During the three months ended October 31, 2006, we recorded a favorable cumulative gross profit adjustment of $1.1 million in our mobile data communications segment primarily as a result of our ongoing review of total estimated contract revenues and costs, and the related gross profit at completion, on the MTS contract. We continue to rollout our next generation satellite transceiver, known as the MT 2012, and enhance our network and related software to provide increased speed and performance. We are working closely with our customers and currently expect to continue these initiatives. If the current funding levels of MTS and battlefield command and control applications are maintained or increased, or if and when we receive additional orders from the Army National Guard, we may experience additional increased operating efficiencies in fiscal 2007. Unrelated to the next generation MTS technology upgrade, we are also continuing to upgrade certain of our firmware that needs to be modified. The ultimate amount of warranty expense relating to this firmware upgrade could differ from our initial estimate and we may incur additional unanticipated costs or delays. During the three months ended October 31, 2005, we increased the estimated gross profit at completion on certain contracts in the RF microwave amplifiers segment. These adjustments resulted in an aggregate $0.5 million cumulative increase to gross profit recognized on these contracts in prior years. Included in cost of sales for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005 are provisions for excess and obsolete inventory of $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively. As discussed in our “Critical Accounting Policies – Provisions for Excess and Obsolete Inventory,” we regularly review our inventory and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based on historical and projected usage assumptions. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $16.6 million and $16.0 million for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, representing an increase of $0.6 million, or 3.8%. The increase in expenses was primarily attributable to higher payroll-related expenses (including increased amortization of stock-based compensation expense) recorded in the three months ended October 31, 2006 compared to the three months ended October 31, 2005, offset in part by lower expenses in our mobile data communications segment as we continue to de-emphasize stand-alone sales of low margin turnkey employee mobility solutions. The increase in payroll-related expenses is due, in part, to the increased headcount associated with the anticipated increase in sales for fiscal 2007 compared to fiscal 2006. Amortization of stock-based compensation expense recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $1.4 million from $1.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. As a percentage of consolidated net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 17.1% and 15.0% for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses were $7.2 million and $6.7 million for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Approximately $4.9 million and $5.1 million of such amounts, respectively, related to our telecommunications transmission segment, with the remaining expenses primarily related to our mobile data communications segment and, to a lesser extent, our RF microwave amplifiers segment. As an investment for the future, we are continually enhancing our existing products and developing new products and technologies. Whenever possible, we seek customer funding for research and development to adapt our products to specialized customer requirements. During the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, customers reimbursed us $1.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, which is not reflected in the reported research and development expenses, but is included in consolidated net sales with the related costs included in cost of sales. Amortization of stock-based compensation recorded as research and development expenses increased to $0.2 million from $0.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. As a percentage of consolidated net sales, research and development expenses were 7.4% and 6.3% for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Amortization of Intangibles.Amortization of intangibles for both the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005 was $0.6 million. The amortization primarily relates to intangibles with finite lives that we acquired in connection with various acquisitions (including our acquisition of Insite). Operating Income. Operating income for the three months ended October 31, 2006 and 2005 was $15.0 million and $16.8 million, respectively. The $1.8 million, or 10.7% decrease, was primarily the result of lower sales and increased operating expenses (including research and development), partially offset by a higher gross profit percentage, as discussed above. |