UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

Cohu, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-04298		95-1934119
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, California				92064
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 858-848-8100

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

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

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 27, 2010, Cohu, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release regarding its financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter and full year ended December 26, 2009. The Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

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

In addition to financial results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the earnings press release also contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s management uses these non-GAAP measures in their analysis of the Company’s performance. These non-GAAP financial measures adjust the Company’s actual results prepared under GAAP to exclude charges and the related income tax effect for share-based compensation, the amortization of acquired intangible assets and the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. These non-GAAP measures are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are included solely for informational and comparative purposes. The Company’s management believes that this information can assist investors in evaluating the Company’s operational trends, financial performance, and cash generating capacity. Management believes these non-GAAP measures allow investors to evaluate the Company’s financial performance using some of the same measures as management. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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

Exhibit No. — 99.1

Description — Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Release, dated January 27, 2010, of Cohu, Inc.

SIGNATURES

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

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.				Description
	99.1			Fourth Quarter 2009 Earnings Release, dated January 27, 2010, of Cohu, Inc.

Exhibit 99.1

Cohu Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Operating Results

POWAY, Calif., January 27, 2010 — Cohu, Inc. (NASDAQ:COHU) today reported fiscal 2009 fourth quarter net sales of $52.2 million and GAAP net income of $0.8 million or $0.03 per share. For its fiscal year ended December 26, 2009, the company reported net sales of $171.3 million and a GAAP net loss of $(28.2) million or $(1.20) per share. As previously announced, the net loss for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2009 includes a non-cash charge, recorded in the second quarter, of $19.6 million, or $0.84 per share, for an increase in the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.

The company also reported non-GAAP results, with fourth quarter 2009 net income of $2.5 million or $0.11 per share and a fiscal year 2009 net loss of $(1.9) million or $(0.08) per share.

GAAP Results

		Q4 FY 2009				Q3 FY 2009				Q4 FY 2008
Net sales		$	52.2	million		$	44.1	million		$	41.4	million
Net income (loss)		$	0.8	million		$	(0.1	) million		$	(7.6	) million
Income (loss) per share		$	0.03			$	(0.00	)		$	(0.33	)

		FY 2009				FY 2008
Net sales		$	171.3	million		$	199.7	million
Net loss		$	(28.2	) million		$	(5.4	) million
Loss per share		$	(1.20	)		$	(0.23	)

Non-GAAP Results

		Q4 FY 2009				Q3 FY 2009				Q4 FY 2008
Non-GAAP net income (loss)		$	2.5	million		$	1.7	million		$	(3.9	) million
Non-GAAP income (loss) per share		$	0.11			$	0.07			$	(0.17	)

		FY 2009				FY 2008
Non-GAAP net income (loss)		$	(1.9	) million		$	1.7	million
Non-GAAP income (loss) per share		$	(0.08	)		$	0.07

Sales of semiconductor equipment accounted for 74% of fiscal 2009 fourth quarter sales. Microwave communications equipment and video cameras and related equipment contributed 16% and 10%, respectively, for the same period.

Orders were $68.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2009 and $55.0 million for the third quarter of 2009. Orders for semiconductor equipment were $60.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to $46.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. Total consolidated backlog was $79.1 million at December 26, 2009 compared to $62.5 million at September 26, 2009. Cohu expects first quarter 2010 sales to be approximately $53 million. These sales exclude up to $14 million in revenue for semiconductor test handlers that may be recognized in the first quarter upon customer acceptance.

James A. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Amid growing indications of improvement in the semiconductor equipment industry, Cohu was profitable for the second consecutive quarter on a non-GAAP basis. The order momentum that began in Q3 continued into the fourth quarter, from a broad base of customers for our test handling systems. Unit orders for test handlers increased 42% from the third quarter.”

Donahue continued, “All operations were profitable on a non-GAAP basis in the fourth quarter. For the year, our microwave communications equipment business achieved record sales and operating income. This, coupled with cost reduction measures and strict cash management, enabled Cohu to generate positive cash flow from operations in 2009, during the global recession and one of the worst downturns in the semiconductor equipment industry.”

Donahue concluded, “Our new pick and place test handlers, Pyramid and Matrix, are installed on customer test floors and we have received follow-on orders for both products. We are particularly pleased with the significant increase in orders at Rasco, for both gravity and test-in-strip handlers, that began in Q3 and is continuing. The positive trend in customer forecasts is encouraging.”

Cohu’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share payable on April 23, 2010 to shareholders of record on March 9, 2010. Cohu has paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends since 1977.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:

Included within this press release are non-GAAP financial measures that supplement the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures adjust the Company’s actual results prepared under GAAP to exclude charges and the related income tax effect for share-based compensation, the amortization of acquired intangible assets and the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP amounts for the periods presented herein are provided in schedules accompanying this release and should be considered together with the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

These non-GAAP measures are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are included solely for informational and comparative purposes. The Company’s management believes that this information can assist investors in evaluating the Company’s operational trends, financial performance, and cash generating capacity. Management believes these non-GAAP measures allow investors to evaluate Cohu’s financial performance using some of the same measures as management. However, the non-GAAP financial measures should not be regarded as a replacement for (or superior to) corresponding, similarly captioned, GAAP measures.

Forward Looking Statements:

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

About Cohu:

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

Cohu will be conducting their conference call on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time/4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The call will be webcast at www.cohu.com. Replays of the call can be accessed at www.cohu.com.

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

COHU, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

		Three Months Ended (1)								Twelve Months Ended (1)
		December 26,				December 27,				December 26,				December 27,
		2009				2008				2009				2008
Net sales		$	52,193			$	41,401			$	171,261			$	199,659
Cost and expenses:
Cost of sales (2)			35,745				33,238				118,873				134,691
Research and development			7,942				8,502				31,964				38,084
Selling, general and administrative			9,088				8,960				35,519				36,612
Acquired in process research and development (IPR&D) (3)			—				2,577				—				2,577
			52,775				53,277				186,356				211,964
Loss from operations			(582	)			(11,876	)			(15,095	)			(12,305	)
Interest and other, net (4)			172				1,201				1,300				5,483
Loss before income taxes			(410	)			(10,675	)			(13,795	)			(6,822	)
Income tax provision (benefit) (5)			(1,180	)			(3,069	)			14,373				(1,379	)
Net income (loss)		$	770			$	(7,606	)		$	(28,168	)		$	(5,443	)
Income (loss) per share:
Basic		$	0.03			$	(0.33	)		$	(1.20	)		$	(0.23	)
Diluted		$	0.03			$	(0.33	)		$	(1.20	)		$	(0.23	)
Weighted average shares used in computing income (loss) per share (6):
Basic			23,495				23,288				23,412				23,179
Diluted			23,746				23,288				23,412				23,179

COHU, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands) (Unaudited)

		December 26,				December 27,
		2009				2008
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and investments		$	84,906			$	88,385
Accounts receivable			43,389				31,945
Inventories			52,428				53,314
Deferred taxes and other			12,827				25,620
Total current assets			193,550				199,264
Property, plant & equipment, net			38,006				39,429
Goodwill			61,764				60,820
Intangible assets, net			35,483				40,993
Other assets			1,315				3,663
Total assets		$	330,118			$	344,169
Liabilities & Stockholders’ Equity:
Current liabilities:
Deferred profit		$	5,322			$	4,434
Other current liabilities			48,631				39,241
Total current liabilities			53,953				43,675
Deferred taxes and other noncurrent liabilities			18,916				14,955
Stockholders’ equity			257,249				285,539
Total liabilities & stockholders’ equity		$	330,118			$	344,169

COHU, INC.
Supplemental Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

		Three Months Ended
		December 26,				September 26,				December 27,
		2009				2009				2008
Loss from operations — GAAP basis (a)		$	(582	)		$	(798	)		$	(11,876	)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Share-based compensation included in (b):
Costs of goods sold			106				94				77
Research and development			320				351				238
Selling, general and administrative			478				479				446
			904				924				761
Amortization of intangible assets included in (c):
Costs of goods sold			1,420				1,364				713
Research and development			—				—				—
Selling, general and administrative			226				216				89
			1,646				1,580				802
Acquired in-process research and development (d)			—				—				2,577
Income (loss) from operations — non-GAAP basis (e)		$	1,968			$	1,706			$	(7,736	)
Net income (loss) — GAAP basis		$	770			$	(71	)		$	(7,606	)
Non-GAAP adjustments (as scheduled above)			2,550				2,504				4,140
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (f)			(773	)			(756	)			(447	)
Net income (loss) — non-GAAP basis		$	2,547			$	1,677			$	(3,913	)
GAAP net income (loss) per share — diluted		$	0.03			$	(0.00	)		$	(0.33	)
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share — diluted (g)		$	0.11			$	0.07			$	(0.17	)

Management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating performance. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods and these non-GAAP measures allow investors to evaluate the Company’s financial performance using some of the same measures as management. Management views share-based compensation as an expense that is unrelated to the Company’s operational performance as it does not require cash payments and can vary in amount from period to period and the elimination of amortization charges provides better comparability of pre and post-acquisition operating results and to results of businesses utilizing internally developed intangible assets. Additionally, management does not consider certain significant charges to the deferred tax valuation allowance as related to the Company’s operational performance and, as such, has excluded them to provide a better understanding of the company’s underlying operational results and a more meaningful basis for comparison with our historical and future results. However, the non-GAAP financial measures should not be regarded as a replacement for corresponding, similarly captioned, GAAP measures. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies and investors should be careful when comparing our non-GAAP financial measures to those of other companies.

COHU, INC.
Supplemental Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

		Twelve Months Ended
		December 26,				December 27,
		2009				2008
Loss from operations — GAAP basis (a)		$	(15,095	)		$	(12,305	)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Share-based compensation included in (b):
Costs of goods sold			347				343
Research and development			1,145				1,189
Selling, general and administrative			1,886				2,417
			3,378				3,949
Amortization of intangible assets included in (c):
Costs of goods sold			5,398				2,320
Research and development			—				—
Selling, general and administrative			857				233
			6,255				2,553
Acquired in-process research and development (d)			—				2,577
Loss from operations — non-GAAP basis (e)		$	(5,462	)		$	(3,226	)
Net loss — GAAP basis		$	(28,168	)		$	(5,443	)
Non-GAAP adjustments (as scheduled above)			9,633				9,079
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments (f)			(2,916	)			(1,982	)
Non-cash increase of valuation allowance (g)			19,551				—
Net income (loss) — non-GAAP basis		$	(1,900	)		$	1,654
GAAP net loss per share — diluted		$	(1.20	)		$	(0.23	)
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share — diluted (h)		$	(0.08	)		$	0.07

Management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating performance. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods and these non-GAAP measures allow investors to evaluate the Company’s financial performance using some of the same measures as management. Management views share-based compensation as an expense that is unrelated to the Company’s operational performance as it does not require cash payments and can vary in amount from period to period and the elimination of amortization charges provides better comparability of pre and post-acquisition operating results and to results of businesses utilizing internally developed intangible assets. Additionally, management does not consider certain significant charges to the deferred tax valuation allowance as related to the Company’s operational performance and, as such, has excluded them to provide a better understanding of the company’s underlying operational results and a more meaningful basis for comparison with our historical and future results. However, the non-GAAP financial measures should not be regarded as a replacement for corresponding, similarly captioned, GAAP measures. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies and investors should be careful when comparing our non-GAAP financial measures to those of other companies.