q2fy1110q.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
    (Mark One)

  x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarter ended September 30, 2010
   
 
or
   
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the Transition Period from          to

Commission File Number: 0-29174

LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Logitech Logo

Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
None
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Logitech International S.A.
Apples, Switzerland
c/o Logitech Inc.
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, California 94555
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
(510) 795-8500
(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  x    No  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    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.
Large accelerated filer  x
Accelerated filer  o
Non-accelerated filer    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  o
Smaller reporting company  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes  o    No  x
 
As of November 2, 2010, there were 175,875,123 shares of the Registrant’s share capital outstanding.

 
 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page
Part I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
3
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
  26
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
  40
 
 
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
  41
     
Part II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
  42
 
 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
   42
     
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
     
Item 6.
Exhibit Index
 
   
Signatures
 
   
Exhibits
 
 
In this document, unless otherwise indicated, references to the “Company” or “Logitech” are to Logitech International S.A., its consolidated subsidiaries and predecessor entities. Unless otherwise specified, all references to U.S. dollar, dollar or $ are to the United States dollar, the legal currency of the United States of America. All references to CHF are to the Swiss franc, the legal currency of Switzerland.
 
Logitech, the Logitech logo, and the Logitech products referred to herein are either the trademarks or the registered trademarks of Logitech. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 

 
2

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.   CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 
Financial Statement Description
Page
     
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
4
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010
5
     
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
6
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
7
     
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8
 
 
 




 
3

 


LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
         
(Unaudited)
       
                         
Net sales
  $ 581,884     $ 498,093     $ 1,061,214     $ 824,203  
Cost of goods sold
    364,950       346,305       675,251       594,593  
Gross profit
    216,934       151,788       385,963       229,610  
Operating expenses:
                               
Marketing and selling
    97,412       68,835       188,889       127,773  
Research and development
    40,927       31,825       79,316       63,185  
General and administrative
    27,420       23,739       54,780       44,920  
Restructuring charges
    -       45       -       1,494  
         Total operating expenses
    165,759       124,444       322,985       237,372  
Operating income (loss)
    51,175       27,344       62,978       (7,762 )
Interest income, net
    635       639       1,156       1,231  
Other income (expense), net
    (1,794 )     (1,438 )     2       (636 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
    50,016       26,545       64,136       (7,167 )
Provision for income taxes
    8,856       5,802       3,454       9,455  
Net income (loss)
  $ 41,160     $ 20,743     $ 60,682     $ (16,622 )
                                 
Net income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.23     $ 0.12     $ 0.34     $ (0.09 )
Diluted
  $ 0.23     $ 0.11     $ 0.34     $ (0.09 )
                                 
Shares used to compute net income (loss) per share:
                         
Basic
    176,359       178,395       175,921       179,058  
Diluted
    177,958       180,989       177,588       179,058  


















The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
4

 

LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 307,679     $ 319,944  
Accounts receivable
    304,998       195,247  
Inventories
    343,021       219,593  
Other current assets
    63,482       58,877  
Total current assets
    1,019,180       793,661  
Property, plant and equipment
    91,122       91,229  
Goodwill
    553,794       553,462  
Other intangible assets
    88,389       95,396  
Other assets
    66,877       65,930  
Total assets
  $ 1,819,362     $ 1,599,678  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 370,033     $ 257,955  
Accrued liabilities
    198,727       182,336  
Total current liabilities
    568,760       440,291  
Other liabilities
    160,521       159,672  
Total liabilities
    729,281       599,963  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
Shares, par value CHF 0.25 - 191,606 issued and authorized
               
and 50,000 conditionally authorized at September 30, 2010 and
               
March 31, 2010
    33,370       33,370  
Additional paid-in capital
    3,548       14,880  
Less shares in treasury at cost, 14,799 shares at September 30, 2010
               
and 16,435 shares at March 31, 2010
    (338,078 )     (382,512 )
Retained earnings
    1,467,300       1,406,618  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (76,059 )     (72,641 )
Total shareholders' equity
    1,090,081       999,715  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 1,819,362     $ 1,599,678  





The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


 
5

 



LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)


   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 60,682     $ (16,622 )
Non-cash items included in net income (loss):
               
Depreciation
    23,343       26,057  
Amortization of other intangible assets
    14,027       4,603  
Share-based compensation expense
    16,720       11,166  
Gain on disposal of fixed assets
    (838 )     -  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    (676 )     (1,346 )
Loss (gain) on cash surrender value of life insurance policies
    169       (402 )
Deferred income taxes and other
    1,804       (274 )
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    (99,615 )     (39,896 )
Inventories
    (129,497 )     (1,011 )
Other assets
    (5,511 )     (8,585 )
Accounts payable
    110,775       130,803  
Accrued liabilities
    13,316       28,407  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    4,699       132,900  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (25,419 )     (18,144 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (7,300 )     (200 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    2,688       -  
Proceeds from cash surrender of life insurance policies
    -       813  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (30,031 )     (17,531 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Purchases of treasury shares
    -       (101,267 )
Proceeds from sale of shares upon exercise of options and purchase rights
    16,538       12,972  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    676       1,346  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    17,214       (86,949 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (4,147 )     3,665  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (12,265 )     32,085  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    319,944       492,759  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 307,679     $ 524,844  







The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
6

 

 


LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)


                                       
Accumulated
       
               
Additional
                     
other
       
   
Registered shares
   
paid-in
   
Treasury shares
   
Retained
   
comprehensive
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
earnings
   
loss
   
Total
 
March 31, 2009
    191,606     $ 33,370     $ 45,012       12,124     $ (341,454 )   $ 1,341,661     $ (80,881 )   $ 997,708  
Net loss
    -       -       -       -       -       (16,622 )     -       (16,622 )
Cumulative translation
                                                               
adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -       -       12,046       12,046  
Pension liability adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -       -       30       30  
Net deferred hedging loss
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (4,263 )     (4,263 )
Total comprehensive loss
                                                            (8,809 )
Purchase of treasury shares
    -       -       -       5,838       (101,267 )     -       -       (101,267 )
Tax benefit from exercise of
                                                               
stock options
    -       -       1,811       -       -       -       -       1,811  
Sale of shares upon exercise of
                                                               
options and purchase rights
    -       -       (33,754 )     (1,681 )     46,726       -       -       12,972  
Share-based compensation expense
    -       -       11,022       -       -       -       -       11,022  
September 30, 2009
    191,606     $ 33,370     $ 24,091       16,281     $ (395,995 )   $ 1,325,039     $ (73,068 )   $ 913,437  
                                                                 
March 31, 2010
    191,606     $ 33,370     $ 14,880       16,435     $ (382,512 )   $ 1,406,618     $ (72,641 )   $ 999,715  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       60,682       -       60,682  
Cumulative translation
                                                               
adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -       -       7,164       7,164  
Pension liability adjustment
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (556 )     (556 )
Net deferred hedging loss
    -       -       -       -       -       -       (10,026 )     (10,026 )
Total comprehensive income
                                                            57,264  
Tax benefit from exercise of
                                                               
stock options
    -       -       (189 )     -       -       -       -       (189 )
Sale of shares upon exercise of
                                                               
options and purchase rights
    -       -       (27,896 )     (1,636 )     44,434       -       -       16,538  
Share-based compensation expense
    -       -       16,753       -       -       -       -       16,753  
September 30, 2010
    191,606     $ 33,370     $ 3,548       14,799     $ (338,078 )   $ 1,467,300     $ (76,059 )   $ 1,090,081  

 




The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
7

 





LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)




Note 1 — The Company
 
Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to digital experiences. We develop and market innovative hardware and software products that enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. We have two operating segments, peripherals and video conferencing.
 
For the PC (personal computer), our products include mice, trackballs, keyboards, interactive gaming controllers, multimedia speakers, headsets, webcams, 3D control devices and lapdesks. Our Internet communications products include webcams, headsets, video communications services, and digital video security systems for a home or small business. Our LifeSize division offers scalable HD (high-definition) video communication products, support and services. Our digital music products include speakers, earphones, and custom in-ear monitors. For home entertainment systems, we offer the Harmony line of advanced remote controls, Squeezebox wireless music solutions and, beginning in October 2010 in the United States, a line of Logitech products for Google TV, including the Logitech Revue companion box. For gaming consoles, we offer a range of gaming controllers and microphones, as well as other accessories.
 
We sell our peripheral products to a network of retail distributors and resellers and to OEMs. Our worldwide retail network for our peripherals includes wholesale distributors, consumer electronics retailers, mass merchandisers, specialty electronics stores, computer and telecommunications stores, value-added resellers and online merchants. The large majority of our revenues have historically been derived from sales of our peripheral products for use by consumers.
 
We sell our LifeSize video communication products and services to distributors, value-added resellers, OEMs and direct enterprise customers. The large majority of LifeSize revenues have historically been derived from sales to large enterprises, small-to-medium businesses, and public healthcare, education and government organizations.
 
Logitech was founded in Switzerland in 1981, and Logitech International S.A. has been the parent holding company of Logitech since 1988. Logitech International S.A. is a Swiss holding company with its registered office in Apples, Switzerland, which conducts its business through subsidiaries in the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia Pacific. Shares of Logitech International S.A. are listed on both the Nasdaq Global Select Market, under the trading symbol LOGI, and the SIX Swiss Exchange, under the trading symbol LOGN.

Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Logitech and its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America) for interim financial information and therefore do not include all the information required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. They should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
8

 

Net income for the six months ended September 30, 2009 includes $2.2 million in pretax charges related to restructuring accruals, bonus accruals and revenue-related adjustments from fiscal year 2009. We reviewed the accounting errors utilizing SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Effects of Prior Year Misstatements on Current Year Financial Statements, and determined the impact of the errors to be immaterial to the current and prior quarterly and annual periods.
 
Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation with no impact on previously reported net income or loss.
 
In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. Operating results for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2011 or any future periods.
 
Fiscal Year
  
The Company’s fiscal year ends on March 31. Interim quarters are thirteen-week periods, each ending on a Friday. For purposes of presentation, the Company has indicated its quarterly periods as ending on the month end.
 
Changes in Significant Accounting Policies

There have been no substantial changes in our significant accounting policies during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that may impact the Company in the future, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) published ASU (Accounting Standards Update) 2009-13, Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which addresses the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services separately rather than as a combined unit. This guidance amends the criteria in ASC (Accounting Standards Codification) Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition--Multiple-Element Arrangements, to establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, based on vendor specific objective evidence, acceptable third party evidence, or estimates. This guidance also eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. In addition, the disclosures required for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are expanded. ASU 2009-13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt ASU 2009-13 prior to March 31, 2011 and are currently evaluating its potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
 
In October 2009, the FASB published ASU 2009-14, Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements, to provide guidance for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements. Under this guidance, tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality are excluded from the software revenue guidance in ASC Subtopic 985-605, Software-Revenue Recognition. In addition, hardware components of a tangible product containing software components are always excluded from the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-14 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt ASU 2009-14 prior to March 31, 2011 and are currently evaluating its potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
9

 
 
Note 3 — Net Income (Loss) per Share
 
The computations of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the Company were as follows (in thousands except per share amounts):
 

   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Net income (loss)
  $ 41,160     $ 20,743     $ 60,682     $ (16,622 )
                                 
Weighted average shares - basic
    176,359       178,395       175,921       179,058  
Effect of potentially dilutive share equivalents
    1,599       2,594       1,667       -  
Weighted average shares - diluted
    177,958       180,989       177,588       179,058  
                                 
Net income (loss) per share - basic
  $ 0.23     $ 0.12     $ 0.34     $ (0.09 )
Net income (loss) per share - diluted
  $ 0.23     $ 0.11     $ 0.34     $ (0.09 )

Employee equity share options, non-vested shares and similar share-based compensation awards granted by the Company are treated as potential shares in computing diluted net income or loss per share. Diluted shares outstanding include the dilutive effect of in-the-money share-based awards which is calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount that the employee must pay for exercising share-based awards, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax impact that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.
 
Share equivalents attributable to outstanding stock options and RSUs (restricted stock units) of 13,195,403 and 9,961,610 for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and 13,738,650 for the six months ended September 30, 2010 were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share because the combined exercise price, average unamortized fair value and assumed tax benefits upon exercise of these options and RSUs were greater than the average market price of the Company’s shares, and therefore their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For the six months ended September 30, 2009, potentially dilutive share equivalents of 2,145,224 were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because their inclusion in calculating a net loss per share would have been anti-dilutive.

 
10

 
 
Note 4 — Fair Value Measurements

The Company considers fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company utilizes the following three-level fair value hierarchy to establish the priorities of the inputs used to measure fair value:

 
·
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
 
·
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
 
 
·
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value, classified by the level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
March 31, 2010
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
                                     
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 307,679     $ -     $ -     $ 319,944     $ -     $ -  
Investment securities
    -       -       994       -       -       994  
Foreign exchange derivative assets
    436       -       -       599       -       -  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 308,115     $ -     $ 994     $ 320,543     $ -     $ 994  
                                                 
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities
  $ 8,024     $ -     $ -     $ 366     $ -     $ -  
Total liabilities at fair value
  $ 8,024     $ -     $ -     $ 366     $ -     $ -  

Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank demand deposits and time deposits. The time deposits have original terms of less than 40 days. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which is equivalent to fair value.
 
The Company’s investment securities portfolio as of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010 consisted of auction rate securities collateralized by residential and commercial mortgages. The investment securities are classified as available-for-sale and are carried in non-current assets. The estimated fair value of the securities was determined by estimating future cash flows, either through discounted cash flow or option pricing methods, incorporating assumptions of default and other future conditions. Such valuation methods fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The par value of our investment securities portfolio at September 30 and March 31, 2010 was $47.5 million.
 
Note 5 — Acquisitions
 
On July 6, 2010, Logitech acquired substantially all of the assets and employees of Paradial AS, a Norwegian company providing firewall and NAT (network address translation) traversal solutions for video communications. The acquisition will allow the Company to closely integrate firewall and NAT traversal across its video communications product portfolio, enabling end-to-end HD video calling over highly protected networks. The acquisition has been treated as an acquisition of a business and has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. The total consideration paid of $7.3 million was allocated based on estimated fair values to $7.0 million of identifiable intangible assets and $0.1 million of assumed liabilities, with the remaining balance allocated to goodwill. The intangible assets acquired are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 5 years. The goodwill associated with the acquisition is not subject to amortization and is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.


 
11

 
 
Note 6 — Balance Sheet Components
 
The following provides a breakout of certain balance sheet components (in thousands):

   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
Accounts receivable:
           
Accounts receivable
  $ 460,006     $ 349,722  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,934 )     (5,870 )
Allowance for returns
    (26,942 )     (23,657 )
Cooperative marketing arrangements
    (25,511 )     (17,527 )
Customer incentive programs
    (40,178 )     (44,306 )
Pricing programs
    (58,443 )     (63,115 )
    $ 304,998     $ 195,247  
Inventories:
               
Raw materials
  $ 36,030     $ 31,630  
Work-in-process
    2       86  
Finished goods
    306,989       187,877  
    $ 343,021     $ 219,593  
Other current assets:
               
Tax and VAT refund receivables
  $ 22,133     $ 20,305  
Deferred taxes
    25,650       27,064  
Prepaid expenses and other
    15,699       11,508  
    $ 63,482     $ 58,877  
Property, plant and equipment:
               
Plant and buildings
  $ 49,806     $ 58,629  
Equipment
    128,673       112,454  
Computer equipment
    58,963       53,576  
Computer software
    81,396       78,156  
      318,838       302,815  
Less: accumulated depreciation
    (236,376 )     (224,485 )
      82,462       78,330  
Construction-in-progress
    5,896       9,751  
Land
    2,764       3,148  
    $ 91,122     $ 91,229  
Other assets:
               
Deferred taxes
  $ 46,250     $ 45,257  
Cash surrender value of life insurance contracts
    10,949       11,097  
Deposits and other
    9,678       9,576  
    $ 66,877     $ 65,930  
Accrued liabilities:
               
Accrued personnel expenses
  $ 50,540     $ 48,617  
Accrued marketing expenses
    33,034       28,052  
Accrued freight and duty
    15,999       12,696  
Income taxes payable - current
    4,090       8,875  
Non-retirement post-employment benefit obligations
    3,068       2,761  
Accrued restructuring
    81       399  
Other accrued liabilities
    91,915       80,936  
    $ 198,727     $ 182,336  
Long-term liabilities:
               
Income taxes payable - non-current
  $ 114,949     $ 116,456  
Obligation for management deferred compensation
    10,644       10,307  
Defined benefit pension plan liability
    20,321       19,343  
Other long-term liabilities
    14,607       13,566  
    $ 160,521     $ 159,672  


 
12

 
 
The following table presents the changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Balance as of March 31, 2010
  $ 5,870     $ 6,705  
Bad debt expense
    422       (1,194 )
Write-offs net of recoveries
    (597 )     446  
Balance as of June 30, 2010
  $ 5,695     $ 5,957  
Bad debt expense
    (140 )     599  
Write-offs net of recoveries
    (1,621 )     (158 )
Balance as of September 30, 2010
  $ 3,934     $ 6,398  

Note 7 —Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s goodwill account during the six months ended September 30, 2010 (in thousands):
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
 
       
Balance as of March 31, 2010
  $ 553,462  
Additions
    332  
Balance as of September 30, 2010
  $ 553,794  
 
Additions to goodwill relate to our acquisition of Paradial. Paradial’s business will be fully integrated into the Company’s LifeSize division, and discrete financial information for Paradial will not be maintained. Accordingly, the acquired goodwill related to Paradial will be evaluated for impairment at the LifeSize reporting unit level. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test during its fiscal fourth quarter, or more frequently if certain events or circumstances warrant. No events or circumstances occurred during the six months ended September 30, 2010 which warranted a goodwill impairment test.
 
The Company’s acquired other intangible assets subject to amortization were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
March 31, 2010
 
   
Gross Carrying
   
Accumulated
   
Net Carrying
   
Gross Carrying
   
Accumulated
   
Net Carrying
 
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
 
                                     
Trademark/tradename
  $ 32,116     $ (21,912 )   $ 10,204     $ 32,051     $ (20,421 )   $ 11,630  
Technology
    94,968       (44,173 )     50,795       87,968       (36,033 )     51,935  
Customer contracts
    38,538       (11,148 )     27,390       38,517       (6,686 )     31,831  
    $ 165,622     $ (77,233 )   $ 88,389     $ 158,536     $ (63,140 )   $ 95,396  

During the six months ended September 30, 2010, changes in the gross carrying value of other intangible assets related primarily to our acquisition of Paradial.
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, amortization expense for other intangible assets was $7.1 million and $2.2 million. For the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, amortization expense for other intangible assets was $14.0 million and $4.6 million.  The Company expects that amortization expense for the six-month period ending March 31, 2011 will be $14.5 million, and annual amortization expense for fiscal years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 will be $26.1 million, $23.0 million, $16.9 million and $7.5 million, and $0.4 million thereafter.
 
13

 
 
Note 8 — Financing Arrangements
 
The Company had several uncommitted, unsecured bank lines of credit aggregating $114.3 million at September 30, 2010. There are no financial covenants under these lines of credit with which the Company must comply. At September 30, 2010, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under these lines of credit.

Note 9 — Shareholders’ Equity

Share Repurchases

During the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company had the following approved share buyback programs in place (in thousands):


Date of Announcement
 
Approved Buyback Amount
 
Expiration Date
 
Completion Date
   
Amount Remaining
 
                     
June 2007
  $ 250,000  
September 2010
 
March 2010
    $ -  
September 2008
  $ 250,000  
September 2012
    -     $ 250,000  


The Company did not repurchase any shares during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010. During the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased shares under the June 2007 share buyback program as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
Date of
 
September 30, 2009
   
September 30, 2009
 
Announcement
 
Shares
   
Amount (1)
   
Shares
   
Amount (1)
 
June 2007
    5,838     $ 101,267       5,838     $ 101,267  

 
 (1) Represents the amount in U.S. dollars, calculated based on exchange rates on the repurchase dates.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows (in thousands):


   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
             
Cumulative translation adjustment
  $ (56,479 )   $ (63,646 )
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax of $792 and $936
    (11,369 )     (10,813 )
Unrealized gain on investments
    424       424  
Net deferred hedging gains (losses)
    (8,635 )     1,394  
    $ (76,059 )   $ (72,641 )


 
14

 


Note 10 — Restructuring

In January 2009, Logitech initiated a restructuring plan in order to reduce operating expenses and improve financial results in response to deteriorating global economic conditions. We completed the restructuring plan in fiscal year 2010. The following table summarizes restructuring related activities during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


   
Total
   
Termination Benefits
   
Contract Termination Costs
   
Other
 
                         
Balance at March 31, 2009
  $ 3,794     $ 3,779     $ 15     $ -  
Charges
    1,449       1,366       83       -  
Cash payments
    (4,245 )     (4,220 )     (25 )     -  
Other
    (8 )     (4 )     (4 )     -  
Foreign exchange
    91       91       -       -  
Balance at June 30, 2009
  $ 1,081     $ 1,012     $ 69     $ -  
Charges
    45       (22 )     9       58  
Cash payments
    (718 )     (698 )     (20 )     -  
Other
    (4 )     63       -       (67 )
Foreign exchange
    19       19       -       -  
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 423     $ 374     $ 58     $ (9 )
                                 
                                 
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 399     $ 158     $ 334     $ (93 )
Cash payments
    (168 )     -       (168 )     -  
Other
    (74 )     (149 )     -       75  
Foreign exchange
    (3 )     -       -       (3 )
Balance at June 30, 2010
  $ 154     $ 9     $ 166     $ (21 )
Cash payments
    (73 )     -       (73 )     -  
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 81     $ 9     $ 93     $ (21 )

Termination benefits incurred pursuant to the 2009 Restructuring Plan are calculated based on regional benefit practices and local statutory requirements. Contract termination costs relate to exit costs associated with the closure of existing facilities.


 
15

 
 
Note 11 — Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Share Purchase Plans and Stock Incentive Plans

As of September 30, 2010, the Company offers the 2006 ESPP (2006 Employee Share Purchase Plan (Non-U.S.)), the 1996 ESPP (1996 Employee Share Purchase Plan (U.S.)) and the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. Shares issued to employees as a result of purchases or exercises under these plans are generally issued from shares held in treasury.
 
The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense and related tax benefit included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands).

   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Cost of goods sold
  $ 919     $ 628     $ 1,910     $ 1,426  
Share-based compensation expense included in gross profit
    919       628       1,910       1,426  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
   Marketing and selling
    3,091       2,154       6,168       3,913  
   Research and development
    1,776       1,068       3,552       1,909  
   General and administrative
    2,472       1,908       5,090       3,918  
Share-based compensation expense included in
                               
   operating expenses
    7,339       5,130       14,810       9,740  
Total share-based compensation expense
    8,258       5,758       16,720       11,166  
Income tax benefit
    (2,442 )     (449 )     (4,337 )     (833 )
Share-based compensation expense, net of income tax
  $ 5,816     $ 5,309     $ 12,383     $ 10,333  

As of September 30, 2010 and 2009, $0.9 million and $0.6 million of share-based compensation cost was capitalized to inventory. As of September 30, 2010, total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options not yet recognized was $40.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 29 months on a weighted-average basis.
 
The fair value of employee stock options granted and shares purchased under the Company’s employee purchase plans was estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing valuation model applying the following assumptions and values:


   
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 Six Months Ended September 30,
   
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
   
Purchase Plans
 
Stock Options
 
Purchase Plans
 
Stock Options
                                 
Dividend yield
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Expected life
 
6 months
 
6 months
 
 4.0 years
 
3.9 years
 
6 months
 
6 months
 
 4.0 years
 
3.9 years
Expected volatility
 
36%
 
71%
 
48%
 
48%
 
36%
 
71%
 
48%
 
48%
Risk-free interest rate
 
0.17%
 
0.21%
 
1.16%
 
2.18%
 
0.17%
 
0.21%
 
1.63%
 
2.13%

The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and future expectations of dividend payouts. The Company has not paid dividends since 1996.
 
The expected option life represents the weighted-average period the stock options or purchase offerings are expected to remain outstanding. The expected life is based on historical settlement rates, which the Company believes are most representative of future exercise and post-vesting termination behaviors.
 
Expected share price volatility is based on historical volatility using daily prices over the term of past options or purchase offerings. The Company considers historical share price volatility as most representative of future volatility. The risk-free interest rate assumptions are based upon the implied yield of U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues appropriate for the term of the Company’s stock options or purchase offerings.
 
The Company estimates forfeitures at the time of grant and revises those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and records share-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest.
 
The following table represents the weighted average grant-date fair values of options granted and the expected forfeiture rates:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Six Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Purchase Plans
   
Stock Options
   
Purchase Plans
   
Stock Options
 
                                                 
Weighted average grant-date
                                               
  fair value of options granted
  $ 3.96     $ 4.20     $ 5.92     $ 14.10     $ 3.96     $ 4.20     $ 5.85     $ 13.87  
Expected forfeitures
    0 %     0 %     9 %     10 %     0 %     0 %     9 %     10 %
 

 
16

 

A summary of activity under the share-based compensation plans is as follows (in thousands, except per share data; exercise prices are weighted averages):


   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Six Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Number
   
Exercise Price
   
Number
   
Exercise Price
   
Number
   
Exercise Price
   
Number
   
Exercise Price
 
                                                 
Outstanding, beginning of period
    19,669     $ 17       17,751     $ 18       20,551     $ 17       18,897     $ 18  
Granted
    143     $ 7       2,200     $ 14       329     $ 12       2,389     $ 14  
Exercised
    (516 )   $ 8       (365 )   $ 9       (1,127 )   $ 8       (1,034 )   $ 7  
Cancelled or expired
    (375 )   $ 17       (456 )   $ 22       (832 )   $ 19       (1,122 )   $ 23  
Outstanding, end of period
    18,921     $ 18       19,130     $ 18       18,921     $ 18       19,130     $ 18  
                                                                 
Exercisable, end of period
    11,595     $ 18       10,029     $ 15       11,595     $ 18       10,029     $ 15  

The total pretax intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $3.2 million and $3.1 million and the tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from options exercised during those periods was $1.1 million and $0.7 million. The total pretax intrinsic value of options exercised during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $6.7 million and $7.9 million and the tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from options exercised during those periods was $2.1 million and $1.3 million. The total fair value of options vested as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $72.9 million and $54.1 million.
 
During fiscal year 2010 and the six months ended September 30, 2010, the Company granted 266,560 and 74,700 time-based RSUs to employees and board members pursuant to the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. These RSUs had a weighted average grant date fair value of $14.83 per unit for fiscal year 2010 and $15.87 per unit for fiscal year 2011. The time-based RSUs granted to employees vest in four equal annual installments on the grant date anniversary. The time-based RSUs granted to non-executive board members vest in one annual installment on the grant date anniversary. The non-executive board members’ fiscal year 2010 grants were vested in the three months ended September 30, 2010, and new annual grants were issued.  The Company estimates the fair value of these RSUs based on the share market price on the date of grant. Compensation expense related to time-based RSUs is recognized over the vesting period and is included in the total share-based compensation expense disclosed above. As of September 30, 2010, total compensation cost related to time-based RSUs not yet recognized was $3.1 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 48 months.
 
During fiscal years 2010 and 2009, the Company granted 115,000 and 93,750 RSUs to certain executives pursuant to the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. These RSUs had a grant date fair value of $18.18 and $27.90 per unit. The RSUs vest at the end of two years from the grant date upon meeting certain share price performance criteria measured against market conditions. Compensation expense related to these RSUs will be recognized over the two year performance period and is included in the total share-based compensation expense disclosed above. As of September 30, 2010, total compensation cost not yet recognized related to the 2010 RSUs was $0.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 9 months. The performance period for the RSUs granted in fiscal year 2009 was completed as of September 30, 2010 with no vesting as the minimum performance condition was not satisfied.

 
17

 

The fair value of these RSUs granted was estimated using the Monte-Carlo simulation method applying the following assumptions:


   
FY 2010 Grants
 
FY 2009 Grants
         
Dividend yield
 
0%
 
0%
Expected life
 
2 years
 
2 years
Expected volatility
 
58%
 
41%
Risk-free interest rate
 
1.11%
 
1.82%

The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and future expectations of dividend payouts. The expected life of these RSUs is the performance period at the end of which the RSUs will vest if the minimum performance condition is satisfied. The volatility assumption is based on the actual volatility of Logitech’s daily closing share price over a look-back period of two years. The risk free interest rate is derived from the yield on U.S. Treasury Bonds for a two year term.

Defined Contribution Plans
 
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have defined contribution employee benefit plans covering all or a portion of their employees. Contributions to these plans are discretionary for certain plans and are based on specified or statutory requirements for others. The charge to expense for these plans for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $2.0 million and $1.9 million. During the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the charge to expense for these plans was $3.9 million and $3.5 million.
 
 
 Defined Benefit Plans
 
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries sponsor defined benefit pension plans or non-retirement post-employment benefits covering substantially all of their employees. Benefits are provided based on employees’ years of service and earnings, or in accordance with applicable employee benefit regulations. The Company’s practice is to fund amounts sufficient to meet the requirements set forth in the applicable employee benefit and tax regulations.
 
The net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit pension plans and non-retirement post-employment benefit obligations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Service cost
  $ 1,081     $ 989     $ 2,100     $ 1,942  
Interest cost
    425       364       827       698  
Expected return on plan assets
    (444 )     (320 )     (859 )     (586 )
Amortization of net transition
                               
obligation and prior service cost
    36       35       73       70  
Recognized net actuarial loss
    92       189       179       414  
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 1,190     $ 1,257     $ 2,320     $ 2,538  



 
18

 

Note 12 — Income Taxes


The Company is incorporated in Switzerland but operates in various countries with differing tax laws and rates. Further, a portion of the Company’s income before taxes and the provision for income taxes are generated outside of Switzerland.
 
The income tax provision for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $8.9 million and $5.8 million based on effective income tax rates of 17.7% and 21.9% of pre-tax income. For the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the income tax provision was $3.5 million and $9.5 million based on effective income tax rates of 5.4% of pre-tax income and 131.9% of pre-tax loss. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2009 is primarily due to the mix of income and losses in the various tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The change in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the six months ended September 30, 2009 is primarily due to discrete tax benefits of $8.9 million from the expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions.
 
For the three and six months ended September 30, 2010, Logitech’s effective income tax rate was calculated using an estimate of its annual pre-tax income. For the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, management determined that a reliable estimate of its annual pre-tax income and related annual effective income tax rate could not be made, due to the impact of the economic downturn. Therefore, Logitech used the actual year-to-date effective income tax rate for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009.
 
As of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and related accrued interest and penalties due to uncertain tax positions was $121.4 million and $125.2 million, of which $100.8 million and $101.4 million would affect the effective income tax rate if recognized. The decrease in income tax liability associated with uncertain tax positions in the six-month period is primarily due to the expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions.
 
The Company continues to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. As of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $9.6 million and $12.5 million of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
 
The Company files Swiss and foreign tax returns. For all these tax returns, the Company is generally not subject to tax examinations for years prior to 1999. The Internal Revenue Service is in the process of examining the Company’s U.S. subsidiary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. At this time it is not possible to estimate the potential impact that the examination may have on income tax expense. The Company is also under examination in other tax jurisdictions. Although the timing of the resolution or closure on audits is highly uncertain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next twelve months.
 
 
 
19

 
 
 
Note 13 — Derivative Financial Instruments – Foreign Exchange Hedging
 
Cash Flow Hedges

The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to its subsidiaries’ forecasted inventory purchases. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is the foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Company has designated these derivatives as cash flow hedges. Logitech does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. These hedging contracts generally mature within six months, and are denominated in the same currency as the underlying transactions. Gains and losses in the fair value of the effective portion of the hedges are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss until the hedged inventory purchases are sold, at which time the gains or losses are reclassified to cost of goods sold. The Company assesses the effectiveness of the hedges by comparing changes in the spot rate of the currency underlying the forward contract with changes in the spot rate of the currency in which the forecasted transaction will be consummated. If the underlying transaction being hedged fails to occur or if a portion of the hedge does not generate offsetting changes in the foreign currency exposure of forecasted inventory purchases, the Company immediately recognizes the gain or loss on the associated financial instrument in other income (expense). Such losses were immaterial during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The notional amounts of foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding related to forecasted inventory purchases at September 30, 2010 and 2009 were $98.7 million (€71.9 million) and $60.5 million (€42.2 million). The notional amount represents the future cash flows under contracts to purchase foreign currencies.

Other Derivatives

The Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on certain foreign currency receivables or payables. These forward contracts generally mature within one to three months. The Company may also enter into foreign exchange swap contracts to economically extend the terms of its foreign exchange forward contracts. The primary risk managed by using forward and swap contracts is the foreign currency exchange rate risk. The gains or losses on foreign exchange forward contracts are recognized in earnings based on the changes in fair value.
 
The notional amounts of foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 2009 relating to foreign currency receivables or payables were $14.3 million and $19.3 million. Open forward contracts as of September 30, 2010 consisted of contracts in British pounds to purchase euros at a future date at a pre-determined exchange rate. The notional amounts of foreign exchange swap contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 and 2009 were $26.6 million and $26.1 million. Swap contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 consisted of contracts in Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, and Mexican pesos.
 
The fair value of all our foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign exchange swap contracts is determined based on quoted foreign exchange forward rates. Quoted foreign exchange forward rates are observable inputs that are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

 
20

 

The following table presents the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments and their locations on the Balance Sheet as of September 30 and March 31, 2010 (in thousands):
 
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
     
Fair Value
     
Fair Value
 
     
September 30,
   
March 31,
     
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
 
Location
 
2010
   
2010
 
Location
 
2010
   
2010
 
                             
Derivatives designated as hedging
                           
instruments:
                           
Cash Flow Hedges
 Other assets
  $ 27     $ 136  
 Other liabilities
  $ 7,111     $ 10  
        27       136         7,111       10  
                                     
Derivatives not designated as hedging
                                   
instruments:
                                   
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts
 Other assets
    409       11  
 Other liabilities
    -       -  
Foreign Exchange Swap Contracts
 Other assets
    -       452  
 Other liabilities
    913       356  
        409       463         913       356  
      $ 436     $ 599       $ 8,024     $ 366  
 

 The following table presents the amounts of gains and losses on the Company’s derivative instruments for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and their locations on its Financial Statements (in thousands):

   
Net amount of gain (loss) deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income
 
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income
 
Location of gain (loss) recognized in income immediately
 
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income immediately
 
                       
Derivatives designated as hedging
                     
instruments:
                     
Cash Flow Hedges
  $ (9,040 )
Cost of goods sold
  $ (544 )
Other income/expense
  $ 41  
      (9,040 )       (544 )       41  
                             
Derivatives not designated as hedging
                           
instruments:
                           
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts
    -         -  
Other income/expense
    632  
Foreign Exchange Swap Contracts
    -         -  
Other income/expense
    (1,333 )
      -         -         (701 )
    $ (9,040 )     $ (544 )     $ (660 )

 
 
21

 
 
The following table presents the amounts of gains and losses on the Company’s derivative instruments for the six months ended September 30, 2010 and their locations on its Financial Statements (in thousands):


   
Net amount of gain (loss) deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income
 
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income
 
Location of gain (loss) recognized in income immediately
 
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income immediately
 
                       
Derivatives designated as hedging
                     
instruments:
                     
Cash Flow Hedges
  $ (10,026 )
Cost of goods sold
  $ (1,919 )
Other income/expense
  $ 87  
      (10,026 )       (1,919 )       87  
                             
Derivatives not designated as hedging
                           
instruments:
                           
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts
    -         -  
Other income/expense
    125  
Foreign Exchange Swap Contracts
    -         -  
Other income/expense
    (2,251 )
      -         -         (2,126 )
    $ (10,026 )     $ (1,919 )     $ (2,039 )

 
22

 
 
Note 14 — Commitments and Contingencies
 
The Company leases facilities under operating leases, certain of which require it to pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Operating leases for facilities are generally renewable at the Company’s option and usually include escalation clauses linked to inflation. Total future minimum annual rentals under non-cancelable operating leases at September 30, 2010 amounted to $71.2 million. The increase in future minimum annual rentals as of September 30, 2010 compared with March 31, 2010 was due to a new research and development office in Lausanne, Switzerland, new facilities for our LifeSize division in Austin, Texas and a new office for our audio business unit in Vancouver, Washington.
 
In connection with its operating leases for facilities, the Company has recognized asset retirement obligations of $1.5 million and $1.4 million at September 30 , 2010, and March 31, 2010, representing the estimated remediation costs to be incurred at lease expiration.  No significant changes occurred in these obligations in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010.
 
At September 30, 2010, fixed purchase commitments for capital expenditures amounted to $12.1 million, and primarily related to commitments for manufacturing equipment and tooling. Also, the Company has commitments for inventory purchases made in the normal course of business to original design manufacturers, contract manufacturers and other suppliers. At September 30, 2010, fixed purchase commitments for inventory amounted to $183.5 million, which are expected to be fulfilled by March 31, 2011. The Company also had other commitments totaling $45.0 million for consulting and outsourced services, marketing arrangements, advertising and other services. Although open purchase orders are considered enforceable and legally binding, the terms generally allow the Company the option to reschedule and adjust its requirements based on the business needs prior to delivery of goods or performance of services.
 
The Company has guaranteed the purchase obligations of some of its contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers to certain component suppliers. These guarantees generally have a term of one year and are automatically extended for one or more years as long as a liability exists. The amount of the purchase obligations of these manufacturers varies over time, and therefore the amounts subject to Logitech’s guarantees similarly vary. At September 30, 2010, there were no outstanding guaranteed purchase obligations. The maximum potential future payments under two of the three guarantee arrangements is limited to $30.0 million. The third guarantee is limited to purchases of specified components from the named suppliers. The Company does not believe, based on historical experience and information currently available, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these guarantee arrangements.
 
Logitech International S.A., the parent holding company, has guaranteed certain contingent liabilities of various subsidiaries related to specific transactions occurring in the normal course of business. The maximum amount of the guarantees was $9.0 million as of September 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, $8.7 million was outstanding under these guarantees. The parent holding company has also guaranteed the purchases of one of its subsidiaries under three guarantee agreements. These guarantees do not specify a maximum amount. As of September 30, 2010, $10.0 million was outstanding under these guarantees.
 
Logitech indemnifies some of its suppliers and customers for losses arising from matters such as intellectual property rights and product safety defects, subject to certain restrictions. The scope of these indemnities varies, but in some instances, includes indemnification for damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. No amounts have been accrued for indemnification provisions at September 30, 2010. The Company does not believe, based on historical experience and information currently available, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under its indemnification arrangements.
 
In November 2007, the Company acquired WiLife, Inc., a privately held company offering PC-based video cameras for self-monitoring a home or a small business. The purchase agreement provides for a possible performance-based payment, payable in the first calendar quarter of 2011. The performance-based payment is based on net revenues attributed to WiLife during calendar 2010. No payment is due if the applicable net revenues total $40 million or less. The maximum performance-based payment is $64.0 million.  The total performance-based payment amount, if any, will be recorded in goodwill and will not be known until the end of calendar year 2010. As of September 30, 2010, no amounts were accrued towards performance-based payments under the WiLife acquisition agreement.
 
The Company is involved in a number of lawsuits and claims relating to matters that arise in the normal course of business. The Company believes these lawsuits and claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against them. However, there can be no assurances that its defenses will be successful, or that any judgment or settlement in any of these lawsuits would not have a material adverse impact on the Company's business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations. The Company’s accruals for lawsuits and claims as of September 30, 2010 were not material.

 
23

 
 
Note 15 — Segment Information
 
The Company has two operating segments, peripherals and video conferencing, based on product markets and internal organizational structure. The peripherals segment encompasses the design, manufacturing and marketing of peripheral products for the PC and other digital platforms. The video conferencing segment consists of the LifeSize division, and encompasses the design, manufacturing and marketing of high-definition video and audio communication products for the enterprise and small-to-medium business markets. The video conferencing operating segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds required for separate disclosure of financial information.
 
Net sales by product family, excluding intercompany transactions, were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Retail - Pointing Devices
  $ 153,870     $ 130,611     $ 285,716     $ 220,847  
Retail - Keyboards & Desktops
    95,453       79,906       171,619       137,915  
Retail - Audio
    119,965       121,001       215,611       193,121  
Retail - Video
    68,794       58,263       115,850       101,077  
Retail - Gaming
    20,261       28,493       34,827       45,642  
Retail - Remotes
    31,378       24,428       59,964       27,866  
OEM
    60,850       55,391       119,186       97,735  
Peripherals
    550,571       498,093       1,002,773       824,203  
LifeSize
    31,313       -       58,441       -  
Total net sales
  $ 581,884     $ 498,093     $ 1,061,214     $ 824,203  

Geographic net sales information in the table below is based on the location of the selling entity. Long-lived assets, primarily fixed assets, are reported below based on the location of the asset.
 
Net sales to unaffiliated customers by geographic region were as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
EMEA
  $ 227,266     $ 229,394     $ 381,895     $ 354,547  
Americas
    240,099       177,526       462,067       297,941  
Asia Pacific
    114,519       91,173       217,252       171,715  
   Total net sales
  $ 581,884     $ 498,093     $ 1,061,214     $ 824,203  

No single country other than the United States represented more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and the six months ended September 30, 2009. The United States and Germany each represented more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2009. One customer group represented 13% and 14% of net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 and one customer group represented 13% of net sales in the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
 
24

 
 
Long-lived assets by geographic region were as follows (in thousands):


   
September 30,
   
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2010
 
       
EMEA
  $ 9,925     $ 11,053  
Americas
    37,410       40,165  
Asia Pacific
    48,025       43,765  
   Total long-lived assets
  $ 95,360     $ 94,983  


Long-lived assets in China and the United States each represented more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated long-lived assets at September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010.

 
25

 

ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the interim unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes.
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the strength of improvement in our business, operating results and financial condition, trends in consumer demand for our products, plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, our current or future revenue mix, our competitive position, the impact of new product introductions and product innovation on future performance, or our anticipated costs and expenses. Forward-looking statements also include, among others, those statements including the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes” and similar language. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. You should carefully review the risks described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K that we file in fiscal year 2011 and our fiscal year 2010 Form 10-K, which was filed on May 27, 2010, which discuss our business in greater detail. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

Overview of Our Company

Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to digital experiences. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, we develop and market innovative hardware and software products that enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. We have two operating segments, peripherals and video conferencing.
 
Our peripherals segment encompasses the design, manufacturing and marketing of peripheral products for the PC (personal computer) and other digital platforms. Our research and product management teams are organized along product lines, and are responsible for product strategy, industrial design and development, and technological innovation. Our global marketing and sales organization helps define product opportunities and bring our products to market, and is responsible for building the Logitech brand and consumer awareness of our products. This organization is comprised of retail and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) sales and marketing groups. Our retail sales and marketing activities are organized into three geographic regions: Americas (including North and South America), EMEA (Europe-Middle East-Africa), and Asia Pacific (including, among other countries, China, Japan and Australia). Our OEM sales team is a worldwide organization with representatives in each of our three regions. Our OEM customers include the majority of the world’s largest PC manufacturers.
 
Our video conferencing segment encompasses the design, manufacturing and marketing of LifeSize video conferencing products and services for the enterprise and small-to-medium business markets. The LifeSize segment maintains separate marketing and sales organizations. The LifeSize product development and product management organizations are separate, but coordinated with our peripherals business, particularly our webcam and video communications groups. The LifeSize operating segment does not meet the quantitative threshold for separate disclosure of financial information required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
 
For the PC, our products include mice, trackballs, keyboards, interactive gaming controllers, multimedia speakers, headsets, webcams, 3D control devices and lapdesks. Our Internet communications products include webcams, headsets, video communications services, and digital video security systems for a home or small business. Our LifeSize division offers scalable HD (high-definition) video communication products, support and services. Our digital music products include speakers, earphones, and custom in-ear monitors. For home entertainment systems, we offer the Harmony line of advanced remote controls, Squeezebox wireless music solutions and, beginning in October 2010 in the United States, a line of Logitech products for the Google TV platform, including the Logitech Revue companion box, Logitech Mini-Controller and Logitech TV Cam with HD Vid service. For gaming consoles, we offer a range of gaming controllers and microphones, as well as other accessories.
 
We sell our peripheral products to a network of retail distributors and resellers and to OEMs. Our worldwide retail network for our peripherals includes wholesale distributors, consumer electronics retailers, mass merchandisers, specialty electronics stores, computer and telecommunications stores, value-added resellers and online merchants. Sales of peripherals to our retail channels were 83% and 88% of our net sales for the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. The large majority of our revenues have historically been derived from sales of our peripheral products for use by consumers.
 
We sell our LifeSize products and services to distributors, value-added resellers, OEMs and direct enterprise customers. LifeSize sales were 6% of our net sales for the six months ended September 30, 2010. Logitech acquired LifeSize in December, 2009. The large majority of LifeSize revenues have historically been derived from sales to large enterprises, small-to-medium businesses, and public healthcare, education and government organizations.
 
Our markets are extremely competitive. The peripherals market is characterized by short product life cycles, frequent new product introductions, rapidly changing technology, evolving customer demands, and aggressive promotional and pricing practices. We believe the global economic downturn has further increased competition in our markets, as competitors with larger financial resources, such as Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation and others, seek to gain market share by discounting prices or offering more favorable terms to customers, and competitors with smaller financial resources also discount prices or engage in other promotional practices in order to maintain their market share.
 
The video conferencing market is characterized by continual performance enhancements and increasing consolidation. There is heightened interest in the video conferencing market by large, well-financed competitors, such as Cisco Systems, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company, and as a result, we expect competition in the market to further intensify.
 
We believe continued investment in product research and development is critical to creating the innovation required to strengthen our competitive advantage and to drive future sales growth. We are committed to identifying and meeting current and future customer trends with new and improved product technologies, as well as leveraging the value of the Logitech and LifeSize brands from a competitive, channel partner and consumer experience perspective. We believe innovation and product quality are important to gaining market acceptance and maintaining market leadership.
 
The broadening of our product lines has been primarily organic. However we also seek to acquire, when appropriate, companies that have products, personnel, and technologies that complement our strategic direction. As access to digital information expands beyond the PC platform, we are also extending our vision to other platforms, such as the living room, meeting room and other platforms as access points to the Internet and the digital world. In addition, as part of our corporate strategy, we plan to increase investments in and realign resources to focus on certain market adjacencies, geographic markets or new categories, including video communications and the China market. We also plan to continue our investment in products for the Google TV platform, and to increase our investment in applications and peripherals for open platforms, which may not require direct collaboration and agreement with the platform owner.
 
We continually evaluate our product offerings and our strategic direction in light of current global economic conditions, changing consumer trends, and the evolving nature of the interface between the consumer and the digital world.

 

 
26

 
 
Summary of Financial Results
 
Our total net sales for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 increased 17% and 29% compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. We believe the increase is primarily due to improved consumer demand and sales of our LifeSize products, which were not included in net sales for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. Retail sales increased 11% and 22% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior year, while retail units sold increased 18% and 27%.
 
OEM sales increased 10% and 22% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. OEM units sold increased 5% and 18% in the same periods. The increase in OEM sales was related to increased sales of OEM keyboards.
 
Retail sales in our Asia Pacific and Americas regions increased 38% and 19% in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2009. Retail sales in our EMEA region declined 3% in the same period. For the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, retail sales in our Asia Pacific, Americas and EMEA regions grew 31%, 37% and 6%.
 
We achieved double-digit growth in retail sales of all product lines except gaming during the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year. The remotes product line was our fastest growing category, with strong growth in sales of our Harmony One, Harmony 300 and Harmony 650. Pointing devices was our second fastest growing category, increasing by 29% in the six months ended September 30, 2010, as compared with the same period in 2009.
 
Our gross margin for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 increased to 37.3% and 36.4% compared with 30.5% and 27.9% in the same periods of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to favorable product mix shifts, efficiencies in our supply chain, and the higher gross margin contributed by LifeSize product sales. Net income for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 was $41.2 million and $60.7 million, compared with net income of $20.7 million and net loss of $16.6 million in the three and six months ended September 30, 2009.

Trends in Our Business

We have a large and varied portfolio of product lines for peripherals, grouped in several product families. In addition to changes resulting from general economic trends, we believe that normal increases or decreases in the retail sales level of a product family reflect the innovation we have designed into the product, customer acceptance of the product line, the popularity of the digital platforms the product line relates to, competitive activity in the product family, and the prices at which products are available. Historically, sales of individual product lines rise and fall over time, causing our overall product mix to shift both between and within product lines, and we expect these types of trends to continue.
 
In our peripherals segment, we have historically targeted peripherals for the PC platform, a market that is dynamically changing as a result of the declining popularity of desktop PCs and the increasing popularity of notebook PCs and other mobile devices, such as tablets, smartphones, netbooks and other smaller form factor devices with computing or web surfing capabilities, including those with touch interfaces. In our retail channels, notebook PCs and mobile devices are sold by retailers without peripherals. We believe this creates opportunities to sell products to consumers to help make their devices more productive and comfortable. However, consumer acceptance and demand for peripherals for use with smaller form factor computing devices such as notebook PCs, tablets and mobile devices, including those with touch interfaces, is still uncertain. Notebook PCs are also often equipped with embedded webcams, which could reduce the demand for Logitech webcams that are sold separately. The increasing popularity of notebook PCs, tablets and mobile devices may result in decreased demand by consumers for peripherals, which could negatively affect our business. The increasing popularity of mobile devices has coincided with a steadily decreasing average sales price for computing devices, including for desktop and notebook PCs. As a result, there is a risk that the demand for those of our products that have a relatively high average sales price in relation to the price of a desktop or notebook PC will decline. We believe our future sales trends will be significantly affected by our ability to develop sales and innovations in our current products for notebook PCs, tablets and other mobile devices, as well as for emerging product categories which are not PC-dependent.
 
In our OEM channel in the past several quarters, the shift away from desktop PCs adversely affected our sales of OEM mice and keyboards, which are sold with name-brand desktop PCs. In the six months ended September 30, 2010, sales of our OEM mice increased 13% and OEM keyboards increased 36% compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year, with OEM mice units increasing 14% and OEM keyboard units increasing 81%. Our OEM mice and keyboard sales have historically made up the bulk of our OEM sales. Our OEM sales accounted for 11% and 12% of total revenues during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
Most of our revenue comes from sales to our retail channels, which resell to consumers and other retailers. As a result, our customers’ demand for our products depends in substantial part on trends in consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as the levels of inventory which our customers choose to maintain. We use multiple metrics to evaluate consumer demand for our products. One of those metrics is the analysis of sell-through data, which represents sales of our products by our retailer customers to consumers and by our distributor customers to retailers. Sell-through data is subject to limitations due to collection methods and the third-party nature of the data and thus may not be an entirely accurate indicator of actual consumer demand for our products. In addition, the customers supplying sell-through data vary by geographic region and from period to period, but typically represent a majority of our retail sales.
 
The acquisition of LifeSize in December 2009 expanded our video communication product portfolio beyond webcams and video calling into the enterprise meeting room. We believe our video conferencing segment offers significant growth opportunities for our business. However, the segment represents 6% of our net sales for the six months ended September 30, 2010, and will require continuing investments in product development and sales and marketing to stimulate and support future growth.
 
We continue to evaluate potential acquisitions to enhance the breadth and depth of our expertise in engineering and other functional areas, our technologies and our product offerings. We also intend to continue to invest in video communications, in products for the digital home, and in growing our sales in China by increasing hiring in related engineering and sales and marketing functions.
 
In May 2010, we announced our collaboration with Google, Inc., along with other partners, to support the new Google TV platform. We introduced Logitech Revue, a companion box that incorporates Logitech’s Harmony remote control technology, in October 2010 in the United States, along with the Logitech TV Cam with HD Vid service and the Logitech Mini-Controller. We have invested significant funds in the development and marketing of our products for the platform to enable future growth, and we expect to expand the product line in the future. We believe the Google TV platform has the potential to provide us with another sizable and growing installed base to generate incremental sales over an extended period of time. We plan to invest the gross profit we generate from sales of our Google TV product in the remainder of fiscal year 2010 into consumer-focused marketing activities to create additional awareness.
 
Although our financial results are reported in U.S. dollars, approximately 41% of our sales for the six months ended September 30, 2010 were made in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, such as the euro, Chinese renminbi, Canadian dollar and Japanese yen. Our product pricing strategy includes, among other factors, raising or lowering selling prices in other currencies over extended periods of time to avoid long-term disparity with U.S. dollar prices and to respond to currency-driven competitive pricing actions. Our product costs are primarily in U.S. dollars and Chinese renminbi. Our operating expenses are incurred in U.S. dollars, Chinese renminbi, euros, Swiss francs, Taiwanese dollars, and, to a lesser extent, 25 other currencies. To the extent that the U.S. dollar significantly increases or decreases in value relative to the currencies in which our sales and operating expenses are denominated, the reported dollar amounts of our sales and expenses may decrease or increase.

 
27

 

Our gross margins vary with the mix of products sold, competitive activity, product life cycle, new product introductions, unit volumes, commodity and supply chain costs, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, geographic sales mix, and the complexity and functionality of new product introductions. Changes in consumer demand affect the need for us to undertake promotional efforts, such as cooperative marketing arrangements, customer incentive programs or other pricing programs, which alter our product gross margins.
 
Logitech is incorporated in Switzerland but operates in various countries with differing tax laws and rates. A portion of our income before taxes and the provision for income taxes are generated outside of Switzerland. Therefore, our effective income tax rate depends on the amount of profits generated in each of the various tax jurisdictions in which we operate. For the six months ended September 30, 2010, the income tax provision was $3.5 million based on an effective income tax rate of 5.4% of pre-tax income. The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 were calculated using estimates of our annual pre-tax income. For the six months ended September 30, 2009, the income tax provision was $9.5 million based on an effective income tax rate of 131.9% of pre-tax loss. The effective income tax rates for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009 were calculated using the actual year-to-date effective income tax rates for those periods, as management determined that a reliable estimate of the Company’s annual pre-tax income and related annual effective income tax rates could not be made, due to the impact of the economic downturn. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to the mix of income and losses in the various tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The change in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the six months ended September 30, 2009 was primarily due to discrete tax benefits of $8.9 million from the expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions. We expect future effective income tax rates to fluctuate for similar reasons.

Critical Accounting Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America) requires the Company to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, net sales and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.
 
We consider an accounting estimate critical if it: (i) requires management to make judgments and estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain; and (ii) is important to an understanding of Logitech’s financial condition and operating results.
 
 We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that may impact the Company in the future, actual results could differ from those estimates. Management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
There have been no changes during the six months ended September 30, 2010 to the nature of the critical accounting estimates disclosed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.
 
  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 In October 2009, the FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) published ASU (Accounting Standards Update) 2009-13, Multiple Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which addresses the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services separately rather than as a combined unit. This guidance amends the criteria in ASC (Accounting Standards Codification) Subtopic 605-25, Revenue Recognition--Multiple-Element Arrangements, to establish a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable, based on vendor specific objective evidence, acceptable third party evidence, or estimates. This guidance also eliminates the residual method of allocation and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. In addition, the disclosures required for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are expanded. ASU 2009-13 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt ASU 2009-13 prior to March 31, 2011 and are currently evaluating its potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
 
In October 2009, the FASB published ASU 2009-14, Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements, to provide guidance for revenue arrangements that include both tangible products and software elements. Under this guidance, tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the product’s essential functionality are excluded from the software revenue guidance in ASC Subtopic 985-605, Software-Revenue Recognition. In addition, hardware components of a tangible product containing software components are always excluded from the software revenue guidance. ASU 2009-14 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, with early adoption permitted. We plan to adopt ASU 2009-14 prior to March 31, 2011 and are currently evaluating its potential impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



 
28

 

Results of Operations
 
 
Net Sales

Net sales by channel for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended
         
Six months ended
       
   
September 30,
         
September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
   Retail
  $ 489,721     $ 442,702       11 %   $ 883,587     $ 726,468       22 %
   OEM
    60,850       55,391       10 %     119,186       97,735       22 %
   LifeSize
    31,313       -       -       58,441       -       -  
      Total net sales
  $ 581,884     $ 498,093       17 %   $ 1,061,214     $ 824,203       29 %
 
 
Our total net sales increased 17% and 29%, and our total unit sales, excluding LifeSize units, increased 13% and 24% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year.
 
Retail unit sales increased 18% and 27% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. Our total retail average selling price in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 was 6% and 7% lower than the same periods in fiscal year 2009. Sales of our retail products priced above $100 represented 17% of total retail sales in the three month period and 16% in the six month period ended September 30, 2010, compared with 15% and 13% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our constant dollar retail sales increases would have been 15% and 26% instead of 11% and 22% .
 
OEM unit sales increased 5% and 18% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009, due to sales of our OEM mice, keyboards and microphones for console singing games. Sales of OEM mice increased 5% and 13% in dollars and 3% and 14% in units in the three and six month periods, compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. OEM keyboard sales increased 57% and 81% in units in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009.
 
Sales of our LifeSize products continued to gain momentum during the three months ended September 30, 2010, increasing 15% compared with the three months ended June 30, 2010. LifeSize net sales represent sales of video conferencing units and related software and services. Although we consider LifeSize a separate operating segment, based on financial measurements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 and our near-term expectations, the LifeSize segment does not meet the quantitative threshold for separate disclosure of financial information required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
 
Approximately 43% and 41% of the Company’s total net sales were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with approximately 51% and 52% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our constant dollar total net sales increase would have been 21% and 32% instead of 17% and 29%, primarily reflecting the weakness of the euro in 2010 compared with 2009.
 
We refer to our net sales excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates as constant dollar sales. Constant dollar sales are a non-GAAP financial measure, which is information derived from consolidated financial information but not presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our management uses these non-GAAP measures in its financial and operational decision-making, and believes these non-GAAP measures, when considered in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, facilitate a better understanding of changes in net sales. Constant dollar sales are calculated by translating prior period sales in each local currency at the current period’s average exchange rate for that currency.

 
 
29

 
 
Retail Sales by Region

The following table presents the change in retail sales by region for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009.


   
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
   
September 30, 2010
 
September 30, 2010
         
   EMEA
 
(3%)
 
6%
   Americas
 
19%
 
37%
   Asia Pacific
 
38%
 
31%
      Total retail sales
 
11%
 
22%


Retail units sold in our EMEA region during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 increased 5% and 18% compared with the prior fiscal year. EMEA retail sales in U.S. dollars declined in all product families except video and remotes in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009, primarily due to the weaker euro in 2010. For the six month period, EMEA retail sales increased in all product families, except keyboards and desktops, and gaming. However, unit sales in keyboards and desktops experienced an 11% increase in the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009. If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our EMEA constant dollar retail sales increase would have been 6% and 15%. Sell-through growth in the EMEA region was 22% for the three months and 18% for the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year, with particular strength in emerging markets. Sell-through data is subject to limitations as described in “Trends in Our Business.”
 
Retail sales increased 19% and 37%, and retail units sold increased 13% and 22% in the Americas region in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year, reflecting improved economic stability in the region. Sales of all product lines increased in both the three and six month periods compared with the prior year. Retail sell-through in the region increased 12% and 14% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior year. Sell-through data is subject to limitations as described in “Trends in Our Business.” Foreign currency exchange rates had no significant effect on retail sales in the Americas region in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010.
 
Retail sales in the Asia Pacific region increased 38% and 31% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year, with growth in all product lines except audio and gaming. The Asia Pacific retail sales increase was led by China, with sales in Chinese renminbi more than doubling in the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the six months ended September 30, 2009. Retail sell-through increased 22% and 21% in the three and six months compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. Sell-through data is subject to limitations as described in “Trends in Our Business.” Total retail units sold in the Asia Pacific region increased 66% and 55% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. The unit percentage increase was higher than the sales percentage increase primarily due to higher sales of our value-priced products in the region. If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, our Asia Pacific constant dollar retail sales increase would have been 35% and 29%.


Net Retail Sales by Product Family

Net retail sales by product family during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):



   
Three months ended
         
Six months ended
       
   
September 30,
         
September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
   Retail - Pointing Devices
  $ 153,870     $ 130,611       18 %   $ 285,716     $ 220,847       29 %
   Retail - Keyboards & Desktops
    95,453       79,906       19 %     171,619       137,915       24 %
   Retail - Audio
    119,965       121,001       (1 %)     215,611       193,121       12 %
   Retail - Video
    68,794       58,263       18 %     115,850       101,077       15 %
   Retail - Gaming
    20,261       28,493       (29 %)     34,827       45,642       (24 %)
   Retail - Remotes
    31,378       24,428       28 %     59,964       27,866       115 %
      Total net retail sales
  $ 489,721     $ 442,702       11 %   $ 883,587     $ 726,468       22 %

Logitech’s Pointing Devices product family includes our mice, trackballs and other pointing devices. Keyboards and desktops (mouse and keyboard combined) include cordless and corded keyboards and desktops. Audio includes speakers and headset products for the PC, the home, and mobile entertainment platforms, and wireless music systems. Our video product family is comprised of PC webcams and WiLife video security systems. Gaming includes console and PC gaming peripherals. The Remotes product family is comprised of our advanced remote controls. Net sales reflect accruals for product returns, cooperative marketing arrangements, customer incentive programs and pricing programs.

Retail Pointing Devices

Retail unit sales of our pointing devices increased 26% and 39% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. The growth in dollar sales was driven by sales of cordless mice which increased 34% and 44% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010, while units increased 61% and 73% over the same periods in the prior fiscal year. We achieved strong sales and unit growth in both our high-end as well as our value-priced cordless mice. Sales in the high-end category benefited from the continued strength of our two high performance MX mice which feature Darkfield Laser tracking, the Performance Mouse MX and the Anywhere Mouse MX, while sales in the value-priced category were led by two of our wireless mice for notebooks, the M215 and M305. Sales of corded mice decreased 7% and increased 2% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, while unit sales increased 3% and 15% in the same periods.

 
30

 


Retail Keyboards and Desktops

Retail unit sales of keyboards and desktops increased 29% and 27% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year, due primarily to strong sales of our cordless keyboards and desktops. Sales of cordless keyboards and desktops increased 23% and 37% in dollars and 37% and 48% in units in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010, with growth primarily in the value-priced end of the cordless desktop category. Sales of corded keyboards and desktops increased 14% and 8% in dollars and 24% and 18% in units in the three and six month periods compared with the prior year. Two of our new products, the Wireless Keyboard K250 and the Wireless Desktop MK320, were the major contributors to the sales growth.

Retail Audio

Retail audio unit sales decreased 4% in the three months and increased 5% in the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior year. PC speaker sales decreased 3% in dollars and 4% in units in the three month period, and increased 11% in dollars and 7% in units in the six month period compared with the prior year. Our Z5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System made a strong positive contribution to sales. Sales of our iPod speakers declined 18% and 8% in dollars and 32% and 13% in units in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. PC headset sales grew 25% in dollars in both the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, with units increasing 4% and 8%. Our Squeezebox family of streaming video products also made positive contributions to retail audio sales during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010.
 
    Retail Video

Our retail sales in the Video category increased 18% and 15%, while units increased 28% and 33% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. In the three month period, our high-end webcams, such as our HD Pro Webcam C910, made a strong contribution to the growth, and our value-priced webcams were the major contributors to growth in the six month period. Our recently launched Logitech Alert line of digital video security systems also made a notable contribution in the video category in the three month period.

Retail Gaming

Retail unit sales of our gaming peripherals declined 35% and 28% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. PC gaming sales decreased 31% and 26% in dollars and 26% and 20% in units for the three and six months, due to lower sales in most product categories. Console gaming sales decreased 20% and 19% during the three months and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, with a decline in units of 54% and 43%.

Retail Remotes

Retail sales of remotes increased 28% and 115% and units sold grew 71% and 138% during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year. The growth was driven by multiple products, with the Harmony One being the primary contributor, followed by Harmony 300, Harmony 650 and Harmony 900. The increase in sales in the remotes category is attributable to increased consumer demand as well as depressed sales from the economic downturn in the prior fiscal year.

Gross Profit
 
Gross profit for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended September 30,
         
Six months ended September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
   Net sales
  $ 581,884     $ 498,093       17 %   $ 1,061,214     $ 824,203       29 %
   Cost of goods sold
    364,950       346,305       5 %     675,251       594,593       14 %
   Gross profit
  $ 216,934     $ 151,788       43 %   $ 385,963     $ 229,610       68 %
   Gross margin
    37.3 %     30.5 %     22 %     36.4 %     27.9 %     30 %
 
Gross profit consists of net sales, less cost of goods sold which includes materials, direct labor and related overhead costs, costs of manufacturing facilities, costs of purchasing components from outside suppliers, distribution costs, write-down of inventories and amortization of intangible assets.
 
Gross margin increased to 37.3% and 36.4% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 30.5% and 27.9% in the same periods in the prior year. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to favorable shifts in our retail product mix, operational improvements in our supply chain, and the higher gross margin contributed by LifeSize product sales, partially offset by the negative impact of the weaker euro.
 
As examples of product mix shifts, we achieved retail sales growth of 29% in pointing devices and 15% in video in the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009. Pointing devices and video are two of our highest margin product families. Retail sales growth in audio, one of our lower margin product families, was 12% in the same period.
 
Our operational improvements which contributed to the higher gross margin included discontinuing products with low sales and high promotional requirements, focusing sales programs on driving sell-through, and improving sales linearity within each quarter.

 
31

 


Operating Expenses
 
Operating expenses for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended September 30,
         
Six months ended September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
   Marketing and selling
  $ 97,412     $ 68,835       42 %   $ 188,889     $ 127,773       48 %
         % of net sales
    17 %     14 %             18 %     16 %        
   Research and development
    40,927       31,825       29 %     79,316       63,185       26 %
         % of net sales
    7 %     6 %             7 %     8 %        
   General and administrative
    27,420       23,739       16 %     54,780       44,920       22 %
         % of net sales
    5 %     5 %             5 %     5 %        
Restructuring Charges
    -       45               -       1,494          
         % of net sales
    0 %     0 %             0 %     0 %        
   Total operating expenses
  $ 165,759     $ 124,444       33 %   $ 322,985     $ 237,372       36 %


The increase in total operating expenses in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to our acquisition of LifeSize in December 2009. In addition, the Company continued to invest in product development and demand generation activities to help ensure we are positioned for the resumption of revenue growth as economic conditions improve. We expect to limit future growth in operating expenses below the growth rate in revenues, restraining or reducing non-critical expenses while investing in activities that will sustain and drive revenue growth.

 
32

 

We refer to our operating expenses excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates as constant dollar operating expenses. Constant dollar operating expenses are a non-GAAP financial measure, which is information derived from consolidated financial information but not presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our management uses these non-GAAP measures in its financial and operational decision-making, and believes these non-GAAP measures, when considered in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, facilitate a better understanding of changes in operating expenses. Constant dollar operating expenses are calculated by translating prior period operating expenses in each local currency at the current period’s average exchange rate for that currency.

Marketing and Selling
 
Marketing and selling expense consists of personnel and related overhead costs, corporate and product marketing, promotions, advertising, trade shows, customer and technical support and facilities costs.
 
Marketing and selling expenses increased 42% and 48% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, primarily due to the addition of LifeSize sales and marketing personnel in December 2009. Excluding the impact of LifeSize, marketing and selling expenses grew at a faster rate than our sales increase in the three month and six month periods due to a partial restoration of headcount to support the return to sales growth, increased salaries and bonuses related to our return to profitability, and increased advertising and marketing expenses. The increased advertising and marketing spending related to demand generation, ecommerce improvements, and advertising campaigns in connection with our Harmony line of remotes and our new product launches such as the Google TV-related products. In comparison, marketing and selling expenses in the three and six months ended September 30, 2009 were particularly low due to the Company’s cost reduction efforts in response to the economic downturn.
 
If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the increases in constant dollar marketing and selling expense for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2010 would have been 43% and 49%.

Research and Development
 
Research and development expense consists of personnel and related overhead costs, contractors and outside consultants, supplies and materials, equipment depreciation and facilities costs, all associated with the design and development of new products and enhancements of existing products.
 
The 29% and 26% increase in research and development expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same periods in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the addition of LifeSize. Excluding the impact of LifeSize, research and development expense grew at a much slower rate than our sales increase in the three month and six month periods, as we devoted significant resources in the prior fiscal year to research and development projects, even though our sales were lower. Salaries and bonuses for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 increased modestly compared with the prior fiscal year, in line with our return to profitability. Consulting fees related to our development of Logitech Revue for Google TV also contributed to the increase in research and development expense compared with the prior year.
 
If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the increases in constant dollar research and development expense would have been 28% and 24%.

General and Administrative
 
General and administrative expense consists primarily of personnel and related overhead and facilities costs for the finance, information systems, executive, human resources and legal functions.

General and administrative expense increased 16% and 22% in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, primarily due to the addition of LifeSize expenses and salary and bonus increases. Excluding the impact of LifeSize, general and administrative expense grew at approximately the same rate as our sales increase in the three month and six month periods. The higher salary and bonus expense reflected normal increases related to our return to profitability, compared with the prior year’s cost containment efforts.
 
If foreign currency exchange rates had been the same in the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the increases in constant dollar general and administrative expense would have been unchanged.


 
33

 
 
Restructuring Charges
 
Restructuring charges consisted of termination benefits, asset impairment charges, contract termination costs and other charges associated with the restructuring plan initiated in January 2009. The restructuring was completed as of March 31, 2010.
 
The following table summarizes restructuring related transactions during the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


   
Total
   
Termination Benefits
   
Contract Termination Costs
   
Other
 
Balance at March 31, 2009
  $ 3,794     $ 3,779     $ 15     $ -  
Charges
    1,449       1,366       83       -  
Cash payments
    (4,245 )     (4,220 )     (25 )     -  
Other
    (8 )     (4 )     (4 )     -  
Foreign exchange
    91       91       -       -  
Balance at June 30, 2009
  $ 1,081     $ 1,012     $ 69     $ -  
                                 
Charges
    45       (22 )     9       58  
Cash payments
    (718 )     (698 )     (20 )     -  
Other
    (4 )     63       -       (67 )
Foreign exchange
    19       19       -       -  
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 423     $ 374     $ 58     $ (9 )
                                 
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 399     $ 158     $ 334     $ (93 )
Cash payments
    (168 )     -       (168 )     -  
Other
    (74 )     (149 )     -       75  
Foreign exchange
    (3 )     -       -       (3 )
Balance at June 30, 2010
  $ 154     $ 9     $ 166     $ (21 )
                                 
Cash payments
    (73 )     -       (73 )     -  
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 81     $ 9     $ 93     $ (21 )


Interest Income, Net
 
Interest income and expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):
 

   
Three months ended September 30,
         
Six months ended September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
   Interest income
  $ 650     $ 650       0 %   $ 1,173     $ 1,244       (6 %)
   Interest expense
    (15 )     (11 )     (36 %)     (17 )     (13 )     (31 %)
   Interest income, net
  $ 635     $ 639       (1 %)   $ 1,156     $ 1,231       (6 %)


Interest income decreased during the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same period in the prior fiscal year due to significantly lower invested balances, partially offset by slightly higher interest rates.
 

 
34

 

Other Income (Expense), Net
 
Other income and expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended September 30,
         
Six months ended September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
Foreign currency exchange
                                   
      losses, net
  $ (1,421 )   $ (2,275 )     (38 %)   $ (1,061 )   $ (1,138 )     (7 %)
Insurance investment income (loss)
    (611 )     786       (178 %)     (176 )     404       (144 %)
Gain on sale of building
    -       -       0 %     838       -       100 %
Other, net
    238       51       367 %     401       98       309 %
Other income (expense), net
  $ (1,794 )   $ (1,438 )     25 %   $ 2     $ (636 )     (100 %)

The decline in foreign currency exchange losses in the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with 2009 resulted primarily from lower realized losses on foreign exchange swap contracts.
 
Insurance investment income or loss represents changes in the cash surrender value of Company-owned life insurance contracts related to a management deferred compensation plan offered by one of our subsidiaries.
 
The gain on sale of building in the six months ended September 30, 2010 relates to the sale of our building in Romanel, Switzerland during the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes and effective tax rates for the three and six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


   
Three months ended September 30,
         
Six months ended September 30,
       
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change %
 
                                     
Provision for income taxes
  $ 8,856     $ 5,802       53 %   $ 3,454     $ 9,455       (63 %)
Effective income tax rate
    17.7 %     21.9 %             5.4 %     (131.9 %)        

The provision for income taxes consists of income and withholding taxes. Logitech operates in multiple jurisdictions and its profits are taxed pursuant to the tax laws of these jurisdictions. The Company’s effective income tax rate may be affected by changes in tax laws or interpretations of tax laws in any given jurisdiction, utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, changes in geographical mix of income and expense, and changes in management’s assessment of matters such as the ability to realize deferred tax assets.
 
For the three and six months ended September 30, 2010, Logitech’s effective income tax rate was calculated using an estimate of its annual pre-tax income. For the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, management determined that a reliable estimate of its annual pre-tax income and related annual effective income tax rate could not be made, due to the impact of the economic downturn. Therefore, Logitech used the actual year-to-date effective income tax rate for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009.
 
The change in the effective income tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the three months ended September 30, 2009 is primarily due to the mix of income and losses in the various tax jurisdictions in which the Company operates. The change in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the six months ended September 30, 2009 is primarily due to discrete tax benefits of $8.9 million from the expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions.
 
As of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits and related accrued interest and penalties due to uncertain tax positions was $121.4 million and $125.2 million, of which $100.8 million and $101.4 million would affect the effective income tax rate if recognized. The decrease in income tax liability associated with uncertain tax benefits in the six-month period is primarily due to the expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions.    
 
The Company continues to recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. As of September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $9.6 million and $12.5 million of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
 
The Company files Swiss and foreign tax returns. For all these tax returns, the Company is generally not subject to tax examinations for years prior to 1999. The Internal Revenue Service is in the process of examining the Company’s U.S. subsidiary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. At this time it is not possible to estimate the potential impact that the examination may have on income tax expense. The Company is also under examination in other tax jurisdictions. Although the timing of the resolution or closure on audits is highly uncertain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next twelve months.
 

 
35

 
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Cash Balances, Available Borrowings, and Capital Resources
 
At September 30, 2010, our working capital was $450.4 million, compared with $638.4 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease in working capital over the prior year was primarily due to $382.8 million paid to acquire LifeSize in December 2009.
 
During the six months ended September 30, 2010, operating activities provided net cash of $4.7 million. The primary driver of the decline in operating cash flows was the higher investment in inventory and the increase in accounts receivable, partially offset by the increase in net income. Net cash used in investing activities was $30.0 million. We invested in capital expenditures and a business combination, which was partially offset by the sale of a building. Net cash provided by financing activities was $17.2 million, primarily from proceeds from employee stock purchases and the exercise of stock options.
 
At September 30, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of $307.7 million, comprised of bank demand deposits and short-term time deposits. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which is equivalent to fair value.

The Company has credit lines with several European and Asian banks totaling $114.3 million as of September 30, 2010. As is common for businesses in European and Asian countries, these credit lines are uncommitted and unsecured. Despite the lack of formal commitments from the banks, we believe that these lines of credit will continue to be made available because of our long-standing relationships with these banks and our current financial condition. At September 30, 2010, there were no outstanding borrowings under these lines of credit. There are no financial covenants under these facilities.
 
The Company has financed its operating and capital requirements primarily through cash flow from operations and, to a lesser extent, from capital markets and bank borrowings. Our normal short-term liquidity and long-term capital resource requirements are provided from three sources: cash flow generated from operations, cash and cash equivalents on hand, and borrowings, as needed, under our credit facilities.
 
Based upon our available cash balances and credit lines, and the trend of our historical cash flow generation, we believe we have sufficient liquidity to fund operations for the foreseeable future.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities
 
The following table presents selected financial information and statistics as of September 30, 2010 and 2009 (dollars in thousands):


   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 304,998     $ 259,776  
Inventories
    343,021       239,904  
Working capital
    450,420       638,438  
Days sales in accounts receivable (DSO) (1)
 
47 days
   
47 days
 
Inventory turnover (ITO) (2)
    4.3 x     5.8 x
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 4,699     $ 132,900  


 
(1)
DSO is determined using ending accounts receivable as of the most recent quarter-end and net sales for the most recent quarter.
(2)
ITO is determined using ending inventories and annualized cost of goods sold (based on the most recent quarterly cost of goods sold).
 
Net cash provided by operating activities decreased to $4.7 million in the six months ended September 30, 2010, from $132.9 million for the six months ended September 30, 2009. The primary driver of the decline in operating cash flows was the higher investment in inventory and the increase in accounts receivable, partially offset by the increase in net income. The increase in inventory at September 30, 2010 is attributable to $23.5 million of LifeSize and Logitech Revue-related products, an improved demand environment which requires more available inventory, and our decision to establish an inventory buffer in order to provide improved service levels and assist our channel partners in taking advantage of any potential sales upside during the holiday shopping season.
 
DSO as of September 30, 2010 was unchanged from the prior fiscal year. Typical payment terms require customers to pay for product sales generally within 30 to 60 days. However, terms may vary by customer type, by country and by selling season. Extended payment terms are sometimes offered to a limited number of customers during the second and third fiscal quarters. The Company does not modify payment terms on existing receivables, but may offer discounts for early payment.
 
Inventory turns for the six months ended September 30, 2010 were slightly lower than in the six months ended September 30, 2009, due to the increased level of inventory. Although inventory levels have increased from the prior year and from fiscal year end, the aging of the products in inventory has improved substantially.

 
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Cash Flow from Investing Activities
 
Cash flows from investing activities during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
  $ (25,419 )   $ (18,144 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (7,300 )     (200 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    2,688       -  
Proceeds from cash surrender of life insurance policies
    -       813  
   Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (30,031 )   $ (17,531 )


Our capital expenditures during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were principally for computer hardware and software purchases, machinery and equipment, and normal expenditures for tooling. Purchasing activity was lower in the six months ended September 30, 2009, as we focused our cash outlays on critical capital needs.
 
In the six months ended September 30, 2010, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Paradial AS for $7.3 million in a business combination.  Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment were related to the sale of our building in Romanel, Switzerland.
 
The proceeds from cash surrender of life insurance policies for the six months ended September 30, 2009 related to investments of a management deferred compensation plan offered by one of our subsidiaries.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities
 
The following table presents information on our cash flows from financing activities during the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):


   
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Purchases of treasury shares
  $ -     $ (101,267 )
Proceeds from sale of shares upon exercise of options and
               
     purchase rights
    16,538       12,972  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
    676       1,346  
   Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ 17,214     $ (86,949 )


No share repurchases were made in the six months ended September 30, 2010. During the six months ended September 30, 2009, we repurchased 5.8 million shares for $101.3 million at an average price per share of $17.35, under the Company’s June 2007 buyback program.
 
During the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, cash of $16.5 million and $13.0 million was provided by the sale of shares upon exercise of options and purchase rights pursuant to the Company’s stock purchase plans. Tax benefits recognized on the exercise of share-based payment awards provided $0.7 million and $1.3 million.

Cash Outlook
 
We have financed our operations and capital requirements primarily through cash flow from operations and, to a lesser extent, capital markets and bank borrowings. Our working capital requirements and capital expenditures may increase to support future expansion of Logitech operations. Future acquisitions or expansion of our operations may be significant and may also require the use of cash. In addition, future deterioration of global economic conditions could adversely affect our operations and require the use of cash.
 
In December 2009, we acquired LifeSize Communications, Inc., a privately held company specializing in high definition video communication products and services. In connection with the acquisition, Logitech agreed to establish a cash retention and incentive plan for certain LifeSize employees, linked to the achievement of LifeSize performance targets. The duration of the plan’s performance period is two years, from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The total available cash incentive is $9.0 million over the two year performance period.
 
In September 2008, our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program, which authorizes the Company to invest up to $250 million to purchase its own shares. As of November 5, 2010, we have not started repurchases under the September 2008 program.
 
In November 2007, we acquired WiLife, Inc., a privately held company providing PC-based video cameras for self-monitoring a home or small business. The purchase agreement provides for a possible performance-based payment, payable in the first calendar quarter of 2011. The performance-based payment is based on net revenues attributed to WiLife during calendar year 2010. No payment is due if the applicable net revenues total $40.0 million or less. The maximum performance-based payment is $64.0 million.  The total performance-based payment amount, if any, will be recorded in goodwill and will not be known until the end of calendar year 2010. As of September 30, 2010, no amounts were payable towards performance-based payments under our WiLife acquisition agreement.
 
On October 12, 2010, the legislature of the U.S. state of California enacted a fiscal budget bill which extended the suspension of net operating losses for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2008 through January 1, 2012. The legislation also affects the methodology used by corporate taxpayers to apportion income to California and modifies the large corporate underpayment penalty effective for our fiscal years ending March 31, 2011 and 2012. Although the Company has significant operations in California, we believe these changes will not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is in the process of examining the Company’s U.S. subsidiary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The Company is also under examination in other tax jurisdictions. As of September 30, 2010, we are not able to estimate the potential future liability, if any, which may result from these examinations.
 
Other contractual obligations and commitments of the Company which require cash are described in the following sections.
 
Over the past several years, we have generated positive cash flow from our operating activities, including cash from operations of $365.3 million in fiscal year 2010 and $4.7 million in the six months ended September 30, 2010. Despite the uncertain economic environment, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents, cash flow generated from operations, and available borrowings under our bank lines of credit will be sufficient to fund our operations for the foreseeable future.


 
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
 
As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s outstanding contractual obligations and commitments included: (i) facilities leased under operating lease commitments, (ii) purchase commitments and obligations, (iii) long-term liabilities for income taxes payable, and (iv) defined benefit pension plan obligations. The following summarizes our contractual obligations and commitments at September 30, 2010 (in thousands):
 

   
September 30, 2010
 
       
Operating leases
  $ 71,249  
Purchase commitments - inventory
    183,458  
Purchase obligations - capital expenditures
    12,130  
Purchase obligations - operating expenses
    45,001  
Income taxes payable - non-current
    114,949  
Obligation for management deferred compensation
    10,644  
Pension and post-employment obligations
    23,389  
Other long-term liabilities
    14,607  
Total contractual obligations and commitments
  $ 475,427  


Operating Leases

The Company leases facilities under operating leases, certain of which require it to pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Operating leases for facilities are generally renewable at the Company’s option and usually include escalation clauses linked to inflation. The remaining terms on our non-cancelable operating leases expire in various years through 2028. Our asset retirement obligations on these leases as of September 30, 2010 were $1.5 million. The increase in future minimum annual rentals as of September 30, 2010 compared with March 31, 2010 was due to a new research and development office in Lausanne, Switzerland, new facilities for our LifeSize division in Austin, Texas and a new office for our audio business unit in Vancouver, Washington.
 
Purchase Commitments
 
We expect to continue making capital expenditures in the future to support product development activities and ongoing and expanded operations. At September 30, 2010, fixed purchase commitments for capital expenditures amounted to $12.1 million, and primarily relate to commitments for manufacturing equipment and tooling. We also have commitments for inventory purchases made in the normal course of business to original design manufacturers, contract manufacturers and other suppliers. At September 30, 2010, fixed purchase commitments for inventory amounted to $183.5 million, which are expected to be fulfilled by March 31, 2011. We also had other commitments of $45.0 million for consulting, marketing arrangements, advertising and other services. Although open purchase commitments are considered enforceable and legally binding, the terms generally allow us the option to reschedule and adjust our requirements based on business needs prior to delivery of goods or performance of services.

Income Taxes Payable

At September 30, 2010, we had $114.9 million in non-current income taxes payable, including interest and penalties, related to our income tax liability for recognized uncertain tax positions, compared with $116.5 million in non-current income taxes payable and $2.4 million in current income taxes payable as of March 31, 2010. The decline in the income tax liability associated with uncertain tax benefits is due to expiration of statutes of limitations and the closure of income tax audits in certain foreign jurisdictions.
 
The Company files Swiss and foreign tax returns. For all these tax returns, the Company is generally not subject to tax examinations for years prior to 1999. The Internal Revenue Service is in the process of examining the Company’s U.S. subsidiary for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. At this time it is not possible to estimate the potential impact that the examination may have on income tax expense. The Company is also under examination in other tax jurisdictions. Although timing of the resolution or closure on audits is highly uncertain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next twelve months.


 
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Other Contractual Obligations and Commitments

For further detail about our contractual obligations and commitments, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 The Company has not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities whereby we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to the Company.

Guarantees
 
The Company has guaranteed the purchase obligations of some of its contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers to certain component suppliers. These guarantees generally have a term of one year and are automatically extended for one or more years as long as a liability exists. The amount of the purchase obligations of these manufacturers varies over time, and therefore the amounts subject to the Company’s guarantees similarly vary. At September 30, 2010, there were no outstanding guaranteed purchase obligations. The maximum potential future payments under two of three guarantee arrangements is limited to $30.0 million. The third guarantee is limited to purchases of specified components from the named suppliers. We do not believe, based on historical experience and information available as of the date of this report, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these guarantee arrangements.
 
Logitech International S.A., the parent holding company, has guaranteed certain contingent liabilities of various subsidiaries related to specific transactions occurring in the normal course of business. The maximum amount of the guarantees was $9.0 million as of September 30, 2010. As of September 30, 2010, $8.7 million was outstanding under these guarantees. The parent holding company has also guaranteed the purchases of one of its subsidiaries under three guarantee arrangements. These guarantees do not specify a maximum amount. As of September 30, 2010, $10.0 million was outstanding under these guarantees.

Indemnifications
 
The Company indemnifies some of its suppliers and customers for losses arising from matters such as intellectual property rights and safety defects, subject to certain restrictions. The scope of these indemnities varies, but in some instances, includes indemnification for damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our officers and directors, and the bylaws of our subsidiaries contain similar indemnification obligations to our agents. No amounts have been accrued for indemnification provisions at September 30, 2010. We do not believe, based on historical experience and information available as of the date of this report, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these indemnification arrangements.


 
39

 

ITEM 3.   QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk
 
Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. As a global concern, the Company faces exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. These exposures may change over time as business practices evolve and could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial results.
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
 
The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk as it transacts business in multiple foreign currencies, including exposure related to anticipated sales, anticipated purchases and assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Logitech transacts business in over 30 currencies worldwide, of which the most significant to operations are the CNY (Chinese renminbi), Taiwanese dollar, euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen and Mexican peso. The functional currency of the Company’s operations is primarily the U.S. dollar. To a lesser extent, certain operations use the euro, Swiss franc, Japanese yen or the local currency of the country as their functional currencies. Accordingly, unrealized foreign currency gains or losses resulting from the translation of net assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar are accumulated in the cumulative translation adjustment component of other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.
 
The table below provides information about the Company’s underlying transactions that are sensitive to foreign exchange rate changes, primarily assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency, where the net exposure is greater than $0.5 million at September 30, 2010. The table also presents the U.S. dollar impact on earnings of a 10% appreciation and a 10% depreciation of the functional currency as compared with the transaction currency (in thousands):


Functional Currency
Transaction Currency
 
Net Exposed Long (Short) Currency Position
   
FX Gain (Loss) From 10% Appreciation of Functional Currency
   
FX Gain (Loss) From 10% Depreciation of Functional Currency
 
                     
Chinese renminbi
U.S. dollar
  $ (18,933 )   $ 1,721     $ (2,104 )
Taiwanese dollar
U.S. dollar
    18,356       (1,669 )     2,040  
Euro
British pound
    16,389       (1,490 )     1,821  
U.S. dollar
Canadian dollar
    9,311       (846 )     1,035  
Japanese yen
U.S. dollar
    (8,289 )     754       (921 )
Mexican peso
U.S. dollar
    (7,422 )     675       (825 )
U.S. dollar
Swiss franc
    (3,648 )     332       (405 )
Euro
Swedish krona
    (2,142 )     195       (238 )
Euro
U.S. dollar
    (1,285 )     117       (143 )
Australian dollar
U.S. dollar
    1,178       (107 )     131  
Euro
Swiss franc
    (700 )     64       (78 )
Euro
Norwegian krone
    (681 )     62       (76 )
Euro
Russian rouble
    594       (54 )     66  
      $ 2,728     $ (246 )   $ 303  


Long currency positions represent net assets being held in the transaction currency while short currency positions represent net liabilities being held in the transaction currency.
 
The Company’s principal manufacturing operations are located in China, with much of its component and raw material costs transacted in CNY. However, the functional currency of its Chinese operating subsidiary is the U.S. dollar as its sales and trade receivables are transacted in U.S. dollars. To hedge against any potential significant appreciation of the CNY, the Company transferred a portion of its cash investments to CNY accounts. At September 30, 2010, net assets held in CNY totaled $18.9 million.  The Company continues to evaluate the level of net assets held in CNY relative to component and raw material purchases and interest rates on cash equivalents.
 
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to its subsidiaries’ forecasted inventory purchases. The primary risk managed by using derivative instruments is the foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Company has designated these derivatives as cash flow hedges. Logitech does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. These hedging contracts generally mature within six months, and are denominated in the same currency as the underlying transactions. Gains and losses in the fair value of the effective portion of the hedges are deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss until the hedged inventory purchases are sold, at which time the gains or losses are reclassified to cost of goods sold. The Company assesses the effectiveness of the hedges by comparing changes in the spot rate of the currency underlying the forward contract with changes in the spot rate of the currency in which the forecasted transaction will be consummated. If the underlying transaction being hedged fails to occur or if a portion of the hedge does not generate offsetting changes in the foreign currency exposure of forecasted inventory purchases, the Company immediately recognizes the gain or loss on the associated financial instrument in other income (expense). As of September 30, 2010, the notional amount of foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding related to forecasted inventory purchases was $98.7 million (€71.9 million). Deferred realized losses of $1.5 million are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 30, 2010, and are expected to be reclassified to cost of goods sold when the related inventory is sold. Deferred unrealized losses of $7.1 million related to open cash flow hedges are also recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2010 and these forward contracts will be revalued in future periods until the related inventory is sold, at which time the resulting gains or losses will be reclassified to cost of goods sold.
 
The Company also enters into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce the short-term effects of foreign currency fluctuations on certain foreign currency receivables or payables. These forward contracts generally mature within one to three months. The Company may also enter into foreign exchange swap contracts to economically extend the terms of its foreign exchange forward contracts. The primary risk managed by using forward and swap contracts is the foreign currency exchange rate risk. The gains or losses on foreign exchange forward contracts are recognized in earnings based on the changes in fair value.
 
The notional amount of foreign exchange forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 relating to foreign currency receivables or payables was $14.3 million. Open forward contracts as of September 30, 2010 consisted of contracts in British pounds to purchase euros at a future date at a predetermined exchange rate. The notional amount of foreign exchange swap contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 was $26.6 million. Swap contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 consisted of contracts in Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, and Mexican pesos. Unrealized net losses on the contracts outstanding at September 30, 2010 were $0.5 million.
 
If the U.S. dollar had appreciated by 10% compared with the foreign currencies in which we have forward or swap contracts, an unrealized gain of $4.7 million in our forward foreign exchange contract portfolio would have occurred. If the U.S. dollar had depreciated by 10% compared with the foreign currencies in which we have forward or swap contracts, a $20.5 million unrealized loss in our forward foreign exchange contract portfolio would have occurred.
 
Interest Rates
 
Changes in interest rates could impact the Company’s anticipated interest income on its cash equivalents and investment securities. The Company prepared sensitivity analyses of its interest rate exposures to assess the impact of hypothetical changes in interest rates. Based on the results of these analyses, a 100 basis point decrease or increase in interest rates from the September 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010 period end rates would not have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows.


 
40

 

ITEM 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Logitech’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
Disclosure controls are controls and procedures designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls are also designed to reasonably assure that this information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
In December of 2009, the Company acquired LifeSize Communications, Inc. As a result, the Company has begun integrating the processes and systems related to LifeSize into its existing systems of internal control over financial reporting.

 
41

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 
From time to time, we become involved in claims and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of our business. We are currently subject to several such claims and a small number of legal proceedings. We presently do not believe that the resolution of these claims and legal proceedings will have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

The strength and timing of the anticipated improvement of our business is uncertain, and economic conditions have harmed and could continue to significantly harm our operating results.
 
The global economic recession had a significant negative impact on our business.  We anticipate that our business and operating results will continue to improve, in part as a result of the steps we have taken in response to general economic conditions. However, the strength and precise timing of future improvement of our business is uncertain. In addition, the recession may continue to have the following negative effects on our business, operating results, and financial condition:

 
·
Reduced sales to our customers, reflecting current and anticipated lower end-user consumer demand for our products as well as a shift in consumer buying patterns toward lower-priced products.

 
·
Risk of future customer bankruptcy or business failures, resulting in lower sales levels and increases in bad debt write-offs and receivables reserves.

 
·
Higher costs for customer incentive programs, cooperative marketing arrangements and price protection used to stimulate demand, which lowers our net sales.

 
·
Increased downward pressure on our product prices as we lower prices to stimulate demand or reduce inventory, or as competitors lower prices to gain market share in slow-growing or shrinking markets.

 
·
Product returns in excess of our historical experience rate, resulting in higher returns reserves rates.

 
·
Risk of excess and obsolete inventories.

 
·
Financial distress or bankruptcy of key suppliers, resulting in insufficient product quantities to meet demand for particular products.

 
·
Risk of counterparty failures due to continuing stress on financial institutions, which may negatively impact cash, cash equivalents and investment securities.

If our business does not continue to improve as we expect, or if global economic conditions deteriorate, our operating results in a given quarter could be below the expectations of financial analysts and investors, which could cause the price of our shares to decline.

 
42

 
 
Our operating results are difficult to predict and fluctuations in results may cause volatility in the price of our shares.
 
Our revenues and profitability are difficult to predict due to the nature of the markets in which we compete and for many other reasons, including the following:
 
 
·
Our operating results are highly dependent on the volume and timing of orders received during the quarter, which are difficult to forecast. Customers generally order on an as-needed basis and we typically do not obtain firm, long-term purchase commitments from our customers. As a result, our revenues in any quarter depend primarily on orders booked and shipped in that quarter.

 
·
A significant portion of our quarterly retail sales typically occurs in the last weeks of each quarter, further increasing the difficulty in predicting quarterly revenues and profitability.

 
·
We must incur a large portion of our costs in advance of sales orders, because we must plan research and production, order components, buy tooling equipment, and enter into development, sales and marketing, and other operating commitments prior to obtaining firm commitments from our customers. This makes it difficult for us to rapidly adjust our costs during the quarter in response to a revenue shortfall, which could adversely affect our operating results.

 
·
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates can impact our revenues, expenses and profitability because we report our financial statements in U.S. dollars, whereas a significant portion of our revenues and expenses are in other currencies. We attempt to adjust product prices over time to offset the impact of currency movements. However, over short periods of time and during periods of weakness in consumer spending, our ability to increase local currency selling prices to offset the impact of currency fluctuations is limited.
 
Because our operating results are difficult to predict, our results may be below the expectations of financial analysts and investors, which could cause the price of our shares to decline.

We may not realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of LifeSize Communications.
 
In December 2009, we acquired LifeSize Communications, Inc., a privately-held company providing high definition video communication solutions. This acquisition is part of our strategy to acquire, when appropriate, companies that have products, personnel and technologies that complement our strategic direction and roadmap.
 
Our acquisition of LifeSize involves risks and uncertainties, including:

 
·
Insufficient future revenues and profitability of LifeSize, which could negatively impact our consolidated results.

 
·
Significant goodwill and intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition, which could require an impairment and resulting reduction in consolidated results if future revenues and profitability of LifeSize do not meet expectations.

 
·
Increased or unpredictable resource allocation requirements for LifeSize, which could impact the availability of resources for other Logitech strategic or operational investments.

 
·
Diversion of management’s attention from normal daily operations of the business and the challenges of managing larger and more widespread operations resulting from the acquisition.

 
·
Exposure to potential product quality issues.

In addition, through our acquisition of LifeSize, we have entered the market for enterprise video conferencing. Although we have maintained the LifeSize enterprise sales organization, Logitech has little experience with selling to enterprise accounts, or in marketing to large enterprises. We are also exposed to additional competitors in the video conferencing market, some of which have greater resources, including technical and engineering resources, than we do. Additionally, as customers complete video conferencing installations, they may require greater levels of service and support than we have provided in the past. Demand for these types of services and support may increase in the future. There can be no assurance that we can provide products, services and support to effectively compete for these market opportunities. Further, provision of greater levels of services and support by us may result in a delay in the timing of revenue recognition.
 
Any of these and other factors, many of which are out of our control, could prevent us from realizing the anticipated benefits of the acquisition and could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition. There can be no assurance that LifeSize product enhancements will be made in a timely fashion or that pre-acquisition due diligence will have identified all possible issues that might arise with respect to LifeSize products.
 
Acquisitions are inherently risky, and no assurance can be given that our acquisition of LifeSize or other future acquisitions will be successful and will not adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition.

 
43

 
 
If we fail to successfully innovate in our current and emerging product categories, our business and operating results could suffer.
 
The peripherals industry is characterized by short product life cycles, frequent new product introductions, rapidly changing technology and evolving industry standards. As a result, we must continually innovate in our current and emerging product categories, introduce new products and technologies, and enhance existing products in order to remain competitive.
 
The success of our products depends on several factors, including our ability to:

 
·
identify new features or product opportunities;

 
·
anticipate changes in technology, market trends, and consumer and business demands;

 
·
develop innovative and reliable new products and enhancements in a cost-effective and timely manner; and

 
·
distinguish our products from those of our competitors.
 
If we do not execute on these factors successfully, products that we introduce or technologies or standards that we adopt may not gain widespread commercial acceptance, and our business and operating results could suffer.
 
In addition, if we do not continue to distinguish all our products, particularly our retail products, through distinctive, technologically advanced features, designs, and services, as well as continue to build and strengthen our brand recognition and our access to distribution channels, our business could be harmed.

Our products for the Google TV platform may be less successful than we expect for a number of reasons, which could harm our business and operating results.
 
We are investing significantly in the development and marketing of our products for the Google TV platform. We believe that the Google TV platform has the potential to provide us with a sizable and growing installed base to generate incremental sales over an extended period of time. However, if consumer reaction to and demand for Google TV and our products for it are less positive than we expect, if Google fails to further develop and support the Google TV platform, if Google TV is not introduced by Google in countries outside of the United States, or if we choose to invest more in marketing or other expenses in order to develop and promote our products for Google TV, our revenue expectations for our products for Google TV may not be achieved and the revenue generated could be less than the resources we have invested, which could harm our business and operating results.

If we do not successfully innovate and market products for notebook PC, tabletss and other mobile devices, including those with touch interfaces, our business and results of operations may suffer.
 
We have historically targeted peripherals for the PC platform, a market that is dynamically changing as a result of the declining popularity of desktop PCs and the increasing popularity of notebook PCs and other mobile devices, such as tablets, smart phones, netbooks and smaller form factor devices with computing or web surfing capabilities, including those with touch interfaces. In our OEM channel, this shift has adversely affected our sales of OEM mice, which are sold with name-brand desktop PCs. Our OEM mice sales have historically made up the bulk of our OEM sales. Our OEM sales accounted for 11% of total revenues in the six months ended September 30, 2010 and 10% of total revenues during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. If the desktop PC market continues to experience slower growth or decline, and if we do not successfully diversify our OEM business, our OEM revenues could be adversely affected.
 
In our retail channels, notebook PCs and mobile devices are sold by retailers without peripherals.  We believe this creates opportunities to sell products to consumers to help make their devices more productive and comfortable. However, consumer acceptance and demand for peripherals for use with smaller form factor computing devices such as notebook PCs and mobile devices, including those with touch interfaces, is still uncertain. The increasing popularity of notebook PCs and mobile devices may result in a decreased demand by consumers for keyboards and speakers, which could negatively affect our sales of these products. Notebook PCs and mobile devices are also often equipped with embedded webcams, which could reduce the demand for Logitech webcams that are sold separately. The increasing popularity of mobile devices has coincided with a steadily decreasing average sales price for computing devices, including for desktop and notebook PCs. As a result, there is a risk that the demand for those of our products that have a relatively high average sales price in relation to the price of a desktop or notebook PC will decline. If we do not successfully innovate and market products designed for notebook PCs and other mobile devices, or if general consumer demand for peripherals for use with notebook PCs and mobile devices does not increase, our business and results of operations could be significantly harmed.
 
 
 
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If we do not compete effectively, demand for our products could decline and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
 
The peripherals and video conferencing industries are intensely competitive.
 
The peripherals industry is characterized by short product life cycles, continual performance enhancements, and rapid adoption of technological and product advancements by competitors in our retail markets, and price sensitivity in the OEM market. We experience aggressive price competition and other promotional activities from our primary competitors and from less-established brands, including brands owned by retail customers known as house brands, in response to declining consumer demand in both the retail and OEM markets. In addition, our competitors may offer customers terms and conditions which may be more favorable than our terms and conditions and may require us to take actions to increase our customer incentive programs, which could impact our revenues and operating margins.
 
The video conferencing industry is characterized by continual performance enhancements and increasing consolidation. There is heightened interest in the video conferencing market by large, well-financed competitors, such as Cisco Systems, Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company, and as a result, we expect competition in the industry to further intensify.
 
In recent years, we have expanded the categories of products we sell, and entered new markets. We remain alert to opportunities in new categories and markets. As we do so, we are confronting new competitors, many of which have more experience in the categories or markets and have greater marketing resources and brand name recognition than we have. In addition, because of the continuing convergence of the markets for computing devices and consumer electronics, we expect greater competition in the future from well-established consumer electronics companies in our developing categories, such as our products for Google TV, as well as in future categories we might enter. Many of these companies, such as Microsoft Corporation, Cisco, Sony Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Polycom, Inc., Tandberg ASA and others, have greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources than we have.
 
Microsoft is a leading producer of operating systems and applications with which our mice, keyboards and webcams are designed to operate. In addition, Microsoft has significantly greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources than Logitech, as well as greater name recognition and a larger customer base. As a result, Microsoft may be able to improve the functionality of its own peripherals to correspond with ongoing enhancements to its operating systems and software applications before we are able to make such improvements. This ability could provide Microsoft with significant lead-time advantages. In addition, Microsoft may be able to offer pricing advantages on bundled hardware and software products that we may not be able to offer, and may be financially positioned to exert significant downward pressure on product prices and upward pressure on promotional incentives in order to gain market share.

Pointing Devices, Keyboards and Desktops. Microsoft is our main competitor in the mice, keyboard and desktop product lines. We also experience competition and pricing pressure for corded and cordless mice and desktops from less-established brands, including house brands, which has impacted our market share in some sales geographies and which could potentially further impact our market share. The notebook peripheral category is also an area where we face aggressive pricing and promotions, as well as new competitors that have broader notebook product offerings than we do.
 
Video. Our competitors for PC Web cameras include Microsoft, Creative Labs, Royal Philips Electronics NV and Hewlett-Packard. We are encountering aggressive pricing practices and promotions on a worldwide basis, which have impacted our revenues and margins. The worldwide market for PC webcams has been very competitive, and as a result, pricing practices and promotions by our competitors have become more aggressive.
 
Audio. Competitors in audio devices vary by product line. In the PC, mobile entertainment and communication platform speaker business, competitors include Plantronics, Inc., Altec Lansing LLC, Creative Labs, and Bose Corporation. In the PC headset and microphone business, our main competitors include Plantronics and Altec Lansing.  We have expanded our audio product portfolio to include network-based audio systems for digital music, an emerging market with several small competitors as well as larger established consumer electronics companies, like Sony and Philips.
 
Gaming. Competitors for our interactive entertainment products include Intec, Razer USA Ltd., Performance Designed Products, LLC (Pelican Accessories), Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., and its Saitek brand. Our controllers for PlayStation also compete against controllers offered by Sony.
 
Remotes. Our competitors for remotes include, among others, Philips, Universal Remote Control, Inc., Universal Electronics Inc., RCA and Sony. We expect that the growth in recent years in consumer demand for peripheral devices for home entertainment systems will likely result in increased competition.
 
Video Conferencing.  Our primary competitors in the enterprise video conferencing market are Tandberg and Polycom. These companies have longer experience and a larger customer installed base than LifeSize. Cisco and Hewlett-Packard also compete with us for sales of higher-end systems. Cisco and Hewlett-Packard have substantially greater financial, sales and marketing, and engineering resources than we do. In addition, there are a number of smaller competitors which compete with LifeSize, along with Tandberg, Polycom, Cisco and Hewlett-Packard, for new accounts, OEM relationships, and installations.
 
We also expect Cisco’s purchase of Tandberg to further intensify competition. Cisco is a leading producer of networking, switching and other telecommunications infrastructure products and end-points, such as phones, that are frequently used within enterprises. The growth of our LifeSize division depends in part on our ability to increase sales to enterprises with installed bases of Cisco and Tandberg equipment, and to enterprises that may purchase their equipment in the future. We believe the ability of our LifeSize products to interoperate with Cisco and Tandberg equipment, and with the equipment of other telecommunications, video conferencing or telepresence equipment suppliers, to be a key factor in purchasing decisions by current or prospective LifeSize customers. Cisco and Tandberg may be able to improve the functionality of their own videoconferencing equipment to correspond with ongoing enhancements to Cisco’s networking, switching and other telecommunications equipment before we are able to make such improvements, or may restrict the interoperability of their products with ours. This could significantly harm the sales of our LifeSize division. As a result, the growth of our LifeSize division, and the growth of Logitech as a whole, could be significantly harmed.
 
If we do not compete effectively, demand for our products could decline, our gross margin could decrease, we could lose market share and our revenues could decline.

 
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If we do not accurately forecast product demand, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
 
We use our forecasts of product demand to make decisions regarding investments of our resources and production levels of our products. Although we receive forecasts from our customers, many are not obligated to purchase the forecasted demand. Also, actual sales volumes for individual products in our retail distribution channel can be volatile due to changes in consumer preferences and other reasons. In addition, our retail products have short product life cycles, so a failure to accurately predict high demand for a product can result in lost sales that we may not recover in subsequent periods, or higher product costs if we meet demand by paying higher costs for materials, production and delivery. We could also frustrate our customers and lose shelf space. Our failure to predict low demand for a product can result in excess inventory, lower cash flows and lower margins if we are required to reduce product prices in order to reduce inventories.
 
Over the past few years, we have expanded the number and types of products we sell, and the geographic markets in which we sell them, and we will endeavor to further expand our product portfolio and sales reach. The growth of our product portfolio and our sales markets has increased the difficulty of accurately forecasting product demand.
 
We have experienced large differences between our forecasts and actual demand for our products and expect differences to arise in the future. If we do not accurately predict product demand, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

Our gross margins can vary significantly depending on multiple factors, which can result in unanticipated fluctuations in our operating results.

Our gross margins can vary due to consumer demand, competition, product life cycle, new product introductions, unit volumes, commodity and supply chain costs, geographic sales mix, foreign currency exchange rates, and the complexity and functionality of new product innovations. In particular, if we are not able to introduce new products in a timely manner at the product cost we expect, or if consumer demand for our products is less than we anticipate, or if there are product pricing, marketing and other initiatives by our competitors to which we need to react that lower our margins, then our overall gross margin will be less than we project. For example, a sustained increase in the cost of key commodities used in our products, such as copper and thermoplastic, could negatively impact our gross margins. As another example, in the second half of fiscal year 2009 and the first half of fiscal year 2010, economic uncertainty caused our customers to reduce purchases of our products below what we had forecasted, and also led us to increase our customer incentives to stimulate demand, which significantly lowered our overall gross margin in those periods.
 
In addition, our gross margins may vary significantly by product line, sales geography and customer type, as well as within product lines. When the mix of products sold shifts from higher margin product lines to lower margin product lines, to lower margin sales geographies, or to lower margin products within product lines, our overall gross margins and our profitability may be adversely affected.
 
The impact of these factors on gross margins can create unanticipated fluctuations in our operating results, which may cause volatility in the price of our shares.

Our business depends in part on access to third-party platforms or technologies, and if the access is withdrawn, denied, or is not available on terms acceptable to us, or if the platforms or technologies change without notice to us, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

Our product portfolio includes current and future products designed for use with third-party platforms, such as Apple iPod and iPhone, Google TV, Sony PlayStation, and Nintendo Wii. Our business in these categories relies on our access to the platforms of third parties, which can be withdrawn, denied or not be available on terms acceptable to us.
 
Our access to third-party platforms may require paying a royalty, which lowers our product margins, or may otherwise be on terms that are not acceptable to us. In addition, the third-party platforms or technologies used to interact with our product portfolio can be delayed in production or can change without prior notice to us, which can result in our having excess inventory or lower margins.
 
If we are unable to access third-party platforms or technologies, or if our access is withdrawn, denied, or is not available on terms acceptable to us, or if the platforms or technologies are delayed or change without notice to us, our business and operating results could be adversely affected. 

Our principal manufacturing operations and third-party contract manufacturers are located in China, which exposes us to risks associated with doing business in that country.
 
Our principal manufacturing operations and third-party contract manufacturers are located in China. Our manufacturing operations in China could be severely impacted by changes in the interpretation and enforcement of legal standards, by strains on China’s available labor pool, communications, trade, and other infrastructures, by conflicts or disagreements between China and Taiwan or China and the United States, by labor unrest, and by other trade customs and practices that are dissimilar to those in the United States and Europe. Interpretation and enforcement of China’s laws and regulations continue to evolve and we expect differences in interpretation and enforcement to continue in the foreseeable future.
 
Further, we may be exposed to fluctuations in the value of the Chinese renminbi (“CNY”), the local currency of China, as well as higher overall labor costs due to continuing increases in China’s minimum wage. Future appreciation of the CNY could increase our component and other raw material costs. In addition, our labor costs could continue to rise as wage rates increase and the available labor pool declines. These conditions could adversely affect our gross margins and financial results.

We purchase key components and products from a limited number of sources, and our business and operating results could be harmed if supply were delayed or constrained or if there were shortages of required components.
 
We purchase certain products and key components from a limited number of sources. If the supply of these products or key components, such as micro-controllers, optical sensors and LifeSize hardware products, were to be delayed or constrained, or if one or more of our single-source suppliers goes out of business as a result of adverse global economic conditions, we might be unable to find a new supplier on acceptable terms, or at all, and our product shipments to our customers could be delayed, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
 
Lead times for materials, components and products ordered by us or by our contract manufacturers can vary significantly and depend on factors such as contract terms, demand for a component, and supplier capacity. From time to time, we have experienced component shortages and extended lead times on semiconductors, such as micro-controllers and optical sensors, and base metals used in our products. Shortages or interruptions in the supply of components or subcontracted products, or our inability to procure these components or products from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could delay shipment of our products or increase our production costs, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 
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If we do not successfully coordinate the worldwide manufacturing and distribution of our products, we could lose sales.
 
Our business requires us to coordinate the manufacture and distribution of our products over much of the world. We rely on third parties to manufacture many of our products, manage centralized distribution centers, and transport our products. For example, the availability of transportation resources has been been constrained recently by competitive actions and vendor consolidation. If we do not successfully coordinate the timely manufacturing and distribution of our products, we may have insufficient supply of products to meet customer demand and we could lose sales, or we may experience a build-up in inventory.
 
A significant portion of our quarterly retail orders and product deliveries generally occur in the last weeks of the fiscal quarter. This places pressure on our supply chain and could adversely impact our revenues and profitability if we are unable to successfully fulfill customer orders in the quarter.  

We conduct operations in a number of countries, and are investing significantly in growing our sales and marketing activities in China, and the effect of business, legal and political risks associated with international operations could significantly harm us.
 
We conduct operations in a number of countries, and are investing significantly in growing our sales and marketing activities in China. We may also increase our investments to grow sales in other emerging markets. There are risks inherent in doing business in international markets, including:
 
 
·
difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;

 
·
compliance with laws and regulations, including environmental and tax laws, which vary from country to country and over time, increasing the costs of compliance and potential risks of non-compliance;

 
·
exposure to political and financial instability, leading to currency exchange losses and collection difficulties or other losses;

 
·
exposure to fluctuations in the value of local currencies;

 
·
difficulties or increased costs in establishing sales and distribution channels in unfamiliar markets, with their own market characteristics and competition;

 
·
changes in VAT (value-added tax) or VAT reimbursement;

 
·
imposition of currency exchange controls; and

 
·
delays from customs brokers or government agencies.
 
Any of these risks could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

We may be unable to protect our proprietary rights. Unauthorized use of our technology may result in the development of products that compete with our products.

Our future success depends in part on our proprietary technology, technical know-how and other intellectual property. We rely on a combination of patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws, and confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions such as nondisclosure terms and licenses, to protect our intellectual property.
 
We hold various United States patents and pending applications, together with corresponding patents and pending applications from other countries. It is possible that any patent owned by us will be invalidated, deemed unenforceable, circumvented or challenged, that the patent rights granted will not provide competitive advantages to us, or that any of our pending or future patent applications will not be granted. In addition, other intellectual property laws or our confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions may not adequately protect our intellectual property. Also, others may independently develop similar technology, duplicate our products, or design around our patents or other intellectual property rights. Unauthorized parties have copied and may in the future attempt to copy aspects of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. Any of these events could significantly harm our business, financial condition and operating results.

Claims by others that we infringe their proprietary technology could harm our business.

We have been expanding the categories of products we sell, and entering new markets, such as the market for enterprise video conferencing and our introduction of products for Google TV. We expect to continue to enter new categories and markets. As we do so, we face an increased risk that claims alleging we infringe the patent or other intellectual property rights of others, regardless of the merit of the claims, may increase in number and significance. Infringement claims against us may also increase as the functionality of video, voice, data and conferencing products begin to overlap. This risk is heightened by the increase in lawsuits brought by holders of patents that do not have an operating business. Intellectual property lawsuits are subject to inherent uncertainties due to the complexity of the technical issues involved, and we cannot be certain that we will be successful in defending ourselves against intellectual property claims. A successful claimant could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages or prevents us from distributing certain products or performing certain services. We might also be required to seek a license for the use of such intellectual property, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Alternatively, we may be required to develop non-infringing technology, which could require significant effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful. Any claims or proceedings against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, result in the diversion of significant operational resources, or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, any of which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Product quality issues could adversely affect our reputation and could impact our operating results.

The market for our products is characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving industry standards. To remain competitive, we must continually introduce new products and technologies. The products that we sell could contain defects in design or manufacture. Defects could also occur in the products or components that are supplied to us. There can be no assurance we will be able to detect and remedy all defects in the hardware and software we sell. Failure to do so could result in product recalls, product redesign efforts, lost revenue, loss of reputation, and significant warranty and other expenses to remedy.

Our effective income tax rates may increase in the future, which could adversely affect our net income.
 
We operate in multiple jurisdictions and our profits are taxed pursuant to the tax laws of these jurisdictions. Our effective income tax rate may be affected by changes in or interpretations of tax laws in any given jurisdiction, utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, changes in geographical allocation of income and expense, and changes in management’s assessment of matters such as the realizability of deferred tax assets. In the past, we have experienced fluctuations in our effective income tax rate. Our effective income tax rate in a given fiscal year reflects a variety of factors that may not be present in the succeeding fiscal year or years. There is no assurance that our effective income tax rate will not change in future periods.  We are currently subject to ongoing audits in various jurisdictions and a material assessment by a governing tax authority could adversely affect our profitability. If our effective income tax rate increases in future periods, our net income could be adversely affected.
 

 
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ITEM 2.   UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Share Repurchases

Logitech did not make any purchases of its equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2010. In September 2008, our Board of Directors approved a share buyback program, which authorizes the Company to invest up to $250 million to purchase its own shares. No shares have been repurchased under this program.

 
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ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS

Exhibit Index
 

Exhibit No.
 
Description
     
3.1
 
Articles of Incorporation of Logitech International S.A., as amended
     
10.1
 
Compensation terms for non-executive Board members for the September 2010 - September 2011 Board Year
     
31.1
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
     
31.2
 
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.
     
32.1
 
Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.*
     
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document

*
This exhibit is furnished herewith, but not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under that section. Such certifications will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we explicitly incorporate them by reference.


 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
LOGITECH INTERNATIONAL S.A.

   
 
/s/ Gerald P. Quindlen
 
Gerald P. Quindlen
President and Chief Executive Officer

   
 
/s/ Erik K. Bardman
 
Erik K. Bardman
Senior Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer

November 8, 2010