e10vq
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(X)   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended July 3, 2010
or
(  )   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number 001-14423
PLEXUS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
Wisconsin
  39-1344447
(State of Incorporation)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Plexus Way
Neenah, Wisconsin 54956
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
Telephone Number (920) 722-3451
(Registrant’s telephone number, including Area Code)
               Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or 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   ü      No          
               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 (§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   ü      No          
               Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
     
Large accelerated filer    ü   
  Accelerated filer           
 
   
Non-accelerated filer           
  Smaller reporting company           
(Do not check if a 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   ü   
               As of July 30, 2010, there were 40,394,530 shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding.

 


 

PLEXUS CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
July 3, 2010
             
 
           
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION     3  
 
           
  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS     3  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income     3  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets     4  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows     5  
 
           
 
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
 
           
  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS     19  
 
           
 
  “Safe Harbor” Cautionary Statement     19  
 
           
 
  Overview     20  
 
           
 
  Executive Summary     21  
 
           
 
  Reportable Segments     22  
 
           
 
  Results of Operations     24  
 
           
 
  Liquidity and Capital Resources     27  
 
           
 
  Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Obligations     29  
 
           
 
  Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies     29  
 
           
 
  New Accounting Pronouncements     29  
 
           
  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK     29  
 
           
  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES     30  
 
           
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION     32  
 
           
  Legal Proceedings     32  
 
           
  Risk Factors     32  
 
           
  Exhibits     32  
 
           
SIGNATURES     33  
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
Unaudited
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
                               
Net sales
   $  536,384      $  378,643      $  1,457,761      $  1,223,647  
Cost of sales (Note 11)
      480,836         344,038         1,307,201         1,106,694  
 
                               
 
                               
Gross profit
    55,548       34,605       150,560       116,953  
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling and administrative expenses
    28,516       22,491       79,918       70,104  
Goodwill impairment costs
    -       -       -       5,748  
Restructuring costs
    -       -       -       2,823  
 
                               
 
    28,516       22,491       79,918       78,675  
 
                               
 
                               
Operating income
    27,032       12,114       70,642       38,278  
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (2,359 )     (2,680 )     (7,336 )     (8,343 )
Interest income
    320       448       1,143       1,851  
Miscellaneous
    (128 )     370       (239 )     712  
 
                               
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    24,865       10,252       64,210       32,498  
 
                               
Income tax expense
    497       1,042       1,284       1,222  
 
                               
 
                               
Net income
   $  24,368      $  9,210      $  62,926      $  31,276  
 
                               
 
                               
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
   $  0.60      $  0.23      $  1.58      $  0.79  
 
                               
Diluted
   $  0.59      $  0.23      $  1.54      $  0.79  
 
                               
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    40,337       39,445       39,935       39,382  
 
                               
Diluted
    41,208       39,712       40,753       39,550  
 
                               
 
                               
Comprehensive income:
                               
Net income
   $  24,368      $  9,210      $  62,926      $  31,276  
Derivative instrument fair market value adjustment – net of income tax
    (573 )     671       1,353       (3,491 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    30       831       (1,136 )     (3,030 )
 
                               
Comprehensive income
   $  23,825      $  10,712      $  63,143      $  24,755  
 
                               
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)
Unaudited
                 
    July 3,   October 3,
    2010   2009
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 190,203     $ 258,382  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,400 and $1,000, respectively
    274,663       193,222  
Inventories
    468,870       322,352  
Deferred income taxes
    17,970       15,057  
Prepaid expenses and other
    15,104       9,421  
 
               
 
               
Total current assets
    966,810       798,434  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    222,839       197,469  
 
               
Deferred income taxes
    13,732       10,305  
Other
    16,539       16,464  
 
               
 
               
Total assets
  $ 1,219,920     $ 1,022,672  
 
               
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations
  $ 17,310     $ 16,907  
Accounts payable
    321,812       233,061  
Customer deposits
    29,695       28,180  
Accrued liabilities:
               
Salaries and wages
    38,788       28,169  
Other
    51,568       33,004  
 
               
 
               
Total current liabilities
    459,173       339,321  
 
               
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion
    117,485       133,936  
Other liabilities
    22,643       21,969  
 
               
 
               
Total non-current liabilities
    140,128       155,905  
 
               
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
    -       -  
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 47,834 and 46,994 shares issued, respectively, and 40,388 and 39,548 shares outstanding, respectively
    478       470  
Additional paid-in capital
    396,393       366,371  
Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 7,446 shares for both periods
    (200,110 )     (200,110 )
Retained earnings
    418,961       356,035  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    4,897       4,680  
 
               
 
               
Total shareholders’ equity
    620,619       527,446  
 
               
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,219,920     $ 1,022,672  
 
               
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Unaudited
                 
    Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009
Cash flows from operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 62,926     $ 31,276  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    29,206       25,435  
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (215 )     (13 )
Goodwill impairment charges
    -       5,748  
Deferred income taxes
    (7,275 )     2,592  
Stock based compensation expense
    7,104       7,527  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (81,713 )     47,111  
Inventories
       (146,869 )     26,071  
Prepaid expenses and other
    (4,784 )     2,152  
Accounts payable
    80,203       (24,733 )
Customer deposits
    1,561       568  
Accrued liabilities and other
    33,095       (14,464 )
 
               
 
               
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities
    (26,761 )     109,270  
 
               
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Payments for property, plant and equipment
    (47,332 )     (42,195 )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
    231       228  
 
               
 
               
Cash flows used in investing activities
    (47,101 )     (41,967 )
 
               
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Payments on debt and capital lease obligations
    (16,704 )     (16,366 )
Proceeds from exercises of stock options
    20,815       1,933  
Income tax benefit of stock option exercises
    2,111       108  
 
               
 
               
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
    6,222       (14,325 )
 
               
 
               
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents
    (539 )     (3,455 )
 
               
 
               
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (68,179 )     49,523  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents:
               
Beginning of period
    258,382       165,970  
 
               
End of period
  $ 190,203     $    215,493  
 
               
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 3, 2010 AND JULY 4, 2009
Unaudited
NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
               The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (“Plexus” or the “Company”) without audit and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the consolidated financial position of the Company as of July 3, 2010, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009, and the cash flows for the same nine month periods.
               Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC rules and regulations dealing with interim financial statements. However, the Company believes that the disclosures made in the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
               The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The Company also uses a “4-4-5” weekly accounting system for the interim periods in each quarter. Each quarter therefore ends on a Saturday at the end of the 4-4-5 period. Periodically, an additional week must be added to the fiscal year to re-align with the Saturday closest to September 30. Fiscal 2009 included this additional week and the fiscal year-end was October 3, 2009. Therefore the accounting year for 2009 included 371 days. The additional week was added to the first fiscal quarter, ended January 3, 2009, which included 98 days. The accounting periods for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 included 91 days and 273 days, respectively. The accounting periods for the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009 included 91 days and 280 days, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
               Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
               The Company holds financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt, and capital lease obligations. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and capital lease obligations as reported in the consolidated financial statements approximates fair value. Accounts receivable were reflected at net realizable value based on anticipated losses due to potentially uncollectible balances. Anticipated losses were based on management’s analysis of historical losses and changes in customers’ credit status. The fair value of the Company’s term loan debt was $105.8 million and $107.8 million as of July 3, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively. The carrying value of the Company’s term loan debt was $116.3 million and $127.5 million as of July 3, 2010 and October 3, 2009, respectively. The Company uses quoted market prices when available or discounted cash flows to calculate the fair value.
Subsequent Events
               In preparing the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has reviewed, as deemed necessary by the Company’s management, other events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date of July 3, 2010 through the date the financial statements are issued.

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NOTE 2 - INVENTORIES
               Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out basis) or market value. The stated cost is comprised of direct materials, labor, and overhead. The major classes of inventories, net of applicable lower of cost or market write-downs, were as follows (in thousands):
                 
    July 3,   October 3,
    2010   2009
Raw materials
  $ 354,403     $ 237,717  
Work-in-process
    49,947       29,399  
Finished goods
    64,520       55,236  
 
               
 
  $ 468,870     $ 322,352  
 
               
               Per contractual terms, customer deposits are received by the Company to offset obsolete and excess inventory risks. The total amount of deposits related to inventory and included within current liabilities on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of July 3, 2010 and October 3, 2009 was $28.2 million and $26.1 million, respectively.
NOTE 3 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
               Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following categories (in thousands):
                 
    July 3,   October 3,
    2010   2009
Land, buildings and improvements
   $  122,524      $  120,505  
Machinery and equipment
    243,758       220,402  
Computer hardware and software
    76,205       72,782  
Construction in progress
    28,379       11,727  
 
               
 
    470,866       425,416  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (248,027 )     (227,947 )
 
               
 
   $  222,839      $  197,469  
 
               
               On July 1, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase state leasehold land in Penang, Malaysia for approximately $9.1 million, subject to various purchase contingencies. As of July 3, 2010, a deposit payment of $0.9 million was included in construction in progress. The Company anticipates beginning construction of a manufacturing facility on the land during fiscal 2011.
NOTE 4 - LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
               On April 4, 2008, the Company entered into its credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”) with a group of banks which allows the Company to borrow $150 million in term loans and $100 million in revolving loans. The $150 million in term loans was immediately funded and the $100 million revolving credit facility is currently available. The Credit Facility is unsecured and the revolving credit facility may be increased by an additional $100 million (the “accordion feature”) if the Company has not previously terminated all or any portion of the Credit Facility, there is no event of default existing under the Credit Facility and both the Company and the administrative agent consent to the increase. The Credit Facility expires on April 4, 2013. Borrowings under the Credit Facility may be either through term loans or revolving or swing loans or letter of credit obligations. As of July 3, 2010, the Company has term loan borrowings of $116.3 million outstanding and no revolving borrowings under the Credit Facility.
               The Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio, maximum value of fixed rentals and operating lease obligations, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a minimum net worth test, all as defined in the agreement. As of July 3, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all debt

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covenants. If the Company incurs an event of default, as defined in the Credit Facility (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant), the group of banks has the right to terminate the remaining Credit Facility and all other obligations, and demand immediate repayment of all outstanding sums (principal and accrued interest). The interest rate on the borrowing varies depending upon the Company’s then-current total leverage ratio; as of July 3, 2010, the Company could elect to pay interest at a defined base rate or the LIBOR rate plus 1.25%. Rates would increase upon negative changes in specified Company financial metrics and would decrease upon reduction in the current total leverage ratio to no less than LIBOR plus 1.00%. The Company is also required to pay an annual commitment fee on the unused credit commitment based on its leverage ratio; the current fee is 0.30 percent. Unless the accordion feature is exercised, this fee applies only to the initial $100 million of availability (excluding the $150 million of term borrowings). Origination fees and expenses associated with the Credit Facility totaled approximately $1.3 million and have been deferred. These origination fees and expenses are being amortized over the five-year term of the Credit Facility. Equal quarterly principal repayments of the term loan of $3.75 million per quarter began on June 30, 2008 and end on April 4, 2013 with a balloon repayment of $75.0 million.
               The Credit Facility allows for the future payment of cash dividends or the future repurchases of shares provided that no event of default (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant) is existing at the time of, or would be caused by, a dividend payment or a share repurchase.
               Interest expense related to the commitment fee and amortization of deferred origination fees and expenses for the Credit Facility totaled approximately $0.2 million and $0.5 million for both the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009, respectively.
               In February 2010, the Company negotiated the settlement of a capital lease in Kelso, Scotland. The termination of this capital lease obligation and acquisition of the property was executed through a cash payment of $3.9 million.
NOTE 5 - DERIVATIVES AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
               All derivatives are recognized in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their estimated fair value. On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a hedge of a recognized asset or liability (a “fair value” hedge), 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 (a “cash flow” hedge), or a hedge of the net investment in a foreign operation. The Company currently has cash flow hedges related to variable rate debt and foreign currency obligations. The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. Changes in the fair value of the derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows.
               In June 2008, the Company entered into three interest rate swap contracts related to the $150 million in term loans under the Credit Facility that had an initial total notional value of $150 million and mature on April 4, 2013. These interest rate swap contracts will pay the Company variable interest at the three month LIBOR rate, and the Company will pay the counterparties a fixed interest rate. The fixed interest rates for each of these contracts are 4.415%, 4.490% and 4.435%, respectively. These interest rate swap contracts were entered into to convert $150 million of the variable rate term loan under the Credit Facility into fixed rate debt. Based on the terms of the interest rate swap contracts and the underlying debt, these interest rate contracts were determined to be effective, and thus qualify as a cash flow hedge. As such, any changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. The total fair value of these interest rate swap contracts was $8.8 million as of July 3, 2010. As of July 3, 2010, the total combined notional amount of the Company’s three interest rate swaps was $116.3 million.
               The Company’s Malaysian operations have entered into forward exchange contracts on a rolling basis with a total notional value of $38.5 million as of July 3, 2010. These forward contracts will fix the exchange rates on foreign currency cash used to pay a portion of local currency expenses. The changes in the fair value of the forward contracts are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. The total fair value of the forward contracts was $1.8 million at July 3, 2010.

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               The tables below present information regarding the fair values of derivative instruments and the effects of derivative instruments on the Company’s Statements of Operations:
                                                                           
 
  Fair Values of Derivative Instruments  
  In thousands of dollars    
        Asset Derivatives                 Liability Derivatives    
                  July 3,       October 3,                           July 3,       October 3,    
                  2010       2009                           2010       2009    
  Derivatives designated                                             Balance                    
  as hedging instruments     Balance Sheet                                     Sheet                    
        Location       Fair Value       Fair Value                 Location       Fair Value       Fair Value    
 
Interest rate swaps
                -         -                 Current liabilities
– Other
      $ 2,923         $2,072    
 
Interest rate swaps
                -         -                 Other liabilities       $ 5,847         $7,253    
 
Forward contracts
    Prepaid expenses
and other
      $1,827         $ 530                                            
 

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The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Operations
   
  for the Three Months Ended    
  In thousands of dollars              
                 
Amount of Gain or
                                                    Location of Gain or (Loss)     Amount of Gain or (Loss)    
                  (Loss) Recognized in                                                     Recognized in Income on     Recognized in Income on    
                  Other Comprehensive                 Location of Gain or (Loss)     Amount of Gain or (Loss)                 Derivative (Ineffective     Derivative (Ineffective    
  Derivatives in Cash               Income (“OCI”) on                 Reclassified from     Reclassified from                 Portion and Amount     Portion and Amount    
  Flow Hedging               Derivative (Effective                 Accumulated OCI into     Accumulated OCI into                 Excluded from     Excluded from    
  Relationships               Portion)                 Income (Effective Portion)     Income (Effective Portion)                 Effectiveness Testing)     Effectiveness Testing)    
                  July 3,       July 4,                       July 3,       July 4,                       July 3,       July 4,    
                  2010       2009                       2010       2009                       2010       2009    
 
 
                                                                                                       
 
Interest rate swaps
              $ (1,817 )     $ 53                     Interest income (expense)     $ (1,160 )     $ (1,098 )               Other income (expense)     $ -       $ -    
 
Forward contracts
              $ 579       $ -                 Selling and administrative expenses     $ 749       $ -                 Other income (expense)     $ -       $ -    
 
 
 
 
The Effect of Derivative Instruments on the Statements of Operations
   
  for the Nine Months Ended    
  In thousands of dollars    
                                                                                   
Location of Gain or (Loss)
    Amount of Gain or (Loss)    
                                                                                    Recognized in Income on     Recognized in Income on    
                  Amount of Gain or                 Location of Gain or (Loss)     Amount of Gain or (Loss)                 Derivative (Ineffective     Derivative (Ineffective    
  Derivatives in Cash               (Loss) Recognized in                 Reclassified from     Reclassified from                 Portion and Amount     Portion and Amount    
  Flow Hedging               OCI on Derivative                 Accumulated OCI into     Accumulated OCI into                 Excluded from     Excluded from    
  Relationships               (Effective Portion)                 Income (Effective Portion)     Income (Effective Portion)                 Effectiveness Testing)     Effectiveness Testing)    
                  July 3,       July 4,                       July 3,       July 4,                       July 3,       July 4,    
                  2010       2009                       2010       2009                       2010       2009    
 
 
                                                                                                       
 
Interest rate swaps
              $ (3,160 )     $ (8,379 )               Interest income (expense)     $ (3,715 )     $ (2,379 )               Other income (expense)     $ -       $ -    
 
Forward contracts
              $ 2,447       $ -                 Selling and administrative expenses     $ 1,150       $ -                 Other income (expense)     $ -       $ -    
 

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               The Company adopted accounting guidance on September 28, 2008, for fair value measurements of financial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted this guidance for non-financial assets and liabilities on October 4, 2009. This accounting guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (or exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The accounting guidance established a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. The input levels are:
               Level 1: Quoted (observable) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
               Level 2: Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
               Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the asset or liability.
               The following table lists the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments as of July 3, 2010, by input level as defined above:
                                             
 
             
        Fair Value Measurements Using Input Levels:    
        (in thousands)    
             
          Level 1       Level 2       Level 3   Total  
                                     
 
Derivatives
                                         
 

Interest rate swaps

    $ -           $ 8,770       $ -           $ 8,770    
 

Foreign currency forward contracts

    $ -           $ 1,827       $ -           $ 1,827    
 
               The fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts is determined using a market approach which includes obtaining directly or indirectly observable values from third parties active in the relevant markets. The primary input in the fair value of the interest rate swaps is the relevant LIBOR forward curve. Inputs in the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts include prevailing forward and spot prices for currency and interest rate forward curves.
               The Company also has $2.0 million of auction rate securities that mature on March 17, 2042. The fair value of these securities is determined based on Level 3 inputs. There has been no material change in the fair value of these securities since October 3, 2009.

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NOTE 6 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
               The following is a reconciliation of the amounts utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
                               
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
                               
Net income
   $  24,368      $  9,210      $  62,926      $  31,276  
 
                               
 
                               
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    40,337       39,445       39,935       39,382  
Dilutive effect of stock options outstanding
    871       267       818       168  
 
                               
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
       41,208          39,712          40,753          39,550  
 
                               
 
                               
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
   $  0.60      $  0.23      $  1.58      $  0.79  
 
                               
Diluted
   $  0.59      $  0.23      $  1.54      $  0.79  
 
                               
               For the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010, stock options and stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) to purchase approximately 0.8 million and 1.1 million shares, respectively, were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ and stock-settled SARs’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, their effect would be antidilutive.
               For the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009, stock options and stock-settled SARs to purchase approximately 2.7 million shares were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ and stock-settled SARs’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, their effect would be antidilutive.
NOTE 7 - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
               The Company recognized $2.4 million and $7.1 million of compensation expense associated with stock-based awards for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010, respectively, and $2.1 million and $7.5 million for the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009, respectively.
               The Company continues to use the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock-settled SARs. The Company uses the fair value at the date of grant to value restricted stock units and unrestricted stock awards. The Company recognizes the stock-based compensation expense over the stock-based awards’ vesting period.
NOTE 8 - INCOME TAXES
               Income taxes for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 were $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The effective tax rates for both the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 were 2 percent.
               Income taxes for the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009 were $1.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The effective tax rates, excluding the effect of discrete events, for the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009 were approximately 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The net discrete events for the 2009 fiscal second quarter were $1.4 million, consisting of approximately $1.6 million, including interest, related to the conclusion of federal and state audits, which resulted in a reduction of the liability for uncertainty in income taxes, offset by an additional provision of $0.2 million for changes in state tax laws.

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               As of July 3, 2010, there was no material change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits recorded for uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The amount of interest and penalties recorded for both the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009 was not material.
               It is reasonably possible that a number of uncertain tax positions related to federal and state tax positions may be settled within the next 12 months. Settlement of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
NOTE 9 - BUSINESS SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC AND MAJOR CUSTOMER INFORMATION
               Reportable segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or group, in assessing performance and allocating resources.
               The Company uses an internal management reporting system, which provides important financial data to evaluate performance and allocate the Company’s resources on a geographic basis. Net sales for segments are attributed to the region in which the product is manufactured or service is performed. The services provided, manufacturing processes used, class of customers serviced and order fulfillment processes used are similar and generally interchangeable across the segments. A segment’s performance is evaluated based upon its operating income (loss). A segment’s operating income (loss) includes its net sales less cost of sales and selling and administrative expenses, but excludes corporate and other costs, interest expense, other income (loss), and income taxes. Corporate and other costs primarily represent corporate selling and administrative expenses, and restructuring and impairment costs. These costs are not allocated to the segments, as management excludes such costs when assessing the performance of the segments. Inter-segment transactions are generally recorded at amounts that approximate arm’s length transactions. The accounting policies for the regions are the same as for the Company taken as a whole.
               Information about the Company’s four reportable segments for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009 were as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
                               
Net sales:
                               
United States
    $  296,796       $  226,372       $  837,257       $  771,540  
Asia
    251,497       147,729       673,368       434,308  
Europe
    18,503       13,083       51,070       38,043  
Mexico
    25,136       19,437       70,362       57,482  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (55,548 )     (27,978 )     (174,296 )     (77,726 )
 
                               
 
    $  536,384       $  378,643       $ 1,457,761       $ 1,223,647  
 
                               
 
                               
Depreciation and amortization:
                               
United States
    $  2,929       $  2,489       $  8,333       $  7,599  
Asia
    4,823       4,133       13,489       11,793  
Europe
    468       194       1,443       564  
Mexico
    579       569       1,713       1,641  
Corporate
    1,596       1,278       4,228       3,838  
 
                               
 
    $  10,395       $  8,663       $  29,206       $  25,435  
 
                               

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    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Operating income (loss):
                               
United States
    $  18,154       $  13,492       $  55,302       $  51,554  
Asia
    31,509       15,369       83,897       44,870  
Europe
    41       (54 )     (829 )     1,875  
Mexico
    545       (992 )     (67 )     (2,667 )
Corporate and other costs
    (23,217 )     (15,701 )     (67,661 )     (57,354 )
 
                               
 
    $  27,032       $  12,114       $  70,642       $  38,278  
 
                               
 
                               
Capital expenditures:
                               
United States
    $  5,133       $  717       $  10,675       $  15,893  
Asia
    2,732       6,234       19,380       18,351  
Europe
    560       2,472       906       2,839  
Mexico
    1,765       1,214       2,835       1,961  
Corporate
    5,707       1,257       13,536       3,151  
 
                               
 
    $  15,897       $  11,894       $  47,332       $  42,195  
 
                               
                                 
    July 3,   October 3,                
    2010   2009                
Total assets:
                 
United States
    $  404,721       $  341,807  
Asia
    508,841       370,247  
Europe
    79,931       86,024  
Mexico
    46,291       45,699  
Corporate
    180,136       178,895  
 
               
 
    $  1,219,920       $  1,022,672  
 
               
               The following enterprise-wide information is provided in accordance with the required segment disclosures. Net sales to unaffiliated customers were based on the Company’s location providing the product or services (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Net sales:
                               
United States
    $  296,796       $  226,372       $  837,257       $  771,540  
Malaysia
    212,777       132,132       584,136       377,217  
China
    38,720       15,597       89,232       57,091  
United Kingdom
    18,225       13,083       50,368       38,043  
Mexico
    25,136       19,437       70,362       57,482  
Romania
    278       -       702       -  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (55,548 )     (27,978 )     (174,296 )     (77,726 )
 
                               
 
    $  536,384       $  378,643       $  1,457,761       $  1,223,647  
 
                               

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    July 3,   October 3,
    2010   2009
Long-lived assets:
               
United States
    $  58,945       $  47,346  
Malaysia
    78,789       72,325  
China
    18,995       14,266  
United Kingdom
    6,937       5,989  
Mexico
    8,066       6,940  
Romania
    3,580       5,760  
Corporate
    47,527       44,843  
 
               
 
    $  222,839       $  197,469  
 
               
               Long-lived assets as of July 3, 2010, and October 3, 2009, exclude other long-term assets totaling $30.3 million and $26.8 million, respectively.
               The percentages of net sales to customers representing 10 percent or more of total net sales for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Juniper Networks, Inc. (“Juniper”)
    16 %     23 %     16 %     21 %
               No other customers accounted for 10 percent or more of net sales in either period.
NOTE 10 - GUARANTEES
               The Company offers certain indemnifications under its customer manufacturing agreements. In the normal course of business, the Company may from time to time be obligated to indemnify its customers or its customers’ customers against damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s negligence, misconduct, breach of contract, or infringement of third party intellectual property rights. Certain agreements have extended broader indemnification, and while most agreements have contractual limits, some do not. However, the Company generally does not provide for such indemnities and seeks indemnification from its customers for damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s adherence to customers’ specifications or designs or use of materials furnished, or directed to be used, by its customers. The Company does not believe its obligations under such indemnities are material.
               In the normal course of business, the Company also provides its customers a limited warranty covering workmanship, and in some cases materials, on products manufactured by the Company. Such warranty generally provides that products will be free from defects in the Company’s workmanship and meet mutually agreed-upon specifications for periods generally ranging from 12 months to 24 months. If a product fails to comply with the Company’s limited warranty, the Company’s obligation is generally limited to correcting, at its expense, any defect by repairing or replacing such defective product. The Company’s warranty generally excludes defects resulting from faulty customer-supplied components, design defects or damage caused by any party or cause other than the Company.
               The Company provides for an estimate of costs that may be incurred under its limited warranty at the time product revenue is recognized and establishes additional reserves for specifically identified product issues. These costs primarily include labor and materials, as necessary, associated with repair or replacement and are included in the Company’s accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in other current accrued liabilities. The primary factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the value and the number of shipped units and historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims. As these factors are impacted by actual experience and future expectations, the Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary.

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               Below is a table summarizing the activity related to the Company’s limited warranty liability for fiscal 2009 and for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 (in thousands):
         
Limited warranty liability, as of September 27, 2008
  $ 4,052  
Accruals for warranties issued during the period
    507  
Settlements (in cash or in kind) during the period
    (89 )
 
     
Limited warranty liability, as of October 3, 2009
    4,470  
Accruals for warranties issued during the period
    944  
Settlements (in cash or in kind) during the period
    (889 )
 
     
Limited warranty liability, as of July 3, 2010
  $ 4,525  
 
     
NOTE 11 - LITIGATION
               In December 2009, the Company received settlement funds of approximately $3.2 million related to a court case in which the Company was a plaintiff. The settlement related to prior purchases of inventory and therefore was recorded in cost of sales.
               The Company is party to certain other lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
NOTE 12 - CONTINGENCIES
               We were notified in April 2009 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) of its intention to conduct a customary Focused Assessment of the Company’s import activities during fiscal 2008 and of the Company’s processes and procedures to comply with U.S. Customs laws and regulations. As a result of discussions with CBP, Plexus committed to CBP that by August 2010, extended from June 2010, the Company will report any errors relating to import trade activity from July 2004 to the date of Plexus’ report. Upon receiving CBP’s confirmation of any such errors, we will tender any associated duties and fees. Plexus has also agreed that it will implement improved processes and procedures in areas where errors are found and review these corrective measures with CBP. At this time, we do not believe that any deficiencies in processes or controls, or unanticipated costs, unpaid duties or penalties associated with this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
NOTE 13 - RESTRUCTURING AND IMPAIRMENT COSTS
               Fiscal 2010 restructuring and impairment costs: For the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010, the Company did not incur any restructuring or impairment costs.
               Fiscal 2009 restructuring and impairment costs: For the three months ended July 4, 2009, the Company did not incur any restructuring or impairment costs.
               For the nine months ended July 4, 2009, the Company incurred $8.6 million of restructuring and impairment costs, which consisted of the following:
   
$5.7 million related to goodwill impairment in the Company’s Europe reportable segment
 
   
$1.2 million related to severance from the reduction of the Company’s workforce across our United States facilities, which affected approximately 125 employees
 
   
$0.8 million related to severance from the reduction of the Company’s workforce in Juarez, Mexico, which affected approximately 320 employees and
 
   
$0.9 million related to the fixed assets written-down related to the closure of the Company’s Ayer, Massachusetts facility and at Corporate.

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               The table below summarizes the Company’s accrued restructuring and impairment liabilities as of July 3, 2010 (in thousands):
                                 
    Employee   Lease        
    Termination   Obligations and   Non-cash    
    and Severance   Other Exit   Asset    
    Costs   Costs   Impairments   Total
Accrued balance, September 27, 2008
    $  2,038       $  -       $  -       $  2,038  
Restructuring and impairment costs
    2,196       876       5,748       8,820  
Adjustments to provisions
    (249 )     -               (249 )
Amounts utilized
    (3,941 )     (790 )     (5,748 )     (10,479 )
 
                               
Accrued balance, October 3, 2009
    44       86       -       130  
Amounts utilized
    (44 )     (86 )     -       (130 )
 
                               
Accrued balance, July 3, 2010
    $  -       $  -       $  -       $  -  
 
                               
NOTE 14 - NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
               In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures, which requires additional disclosure for transfers in and out of level one and level two fair value measurements as well as activity in level three fair value measurements. The new guidance requests that fair value measurement disclosures are provided for each class of assets and liabilities including valuation techniques and inputs to the fair value model. The Company adopted this guidance during the second quarter of fiscal 2010. The principal impact to the Company was to require the expansion of its disclosure regarding its derivative investments (see Note 5).
               In October 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which establishes a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, replaces the term “fair value” in the revenue allocation guidance with “selling price,” eliminates the residual method of allocation by requiring that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method and requires that a vendor determine its best estimate of selling price in a manner that is consistent with that used to determine the price to sell the deliverable on a stand-alone basis. This guidance is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2010. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.
               In June 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting and disclosure requirements for the consolidation of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). The elimination of the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (“QSPE”) removes the exception from applying the consolidation guidance within this amendment. This amendment requires an enterprise to perform a qualitative analysis when determining whether or not it must consolidate a VIE. The amendment also requires an enterprise to continuously reassess whether it must consolidate a VIE. Additionally, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement with VIEs and any significant change in risk exposure due to that involvement, as well as how its involvement with VIEs impacts the enterprise’s financial statements. Finally, an enterprise will be required to disclose significant judgments and assumptions used to determine whether or not to consolidate a VIE. This amendment is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. Adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
               In June 2008, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that specifies that unvested share-based awards containing non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities and should be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The Company adopted this guidance beginning October 4, 2009, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the weighted average shares outstanding or earnings per share amounts.
               In March 2008, the FASB ratified accounting guidance for lessee maintenance deposits under lease arrangements. The guidance requires that all nonrefundable maintenance deposits be accounted for as a deposit, and expensed or capitalized when underlying maintenance is performed. If it is determined that an amount on deposit is not probable of being used to fund future maintenance, it is to be recognized as expense at the time such

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determination is made. The Company adopted this guidance beginning October 4, 2009, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
               In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding business combinations (whether full, partial or step acquisitions) which will result in all assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their fair values. Certain forms of contingent consideration and acquired contingencies will be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. The guidance also states that acquisition costs will generally be expensed as incurred and restructuring costs will be expensed in periods after the acquisition date. The Company adopted the new guidance beginning October 4, 2009, and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
               In September 2006, the FASB issued new accounting guidance that defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. It also establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes information used in developing assumptions when pricing an asset or liability. We adopted this guidance for financial assets and liabilities effective September 28, 2008, and for non-financial assets and liabilities effective October 4, 2009. Non-financial assets and liabilities subject to this new guidance primarily include goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets measured at fair value for impairment assessments, long-lived assets measured at fair value for impairment assessments, and non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in business combinations. The adoption of the new accounting guidance effective October 4, 2009, did not have a material effect on the Company’ financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

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ITEM 2.             MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
“SAFE HARBOR” CAUTIONARY STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:
               The statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “target” and similar terms and concepts), including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:
    the economic performance of the industries, sectors and customers we serve
 
    the risk of customer delays, changes, cancellations or forecast inaccuracies in both ongoing and new programs
 
    the poor visibility of future orders, particularly in view of current economic conditions
 
    the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods
 
    our ability to secure new customers, maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis
 
    the risk that our revenue and/or profits associated with customers who have recently been acquired by third parties will be negatively affected
 
    the risks relative to new customers, including our arrangements with The Coca-Cola Company, which risks include customer delays, start-up costs, potential inability to execute, the establishment of appropriate terms of agreements and the lack of a track record of order volume and timing
 
    the risks of concentration of work for certain customers
 
    our ability to manage successfully a complex business model characterized by high customer and product mix, low volumes and demanding quality, regulatory and other requirements
 
    the risk that new program wins and/or customer demand may not result in the expected revenue or profitability
 
    the fact that customer orders may not lead to long-term relationships
 
    the effects of the current constrained supply environment, which has led and may continue to lead to periods of shortages and delays in obtaining components based on the lack of capacity at some of our suppliers to meet increased demand, or which may cause customers to increase forecasts and orders to secure raw material supply
 
    raw material and component cost fluctuations particularly due to sudden increases in customer demand
 
    the risks associated with excess and obsolete inventory, including the risk that inventory purchased on behalf of our customers may not be consumed or otherwise paid for by customers, resulting in an inventory write-off
 
    the weakness of the global economy and the continuing instability of the global financial markets and banking system, including the potential inability on our part or that of our customers or suppliers to access cash investments and credit facilities
 
    the effect of changes in the pricing and margins of products
 
    the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, including our recent and planned expansions, such as our new facilities in Hangzhou, China and Oradea, Romania, and our plans to further expand in Penang, Malaysia and other locations
 
    the adequacy of restructuring and similar charges as compared to actual expenses
 
    the risk of unanticipated costs, unpaid duties and penalties related to an ongoing audit of our import compliance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
 
    possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs
 
    the potential effect of world or local events or other events outside our control (such as drug cartel-related violence in Mexico, changes in oil prices, terrorism and war in the Middle East)
 
    the impact of increased competition and
 
    other risks detailed herein, as well as in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings (particularly in Part I, Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2009).

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OVERVIEW
               The following information should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements included herein and the “Risk Factors” section in Part I, Item 1A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2009.
               Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (together “Plexus,” the “Company,” or “we”) participate in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (“EMS”) industry. We provide product realization services to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and other technology companies in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, industrial/commercial and defense/security/aerospace market sectors. We provide advanced product design, manufacturing and testing services to our customers with a focus on the mid-to-lower-volume, higher-mix segment of the EMS market. Our customers’ products typically require exceptional production and supply-chain flexibility, necessitating an optimized demand-pull-based manufacturing and supply chain solution across an integrated global platform. Many of our customers’ products require complex configuration management and direct order fulfillment to their customers across the globe. In such cases we provide global logistics management and after-market service and repair. Our customers’ products may have stringent requirements for quality, reliability and regulatory compliance. We offer our customers the ability to outsource all phases of product realization, including product specifications; development, design and design validation; regulatory compliance support; prototyping and new product introduction; manufacturing test equipment development; materials sourcing, procurement and supply-chain management; product assembly/manufacturing, configuration and test; order fulfillment, logistics and service/repair.
               Plexus is passionate about its goal to be the best EMS company in the world at providing services for customers that have mid-to-lower-volume requirements and a higher complexity of products. We have tailored our engineering services, manufacturing operations, supply-chain management, workforce, business intelligence systems, financial goals and metrics specifically to support these types of programs. Our flexible manufacturing facilities and processes are designed to accommodate customers with multiple product-lines and configurations as well as unique quality and regulatory requirements. Each of these customers is supported by a multi-disciplinary customer team and one or more uniquely configured “focus factories” supported by a supply-chain and logistics solution specifically designed to meet the flexibility and responsiveness required to support that customer’s fulfillment requirements.
               Our go-to-market strategy is also tailored to our target market sectors and business strategy. We have business development and customer management teams that are dedicated to each of the five sectors we serve. These teams are accountable for understanding the sector participants, technology, unique quality and regulatory requirements and longer-term trends. Further, these teams help set our strategy for growth in their sectors with a particular focus on expanding the services and value-add that we provide to our current customers while strategically targeting select new customers to add to our portfolio.
               Our financial model is aligned with our business strategy, with our primary focus to earn a return on invested capital (“ROIC”) in excess of our weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”). The smaller volumes, flexibility requirements and fulfillment needs of our customers typically result in greater investments in inventory than many of our competitors, particularly those that provide EMS services for high-volume, less complex products with less stringent requirements (such as consumer electronics). In addition, our cost structure relative to these peers includes higher investments in selling and administrative costs as a percentage of sales to support our sector-based go-to-market strategy, smaller program sizes, flexibility, and complex quality and regulatory compliance requirements. By exercising discipline to generate a ROIC in excess of our WACC, our goal is to ensure that Plexus creates a value proposition for our shareholders as well as our customers.
               Our customers include both industry-leading OEMs and other technology companies that have never manufactured products internally. As a result of our focus on serving market sectors that rely on advanced electronics technology, our business is influenced by technological trends such as the level and rate of development of telecommunications infrastructure, the expansion of networks and use of the Internet. In addition, the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of new medical devices, defense procurement practices and other governmental approval and regulatory processes can affect our business. Our business has also benefited from the trend to increased outsourcing by OEMs.
               We provide most of our contract manufacturing services on a turnkey basis, which means that we procure some or all of the materials required for product assembly. We provide some services on a consignment basis, which

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means that the customer supplies the necessary materials, and we provide the labor and other services required for product assembly. Turnkey services require material procurement and warehousing, in addition to manufacturing, and involve greater resource investments than consignment services. Other than certain test equipment and software used for internal operations, we do not design or manufacture our own proprietary products.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
               As a consequence of the Company’s use of a “4-4-5” weekly accounting system, periodically an additional week must be added to the fiscal year to re-align with a fiscal year end at the Saturday closest to September 30. In fiscal 2009, this required an additional week, which was added to the first fiscal quarter. Therefore, the comparisons between the first three quarters of fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 reflect that the first three quarters of fiscal 2010 included 273 days while the first three quarters in fiscal 2009 included 280 days.
               Three months ended July 3, 2010. Net sales for the three months ended July 3, 2010, of $536.4 million increased by $157.8 million, or 41.7 percent, as compared to the three months ended July 4, 2009. The net sales increase in the current year period was driven primarily by higher end-market demand from numerous existing customers in each of our market sectors, as well as the addition of new customers in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, and industrial/commercial sectors. Net sales to Juniper Networks, Inc. (“Juniper”) decreased as a result of decreased end-market demand for the mix of Juniper products produced by us.
               Gross margins were 10.4 percent for the three months ended July 3, 2010, which compared favorably to 9.1 percent for the three months ended July 4, 2009. Gross margins in the current year period improved as a result of increased net sales and the mix of customer revenue, partially offset by an increase in fixed expenses primarily due to higher headcount to support revenue growth.
               Selling and administrative expenses for the three months ended July 3, 2010 were $28.5 million, an increase of $6.0 million, or 26.8 percent, over the three months ended July 4, 2009. The current year period increase was primarily related to higher variable incentive compensation expense as a result of strong financial performance and increased headcount to support revenue growth.
               For the three months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009, the Company did not incur any restructuring or impairment charges.
               Net income for the three months ended July 3, 2010 increased by $15.2 million to $24.4 million from the three months ended July 4, 2009, and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.59 in the current year period from $0.23 in the prior year period. Net income increased from the prior year period due to increased sales, higher gross margins, and a lower effective tax rate, partially offset by higher selling and administrative expenses. The effective tax rate in the current year period was 2 percent as compared to 10 percent in the prior year period. The decrease in effective tax rate for the current year period as compared to the prior year period was primarily due to a smaller proportion of the Company’s projected fiscal 2010 pre-tax income from our North American sites, driven by changes in customer and product mix.
               Nine months ended July 3, 2010. Net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, of $1,457.8 million increased by $234.2 million, or 19.1 percent, over the nine months ended July 4, 2009. Net sales increased in all of our market sectors during the current year period, except for a slight decrease in the defense/security/aerospace sector. The overall higher net sales were driven primarily by stronger end-market conditions, as well as the ramp of production for new customer programs in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, and industrial/commercial sectors. Net sales to Juniper decreased as described above.
               Gross margins were 10.3 percent for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, which was higher than the 9.6 percent achieved for the nine months ended July 4, 2009. Gross margins in the current year period were favorably impacted by the increased net sales, changes in customer mix, and proceeds from a litigation settlement, partially offset by an increase in fixed expenses.
               Selling and administrative expenses for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 were $79.9 million, an increase of $9.8 million, or 14.0 percent, over the nine months ended July 4, 2009. The current year period included higher

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variable incentive compensation expense as a result of strong financial performance and increased headcount to support revenue growth.
               For the nine months ended July 3, 2010, the Company did not incur any restructuring or impairment charges. The Company recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $8.6 million for the nine months ended July 4, 2009 for goodwill impairment and severance related to the reduction of workforce across our facilities. See “Restructuring and Impairment Actions” in “Results of Operations” below.
               Net income for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 increased to $62.9 million from $31.3 million in the prior year period, and diluted earnings per share increased to $1.54 from $0.79 in the prior year period. Net income increased from the prior year period due to overall increased sales, higher gross margins, and a lower effective tax rate, offset by higher selling and administrative and fixed expenses. The effective tax rate in the current year period was 2 percent versus 4 percent in the prior year period. The decrease in effective tax rate from the prior year period was primarily due to a smaller proportion of the Company’s projected fiscal 2010 pre-tax income from our North American sites, driven by changes in customer and product mix, offset by the absence in 2010 of a net $1.4 million tax benefit resulting from a discrete event occurring in the nine month period ended July 4, 2009.
               Fiscal 2010 outlook. Our financial goals for the final quarter of 2010 are to continue to capitalize on the ramp of new business wins and signs of improvement in the economy and customer demand to meet our goals of compounded annual revenue growth of 15% or more and ROIC of 500 basis points above our estimated WACC.
               Based on customer forecasts and current economic conditions, we currently expect net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 to be in the range of $530 million to $555 million; however, our results will ultimately depend upon the actual level of customer orders and production. We are currently in a constrained supply environment which may cause periods of parts shortages and delays for some components, based on lack of capacity at some of our suppliers to meet increased demand from the improving economic outlook. We believe we will have sufficient parts availability to support our revenue guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and are managing this issue aggressively to support revenue in future quarters, but we cannot guarantee that part shortages, delays and/or price increases will not negatively impact net sales, inventory levels, component costs, and margin. We will also be subject to changes in factors affecting the economy as a whole. Assuming that net sales are in the range noted above, we would currently expect to earn, before any restructuring and impairment costs, between $0.58 to $0.63 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.
               We currently expect the annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2010 to be in the low single digits.
REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
               A further discussion of financial performance by reportable segment is presented below (dollars in millions):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
                               
Net sales:
                               
United States
    $  296.8       $  226.4       $  837.3       $  771.5  
Asia
    251.5       147.7       673.4       434.3  
Europe
    18.5       13.1       51.0       38.0  
Mexico
    25.1       19.4       70.4       57.5  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (55.5 )     (28.0 )     (174.3 )     (77.7 )
 
                               
 
    $  536.4       $  378.6       $  1,457.8       $  1,223.6  
 
                               

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    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
Operating income (loss):
                               
United States
    $  18.2       $  13.5       $  55.3       $  51.6  
Asia
    31.5       15.3       83.9       44.9  
Europe
    -       -       (0.8 )     1.9  
Mexico
    0.5       (1.0 )     (0.1 )     (2.7 )
Corporate and other costs
    (23.2 )     (15.7 )     (67.7 )     (57.4 )
 
                               
 
    $  27.0       $  12.1       $  70.6       $  38.3  
 
                               
United States: Net sales for the three months ended July 3, 2010 increased $70.4 million, or 31.1 percent, due to higher end-market demand from numerous existing customers in each of our market sectors along with demand from new customers in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, and medical sectors. These increases were offset by reduced net sales to our largest customer, Juniper, which decreased compared to the prior year period due to the transfer of manufacturing of some products to our Asia reportable segment as well as decreased end-market demand for the mix of Juniper products produced by us. Operating income for the current year period increased as a result of higher revenues from the customers noted above, offset by changes in customer mix.
Net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 increased $65.8 million, or 8.5 percent, due to higher end-market demand from numerous existing customers in each of our market sectors and demand from new customers in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, and medical sectors, offset by reduced net sales to Juniper as described above. Operating income for the current year period increased as a result of higher revenues, changes in customer mix and proceeds received from a litigation settlement.
Asia: Net sales for the three months ended July 3, 2010 increased $103.8 million, or 70.3 percent, due to higher end-market demand from numerous existing customers in each of our market sectors, increased demand from a new customer in the wireless infrastructure sector and the transfer of manufacturing of some Juniper products from the United States reportable segment to the Asia reportable segment. The increase in net sales to Juniper as a result of the transfer discussed above was partially offset by decreased end-market demand for the mix of Juniper products produced by us. Operating income in the current year period improved as a result of the net sales growth.
Net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 increased $239.1 million, or 55.1 percent, due to higher net sales to several customers across our market sectors, increased demand from a new customer in the wireless infrastructure sector and the transfer of the manufacturing of some Juniper products to the Asia reportable segment from the United States reportable segment, partially offset by the decrease in demand from Juniper described above. Operating income for the current year period improved as a result of higher net revenue.
Europe: Net sales for the three months ended July 3, 2010 increased $5.4 million, or 41.2 percent, due primarily to the ramp of production for two existing customer programs in the industrial/commercial sector. Operating income in the current year period was flat compared to the prior year period due to the revenue growth in the existing United Kingdom facility, offset by operating costs from our new Romania facility.
Net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 increased $13.0 million, or 34.2 percent, due to increased demand from the ramp of production for two existing customer programs in the industrial/commercial sector. Operating results were lower in the current year period as compared to the prior year period due to changes in customer mix and operating costs from our new Romania facility.
Mexico: Net sales for the three months ended July 3, 2010 increased $5.7 million, or 29.4 percent, due primarily to higher end-market demand for existing customer programs in the industrial/commercial and

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wireline/networking sectors, offset by the disengagement of a wireline/networking customer. Operating income for the current year period improved due to higher net sales volume.
Net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010 increased $12.9 million, or 22.4 percent, due to the ramp of production for one existing customer in the industrial/commercial sector and higher end-market demand for existing customer programs in the industrial/commercial and wireline/networking sectors, offset by the disengagement of a wireline/networking customer. Operating results for the current year period improved due to higher net sales volume.
              For our significant customers, we generally manufacture product in more than one location. Net sales to Juniper, our largest customer, occur in the United States and Asia. See Note 9 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for certain financial information regarding our reportable segments, including detail of net sales by reportable segment.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
               Net sales. Net sales for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    July 3,   July 4,   Increase/   July 3,   July 4,   Increase/
    2010   2009   (Decrease)   2010   2009   (Decrease)
 
                                                               
Net Sales
    $ 536.4       $ 378.6       $ 157.8       41.7 %     $ 1,457.8       $ 1,223.6       $ 234.2       19.1 %
               For the three months ended July 3, 2010, our net sales increase of 41.7 percent was a result of higher net sales in all market sectors. These increases were due to improved end-market demand from numerous existing customers, as well as the addition of new customers in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, and industrial/commercial sectors. Net sales to Juniper decreased as a result of decreased end-market demand for the mix of Juniper products produced by us.
               For the nine months ended July 3, 2010, our net sales increase of 19.1 percent resulted from increases in all of our market sectors, except for a slight decrease in the defense/security/aerospace sector. The overall higher net sales were driven primarily by strong end-market conditions, as well as the addition of new customers in the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, and industrial/commercial sectors. Net sales to Juniper decreased as described above.
               Our net sales by market sector for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
Industry
  2010   2009   2010   2009
Wireline/Networking
    42 %     48 %     44 %     46 %
Wireless Infrastructure
    11 %     9 %     12 %     9 %
Medical
    21 %     21 %     19 %     23 %
Industrial/Commercial
    18 %     12 %     17 %     12 %
Defense/Security/Aerospace
    8 %     10 %     8 %     10 %
               The percentages of net sales to customers representing 10 percent or more of net sales and net sales to our ten largest customers for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Juniper
    16 %     23 %     16 %     21 %
Top 10 customers
    54 %     57 %     57 %     59 %

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               Net sales to our largest customers may vary from time to time depending on the size and timing of customer program commencements, terminations, delays, modifications and transitions. We remain dependent on continued sales to our significant customers, and we generally do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers. Customers’ forecasts can and do change as a result of changes in their end-market demand and other factors, including global economic conditions. Any material change in forecasts or orders from these major accounts, or other customers, could materially affect our results of operations. In addition, as our percentage of net sales to customers in a specific sector becomes larger relative to other sectors, we will become increasingly dependent upon the economic and business conditions affecting that sector.
               In the current economic environment, we are seeing increased merger and acquisition activity that may impact our customers. Specifically, two of our customers were acquired in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. We do not believe that there will be a material impact on our expected results in the short run, but in the longer time frame these transactions create both risk that this business will transition to other contract manufacturers or be taken in house, as well as opportunities that Plexus could gain additional business with the acquiring entity. The Company is forecasting declining revenues for both customers in fiscal 2011 based on one likely and one possible disengagement.
               Gross profit. Gross profit and gross margins for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    July 3,   July 4,   Increase/   July 3,   July 4,   Increase/
    2010   2009   (Decrease)   2010   2009   (Decrease)
 
                                                               
Gross Profit
    $ 55.5       $ 34.6       $ 20.9       60.5 %     $ 150.6       $ 117.0       $ 33.6       28.7 %
Gross Margin
    10.4 %     9.1 %                     10.3 %     9.6 %                
               For the three months ended July 3, 2010, gross profit was impacted by the following factors:
    favorable changes in customer mix
 
    increased capacity utilization from higher revenue levels
 
    offset by increased fixed expenses, primarily in the United States and Asia reportable segments, due to higher headcount to support the revenue growth.
               For the nine months ended July 3, 2010, gross profit was impacted by the following factors:
    favorable changes in customer mix
 
    increased capacity utilization from higher revenue levels
 
    proceeds received from a litigation settlement
 
    offset by increased fixed expenses, primarily in the United States and Asia reportable segments, due to higher headcount to support the revenue growth.
               Gross margins reflect a number of factors that can vary from period to period, including product and service mix, the level of new facility start-up costs, inefficiencies resulting from the transition of new programs, product life cycles, sales volumes, price reductions, overall capacity utilization, labor costs and efficiencies, the management of inventories, component pricing and shortages, fluctuations and timing of customer orders, changing demand for our customers’ products and competition within the electronics industry. We are currently in a constrained supply environment, which may cause periods of parts shortages and delays for some components, based on lack of capacity at some of our suppliers to meet increased demand from the gradually improving economic outlook. These shortages and delays could negatively impact net sales, inventory levels, component costs and margin. Additionally, turnkey manufacturing involves the risk of inventory management, and a change in component costs can directly impact average selling prices, gross margins and net sales. Although we focus on maintaining gross margins, there can be no assurance that gross margins will not decrease in future periods.
               Design work performed by the Company is not the proprietary property of Plexus and substantially all costs incurred with this work are considered reimbursable by our customers. We do not track research and development costs that are not reimbursed by our customers and we consider these amounts immaterial.

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               Selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative expenses (“S&A”) for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    July 3,   July 4,   Increase/   July 3,   July 4,   Increase/
    2010   2009   (Decrease)   2010   2009   (Decrease)
 
                                                               
S&A
    $ 28.5       $ 22.5       $ 6.0       26.8 %     $ 79.9       $ 70.1       $ 9.8       14.0 %
Percent of net sales
    5.3%       5.9%                       5.5%       5.7%                  
               For the three months ended July 3, 2010, the dollar increase in S&A was due primarily to an increase in headcount to support our strong level of new business wins in fiscal 2010 and higher variable incentive compensation expense as a result of strong financial performance.
               For the nine months ended July 3, 2010, the dollar increase in S&A was due primarily to higher variable incentive compensation expense as a result of strong financial performance as well as an increase in headcount to support our revenue growth.
               Restructuring and Impairment Actions. During the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and the three months ended July 4, 2009, we did not incur any restructuring or impairment charges.
               For the nine months ended July 4, 2009, the Company incurred $8.6 million of restructuring and impairment costs, which consisted of the following:
    $5.7 million related to goodwill impairment in the Company’s Europe reportable segment
 
   
$1.2 million related to severance from the reduction of the Company’s workforce across our United States facilities, which affected approximately 125 employees
 
   
$0.8 million related to severance from the reduction of the Company’s workforce in Juarez, Mexico, which affected approximately 320 employees and
 
   
$0.9 million related to the fixed assets written-down related to the closure of the Company’s Ayer, Massachusetts facility and at Corporate.
               As of July 3, 2010, we have no remaining restructuring liability. See Note 13 in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on restructuring costs.
               Income taxes. Income taxes for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
 
                               
Income tax expense
    $       0.5       $       1.0       $       1.3       $       1.2  
Effective annual tax rate
    2 %     10 %     2 %     4 %
               The change in effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010, compared to the three and nine months ended July 4, 2009, was primarily due to a smaller proportion of the Company’s projected fiscal 2010 pre-tax income from our North American sites, driven by changes in customer and product mix, offset by the absence in 2010 of a net $1.4 million tax benefit resulting from a discrete event occurring in the nine month period ended July 4, 2009.
               Our net deferred income tax assets as of July 3, 2010, reflect a $1.6 million valuation allowance against certain deferred income taxes. We also had a remaining valuation allowance of $1.0 million related to tax deductions associated with stock-based compensation as of July 3, 2010.
               We currently expect the annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2010 to be in the low single digits.

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               The Company currently benefits from reduced tax rates in Malaysia due to a tax holiday that extends through 2019. We have received an agreement to extend this tax holiday for a period of five years through December 31, 2024, subject to certain conditions.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
               Operating Activities. Cash flows used in operating activities were $26.8 million for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, compared to cash flows provided by operating activities of $109.3 million for the nine months ended July 4, 2009. During the nine months ended July 3, 2010, cash flows used by operating activities were primarily a result of increased inventory and accounts receivable, offset in part by increased accounts payable as well as earnings after adjusting for the non-cash effects of depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expenses. For the three month period ended July 3, 2010, we used $31.9 million in operating cash flows largely for the working capital investments described above.
               The increase in inventory was a result of our anticipated growth. Inventory turns decreased to 4.1 as of July 3, 2010, from 4.4 turns for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009. Days in inventory changed unfavorably as of July 3, 2010 to 89 days compared to 83 days as of October 3, 2009.
               The overall increase in accounts receivable was mainly due to increased net sales for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, as compared to the prior year. As of July 3, 2010, quarterly days sales outstanding in accounts receivable were 47 days as compared to the 45 days for the fiscal year ended October 3, 2009.
               Investing Activities. Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $47.1 million for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, and were primarily for additions to property, plant and equipment in the United States and Asia. These investments were for equipment to support customer demand in those regions and for the construction of a new headquarters building in Neenah, Wisconsin. See Note 9 in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our capital expenditures by reportable segment.
               We utilize available cash as the primary means of financing our operating requirements. We currently estimate capital expenditures for fiscal 2010 to be in the range of $80 million to $90 million, of which $47.3 million of expenditures were made during the first three quarters of fiscal 2010.
               On July 1, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase state leasehold land in Penang, Malaysia for approximately $9.1 million, subject to various purchase contingencies. The Company anticipates beginning construction of a manufacturing facility on the land during fiscal 2011.
               Financing Activities. Cash flows provided by financing activities totaled $6.2 million for the nine months ended July 3, 2010, versus cash flows used of $14.3 million for the nine months ended July 4, 2009. The largest driver of the change in financing cash flows was the significantly higher proceeds from the exercise of stock options for the nine months ended July 3, 2010.
               In February 2010, the Company negotiated the settlement of a capital lease in Kelso, Scotland. The termination of this capital lease obligation and acquisition of the property was executed through a cash payment of $3.9 million.
               On April 4, 2008, we entered into our Credit Facility with a group of banks which allows us to borrow $150 million in term loans and $100 million in revolving loans. The $150 million in term loans was immediately funded and the $100 million revolving credit facility is currently available. The Credit Facility is unsecured and may be increased by an additional $100 million (the “accordion feature”) if we have not previously terminated all or any portion of the Credit Facility, there is no event of default existing under the credit agreement and both we and the administrative agent consent to the increase. The Credit Facility expires on April 4, 2013. Borrowings under the Credit Facility may be either through term loans, revolving or swing loans or letter of credit obligations. As of July 3, 2010, we had term loan borrowings of $116.3 million outstanding and no revolving borrowings under the Credit Facility.

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               The Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio, maximum value of fixed rentals and operating lease obligations, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a minimum net worth test, all as defined in the agreement. As of July 3, 2010, we were in compliance with all debt covenants. If we incur an event of default, as defined in the Credit Facility (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant), the group of banks has the right to terminate the Credit Facility and all other obligations, and demand immediate repayment of all outstanding sums (principal and accrued interest). The interest rate on the borrowing varies depending upon our then-current total leverage ratio; as of July 3, 2010, the Company could elect to pay interest at a defined base rate or the LIBOR rate plus 1.25%. Rates would increase upon negative changes in specified Company financial metrics and would decrease upon reduction in the current total leverage ratio to no less than LIBOR plus 1.00%. We are also required to pay an annual commitment fee on the unused credit commitment based on our leverage ratio; the current fee is 0.30 percent. Unless the accordion feature is exercised, this fee applies only to the initial $100 million of availability (excluding the $150 million of term borrowings). Origination fees and expenses associated with the Credit Facility totaled approximately $1.3 million and have been deferred. These origination fees and expenses will be amortized over the five-year term of the Credit Facility. Quarterly principal repayments on the term loan of $3.75 million each began June 30, 2008, and end on April 4, 2013, with a final balloon repayment of $75.0 million.
               The Credit Facility allows for the future payment of cash dividends or the future repurchases of shares provided that no event of default (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant) is existing at the time of, or would be caused by, the dividend payment or the share repurchases.
               In June 2008, the Company entered into three interest rate swap contracts related to the $150 million in term loans under the Credit Facility that had an initial notional value of $150 million and mature on April 4, 2013. The total fair value of these interest rate swap contracts was $8.8 million as of July 3, 2010. As of July 3, 2010, the total combined notional amount of the Company’s three interest rate swaps was $116.3 million.
               Our Malaysian operations have entered into forward exchange contracts on a rolling basis with a total notional value of $38.5 million as of July 3, 2010. These forward contracts will fix the exchange rates on foreign currency cash used to pay a portion of our local currency expenses. The changes in the fair value of the forward contracts are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. The total fair value of the forward contracts was $1.8 million at July 3, 2010.
               As of July 3, 2010, we held $2.0 million of auction rate securities maturing on March 17, 2042, which were classified as “other” long-term assets and whose underlying assets were in guaranteed student loans that are backed by a U. S. government agency. If the credit quality deteriorates for these adjustable rate securities, we may in the future be required to record an impairment charge on these investments. We may be required to wait until market stability is restored for these instruments or until the final maturity of the underlying notes to realize our investments’ recorded value.
               Based on current expectations, we believe that our projected cash flows from operations, available cash and short-term investments, the Credit Facility, and our leasing capabilities should be sufficient to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements for the next twelve months. If our future financing needs increase, we may need to arrange additional debt or equity financing. Accordingly, we evaluate and consider from time to time various financing alternatives to supplement our financial resources. However, particularly due to the current instability of the credit and financial markets, we cannot be certain that we will be able to make any such arrangements on acceptable terms.
               We have not paid cash dividends in the past and do not currently anticipate paying them in the future. However, the company evaluates from time to time potential uses of excess cash, which in the future may include share repurchases, a special dividend or recurring dividends.

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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS
               Our disclosures regarding contractual obligations and commercial commitments are located in various parts of our regulatory filings. Information in the following table provides a summary of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of July 3, 2010 (dollars in millions):
                                         
    Payments Due by Fiscal Period
            Remaining in                   2015 and
Contractual Obligations
  Total   2010   2011-2012   2013-2014   thereafter
     
 
                                       
Long-Term Debt Obligations (1)
    $ 116.3       $ 3.8       $ 30.0       $ 82.5       $ -  
Capital Lease Obligations
    24.1       0.9       7.9       7.7       7.6  
Operating Lease Obligations
    36.7       2.6       16.0       11.8       6.3  
Purchase Obligations (2)
    380.8       262.1       118.1       0.1       0.5  
Other Long-Term Liabilities on the Balance Sheet (3)
    8.5       0.6       1.6       1.3       5.0  
Other Long-Term Liabilities not on the Balance Sheet (4)
    10.2       8.4       1.8       -       -  
 
                                       
Total Contractual Cash Obligations
    $ 576.6       $ 278.4       $ 175.4       $ 103.4       $ 19.4  
 
                                       
(1) - As of April 4, 2008, we entered into the Credit Facility and immediately funded a term loan for $150 million. See Note 4 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
(2) - As of July 3, 2010, purchase obligations consist of purchases of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of business.
(3) - As of July 3, 2010, other long-term obligations on the balance sheet included deferred compensation obligations to certain of our former and current executive officers, as well as other key employees, and an asset retirement obligation. We have excluded from the table the impact of approximately $5.0 million, as of July 3, 2010, related to unrecognized income tax benefits. The Company cannot make reliable estimates of the future cash flows by period related to this obligation.
(4) - As of July 3, 2010, other long-term obligations not on the balance sheet consisted of a commitment for salary continuation in the event employment of one executive officer of the Company is terminated without cause as well as a subsequent commitment for approximately $8.2 million to acquire a lease right to land in Penang, Malaysia. We did not have, and were not subject to, any lines of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees, standby repurchase obligations, other off-balance sheet arrangements or other commercial commitments that are material.
DISCLOSURE ABOUT CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
               Our accounting policies are disclosed in our 2009 annual report on Form 10-K. During the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2010, there were no material changes to these policies.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
               See Note 14 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding new accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 3.         QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
               We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign exchange and interest rates. We selectively use financial instruments to reduce such risks.

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Foreign Currency Risk
               We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Our policy is to selectively hedge our foreign currency denominated transactions in a manner that partially offsets the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We typically use foreign currency contracts to hedge only those currency exposures associated with certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. Corresponding gains and losses on the underlying transaction generally offset the gains and losses on these foreign currency hedges. Beginning in July 2009, we entered into forward contracts to hedge a portion of our foreign currency denominated transactions in our Asia reportable segment, as described in Note 5 to Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Our international operations create potential foreign exchange risk. Our percentages of transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    July 3,   July 4,   July 3,   July 4,
    2010   2009   2010   2009
Net sales
    5 %     4 %     4 %     4 %
Total costs
    13 %     12 %     13 %     11 %
               The Company has evaluated the potential foreign currency exchange rate risk on transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar for the periods presented above. Based on the Company’s overall currency exposure, as of July 3, 2010, a 10 percent change in the value of the U.S. Dollar relative to our other transactional currencies would not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
 Interest Rate Risk
               We have financial instruments, including cash equivalents and short-term investments, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. We consider the use of interest-rate swaps based on existing market conditions and have entered into interest rate swaps for $116.3 million in term loans as described in Note 5 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As with any agreement of this type, our interest rate swap agreements are subject to the further risk that the counterparties to these agreements may fail to comply with their obligations thereunder.
               The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal, while maximizing yields without significantly increasing market risk. To achieve this, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents and short-term investments in a variety of highly rated securities, money market funds and certificates of deposit and limit the amount of principal exposure to any one issuer.
               Our only material interest rate risk is associated with our Credit Facility under which we borrowed $150 million on April 4, 2008. Through the use of interest rate swaps, as described above, we have fixed the basis on which we pay interest, thus eliminating much of our interest rate risk. A 10 percent change in the weighted average interest rate on our average long-term borrowings would have had only a nominal impact on net interest expense for the both the three and nine months ended July 3, 2010 and July 4, 2009, respectively.
Auction Rate Securities
               As of July 3, 2010, we held $2.0 million of auction rate securities maturing on March 17, 2042, which were classified as long-term other assets and whose underlying assets were in guaranteed student loans backed by a U.S. government agency. We may be required to hold these securities until market stability is restored for these instruments or final maturity of the underlying notes to realize our investments’ recorded value.
ITEM 4.      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
               Disclosure Controls and Procedures: The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information the Company must disclose in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under

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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective (a) in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, and (b) in assuring that 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.
               Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, there have been no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
               Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls: Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
               Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on the effectiveness of controls, we have nonetheless reached the conclusion that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.   Legal Proceedings
               We were notified in April 2009 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) of its intention to conduct a customary Focused Assessment of our import activities during fiscal 2008 and of our processes and procedures to comply with U.S. Customs laws and regulations. As a result of discussions with CBP, Plexus committed to CBP that by August 2010, extended from June 2010, the Company will report any errors relating to import trade activity from July 2004 to the date of Plexus’ report. Upon receiving CBP’s confirmation of any such errors, we will tender any associated duties and fees. Plexus has also agreed that it will implement improved processes and procedures in areas where errors are found and review these corrective measures with CBP. At this time, we do not believe that any deficiencies in processes or controls or unanticipated costs, unpaid duties or penalties associated with this matter will have a material adverse effect on Plexus or the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
               The Company is party to certain other lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
               In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed herein, particularly those discussed in the “Safe Harbor” Cautionary Statement, Fiscal 2010 outlook and the other sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part I, Item 2, see the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 3, 2009.
ITEM 6. Exhibits
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  32.1   Certification of the CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  32.2   Certification of the CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  101   The following materials from Plexus Corp.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 3, 2010, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text
  101.INS          XBRL Instance Document
 
  101.SCH          XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
  101.CAL          XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
  101.LAB          XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
  101.PRE          XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
  101.DEF          XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
     
 
  Plexus Corp.                    
 
  Registrant
 
   
8/6/10
  /s/ Dean A. Foate
 Date
  Dean A. Foate
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer
 
   
8/6/10
  /s/ Ginger M. Jones
 Date
  Ginger M. Jones
 
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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