cpii_10k-fy08.htm
Table of Contents
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
x                ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended October 3, 2008
 
OR
 
¨                TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ______to______
 
Commission file number:  000-51928
 
CPI International, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
75-3142681
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
811 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California 94303
(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)
 
(650) 846-2900
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
 
 Title of each Class
    
 
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
 
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 
    Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
 
Yes ¨  No x
 
    Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
 
Yes ¨  No x
 
    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
 
Yes x  No ¨
 
    Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
 
      
 
x
 
    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “small reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
   
 
    Large accelerated filer
¨
 
Accelerated filer
 
x
    Non-accelerated filer
¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
¨
 
    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
 
Yes ¨  No x
 
    The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 28, 2008 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $73 million, based on the closing sale price of $9.98 per share of common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
 
    Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 16,360,349 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, were outstanding at December 1, 2008.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
 
    Portions of the registrant’s definitive 2009 proxy statement, anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.



 


CPI INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
            Page  
 
 
 PART I  
 
 4
 
 
      
 Business  
 4
 
 
 Risk Factors
 
 17  
   Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments  30  
   Item 2.  Properties
 30
 
   Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
 30
 
   Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders  30  
 
 
 PART II  31
 
 
 
 Item 5.  31  
   Item 6.  Selected Financial Data    34  
   Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   38  
   Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk  69  
   Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data  70  
   Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure  70  
   Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures  71  
   Item 9B.  Other Information  71  
 
    
 72  
 
 
 Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance  72
 
   Item 11.  Executive Compensation  72  
   Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters  72  
   Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence  72  
   Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services  72  
 
 
 PART IV  73
 
 
 
 Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules  73
 
 
  EXHIBIT 10.23
  EXHIBIT 10.44
  EXHIBIT 10.45
  EXHIBIT 10.46
  EXHIBIT 10.47
  EXHIBIT 10.48
  EXHIBIT 10.49
  EXHIBIT 10.50
  EXHIBIT 12
  EXHIBIT 21
  EXHIBIT 23.1
  EXHIBIT 24
  EXHIBIT 31.1
  EXHIBIT 31.2
  EXHIBIT 32.1
  EXHIBIT 32.2

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, readers can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially.
 
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected, expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, without limitation, competition in our end markets; our significant amount of debt; changes or reductions in the United States defense budget; currency fluctuations; goodwill impairment considerations; customer cancellations of sales contracts; U.S. Government contracts laws and regulations; changes in technology; the impact of unexpected costs; the impact of environmental laws and regulations; and inability to obtain raw materials and components. All written and oral forward-looking statements made in connection with this report that are attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing risk factors and other cautionary statements included herein and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
 
The information in this report is not a complete description of our business or the risks and uncertainties associated with an investment in our securities. You should carefully consider the various risks and uncertainties that impact our business and the other information in this report and in our other filings with the SEC before you decide to invest in our securities or to maintain or increase your investment.
 


 
Item 1.
    Business

Background
 
We are a provider of microwave and radio frequency (“RF”), power and control products for critical defense, communications, medical, scientific and other applications. We develop, manufacture and distribute products used to generate, amplify, transmit and receive high-power/high-frequency microwave and RF signals and/or provide power and control for various applications.
 
Approximately half of our product sales for fiscal year 2008 were for United States and foreign government and military end use, particularly for radar and electronic warfare applications. We are one of three companies in the U.S. that have the facilities and expertise to produce a broad range of high-power microwave products to the demanding specifications required for advanced military applications. Our products are critical elements of high-priority U.S. and foreign military programs and platforms, including numerous planes, ships and ground-based platforms. Defense applications of our products include transmitting and receiving radar signals for locating and tracking threats, weapons guidance and navigation, as well as transmitting decoy and jamming signals for electronic warfare and transmitting signals for satellite communications. The U.S. Government is our only customer that accounted for more than 10% of our sales in the last three fiscal years.
 
In addition to our strong presence in defense applications, we have successfully applied our key technologies to commercial end markets, including communications, medical, industrial and scientific applications, which provide us with a diversified base of sales. Approximately half of our product sales for fiscal year 2008 were for commercial applications.
 
We continue to develop higher-power, wider-bandwidth and higher-frequency microwave products that enable significant technological advances for our defense and commercial customers. In fiscal year 2008, we generated approximately 58% of our total sales from products for which we believe we are the sole provider to our customers, enhancing our reputation and the stability of our business.
 
Having average lives of between three and seven years, many of our products “wear out” and require replacement. We estimate that approximately 45% of our total sales for fiscal year 2008 were generated from recurring sales of replacements, spares and repairs, including upgraded replacements for existing products, providing us with a stable, predictable business that is partially insulated from dramatic shifts in market conditions. We regularly work with our customers to create upgraded products with enhanced bandwidth, power and reliability. We estimate that our products are installed on more than 125 U.S. defense systems and more than 180 commercial systems. This installed base and our sole-provider positioning on high-profile U.S. military and commercial programs provide us with a reputation and market visibility that we believe will help us generate profitable future sales growth.
 
In 1948, Russell and Sigurd Varian, the historical founders of our business and the inventors of the klystron, founded Varian Associates, Inc. and introduced the klystron as its first commercial product. The klystron is still a foundation of modern high-power microwave applications and makes possible the generation, amplification and transmission of high-fidelity electronic signals at high-power levels and high frequencies. Varian Associates’ first products became the progenitors of our current product lines. Over time, Varian Associates, through internal development and acquisition, developed new devices and new uses for its products, including applications for the radar and electronic warfare, communications, medical, industrial and scientific markets.
 

In 1995, a private equity fund, together with members of management, purchased the electron device business from Varian Associates and formed our predecessor, Communications & Power Industries Holding Corporation, which was the parent company of Communications and Power Industries, Inc. In November 2003, CPI Acquisition Corp., which, at the time, was wholly owned by The Cypress Group (“Cypress), was incorporated in Delaware.  In January 2004, CPI Acquisition Corp. acquired our predecessor in a merger and changed its name from CPI Acquisition Corp. to CPI Holdco, Inc. In January 2006, CPI Holdco, Inc. changed its name to CPI International, Inc. On May 3, 2006, we completed the initial public offering of the common stock of CPI International.
 
Unless otherwise noted or dictated by context, (1) “CPI International” or “successor” means CPI International, Inc., (2) “predecessor” means Communications & Power Industries Holding Corporation, the predecessor to CPI International, (3) “Communications & Power Industries” means Communications & Power Industries, Inc., the direct, wholly owned operating subsidiary of CPI International and (4) “merger” or the “January 2004 merger” means the January 23, 2004 merger pursuant to which CPI International acquired the predecessor. The terms “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to CPI International and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after the merger, or to the predecessor and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis prior to the merger, as applicable.
 
We are organized into six operating divisions: Microwave Power Products Division (Palo Alto, California), Beverly Microwave Division (Beverly, Massachusetts), Satcom Division (Ontario, Canada),  Communications & Medical Products Division (Ontario, Canada), Econco Division (Woodland, California) and Malibu Division (Camarillo, California). In fiscal year 2006, we moved the operations of our Eimac business (“Eimac”), which was formerly a separate division, from San Carlos, California into our facility in nearby Palo Alto, California, and integrated those operations into our Microwave Power Products Division in order to realize increased efficiencies and achieve additional cost savings.
 
In August 2007, we purchased all outstanding common stock of Malibu Research Associates, Inc. (“Malibu”), a privately held company, in order to expand our product offering to both new and existing customers in the radar and electronic warfare and communications markets. As a result of this acquisition, we formed the Malibu Division.
 
Markets
 
We develop, manufacture and distribute products used to generate, amplify, transmit and receive high-power/high-frequency microwave and RF signals and/or provide power and control for various applications in defense and commercial markets. We serve five end markets: the radar and electronic warfare, communications, medical, industrial and scientific markets. Certain of our products are sold in more than one end market depending on the specific power and frequency requirements of the application and the physical operating conditions of the end product. End-use applications of these systems include:
 
·    
the transmission of radar signals for navigation and location;
 
·    
the transmission of deception signals for electronic countermeasures;
 
·    
the transmission, reception and amplification of voice, data and video signals for broadcasting, data links, Internet, flight testing and other types of commercial and military communications;
 
·    
providing power and control for medical diagnostic imaging;
 
·    
generating microwave energy for radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer; and
 
5

 
·    
generating microwave energy for various industrial and scientific applications.
 
Our end markets are described below.
 
Radar and Electronic Warfare Market
 
We supply products used in various types of military radar systems, including search, fire control, tracking and weather radar systems. In radar systems, our products are used to generate or amplify electromagnetic energy pulses, which are transmitted via the radar system’s antenna through the air until they strike a target. The return “echo” is read and analyzed by the receiving portion of the radar system, which then enables the user to locate and identify the target. Our products have been an integral element of radar systems for more than five decades.
 
We supply microwave power amplifiers to the electronic warfare market. Electronic warfare systems provide protection for ships, aircraft and high-value land targets against radar-guided weapons by interfering with, deceiving or disabling the threats. Electronic warfare systems include onboard electronic equipment, pods that attach under aircraft wings and expendable decoys. Within an electronic warfare system, our components amplify low-level incoming signals received from enemy radar or enemy communications systems and amplify or modify those signals to enable the electronic warfare system either to jam or deceive the threat. We believe that we are a leading provider of microwave power sources for the electronic warfare market, having sold thousands of devices into the market, and we believe that we have a sole provider position in products for certain high-power phased array systems and expendable decoys. The electronic warfare market also includes devices and subsystems being developed or supplied for high-power microwave applications, such as systems to disable and destroy improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”) and Active Denial (a new system, currently in testing, that uses microwave energy to deter unfriendly personnel). Many of the electronic warfare programs on which we are a qualified supplier are well-entrenched current programs for which we believe that there is ongoing demand.
 
Our radar and electronic warfare products include microwave and power grid sources, microwave amplifiers, receiver protectors, multifunction integrated microwave assemblies, as well as complete transmitter subsystems consisting of the microwave amplifier, power supply and control system. With our acquisition of Malibu, our product offering has expanded to include advanced antenna systems for radar and radar simulators. Our products are used in airborne, unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), ground and shipboard radar systems. We believe that we are a leading provider of power grid and microwave power sources for government radar and electronic warfare applications, with an installed base of products on more than 125 systems and a sole provider position in numerous landmark programs.
 
Our sales in the radar and electronic warfare market were $151.8 million, $144.2 million and $146.7 million in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. On average, approximately two-thirds of our sales in the radar and electronic warfare markets are generated from recurring sales of replacements, spares and repairs, including upgraded replacements for existing products.
 
Medical Market
 
Within the medical market, we focus on diagnostic and treatment applications. For diagnostic applications, we provide products for medical imaging applications, such as x-ray imaging, positron emission tomography (“PET”) and magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”). For these applications, we provide x-ray generators, subsystems, software and user interfaces, including state-of-the-art, high-efficiency, compact power supplies and modern microprocessor-based controls and operator consoles for
 

diagnostic imaging. X-ray generators are used to generate and control the electrical energy being supplied to an x-ray vacuum electron device (“VED”) and, therefore, control the dose of radiation delivered to the patient during an x-ray imaging procedure. In addition, these x-ray generators include a user interface to control the operation of the equipment, including exposure times and the selection of the anatomic region of the body to be examined. These generators are interfaced with, and often power and control, auxiliary devices such as patient positioners, cameras and automatic exposure controls to synchronize the x-ray examination with this other equipment. We also provide power grid devices for PET Isotope production systems. These systems are linac-based proton accelerators used in the detection of cancer and other diseases.  
 
For treatment applications, we provide klystron VEDs and electron guns for high-end radiation therapy machines. Klystrons provide the microwave energy to accelerate a beam of energy toward a cancerous tumor.
 
Sales in the medical market were $65.8 million, $67.6 million and $57.6 million in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Since 1995, when Varian Associates sold its electron devices business to us, we have been the sole provider of klystron high-power microwave devices to Varian Medical Systems Inc.’s oncology systems division for use in its High Energy Clinac® radiation therapy machines for the treatment of cancer, and we expect this relationship to continue. We also provide x-ray generators for use on the On-Board Imager accessory for the Clinac and Trilogy™ medical linear accelerators. This automated system for image-guided radiation therapy uses high-resolution x-ray images to pinpoint tumor sites. More than 5,000 of Varian Medical Systems’ Clinac and Trilogy medical linear accelerators for cancer radiotherapy are in service around the world, delivering more than 30 million cancer treatments each year.
 
The market for our x-ray generators and associated products is broad, ranging from dealers who buy only a few generators per year, up to large original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) who buy hundreds per year. We sell our x-ray generators and associated equipment worldwide and have been growing both our geographic presence and our product portfolio. We believe that we are a leading independent supplier of x-ray generators in the world, and we believe that this market provides continued long-term growth opportunities for us.
 
We have traditionally focused on hospital, or “mid- to high-end” applications, and have become a premier supplier to this part of the market. However, there exists substantial demand for private clinic, or “lower-end” applications, and we have introduced new families of products that allow us to participate more fully in this part of the market.
 
Communications Market
 
In the communications market, we provide microwave amplifiers for communications links for broadcast, video, voice and data transmission. We divide the communications market into satellite, terrestrial broadcast, data link and over-the-horizon communications applications. Our sales in the communications market were $117.8 million, $112.3 million and $106.7 million in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The communications market is the most volatile of our end markets, and sales can vary significantly from quarter to quarter due, in part, to the timing and size of our shipments for specific infrastructure programs, including direct-to-home satellite communications applications, during a particular quarter. Historically, we have focused on commercial communications applications, but we have recently expanded our focus to include military communications applications, as we believe that there is a significant and growing market for our products for these applications.
 

In each of the satellite, terrestrial broadcast, data link and over-the-horizon communications markets, our products amplify and transmit signals within an overall communications system. Ground-based satellite communications transmission systems use our products to enable the transmission of microwave signals, carrying either analog or digital information, from a ground-based station to the transponders on an orbiting satellite by boosting the power of the low-level original signal to desired power levels for transmission over hundreds or thousands of miles to the satellite. The signal is received by the satellite transponder, converted to the downlink frequency and retransmitted to a ground-based receiving station. Terrestrial broadcast systems use our products to amplify and transmit signals, including television and radio signals at very high (“VHF”) and ultra high (“UHF”) frequencies, or other signals at a variety of frequencies. Over-the-horizon (also referred to as “troposcatter”) systems use our amplifiers to send a signal through the atmosphere, bouncing the signal off the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, and enabling receipt of the signal tens of miles to hundreds of miles away. With our acquisition of Malibu in fiscal year 2007, our product offering in the communications market has expanded to include the airborne and ground nodes of the tactical common data link (“TCDL”) network for various platforms, including UAVs. TCDL is a high-bandwidth digital data link that transmits and receives real-time command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data between manned and unmanned airborne platforms and their associated ground-based and ship-based terminals.
 
Satellite Communications
 
The majority of our communications products are sold into the satellite communications market. We believe that we are a leading producer of power amplifiers, amplifier subsystems and high-power microwave devices for satellite uplinks. We believe that we have a worldwide installed base of more than 25,000 amplifiers. We believe that we offer one of the industry’s most comprehensive lines of satellite communications amplifiers, with offerings for virtually every currently applicable frequency and power requirement for both fixed and mobile satellite communications applications in the military and commercial arena. Our technological expertise, our well-established worldwide service network and our ability to design and manufacture both the fully integrated amplifier and either the associated high-power microwave device or the solid-state RF device allow us to provide a superior overall service to our customers.
 
We believe that we are well equipped to participate in the newest growth areas, including: amplifiers for the 30 gigahertz (GHz) band (Ka-band), which is projected to be one of the major new satellite communications growth areas for both commercial and military applications; the growing application of conventional and high-definition television for direct-to-home satellite broadcast; the use of satellite communications for broadband data communications; and specialized amplifiers for the military communications market, such as multi-band amplifiers, which operate at multiple discrete frequency bands.
 
Terrestrial Broadcast Communications
 
We serve the AM, FM and shortwave radio and VHF and UHF television broadcast market with high-quality, reliable and efficient high-power microwave and RF devices. Eimac, which is part of our Microwave Power Products Division, supplies these products to transmitter OEMs directly and offers immediate delivery of products to end users through our distributors. Our Econco Division is a provider of rebuilding services for high-power power grid devices, allowing broadcasters to extend the life of their devices at a cost that is lower than buying a new device. Although the terrestrial broadcast industry is considered a mature market, we believe that emerging shortwave digital radio technology will provide new opportunity for our high-power products. Through the years, we have established a customer base of several thousand customers in the broadcast market, providing us with opportunities for replacement, spares, upgrade and rebuilding business.
 

Data Link Communications
 
Data link applications use our products to transmit signals from an airborne platform to the ground or other airborne or satellite platforms, or vice versa.
 
Over-the-horizon Communications
 
We provide high-power amplifiers and traveling wave tubes for over-the-horizon, or troposcatter, communications applications. The over-the-horizon communications market involves over-the-horizon, microwave-based communication systems. These systems transmit voice, video and data signals for up to several hundred miles by bouncing the signals off the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, which is approximately six miles above the earth’s surface. Since no satellite is required, these systems can provide an easy-to-install, relocatable and cost-efficient alternative to satellite-based communications.
 
Industrial Market
 
The industrial market includes applications for a wide range of systems used for material processing, instrumentation and voltage generation. We offer a number of specialized product lines to address this diverse market. We produce fully integrated amplifiers that include the associated high-power microwave devices used in instrumentation applications for electromagnetic interference and compatibility testing. Our products are also installed in the power supply modules of industrial equipment using RF energy to perform pipe and plastic welding, textile drying and semiconductor wafer fabrication. We have a line of industrial RF generators that use high-power microwave technology for various industrial heating and material processing applications. Our sales in the industrial market were $25.1 million, $20.5 million and $22.1 million in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Scientific Market
 
The scientific market consists primarily of equipment used in reactor fusion programs and accelerators for the study of high-energy particle physics, referred to as “Big Science.” Generally, in scientific applications, our products are used to generate high levels of microwave or RF energy to accelerate a beam of electrons in order to study the atom and its elementary particles. Our products are also used in research related to the generation of electricity from fusion reactions. Our sales in the scientific market were $9.5 million, $6.5 million and $6.6 million in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
 
Geographic Markets
 
We sell our products in more than 90 countries. In fiscal year 2008, sales to customers in the U.S., Europe and Asia accounted for approximately 64%, 18% and 14% of our total sales, respectively. No country other than the U.S. accounted for more than 10% of our sales in fiscal year 2008. See “Sales, Marketing and Service.” For financial information about geographic areas, see Note 11 to the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements.
 

Products
 
We have an extensive portfolio of over 4,500 products that includes a wide range of microwave and power grid VEDs, in addition to products such as:
 
·    
satellite communications amplifier subsystems;
 
·    
radar and electronic warfare subsystems;
 
·    
specialized antenna subsystems;
 
·    
solid-state integrated microwave assemblies;
 
·    
medical x-ray generators and control systems;
 
·    
modulators and transmitters; and
 
·    
various electronic power supply and control equipment and devices.
 
Additionally, we have developed complementary, more highly integrated, subsystems that contain additional integrated components for medical imaging and for satellite communications applications. These integrated subsystems generally sell for higher prices.
 
     Generally, our products are used to:
 
·    
generate or amplify (multiply) various forms of electromagnetic energy (these products are generally referred to as VEDs, vacuum electron devices, or simply as devices);
 
·    
transmit, direct, measure and control electromagnetic energy;
 
·    
provide the voltages and currents to power and control devices that generate electromagnetic energy; or
 
·    
provide some combination of the above functions.
 
VEDs were initially developed for defense applications but have since been applied to many commercial markets. We use tailored variations of this key technology to address the different frequency and power requirements in each of our target markets. Generally our VED products derive from, or are enhancements to, the original VED technology on which our company was founded. Most of our other products were natural offshoots of the original VED technology and were developed in response to the opportunities and requirements in the market for more fully integrated products and services. The type of device selected for a specific application is based on the operating parameters required by the system. Our products generally have selling prices ranging from $2,000 to $100,000, with certain, limited products priced up to $1,000,000.
 
We sell several categories of VEDs, including:
 
·    
Klystrons and gyrotrons:  Klystrons are typically high-power VEDs that operate over a narrow range of frequencies, with power output ranges from hundreds of watts to megawatts and frequencies from 500 kilohertz to over 30 GHz. We produce and manufacture klystrons for a variety of radar, communications, medical, industrial and
 
 
  scientific applications. Gyrotron oscillators and amplifiers operate at very high-power and very high frequencies. Power output of one megawatt has been achieved at frequencies greater than 100 GHz. These devices are used in areas such as fusion research, electronic warfare and high-resolution radar.
 
·    
Helix traveling wave tubes:  Helix traveling wave tubes are VEDs that operate over a wide range of frequencies at moderate output power levels (tens of watts to thousands of watts). These devices are ideal for terrestrial and satellite communications and electronic warfare applications.
 
·    
Coupled cavity traveling wave tubes:  Coupled cavity traveling wave tubes are VEDs that combine some of the power generating capability of a klystron with some of the increased bandwidth (wider frequency range) properties of a helix traveling wave tube. These amplifiers are medium bandwidth, high-power devices, since power output levels can be as high as one megawatt. These devices are used primarily for high-power and multi-function radars, including front line radar systems.
 
·    
Magnetrons:  Magnetron oscillators are VEDs capable of generating high-power output at relatively low cost. Magnetrons generate power levels as high as 20 megawatts and cover frequencies up to the 40 GHz range. We design and manufacture magnetrons for radar, electronic warfare and missile programs within the defense market. Shipboard platforms include search and air traffic control radar on most aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers of NATO-country naval fleets. Ground-based installations include various military and civil search and air traffic control radar systems. We are also a supplier of magnetrons for use in commercial weather radar. Potential new uses for magnetrons include high-power microwave systems for disruption of enemy electronic equipment and the disabling or destruction of roadside bombs and other IEDs.
 
·    
Cross-field amplifiers:  Cross-field amplifiers are VEDs used for high-power radar applications because they have power output capability as high as 10 megawatts. Our cross-field amplifiers are primarily used to support the Aegis radar system used by the U.S. Navy and select foreign naval vessels. We supply units for both new ships and replacements.
 
·    
Power grid devices:  Power grid devices are lower frequency VEDs that are used to generate, amplify and control electromagnetic energy. These devices are used in commercial and military communications systems and radio and television broadcasting. We also supply power grid devices for the shortwave broadcast market. Our products are also widely used in equipment that serves the industrial markets such as textile drying, pipe welding and semiconductor wafer fabrication.
 
 
In addition to VEDs, we also sell:
 
·    
Microwave transmitter subsystems:  Our microwave transmitter subsystems are integrated assemblies generally built around our VED products. These subsystems incorporate specialized high-voltage power supplies to power the VED, plus cooling and control systems that are uniquely designed to work in conjunction with our devices to maximize life, performance and reliability. Microwave transmitter subsystems are used in a variety of defense and commercial applications. Our transmitter subsystems are available at frequencies ranging from one GHz all the way up to 100 GHz and beyond.
 

·    
Satellite communications amplifiers:  Satellite communications amplifiers provide integrated power amplification for the transmission of voice, broadcast, data, Internet and other communications signals from ground stations to satellites in all frequency bands. We provide a broad line of complete, integrated satellite communications amplifiers that consist of a VED or solid-state microwave amplifier, a power supply to power the device, radio frequency conditioning circuitry, cooling equipment, electronics to control the amplifier and enable it to interface with the satellite ground station, and a cabinet. These amplifiers are often combined in sub-system configurations with other components to meet specific customer requirements. We offer amplifiers for both defense and commercial applications. Our products include amplifiers based on traveling wave tubes, klystrons, solid-state devices and millimeter wave devices.
 
·    
Receiver protectors and control components:  Receiver protectors are used in the defense market in radar systems to protect sensitive receivers from extraneous high-power signals, thereby preventing damage to the receiver. We have been designing and manufacturing receiver protector products for more than 50 years. We believe that we are the world’s largest manufacturer of receiver protectors and the only manufacturer offering the full range of available technologies. We also manufacture a wide range of other components used to control the RF energy in the customer’s system. Our receiver protectors and control components are integrated into prominent fielded military programs. As radar systems have evolved to improve performance and reduce size and weight, we have invested in solid-state technology to develop the microwave control components to allow us to offer more fully integrated products, referred to as multifunction assemblies, as required by modern radar systems.
 
·    
Medical x-ray imaging systems:  We design and manufacture x-ray generators for medical imaging applications. These consist of power supplies, cooling, control and display subsystems that drive the x-ray equipment used by healthcare providers for medical imaging. The energy in an x-ray imaging system is generated by an x-ray tube which is another version of a VED operating in a different region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These generators use the high-voltage and control systems expertise originally developed by us while designing power systems to drive our other VEDs. We also provide the electronics and software subsystems that control and tie together much of the other ancillary equipment in a typical x-ray imaging system.
 
·    
Antenna systems:  We design and manufacture antenna systems for a variety of applications, including, radar, electronic warfare, communications and telemetry. Along with a variety of antenna types, including phased array, edge and tilt scanning antennas, conformal electronic scanning antennas, stabilized shipboard tracking antennas and our trademark FLAPS (“Flat Parabolic Surface”) antennas, the antenna systems also include the highly efficient harmonic drive pedestals used to support them. The antenna systems used on airborne, shipboard and ground-based platforms are designed to enable high performance, high data rate transmission at frequencies ranging from one GHz to 100GHz.
 

Backlog
 
As of October 3, 2008, we had an order backlog of $201.3 million compared to an order backlog of $196.4 million as of September 28, 2007. Backlog represents the cumulative balance, at a given point in time, of recorded customer sales orders that have not yet been shipped or recognized as sales. Backlog is increased when an order is received, and backlog is reduced when we recognize sales. We believe that backlog and orders information is helpful to investors because this information may be indicative of future sales results. Although backlog consists of firm orders for which goods and services are yet to be provided, customers can, and sometimes do, terminate or modify these orders. Historically, however, the amount of modifications and terminations has not been material compared to total contract volume. Approximately 90% of our backlog as of October 3, 2008 is expected to be filled within fiscal year 2009.
 
Sales, Marketing and Service
 
Our global distribution system provides us with the capability to introduce, sell and service our products worldwide. Our distribution system primarily uses our direct sales professionals throughout the world. We have direct sales offices throughout North America and Europe, as well as in India, Singapore, China and Australia. As of October 3, 2008, we had 136 direct sales, marketing and technical support individuals on staff. Our wide-ranging distribution capabilities enable us to serve our growing international markets, which accounted for approximately 36% of our sales in fiscal year 2008.
 
Our sales professionals receive extensive technical training and focus exclusively on our products. As a result, they are able to provide knowledgeable assistance to our customers regarding product applications, the introduction and implementation of new technology and at the same time provide local technical support.
 
In addition to our direct sales force, we use approximately 54 external sales organizations and one significant stocking distributor, Richardson Electronics, Ltd., to service the needs of customers in certain markets. The majority of the third-party sales organizations that we use are located outside the U.S. and Europe and focus primarily on customers in South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Through the use of third-party sales organizations, we are better able to meet the needs of our foreign customers by establishing a local presence in lower volume markets. Using both our direct sales force and our largest distributor, Richardson Electronics, we are able to market our products to both end users and system integrators around the world and are able to deliver our products with short turn-around times.
 
Given the complexity of our products, their critical function in customers’ systems and the unacceptably high costs to our customers of system failure and downtime, we believe that our customers view our product breadth, reliability and superior responsive service as key points of differentiation. We offer comprehensive customer support, with direct technical support provided by 17 strategically located service centers, primarily serving satellite communications customers. These service centers are located in the U.S. (California and New Jersey), Canada (Georgetown, Ontario), Brazil, China (two), India (three), Indonesia, Japan, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and The Netherlands. The service centers enable us to provide extensive technical support and rapid response to customers’ critical spare parts and service requirements throughout the world. In addition, we offer on-site installation assistance, on-site service contracts, a 24-hour technical support hotline and complete product training at our facilities, our service centers or customer sites. We believe that many of our customers specify our products in competitive bids due to our responsive global support and product quality.
 

Competition
 
The industries and markets in which we operate are competitive. We encounter competition in most of our business areas from numerous other companies, including units of L-3 Communications and Thales Electron Devices, e2v technologies plc and Comtech Xicom Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corporation. Some of our competitors have parent entities that have resources substantially greater than ours. In certain markets, some of these competitors are also our customers and/or our suppliers, particularly for products for satellite communications applications. Our ability to compete in our markets depends to a significant extent on our ability to provide high-quality products with shorter lead times at competitive prices and our readiness in facilities, equipment and personnel.
 
We also continually engage in research and development efforts in order to introduce innovative new products for technologically sophisticated customers and markets. There is an inherent risk that advances in existing technology, or the development of new technology, could adversely affect our market position and financial condition. We provide both VED and solid-state alternatives to our customers. Solid-state devices are generally best suited for lower-power applications, while only VEDs currently serve higher-power and higher-frequency demands. Because of the small dimensions of solid-state components, solid-state devices have challenges in dissipating the significant amount of excess heat energy that is generated in high-power, high-frequency applications. As a result, we believe that for the foreseeable future, solid-state devices will be unable to compete on a cost-effective basis in the high-power/high-frequency markets that represent the majority of our business. The extreme operating parameters of these applications necessitate heat dissipation capabilities that are best satisfied by our VED products. We believe VED and solid-state technology currently each serves its own specialized market without significant overlap in most applications.
 
Research and Development
 
Total research and development spending was $22.8 million, $16.3 million and $14.8 million during fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Total research and development spending consisted of company-sponsored research and development expense of $10.8 million, $8.6 million and $8.6 million during fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and customer-sponsored research and development of $12.0 million, $7.7 million and $6.2 million during fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Customer-sponsored research and development costs are charged to cost of sales to correspond with revenue recognized.
 
Manufacturing
 
We manufacture our products at six manufacturing facilities in five locations in North America. We have implemented modern manufacturing methodologies based upon a continuous improvement philosophy, including just-in-time materials handling, demand flow technology, statistical process control and value-managed relationships with suppliers and customers. We obtain certain materials necessary for the manufacture of our products, such as molybdenum, cupronickel, oxygen-free high conductivity (“OFHC”) copper and some cathodes, from a limited group of, or occasionally sole, suppliers. Four of our facilities have achieved the ISO 9001 international certification standard.
 
Generally, each of our manufacturing divisions uses similar manufacturing processes consisting of product development, procurement of components and/or sub-assemblies, high-level assembly and testing. For satellite communications equipment, the process is primarily one of integration, and we use contract manufacturers to provide sub-assemblies whenever possible. Satellite communications
 

equipment uses both VED and solid-state technology, and the Satcom Division procures certain of the critical components that it incorporates into its subsystems from our other manufacturing divisions.
 
Intellectual Property
 
Our business is dependent, in part, on our intellectual property rights, including trade secrets, patents and trademarks. We rely on a combination of nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements as well as trade secret, patent, trademark and copyright laws to protect our intellectual property rights. We do not believe that any single patent or other intellectual property right or license is material to our success as a whole.
 
On occasion, we have entered into agreements pursuant to which we license intellectual property from third parties for use in our business, and we also license intellectual property to third parties. As a result of contracts with the U.S. Government, some of which contain patent and/or data rights clauses, the U.S. Government has acquired royalty-free licenses or other rights in inventions and technology resulting from certain work done by us on behalf of the U.S. Government.
 
U.S. Government Contracts and Regulations
 
We deal with numerous U.S. Government agencies and entities, including the Department of Defense, and, accordingly, we must comply with and are affected by laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration and performance of U.S. Government contracts. We are affected by similar government authorities with respect to our international business.
 
U.S. Government contracts are conditioned upon the continuing availability of Congressional appropriations. Congress usually appropriates funds on a fiscal year basis even though contract performance may extend over many years. Therefore, long-term government contracts and related orders are subject to cancellation if appropriations for subsequent performance periods are not approved.
 
In addition, our U.S. Government contracts may span one or more base years and multiple option years. The U.S. Government generally has the right not to exercise option periods and may not exercise an option period if the applicable U.S. Government agency does not receive funding or is not satisfied with our performance of the contract. All of our government contracts and most of our government subcontracts can be terminated by the U.S. Government, or another relevant government, either for its convenience or if we default by failing to perform under the contract. Upon termination for convenience of a fixed-price contract, we normally are entitled to receive the purchase price for delivered items, reimbursement for allowable costs for work-in-process and an allowance for profit on the work performed. Upon termination for convenience of a cost-reimbursement contract, we normally are entitled to reimbursement of allowable costs plus a portion of the fee. The amount of the fee recovered, if any, is related to the portion of the work accomplished prior to termination.
 
Environmental Matters
 
We are subject to a variety of U.S. federal, state and local, as well as foreign, environmental laws and regulations relating to, among other things, wastewater discharge, air emissions, storage and handling of hazardous materials, disposal of hazardous wastes and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. We use a number of chemicals or similar substances and generate wastes that are classified as hazardous, and we require environmental permits to conduct certain of our operations. Violation of such laws and regulations can result in fines, penalties and other sanctions.
 

In connection with the sale of Varian Associates, Inc.’s electron devices business to us in 1995, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (as successor to Varian Associates) generally agreed to indemnify us for various environmental liabilities relating to Varian Associates’ electron devices business prior to August 1995. We are generally not indemnified by Varian Medical Systems with respect to liabilities resulting from our operations after August 1995. Pursuant to this agreement, Varian Medical Systems is undertaking environmental investigation and remedial work at our two manufacturing facilities in Palo Alto, California and Beverly, Massachusetts, that are known to require remediation.
 
To date, Varian Medical Systems has, generally at its expense, conducted required investigation and remediation work at our facilities and responded to environmental claims arising from Varian Medical Systems (or its predecessor’s) prior operations of the electron devices business.
 
In connection with the agreement for the sale of our San Carlos facility in September 2006, the buyer of the facility obtained insurance to cover the expected environmental remediation costs and other potential environmental liabilities at that facility. In addition, in connection with the sale, we released Varian Medical Systems from certain of its indemnification obligations with respect to that facility. If the proceeds of the environmental insurance are insufficient to cover the required remediation costs and potential other environmental liabilities at that facility, we could be required to bear a portion of those liabilities.
 
We believe that we have been and are in substantial compliance with environmental laws and regulations, and we do not expect to incur material costs relating to environmental compliance.
 
Employees
 
As of October 3, 2008, we had approximately 1,650 employees, of which 430 are located outside the United States (including approximately 400 in Canada). None of our employees is subject to a collective bargaining agreement although a limited number of our sales force members located in Europe are members of work councils or unions. We have not experienced any work stoppages and believe that we have good relations with our employees.
 
Financial Information About Segments
 
For financial information about our segments, see Note 11 to the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements.
 
Available Information
     
    Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are accessible at no cost on our Web site at www.cpii.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). They are also available by contacting our Investor Relations at investor.relations@cpii.com and are also accessible on the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov.
 
    Our Web site and the information contained therein or incorporated therein are not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or our other filings with the SEC.
 
 
Risk Factors
 
Investors should carefully consider the following risks and other information in this report and our other filings with the SEC before deciding to invest in us or to maintain or increase any investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties may also adversely impact and impair our business. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, results of operations or financial condition would likely suffer. In such case, the trading price of our securities could decline and investors might lose all or part of their investment.
 
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
 
We face competition in the markets in which we sell our products.
 
The U.S. and foreign markets in which we sell our products are competitive. Our ability to compete in these markets depends on our ability to provide high-quality products with short lead times at competitive prices, as well our ability to create innovative new products. In addition, our competitors could introduce new products with greater capabilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Certain of our competitors are owned by companies that have substantially greater financial resources than we do. Also, our foreign competitors may not be subject to U.S. Government export restrictions, which may make it easier in certain circumstances for them to sell to foreign customers. If we are unable to compete successfully against our current or future competitors, our business and sales will be harmed.
 
Fluctuations in our operating results, including quarterly net orders and sales, may result in volatility in our stock price, which could cause losses to our stockholders.
 
We have experienced and, in the future, expect to experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results, including net orders and sales. The timing of customers’ order placement and customers’ willingness to commit to purchase products at any particular time are inherently difficult to predict or forecast. Once orders are received, factors that may affect whether these orders become sales and translate into revenues in a particular quarter include:
 
·    
delay in shipments due to various factors, including cancellations by a customer, delays in a customer’s own production schedules, natural disasters or manufacturing difficulties;
 
·    
delay in a customer’s acceptance of a product; or
 
·    
a change in a customer’s financial condition or ability to obtain financing.
 
The current global economic and financial markets conditions, including severe disruptions in the credit markets and the potential for a significant and prolonged global economic recession, may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. A prolonged general economic recession and, specifically, a prolonged recession in the defense, communications or medical markets, or technological changes, as well as other market factors could intensify competitive pricing pressure, create an imbalance of industry supply and demand, or otherwise diminish volumes or profits.
 
Our quarterly operating results may also be affected by a number of other factors, including:
 
·    
changes or anticipated changes in third-party reimbursement amounts or policies applicable to treatments using our products;
 

·    
revenues becoming affected by seasonal influences;
 
·    
changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
 
·    
changes in the relative portion of our revenues represented by our various products;
 
·    
timing of the announcement, introduction and delivery of new products or product enhancements by us and by our competitors;
 
·    
disruptions in the supply or changes in the costs of raw materials, labor, product components or transportation services;
 
·    
the impact of changing levels of sales to sole purchasers of certain of our products; and
 
·    
unfavorable outcome of any litigation.
 
A significant portion of our sales is, and is expected to continue to be, from contracts with the U.S. Government, and any significant reduction in the U.S. defense budget or any disruption or decline in U.S. Government expenditures could negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.
 
Over 35%, 32% and 33% of our sales in our 2008, 2007 and 2006 fiscal years, respectively, were made to the U.S. Government, either directly or indirectly through prime contractors or subcontractors. Because U.S. Government contracts are dependent on the U.S. defense budget, any significant disruption or decline in U.S. Government expenditures in the future, changes in U.S. Government spending priorities, other legislative changes or changes in our relationship with the U.S. Government could result in the loss of some or all of our government contracts, which, in turn, could result in a decrease in our sales and cash flow.
 
In addition, U.S. Government contracts are also conditioned upon continuing congressional approval and the appropriation of necessary funds. Congress usually appropriates funds for a given program each fiscal year even though contract periods of performance may exceed one year. Consequently, at the outset of a major program, multi-year contracts are usually funded for only the first year, and additional monies are normally committed to the contract by the procuring agency only as Congress makes appropriations for future fiscal years. We cannot ensure that any of our government contracts will continue to be funded from year to year. If such contracts are not funded, our sales may decline, which could negatively affect our results of operations and result in decreased cash flows.
 
We are subject to risks particular to companies supplying defense-related equipment and services to the U.S. Government. The occurrence of any of these risks could cause a loss of or decline in our sales to the U.S. Government.
 
U.S. Government contracts contain termination provisions and are subject to audit and modification
 
The U.S. Government has the ability to:
 
 ·     
terminate existing contracts, including for the convenience of the government or because of a default in our performance of the contract;
 
·    
reduce the value of existing contracts;
 
·    
cancel multi-year contracts or programs;
 

·    
audit our contract-related costs and fees, including allocated indirect costs;
 
·    
suspend or debar us from receiving new contracts pending resolution of alleged violations of procurement laws or regulations; and
 
·    
control and potentially prohibit the export of our products, technology or other data.
 
All of our U.S. Government contracts can be terminated by the U.S. Government either for its convenience or if we default by failing to perform under the contract. Termination-for-convenience provisions provide only for our recovery of costs incurred or committed, settlement expenses and profit on the work completed prior to termination. Termination-for-default provisions may provide for the contractor to be liable for excess costs incurred by the U.S. Government in procuring undelivered items from another source. Our contracts with foreign governments generally contain similar provisions relating to termination at the convenience of the customer.
 
The U.S. Government may review or audit our direct and indirect costs and performance on certain contracts, as well as our accounting and general business practices, for compliance with complex statutes and regulations, including the Truth in Negotiations Act, Federal Acquisition Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards and other administrative regulations. Like most government contractors, the U.S. Government audits our costs and performance on a continual basis, and we have outstanding audits. Based on the results of these audits, the U.S. Government may reduce our contract-related costs and fees, including allocated indirect costs. In addition, under U.S. Government regulations, some of our costs, including certain financing costs, research and development costs and marketing expenses, may not be reimbursable under U.S. Government contracts.
 
We are subject to laws and regulations related to our U.S. Government contracts business which may impose additional costs on our business.
 
As a U.S. Government contractor, we must comply with, and are affected by, laws and regulations related to our performance of our government contracts and our business. These laws and regulations may impose additional costs on our business. In addition, we are subject to audits, reviews and investigations of our compliance with these laws and regulations. In the event that we are found to have failed to comply with these laws and regulations, we may be fined, we may not be reimbursed for costs incurred in performing the contracts, our contracts may be terminated and we may be unable to obtain new contracts. If a government review, audit or investigation uncovers improper or illegal activities, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including forfeiture of claims and profits, suspension of payments, statutory penalties, fines and suspension or debarment.
 
In addition, many of our U.S. Government contracts require our employees to maintain various levels of security clearances, and we are required to maintain certain facility clearances. Complex regulations and requirements apply to obtaining and maintaining security clearances and facility clearances, and obtaining such clearances can be a lengthy process. To the extent we are not able to obtain or maintain security clearances or facility clearances, we also may not be able to seek or perform future classified contracts. If we are unable to do any of the foregoing, we will not be able to maintain or grow our business, and our revenue may decline.
 

As a result of our U.S. Government business, we may be subject to false claim suits, and a judgment against us in any of these suits could cause us to be liable for substantial damages.
 
Our business with the U.S. Government, subjects us to “qui tam,” or “whistle blower,” suits brought by private plaintiffs in the name of the U.S. Government upon the allegation that we submitted a false claim to the U.S. Government, as well as to false claim suits brought by the U.S. Government. A judgment against us in a qui tam or false claim suit could cause us to be liable for substantial damages (including treble damages and monetary penalties) and could carry penalties of suspension or debarment, which would make us ineligible to receive any U.S. Government contracts for a period of up to three years. Any material judgment, or any suspension or debarment, could result in increased costs, which could negatively affect our results of operations. In addition, any of the foregoing could cause a loss of customer confidence and could negatively harm our business and our future prospects.
 
Some of our sole-provider business from the U.S. Government in the future may be subject to competitive bidding.
 
Some of the business that we will seek from the U.S. Government in the future may be awarded through a competitive bidding process. Competitive bidding on government contracts presents risks such as:
 
·    
the need to bid on programs in advance of contract performance, which may result in unforeseen performance issues and costs; and
 
·    
the expense and delay that may arise if our competitors protest or challenge the award made to us, which could result in a reprocurement, modified contract, or reduced work.
 
If we fail to win competitively bid contracts or fail to perform these contracts in a profitable manner, our sales and results of operations could suffer.
 
Our business and operating results could be adversely affected by losses under fixed-price contracts.
 
Most of our governmental and commercial contracts are fixed-price contracts. Fixed-price contracts require us to perform all work under the contract for a specified lump-sum price. Fixed-price contracts expose us to a number of risks, including underestimation of costs, ambiguities in specifications, unforeseen costs or difficulties, problems with new technologies, delays beyond our control, failure of subcontractors to perform and economic or other changes that may occur during the contract period. In addition, some of our fixed-price contracts contain termination provisions that permit our customer to terminate the contract if we are unsuccessful in fulfilling our obligations under the contract. In that event, we could be liable for the excess costs incurred by our customer in completing the contract. 
 
Laws and regulations governing the export of our products could adversely impact our business.
 
Licenses for the export of many of our products are required from government agencies in accordance with various regulations, including the United States Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (“ITAR”). Under these regulations, we must obtain a license or permit from the U.S. Government before transferring export-controlled technical data to a foreign person or exporting certain of our products that have been designated as important for national security. These laws and regulations could adversely impact our sales and business in the following scenarios:
 

·    
In order to obtain the license for the sale of such a product, we are required to obtain information from the potential customer and provide it to the U.S. Government. If the U.S. Government determines that the sale presents national security risks, it may not approve the sale.
 
·    
Delays caused by the requirement to obtain a required license or other authorization may cause delays in our production, sales and export activities, and may cause us to lose potential sales.
 
·    
If we violate these laws and regulations, we could be subject to fines or penalties, including debarment as an exporter and/or a government contractor.
 
We generate sales from contracts with foreign governments, and significant changes in government policies or to appropriations of those governments could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
We estimate that approximately 12%, 15% and 16% of our sales in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were made directly or indirectly to foreign governments. Significant changes to appropriations or national defense policies, disruptions of our relationships with foreign governments or terminations of our foreign government contracts could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
Our international operations subject us to the social, political and economic risks of doing business in foreign countries.
 
We conduct a substantial portion of our business, employ a substantial number of employees, and use external sales organizations, in Canada and in other countries outside of the United States. As a result, we are subject to risks of doing business internationally. Direct sales to customers located outside the United States were 36%, 41% and 37% in fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Circumstances and developments related to international operations that could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition include the following:
 
·    
changes in currency rates with respect to the U.S. dollar;
 
·    
changes in regulatory requirements;
 
·    
potentially adverse tax consequences;
 
·    
U.S. and foreign government policies;
 
·    
currency restrictions, which may prevent the transfer of capital and profits to the United States;
 
·    
restrictions imposed by the U.S. Government on the export of certain products and technology;
 
·    
the responsibility of complying with multiple and potentially conflicting laws;
 
·    
difficulties and costs of staffing and managing international operations;
 
·    
the impact of regional or country specific business cycles and economic instability; and
 

·    
geopolitical developments and conditions, including international hostilities, acts of terrorism and governmental reactions, trade relationships and military and political alliances.
 
Limitations on imports, currency exchange control regulations, transfer pricing regulations and tax laws and regulations could adversely affect our international operations, including the ability of our non-U.S. subsidiaries to declare dividends or otherwise transfer cash among our subsidiaries to pay interest and principal on our debt.
 
We are subject to risks of currency fluctuations and related hedging operations.
 
A portion of our business is conducted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In particular, we incur significant expenses in Canadian dollars in connection with our Canadian operations, but do not receive significant revenues in Canadian dollars. Changes in exchange rates among certain currencies, such as the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar, will affect our cost of sales, operating margins and revenues.  Specifically, if the Canadian dollar strengthens relative to the U.S. dollar, our expenses will increase, and our results of operations will suffer. We use financial instruments, primarily Canadian dollar forward contracts, to hedge a portion of the Canadian dollar denominated costs for our manufacturing operation in Canada. If these hedging activities are not successful or we change or reduce these hedging activities in the future, we may experience significant unexpected expenses from fluctuations in exchange rates.
 
Our business, results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by increased or unexpected costs incurred by us on our contracts and sales orders.
 
The terms of virtually all of our contracts and sales orders require us to perform the work under the contract or sales order for a predetermined fixed price. As a result, we bear the risk of increased or unexpected costs associated with a contract or sales order, which may reduce our profit or cause us to sustain losses. Future increased or unexpected costs on a significant number of our contracts and sales orders could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
The end markets in which we operate are subject to technological change, and changes in technology could adversely affect our sales.
 
Our defense and commercial end markets are subject to technological change. Advances in existing technology, or the development of new technology, could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Historically, we have relied on a combination of internal research and development and customer-funded research and development activities. To succeed in the future, we must continually engage in effective and timely research and development efforts in order to introduce innovative new products for technologically sophisticated customers and end markets and to benefit from the activities of our customers. If we fail to adapt successfully to technological changes or fail to obtain access to important technologies, our sales could suffer.
 
Environmental laws and regulations and other obligations relating to environmental matters could subject us to liability for fines, clean-ups and other damages, require us to incur significant costs to modify our operations and/or increase our manufacturing costs.
 
Environmental laws and regulations could limit our ability to operate as we are currently operating and could result in additional costs.
 
We are subject to a variety of U.S. federal, state and local, as well as foreign, environmental laws and regulations relating, among other things, to wastewater discharge, air emissions, storage and handling
 

of hazardous materials, disposal of hazardous wastes and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. We use a number of chemicals or similar substances and generate wastes that are classified as hazardous. We require environmental permits to conduct many of our operations. Violations of environmental laws and regulations could result in substantial fines, penalties and other sanctions. Changes in environmental laws or regulations (or in their enforcement) affecting or limiting, for example, our chemical uses, certain of our manufacturing processes or our disposal practices, could restrict our ability to operate as we are currently operating or impose additional costs. In addition, we may experience releases of certain chemicals or discover existing contamination, which could cause us to incur material cleanup costs or other damages.
 
We could be subject to significant liabilities if the obligations associated with existing environmental contamination are not satisfied by Varian Medical Systems or by insurance proceeds.
 
When we purchased our electron devices business in 1995, Varian Medical Systems generally agreed to indemnify us for various environmental liabilities relating to the business prior to the sale, with certain exceptions and limitations. Varian Medical Systems is undertaking the environmental investigation and remedial work at our manufacturing facilities that are known to require environmental remediation. In addition, Varian Medical Systems has been sued or threatened with suit with respect to environmental obligations related to these manufacturing facilities. If Varian Medical Systems does not comply fully with its indemnification obligations to us or does not continue to have the financial resources to comply fully with those obligations, we could be subject to significant liabilities.
 
In connection with the sale of our former San Carlos facility, the buyer of the facility obtained insurance to cover the expected environmental remediation costs and other potential environmental liabilities at that facility, and we released Varian Medical Systems from certain of its indemnification obligations with respect to that facility. If the proceeds of the environmental insurance are insufficient to cover the required remediation costs at that facility and potential third party claims, we could be subject to material liabilities.
 
We have only a limited ability to protect our intellectual property rights, which are important to our success.
 
Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to protect our proprietary technology and other intellectual property. We rely on a combination of trade secrets, confidentiality policies, nondisclosure and other contractual arrangements and patent, copyright and trademark laws to protect our intellectual property rights. The steps we take to protect our intellectual property may not be adequate to prevent or deter infringement or other violations of our intellectual property, and we may not be able to detect unauthorized use or take appropriate and timely steps to enforce our intellectual property rights. In addition, we cannot be certain that our processes and products do not or will not infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of others. Infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights could cause us to incur significant costs, prevent us from selling our products and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
 
Our inability to obtain certain necessary raw materials and key components could disrupt the manufacture of our products and cause our sales and results of operations to suffer.
 
We obtain certain raw materials and key components necessary for the manufacture of our products, such as molybdenum, cupronickel, OFHC copper and some cathodes from a limited group of, or occasionally sole, suppliers. If any of our suppliers fails to meet our needs, we may not have readily available alternatives. Delays in component deliveries could cause delays in product shipments and require the redesign of certain products. If we are unable to obtain necessary raw materials and key
 

components from our suppliers under favorable purchase terms and/or on a timely basis or to develop alternative sources, our ability to manufacture products could be disrupted or delayed, and our sales and results of operations could suffer.
 
If we are unable to retain key management and other personnel, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
 
Our business and future performance depends on the continued contributions of key management personnel. Our current management team has an average of more than 25 years experience with us in various capacities. Since assuming their current leadership roles in 2002, this team has increased our sales, reduced our costs and grown our business. The unanticipated departure of any key member of our management team could have an adverse effect on our business and our results of operations. In addition, some of our technical personnel, such as our key engineers, could be difficult to replace.
 
We may not be successful in implementing part of our growth strategy if we are unable to identify and acquire suitable acquisition targets or integrate acquired companies successfully.
 
Finding and consummating acquisitions is one of the components of our growth strategy. Our ability to grow by acquisition depends on the availability of acquisition candidates at reasonable prices and our ability to obtain additional acquisition financing on acceptable terms. In making acquisitions, we may experience competition from larger companies with significantly greater resources. We are likely to use significant amounts of cash, issue additional equity securities and/or incur additional debt in connection with future acquisitions, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary funds to carry out acquisitions on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
 
In addition, acquisitions could place demands on our management and/or our operational and financial resources and could cause or result in the following:
 
·    
difficulties in assimilating and integrating the operations, technologies and products acquired;
 
·    
the diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns;
 
·    
our operating and financial systems and controls being inadequate to deal with our growth; and
 
·    
the potential loss of key employees.
 
Future acquisitions of companies may also provide us with challenges in implementing the required processes, procedures and controls in our acquired operations. Acquired companies may not have disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting that are as thorough or effective as those required by securities law in the United States.
 
Goodwill and other intangibles resulting from our acquisitions could become impaired.
       
    As of October 3, 2008, our goodwill, developed and core technology and other intangibles amounted to $241.1 million, net of accumulated amortization. We will amortize approximately $3.0 million in each of fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, $2.9 million in fiscal year 2013, and $60.4 million thereafter. To the extent we do not generate sufficient cash flows to recover the net amount of any investment in goodwill and other intangibles recorded, the investment could be considered impaired and subject to write off. We expect to record further goodwill and other intangible assets as a result of any
 

future acquisitions we may complete. Future amortization of such other intangible assets or impairments, if any, of goodwill would adversely affect our results of operations in any given period.
 
    Our market capitalization has historically exceeded our net asset value, although recently it has been particularly volatile. Our market capitalization has dropped below our net asset value in certain days of October, November and December 2008 largely, we believe, as a result of the recent global economic downturn and volatility in the financial markets. If our stock price continuously falls below our net asset value per share, the decline in our market capitalization could trigger the requirement of performing the impairment test on goodwill in fiscal year 2009, which could result in an impairment of our goodwill.
 
Our backlog is subject to modifications and terminations of orders, which could negatively impact our sales.
 
Backlog represents firm orders for which goods and services are yet to be provided, including with respect to government contracts that are cancelable at will. As of October 3, 2008, we had an order backlog of $201.3 million. Although historically the amount of modifications and terminations of our orders has not been material compared to our total contract volume, customers can, and sometimes do, terminate or modify these orders. Cancellations of purchase orders or reductions of product quantities in existing contracts could substantially and materially reduce our backlog and, consequently, our future sales. Our failure to replace canceled or reduced backlog could negatively impact our sales and results of operations.
 
Changes in our effective tax rate may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
Our future effective tax rates may be adversely affected by a number of factors including:
 
·    
the jurisdictions in which profits are determined to be earned and taxed;
 
·    
the resolution of issues arising from tax audits with various tax authorities;
 
·    
changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities;
 
·    
adjustments to estimated taxes upon finalization of various tax returns;
 
·    
increases in expenses not deductible for tax purposes;
 
·    
changes in available tax credits;
 
·    
changes in share-based compensation expense;
 
·    
changes in tax laws or the interpretation of such tax laws and changes in generally accepted accounting principles; and/or
 
·    
the repatriation of non-U.S. earnings for which we have not previously provided for U.S. taxes.
    
    Any significant increase in our future effective tax rates could adversely impact net income for future periods.
 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS
 
We have a substantial amount of debt, and we may incur substantial additional debt in the future, which could adversely affect our financial health, our ability to obtain financing in the future and our ability to react to changes in our business.
 
We have a substantial amount of debt and may incur additional debt in the future. As of October 3, 2008, our total consolidated indebtedness was $225.75 million and we had $55.4 million of additional borrowings available under the revolver under our senior credit facilities. Our substantial amount of debt could have important consequences to us and our stockholders, including, without limitation, the following:
 
·    
it will require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations, in the near term, to make interest payments on our indebtedness, and in the longer term, to repay the outstanding principal amount of our indebtedness, each of which will reduce the funds available for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate expenses;
 
·    
it could limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business, the markets in which we compete and the economy at large;
 
·    
it could limit our ability to borrow additional funds in the future, if needed, because of applicable financial and restrictive covenants of our indebtedness; and
 
·    
it could make us more vulnerable to interest rate increases because a portion of our borrowings is, and will continue to be, at variable rates of interest.
 
A default under our debt obligations could result in the acceleration of those obligations. We may not have the ability to fund our debt obligations in the event of such a default. This may adversely affect our ability to operate our business and therefore could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, the price of our common stock. In addition, we may incur additional debt in the future. If debt levels increase, the related risks that we and our stockholders face could intensify.
 
The agreements and instruments governing our debt contain restrictions and limitations that could limit our flexibility in operating our business.
 
Our senior credit facilities and the indentures governing our outstanding notes have a number of customary covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to:
 
·    
incur additional indebtedness;
 
·    
sell assets or consolidate or merge with or into other companies;
 
·    
pay dividends or repurchase or redeem capital stock;
 
·    
make certain investments;
 
·    
issue capital stock of our subsidiaries;
 
·    
incur liens; and
 

·    
enter into certain types of transactions with our affiliates.
 
These covenants could have the effect of limiting our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business and the markets in which we compete.
 
Under our senior credit facilities, we are required to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and tests. Events beyond our control may affect our ability to comply with those provisions, and we may not be able to meet those ratios and tests, which would result in a default under our senior credit facilities. In addition, our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing Communications & Power Industries’ 8% senior subordinated notes restrict Communications & Power Industries’ ability to make distributions to CPI International. Because we are a holding company with no operations of our own, we rely on distributions from Communications & Power Industries, our wholly owned subsidiary, to satisfy our obligations under our floating rate senior notes. If Communications & Power Industries is unable make distributions to us, and we cannot obtain other funds to satisfy our obligations under our floating rate senior notes, a default under our floating rate senior notes could result.
 
The breach of any covenants or obligations in our senior credit facilities and the indentures governing our outstanding notes could result in a default under the applicable debt agreement or instrument and could trigger acceleration of (or the right to accelerate) the related debt. Because of cross-default provisions in the agreements and instruments governing our indebtedness, a default under one agreement or instrument could result in a default under, and the acceleration of, our other indebtedness. In addition, the lenders under our senior credit facilities could proceed against the collateral securing that indebtedness. If any of our indebtedness were to be accelerated, it could adversely affect our ability to operate our business or we may be unable to repay such debt, and, therefore, such acceleration could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and, consequently, the price of our common stock.
 
The current disruptions in the financial markets could affect our ability to obtain debt financing and have other adverse effects on us.

The U.S. credit markets have recently experienced historic dislocations and liquidity disruptions which have caused financing to be unavailable in many cases. These circumstances have materially impacted liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms less attractive for borrowers who are able to find financing, and in many cases have resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Continued uncertainty in the credit markets may negatively impact our ability to access funds through our existing revolving credit facilities with certain lending institutions. If we were to need to access funds through our existing revolving credit facilities but were unable to do so, that failure could have a material adverse affect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our outstanding notes and our senior credit facilities are subject to change-of-control provisions. We may not have the ability to raise funds necessary to fulfill our obligations under our debt following a change of control, which could place us in default.
 
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to fulfill our obligations under our outstanding notes and our senior credit facilities following a change-of-control. Under the indentures governing our notes, upon the occurrence of specified change of control events, we are required to offer to repurchase the notes. However, we may not have sufficient funds at the time of the change-of-control event to make the required repurchase of our notes. In addition, a change of control under our senior credit facilities would result in an event of default thereunder and permit the acceleration of the outstanding obligations under the senior credit facilities.
 

RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON STOCK
 
The price of our common stock may fluctuate, which could negatively affect the value of stockholders’ investments.
 
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely as a result of various factors, such as period-to-period fluctuations in our actual or anticipated operating results, sales of our common stock by our existing equity investors, developments in our industry, the failure of securities analysts to cover our common stock or changes in financial estimates by analysts, failure to meet financial estimates by analysts, competitive factors, general economic and securities market conditions and other external factors. Also, securities markets worldwide experience significant price and volume fluctuations. This market volatility, as well as general economic or market conditions and market conditions affecting the common stock of companies in our industry in particular, could reduce the market price of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. Stockholders may be unable to resell their shares of our common stock at or above the purchase price for their shares or at all.
 
If our share price is volatile, we may be the target of securities litigation, which is costly and time-consuming to defend.
 
In the past, following periods of market volatility in the price of a company’s securities, securityholders have sometimes instituted class action litigation. If the market value of our common stock experiences adverse fluctuations and we become involved in this type of litigation, regardless of the outcome, we could incur substantial legal costs and our management’s attention could be diverted from the operation of our business, causing our business to suffer.
 
Future sales of shares of our common stock in the public market could depress our stock price and make it difficult for stockholders to recover the full value of their investment.
 
We cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares of common stock or the availability of shares of common stock for sale will have on the market price of our common stock from time to time. Future sales, or the perception or availability for sale in the public market, of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
 
In addition, we may issue a substantial number of shares of our common stock under our stock incentive and stock purchase plans. As of October 3, 2008, we had options outstanding to purchase 3,349,294 shares of our common stock under our 2000 Stock Option Plan, our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and our 2006 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, of which 2,556,762 were exercisable as of such date. In addition, as of October 3, 2008, our 2006 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan and 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan provide for the issuance of up to an additional 1,188,598 shares of our common stock to employees, directors and consultants. The issuance of significant additional shares of our common stock upon the exercise of outstanding options or otherwise pursuant to these stock plans could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and could significantly dilute the interests of other stockholders.
 
The controlling position of Cypress will limit other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters.
 
As of October 3, 2008, entities affiliated with Cypress collectively own approximately 54% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, the entities affiliated with Cypress have significant influence over our management, affairs and most matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions. The entities
 

affiliated with Cypress will also be able to deter any attempted change of control. This concentrated control will limit other stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters and, as a result, we may take actions that some of our stockholders may not view as beneficial. Accordingly, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected.
 
Our anti-takeover provisions could prevent or delay a change in control of our company, even if such change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders.
 
Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company. These provisions include:
 
·    
a board of directors that is classified such that only one-third of directors are elected each year;
 
·    
“blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our board of directors to increase the number of outstanding shares and thwart a takeover attempt;
 
·    
limitations on the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;
 
·    
prohibiting stockholder action by written consent and requiring all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;
 
·    
establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings; and
 
·    
requiring that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66.7%) of the voting power of our issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors be obtained to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
 
In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which will apply to us after affiliates of Cypress collectively cease to own at least 15% of the total voting power of our common stock, limits business combination transactions with 15% stockholders that have not been approved by the board of directors. These provisions and other similar provisions make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us without negotiation. These provisions may apply even if the transaction may be considered beneficial by some stockholders.
 

Item 1B    Unresolved Staff Comments
 
None.
 
Item 2.        Properties
 
We own, lease or sublease manufacturing, assembly, warehouse, service and office properties having an aggregate floor space of approximately 954,000 square feet, of which approximately 1,080 square feet are leased or subleased to a third party. The table that follows provides summary information regarding principal properties owned or leased by us:
 
   
Square Footage
     
Location
 
Owned
   
Leased/
Subleased
   
Segment Using the Property
Beverly, Massachusetts
    174,000  
(a)
     
VED
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
    192,000  
(b)
  22,000    
VED and satcom equipment
Woodland, California
    36,900       9,900    
VED
Palo Alto, California
            418,300  
(c)
VED and satcom equipment
Mountain View, California
            42,500    
VED
Camarillo, California
            37,700    
Other
Various other locations
            21,000  
(d)
VED and satcom equipment
 
 
             
 
(a)
The Beverly, Massachusetts square footage also includes approximately 1,080 square feet leased to a tenant.
 
 
(b)
Includes a facility expansion completed in fiscal year 2007 that added approximately 63,000 square feet.
 
 
(c)
Includes 49,100 square feet that are subleased from Varian, Inc. Varian, Inc. subleases the land from Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Varian Medical Systems leases the land from Stanford University.
 
 
(d)
Leased facilities occupied by our field sales and service organizations.
 
The lenders under our senior credit facilities have a security interest in certain of our interests in the real property that we own and lease. Our headquarters and one principal complex, including one of our manufacturing facilities, located in Palo Alto, California, are subleased from Varian Medical Systems or one of its affiliates or former affiliates. Therefore, our occupancy rights are dependent on our sublessor’s fulfillment of its responsibilities to the master lessor, including its obligation to continue environmental remediation activities under a consent order with the California Environmental Protection Agency. The consequences of the loss by us of such occupancy rights could include the loss of valuable improvements and favorable lease terms, the incurrence of substantial relocation expenses and the disruption of our business operations.
 
Item 3.        Legal Proceedings
 
We may be involved from time to time in various legal proceedings and various cost accounting and other government pricing claims. We do not expect that the legal proceedings and government pricing claims in which we are currently involved will individually or in the aggregate have a significant impact on our business, financial condition, results of operation or liquidity.
 
Item 4.        Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.
 

 
Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, has traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol “CPII” since April 28, 2006. Prior to April 28, 2006, there was no established public trading market for our stock. The following table sets forth the high and low closing sale prices for our common stock as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market from September 30, 2006, through October 3, 2008.
 
   
High
   
Low
 
Fiscal year 2007
           
First fiscal quarter (September 30, 2006 to December 29, 2006)
  $ 15.46     $ 13.04  
Second fiscal quarter (December 30, 2006 to March 30, 2007)
  $ 19.76     $ 14.96  
Third fiscal quarter (March 31, 2007 to June 29, 2007)
  $ 21.11     $ 18.81  
Fourth fiscal quarter (June 30, 2007 to September 28, 2007)
  $ 20.72     $ 16.20  
                 
Fiscal year 2008
               
First fiscal quarter (September 29, 2007 to December 28, 2007)
  $ 20.77     $ 16.35  
Second fiscal quarter (December 29, 2007 to March 28, 2008)
  $ 17.22     $ 9.09  
Third fiscal quarter (March 29, 2008 to June 27, 2008)
  $ 14.00     $ 9.40  
Fourth fiscal quarter (June 28, 2008 to October 3, 2008)
  $ 16.02     $ 12.13  

As of December 1, 2008, there were 20 stockholders of record of our common stock and 16,360,349 shares of common stock outstanding.
 
No dividends were paid in fiscal years 2008 and 2007. We currently expect to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be dependent upon the ability of Communications & Power Industries, our wholly owned subsidiary, to pay dividends or make cash payments or advances to us. The indenture governing Communications & Power Industries’ 8% senior subordinated notes imposes restrictions on Communications & Power Industries’ ability to make distributions to us, and the agreements governing our senior credit facilities generally do not permit Communications & Power Industries to make distributions to us for the purpose of paying dividends to our stockholders. In addition, the indenture governing our floating rate senior notes due 2015 also imposes restrictions on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders. Our future dividend policy will also depend on the requirements of any future financing agreements to which we may be a party and other factors considered relevant by our board of directors, including the Delaware General Corporation Law, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.
 
The disclosure required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the definitive proxy statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders anticipated to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information.
 

Stock Performance Graph
 
The following graph shows the value of an investment of $100 on April 28, 2006 (the first day our common stock was traded) in each of our common stock, The Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Electronic Components Stocks Index for the period from April 28, 2006 to October 3, 2008. All values assume reinvestment of the pre-tax value of dividends.
 
The comparisons in the graph below are based upon historical data and are not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, future performance of our common stock.
 
GRAPHIC
    The information contained under the heading “Stock Performance Graph” above shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to be filed with the SEC or subject to Regulations 14A or 14C or to the liabilities of the Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act  of 1934, as amended, and shall not be incorporated by reference in any filing of CPI International under the Securities Act, of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
The table below shows repurchases of our common stock during the three months ended October 3, 2008:

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share1
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
   
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
(in thousands)2
 
June 28-August 1, 2008
    -     $ -       -     $ 10,200  
August 2-August 29, 2008
    31,200     $ 14.18       31,200     $ 9,757  
August 30-October 3, 2008
    38,828     $ 14.30       38,828     $ 9,200  
      70,028     $ 14.25       70,028     $ 9,200  
 
 
   
1 Excludes brokerage commission of $0.03 per share.
 
2 On May 28, 2008, we announced the approval of our common stock repurchase program, which authorizes us to repurchase up to $12.0 million of our common stock from time to time through May 23, 2009. The program may be modified or terminated by our board of directors at any time.
 
 

Item 6.        Selected Financial Data
 
The selected consolidated financial and other data for CPI International and subsidiaries as of October 3, 2008 and September 28, 2007, and for the fiscal years ended October 3, 2008, September 28, 2007 and September 29, 2006 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The selected consolidated financial and other data for CPI International and subsidiaries as of September 29, 2006, September 30, 2005 and October 1, 2004 and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 and the 36-week period ended October 1, 2004, and for Communications & Power Industries Holding Corporation, our predecessor, and subsidiaries for the 16-week period ended January 22, 2004 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The audited consolidated financial statements as of the dates and periods noted above have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
 
All fiscal years presented comprised 52 weeks each except for fiscal year 2008 which comprised 53 weeks ended October 3, 2008.
 
You should read the following data in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
 
 
FIVE-YEAR SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
36-Week
   
16-Week
 
   
October 3,
2008
(Successor)
   
September 28,
2007
(Successor)
   
September 29,
2006
(Successor)
   
September 30,
2005
(Successor)
   
Period Ended
October 1, 2004 (Successor)
   
Period Ended
January 22, 2004 (Predecessor)
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                               
Sales
  $ 370,014     $ 351,090     $ 339,717     $ 320,732     $ 202,266     $ 79,919  
Cost of sales(1)
    261,086       237,789       236,063       216,031       141,172       56,189  
Gross profit
    108,928       113,301       103,654       104,701       61,094       23,730  
                                                 
Research and development
    10,789       8,558       8,550       7,218       5,253       2,200  
Selling and marketing
    21,144       19,258       19,827       18,547       11,082       4,352  
General and administrative
    22,746       21,519       22,418       27,883       12,499       6,026  
Merger expenses(2)
    -       -       -       -       -       6,374  
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
    3,103       2,316       2,190       7,487       13,498       -  
Acquired in-process research and development(3)
    -       -       -       -       2,500       -  
Net loss on disposition of fixed assets
    205       129       586       446       197       7  
Total operating costs and expenses
    57,987       51,780       53,571       61,581       45,029       18,959  
Operating income
    50,941       61,521       50,083       43,120       16,065       4,771  
Interest expense, net
    19,055       20,939       23,806       20,310       10,518       8,902  
Loss on debt extinguishment(4)
    633       6,331       -       -       -       -  
Income tax expense
    10,804       11,748       9,058       9,138       2,899       439  
Net income (loss)
  $ 20,449     $ 22,503     $ 17,219     $ 13,672     $ 2,648     $ (4,570 )
Earnings per share(5)
                                               
Basic
  $ 1.25     $ 1.39     $ 1.20     $ 1.05     $ 0.20       N/A (6)
Diluted
  $ 1.16     $ 1.27     $ 1.09     $ 0.98     $ 0.19       N/A (6)
                                                 
Shares used to calculate net earnings per share(7)
                                         
Basic
    16,356       16,242       14,311       13,079       13,063       N/A (6)
Diluted
    17,697       17,721       15,789       13,974       13,700       N/A (6)
                                                 
Cash dividend per share(8)
  $ -     $ -     $ 1.19     $ 5.80     $ -     $ -  
                                                 
Other Financial Data:
                                               
EBITDA(9)
  $ 61,271     $ 64,288     $ 59,096     $ 57,297     $ 32,816     $ 6,549  
EBITDA margin(10)
    16.6 %     18.3 %     17.4 %     17.9 %     16.2 %     8.2 %
Operating income margin(11)
    13.8 %     17.5 %     14.7 %     13.4 %     7.9 %     6.0 %
Net income (loss) margin(12)
    5.5 %     6.4 %     5.1 %     4.3 %     1.3 %     (5.7) %
Depreciation and amortization(13)
  $ 10,963     $ 9,098     $ 9,013     $ 14,177     $ 16,751     $ 1,778  
Capital expenditures(14)
  $ 4,262     $ 8,169     $ 10,913     $ 17,131     $ 3,317     $ 459  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(15)     2.57 x     2.59 x     2.08 x     2.10 x     1.51 x     -  
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 33,881     $ 21,659     $ 10,897     $ 31,349     $ 12,203     $ 6,574  
Balance Sheet Data:
                                               
Working capital
  $ 88,103     $ 81,547     $ 77,113     $ 65,400     $ 72,385     $ -  
Total assets
  $ 466,948     $ 476,222     $ 441,759     $ 454,544     $ 431,207     $ -  
Long-term debt
  $ 224,660     $ 245,567     $ 245,067     $ 284,231     $ 210,606     $ -  
Total stockholders’ equity
  $ 143,865     $ 125,906     $ 99,673     $ 52,667     $ 107,594     $ -  
   
 

(1)
Includes charges for the amortization of inventory write-up of $351 incurred in connection with the Econco acquisition for fiscal year 2005, and $5,500 incurred during the 36-week period ended October 1, 2004 in connection with our January 2004 merger.
 
(2)
Represents merger expenses resulting from our January 2004 merger.
 
(3)
Represents a write off of in-process research and development resulting from our January 2004 merger.
 
(4)
Resulted from early repayment of our previous senior credit facilities in connection with the amendment and restatement of such facilities and early extinguishment of $10 million and $58 million of our floating rates senior notes in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. For fiscal year 2008, the amount of loss includes non-cash write-offs of  $0.4 million of unamortized debt issue costs and issue discount costs and $0.2 million in cash payments for call premiums. For fiscal year 2007, the amount of loss includes non-cash write-offs of  $4.7 million of unamortized debt issue costs and issue discount costs and $1.9 million in cash payments for call premiums, partially offset by $0.3 million of cash proceeds from the early termination of the related interest rate swap agreement.
 
(5)
Basic earnings per share represents net income divided by weighted average common shares outstanding, and diluted earnings per share represents net income divided by weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding.
 
(6)
Due to the significant change in capital structure at the closing date of its January 2004 merger, the predecessor amount has not been presented because it is not considered comparable to the amount for CPI International.
 
(7)
On April 7, 2006, in connection with the amendment and restatement of the certificate of incorporation of CPI International, we effected a 3.059-to-1 stock split of the outstanding shares of common stock of CPI International as of such date. All share and per share amounts for Successor periods herein have been retroactively restated to reflect the stock split.
 
(8)
In February 2005 and in December 2005 we paid special cash dividends of $75,809 and $17,000, respectively, to stockholders of CPI International. Cash dividend per share is calculated by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by weighted average common shares outstanding.
 
(9)
EBITDA represents earnings before net interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. For the reasons listed below, we believe that GAAP-based financial information for leveraged businesses such as ours should be supplemented by EBITDA so that investors better understand our financial performance in connection with their analysis of our business:
 
·     
EBITDA is a component of the measure used by our board of directors and management team to evaluate our operating performance;
 
·     
our senior credit facilities contain a covenant that requires us to maintain a senior secured leverage ratio that contains EBITDA as a component, and our management team uses EBITDA to monitor compliance with such covenant; see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Covenant compliance;”
 
·     
EBITDA is a component of the measure used by our management team to make day-to-day operating decisions;
 
·     
EBITDA facilitates comparisons between our operating results and those of competitors with different capital structures and therefore is a component of the measure used by the management to facilitate internal comparisons to competitors’ results and our industry in general; and
 
·     
the payment of bonuses to certain members of management is contingent upon, among other things, the satisfaction by us of certain targets that contain EBITDA as a component.
 
 
Other companies may define EBITDA differently and, as a result, our measure of EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA of other companies. Although we use EBITDA as a financial measure to assess the performance of our business, the use of EBITDA is limited because it does not include certain material costs, such as interest and taxes, necessary to operate our business. When analyzing our performance, EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income, cash flows from operating activities or other statements of operations or statements of cash flows data prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
 
       The following table reconciles net income (loss) to EBITDA:
 
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
   
36-Week
   
16-Week
 
   
October 3,
   
September 28,
   
September 29,
   
September 30,
   
Period Ended
   
Period Ended
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
October 1, 2004
   
January 22, 2004
 
   
(Successor)
   
(Successor)
   
(Successor)
   
(Successor)
   
(Successor)
   
(Predecessor)
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 20,449     $ 22,503     $ 17,219     $ 13,672     $ 2,648     $ (4,570 )
Depreciation and amortization(13)
    10,963       9,098       9,013       14,177       16,751       1,778  
Interest expense, net
    19,055       20,939       23,806       20,310       10,518       8,902  
Income tax expense
    10,804       11,748       9,058       9,138       2,899       439  
EBITDA
  $ 61,271     $ 64,288     $ 59,096     $ 57,297     $ 32,816     $ 6,549  
 
(10) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA divided by sales.
 
(11)
Operating income margin represents operating income divided by sales.
 
(12)
Net income (loss) margin represents net income (loss) divided by sales.
 
(13)
Depreciation and amortization excludes amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, which are included in interest expense, net.
 
(14)
Fiscal years 2007 and 2006 include $4.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, of capital expenditures for the expansion of our building in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. Fiscal years 2006 and 2005 include capital expenditures of $4.7 million and $13.1 million, respectively, resulting from the relocation of our San Carlos, California facility to Palo Alto, California and Mountain View, California.
 
(15)
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including amortization of debt issuance costs and that portion of rental expenses that management considers to be a reasonable approximation of interest. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $4,131 for the 16-week period ended January 22, 2004.
 

Item 7.  
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Our fiscal years are the 52- or 53-week periods that end on the Friday nearest September 30. Fiscal year 2008 comprised the 53-week period ending October 3, 2008; fiscal year 2007 comprised the 52-week period ended September 28, 2007; and fiscal year 2006 comprised the 52-week period ended September 29, 2006. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
 
Overview
 
     CPI International, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is the parent company of Communications & Power Industries, a provider of microwave, radio frequency, power and control solutions for critical defense, communications, medical, scientific and other applications. Communications & Power Industries develops, manufactures and distributes products used to generate, amplify, transmit and receive high-power/high-frequency microwave and radio frequency signals and/or provide power and control for various applications. End-use applications of these systems include the transmission of radar signals for navigation and location; transmission of deception signals for electronic countermeasures; transmission and amplification of voice, data and video signals for broadcasting, Internet and other types of commercial and military communications; providing power and control for medical diagnostic imaging; and generating microwave energy for radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer and for various industrial and scientific applications.
 
Acquisition of Malibu Research Associates, Inc.
 
On August 10, 2007, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Malibu. Malibu, headquartered in Camarillo, California, is a designer, manufacturer and integrator of advanced antenna systems for radar, radar simulators and telemetry systems, as well as for data links used in ground, airborne, unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”) and shipboard systems. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, at the closing of the acquisition, we paid cash of approximately $22.4 million, which included $2.3 million and $1.0 million placed into indemnity and working capital escrow accounts, respectively. The indemnity escrow amount was provided to ensure funds are available to satisfy potential indemnification claims asserted prior to January 1, 2009, and the working capital escrow amount was provided to satisfy any negative differences between the estimated working capital amount as of the acquisition closing date and the actual working capital amount at the acquisition closing date.
 
During the second quarter of fiscal year 2008, the valuation of Malibu’s net working capital amount as of the acquisition closing date was finalized, resulting in a disbursement of cash to us of $1.6 million from the escrow accounts and in an adjusted cash purchase price of approximately $20.7 million.
 
Additionally, we may be required to pay a potential earnout to the former stockholders of Malibu of up to $14.0 million, which is primarily contingent upon the achievement of certain financial objectives over the three years following the acquisition (“Financial Earnout”), and a discretionary earnout of up to $1.0 million contingent upon achievement of certain succession planning goals. No earnout was earned for the first earnout period, and the maximum potential Financial Earnout that could be earned over the three years following the acquisition has been reduced from $14.0 million to $12.3 million based on the performance in the first earnout period.

 
Eimac Relocation
 
     After relocating Eimac from our former facility in San Carlos, California to Palo Alto, California in fiscal year 2006, we made organizational changes and consolidated Eimac into our Microwave Power Products division, located in Palo Alto, California, in June 2006. The Eimac integration was completed in January 2007. As part of this relocation and integration, Eimac experienced planned manufacturing disruptions stemming from the decommissioning of our production equipment in San Carlos and the required reconfiguration, installation and testing of that equipment prior to production readiness in Palo Alto. During fiscal year 2005, in anticipation of these planned disruptions, customers accelerated the placement of orders with Eimac. This order acceleration in fiscal year 2005, and the subsequent acceleration of product shipments, caused a reduction of customers’ demand requirements from Eimac during fiscal year 2006, particularly in our medical, communications and industrial markets.
 
     Eimac orders and sales for fiscal year 2006 reflected the negative impact of the Eimac relocation and integration. In addition, during fiscal year 2006, we incurred move-related expenses and Eimac experienced unfavorable overhead absorption and manufacturing variances due to the reduction in sales volume and relocation disruptions. By the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, orders and sales rates for Eimac had recovered to near their historical levels.
 
Orders

We sell our products into five end markets: radar and electronic warfare, medical, communications, industrial and scientific.

Our customer sales contracts are recorded as orders when we accept written customer purchase orders or contracts. Customer purchase orders with an undefined delivery schedule, or blanket purchase orders, are not reported as orders until the delivery date is determined. Our government sales contracts are not reported as orders until we have been notified that the contract has been funded. Total orders for a fiscal period represent the total dollar amount of customer orders recorded by us during the fiscal period, reduced by the dollar amount of any order cancellations or terminations during the fiscal period.

Our orders by market for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows (dollars in millions):
 
   
Fiscal Year Ended
             
     October 3, 2008      September 28, 2007      Increase  
         
% of
         
% of
             
   
Amount
   
Orders
   
Amount
   
Orders
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Radar and Electronic Warfare
  $ 141.5       38 %   $ 138.2       41 %   $ 3.3       2 %
Medical
    67.7       18       66.3       19       1.4       2  
Communications
    127.1       34       106.7       31       20.4       19  
Industrial
    24.8       7       21.8       6       3.0       14  
Scientific
    13.1       3       10.7       3       2.4       22  
Total
  $ 374.2       100 %   $ 343.7       100 %   $ 30.5       9 %

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, we changed the way in which we categorize orders and sales of the tactical common data link (“TCDL”) products at our Malibu division, which we acquired in August 2007. TCDL products support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (“ISR”) applications. Previously, orders and sales of our TCDL products were included in our radar and electronic warfare market. We are now reporting these orders and sales in our communications market, which we believe is


the more appropriate category for these products. We reclassified previously reported orders and sales information to properly reflect TCDL products as an increase in the communications market and a corresponding decrease in the radar and electronic warfare market. The reclassified order amounts were $4.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 and $0.4 million in fiscal year 2007. The table above reflects this change.

In fiscal year 2008, our Malibu division received orders totaling $18.1 million, of which approximately 12% was in the radar and electronic warfare market and approximately 88% was in the communications market. Orders from the Malibu division were $2.1 million in fiscal year 2007.

Orders for fiscal year 2008 of $374.2 million were $30.5 million, or 9%, higher than orders of $343.7 million for fiscal year 2007. Explanations for the order increase by market for fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007 are as follows:
 
·     
Radar and Electronic Warfare: The majority of our orders in the radar and electronic warfare markets are for products for domestic and international defense and government end uses. Orders in these markets are characterized by many smaller orders in the $0.5 million to $3.0 million range by product or program, with no significant products or programs by themselves explaining the annual change. Timing of these orders may vary from year to year. Orders for these markets increased approximately 2% from $138.2 million in fiscal year 2007 to $141.5 million in fiscal year 2008. In fiscal year 2008, increased demand for products to support the HAWK missile system, due to delays in the receipt of previously expected orders for this program, and increased demand for products to support the APN-245 Automatic Carrier Landing System were partially offset by a $5.9 million decrease in demand for products to support the Aegis weapons system, continued delays in the placement of defense orders and an expected decrease in orders to support the EarthCare cloud-profiling radar program due to the timing of that program.
 
Demand for our products to support ships with the Aegis weapons system has two components: we support new ship builds and we provide spare and repair products for previously fielded ships. Over the past several years, we have seen high demand for products to support a significant number of new ship builds for the Aegis weapons program for U.S. and international military customers. We have now received all orders for our products required to support these new ship builds, and, as a result, we expect the near-term demand to be primarily for spare and repair products. Therefore, our near-term orders for this program are expected to be at similar or somewhat lower levels than in fiscal year 2008, and our near-term sales are expected to be at significantly lower levels than in fiscal year 2008. We expect demand for our products to increase again in several years as the new ships are commissioned, deployed and added to the installed base, after which they also will require spare and repair products.
 
During fiscal year 2008, previously unexpected delays in the receipt of orders for radar and electronic warfare programs impacted the timing of our sales for these programs. We expect these delays to continue for the foreseeable future.
 
·     
 
Medical: Orders for our medical products consist of orders for medical imaging applications, such as x-ray imaging, PET and MRI applications, and for radiation therapy applications for the treatment of cancer. The approximately 2% increase in medical orders from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008 was due primarily to an increase in demand for x-ray generators from one customer and other international customers, as well as an increase in orders for products for radiation therapy applications. This increase was partially offset by the absence
 
 
 
 in fiscal year 2008, due to timing, of a Russian tender program in which we had participated in fiscal years 2006 and 2007. In fiscal year 2007, we received approximately $6 million in orders for the Russian tender program. The program did not recur in fiscal year 2008.
 
In addition, in fiscal year 2007, demand for products for MRI applications was very strong, as a customer ordered a two-year supply of these products in one fiscal year, and we shipped a significant amount of these products during that fiscal year. As a result, in fiscal year 2008, orders for products for MRI applications decreased approximately $5.3 million as compared to fiscal year 2007.
 
   ·
Communications: The approximately 19% increase in communications orders was primarily attributable to increases in orders for products to support military communications applications, including the receipt of our first production orders for Increment One of the Warfighter Information Network Tactical (“WIN-T”) military communications program, and telemetry and TCDL orders received by our recently acquired Malibu division. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in orders for certain military communications programs, including WIN-T’s predecessor program, the now-completed Joint Network Node (“JNN”) military communications program for which we had strong demand in fiscal year 2007, and a decrease in orders for direct-to-home broadcast applications. We expect our participation in military communications programs to continue to grow.
 
   ·
    
Industrial: Orders in the industrial market, one of our smallest markets, are cyclical. The $3.0 million increase in industrial orders was attributable to orders for products used in a wide variety of industrial applications, including industrial fabrication applications, international test systems and food processing, cargo screening and other industrial applications.
 
    ·     
Scientific: Orders in the scientific market, our smallest market, are historically one-time projects and can fluctuate significantly from period to period. The $2.4 million increase in scientific orders was primarily the result of orders for products to support a new accelerator project for fusion research at an international scientific institute.
 
    We believe that the current economic environment and challenging credit conditions may have a negative impact on our orders, primarily in our commercial markets, in the foreseeable future. Our orders in the defense markets may also be impacted by reductions or delays in the funding of applicable government contracts.

Incoming order levels fluctuate significantly on a quarterly or annual basis, and a particular quarter’s or year’s order rate may not be indicative of future order levels. In addition, our sales are highly dependent upon manufacturing scheduling and performance and, accordingly, it is not possible to accurately predict when orders will be recognized as sales.

Backlog
 
     As of October 3, 2008, we had an order backlog of $201.3 million compared to an order backlog of $196.4 million as of September 28, 2007. Approximately $0.9 million of the $4.9 million increase in backlog during fiscal year 2008 was due to orders at our recently acquired Malibu division. Because our orders for government end-use products generally have much longer delivery terms than our orders for commercial business (which require quicker turn-around), our backlog is primarily composed of government orders.

 
Backlog represents the cumulative balance, at a given point in time, of recorded customer sales orders that have not yet been shipped or recognized as sales. Backlog is increased when an order is received, and backlog is decreased when we recognize sales. We believe backlog and orders information is helpful to investors because this information may be indicative of future sales results. Although backlog consists of firm orders for which goods and services are yet to be provided, customers can, and sometimes do, terminate or modify these orders. However, historically the amount of modifications and terminations has not been material compared to total contract volume.

Results of Operations
 
We derive our revenue primarily from the sale of microwave and radio frequency products, including high-power microwave amplifiers, satellite communications amplifiers, medical x-ray imaging subsystems and other related products. Our products generally have selling prices ranging from $2,000 to $100,000, with certain limited products priced up to $1,000,000.
 
Cost of goods sold generally includes costs for raw materials, manufacturing costs, including allocation of overhead and other indirect costs, charges for reserves for excess and obsolete inventory, warranty claims and losses on fixed price contracts. Operating expenses generally consist of research and development, selling and marketing and general and administrative expenses.
 
The following table sets forth our historical results of operations for each of the periods indicated (dollars in millions):
 
   
 Year Ended
 
   
October 3, 2008
   
September 28, 2007
   
 September 29, 2006
 
         
% of
         
% of
         
% of
 
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Sales
 
Sales
  $ 370.0       100.0 %   $ 351.1       100.0 %   $ 339.7       100.0 %
Cost of sales (a)
    261.1       70.6       237.8       67.7       236.1       69.5  
Gross profit
    108.9       29.4       113.3       32.3       103.7       30.5  
Research and development
    10.8       2.9       8.6       2.4       8.6       2.5  
Selling and marketing (a)
    21.1       5.7       19.3       5.5       19.8       5.8  
General and administrative (a)
    22.7       6.1       21.5       6.1       22.4       6.6  
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
      3.1       0.8       2.3       0.7        2.2        0.6  
Net loss on disposition of assets
    0.2       0.1       0.1       0.0       0.6       0.2  
Operating income
    50.9       13.8       61.5       17.5       50.1       14.7  
Interest expense, net
    19.1       5.2       20.9       6.0       23.8       7.0  
Loss on debt extinguishment
    0.6       0.2       6.3       1.8       -       -  
Income before taxes
    31.3       8.5       34.3       9.8       26.3       7.7  
Income tax expense
    10.8       2.9       11.7       3.3       9.1       2.7  
Net income
  $ 20.4       5.5 %   $ 22.5       6.4 %   $ 17.2       5.1 %
Other Data:
                                               
EBITDA (b)
  $ 61.3       16.6 %   $ 64.3       18.3 %   $ 59.1       17.4 %
 
Note:  Totals may not equal the sum of the components due to independent rounding. Percentages are calculated based on rounded dollar amounts presented.
 
(a)  
Fiscal year 2006 includes a special bonus expense (see “Special Bonus” below) of $3.25 million, allocated as follows: $0.3 million to cost of sales, $0.2 million to selling and marketing and $2.75 million to general and administrative.
 
 
(b)  
EBITDA represents earnings before net interest expense, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. For the reasons listed below, we believe that GAAP-based financial information for leveraged businesses such as ours should be supplemented by EBITDA so that investors better understand our financial performance in connection with their analysis of our business:
 
 
·  
EBITDA is a component of the measures used by our board of directors and management team to evaluate our operating performance;
 
 
·  
our senior credit facilities contain a covenant that requires us to maintain a senior secured leverage ratio that contains EBITDA as a component, and our management team uses EBITDA to monitor compliance with such covenant;
 
 
·  
EBITDA is a component of the measures used by our management team to make day-to-day operating decisions;
 
 
·  
EBITDA facilitates comparisons between our operating results and those of competitors with different capital structures and therefore is a component of the measures used by the management to facilitate internal comparisons to competitors' results and our industry in general; and
 
 
·  
the payment of management bonuses is contingent upon, among other things, the satisfaction by us of certain targets that contain EBITDA as a component.
 
 
Other companies may define EBITDA differently and, as a result, our measure of EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA of other companies. Although we use EBITDA as a financial measure to assess the performance of our business, the use of EBITDA is limited because it does not include certain material costs, such as interest and taxes, necessary to operate our business. When analyzing our performance, EBITDA should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income, cash flows from operating activities or other statements of operations or statements of cash flows data prepared in accordance with GAAP.
 
  For a reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA, see Note 11 of the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements.
 
 
Our results for fiscal year 2008 compared to our results for fiscal year 2007
 
    Sales:   Our sales by market for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 are summarized as follows (dollars millions):
 
   
 Year Ended
       
   
October 3, 2008
   
September 28, 2007
   
Increase (Decrease)
 
         
% of
         
% of
             
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Radar and Electronic Warfare
  $ 151.8       40 %   $ 144.2       41 %   $ 7.6       5 %
Medical
    65.8       18       67.6       19       (1.8 )     (3 )
Communications
    117.8       32       112.3       32       5.5       5  
Industrial
    25.1       7       20.5       6       4.6       22  
Scientific
    9.5       3       6.5       2       3.0       46  
Total
  $ 370.0       100 %   $ 351.1       100 %   $ 18.9       5 %

    In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, we changed the way in which we categorize orders and sales of the TCDL products at our Malibu division. Previously, orders and sales of our TCDL products were included in our radar and electronic warfare market. We are now reporting these orders and sales in our communications market, which we believe is the more appropriate category for these products. We reclassified previously reported orders and sales information to properly reflect TCDL products as an increase in the communications market and a corresponding decrease in the radar and electronic warfare market. The reclassified sales amounts were $2.5 million in fiscal year 2008 and $1.5 million in fiscal year 2007. The table above reflects this change.
 

    In fiscal year 2008, our new Malibu division generated sales totaling $16.4 million, of which approximately 13% was in the radar and electronic warfare market and approximately 87% was in the communications market. Sales from the Malibu division equaled $3.1 million in fiscal year 2007.
 
Sales for fiscal year 2008 of $370.0 million were $18.9 million, or approximately 5%, higher than sales of $351.1 million for fiscal year 2007. Approximately 45% and 47% of our sales in fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively, were sales of replacements, spares and repairs, including upgraded replacements for existing products. Explanations for the sales increase or decrease by market for fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007 are as follows:

  ·     
Radar and Electronic Warfare: The majority of our sales in the radar and electronic warfare markets are for products for domestic and international defense and government end uses. Approximately two-thirds of our sales in the radar and electronic warfare markets are sales of replacements, spares and repairs. The timing of order receipts and subsequent shipments in these markets may vary from year to year. On a combined basis, sales for these two markets increased approximately 5% from $144.2 million in fiscal year 2007 to $151.8 million in fiscal year 2008. The increase in sales was due primarily to increased sales to support the HAWK missile system, increased sales for other radar systems and sales of radar products by our recently acquired Malibu division.

  ·     
Medical: Sales of our medical products consist of sales for medical imaging applications, such as x-ray imaging, PET and MRI, and for radiation therapy applications for the treatment of cancer. The 3% decrease in sales of our medical products was primarily due to a Russian tender program in which we participated in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 that did not recur in fiscal year 2008. In fiscal year 2008, sales for the Russian tender program decreased $5.5 million in comparison to fiscal year 2007.
 
In addition, in fiscal year 2007, a customer ordered a two-year supply of products for MRI applications in one fiscal year, resulting in unusually strong demand for these products, and we shipped a significant amount of these products during that fiscal year. As a result, in fiscal year 2008, sales of products for MRI applications decreased approximately $2.4 million.
 
Excluding the Russian tender program and MRI applications from both fiscal years 2007 and 2008, medical sales increased 12% from $53.4 million in fiscal year 2007 to $59.6 million in fiscal year 2008.
 
   ·     
Communications: The 5% increase in sales in the communications market was primarily the result of sales of telemetry and TCDL products by our recently acquired Malibu division, as well as the start of production shipments for Increment One of the WIN-T military communications program. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in sales of products for certain military communications programs, including the now-completed JNN program, and certain broadcast network applications for which we had strong sales in fiscal year 2007.
 
In fiscal year 2008, the $7.3 million increase in sales of products to support the WIN-T military communications program was offset by a $3.7 million decrease in sales of products to support its predecessor, the JNN military communications program, due to the completion of that program. We expect that our overall participation levels in the WIN-T program, which ramped up for production in the first six months of fiscal year 2008, will be significantly higher than our participation levels in the previous JNN program. Our sales of products to
 
 
  
support military communications applications increased in fiscal year 2008, and we expect our participation in military communications programs to continue to grow.
 
   ·     
Industrial: Sales in the industrial market are cyclical. The $4.6 million increase in industrial sales was due to sales of products used in a wide variety of industrial applications, including induction welding, dialectic heating and instrumentation applications and domestic and international test systems.
 
   ·     
Scientific: Sales in the scientific market are historically one-time projects and can fluctuate significantly from period to period. The $3.0 million increase in scientific sales was primarily the result of increased product shipments for the Spallation Neutron Source at Oakridge National Laboratory. We received approximately $5 million in orders for this program in fiscal year 2007 and expect to complete our shipments of products for this program in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.
 
We believe that the current economic environment and challenging credit conditions may have an impact on our sales, primarily in our commercial markets, in the foreseeable future. Our sales in the defense markets may also be impacted by reductions or delays in the funding of applicable government contracts.
 
    Gross Profit. Gross profit was $108.9 million, or 29.4% of sales, for fiscal year 2008 as compared to $113.3 million, or 32.3% of sales, for fiscal year 2007. For fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007, gross profit was unfavorably impacted by cost overruns on advanced antenna development programs at our recently acquired Malibu division, the shipment of lower margin products and the currency impact from the weakness of the U.S. dollar, partially offset by additional gross profit from the $18.9 million increase in sales volume. The shipment of lower margin products in fiscal year 2008 include a large number of new product and engineering development programs that we expect will grow our business in the future. The weakness of the U.S. dollar for fiscal year 2008 as compared to fiscal year 2007 caused a reduction in gross profit of approximately $2.5 million from the translation of Canadian dollar denominated manufacturing expenses to U.S. dollars, net of currency hedging contracts. In addition, gross profit for fiscal year 2007 includes an approximately $0.6 million reduction to cost of sales to capitalize inventory that had been improperly expensed in prior periods.
 
In fiscal year 2008, we engaged in a higher level of new product and engineering development programs than in fiscal year 2007 in order to continue to grow our business. These programs typically result in lower gross margins and higher period-to-period variability of our financial results. Notable new product and engineering development programs currently include Increment One of the WIN-T military communications program, the EarthCARE cloud-profiling program and products to support the Active Denial System, counter-IED systems, cargo screening programs, high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”) programs and next generation weather radar systems and higher-power medical applications. We believe that our product and engineering development programs will increase our future growth potential throughout our markets and businesses and expect the elevated levels of development activity to continue for the foreseeable future.
 
Research and Development. Company-sponsored research and development expenses were $10.8 million, or 2.9% of sales, for fiscal year 2008 and $8.6 million, or 2.4% of sales for fiscal year 2007. The increase in research and development expenses for fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007 was due primarily to expenditures of $1.0 million on the U.S. Army's WIN-T program and increased spending of $1.0 million on medical diagnostic imaging products.
 
 
    Total spending on research and development, including customer-sponsored research and development, was as follows (in millions):

   
Year Ended
 
   
October 3,
   
September 28,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Company sponsored
  $ 10.8     $ 8.6  
Customer sponsored, charged to cost of sales
  $ 12.0     $ 7.7  
    $ 22.8     $ 16.3  
 
Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing expenses were $21.1 million, or 5.7% of sales, for fiscal year 2008, a $1.8 million increase from the $19.3 million, or 5.5% of sales, in fiscal year 2007. The increase in selling and marketing expenses for fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007 primarily reflects selling and marketing expenses of $1.0 million at our recently acquired Malibu division, as well as the unfavorable impact of the weaker U.S. dollar on foreign-based expenses.
 
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses were $22.7 million, or 6.1% of sales, for fiscal year 2008, a $1.2 million increase from the $21.5 million, or 6.1% of sales, for fiscal year 2007. The increase in general and administrative expenses in fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to $1.7 million of expenses for our recently acquired Malibu division, higher stock-based compensation expenses of $0.6 million, and higher legal fees of $0.2 million, partially offset by lower management incentive bonus expense of $0.7 million, lower expenses of $0.6 million associated with the evaluation of potential acquisition candidates in fiscal year 2007 and the favorable impact from foreign currency transactions of $0.3 million in fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007.
 
Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangibles. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles consists of purchase accounting charges for technology and other intangible assets. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles was $3.1 million for fiscal year 2008 and $2.3 million for fiscal year 2007. The $0.8 million increase in amortization of acquisition-related intangibles is primarily due to amortization of intangible assets for our recently acquired Malibu division. Amortizable acquisition-related intangible assets are amortized over periods of up to 50 years.
 
Interest Expense, net (“Interest Expense”). Interest expense of $19.1 million for fiscal year 2008 was $1.8 million lower than interest expense of $20.9 million for fiscal year 2007. The reduction in interest expense for fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to the redemption of debt during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007 and throughout fiscal year 2008, and lower interest rates on our debt obligations during fiscal year 2008 compared to fiscal year 2007. The reduction in interest rates was primarily due to the refinancing of our senior credit facilities during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007.
 
Loss on Debt Extinguishment. Loss on debt extinguishment of $0.6 million for fiscal year 2008 was $5.7 million lower than loss on debt extinguishment of $6.3 million for fiscal year 2007. In fiscal year 2008, loss on debt extinguishment resulted from the $10.0 million early redemption of our floating rate senior notes: $6.0 million in March 2008, $2.0 million in June 2008 and $2.0 million in August 2008. In fiscal year 2007, loss on debt extinguishment resulted from the $58 million early redemption of our floating rate senior notes and the termination of our previous $130 million senior credit facilities in connection with the amendment and restatement of such facilities.
 
 
    The loss on debt extinguishment consists of the following (in millions):
 
   
Year Ended
 
   
October 3,
   
September 28,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
Non-cash write-off of deferred debt issue costs and issue discount costs
  $ 0.4     $ 4.7  
Cash payments for call premiums
    0.2       1.9  
Cash proceeds from early termination of interest rate swap on floating rate senior notes
    -       (0.3 )
    $ 0.6     $ 6.3  
 
Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax expense of $10.8 million and $11.7 million for fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our effective tax rates were approximately 34.6% and 34.3% for fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. The effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2008 includes a discrete tax benefit of $0.4 million that is attributable to fiscal year 2007 and is related to the correction of an immaterial error in the computation of the warranty expense tax deduction in a foreign tax jurisdiction. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2007 included a discrete tax benefit of $1.8 million related to the filing of amended income tax returns for prior years to reflect a change in estimate with regard to reporting Canadian income earned in the U.S., offset by a charge to deferred income tax expense of approximately $0.9 million that should have been reported in fiscal year 2006. Our worldwide effective income tax rate, excluding discrete tax items, was approximately 36% for fiscal year 2008.
 
Net Income. Net income was $20.4 million, or 5.5% of sales, for fiscal year 2008 as compared to $22.5 million, or 6.4% of sales, for fiscal year 2007. Lower net income for fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to cost overruns on development programs at our recently acquired Malibu division, the shipment of lower-margin products, incremental operating expenses for the recently acquired Malibu division, the unfavorable impact from the weakness of the U.S. dollar and higher research and development expenses, partially offset by additional gross profit from the increase in sales volume, a smaller loss on debt extinguishment and lower interest expense.
 
EBITDA. EBITDA was $61.3 million, or 16.6% of sales, for fiscal year 2008 as compared to $64.3 million, or 18.3% of sales, in fiscal year 2007. Lower EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 was primarily due to cost overruns on development programs at our recently acquired Malibu division, the shipment of lower margin products, incremental operating expenses for the recently acquired Malibu division, the unfavorable impact from the weakness of the U.S. dollar and higher research and development expenses, partially offset by additional gross profit from the increase in sales volume.
 
    Calculation of Management Bonuses. Management bonuses were $1.9 million in fiscal year 2008 compared to $2.7 million in fiscal year 2007. Management bonuses for fiscal years 2008 and 2007 were calculated pursuant to our Management Incentive Plan (“MIP”) and were based on three factors: (1) EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of calculating management bonuses; (2) a measure of cash generated by operations; and (3) individual goals that were customized for certain participating members of management. The weight given to each of these factors varied for each person. Generally, for our officers, equal weight was given to the first two factors, and the third factor was not applicable. For our other members of management, equal weight was given to each of the three factors described above. Management bonuses are paid in cash approximately three months after the end of the fiscal year. EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of calculating management bonuses is equal to EBITDA for the fiscal year adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-recurring or non-cash charges as pre-determined in our MIP for the fiscal year. EBITDA for purposes of calculating management bonuses for fiscal year 2008
 
 
was $64.0 million compared to $71.2 million in fiscal year 2007. The non-recurring and non-cash charges that were excluded from EBITDA in calculating management bonuses (a) for fiscal year 2008 were loss on debt extinguishment of $0.6 million and stock-based compensation expense of $2.1 million, and (b) for fiscal year 2007 were loss on debt extinguishment of $6.3 million and stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million, offset by the inventory correction of $0.6 million. We are presenting EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of calculating management bonuses here to help investors understand how our management bonuses were calculated, and not as a measure to be used by investors to evaluate our operating results or liquidity.
 

Our results for fiscal year 2007 compared to our results for fiscal year 2006
 
    Sales:   Our sales by market for fiscal years 2007 and 2006 are summarized as follows (dollars millions):
 
   
Year Ended
             
   
September 28, 2007
   
September 29, 2006
   
Increase (Decrease)
 
         
% of
         
% of
             
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Sales
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
Radar and Electronic Warfare
  $ 144.2       41 %   $ 146.7       43 %   $ (2.5 )     (2 ) %
Medical
    67.6       19       57.6       17       10.0       17  
Communications
    112.3       32       106.7       31       5.6       5  
Industrial
    20.5       6       22.1       7       (1.6 )     (7 )
Scientific
    6.5       2       6.6       2       (0.1 )     (2 )
Total
  $ 351.1       100 %   $ 339.7       100 %   $ 11.4       3 %

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, we changed the way in which we categorize orders and sales of the TCDL products at our Malibu division. The table above reflects the change. Previously, orders and sales of our TCDL products were included in our radar and electronic warfare market. We are now reporting these orders and sales in our communications market, which we believe is the more appropriate category for these products. We reclassified previously reported orders and sales information to properly reflect TCDL products as an increase in the communications market and a corresponding decrease in the radar and electronic warfare market. The reclassified sales amount was $1.5 million in fiscal year 2007; there was no reclassified sales amount in fiscal year 2006 as we acquired the Malibu division in August 2007.

In fiscal year 2007, our new Malibu division generated sales totaling $3.1 million, of which approximately 17% was in the radar and electronic warfare market and approximately 83% was in the communications market.
 
Sales for fiscal year 2007 of $351.1 million were $11.4 million, or approximately 3%, higher than sales of $339.7 million for fiscal year 2006. Explanations for the sales increase or decrease by market for fiscal year 2007 as compared to fiscal year 2006 are as follows:

            ·   
Radar and Electronic Warfare: The majority of our sales in the radar and electronic warfare markets are for products for domestic and international defense and government end uses. The timing of order receipts and subsequent shipments in these markets may vary from year to year. Sales for these markets were essentially unchanged, totaling $146.7 million in fiscal year 2006 and $144.2 million in fiscal year 2007.

 
            ·   
Medical: Sales of our medical products consist of sales for medical imaging applications, such as x-ray imaging, PET and MRI applications, and for radiation therapy applications for the treatment of cancer. The approximately 17% increase in sales of our medical imaging and radiation therapy products was primarily due to a $6.9 million increase in sales of our products used in x-ray imaging. The increase in sales of x-ray imaging products resulted from growth in our market share, as well as a $1.9 million increase in shipments for the second year of a tender program that supported the expansion of the Russian medical infrastructure. Sales of our products used in MRI applications also increased $2.4 million, as a customer ordered a two-year supply of products for MRI applications in one fiscal year, a significant amount of which we shipped during fiscal year 2007.

            ·   
Communications: The approximately 5% increase in sales in the communications market was primarily the result of sales of telemetry and TCDL products by our recently acquired Malibu division, increased sales of both newer and traditional satellite communications amplifiers for foreign broadcast network and direct-to-home applications, as well as newer satellite communications amplifiers for foreign news gathering and mobile applications and U.S. military satellite communications programs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in shipments of our traditional satellite communications products for North American direct-to-home broadcast applications.

            ·   
Industrial: Sales in the industrial market, one of our smallest markets, are cyclical. The decrease in industrial sales was primarily due the timing of orders and shipments of products used in industrial heating systems, electromagnetic susceptibility test programs and other industrial applications.

            ·   
Scientific: Sales in the scientific market, our smallest market, are historically one-time projects and can fluctuate significantly from period to period. Sales in this market were essentially unchanged.
 
    Gross Profit. Gross profit was $113.3 million, or 32.3% of sales, for fiscal year 2007 as compared to $103.7 million, or 30.5% of sales, for fiscal year 2006. Fiscal year 2006 included non-recurring expenses of approximately $6.0 million for move-related expenses, including unfavorable overhead absorption and manufacturing variances, from the Eimac relocation. Fiscal year 2007, as compared to fiscal year 2006, was favorably impacted by a 3% increase in shipment volume and the shipment of products with higher gross margins and was unfavorably impacted by approximately $2.6 million due to increases in our Canadian dollar denominated manufacturing expenses resulting from the expiration of favorable foreign currency hedge contracts in March 2006 and the further weakening of the U.S. dollar. Gross profit for fiscal year 2007 included a reduction to cost of sales of approximately $0.6 million to capitalize inventory that was improperly expensed in prior periods.
 
    Research and Development. Customer-sponsored research and development expenses were $8.6 million, or 2.4% of sales, for fiscal year 2007 and $8.6 million, or 2.5% of sales for fiscal year 2006. Research and development spending was primarily directed toward additional investments in the growth of medical diagnostic imaging products, as well as VED products for radar, electronic warfare and certain satellite communication markets.
 
 
Total spending on research and development, including customer-sponsored research and development, was as follows (in millions):
 
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 28,
   
September 29,
 
   
2007
   
2006
 
Company sponsored
  $ 8.6     $ 8.6  
Customer sponsored, charged to cost of sales
  $ 7.7     $ 6.2  
    $ 16.3     $ 14.8  
 
Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing expenses were $19.3 million, or 5.5% of sales, for fiscal year 2007, a $0.5 million decrease from the $19.8 million, or 5.8% of sales, for fiscal year 2006. The reduction in selling and marketing expenses for fiscal year 2007 compared to fiscal year 2006 was primarily due to higher spending in fiscal year 2006 for new product introductions. Selling and marketing expenses for fiscal year 2006 included $0.2 million of the special bonus discussed below.
 
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses were $21.5 million, or 6.1% of sales, for fiscal year 2007, a $0.9 million decrease from the $22.4 million, or 6.6% of sales, for fiscal year 2006. Fiscal year 2006 included $2.75 million of the special bonus, discussed below, and Eimac relocation expenses of $1.2 million. Fiscal year 2007, compared to fiscal year 2006, included approximately $1.4 million of additional expenses associated with meeting the compliance requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, $0.5 million for expenses associated with the evaluation of potential acquisition candidates, $0.5 million higher stock-based compensation expenses and additional expenses of $0.3 million as a result of becoming a publicly traded company in April 2006.
 
Special Bonus. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, our board of directors approved the payment of $3.25 million in special, one-time bonuses to our employees and directors (other than directors who are employees or affiliates of The Cypress Group) to reward them for the increase in company value. The special bonus was not paid pursuant to our MIP, our 2006 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan or any of our other formal compensation plans. The bonus amount was not determined based on a formula, but was instead an amount determined by our board of directors to be reasonable compensation for the increase in company value. The special bonus was charged to the consolidated statement of operations for fiscal year 2006 in the same lines as cash compensation paid to the same employees and directors, as follows: $2.75 million to general and administrative, $0.3 million to cost of sales and $0.2 million to selling and marketing.
 
Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangibles. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles consists of purchase accounting charges for technology and other intangible assets. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles was $2.3 million for fiscal year 2007 and $2.2 million for fiscal year 2006. The $0.1 million increase in amortization of acquisition-related intangibles was due to additional amortization expenses related to the acquisition of Malibu.
 
Interest Expense, net (“Interest Expense”). Interest expense of $20.9 million for fiscal year 2007 was $2.9 million lower than interest expense of $23.8 million for fiscal year 2006. The reduction in interest expense for fiscal year 2007 compared to fiscal year 2006 was primarily due to lower debt levels resulting from the term loan prepayments of $5.0 million in December 2006 and $47.5 million in May 2006 using proceeds from the initial public offering of our common stock.
 
 
    Loss on Debt Extinguishment. Loss on debt extinguishment of $6.3 million in fiscal year 2007 resulted from our refinancings during the year. The loss on debt extinguishment consists of $2.6 million in non-cash write-offs of deferred debt issue costs and issue discount costs and $1.9 million in cash payments for call premiums from the early retirement of $58.0 million of our floating rate senior notes, and $2.1 million in non-cash write-offs of deferred debt issue costs for the termination of our previous $130 million senior credit facilities in connection with the amendment and restatement of such facilities, partially offset by $0.3 million of cash proceeds from the early termination of our interest rate swap on our floating rate senior notes.
 
    Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax expense of $11.7 million and $9.1 million for fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively. Our effective tax rate was approximately 34.3% for fiscal year 2007 as compared to approximately 34.5% for fiscal year 2006. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2007 included a discrete tax benefit of $1.8 million related to the filing of amended income tax returns for prior years to reflect a change in estimate with regard to reporting Canadian income earned in the U.S., offset by a charge to deferred income tax expense of approximately $0.9 million that should have been reported during the last quarter of fiscal year 2006.
 
The U.S. income tax expense for fiscal year 2006 included a $1.3 million discrete tax benefit related to a change in estimate with regard to reporting Canadian income earned in the U.S. for fiscal year 2005 based on a determination of the character of such income. Income tax expense for fiscal year 2006 also included a $0.3 million charge attributable to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 and consisting of $0.5 million to correct the overstatement of tax benefits recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 for stock-based compensation expense that is not deductible for income tax purposes in a foreign tax jurisdiction, offset by the reversal of a $0.2 million tax contingency reserve.
 
Net Income. Net income was $22.5 million, or 6.4% of sales, for fiscal year 2007 as compared to $17.2 million, or 5.1% of sales, for fiscal year 2006. The increase in net income for fiscal year 2007 was primarily due to the absence in fiscal year 2007 of non-recurring expenses for the Eimac relocation and the special bonus and higher gross profit in fiscal year 2007 due to the increase in shipment volume which was partially offset by higher expenses for the extinguishment of debt, higher Canadian dollar denominated expenses and higher income tax expense.
 
EBITDA. EBITDA was $64.3 million, or 18.3% of sales, for fiscal year 2007 as compared to $59.1 million, or 17.4% of sales, in fiscal year 2006. The increase in EBITDA for fiscal year 2007 was primarily due to the absence in fiscal year 2007 of Eimac move-related expenses of $7.6 million, including unfavorable overhead absorption and manufacturing variances for the Eimac relocation, the absence in fiscal year 2007 of non-recurring expenses for the special bonus of $3.25 million and higher sales volume and the shipment of products with higher gross margins in fiscal year 2007, partially offset by the loss on debt extinguishment of $6.3 million for fiscal year 2007 and increases in our Canadian dollar denominated expenses of $2.6 million resulting from the weakening of the U.S. dollar and expiration of favorable foreign currency hedge contracts in March 2006.
 
    Calculation of Management Bonuses.  Management bonuses were $2.7 million in fiscal year 2007 compared to $2.5 million in fiscal year 2006. Management bonuses for fiscal years 2007 and 2006 were calculated pursuant to our MIP and were based on three factors: (1) EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of calculating management bonuses; (2) a measure of cash generated by operations; and (3) individual goals that were customized for certain participating members of management. The weight given to each of these factors varied for each person. Generally, for our officers, equal weight was given to the first two factors, and the third factor was not applicable. For our other members of management, equal weight was given to each of the three factors described above. Management bonuses are paid in cash approximately three months after the end of the fiscal year. EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of
 
51

 
calculating management bonuses is equal to EBITDA for the fiscal year adjusted to exclude the impact of certain non-recurring or non-cash charges as pre-determined in our MIP for the fiscal year. EBITDA for purposes of calculating management bonuses for fiscal year 2007 was $71.2 million compared to $67.2 million in fiscal year 2006. The non-recurring and non-cash charges that were excluded from EBITDA in calculating management bonuses (a) for fiscal year 2007 were loss on debt extinguishment of $6.3 million, stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million, offset by the inventory correction of $0.6 million, and (b) for fiscal year 2006 were direct costs for the Eimac relocation of $4.6 million, stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 million and the special bonus of $3.25 million. We are presenting EBITDA as adjusted for purposes of calculating management bonuses here to help investors understand how our management bonuses were calculated, and not as a measure to be used by investors to evaluate our operating results or liquidity.
 
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Overview
 
    Our liquidity is affected by many factors, some of which are based on normal ongoing operations of our business and others that are related to uncertainties in the markets in which we compete and other global economic factors. We have historically financed, and intend to continue to finance, our capital and working capital requirements including debt service and internal growth, through a combination of cash flows from our operations and borrowings under our senior credit facilities. Our primary uses of cash are cost of sales, operating expenses, debt service and capital expenditures.
 
We believe that we have the financial resources to meet our business requirements, including capital expenditures and working capital requirements, for the next 12 months.
 
Cash and Working Capital
 
    The following summarizes our cash and cash equivalents and working capital (in millions):
 
   
October 3,
   
September 28,
   
September 29,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28.7     $ 20.5     $ 30.2  
Working capital
  $ 88.1     $ 81.5     $ 77.1  
 
We invest cash balances in excess of operating requirements in overnight U.S. Government securities and money market accounts. In addition to the above cash and cash equivalents, we have restricted cash of $0.8 million as of October 3, 2008, consisting primarily of bank guarantees from customer advance payments to our international subsidiaries. The bank guarantees become unrestricted cash when performance under the sales or supply contract is complete. 
 
The significant factors underlying the $8.2 million net increase in cash and cash equivalents during fiscal year 2008 were the net cash provided by our operating activities of $33.9 million, an escrow refund of $1.6 million related to the Malibu acquisition and $0.9 million proceeds from employee stock purchases, partially offset by repayment of $11.0 million of the outstanding balance on our senior term loan, the redemption of $10.0 million in principal amount of our floating rate senior notes, capital expenditures of $4.3 million and purchase of treasury stock for $2.8 million.
 
We had total principal amount of debt outstanding of $225.75 million and $246.75 million as of October 3, 2008 and September 28, 2007, respectively. As of October 3, 2008, we had borrowing availability of $55.4 million under the revolver under our senior credit facilities.
 
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As of October 15, 2008, after giving effect to an additional optional prepayment of $1.0 million on our senior term loan on such date, we had $224.75 million in total principal amount of debt outstanding.
 
As more fully described below, our most significant debt covenant compliance requirement is maintaining a secured leverage ratio of 3.75:1; our current secured leverage ratio is approximately 1:1.  With this low secured leverage ratio, we do not anticipate any need to restructure our debt or reenter the capital markets until fiscal year 2011 when our Senior Credit Facilities will likely expire.

Historical Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
 
In summary, our cash flows were as follows (in millions):
 
   
October 3,
   
September 28,
   
September 29,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 33.9     $ 21.7     $ 10.9  
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (2.8 )   $ (30.4 )   $ (0.2 )
Net cash used in financing activities
  $ (22.9 )   $ (1.0 )   $ (7.1 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 8.2     $ (9.7 )   $ 3.6  
 
Operating Activities
 
    In fiscal years 2008, 2007 and 2006, we funded our operating activities through cash generated internally. Cash provided by operating activities is net income adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes to working capital items.
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of $33.9 million in fiscal year 2008 was attributable to net income of $20.4 million and depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges of $13.7 million, slightly offset by $0.2 million net cash used for working capital. The primary working capital uses of cash in fiscal year 2008 were decreases in accrued expenses, product warranty and income taxes payable. The decrease in accrued expenses related primarily to the timing of payroll and employee vacations, combined with lower incentive compensation and a decrease in consulting and professional costs. These uses of cash were significantly offset by decreases in receivables and inventories and release of restricted cash. Accounts receivables decreased due to timing and improved collection of trade receivables. Inventories decreased due to an effort to reduce inventory carrying levels.

Net cash provided by operating activities of $21.7 million in fiscal year 2007 was attributable to net income of $22.5 million and depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges of $16.2 million, partially offset by $17.0 million net cash used for working capital. In fiscal year 2007, the primary working capital uses of cash were increases in inventories and accounts receivables and a decrease in income tax payable. The higher inventory level was largely due to increasing sales volume, the timing of sales contracts and an increase in inventory that was purchased due to sales order forecasts and to satisfy customer delivery commitments. The increase in accounts receivable resulted from overall higher sales. The reduction in income taxes payable was due to the timing of payments and a discrete tax benefit related to the filing of amended tax return for the prior years to reflect a change in reporting Canadian income earned in the U.S.
 
 
The $10.9 million net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal year 2006 was primarily comprised of net income of $17.2 million plus the net effect of non-cash expenses totaling $5.5 million, partially offset by $11.8 million net cash used for working capital. In fiscal year 2006, the primary working capital uses were for increases in accounts receivable and inventories due to an increase in sales volume, and the reduction of accounts payable and accrued expenses due to the timing of payments made to our suppliers, partially offset by increases in income tax payable due to the tax gain on the sale of our San Carlos, California property and increases in tax contingency reserve requirements. The working capital uses of cash also consisted of a reduction in advance payments from customers, primarily due to the completion of direct-to-home sale contracts.
 
Investing Activities
 
Investing activities for fiscal year 2008 consisted primarily of $4.3 million capital expenditures and $0.1 million payment of patent application fees. The amount of cash used in investing activities was partially offset by a $1.6 million escrow refund related to the Malibu acquisition.
 
Investing activities for fiscal year 2007 consisted primarily of $22.2 million for the acquisition of Malibu, net of cash acquired, and capital expenditures of $8.2 million, including $4.1 million to complete the building expansion project at our Canadian facility. We funded the acquisition of Malibu out of cash on hand generated from operations.
 
Investing activities for fiscal year 2006 consisted primarily of $10.9 million for capital expenditures, including $4.7 million for capital equipment, building and land lease improvements in Palo Alto, California related to the Eimac relocation and $2.3 million for a building expansion project at our Canadian facility. The capital expenditures were almost entirely offset by the net proceeds from the sale of the San Carlos, California property of $10.7 million ($11.3 million gross proceeds less expenses for the sale of $0.6 million). Capital expenditures for the improvements to our Palo Alto facility were funded with proceeds from the sale of the San Carlos property.
 
Financing Activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2008 consisted primarily of $2.8 million treasury stock purchases under the stock repurchase program discussed below, redemption of $10.0 million in principal amount of our floating rate senior notes and term loan repayments aggregating  $11.0 million. The $11.0 million term loan repayments during fiscal year 2008 comprised the scheduled amortization payment of $250,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 and optional prepayments aggregating $10.75 million. The cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2008 was partially offset by $0.9 million in proceeds from employee stock purchases.
 
    Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2007 consisted primarily of $100.75 million repayments on the floating rate senior notes and the term loan under our senior credit facilities and $2.5 million of debt issue costs incurred to issue our new term loan facility. Cash used in financing activities was partially offset by $100.0 million of proceeds from borrowings under our new term loan, $1.4 million of proceeds from stock option exercises and employee stock purchases and $0.8 million excess tax benefit from stock option exercises.
 
    For fiscal year 2006, financing activities consisted primarily of the initial public offering of our common stock, which was completed on May 3, 2006, and the special cash dividend paid to stockholders of CPI International. In the initial public offering, we sold 2,941,200 shares of common stock and the selling stockholders sold 4,117,670 shares, at an initial public offering price to the public of $18.00 per
 

share, resulting in total proceeds to us of approximately $47.3 million, net of transaction costs of approximately $5.6 million. We used the net proceeds of the initial public offering to repay $47.5 million of the term loan under our senior credit facilities. In December 2005, our board of directors declared and paid a special cash dividend of $17 million to stockholders of CPI International. This dividend was paid using the $10 million in net proceeds obtained from the additional borrowing under our senior credit facilities in December 2005 and available cash.
 
 If the leverage ratio under our amended and restated senior credit facilities exceeds 3.5:1 at the end of any fiscal year, then we are required to make an annual prepayment within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year based on a calculation of excess cash flow, as defined in the senior credit facilities, multiplied by a factor of 50%, less any optional prepayments made during the fiscal year. Based on the calculation of excess cash flow for fiscal year 2008, no excess cash flow payment is expected to be made in fiscal year 2009. There was no excess cash flow payment due for fiscal year 2007, and, therefore, no excess cash flow payment was made in fiscal year 2008. A $1.7 million excess cash flow payment for fiscal year 2006 was made in fiscal year 2007.

Stock Repurchase Program

On May 28, 2008, we announced that our board of directors authorized us to implement a program to repurchase up to $12.0 million of our common stock from time to time, funded entirely from cash on hand. Repurchases made under the program are subject to the terms and limitations of our debt covenants, as well as market conditions and share price, and will be made at management's discretion in open market trades, through block trades or in privately negotiated transactions. The program may be modified or terminated by our board of directors at any time. During fiscal year 2008, we repurchased 206,243 shares at an average per share price of $13.54, plus average brokerage commissions of $0.04 per share, for an aggregate cost of $2.8 million. Repurchased shares have been recorded as treasury shares and will be held until our board of directors designates that these shares be retired or used for other purposes.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations at October 3, 2008 and the effect that such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in thousands):
 
   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than
5 years
 
Operating leases
  $ 8,272     $ 2,037     $ 2,432     $ 907     $ 2,896  
Purchase commitments
    29,394       28,148       1,234       12       -  
Debt obligations