21, 2006, among Littelfuse, Inc., the lenders named therein and Bank of America, N.A., as agent (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2008).
   
10.41
Loan Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2008, among Littelfuse, Inc., the lenders named therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 27, 2008).
   
14.1
Code of Conduct (filed as Exhibit 14.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 24, 2008).
   
21.1*
Subsidiaries.
   
23.1*
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
   
31.1*
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification of Gordon Hunter.
   
31.2*
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification of Philip G. Franklin.
   
32.1+
Section 1350 certification.

Exhibits 10.1 through 10.38 are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements.
 
* Filed with this Report.
 
+ Furnished with this Report.
 
 
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