Hurco Companies - 10-Q quarterly report FY

(Mark One)

 

Commission File No. 0-9143

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   (317) 293-5309

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to the filing requirements for the past 90 days:

YesX    No­    .

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [  ]                                                                Accelerated filer [ X ]                                                                           Non-accelerated filer [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the

Exchange Act).                                                                                                           Yes [   ]  No [X ]

The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding as of September 1, 2007 was 6,389,720.

 

July 2007 Form 10-Q Quarterly Report

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Hurco Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.  As used in this report, and unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “we”, “us”, “our” and similar language refer to Hurco Companies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. We design and produce computerized machine tools, interactive computer control systems and software for sale through our distribution network to the worldwide metal cutting market.  We also provide software options, computer control upgrades, accessories and replacement parts for our products, as well as customer service and training support.

The condensed financial information as of July 31, 2007 and for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2007 and July 31, 2006 is unaudited; however, in our opinion, the interim data include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of our results for, and our financial position at the end of the interim periods.  We suggest that you read these condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006.

We enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts periodically to hedge certain forecast inter-company sales and forecast inter-company and third party purchases denominated in foreign currencies (the Pound Sterling, Euro and New Taiwan Dollar).  The purpose of these instruments is to mitigate the risk that the U.S. Dollar net cash inflows and outflows resulting from sales and purchases denominated in foreign currencies will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates.  These forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedge instruments, and are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value in Other Current Assets and Accrued Expenses.  Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of these hedge contracts are deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) and recognized as an adjustment to Cost of Sales in the period that the sale that is the subject of the related hedge contract is recognized, thereby providing an offsetting economic impact against the corresponding change in the U.S. Dollar value of the inter-company sale or purchase being hedged.

At July 31, 2007, we had $1,623,000 of losses related to cash flow hedges deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax.  Of this amount, $877,000 represented unrealized losses related to future cash flow hedge instruments that remain subject to currency fluctuation risk.  These deferred losses will be recorded as an adjustment to Cost of Sales in the periods through July 2008, in which the sale that is the subject of the related hedge contract is recognized, as described above.  Net losses on cash flow hedge contracts, which we reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Cost of Sales in the quarter ended July 31, 2007, were $337,000 compared to net gains of $354,000 for the same period in the prior year.

We also enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to protect against the effects of foreign currency fluctuations on receivables and payables denominated in foreign currencies.  These derivative instruments are not designated as hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting Standards for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS 133), and, as a result, changes in their fair value are reported currently as Other Expense (Income), Net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations consistent with the transaction gain or loss on the related foreign denominated receivable or payable.  Such net transaction gains were $17,000 for the quarter ended July 31, 2007, compared to net losses of $239,000 for the same period in prior year.  

 

 

 

In March 2007, the 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, which allowed us to grant awards of options to purchase shares of our common stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares and performance shares, expired and we may no longer make awards under this plan.  Management expects to present to the Board of Directors a new equity-based incentive plan.  If approved by the Board of Directors, the plan will be presented to the shareholders for consideration at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.  Options granted under the plan prior to March 2007 remain exercisable for a period up to ten years after the date of grant and vest in equal annual installments as specified by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors at the time of grant.  The exercise price of options intended to qualify as incentive stock options may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant.  During the first nine months of fiscal 2007, options to purchase 43,200 shares were exercised, resulting in cash proceeds of approximately $120,000 and an additional tax benefit of approximately $298,000, compared to 120,800 shares exercised in the prior year period resulting in cash proceeds of $530,000 and an additional tax benefit of approximately $499,000.

Effective November 1, 2005, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share Based Payment,” using the modified prospective method, and began applying its provisions to all options granted as well as to the nonvested portion of previously granted options outstanding at that date.  Compensation expense is determined at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

On November 16, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted options with respect to 40,000 shares under the 1997 Plan to certain employees and directors.  The fair value of options awarded was estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes valuation model with assumptions for expected volatility based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock, contractual term of the options of ten years and a risk-free interest rate based upon a three-year U.S. Treasury yield as of the date of grant.  The options granted to employees vest in three equal annual installments and the directors’ options were granted with immediate vesting as of the date of grant.

The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the nine months ended July 31, 2007 was $22.84 and $24.97 for employees and directors, respectively.   During the nine months ended July 31, 2007 approximately $422,000 of stock-based compensation expense had been recorded related to options granted under the 1997 Plan compared to $13,000 for the same period in the prior year.  As of July 31, 2007 there was approximately $514,000 of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost that is expected to be recognized over the next twenty-seven months.

A summary of stock option activity for the nine-month period ended July 31, 2007, is as follows:

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine-month periods ended July 31, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $1.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively.  The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the stock price as of July 31, 2007 and the exercise price of the stock option multiplied by the number of shares exercised.

Summarized information about outstanding stock options as of July 31, 2007, is as follows:

Basic and diluted earnings per common share are based on the weighted average number of our shares of common stock outstanding.  Diluted earnings per common share give effect to outstanding stock options using the treasury method.  The diluted number of shares for the three months ended July 31, 2007 and 2006 was 61,000 and 84,000, respectively.

Accounts receivable are net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $796,000 as of July 31, 2007 and $635,000 as of October 31, 2006.

Inventories, priced at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market, are summarized below (in thousands):

 

 

We operate in a single segment:  industrial automation systems.  We design and produce computerized machine tools, interactive computer control systems and software for sale through our distribution network to the worldwide metal cutting machine tool market.  We also provide software options, computer control upgrades, accessories and replacement parts for our products, as well as customer service and training support.

 

From time to time, our subsidiaries guarantee third party payment obligations in connection with the sale of certain machines to customers that use financing.  At July 31, 2007 we had 53 outstanding third party guarantees totaling approximately $1.6 million.  The terms of our subsidiaries’ guarantees are consistent with the underlying customer financing terms.  Upon shipment, the customer has the risk of ownership, but does not obtain title until the machine is paid in full.  A retention of title clause allows us to recover the machine if the customer defaults on the lease.  We believe that the proceeds obtained from liquidation of the machine would cover any payments required by the guarantee.

 

 

We provide warranties on our products with respect to defects in material and workmanship. The terms of these warranties are generally one year for machines and shorter periods for service parts.  We recognize a reserve with respect to this obligation at the time of product sale, with subsequent warranty claims recorded against the reserve. The amount of the warranty reserve is determined based on historical trend experience and any known warranty issues that could cause future warranty costs to differ from historical experience.  A reconciliation of the changes in our warranty reserve is as follows (in thousands):

A reconciliation of our net income to comprehensive income is as follows (in thousands):

Effective February 27, 2007, we amended our domestic bank credit agreement to allow us to pay dividends and redeem or purchase our capital stock at any time unless we are then or would become in default.  All other terms and conditions under this bank credit agreement remain unchanged.

On July 31, 2007, we owned approximately 24% of the outstanding shares of Quaser Machine Tools, Inc. (Quaser), a Taiwanese-based contract manufacturer.  On August 16, 2007, we entered into a contract for the sale of our shares for $2.1 million, which is approximately our carrying value.  The sale is anticipated to close during the fourth quarter of 2007.  We have reclassified our equity investment in Quaser as a current asset on our consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2007.  No material gain or loss is expected to be recognized as a result of this sale.  However, as of July 31, 2007, we recorded an estimated tax liability of $740,000 based upon our anticipated tax gain on the sale of the investment.

 

 

Item 2.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Hurco Companies, Inc. is an industrial technology company operating in a single segment.  We design and produce computerized machine tools, featuring our proprietary computer control systems and software, for sale through our distribution network to the worldwide metal cutting market.  We also provide software options, control upgrades, accessories and replacement parts for our products, as well as customer service and training support.  The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

Our computerized metal cutting machine tools are manufactured in Taiwan to our specifications by our wholly owned subsidiary, Hurco Manufacturing Limited (HML), and a minority owned affiliate.  We sell our products through more than 150 independent agents and distributors in countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia.  We also have direct sales and service organizations in Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore and China.

As part of our ongoing product development strategy, during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 we introduced two new products: WinMax Control Software and the VMX 84.  The WinMax Control Software has a Windows(R) based interface and is designed to reduce setup time and improve surface finish. The new WinMax Control Software has 25 key new features and more than 200 enhancements.  The VMX 84 with X/Y/Z Axis travels of 84/34/30 inches is our largest machining center and broadens our product line to meet the needs of customers who produce large parts, molds, and dies.

Approximately 89% of worldwide demand for machine tools comes from outside the United States.  During fiscal 2005 and 2006, over two-thirds of our sales and service fees were attributable to customers located abroad.  Our sales to foreign customers are denominated, and payments by those customers are made, in the prevailing currencies—primarily the Euro and Pound Sterling—in the countries in which those customers are located.  Our product costs are incurred and paid primarily in the New Taiwan Dollar and the U.S. Dollar.  Changes in currency exchange rates may have a material effect on our consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet as reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  For example, when a foreign currency increases in value relative to the U.S. Dollar, sales made (and expenses incurred) in that currency, when translated to U.S. Dollars for reporting in our financial statements, are higher than would be the case when that currency has a lower value relative to the U.S. Dollar.  In the comparisons of our period-to-period results, we discuss not only the increases or decreases in those results as reported in our financial statements (which reflect translation to U.S. Dollars at prevailing exchange rates), but also the effect that changes in exchange rates had on those results.

Our high levels of foreign manufacturing and sales also subject us to cash flow risks due to fluctuating currency exchange rates.  We seek to mitigate those risks through the use of various hedging instruments – principally foreign currency forward exchange contracts.

The volatility of demand for machine tools can significantly impact our working capital requirements and, therefore, our cash flow from operations and our operating profits.  Because our products are manufactured in Taiwan, manufacturing and ocean transportation lead times require that we schedule machine tool production based on forecasts of customer orders for a future period of four or five months.  We continually monitor order activity levels and adjust future production schedules to reflect changes in demand, but a significant unexpected decline in customer orders from forecasted levels can temporarily increase our finished goods inventories and our use of working capital.

Our financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 reflect increased revenues and operating income compared to the corresponding period of the prior year as a result of significant improvement in foreign markets, primarily in Europe, as well as increased shipments of our larger and higher-priced machines in those markets.  The third quarter results also reflect the benefit of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes.

 

 

Sales and Service Fees.  Sales and service fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were $48.6 million, an increase of $12.0 million, or 33%, from the amount reported for the prior year period.  The growth of third quarter revenues was the result of significant improvement in demand, primarily in European markets, as well as increased shipments of our larger and higher-priced machines in those markets.  As noted below, approximately 68% of our sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were derived from European markets, which realize higher prices and margins compared to the North American and Asian markets.  Due to the effects of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes, sales and service fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were approximately $2.1 million, or 6%, more than would have been the case if the foreign sales had been translated at the same rate of exchange that was utilized for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

The following tables set forth net sales (in thousands) by geographic region and product category for the third quarter of 2007 and 2006:

Sales and service fees in Europe increased by 50% during the 2007 third quarter primarily due to continued market demand and increased penetration into new and existing markets, which resulted in a 35% increase in total unit shipments.  The increased sales and service fees also reflect a favorable mix of higher-priced VMX product line shipments compared to the same period in the prior year.  Sales and service fees in Europe for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were favorably impacted by $2.1 million, or 9%, when compared to the same period in the prior year, due to the effect of a weaker U.S. Dollar.

Sales and service fees in North America increased 16% primarily due to a favorable mix of higher-priced VMX product line shipments, as total unit shipments remained relatively unchanged compared to the same period in the prior year.

Sales and service fees in Asia decreased 25% compared to the prior year period primarily due to the timing of two large non-recurring orders received in the third quarter of 2006.  The decreased sales and service fees were partially offset by the favorable impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar.

Sales of computerized machine tools during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 35% over the corresponding period in fiscal 2006. The increase was driven by a 14% increase in overall unit shipments combined with the impact of a favorable product mix, particularly higher-priced VMX products, and the impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes.

Orders. New orders booked during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 totaled $48.6 million, an increase of $10.7 million, or 28%, over the amount recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.  Orders increased in both Europe and North America by 35% compared to the third quarter of 2006 as a result of continued market demand and increased market penetration.  Asian orders decreased by 36% due to the timing of two large non-recurring orders received in the third quarter of last year. Orders for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were favorably impacted by $2.0 million, or 5%, when compared to the same period in the prior year due to the effect of a weaker U.S. Dollar.

Gross Margin.  Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was 38% compared to 35% for the prior year period, as a result of increased volume in higher margin European sales regions and a more favorable product mix.

Operating Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.2 million, an increase of 38%, from the $7.4 million reported for the prior year period. The increase was due to the effects of translation of foreign operating expenses for financial reporting purposes, as well as incremental variable expenses related to market expansion, commissions and other administrative expenses.

Operating Income.  Operating income was $8.2 million, or 17%, of sales and service fees, compared to $5.4 million, or 15%, of sales and service fees for the prior year period.

Other Expense (Income).  The increase in other income is the result of improved earnings of our affiliates accounted for using the equity method and increased interest income earned on short-term cash investments.

Income Taxes.  Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was 41% compared to 30% for the same period in the prior year.   The increase is a result of an adjustment for estimated tax liability for the anticipated sale of our minority interest in Quaser, partially offset by a net reduction in domestic income tax due to changes in state tax laws.  Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2007, excluding these adjustments, was 38%.

The 30% effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2006 included a one-time benefit as a result of tax planning strategies implemented during the quarter.  The effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2006, excluding the adjustment, was 34%.

Sales and Service Fees.  Sales and service fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were $137.9 million, an increase of $32.6 million, or 31%, from the amount reported for the prior year period.  The growth in revenues was primarily the result of significant improvement in demand, primarily in the European market, as well as increased shipments of our larger and higher-priced machines in that market.  As noted below, approximately 68% of our sales during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were derived from European markets, which realize higher prices and margins compared to the North American and Asian markets. Due to the effects of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes, sales and service fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were approximately $7.8 million, or 7%, more than would have been the case if foreign sales had been translated at the same rate of exchange that was utilized for the first nine months of fiscal 2006.

Sales and service fees in Europe increased by 50% during the first nine months of fiscal 2007, primarily due to favorable market conditions and increased market penetration, which resulted in a 36% increase in total unit shipments.  The increased sales and service fees also reflect a favorable mix of higher-priced VMX product line shipments compared to the same period in the prior year.  Sales and service fees in Europe for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were favorably impacted by $7.5 million, or 12% when compared to the same period in the prior year due to the effect of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes.

Sales and service fees in North America increased 5% primarily due to a favorable mix of higher-priced VMX product line shipments, as total unit shipments remained relatively unchanged compared to the same period in the prior year.

Sales and service fees in Asia decreased 2% compared to the prior year period primarily due to the timing of two large non-recurring orders received in the third quarter of 2006.  The decreased sales and service fees were partially offset by the favorable impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar.

Sales of computerized machine tools during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 increased 34% over the corresponding period in fiscal 2006. The increase was driven by a 16% increase in overall unit shipments combined with the impact of a more favorable mix, particularly higher-priced VMX products, and the impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar when translating foreign sales for financial reporting purposes.

Orders. New orders booked during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 totaled $144.2 million, an increase of $31.5 million, or 28%, over the amount recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2006.  Orders increased in Europe and North America by 45% and 7%, respectively, compared to the first nine months of 2006 as a result of continued market demand and increased market penetration.  Asian orders decreased by 12% due to the timing of two large non-recurring orders received in the third quarter of last year. Orders for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were favorably impacted by $8.2 million, or 7%, when compared to the same period in the prior year due to the effect of a weaker U.S. Dollar.

Gross Margin.  Gross margin for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was 38% compared to 35% for the prior year period, as a result of higher volume and more favorable mix.

Operating Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $28.9 million, an increase of 39%, from the $20.8 million reported for the prior year period. The increase was due to the effects of translation of foreign operating expenses for financial reporting purposes, as well as incremental variable expenses related to market expansion, commissions and administrative expenses.

 

Operating Income.  Operating income was $23.2 million, or 17%, of sales and service fees, compared to $16.1 million, or 15% of sales and service fees for the prior year period.

Other Expense (Income).  The increase in other income is the result of improved earnings of our affiliates accounted for using the equity method and increased interest income earned on short-term cash investments.

At July 31, 2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of $37.2 million, compared to $29.8 million at October 31, 2006.  Approximately 67% of the $37.2 million of cash and cash equivalents is denominated in U.S. Dollars.  The remaining balances are held outside the U.S. in the local currencies of our various foreign entities and are subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Cash generated from operations totaled $12.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2007, compared to $7.8 million in the prior year period, and was driven by increased net income.

Working capital, excluding short-term debt, was $69.3 million at July 31, 2007, compared to $56.7 million at October 31, 2006.

Capital investments during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 included normal expenditures for software development projects and purchases of equipment.  We funded these expenditures with cash flow from operations.

We eliminated our debt balance by repaying the $4.0 million mortgage for the Indianapolis facility on April 30, 2007. We have an $11.5 million credit facility, which had no outstanding borrowings as of July 31, 2007.

Effective February 27, 2007, we amended our domestic bank credit agreement to allow us to pay dividends and redeem or purchase our capital stock at any time unless we are then or would become in default.  All other terms and conditions under this bank credit agreement remain unchanged.

On July 12, 2007, we filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 utilizing the “shelf” registration process.  The registration statement was declared effective on July 26, 2007.  This registration statement allows us to offer and sell from time to time, in one or more transactions, a variety of securities, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares and debt securities, up to an aggregate amount of $200 million, if and when authorized by the Board of Directors.

In July 2006, the FASB released Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 which clarifies the accounting and reporting for uncertainties in income taxes.  The interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expect to be taken in a tax return.  FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  We will be required to adopt and report the impact of FIN No. 48 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.  We have not begun implementation of FIN No. 48 and therefore cannot report the potential impact of implementation.

During 2006, the FASB released Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, a new standard which provides further guidance on using fair value to measure assets and liabilities, the information used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings.  Statement No. 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances.  We will be required to adopt and report the impact of Statement No. 157 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.  We have not begun implementation of Statement No. 157 and therefore cannot report the potential impact of the implementation.

In February 2007, the FASB released Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, a new standard that permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value.  The objective of this statement is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions.  Statement No. 159 is effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.  We have not begun implementation of Statement No. 159 and therefore cannot report the potential impact of the implementation.

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (SAB 108).  SAB 108 was issued in order to eliminate the diversity in practice surrounding how public companies quantify financial statement misstatements.  SAB 108 requires that registrants quantify errors using both a balance sheet and income statement approach and evaluate whether either approach results in a misstated amount that, when all relevant quantitative and qualitative factors are considered, is material.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2007 we adopted SAB 108.  The adoption of this standard did not have an effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Our accounting policies, which are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, require our management to make significant estimates and assumptions using information available at the time the estimates are made.  These estimates and assumptions significantly affect various reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.  If our future experience differs materially from these estimates and assumptions, our results of operations and financial condition would be affected.  There were no material changes to our critical accounting policies during the first nine months of 2007.

There have been no material changes from the information provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006.

From time to time, our subsidiaries guarantee third party payment obligations in connection with the sale of certain machines to customers that use financing.  At July 31, 2007 we had 53 outstanding third party guarantees totaling approximately $1.6 million.  The terms of our subsidiaries’ guarantees are consistent with the underlying customer financing terms.  Upon shipment, the customer has the risk of ownership, but does not obtain title until the machine is paid in full.  A retention of title clause allows us to recover the machine if the customer defaults on the lease.  We believe that the proceeds obtained from liquidation of the machine would cover any payments required by the guarantee.

 

Certain statements made in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the statements.  These risks, uncertainties and other factors include:

We discuss these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operation in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and may update that discussion in Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors in this or another Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q we file hereafter.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  While we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate.  This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this report.

 

 

Item 3.                      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest on borrowings on our bank credit facilities are tied to prevailing U.S. and European interest rates.  At July 31, 2007, there were no outstanding borrowings under our bank credit facilities.

In fiscal 2007, over two-thirds of our sales and service fees, including export sales, were derived from foreign markets.  All of our computerized machine tools and computer control systems, as well as certain proprietary service parts, are sourced by our U.S.-based engineering and manufacturing division and re-invoiced to our foreign sales and service subsidiaries, primarily in their functional currencies.

Our products are sourced from foreign suppliers or built to our specifications by either our wholly owned subsidiary in Taiwan or overseas contract manufacturers.  Our purchases are predominantly in foreign currencies and in some cases our arrangements with these suppliers include foreign currency risk sharing agreements, which reduce (but do not eliminate) the effects of currency fluctuations on product costs.  The predominant portion of the exchange rate risk associated with our product purchases relates to the New Taiwan Dollar.

We enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts from time to time to hedge the cash flow risk related to forecasted inter-company sales and forecasted inter-company and third party purchases denominated in, or based on, foreign currencies (primarily the Euro, Pound Sterling and New Taiwan Dollar).  We also enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts to protect against the effects of foreign currency fluctuations on receivables and payables denominated in foreign currencies.  We do not speculate in the financial markets and, therefore, do not enter into these contracts for trading purposes.

Forward contracts for the sale or purchase of foreign currencies as of July 31, 2007 which are designated as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133 were as follows:

*NT Dollars per U.S. Dollar

* NT Dollars per U.S. Dollar

Item 4.                      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of July 31, 2007 pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Based upon that evaluation, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the evaluation date.

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended July 31, 2007 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We are involved in various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of our business.  We believe it is remote that any of these claims will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2006.

During the period covered by this report, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors did not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to perform any non-audit services.  This disclosure is made pursuant to Section 10A9(i)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as added by Section 202 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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.

HURCO COMPANIES, INC.

By:           /s/ John G. Oblazney

     John G. Oblazney

Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

By:          /s/ Sonja K. McClelland

Sonja K. McClelland

Corporate Controller and

Principal Accounting Officer

September 6, 2007