Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
  For the quarterly period ended June 28, 2008
or
     
o Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number 000-14824
PLEXUS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
Wisconsin
(State of Incorporation)
  39-1344447
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
55 Jewelers Park Drive
Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(920) 722-3451
(Registrant’s telephone number, including Area Code)
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
     As of July 28, 2008, there were 39,245,802 shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding.
 
 

 


 

PLEXUS CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

June 28, 2008
         
    3  
 
       
    3  
    3  
    4  
    5  
    6  
 
       
    15  
    15  
    15  
    16  
    19  
    21  
    23  
    24  
    25  
 
       
    25  
 
       
    26  
 
       
    27  
 
       
    27  
 
       
    27  
 
       
    36  
 
       
    36  
 
       
    37  
 Exhibit 31.1
 Exhibit 31.2
 Exhibit 32.1
 Exhibit 32.2

2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
Unaudited
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales
  $ 456,352     $ 379,574     $ 1,365,651     $ 1,120,584  
Cost of sales
    407,520       341,052       1,209,714       1,010,765  
 
                       
 
                               
Gross profit
    48,832       38,522       155,937       109,819  
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
Selling and administrative expenses
    26,350       20,169       73,965       61,087  
Restructuring costs
                      932  
 
                       
 
    26,350       20,169       73,965       62,019  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income
    22,482       18,353       81,972       47,800  
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (2,262 )     (741 )     (3,720 )     (2,427 )
Interest income
    1,827       2,264       6,365       6,728  
Miscellaneous
    (258 )     (451 )     (1,086 )     (1,082 )
 
                       
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    21,789       19,425       83,531       51,019  
Income tax expense
    4,357       3,885       16,706       10,204  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 17,432     $ 15,540     $ 66,825     $ 40,815  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.42     $ 0.34     $ 1.50     $ 0.88  
 
                       
Diluted
  $ 0.41     $ 0.33     $ 1.48     $ 0.87  
 
                       
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    41,962       46,336       44,674       46,291  
 
                       
Diluted
    42,481       46,722       45,191       46,704  
 
                       
 
                               
Comprehensive income:
                               
Net income
  $ 17,432     $ 15,540     $ 66,825     $ 40,815  
Derivative instrument fair market value adjustment – net of income tax
    (1,140 )           (1,140 )      
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    174       475       1,868       1,678  
 
                       
Comprehensive income
  $ 16,466     $ 16,015     $ 67,553     $ 42,493  
 
                       
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3


Table of Contents

PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)
Unaudited
                 
    June 28,     September 29,  
    2008     2007  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 206,499     $ 154,109  
Short-term investments
          55,000  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,300 and $900, respectively
    241,099       230,826  
Inventories
    342,309       275,854  
Deferred income taxes
    14,888       12,932  
Prepaid expenses and other
    7,421       5,434  
 
           
 
               
Total current assets
    812,216       734,155  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    171,366       159,517  
Goodwill
    7,884       8,062  
Deferred income taxes
    2,399       2,310  
Other
    15,954       12,472  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 1,009,819     $ 916,516  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations
  $ 1,638     $ 1,720  
Accounts payable
    252,182       237,034  
Customer deposits
    22,267       10,381  
Accrued liabilities:
               
Salaries and wages
    40,816       23,149  
Other
    29,886       34,755  
 
           
 
               
Total current liabilities
    346,789       307,039  
 
               
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion
    174,132       25,082  
Other liabilities
    14,874       9,372  
Deferred income taxes
    1,178       1,758  
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
           
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding
           
Common stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 46,677 and 46,402 shares issued, respectively, and 39,910 and 46,402 shares outstanding, respectively
    467       464  
Additional paid-in capital
    348,675       336,603  
Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 6,767 shares and 0 shares, respectively
    (181,025 )      
Retained earnings
    292,389       224,586  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    12,340       11,612  
 
           
 
               
 
    472,846       573,265  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,009,819     $ 916,516  
 
           
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


Table of Contents

PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Unaudited
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007  
Cash flows from operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 66,825     $ 40,815  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    21,460       19,596  
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
    (48 )     (410 )
Deferred income taxes
    163       7,849  
Stock based compensation expense
    6,342       4,549  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (9,314 )     11,718  
Inventories
    (65,545 )     (28,385 )
Prepaid expenses and other
    (2,189 )     (1,792 )
Accounts payable
    18,571       (22,820 )
Customer deposits
    11,753       747  
Accrued liabilities and other
    16,906       (16,233 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows provided by operating activities
    64,924       15,634  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Purchases of short-term investments
    (53,400 )     (52,550 )
Sales and maturities of short-term investments
    106,400       37,550  
Payments for property, plant and equipment
    (37,879 )     (37,853 )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
    234       4,456  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities
    15,355       (48,397 )
 
           
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Proceeds from debt issuance
    150,000        
Purchases of common stock
    (181,025 )      
Payments on debt and capital lease obligations
    (2,576 )     (993 )
Proceeds from exercises of stock options
    3,894       1,130  
Income tax benefit of stock option exercises
    1,091       10,296  
Issuances of common stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plan
    177       402  
 
           
 
               
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities
    (28,439 )     10,835  
 
           
 
               
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents
    550       2,222  
 
           
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    52,390       (19,706 )
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents:
               
Beginning of period
    154,109       164,912  
 
           
End of period
  $ 206,499     $ 145,206  
 
           
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


Table of Contents

PLEXUS CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 28, 2008 AND JUNE 30, 2007
Unaudited
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
     The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (“Plexus” or the “Company”) without audit and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of the Company, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 28, 2008, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 and June 30, 2007, and the cash flows for the same nine-month periods.
     Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC rules and regulations dealing with interim financial statements. However, the Company believes that the disclosures made in the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
     The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The Company uses a “4-4-5” weekly accounting system for the interim periods in each quarter. Each quarter therefore ends on a Saturday at the end of the 4-4-5 period. The accounting periods for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 and June 30, 2007 each included 91 days and 273 days, respectively.
NOTE 2 – INVENTORIES
     The major classes of inventories are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    June 28,     September 29,  
    2008     2007  
Raw materials
  $ 250,428     $ 194,596  
Work-in-process
    38,212       32,068  
Finished goods
    53,669       49,190  
 
           
 
  $ 342,309     $ 275,854  
 
           
NOTE 3 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
     Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following categories (in thousands):
                 
    June 28,     September 29,  
    2008     2007  
Land, buildings and improvements
  $ 103,488     $ 96,366  
Machinery and equipment
    191,727       171,392  
Computer hardware and software
    70,894       67,405  
Construction in progress
    7,431       10,696  
 
           
 
    373,540       345,859  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    202,174       186,342  
 
           
 
  $ 171,366     $ 159,517  
 
           
NOTE 4 – LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
     On April 4, 2008, the Company entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended Credit Facility”) with a group of banks which allows the Company to borrow $150 million in term loans and $100 million in revolving loans. The $150 million in term loans was immediately funded and the $100 million revolving credit facility is currently available. The Amended Credit Facility is unsecured and the revolving credit facility may be increased by an additional $100 million (the “accordion feature”) if the Company has not previously terminated all or any portion of the Amended Credit Facility, there is no event of default existing under the Amended Credit

6


Table of Contents

Facility and both the Company and the administrative agent consent to the increase. The Amended Credit Facility expires on April 4, 2013. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility may be either through term loans or revolving or swing loans or letter of credit obligations. As of June 28, 2008, the Company has term loan borrowings of $150 million outstanding and no revolving borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility.
     The Amended Credit Facility amended and restated the Company’s prior revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) with a group of banks that allowed the Company to borrow up to $200 million of which $100 million was committed. The Revolving Credit Facility was due to expire on January 12, 2012 and was also unsecured. It also contained other terms and financial conditions, which were substantially similar to those under the Amended Credit Facility.
     The Amended Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio, maximum value of fixed rentals and operating lease obligations, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a minimum net worth test, all as defined in the agreement. As of June 28, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants. Interest on borrowing varies depending upon the Company’s then-current total leverage ratio; as of June 28, 2008, the Company could elect to pay interest at a defined base rate or the LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. Rates would increase upon negative changes in specified Company financial metrics and would decrease upon reduction in the current total leverage ratio to no less than LIBOR plus 1.00%. The Company is also required to pay an annual commitment fee on the unused credit commitment based on its leverage ratio; the current fee is 0.25 percent. Unless the accordion feature is exercised, this fee applies only to the initial $100 million of availability (excluding the $150 million of term borrowings). Origination fees and expenses associated with the Amended Credit Facility totaled approximately $1.3 million and have been deferred. These origination fees and expenses will be amortized over the five-year term of the Amended Credit Facility.
     The Amended Credit Facility allows for the future payment of cash dividends or the future repurchases of shares provided that no event of default (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant) is existing at the time of, or would be caused by, the dividend payment or the share repurchases.
     Interest expense related to the commitment fee and amortization of deferred origination fees and expenses for the Amended Credit Facility totaled approximately $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.5 million for the Revolving Credit Facility for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.
NOTE 5 – DERIVATIVES
     All derivatives are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their estimated fair value. On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a hedge of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value” hedge), a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow” hedge), or a hedge of the net investment in a foreign operation. The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that qualify as a fair value hedge are recorded in earnings along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. Changes in the fair value of a derivative used to hedge the net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in the “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” accounts within shareholders’ equity.
     In June 2008, the Company entered into three interest rate swap contracts related to the $150 million in term loans under the Amended Credit Facility that have a total notional value of $150 million and mature on April 4, 2013. These interest rate swap contracts will pay the Company variable interest at the three month LIBOR rate, and the Company will pay the counterparties a fixed interest rate. The fixed interest rates for each of these contracts are 4.415%, 4.490% and 4.435%, respectively. These interest rate swap contracts were entered into to convert $150 million of the variable rate term loan under the Amended Credit Facility into fixed rate debt. Based on the terms of the interest rate swap contracts and the underlying debt, these interest rate contracts were determined to be effective, and thus qualify as a cash flow hedge. As such, any changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. The total fair value of these interest rate swap contracts is $2.0 million at June 28, 2008, and the Company has recorded this in “Other” current liabilities and “Other liabilities” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

7


Table of Contents

NOTE 6 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
     The following is a reconciliation of the amounts utilized in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share:
                               
Net income
  $ 17,432     $ 15,540     $ 66,825     $ 40,815  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    41,962       46,336       44,674       46,291  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    519       386       517       413  
 
                       
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    42,481       46,722       45,191       46,704  
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.42     $ 0.34     $ 1.50     $ 0.88  
 
                       
Diluted
  $ 0.41     $ 0.33     $ 1.48     $ 0.87  
 
                       
     For the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, stock options to purchase approximately 1.7 million shares and 1.6 million shares, respectively, of common stock were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, their effect would be anti-dilutive.
     For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007, stock options to purchase approximately 2.0 million shares and 1.9 million shares, respectively, of common stock were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, their effect would be anti-dilutive.
NOTE 7 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
     Effective October 2, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”). As a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company recognized $1.8 million and $6.3 million of compensation expense associated with stock-based awards for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, respectively, and $1.3 million and $4.5 million for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.
     The Company continues to use the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights and recognizes the stock-based compensation expense over the stock-based awards’ vesting period.
NOTE 8 – SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
     On February 25, 2008, the Company announced approval by its Board of Directors of a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $200 million of common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaced the Company’s existing authorization to repurchase up to $25 million in common stock.
     Also on February 25, 2008, the Company entered into two accelerated stock repurchase (“ASR”) agreements with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“Morgan Stanley”) to repurchase an aggregate of $100 million of its common stock. On February 26, 2008, the Company paid $100 million to Morgan Stanley in exchange for a variable number of shares over a variable period of time. The final total number of shares to be repurchased under the ASR agreements was based generally on the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the term of the agreements. Purchases under one of the ASR agreements were subject to collar provisions that established minimum and maximum numbers of shares based on the average price at which Morgan Stanley purchases shares over an initial hedge period to establish its hedge position. Under the collared ASR agreement, the Company’s common stock repurchases totaled $50 million. The remaining $50 million of share repurchases under the ASR program were not subject to collar provisions. On April 24, 2008, the Company completed its ASR program with a total of 3.8 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $26.51.

8


Table of Contents

     In addition to the ASR agreements, the Company announced that the remaining $100 million of authorized share repurchases would be repurchased in the open market. Through June 28, 2008, the Company had repurchased 3.0 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $27.03. The Company subsequently purchased an additional 0.7 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $28.10. These repurchases complete the $200 million share repurchase program with a total purchase of 7.4 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $26.87.
NOTE 9 – INCOME TAXES
     Income taxes for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 were $4.4 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 was 20 percent. Income taxes for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007 were $3.9 million and $10.2 million, respectively. The effective tax rate for both the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007 was 20 percent.
     In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements by standardizing the level of confidence needed to recognize uncertain tax benefits and the process for measuring the amount of benefit to recognize. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.
     Effective at the beginning of fiscal 2008, the Company adopted FIN 48. Upon adoption, the Company recorded an increase in income tax liabilities for uncertain tax benefits and a decrease in valuation allowance of approximately $0.8 million, which resulted in no cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. As of September 30, 2007, the total amount of unrecognized income tax benefits was approximately $4.6 million. Of this amount, approximately $3.8 million would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. During the three months ended June 28, 2008, approximately $1.0 million of valuation allowance was recorded to retained earnings as an out-of-period adjustment as a result of additional review of the interaction between the assessment of valuation allowances and FIN 48. The Company does not believe the adjustment is material to its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for either the three or nine months ended June 28, 2008, or any previously issued quarterly financial statements.
     In addition, the Company has reclassified the amounts that it has recorded for uncertain tax benefits in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as other non-current liabilities to the extent that payment is not anticipated within one year. Prior-year financial statements have not been reclassified.
     The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Upon adoption, total accrued penalties and net accrued interest with respect to income taxes was approximately $0.1 million and has not changed materially subsequent to adoption.
     It is reasonably possible that a number of uncertain tax positions related to federal and state tax positions may be settled within the next 12 months. Settlement of these matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
     Upon adoption, the Company had tax years from fiscal 2004 and forward open and subject to examination by the IRS. For the major state tax jurisdictions, the Company has fiscal 2001 and forward open and subject to examination.
     As of June 28, 2008, there were no material changes to the FIN 48 liability, including interest and penalties.
NOTE 10 – GOODWILL
     The Company no longer amortizes goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, but instead, the Company tests those assets for impairment at least annually, and recognizes any related losses when incurred. Recoverability of goodwill is measured at the reporting unit level.
     The Company is required to perform goodwill impairment tests at least on an annual basis. The Company has selected the third quarter of each fiscal year, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company’s fiscal 2008 annual impairment test was completed during the quarter ended June 28, 2008 and did not result in any impairment of the remaining goodwill, all of which relates to its European reportable segment (i.e. the United Kingdom). The fair value of the Company’s United Kingdom

9


Table of Contents

operations was estimated using the present value of its expected cash flows. No assurances can be given that future impairment tests of the Company’s remaining goodwill will not result in additional impairment.
     The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for fiscal 2007 and for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 for the European reportable segment were as follows (in thousands):
         
    Europe  
Balance as of September 30, 2006
  $ 7,400  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    662  
 
     
Balance as of September 29, 2007
    8,062  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (178 )
 
     
Balance as of June 28, 2008
  $ 7,884  
 
     
NOTE 11 – BUSINESS SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC AND MAJOR CUSTOMER INFORMATION
     Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” (“SFAS No. 131”) establishes standards for reporting information about segments in financial statements. Reportable segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or group, in assessing performance and allocating resources.
     The Company uses an internal management reporting system, which provides important financial data to evaluate performance and allocate the Company’s resources on a geographic basis. Net sales for segments are attributed to the region in which the product is manufactured or service is performed. The services provided, manufacturing processes used, classes of customers serviced and order fulfillment processes used are similar and generally interchangeable across the segments. A segment’s performance is evaluated based upon its operating income (loss). A segment’s operating income (loss) includes its net sales less cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses, but excludes corporate and other costs, interest expense, other income (loss), and income tax expense. Corporate and other costs primarily represent corporate selling, general and administrative expenses, and restructuring and impairment costs. These costs are not allocated to the segments, as management excludes such costs when assessing the performance of the segments. Inter-segment transactions are generally recorded at amounts that approximate arm’s length transactions. The accounting policies for the segments are the same as for the Company taken as a whole.
     Information about the Company’s four reportable segments for the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 and June 30, 2007 were as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales:
                               
United States
  $ 312,172     $ 265,456     $ 964,160     $ 770,166  
Asia
    153,104       106,809       398,116       313,989  
Europe
    17,077       15,550       53,400       51,290  
Mexico
    22,012       18,810       55,249       61,678  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (48,013 )     (27,051 )     (105,274 )     (76,539 )
 
                       
 
  $ 456,352     $ 379,574     $ 1,365,651     $ 1,120,584  
 
                       
 
                               
Depreciation and amortization:
                               
United States
  $ 2,241     $ 2,369     $ 6,623     $ 7,200  
Asia
    3,216       2,306       8,998       6,055  
Europe
    203       194       622       564  
Mexico
    449       504       1,349       1,516  
Corporate
    1,258       1,386       3,868       4,261  
 
                       
 
  $ 7,367     $ 6,759     $ 21,460     $ 19,596  
 
                       

10


Table of Contents

                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Operating income (loss):
                               
United States
  $ 24,593     $ 25,008     $ 92,233     $ 60,058  
Asia
    16,811       9,115       42,192       30,405  
Europe
    2,112       1,031       6,267       2,451  
Mexico
    (1,053 )     (4,569 )     (2,158 )     (7,715 )
Corporate and other costs
    (19,981 )     (12,232 )     (56,562 )     (37,399 )
 
                       
 
  $ 22,482     $ 18,353     $ 81,972     $ 47,800  
 
                       
 
                               
Capital expenditures:
                               
United States
  $ 4,612     $ 1,303     $ 13,402     $ 4,352  
Asia
    7,173       5,225       20,298       25,279  
Europe
    693       157       1,111       567  
Mexico
    269       230       377       5,230  
Corporate
    1,230       881       2,691       2,425  
 
                       
 
  $ 13,977     $ 7,796     $ 37,879     $ 37,853  
 
                       
                 
    June 28,     September 29,  
    2008     2007  
Total assets:
               
United States
  $ 419,626     $ 381,947  
Asia
    279,321       224,135  
Europe
    102,603       94,814  
Mexico
    40,963       28,340  
Corporate
    167,306       187,280  
 
           
 
  $ 1,009,819     $ 916,516  
 
           
     The following enterprise-wide information is provided in accordance with SFAS No. 131. Sales to unaffiliated customers are ascribed to a geographic region based on the Company’s location providing product or services (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales:
                               
United States
  $ 312,172     $ 265,456     $ 964,160     $ 770,166  
Malaysia
    129,718       88,349       337,329       264,684  
China
    23,386       18,460       60,787       49,305  
United Kingdom
    17,077       15,550       53,400       51,290  
Mexico
    22,012       18,810       55,249       61,678  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (48,013 )     (27,051 )     (105,274 )     (76,539 )
 
                       
 
  $ 456,352     $ 379,574     $ 1,365,651     $ 1,120,584  
 
                       
                 
    June 28,     September 29,  
    2008     2007  
Long-lived assets:
               
United States
  $ 36,081     $ 31,687  
Malaysia
    68,276       61,576  
China
    9,689       6,059  
United Kingdom
    18,980       16,290  
Mexico
    5,030       6,622  
Corporate
    41,194       45,345  
 
           
 
  $ 179,250     $ 167,579  
 
           

11


Table of Contents

     Long-lived assets as of June 28, 2008 and September 29, 2007 exclude other long-term assets and deferred income tax assets totaling $18.4 million and $14.8 million, respectively.
     Restructuring and impairment costs are not allocated to reportable segments, as management excludes such costs when assessing the performance of the reportable segments. Such costs are included within the “Corporate and other costs” section in the Operating income (loss) table above. For the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, the Company did not incur any restructuring costs.
     The percentages of net sales to customers representing 10 percent or more of total net sales for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    June 28,   June 30,   June 28,   June 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Juniper Networks, Inc.
    23 %     24 %     21 %     21 %
General Electric Corp.
    *       *       *       11 %
 
*  Represents less than 10 percent of total net sales
     No other customers accounted for 10 percent or more of net sales in either of the periods in either fiscal 2008 or 2007.
NOTE 12 – GUARANTEES
     The Company offers certain indemnifications under its customer agreements. In the normal course of business, the Company may from time to time be obligated to indemnify its customers or its customers’ customers against damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s negligence, misconduct, breach of contract, or infringement of third party intellectual property rights. Certain of the agreements have extended broader indemnification rights, and while most agreements have contractual limits, some do not. However, the Company generally does not provide for such indemnities, and seeks indemnification from its customers, for damages or liabilities arising out of the Company’s adherence to customers’ specifications or designs, or use of materials furnished, or directed to be used, by its customers. The Company does not believe its obligations under such indemnities are material.
     In the normal course of business, the Company also provides its customers a limited warranty covering workmanship, and in some cases materials, on products manufactured by the Company. Such warranty generally provides that products will be free from defects in the Company’s workmanship and meet mutually agreed-upon specifications for periods generally ranging from 12 months to 24 months. If a product fails to comply with the Company’s limited warranty, the Company’s obligation is generally limited to correcting, at its expense, any defect by repairing or replacing such defective product. The Company’s warranty generally excludes defects resulting from faulty customer-supplied components, design defects or damage caused by any party or cause other than the Company.
     The Company provides for an estimate of costs that may be incurred under its limited warranty at the time product revenue is recognized and establishes additional reserves for specifically identified product issues. These costs primarily include labor and materials, as necessary, associated with repair or replacement. The primary factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the value and the number of shipped units and historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims. As these factors are impacted by actual experience and future expectations, the Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary.
     Below is a table summarizing the activity related to the Company’s limited warranty liability for fiscal 2007 and for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 (in thousands):
         
Limited warranty liability, as of September 30, 2006
  $ 3,029  
Accruals for warranties issued during the period
    2,571  
Settlements (in cash or in kind) during the period
    (557 )
 
     
Limited warranty liability, as of September 29, 2007
    5,043  
Accruals for warranties issued during the period
    690  
Settlements (in cash or in kind) during the period
    (541 )
 
     
Limited warranty liability, as of June 28, 2008
  $ 5,192  
 
     

12


Table of Contents

NOTE 13 – CONTINGENCIES
     Two securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on June 25 and June 29, 2007, against the Company and certain Company officers and/or directors. On November 7, 2007, the two actions were consolidated, and a consolidated class action complaint was filed on February 1, 2008. The consolidated complaint names the Company and the following individuals as defendents: Dean A. Foate, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company; F. Gordon Bitter, the Company’s former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Paul Ehlers, the Company’s former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The consolidated complaint alleges securities law violations and seeks unspecified damages relating generally to the Company’s statements regarding its defense sector business in early calendar 2006. On April 15, 2008, the Company and the individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated class action complaint. The plaintiff is opposing the dismissal. The briefing on the defendants’ motion has only recently been completed; the Court has not yet held a hearing or ruled on the motion.
     The Company believes the allegations in the consolidated complaint are wholly without merit and it intends to vigorously defend against them. Since these matters are in the preliminary stages, the Company is unable to predict the scope or outcome or quantify their eventual impact, if any, on the Company. At this time, the Company is also unable to estimate associated expenses or possible losses. The Company maintains insurance that may reduce its financial exposure for defense costs and liability for an unfavorable outcome, should it not prevail.
     The Company is party to certain lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
NOTE 14 – RESTRUCTURING COSTS
     Fiscal 2008 restructuring costs: For the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, the Company did not incur any restructuring costs.
     Fiscal 2007 restructuring costs: For the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company did not incur any restructuring costs.
     For the nine months ended June 30, 2007, the Company incurred $0.9 million of restructuring costs, which consisted of the following:
    $0.5 million related to severance and retention costs for the Maldon, England facility closure
 
    $0.3 million for severance costs at the Kelso, Scotland facility and
 
    $0.1 million for severance costs at the Juarez, Mexico facility.
The Maldon facility ceased production on December 12, 2006 which resulted in a workforce reduction of 75 employees. On January 31, 2007, the Company sold the Maldon facility to a third party for approximately $4.4 million. The Company recorded a minimal gain in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 related to the sale.
     The table below summarizes the Company’s accrued restructuring liabilities as of June 28, 2008 (in thousands):
         
    Employee  
    Termination and  
    Severance Costs  
Accrued balance, September 29, 2007
  $ 989  
Restructuring costs
     
Amounts utilized
    (989 )
 
     
Accrued balance, June 28, 2008
  $  
 
     

13


Table of Contents

NOTE 15 – NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS No. 161”).  This statement changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities. SFAS No. 161 requires enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 161 on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
     In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment to ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will now be termed “non-controlling interests.” SFAS 160 requires non-controlling interests to be presented as a separate component of equity and requires the amount of net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest to be separately identified on the consolidated statement of operations. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 160 on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
     In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141R”). SFAS No. 141R states that all business combinations (whether full, partial or step acquisitions) will result in all assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their fair values. Certain forms of contingent consideration and certain acquired contingencies will be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. SFAS No. 141R also states acquisition costs will generally be expensed as incurred and restructuring costs will be expensed in periods after the acquisition date. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 141R on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
     In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No. 159”). This standard permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The fair value option permits a company to choose to measure eligible items at specified election dates. A company will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings after adoption. The effective date for SFAS 159 is as of the beginning of fiscal years that start subsequent to November 15, 2007. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 159 on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
     In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS No. 157”). This standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and establishes a hierarchy that categorizes and prioritizes the sources to be used to estimate fair value. SFAS 157 also expands financial statement disclosures about fair value measurements. On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-b which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for one year, for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). FAS 157 and FSP 157-b are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 157 and FSP 157-b on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

14


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
“SAFE HARBOR” CAUTIONARY STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:
     The statements contained in the Form 10-Q that are not historical facts (such as statements in the future tense and statements including “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “target” and similar terms and concepts, including all discussions of periods which are not yet completed) are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:
    the economic performance of the electronics, technology and defense industries
 
    the risk of customer delays, changes or cancellations in both ongoing and new programs
 
    the poor visibility of future orders in the defense market sector and the uncertainty of defense appropriations and spending
 
    the effects of the volume of revenue from certain sectors or programs on our margins in particular periods
 
    our ability to secure new customers and maintain our current customer base and deliver product on a timely basis
 
    the risks of concentration of work for certain customers
 
    material cost fluctuations and the adequate availability of components and related parts for production
 
    the effect of changes in average selling prices
 
    the effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, including our recent and planned expansions
 
    the adequacy of restructuring and similar charges as compared to actual expenses
 
    the degree of success and the costs of efforts to improve the financial performance of our Mexican operations and the outcome of our review of our other North American footprint
 
    possible unexpected costs and operating disruption in transitioning programs
 
    the costs and inherent uncertainties of pending litigation
 
    market reaction to the recently completed share repurchase program
 
    the effect of general economic conditions and world events (such as increases in oil prices, terrorism and war in the Middle East)
 
    the impact of increased competition and
 
    other risks detailed below in “Risk Factors” and otherwise herein, and in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
OVERVIEW
     The following information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included herein and the “Risk Factors” section in Item 1A located in Part II. Other Information.
     Plexus Corp. and its subsidiaries (together “Plexus,” the “Company,” or “we”) participate in the Electronic Manufacturing Services (“EMS”) industry. As a contract manufacturer, we offer our customers the ability to outsource any stage of the product realization process, including: design and product development; prototyping and new product introduction; optimal supply chain design, materials sourcing, procurement and inventory management; product assembly, configuration and testing; order fulfillment and logistics; and service and repair. Other than certain test equipment and software used for internal manufacturing, we do not design or manufacture our own proprietary products.
     We provide most of our contract manufacturing services on a turnkey basis, which means that we procure some or all of the materials required for product assembly. We provide some services on a consignment basis, which means that the customer supplies the necessary materials, and we provide the labor and other services required for product assembly. Turnkey services require material procurement and warehousing, in addition to assembly, configuration and order fulfillment, and involve greater resource investments than consignment services.

15


Table of Contents

     We are increasingly providing Direct Order Fulfillment (“DOF”) and logistics services to many of our customers. DOF entails receiving orders from our customers that provide the final specifications required by the end customer. We then build, configure and test the final product and deliver it directly to the end customer. The DOF process relies on Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) systems integrated with those of our customers to manage the overall supply chain from parts procurement through assembly and order fulfillment.
     Our customers include both industry-leading original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and other technology companies that have never manufactured products internally. Plexus’ sales and marketing focus is on the wireline/networking, wireless infrastructure, medical, industrial/commercial and defense/security/aerospace market sectors. Within these market sectors, Plexus specializes in customer products and programs that typically have a higher-mix of assemblies or configurations, that are typically produced in mid- to low volumes (such as network routers, ultrasound devices, and semiconductor test equipment, as opposed to high-volume products such as consumer devices, cell phones or computers), and often have stringent quality, regulatory and reliability requirements.
     As a result, our business is influenced by technological trends such as the level and rate of development of telecommunications infrastructure and the expansion of networks and use of the Internet. In addition, regulatory approval of new medical devices, defense procurement practices and other governmental approval and regulatory processes can affect our business. Our business has also benefited from the trend to increased outsourcing by OEMs.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
     Three months ended June 28, 2008. Net sales for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased by $76.8 million, or 20.2 percent, over the three months ended June 30, 2007 to $456.4 million. Net sales growth occurred in each of our market sectors during the current-year period as compared to the prior-year period, with significant growth occurring in the wireline/networking and industrial/commercial sectors.
     Gross margins were 10.7 percent for the three months ended June 28, 2008, which compared favorably to 10.1 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Gross margins in the current-year period were positively impacted by the continued operating leverage gained on our net sales growth in the market sectors noted above and favorable changes in customer mix. These benefits were slightly offset by increased fixed manufacturing costs to support the net sales growth.
     Selling and administrative expenses increased $6.2 million, or 30.6 percent, to $26.4 million for the three months ended June 28, 2008. The increase can be attributed primarily to higher compensation expenses associated with additional salaries and expenses to augment business development activities, increased accruals for variable incentive compensation compared to the prior-year period as a result of strong Company performance, and an allowance of $1.3 million for doubtful accounts of a customer that declared bankruptcy during the quarter.
     Net income for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased to $17.4 million from $15.5 million in the prior-year period, and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.41 from $0.33 in the prior-year period. We recognized a benefit in diluted earnings per share in the current-year period of approximately $0.01 from the financial recapitalization announced on February 25, 2008 as a result of the reduction in the number of shares outstanding.
     We currently expect the annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2008 to be approximately 20 percent.
     Nine months ended June 28, 2008. Net sales for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased by $245.1 million, or 21.9 percent, over the nine months ended June 30, 2007 to $1,365.7 million. Net sales growth occurred in all of our market sectors during the current-year period and was driven primarily by customers in the defense/security/aerospace and wireline/networking sectors.
     Gross margins were 11.4 percent for the nine months ended June 28, 2008, which compared favorably to 9.8 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2007. Gross margins in the current-year period were favorably impacted by the operating leverage gained as a result of our net sales growth and changes in customer mix, particularly relating to our large unnamed defense customer. These benefits were partially offset by increased fixed manufacturing expenses to support net sales growth.

16


Table of Contents

     Selling and administrative expenses increased $12.9 million, or 21.1 percent, to $74.0 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2008. The increase can be attributed primarily to higher compensation expense associated with additional salaries and expenses to augment business development activities, increased accruals for variable incentive compensation compared to the prior-year period, and the allowance for doubtful accounts for the customer in bankruptcy as discussed above.
     Net income for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased to $66.8 million from $40.8 million in the prior-year period, and diluted earnings per share increased to $1.48 from $0.87 in the prior-year period.
     Reportable Segments. A further discussion of financial performance by reportable segment is presented below (in millions):
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    June 28,     June 30,     June 28,     June 30,  
    2008     2007     2008     2007  
Net sales:
                               
United States
  $ 312.2     $ 265.5     $ 964.2     $ 770.1  
Asia
    153.1       106.8       398.1       314.0  
Europe
    17.1       15.6       53.4       51.3  
Mexico
    22.0       18.8       55.2       61.7  
Elimination of inter-segment sales
    (48.0 )     (27.1 )     (105.2 )     (76.5 )
 
                       
 
  $ 456.4     $ 379.6     $ 1,365.7     $ 1,120.6  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income (loss):
                               
United States
  $ 24.6     $ 25.0     $ 92.2     $ 60.1  
Asia
    16.8       9.1       42.2       30.4  
Europe
    2.1       1.0       6.3       2.4  
Mexico
    (1.0 )     (4.5 )     (2.2 )     (7.7 )
Corporate and other costs
    (20.0 )     (12.2 )     (56.5 )     (37.4 )
 
                       
 
  $ 22.5     $ 18.4     $ 82.0     $ 47.8  
 
                       
    United States: Net sales for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased $46.7 million, or 17.6 percent, from the three months ended June 30, 2007 to $312.2 million. This reportable segment experienced significant net sales growth due mainly to increased demand from three wireline/networking customers and a defense/security/aerospace customer, offset by a decrease in net sales to our large unnamed defense customer. Operating income in the current-year period declined slightly compared to the prior-year period as a result of recording bad debt expense of approximately $1.3 million related to a customer who filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the quarter.
 
      Net sales for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased $194.1 million, or 25.2 percent, over the nine months ended June 30, 2007 to $964.2 million. Net sales increased in the current-year period due to higher demand from an unnamed defense/security/aerospace customer, a wireline/networking customer, and a wireless infrastructure customer and the addition of a new wireline/networking customer. This growth was offset, in part, by lower demand from a medical sector customer. Operating income for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased $32.1 million from the nine months ended June 30, 2007. Operating income in the current-year period improved as a result of increased net sales and favorable changes in customer mix, offset by the recording of bad debt expense as noted above. In addition, operating income in the prior-year period was negatively impacted by a $5.9 million write-down of inventories.
 
    Asia: Net sales for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased $46.3 million, or 43.3 percent, over the three months ended June 30, 2007 to $153.1 million. This growth reflected increased net sales to several customers, with the most significant customer growth coming from two customers in the wireline/ networking sector, two customers in the industrial/commercial sector and a customer in the medical sector. Operating income for the three months ended June 28, 2008 improved $7.7 million over the three months ended June 30, 2007 as a result of increased net sales and operating efficiencies attendant to higher production levels.

17


Table of Contents

      Net sales for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased $84.1 million, or 26.8 percent, over the nine months ended June 30, 2007 to $398.1 million. This growth reflected increased net sales to several customers, with the most significant customer growth coming from a customer in the medical sector, two customers in the wireline/networking sector and a customer in the industrial/commercial sector. Operating income for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 improved $11.8 million over the nine months ended June 30, 2007, primarily as a result of higher net sales and operating efficiencies attendant higher production levels. Expansion of operating income was tempered by increased fixed manufacturing costs associated with the expansion of facilities and related production equipment.
 
    Europe: Net sales for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased $1.5 million, or 9.6 percent, to $17.1 million, from the three months ended June 30, 2007. The net sales growth was due to increased demand from multiple customers. Operating income for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased by $1.1 million to $2.1 million from the prior-year period due primarily to increased net sales, a favorable change in customer mix and the recognition of $0.3 million of revenue related to the shipment of previously written-down inventories.
 
      Net sales for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased $2.1 million, or 4.1 percent, to $53.4 million, from the nine months ended June 30, 2007. The change in net sales can be attributed to increased demand from two customers offsetting the loss of three customer programs that went end-of-life. Operating income for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 increased $3.9 million from the nine months ended June 30, 2007 primarily as a result of a favorable change in customer mix and the recognition of $1.0 million of revenue related to the shipment of previously written-down inventories.
 
    Mexico: Net sales for the three months ended June 28, 2008 increased $3.2 million or 17.0 percent, from the three months ended June 30, 2007 to $22.0 million. The net sales increase was primarily driven by increased demand from an industrial/commercial customer as well as a new wireline/networking customer. Operating loss for the three months ended June 28, 2008 improved by $3.5 million over the three months ended June 30, 2007, primarily as a result of increased sales, recovery of $0.4 million from shipping previously written-down inventories and an overall effort to reduce costs.
 
      Net sales for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 decreased $6.5 million, or 10.5 percent, from the nine months ended June 30, 2007 to $55.2 million. The net sales decrease was primarily attributable to the loss of two wireline/networking customers and a decrease in demand from two industrial/commercial customers and two medical customers. These losses were offset, in part, by increased demand from an industrial/commercial customer and a new wireline/networking customer. Operating loss for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 improved $5.5 million over the nine months ended June 30, 2007 to $2.2 million, primarily as a result of recovering approximately $2.0 million from shipping previously written-down inventories as well as an overall effort to reduce costs.
     For our significant customers, we generally manufacture product in more than one location. Net sales to Juniper Networks, Inc. (“Juniper”), our largest customer, occur in the United States and Asia. Net sales to General Electric Corp. (“GE”), a significant customer, occur in the United States, Asia and Mexico. See Note 11 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for certain financial information regarding our reportable segments, including a detail of net sales by reportable segment.
     Fiscal 2008 outlook. Our financial goal for the current fiscal year is for continued profitable organic growth in net sales. We have given guidance for fiscal 2008 that implies net sales growth of approximately 19 percent to 20 percent over fiscal 2007. Our performance in the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2008 suggests that the near-term objective is achievable, yet we are mindful of the potential economic uncertainty that could derail end-market demand and impact actual results. With this in mind and based on our current customer indications of expected demand, we currently expect fiscal 2008 fourth quarter net sales to be in the range of $470 million to $490 million; however, results will ultimately depend upon the actual level of customer orders and production. It is important to note that the forecasted net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 does not include any significant demand from our large unnamed defense customer. We currently anticipate net sales of approximately $3.0 million in the fourth quarter for this program. Assuming that net sales are in the range of $470 million to $490 million, we would currently expect to earn between $0.42 to $0.46 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, excluding any restructuring or asset impairment costs.

18


Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
     Net sales. Net sales for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    June 28,   June 30,   Increase/   June 28,   June 30,   Increase/
    2008   2007   (Decrease)   2008   2007   (Decrease)
Net Sales
  $ 456.4     $ 379.6     $ 76.8       20 %   $ 1,365.7     $ 1,120.6     $ 245.1       22 %
     For the three months ended June 28, 2008, we experienced net sales growth in each of our market sectors with strong demand in the wireline/networking and industrial/commercial sectors. The net sales growth in wireline/networking sector was driven primarily by increased demand from two existing customers, including Juniper. Our net sales growth in the industrial/commercial sector was due to increased demand from two main customers as well as strong demand from several other customers.
     For the nine months ended June 28, 2008, net sales increased in all of our market sectors. Significant increases were noted in the wireline/networking and defense/security/aerospace sectors, and strong performance was also achieved in the industrial/commercial and wireless infrastructure sectors. Net sales growth in our wireline/networking sector was favorably impacted by increased demand from two existing customers, including Juniper, as well as the addition of several new customers.
     We expect that the net sales in the defense/security/aerospace sector will be unfavorably impacted in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 as we currently have only approximately $3.0 million of follow-on orders for our unnamed defense customer, as compared to net sales of $56 million, $27 million and $1 million in the first, second and third quarters of fiscal 2008, respectively.
     Our net sales percentages by industry sector for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    June 28,   June 30,   June 28,   June 30,
Industry   2008   2007   2008   2007
Wireline/Networking
    47 %     46 %     43 %     45 %
Wireless Infrastructure
    9 %     9 %     9 %     9 %
Medical
    22 %     24 %     21 %     25 %
Industrial/Commercial
    16 %     14 %     16 %     15 %
Defense/Security/Aerospace
    6 %     7 %     11 %     6 %
     The percentages of net sales to customers representing 10 percent or more of net sales and net sales to our ten largest customers for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    June 28,   June 30,   June 28,   June 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Juniper
    23 %     24 %     21 %     21 %
General Electric Corp
    *       *       *       11 %
Top 10 customers
    62 %     64 %     62 %     60 %
 
*   Represents less than 10 percent of total net sales
     Net sales to our customers may vary from time to time depending on the size and timing of customer program commencements, terminations, delays, modifications and transitions. We remain dependent on continued sales to our significant customers, and we generally do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers. Customers’ forecasts can and do change as a result of changes in their end-market demand and other factors. Any material change in forecasts or orders from these major accounts, or other customers, could materially affect our results of operations. In addition, as our percentage of net sales to customers in a specific sector becomes larger relative to other sectors, we become increasingly dependent upon economic and business conditions affecting that sector.

19


Table of Contents

     Gross profit and gross margin. Gross profit and gross margins for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    June 28,   June 30,   Increase/   June 28,   June 30,   Increase/
    2008   2007   (Decrease)   2008   2007   (Decrease)
Gross Profit
  $ 48.8     $ 38.5     $ 10.3       27 %   $ 155.9     $ 109.8     $ 46.1       42 %
Gross Margin
    10.7 %     10.1 %                     11.4 %     9.8 %                
     For the three months ended June 28, 2008, gross profit and gross margin were impacted by the following:
    increased net sales in all reportable segments, along with favorable changes in customer mix, offset by the effects of decreased sales in the quarter to our large unnamed defense customer
 
    a moderate increase in fixed manufacturing costs in the U.S. and Asian reportable segments primarily due to higher salaries and benefits as a result of additional employees to support net sales growth and increased variable compensation accruals as well as incurring additional depreciation expense and other fixed manufacturing expenses to support our net sales growth and
 
    recognition of $0.7 million of net sales in the European and Mexican reportable segments associated with the shipments of previously written-down inventories.
     For the nine months ended June 28, 2008, gross profit and gross margin were impacted by the following:
    increased net sales in the U.S., Asian, and European reportable segments, along with favorable changes in customer mix, including the large unnamed defense customer, which helped to improve operating efficiencies
 
    a moderate increase in fixed manufacturing costs in the U.S. and Asian reportable segments primarily due to higher salaries and benefits as a result of additional employees to support net sales growth and increased variable compensation accruals as well as incurring additional depreciation expense and other fixed manufacturing expenses to support our net sales growth
 
    recognition of $3.0 million of net sales in the European and Mexican reportable segments associated with shipments of previously written-down inventories and
 
    a $5.9 million write-down of inventories in the prior-year period due to financial concerns about a customer.
     Gross margins reflect a number of factors that can vary from period to period, including product and service mix, the level of new facility start-up costs, inefficiencies resulting from the transition of new programs, product life-cycles, sales volumes, price reductions, overall capacity utilization, labor costs and efficiencies, the management of inventories, component pricing and shortages, the mix of turnkey and consignment business, fluctuations and timing of customer orders, changing demand for our customers’ products and competition within the electronics industry. Additionally, turnkey manufacturing involves the risk of inventory management and a change in component costs can directly impact average selling prices, gross margins and net sales. Although we focus on maintaining gross margins, there can be no assurance that gross margins will not decrease in future periods.
     Design work performed by us is not our proprietary property and all costs incurred with this work are generally considered reimbursable by our customers. We do not track research and development costs that are not reimbursed by our customers and we consider these amounts immaterial.
     Selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative (S&A) expenses for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Variance   Nine Months Ended   Variance
    June 28,   June 30,   Increase/   June 28,   June 30,   Increase/
    2008   2007   (Decrease)   2008   2007   (Decrease)
S&A
  $ 26.4     $ 20.2     $ 6.2       31 %   $ 74.0     $ 61.1     $ 12.9       21 %
Percent of net sales
    5.8 %     5.3 %                     5.4 %     5.5 %                

20


Table of Contents

     The dollar increase in S&A for the three months ended June 28, 2008 is attributed to increased compensation expenses for additional salaries to augment business development activities, increased accruals for variable incentive compensation as a result of strong Company performance, additional costs for stock-based compensation and bad debt expense of $1.3 million related to a customer who filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the quarter. S&A as a percentage of net sales increased as a result of that additional expense in the three months ended June 28, 2008 as compared to the prior-year period.
     The dollar increase in S&A for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 is attributed to increased compensation expenses for additional salaries to augment business development activities, increased accruals for variable incentive compensation and additional costs for stock-based compensation. S&A as a percentage of net sales decreased as a result of increased net sales in the nine months ended June 28, 2008 as compared to the prior-year period.
     Restructuring Actions: For both the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, the Company did not incur any restructuring charges.
     For the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company did not incur any restructuring charges.
     For the nine months ended June 30, 2007, the Company incurred $0.9 million of restructuring charges which consisted of the following:
    $0.5 million related to severance and retention costs for the Maldon, England facility closure
 
    $0.3 million for severance costs at the Kelso, Scotland facility and
 
    $0.1 million for severance costs at the Juarez, Mexico facility.
The Maldon facility ceased production on December 12, 2006 and resulted in a workforce reduction of 75 employees. On January 31, 2007, the Company sold the Maldon facility for $4.4 million and recorded a nominal gain on this transaction.
     As of June 28, 2008, we have no remaining restructuring liability. As we have previously announced, we are carefully evaluating the value proposition and long-term viability of each of our United States manufacturing locations; decisions resulting from our review may lead to future restructuring charges. See Note 14 in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on restructuring costs.
     Other income/expense. As a result of the term loan borrowings under our Amended Credit Facility, we expect our interest expense to increase compared to quarters prior to the third quarter of fiscal 2008.
     Income taxes. Income taxes for the indicated periods were as follows (dollars in millions):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    June 28,   June 30,   June 28,   June 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Income tax expense
  $ 4.4     $ 3.9     $ 16.7     $ 10.2  
Effective annual tax rate
    20 %     20 %     20 %     20 %
     We currently expect the annual effective tax rate for fiscal 2008 to be approximately 20 percent. Our tax rates vary based upon the mix of earnings among tax and jurisdictions. Earnings in our Asian locations benefit from negotiated tax holidays, while U.S. earnings are taxed at a combined 38% federal and state tax rate. This variance in tax rates among our locations means that relatively minor changes in production among our locations can result in significant swings in our effective tax rate.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
     Operating Activities. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $64.9 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2008, compared to cash flows provided by operating activities of $15.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2007. The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities during the nine months ended June 28, 2008 was primarily due to higher earnings and increased accounts payable, partially moderated by increases in inventories.

21


Table of Contents

     As of June 28, 2008, quarterly days sales outstanding in accounts receivable were 48 days as compared to the 54 days for fiscal 2007. The amount of our accounts receivable is up in absolute terms as a result of our increased net sales and timing of customer payments.
     Inventory turnover decreased to 5.1 turns for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 as compared to 5.5 turns for fiscal 2007. Inventory increased $66.5 million from September 29, 2007 to June 28, 2008 as a result of increased materials to support continued revenue growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 and an increase in finished goods to enhance flexibility and support inventory models such as Direct Order Fulfillment for various customers.
     Investing Activities. Cash flows provided by investing activities totaled $15.4 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2008 and were primarily from net sales of short-term investments, offset by purchases of property, plant and equipment. See Note 11 in Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our capital expenditures by reportable segment.
     We utilize available cash as the primary means of financing our operating requirements. We currently estimate capital expenditures for fiscal 2008 to be in the range of $55 million to $60 million, of which $37.9 million were made during the first three quarters of fiscal 2008.
     As of June 28, 2008, we held $2 million of auction rate securities, which were classified as long-term other assets. On February 21, 2008, we were unable to liquidate these investments, whose underlying assets were in guaranteed student loans backed by a U.S. government agency. We have the ability and intent to hold these securities until a successful auction occurs and these securities are liquidated at par value. At this time, we believe that the securities will eventually be recovered. However, we may be required to hold these securities until market stability is restored for these instruments or final maturity of the underlying notes to realize our investments recorded value. Accordingly, we have classified these securities as long-term other assets.
     Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities totaled $28.4 million for the nine months ended June 28, 2008, which primarily represented purchases of common stock related to our share repurchase program, offset by proceeds from the issuance of a $150 million term loan.
     During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, under our accelerated stock repurchase (“ASR”) plan, we paid an aggregate of $100 million for the repurchase of shares. On April 24, 2008, we completed our ASR program with a total of 3.8 million shares classified as treasury stock at a volume-weighted average price of $26.51. See Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our share repurchase program.
     In addition to the accelerated repurchase agreements, the Company announced that the remaining $100 million of authorized share repurchases would be repurchased in the open market. Through June 28, 2008, the Company had repurchased 3.0 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $27.03. Subsequently, the Company purchased an additional 0.7 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $28.10. These repurchases complete the $200 million share repurchase program with a total purchase of 7.4 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $26.87.
     On April 4, 2008, we entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended Credit Facility”) with a group of banks which allows us to borrow $150 million in term loans and $100 million in revolving loans. The $150 million in term loans was immediately funded and the $100 million revolving credit facility is currently available. The Amended Credit Facility is unsecured and may be increased by an additional $100 million (the “accordion feature”) if we have not previously terminated all or any portion of the Amended Credit Facility, there is no event of default existing under the credit agreement and both we and the administrative agent consent to the increase. The Amended Credit Facility expires on April 4, 2013. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility may be either through term loans or revolving or swing loans or letter of credit obligations. As of June 28, 2008, we have term loan borrowings of $150 million outstanding and no revolving borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility.
     The Amended Credit Facility amended and restated our prior revolving credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility”) with a group of banks that allowed us to borrow up to $200 million of which $100 million was committed. The Revolving Credit Facility was due to expire on January 12, 2012 and was also unsecured. It also contained other terms and financial conditions, which were substantially similar to those under the Amended Credit Facility.

22


Table of Contents

     The Amended Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio, maximum value of fixed rentals and operating lease obligations, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a minimum net worth test, all as defined in the agreement. As of June 28, 2008, we were in compliance with all debt covenants. Interest on borrowing varies depending upon our then-current total leverage ratio; as of June 28, 2008, the Company could elect to pay interest at a defined base rate or the LIBOR rate plus 1.00%. Rates would increase upon negative changes in specified Company financial metrics and would decrease upon reduction in the current total leverage ratio to no less than LIBOR plus 1.00%. We are also required to pay an annual commitment fee on the unused credit commitment based on its leverage ratio; the current fee is 0.25 percent. Unless the accordion feature is exercised, this fee applies only to the initial $100 million of availability (excluding the $150 million of term borrowings). Origination fees and expenses associated with the Amended Credit Facility totaled approximately $1.3 million and have been deferred. These origination fees and expenses will be amortized over the five-year term of the Amended Credit Facility.
     The Amended Credit Facility allows for the future payment of cash dividends or the future repurchases of shares provided that no event of default (including any failure to comply with a financial covenant) is existing at the time of, or would be caused by, the dividend payment or the share repurchases.
     We believe that our projected cash flows from operations, available cash and short-term investments, the Amended Credit Facility, and our leasing capabilities should be sufficient to meet our working capital and fixed capital requirements through fiscal 2008. Although net sales growth anticipated for the last quarter of fiscal 2008 is expected to increase our working capital needs, we currently do not anticipate having to use our Amended Credit Facility to finance this growth. If our future financing needs increase, we may need to arrange additional debt or equity financing. Accordingly, we evaluate and consider from time to time various financing alternatives to supplement our financial resources. However, we cannot be certain that we will be able to make any such arrangements on acceptable terms.
     We have not paid cash dividends in the past and do not anticipate paying them in the foreseeable future.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS
     Our disclosures regarding contractual obligations and commercial commitments are located in various parts of our regulatory filings. Information in the following table provides a summary of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of June 28, 2008 (dollars in millions):
                                         
    Payments Due by Fiscal Period  
            Remaining                     2013 and  
    Total     in 2008     2009-2010     2011-2012     thereafter  
Long-Term Debt Obligations (1)
  $ 150.0     $ 7.5     $ 30.0     $ 30.0     $ 82.5  
Capital Lease Obligations
    38.5       1.0       8.1       8.5       20.9  
Operating Lease Obligations
    44.5       3.1       16.1       11.0       14.3  
Purchase Obligations (2)
    254.8       208.3       46.5              
Other Long-Term Liabilities on the Balance Sheet (3)
    7.2       0.3       1.4       1.1       4.4  
Other Long-Term Liabilities not on the Balance Sheet (4)
    1.8       0.2       1.6              
 
                             
Total Contractual Cash Obligations
  $ 496.8     $ 220.4     $ 103.7     $ 50.6     $ 122.1  
 
                             
 
(1)   - As of April 4, 2008, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement and immediately funded a term loan for $150 million. See Note 4 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
 
(2)   - As of June 28, 2008, purchase obligations consisted of purchases of inventory and equipment in the ordinary course of business.
 
(3)   - As of June 28, 2008, other long-term obligations on the balance sheet included deferred compensation obligations to certain of our former and current executive officers and other key employees, and an asset retirement obligation related to FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” We have excluded, from the above table, the impact of approximately $5.0 million related to unrecognized income tax benefits as of June 28, 2008, due to the adoption of FASB interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in

23


Table of Contents

    Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.The Company cannot make reliable estimates of the future cash flows by period related to this obligation.
 
(4)   - As of June 28, 2008, other long-term obligations not on the balance sheet consisted of a commitment for salary continuation in the event employment of one executive officer of the Company is terminated without cause. We did not have, and were not subject to, any lines of credit, standby letters of credit, guarantees, standby repurchase obligations, other off-balance sheet arrangements or other commercial commitments that are material.
DISCLOSURE ABOUT CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
     Our accounting policies are disclosed in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. During fiscal 2008 there were no material changes to these policies. Our more critical accounting policies are as follows:
     Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 2001, we review property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of property, plant and equipment is measured by comparing its carrying value to the projected cash flows the property, plant and equipment are expected to generate. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the property exceeds its fair market value. The impairment analysis is based on significant assumptions of future results made by management, including revenue and cash flow projections. Circumstances that may lead to impairment of property, plant and equipment include reduced expectations for future performance or industry demand and possible further restructurings.
     Intangible Assets - Under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” which was effective October 1, 2002, we no longer amortize goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, but instead we test those assets for impairment, at least annually, and recognize any related losses when incurred. We perform goodwill impairment tests annually during the third quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment has occurred.
     We measure the recoverability of goodwill under the annual impairment test by comparing a reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the reporting unit’s estimated fair market value, which is primarily estimated using the present value of expected future cash flows, although market valuations may also be employed. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second test is performed to measure the amount of impairment. Circumstances that may lead to impairment of goodwill include, but are not limited to, the loss of a significant customer or customers and unforeseen reductions in customer demand, future operating performance or industry demand.
     Revenue - Net sales from manufacturing services are recognized when the product has been shipped, the risk of ownership has transferred to the customer, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable, and recoverability is reasonably assured. This point depends on contractual terms and generally occurs upon shipment of the goods from Plexus. Generally, there are no formal customer acceptance requirements or further obligations related to manufacturing services; if such requirements or obligations exist, then a sale is recognized at the time when such requirements are completed and such obligations fulfilled.
     Net sales from engineering design and development services, which are generally performed under contracts of twelve months or less duration, are recognized as costs are incurred utilizing a percentage-of-completion method; any losses are recognized when anticipated.
     Sales are recorded net of estimated returns of manufactured product based on management’s analysis of historical rates of returns, current economic trends and changes in customer demand. Net sales also include amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling, if applicable. The corresponding shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.
     Derivatives and Hedging Activities — All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at their estimated fair value. On the date a derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates the derivative as a hedge of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value” hedge), a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash

24


Table of Contents

flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow” hedge), or a hedge of the net investment in a foreign operation. The Company does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that qualify as a fair value hedge are recorded in earnings along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. Changes in the fair value of a derivative used to hedge the net investment in a foreign operation are recorded in the “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” accounts within shareholders’ equity.
     In June 2008, the Company entered into three interest rate swap contracts related to the $150 million in term loans under the Amended Credit Facility that have a total notional value of $150 million and mature on April 4, 2013. These interest rate swap contracts will pay the Company variable interest at the three month LIBOR rate, and the Company will pay the counterparties a fixed interest rate. The fixed interest rates for each of these contracts are 4.415%, 4.490% and 4.435%, respectively. These interest rate swap contracts were entered into to convert $150 million of the variable rate term loan under the Amended Credit Facility into fixed rate debt. Based on the terms of the interest rate swap contracts and the underlying debt, these interest rate contracts were determined to be effective, and thus qualify as a cash flow hedge. As such, any changes in the fair value of these interest rate swaps are recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows. Any gain or loss on the derivatives will be recorded in the income statement in interest expense. The total fair value of these interest rate swap contracts is $2.0 million at June 28, 2008, and the Company has recorded this in “Other” current liabilities and “Other liabilities” in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
     Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are provided for differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting purposes. We record a valuation allowance against deferred income tax assets when management believes it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent on our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     See Note 15 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding new accounting pronouncements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign exchange and interest rates. We selectively use financial instruments to reduce such risks.
Foreign Currency Risk
     We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Our policy is to selectively hedge our foreign currency denominated transactions in a manner that substantially offsets the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Historically, we have used foreign currency contracts to hedge only those currency exposures associated with certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. Corresponding gains and losses on the underlying transactions generally offset the gains and losses on these foreign currency hedges. Our international operations create potential foreign exchange risk. As of June 28, 2008, we had no foreign currency contracts outstanding.
     Our percentage of transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar for the indicated periods were as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    June 28,   June 30,   June 28,   June 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
Net sales
    4 %     4 %     4 %     5 %
Total costs
    11 %     11 %     11 %     11 %

25


Table of Contents

Interest Rate Risk
     We have financial instruments, including cash equivalents and short-term investments, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. We consider the use of interest-rate swaps based on existing market conditions and have entered into interest rate swaps for $150 million in term loans as described in Note 5 in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
     The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal, while maximizing yields without significantly increasing market risk. To achieve this, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents and short-term investments in a variety of highly rated securities, money market funds and certificates of deposit and limit the amount of principal exposure to any one issuer.
     Our only material interest rate risk is associated with our Amended Credit Facility under which we borrowed $150 million on April 4, 2008. Through the use of interest rate swaps, as described above, we have fixed the basis over which we pay interest, thus eliminating much of our interest rate risk.
Auction Rate Securities
     As of June 28, 2008, we held $2 million of auction rate securities, which were classified as long-term other assets. On February 21, 2008, we were unable to liquidate these investments, whose underlying assets were in guaranteed student loans backed by a U.S. government agency. We have the ability and intent to hold these securities until a successful auction occurs and these securities are liquidated at par value. At this time, we believe that the securities will eventually be recovered. However, we may be required to hold these securities until market stability is restored for these instruments or final maturity of the underlying notes to realize our investments recorded value. Accordingly, we have classified these securities as long-term other assets.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
     Disclosure Controls and Procedures: The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that the information the Company must disclose in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis. The Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have reviewed and evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective (a) in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, and (b) are accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting: During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, there have been no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
     Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls: Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

26


Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     Two securities class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on June 25 and June 29, 2007, against the Company and certain Company officers and/or directors. On November 7, 2007, the two actions were consolidated, and a consolidated class action complaint was filed on February 1, 2008. The consolidated complaint names the Company and the following individuals as defendents: Dean A. Foate, President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company; F. Gordon Bitter, the Company’s former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Paul Ehlers, the Company’s former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. The consolidated complaint alleges securities law violations and seeks unspecified damages relating generally to the Company’s statements regarding its defense sector business in early calendar 2006. On April 15, 2008, the Company and the individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated class action complaint. The plaintiff is opposing the dismissal. The briefing on the defendants’ motion has only recently been completed; the Court has not yet held a hearing or ruled on the motion.
     The Company believes the allegations in the consolidated complaint are wholly without merit and it intends to vigorously defend against them. Since these matters are in the preliminary stages, the Company is unable to predict the scope or outcome or quantify their eventual impact, if any, on the Company. At this time, the Company is also unable to estimate associated expenses or possible losses. The Company maintains insurance that may reduce its financial exposure for defense costs and liability for an unfavorable outcome, should it not prevail.
     The Company is party to certain other lawsuits in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that these proceedings or the securities class actions referenced above, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our net sales and operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.
     Our quarterly and annual results may vary significantly depending on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:
    the volume and timing of customer orders relative to our capacity
 
    the typical short life-cycle of our customers’ products
 
    customers’ operating results and business conditions
 
    changes in our customer sales mix
 
    failures of our customers to pay amounts due to us
 
    volatility of customer orders for certain programs for the Defense sector
 
    possible non-compliance with the statutes and regulations covering the design, development, testing, manufacturing and labeling of medical devices
 
    the timing of our expenditures in anticipation of future orders
 
    our effectiveness in planning production and managing inventory, fixed assets and manufacturing processes
 
    changes in cost and availability of labor and components and
 
    changes in U.S. and global economic and political conditions and world events.
The majority of our net sales come from a relatively small number of customers and a limited number of market sectors; if we lose any of these customers or there are problems in those market sectors, our net sales and operating results could decline significantly.
     Net sales to our ten largest customers have represented a majority of our net sales in recent periods. Our ten largest customers accounted for approximately 62 percent of our net sales for both the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008 and 64 percent and 60 percent of our net sales for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. For the three and nine months ended June 28, 2008, there was one customer that represented 10

27


Table of Contents

percent or more of our net sales. Our principal customers may vary from period to period, and our principal customers may not continue to purchase services from us at current levels, or at all. Significant reductions in net sales to any of these customers, or the loss of other major customers, could seriously harm our business.
     In addition, we focus our net sales to customers in only a few market sectors. For example, net sales to customers in the wireline/networking sector recently have increased significantly in absolute dollars, making us more dependent upon the performance of that sector and the economic and business conditions that affect it. In addition, net sales in the defense/security/aerospace sector have become increasingly important in some periods; however, net sales in this sector are particularly susceptible to significant period-to-period variations. Any weakness in the market sectors in which our customers are concentrated could affect our business and results of operations.
Our customers do not make long-term commitments and may cancel or change their production requirements.
     EMS companies must respond quickly to the requirements of their customers. We generally do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers. Customers also cancel requirements, change production quantities or delay production for a number of reasons that are beyond our control. The success of our customers’ products in the market and the strength of the markets themselves affect our business. Cancellations, reductions or delays by a significant customer, or by a group of customers, could seriously harm our operating results. Such cancellations, reductions or delays have occurred and may continue to occur.
     In addition, we make significant decisions based on our estimates of customers’ requirements, including determining the levels of business that we will seek and accept, production schedules, component procurement commitments, facility requirements, personnel needs and other resource requirements. The short-term nature of our customers’ commitments and the possibility of rapid changes in demand for their products reduce our ability to accurately estimate the future requirements of those customers. Since many of our operating expenses are fixed, a reduction in customer demand can harm our operating results. Moreover, since our margins vary across customers and specific programs, a reduction in demand with higher margin customers or programs will have a more significant adverse effect on our operating results.
     Rapid increases in customer requirements may stress personnel and other capacity resources. We may not have sufficient resources at any given time to meet all of our customers’ demands or to meet the requirements of a specific program.
Our manufacturing services involve inventory risk.
     Most of our contract manufacturing services are provided on a turnkey basis, under which we purchase some, or all, of the required raw materials. Excess or obsolete inventory could adversely affect our operating results.
     In our turnkey operations, we order raw materials based on customer forecasts and/or orders. Suppliers may require us to purchase raw materials in minimum order quantities that may exceed customer requirements. A customer’s cancellation, delay or reduction of forecasts or orders can also result in excess inventory or additional expense to us. Engineering changes by a customer may result in obsolete raw material. While we attempt to cancel, return or otherwise mitigate excess and obsolete raw materials and require customers to reimburse us for excess and obsolete inventory, we may not actually be reimbursed timely or be able to collect on these obligations.
     In addition, we provide managed inventory programs for some of our key customers under which we hold and manage finished goods or work-in-process inventories. These managed inventory programs may result in higher inventory levels, further reduce our inventory turns and increase our financial exposure with such customers. Even though our customers generally have contractual obligations to purchase such inventories from us, we remain subject to the risk of enforcing those obligations.
We may experience raw material shortages and price fluctuations.
     We do not have any long-term supply agreements. At various times, we have experienced component shortages due to supplier capacity constraints or their failure to deliver. At times, component shortages have been prevalent due to industry-wide conditions, and such shortages can be expected to recur from time to time. World events, such as foreign government policies, terrorism, armed conflict and epidemics, could also affect supply chains. We rely on a limited number of suppliers for many of the components used in the assembly process and, in some cases, may be required to use suppliers that are the sole provider. Such suppliers may encounter quality problems or financial

28


Table of Contents

difficulties which could preclude them from delivering components timely or at all. Supply shortages and delays in deliveries of components have resulted in delayed production of assemblies, which have increased our inventory levels and adversely affected our operating results. An inability to obtain sufficient components on a timely basis could also harm relationships with our customers.
     Component supply shortages and delays in deliveries have also resulted in increased component pricing. While many of our customers permit quarterly or other periodic adjustments to pricing based on changes in component prices and other factors, we typically bear the risk of component price increases that occur between any such repricings or, if such repricing is not permitted, during the balance of the term of the particular customer contract. Conversely, component price reductions have contributed positively to our operating results in the past. Our inability to continue to benefit from such reductions in the future could adversely affect our operating results.
Failure to manage periods of growth or contraction, if any, may seriously harm our business.
     Our industry frequently sees periods of expansion and contraction to adjust to customers’ needs and market demands. Plexus regularly contends with these issues and must carefully manage its business to meet customer and market requirements. If we fail to manage these growth and contraction decisions effectively, we can find ourselves with either excess or insufficient resources and our business and profitability may suffer.
     Expansion can inherently include additional costs and start-up inefficiencies. We are currently contemplating possible expansion of our operations to other countries. In fiscal 2007, we expanded our operations in Asia, including the addition of a third facility in Penang, Malaysia, as well as the doubling of capacity in our existing facility in Xiamen, China. If we are unable to effectively manage the currently anticipated growth, or the anticipated net sales are not realized, our operating results could be adversely affected. In addition, we may expand our operations in new geographical areas where currently we do not operate. Other risks of current or future expansion include:
    the inability to successfully integrate additional facilities or incremental capacity and to realize anticipated synergies, economies of scale or other value
 
    additional fixed costs which may not be fully absorbed by new business
 
    difficulties in the timing of expansions, including delays in the implementation of construction and manufacturing plans
 
    diversion of management’s attention from other business areas during the planning and
 
      implementation of expansions
 
    strain placed on our operational, financial, management, systems and other resources and
 
    inability to locate sufficient customers, employees or management talent to support the expansion.
     Periods of contraction or reduced net sales create other challenges. We must determine whether facilities remain viable, whether staffing levels need to be reduced, and how to respond to changing levels of customer demand. While maintaining multiple facilities or higher levels of employment entail short-term costs, reductions in facilities and/or employment could impair our ability to respond to market improvements or to maintain customer relationships. Our decisions to reduce costs and capacity can affect our short-term and long-term results. When we make decisions to reduce capacity or to close facilities, we frequently incur restructuring charges.
     In addition, to meet our customers’ needs, or to achieve increased efficiencies, we sometimes require additional capacity in one location while reducing capacity in another. Since customers’ needs and market conditions can vary and change rapidly, we may find ourselves in a situation where we simultaneously experience the effects of contraction in one location and expansion in another location, such as those noted above. Even in the current periods in which we have seen an increase in sales, we are evaluating the value proposition and long-term viability of each of our United States manufacturing locations, which also may result in downsizing decisions relating to discreet locations.
Operating in foreign countries exposes us to increased risks, including foreign currency risks.
     We have operations in China, Malaysia, Mexico and the United Kingdom, which in the aggregate represented approximately 42 percent of our revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2008, and we are considering expanding to additional countries. We also purchase a significant number of components manufactured in foreign countries. These international aspects of our operations subject us to the following risks that could materially impact our operating results:

29


Table of Contents

    economic or political instability
 
    transportation delays or interruptions
 
    foreign exchange rate fluctuations
 
    difficulties in staffing and managing foreign personnel in diverse cultures
 
    the effects of international political developments and
 
    foreign regulatory requirements.
     We do not generally “hedge” foreign currencies. As our foreign operations expand, our failure to adequately hedge foreign currency transactions and/or the currency exposures associated with assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies could adversely affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
     In addition, changes in policies by the U.S. or foreign governments could negatively affect our operating results due to changes in duties, tariffs, taxes or limitations on currency or fund transfers. For example, our facility in Mexico operates under the Mexican Maquiladora program, which provides for reduced tariffs and eased import regulations; we could be adversely affected by changes in that program. Also, the Malaysian and Chinese subsidiaries currently receive favorable tax treatments from these governments which extend for approximately 12 years and 5 years, respectively, which may not be extended. Finally, China and Mexico have passed new tax laws which took effect on January 1, 2008. These new laws do not materially impact our tax rates in fiscal 2008, but may result in higher tax rates on our operations in those countries in future periods.
We and our customers are subject to extensive government regulations.
     Government regulation and procurement practices significantly affect both our operations and the market sectors in which our customers operate. These requirements can, in turn, affect our operations and costs. Failure by us or our customers to comply with these regulations and practices could seriously affect our operations and profitability.
     Extensive government regulation affects our operations.
     We are subject to extensive regulation as to how we conduct our business. These regulations affect every aspect of our business, including our labor, employment, workplace safety, environmental and import/export practices, as well as many other facets of our operations. At the corporate level, we are subject to increasingly stringent regulation and requirements as a publicly-held company; recent accounting and corporate governance practices and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have led to more stringent securities regulation and disclosure requirements.
     We are also subject to environmental regulations relating to air emission standards and the use, storage, discharge, recycling and disposal of hazardous chemicals used in our manufacturing processes. If we fail to comply with present and future regulations, we could be subject to future liabilities or the suspension of business. These regulations could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or require us to acquire costly equipment or incur significant expense. While we are not currently aware of any material violations, we may have to spend funds to comply with present and future regulations or be required to perform site remediation.
     The Company has been notified that it is a potential candidate for audit by U.S. Customs. The timing and scope of this audit is uncertain. In preparation for a potential audit, the Company has been reassessing internal policies, procedures and controls respecting import law compliance. The Company has uncovered some deficiencies during this assessment but does not yet know whether such deficiencies affected duties owed by the Company and, if so, whether they will have a material adverse effect on the Company or its results of operations.
Government regulations also affect our customers and their industries, which could affect our net sales.
     In addition, our customers are also required to comply with various government regulations and legal requirements. Their failure to comply could affect their businesses, which in turn would affect our sales to them. The processes we engage in for these customers must comply with the relevant regulations. In addition, if our customers are required by regulation or other legal requirements to make changes in their product lines, these changes could significantly disrupt particular projects for these customers and create inefficiencies in our business.
     Some of the sectors in which our customers operate are subject to particularly stringent government regulation or are particularly affected by government practices. In those sectors, both our customers and ourselves need to assure

30


Table of Contents

compliance with those regulations, and failure to do so could affect both our business and profitability as more specifically discussed below.
     Medical — Our net sales to the medical sector, which represented approximately 22 percent of our net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2008, is subject to substantial government regulation, primarily from the federal Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and similar regulatory bodies in other countries. We must comply with statutes and regulations covering the design, development, testing, manufacturing and labeling of medical devices and the reporting of certain information regarding their safety. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in, among other things, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, criminal prosecution, recall or seizure of devices, or total or partial suspension of production. The FDA also has the authority to require repair or replacement of equipment, or refund of the cost of a device manufactured or distributed by our customers. Violations may lead to penalties or shutdowns of a program or a facility. Failure or noncompliance could have an adverse effect on our reputation as well as our results of operations.
     Defense - In recent periods, our net sales to the defense/security/aerospace sector have significantly increased. Companies that design and manufacture for this sector face governmental, security and other requirements. Failure to comply with those requirements could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, defense contracting can be subject to extensive procurement processes and other factors that can affect the timing and duration of contracts and orders. For example, defense orders are subject to continued Congressional appropriations for these programs, as well as continued determinations by the Department of Defense to continue them. Products for the military are also subject to continued testing of their operations in the field and changing military operational needs, which could affect the possibility and timing of future orders.
     While those arrangements may result in a significant amount of net sales in a short period of time as happened in the first half of fiscal 2008, they may or may not result in continuing long-term relationships. Even in the case of continuing long-term relationships, orders in the defense sector can be episodic and vary significantly from period to period.
     Wireline/Wireless — The end-markets for most of our customers in the wireline/networking and wireless infrastructure sectors are subject to regulation by the Federal Communications Commission, as well as by various state and foreign government agencies. The policies of these agencies can directly affect both the near-term and long-term demand and profitability of the sector and therefore directly impact the demand for products that we manufacture.
If we are unable to maintain our engineering, technological and manufacturing process expertise, our results may be adversely affected.
     The markets for our manufacturing and engineering services are characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving process developments. Our manufacturing and design processes are also subject to these factors. The continued success of our business will depend upon our continued ability to:
    retain our qualified engineering and technical personnel
 
    maintain and enhance our technological capabilities
 
    successfully manage the implementation and execution of information systems
 
    develop and market manufacturing services which meet changing customer needs and
 
    successfully anticipate, or respond to, technological changes on a cost-effective and timely basis.
     Although we believe that our operations utilize the assembly and testing technologies, equipment and processes that are currently required by our customers, we cannot be certain that we will develop the capabilities required by our customers in the future. The emergence of new technology, industry standards or customer requirements may render our equipment, inventory or processes obsolete or noncompetitive. In addition, we may have to acquire new design, assembly and testing technologies and equipment to remain competitive. The acquisition and implementation of new technologies and equipment may require significant expense or capital investment that could reduce our liquidity and negatively affect our operating results. Our failure to anticipate and adapt to our customers’ changing technological needs and requirements could have an adverse effect on our business.
     We are nearing completion of a multi-year project to install a common ERP platform and associated information systems at most of our locations. As of June 28, 2008, all manufacturing facilities are currently managed on the common ERP platform. The conversion timetable for the remaining Plexus entities and project scope are subject to

31


Table of Contents

change based upon our evolving needs. Any delay in the implementation or execution of the common ERP platform, as well as other information systems, could result in adverse consequences, including disruption of operations, loss of information and unanticipated increases in expense.
Start-up costs and inefficiencies related to new or transferred programs can adversely affect our operating results.
     The management of labor and production capacity in connection with the establishment of new programs and new customer relationships, and the need to estimate required resources in advance of production can adversely affect our gross and operating margins. These factors are particularly evident in the early stages of the life-cycle of new products and new programs or program transfers. We are managing a number of new programs at any given time. Consequently, we are exposed to these factors. In addition, if any of these new programs or new customer relationships were terminated, our operating results could worsen, particularly in the short term.
     The effects of these start-up costs and inefficiencies can also occur when we transfer programs between locations. Although we try to minimize the potential losses arising from transitioning customer programs between Plexus facilities, there are inherent risks that such transitions can result in operational inefficiencies and the disruption of programs and customer relationships.
There may be problems with the products we design or manufacture that could result in liability claims against us and reduced demand for our services.
     The products which we design or manufacture may be subject to liability claims in the event that defects are discovered or alleged. We design and manufacture products to our customers’ specifications, many of which are highly complex. Despite our quality control and quality assurance efforts, problems may occur, or be alleged to have occurred, in the design and/or manufacturing of these products. Problems in the products we manufacture, whether real or alleged, whether caused by faulty customer specifications or in the design or manufacturing processes or by a component defect, and whether or not we are responsible, may result in delayed shipments to customers and/or reduced or cancelled customer orders. If these problems were to occur in large quantities or too frequently, our business reputation may also be tarnished. In addition, problems may result in liability claims against us, whether or not we are responsible. Even if customers or third parties such as component suppliers are responsible for defects, they may not, or may not be able to, assume responsibility for any such costs or required payments to us. We occasionally incur costs defending claims, and disputes could affect our business relationships.
Intellectual property infringement claims against our customers or us could harm our business.
     Our design and manufacturing services and the products offered by our customers involve the creation and use of intellectual property rights, which subject us and our customers to the risk of claims of intellectual property infringement from third parties. In addition, our customers may require that we indemnify them against the risk of intellectual property infringement. If any claims are brought against us or our customers for infringement, whether or not these have merit, we could be required to expend significant resources in defense of those claims. In the event of an infringement claim, we may be required to spend a significant amount of money to develop non-infringing alternatives or obtain licenses. We may not be successful in developing alternatives or obtaining licenses on reasonable terms or at all. Infringement by our customers could cause them to discontinue production of some of their products, potentially with little or no notice, which may reduce our net sales to them and disrupt our production.
     Additionally, if third parties, such as component manufacturers, are responsible for the infringement, they may or may not have the resources to assume responsibility for any related costs or required payments to us, and we may incur costs defending claims. While third parties may be required to indemnify us against claims of intellectual property infringement, if those third parties are unwilling or unable to indemnify us, we may be exposed to additional costs.
We are defendants in a securities class action lawsuit.
     Two securities class action lawsuits were filed against us and several of our current or former officers and/or directors during June 2007. The two actions were consolidated, and a consolidated class action complaint was filed on February 1, 2008. Although the Company and the individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the consolidated class action complaint, the plaintiff has asked the court to deny our motion and the court has not yet

32


Table of Contents

held a hearing or ruled on it. The consolidated complaint alleges securities law violations and seeks unspecified damages relating generally to the Company’s statements regarding its defense sector business in early calendar 2006. We could be subject to additional or related lawsuits or other inquiries in connection with this matter. The defense of this lawsuit, and any future lawsuits, could result in the diversion of management’s time and attention away from business operations and negative developments with respect to the lawsuits and the costs incurred defending ourselves could have an adverse impact on our business and our stock price. Adverse outcomes or settlements could also require us to pay damages or incur liability for other remedies that could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Our products are for the electronics industry, which produces technologically advanced products with relatively short life-cycles.
     Factors affecting the electronics industry, in particular short product life-cycles, could seriously affect our customers and, as a result, ourselves. These factors include:
    the inability of our customers to adapt to rapidly changing technology and evolving industry standards that result in short product life-cycles
 
    the inability of our customers to develop and market their products, some of which are new and untested and
 
    the potential that our customers’ products may become obsolete or the failure of our customers’ products to gain widespread commercial acceptance.
     Even if our customers successfully respond to these market challenges, their responses, including any consequential changes we must make in our business relationships with them and our production for them, can affect our production cycles, inventory management and results of operations.
Increased competition may result in reduced demand or reduced prices for our services.
     The EMS industry is highly competitive and has become more so as a result of excess capacity in the industry. We compete against numerous U.S. and foreign EMS providers with global operations, as well as those which operate on only a local or regional basis. In addition, current and prospective customers continually evaluate the merits of manufacturing products internally and may choose to manufacture products themselves rather than outsource that process. Consolidations and other changes in the EMS industry result in a changing competitive landscape. The consolidation trend in the industry also results in larger and more geographically diverse competitors that may have significantly greater resources with which to compete against us.
     Some of our competitors have substantially greater managerial, manufacturing, engineering, technical, financial, systems, sales and marketing resources than ourselves. These competitors may:
    respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies
 
    have greater name recognition, critical mass and geographic and market presence
 
    be better able to take advantage of acquisition opportunities
 
    adapt more quickly to changes in customer requirements
 
    devote greater resources to the development, promotion and sale of their services and
 
    be better positioned to compete on price for their services.
     We may operate at a cost disadvantage compared to other EMS providers which have lower internal cost structures or have greater direct buying power with component suppliers, distributors and raw material suppliers. Our manufacturing processes are generally not subject to significant proprietary protection, and companies with greater resources or a greater market presence may enter our market or become increasingly competitive. Increased competition could result in price reductions, reduced sales and margins or loss of market share.
We depend on certain key personnel, and the loss of key personnel may harm our business.
     Our success depends in large part on the continued services of our key technical and management personnel, and on our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, particularly highly skilled design, process and test engineers involved in the development of new products and processes and the manufacture of existing products. The competition for these individuals is significant, and the loss of key employees could harm our business.

33


Table of Contents

     During fiscal 2007, our Chief Operating Officer passed away after an extended illness. Also in fiscal 2007, our Chief Financial Officer retired, consistent with a previously established succession plan for this position, and we designated several new executive officers. In fiscal 2008, our Chief Technology and Strategy Officer retired. From time to time, there also are other changes and developments affecting our executive officers and other key employees. Transitions of responsibilities among officers and key employees inherently can cause disruptions to our business and operations, which could have an effect on our results.
Energy price increases may reduce our profits.
     We use some components made with petroleum-based materials. In addition, we use various energy sources transporting, producing and distributing products. Energy prices have recently been subject to increases and volatility caused by market fluctuations, supply and demand, currency fluctuation, production and transportation disruption, world events, and changes in governmental programs.
     Energy price increases raise both our material and operating costs. We may not be able to increase our prices enough to offset these increased costs. Increasing our prices also may reduce our level of future customer orders and profitability.
We may fail to successfully complete future acquisitions and may not successfully integrate acquired businesses, which could adversely affect our operating results.
     We have previously grown, in part, through acquisitions. If we were to pursue future growth through acquisitions, this would involve significant risks that could have a material adverse effect on us. These risks include:
          Operating risks, such as:
    the inability to integrate successfully our acquired operations’ businesses and personnel
 
    the inability to realize anticipated synergies, economies of scale or other value
 
    the difficulties in scaling up production and coordinating management of operations at new sites
 
    the strain placed on our personnel, systems and resources
 
    the possible modification or termination of an acquired business’ customer programs, including the loss of customers and the cancellation of current or anticipated programs and
 
    the loss of key employees of acquired businesses.
          Financial risks, such as:
    the use of cash resources, or incurrence of additional debt and related interest expense
 
    the dilutive effect of the issuance of additional equity securities
 
    the inability to achieve expected operating margins to offset the increased fixed costs associated with acquisitions, and/or inability to increase margins of acquired businesses to our desired levels
 
    the incurrence of large write-offs or write-downs
 
    the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets and
 
    the unforeseen liabilities of the acquired businesses.
We may fail to secure or maintain necessary financing.
     Under our Amended Credit Facility, we have borrowed $150 million in term loans and can borrow up to $200 million in revolving loans of which $100 million is currently available, depending upon compliance with our defined covenants and conditions. However, we cannot be certain that the credit facility will provide all of the financing capacity that we will need in the future or that we will be able to change the credit facility or revise covenants, if necessary or appropriate in the future, to accommodate changes or developments in our business and operations.
     Our future success may depend on our ability to obtain additional financing and capital to support possible future growth and future initiatives. We may seek to raise capital by issuing additional common stock, other equity securities or debt securities, modifying our existing credit facilities or obtaining new credit facilities or a combination of these methods.

34


Table of Contents

     We may not be able to obtain capital when we want or need it, and capital may not be available on satisfactory terms. If we issue additional equity securities or convertible securities to raise capital, it may be dilutive to shareholders’ ownership interests. Furthermore, any additional financing may have terms and conditions that adversely affect our business, such as restrictive financial or operating covenants, and our ability to meet any financing covenants will largely depend on our financial performance, which in turn will be subject to general economic conditions and financial, business and other factors.
Our investments in auction rate securities are subject to risks which may cause losses and affect the liquidity of these investments.
     As of June 28, 2008, we held $2.0 million of auction rate securities, which were classified as long-term investments and whose underlying assets were in guaranteed student loans backed by a U. S. government agency. Auction rate securities are adjustable rate debt instruments whose interest rates are reset every 7 to 35 days through an auction process, with underlying securities that have original contractual maturities greater than 10 years. Auctions for this investment failed during the second and third quarters of fiscal 2008 and there is no assurance that auctions on these securities will succeed.
     An auction failure means that the parties wishing to sell their securities could not do so. As a result, our ability to liquidate and fully recover the carrying value of our adjustable rate securities in the near term may be limited or not exist. These developments have resulted in the classification of these securities as long-term investments in our condensed consolidated financial statements. If the issuers of these adjustable rate securities are unable to successfully close future auctions or their credit quality deteriorates, we may in the future be required to record an impairment charge on these investments. We may be required to wait until market stability is restored for these instruments or until the final maturity of the underlying notes to realize our investments’ recorded value.
If we are unable to maintain effective internal control over our financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could result in a reduction in the value of our common stock.
     As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the SEC adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on the company’s internal control over financial reporting in their annual reports on Form 10-K; that report must contain an assessment by management of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, the independent registered public accounting firm auditing a company’s financial statements must attest to and report on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
     We are continuing our comprehensive efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. If we are unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, this could lead to a failure to meet our reporting obligations to the SEC, which in turn could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
The price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile.
     Our stock price has fluctuated significantly in recent periods. The price of our common stock may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors relating to us, our competitors and the market for our services, many of which are beyond our control.
     In addition, the stock market in general, and share prices for technology companies in particular, have from time to time experienced extreme volatility, including weakness, that sometimes has been unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating results. Our stock price and the stock price of many other technology companies remain below their peaks.
     Among other things, volatility and weakness in our stock price could mean that investors may not be able to sell their shares at or above the prices that they paid. Volatility and weakness could also impair our ability in the future to offer common stock or convertible securities as a source of additional capital and/or as consideration in the acquisition of other businesses.

35


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
     The following table provides the specified information about the repurchases of shares by the Company during the three months ended June 28, 2008.
                                 
                            Maximum
                    Total number   approximate dollar
                    of shares purchased   value of shares that
    Total number   Average   as part of publicly   may yet be
    of shares   price paid   announced plans or   purchased under the
Period   purchased   per share   programs   plans or programs*
March 30 to April 26, 2008
    84,413     $ 26.58       84,413     $ 121,109,000  
 
April 27 to May 24, 2008
    2,489,398       26.10       2,489,398     $ 56,142,000  
 
May 25 to June 28, 2008
    1,299,568       28.51       1,299,568     $ 19,085,000  
             
 
Total
    3,873,379     $ 26.92       3,873,379          
             
 
*   On February 25, 2008, Plexus adopted a common stock buyback program that permitted it to acquire shares of its common stock for an amount up to $200 million. The authorized stock repurchase program consisted of a $100 million accelerated repurchase program and an additional $100 million of open market purchases. See Note 7 in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our stock repurchase program.
     Pursuant to the terms of the accelerated repurchase program, a total of $100 million was paid to Morgan Stanley on February 26, 2008 to fund the accelerated repurchases to be made by it. The accelerated repurchases were completed in April 2008, with a total repurchase of 3.8 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $26.51.
     In addition to the accelerated repurchase agreements, the Company announced that the remaining $100 million of authorized share repurchases would be repurchased in the open market. Through June 28, 2008, the Company had repurchased 3.0 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $27.03. Subsequently, the Company purchased an additional 0.7 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $28.10. These repurchases complete the $200 million share repurchase program with a total purchase of 7.4 million shares at a volume-weighted average price of $26.87.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
     
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.1
  Certification of the CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.2
  Certification of the CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

36


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant had duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
8/1/08
  /s/ Dean A. Foate    
 
Date
 
 
Dean A. Foate
   
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer    
 
       
8/1/08
  /s/ Ginger M. Jones    
 
       
Date
  Ginger M. Jones    
 
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

37