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EX-32.1 - AVX CORPORATION EXHIBIT 32.1 - AVX Corpexhibit321.htm
EX-31.2 - AVX CORPORATION EXHIBIT 31.2 - AVX Corpexhibit312.htm
EX-31.1 - AVX CORPORATION EXHIBIT 31.1 - AVX Corpexhibit311.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

X
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2011

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 1-7201

AVX CORPORATION GRAPHIC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
33-0379007
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer ID No.)
     
1 AVX Boulevard Fountain Inn, South Carolina
 
29644
(Address of principle executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(864) 967-2150
(Registrant's phone 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
 

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
 

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
[   ]
 
Accelerated filer
[X]
Non-accelerated filer
[   ]
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
[   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes
 
No
X
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
 
Outstanding at February 3, 2012
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
  169,719,479
 
 

 

AVX CORPORATION

INDEX

 
 
Page Number
PART I:
Financial Information:
 
ITEM 1.
Financial Statements:
 
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
ITEM 2.
18
ITEM 3.
24
ITEM 4.
25
PART II:
Other Information:
 
ITEM 1.
25
ITEM 1A.
25
ITEM 2.
25
ITEM 6.
26
   
27

 
-2-

 
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
  2011     2011  
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 379,350     $ 437,273  
Short-term investments in securities
  398,914       424,374  
Available-for-sale securities
  2,747       -  
Accounts receivable - trade
  227,642       189,153  
Accounts receivable - affiliates
  6,141       1,550  
Inventories
  496,495       579,288  
Deferred income taxes
  39,355       39,385  
Prepaid and other
  51,471       37,816  
Total current assets
  1,602,115       1,708,839  
Long-term investments in securities
  220,835       187,049  
Long-term available-for-sale securities
  4,490       -  
Property and equipment
  1,462,702       1,412,266  
Accumulated depreciation
  (1,227,043 )     (1,181,971 )
    235,659       230,295  
Goodwill
  162,532       162,510  
Intangible assets - net
  82,612       79,319  
Deferred income taxes
  1,651       11,530  
Other assets
  9,588       10,437  
Total Assets
$ 2,319,482     $ 2,389,979  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable - trade
$ 46,255     $ 38,431  
Accounts payable - affiliates
  86,378       61,549  
Income taxes payable
  10,452       13,727  
Accrued payroll and benefits
  43,221       37,961  
Accrued expenses
  49,359       46,930  
Total current liabilities
  235,665       198,598  
Pensions
  18,028       12,701  
Deferred income taxes
  -       9,584  
Other liabilities
  26,372       25,173  
Total Liabilities
  280,065       246,056  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
             
Stockholders' Equity:
             
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share:
  -       -  
Authorized, 20,000 shares; None issued and outstanding
             
Common stock, par value $.01 per share:
  1,764       1,764  
Authorized, 300,000 shares; issued, 176,368 shares
Additional paid-in capital
  347,664       349,062  
Retained earnings
  1,729,507       1,864,449  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
  41,174       14,804  
Treasury stock, at cost:
  (80,692 )     (86,156 )
6,227 and 6,632 shares at March 31 and December 31, 2011, respectively
Total Stockholders' Equity
  2,039,417       2,143,923  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
$ 2,319,482     $ 2,389,979  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
-3-

 



Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)


   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Net sales
  $ 405,862     $ 340,865     $ 1,233,038     $ 1,182,054  
Cost of sales
    291,265       262,533       893,417       868,245  
Gross profit
    114,597       78,332       339,621       313,809  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    31,825       28,117       92,195       88,531  
Profit from operations
    82,772       50,215       247,426       225,278  
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    1,677       1,841       5,004       5,064  
Other, net
    833       (820 )     2,134       (2,412 )
Income before income taxes
    85,282       51,236       254,564       227,930  
Provision for income taxes
    24,730       14,365       73,821       61,541  
Net income
  $ 60,552     $ 36,871     $ 180,743     $ 166,389  
Income per share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.36     $ 0.22     $ 1.06     $ 0.98  
Diluted
  $ 0.36     $ 0.22     $ 1.06     $ 0.98  
                                 
Dividends declared
  $ 0.045     $ 0.075     $ 0.145     $ 0.205  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    169,929       169,795       169,997       169,967  
Diluted
    170,326       169,964       170,335       170,216  





See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
-4-

 



Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 (in thousands)

   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
 
Operating Activities:
           
Net income
  $ 180,743     $ 166,389  
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    35,607       35,059  
Stock-based compensation expense
    1,354       1,391  
Deferred income taxes
    4,034       1,081  
Loss on available-for-sale securities
    57       572  
Loss on property, plant & equipment, net of retirements
    300       155  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (20,383 )     43,012  
Inventories
    (86,014 )     (91,329 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (426 )     (37,260 )
Income taxes payable
    15,067       2,759  
Other assets
    (5,328 )     (4,714 )
Other liabilities
    713       3,893  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    125,724       121,008  
                 
Investing Activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (19,221 )     (38,575 )
Purchases of investment securities
    (778,008 )     (838,871 )
Sales and maturities of investment securities
    604,071       846,718  
Sales of available-for-sale securities
    8,010       5,686  
Proceeds from property, plant & equipment dispositions
    6       -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (185,142 )     (25,042 )
                 
Financing Activities:
               
 Dividends paid
    (22,955 )     (31,447 )
 Purchase of treasury stock
    (5,799 )     (6,331 )
 Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    4,284       791  
 Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements
    361       83  
 Net cash used in financing activities
    (24,109 )     (36,904 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate on cash
    (58 )     (1,139 )
                 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (83,585 )     57,923  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    415,974       379,350  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 332,389     $ 437,273  



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
-5-

 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)

1.  
Basis of Presentation:

Our consolidated financial statements of AVX Corporation and subsidiaries include (“AVX” or the “Company”) all accounts and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.  We have prepared the accompanying financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for interim financial reporting. These consolidated financial statements are unaudited, and in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals, necessary for the fair statement of the consolidated balance sheets, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.  Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 due to cyclical and other factors. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates:
 
We have identified the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to our business operations and understanding our results of operations.  Those policies and estimates can be found in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and in "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates", in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. Accordingly, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. During the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011, there were no significant changes to any critical accounting policies or to the methodology used in determining estimates including those related to investment securities, revenue recognition, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment, income taxes and contingencies.

New Accounting Standards

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Updated (“ASU”) which amends guidance for the presentation of comprehensive income. The amended guidance requires an entity to present components of net income and other comprehensive income in one continuous statement, referred to as the statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate, but consecutive statements. The current option to report other comprehensive income and its components in the statement of stockholders’ equity will be eliminated. Although the new guidance changes the presentation of comprehensive income, there are no changes to the components that are recognized in net income or other comprehensive income under existing guidance. The ASU is effective retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We currently believe there will be no material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption of this guidance.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an ASU which intended to reduce complexity and costs by allowing an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. The ASU also expands upon the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider between annual impairment tests in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. We currently believe there will be no material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption of this guidance.

2.  
Earnings Per Share:

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net earnings by the sum of (a) the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period and (b) the dilutive effect of potential common stock equivalents during the period.  Stock options are the only common stock equivalents currently used in our calculation and are computed using the treasury stock method.
 
-6-

 
The table below represents the basic and diluted weighted average number of shares of common stock and potential common stock equivalents:

   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Net Income
  $ 60,552     $ 36,871     $ 180,743     $ 166,389  
Computation of Basic EPS:
                               
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding used in                     
computing Basic EPS
    169,929       169,795       169,997       169,967  
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.36     $ 0.22     $ 1.06     $ 0.98  
Computation of Diluted EPS:
                               
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
    169,929       169,795       169,997       169,967  
  Effect of stock options
    397       169       338       249  
Shares used in computing Diluted EPS (1)
    170,326       169,964       170,335       170,216  
Diluted Income per share
  $ 0.36     $ 0.22     $ 1.06     $ 0.98  

(1) Common stock equivalents, not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the impact would have been antidilutive were 7,264 shares and 3,488 shares and 3,204 shares and 2,506 shares for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.
 
 
3.  
Trade Accounts Receivable:

 
March 31,
2011
December 31,
2011
Gross Accounts Receivable - Trade
  $ 249,622     $ 211,044  
Less:
               
Allowances for doubtful accounts
    686       715  
Stock rotation and ship from stock and debit
    13,340       13,437  
Sales returns and discounts
    7,954       7,739  
     Total allowances
    21,980       21,891  
Net Accounts Receivable - Trade
  $ 227,642     $ 189,153  


Charges related to allowances for doubtful accounts are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses.  Charges related to stock rotation, ship from stock and debit, sales returns and sales discounts are reported as deductions from revenue.

   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Allowances for doubtful accounts:
                       
  Beginning Balance
  $ 638     $ 650     $ 563     $ 686  
  Charges
    14       (65 )     471       (28 )
  Applications
    45       130       (337 )     57  
  Ending Balance
  $ 697     $ 715     $ 697     $ 715  
 
-7-

 

   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Stock rotation and ship from stock and debit:
                       
  Beginning Balance
  $ 14,407     $ 13,918     $ 11,964     $ 13,340  
  Charges
    8,931       6,812       25,471       21,461  
  Applications
    (8,903 )     (7,500 )     (23,000 )     (21,571 )
  Translation and other
    -       207       -       207  
  Ending Balance
  $ 14,435     $ 13,437     $ 14,435     $ 13,437  


   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Sales returns and discounts:
                       
  Beginning Balance
  $ 7,463     $ 7,608     $ 6,681     $ 7,954  
  Charges
    7,823       6,741       20,918       13,920  
  Applications
    (6,972 )     (6,466 )     (19,427 )     (13,996 )
  Translation and other
    (146 )     (144 )     (4 )     (139 )
  Ending Balance
  $ 8,168     $ 7,739     $ 8,168     $ 7,739  


4.  
Fair Value:
 
Fair Value Hierarchy:
 
The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to value the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:
 
  
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

  
Level 2: Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1. For example, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.

  
Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.

     
Based on
 
 
Fair Value at
March 31,
 2011
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Other observable inputs 
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
               
Available-for-sale investment securities - short-term
$ 2,747   $ 12   $ 2,305   $ 430  
Available-for-sale investment securities - long-term
  4,490     -     3,783     707  
Assets held in the non-qualified deferred compensation
program(1)
  8,730     8,730     -     -  
Foreign currency derivatives(2)
  1,538     -     1,538     -  
Total
$ 17,505   $ 8,742   $ 7,626   $ 1,137  


 
-8-

 
     
Based on
 
 
Fair Value at
March 31,
2011
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Other observable inputs 
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
               
Obligation related to assets held in the non-qualified
deferred compensation program(1)
$ 8,730   $ 8,730   $ -   $ -  
Foreign currency derivatives(2)
  1,851     -     1,851     -  
Total
$ 10,581   $ 8,730   $ 1,851   $ -  



     
Based on
 
                 
 
Fair Value at December 31,
 2011
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Other observable inputs 
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
               
Available-for-sale marketable securities - short-term
$ -   $ -   $ -   $ -  
Available-for-sale marketable securities - long-term
  -     -     -     -  
Assets held in the non-qualified deferred compensation
program(1)
  8,658     8,658     -     -  
Foreign currency derivatives(2)
  1,598     -     1,598     -  
Total
$ 10,256   $ 8,658   $ 1,598   $ -  

     
Based on
 
 
Fair Value at December 31,
 2011
 
Quoted prices in active markets
(Level 1)
 
Other observable inputs 
(Level 2)
 
Unobservable inputs
(Level 3)
 
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
               
Obligation related to assets held in the non-qualified
deferred compensation program(1)
$ 8,658   $ 8,658   $ -   $ -  
Foreign currency derivatives(2)
  2,564     -     2,564     -  
Total
$ 11,222   $ 8,658   $ 2,564   $ -  



(1) The market value of the assets held in the trust for the non-qualified deferred compensation program is included as an asset and a liability as the trust’s assets are available to us as general creditors in the event of our insolvency.

(2) Foreign currency derivatives in the form of forward contracts are included in prepaid and other in the consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives classified as cash flow hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income. Gains and losses on derivatives not designated as hedges are recorded in other income (expense).

 
-9-

 
The following table presents additional information about Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively.


   
Available-for-sale marketable securities
 
   
Three Months Ended December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Balance, beginning of period
  $ 253     $ 175     $ 351     $ 1,137  
Unrealized gains/(losses) included in comprehensive income
    (73 )     -       (71 )     -  
Purchases, issuances and settlements
    -       (175 )     -       (1,137 )
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
    -       -       (100 )     -  
Balance, end of period
  $ 180     $ -     $ 180     $ -  


Valuation Techniques:

The following describes valuation techniques used to appropriately value our available-for-sale securities and derivatives.

Investment Securities

Assets valued using Level 1 inputs in the table above represent assets from our non-qualified deferred compensation program. The funds in the non-qualified deferred compensation program are valued based on the number of shares in the funds using a price per share traded in an active market.

Assets valued using Level 2 inputs in the table above represent a portfolio including foreign bonds, corporate bonds, asset backed obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Valuation inputs used include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker and dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data.

Assets valued using Level 3 inputs in the table above represent a portfolio including corporate bonds, asset backed obligations and mortgage-backed securities. Unobservable inputs for valuation are management’s assessments based on a third party pricing vendor using valuation inputs described above for Level 2, adjusted based on the best economic and industry information available in the circumstances.

Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value, among other factors, we evaluate general market conditions, the duration and extent to which the fair value is less than cost, and whether or not we expect to recover the security's entire amortized cost basis. Once a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

Derivatives

We primarily use forward contracts, with maturities generally less than four months, designated as cash flow hedges to protect against the foreign currency exchange rate risks inherent in our forecasted transactions related to purchase commitments and sales, denominated in various currencies. We also use derivatives not designated as hedging instruments to hedge foreign currency balance sheet exposures. These derivatives are used to offset currency changes in the fair value of the hedged assets and liabilities. Fair values for all of our derivative financial instruments are valued by adjusting the market spot rate by forward points, based on the date of the contract. The spot rates and forward points used are an average rate from an actively traded market. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2011, all of our forward contracts are Level 2 measurements.

5.  
Financial Instruments and Investments in Securities:

At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2011, we classified investments in debt securities and time deposits either as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.

 
-10-

 
Available-for-sale investments are recorded at fair value. The securities are classified as either current or long-term assets based on their underlying expected cash flows and are being recorded at fair market value. Any unrealized holding gains and losses resulting from these securities are reported, net of tax as a separate component of shareholders' equity until realized.  Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, if any, are included in the results of operations and are determined by specific identification of securities.  At December 31, 2011, there were no recorded net gains or losses in other comprehensive income related to these securities.  See Notes 4 and 9 for additional disclosures related to these available-for-sale securities.

Our long-term and short-term investment securities are accounted for as held-to-maturity securities and are carried at amortized cost. We have the ability and intent to hold these investments until maturity.  All income generated from the held-to-maturity securities investments are recorded as interest income.

Investments in held-to-maturity securities, recorded at amortized cost were as follows:

   
March 31, 2011
 
   
Cost
   
Gross Unrealized Gains
   
Gross Unrealized Losses
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
Short-term investments:
                       
U.S. government and agency securities
  $ 20,000     $ 19     $ -     $ 20,019  
Corporate bonds
    43,967       39               44,006  
Time deposits
    334,947       1       -       334,948  
Long-term investments:
                               
Corporate bonds
    20,843       -       (21 )     20,822  
U.S. government and agency securities
    199,992       59       (978 )     199,073  
    $ 619,749     $ 118     $ (999 )   $ 618,868  



   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Cost
   
Gross Unrealized Gains
   
Gross Unrealized Losses
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
Short-term investments:
                       
Corporate bonds
  $ 42,442     $ 8     $ (9 )   $ 42,441  
Commercial paper
    29,672       14       (2 )     29,684  
Time deposits
    352,260       -       -       352,260  
Long-term investments:
                               
Corporate bonds
    35,244       58       (161 )     35,141  
U.S. government and agency securities
    151,805       87       (80 )     151,812  
    $ 611,423     $ 167     $ (252 )   $ 611,338  


The amortized cost and estimated fair value of held-to-maturity investments at December 31, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations without call or prepayment penalties.

   
Held-to-Maturity
 
   
Amortized Cost
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
Due in one year or less
  $ 424,374     $ 424,385  
Due after one year through five years
    187,049       186,953  
Total
  $ 611,423     $ 611,338  
 
 
-11-

 
6.  
Inventories:

   
March 31, 2011
   
December 31, 2011
 
Finished goods
  $ 120,723     $ 133,320  
Work in process
    92,680       100,245  
Raw materials and supplies
    283,092       345,723  
    $ 496,495     $ 579,288  


7.  
Stock-Based Compensation:

In July 2011, we granted 530 options to employees pursuant to the 2004 Stock Option Plan described in Note 10, “Stock Based Compensation”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.  The weighted average grant date fair value per share and the weighted average exercise price per share for these options is $3.17 and $14.54, respectively.

There were 66 stock options exercised during the nine month period ended December 31, 2011 with a total intrinsic value of $265.

8.  
Commitments and Contingencies:

We have been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), state governmental agencies or other private parties as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") or equivalent state or local laws for clean-up and response costs associated with various sites at which remediation is required.  Because CERCLA imposes joint and several liability, the EPA could seek to recover all clean-up costs from any one of the PRPs at a site despite the involvement of other PRPs.  At certain sites, financially responsible PRPs other than AVX also are, or have been, involved in site investigation and clean-up activities.  We believe that any liability resulting from these sites will be apportioned among AVX and other PRPs.

To resolve our liability at each of the sites at which it has been named a PRP, we have entered into various administrative orders and consent decrees with federal and state regulatory agencies governing the timing and nature of investigation and remediation.  We have paid, or reserved for, all estimated amounts required under the terms of these orders and decrees corresponding to our apportioned share of the liabilities.  As is customary, the orders and decrees regarding sites where the PRPs are not themselves implementing the chosen remedy contain provisions allowing the EPA to reopen the agreement and seek additional amounts from settling PRPs in the event that certain contingencies occur, such as the discovery of significant new information about site conditions during clean-up or substantial cost overruns for the chosen remedy.

On June 2, 2006, we received a “Confirmation of Potential Liability; Demand and Notice of Decision Not to Use Special Notice Procedures” dated May 31, 2006 from the EPA with regard to $1,600 (subsequently reduced to $900) of past costs, as well as future costs for environmental remediation, related to the purported release of hazardous substances at an abandoned facility referred to as the “Aerovox Facility” (the “Facility”), located at 740 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, Massachusetts. Aerovox Corporation, a predecessor of AVX, sold this Facility to an unrelated third party in 1973. A subsequent unrelated owner, Aerovox Inc., the last manufacturer to own and operate in the Facility, filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and abandoned the Facility.   AVX has substantially completed its obligations pursuant to an agreement between the EPA, the City of New Bedford and AVX with respect to federal law. Agreements with the state regulatory authorities have yet to be concluded but are likely to include additional groundwater remediation. Based on our own estimate of remediation costs, we have accrued an estimate of the potential liability related to performance of such environmental remediation actions at the Facility.  The accrual represents the estimate of our cost to remediate; however, until all parties agree and remediation is complete, we cannot be certain there will be no additional costs.

We currently have remaining reserves of approximately $20,323 at December 31, 2011 related to these various environmental matters discussed above.  Uncertainties about the status of laws, regulations, regulatory actions, technology and information related to individual sites make it difficult to develop an estimate of the reasonably possible aggregate environmental remediation exposure: these costs could differ from our current estimates.

 
-12-

 
In 2007, we received notification from the EPA and the Department of Justice indicating that the United States is preparing to exercise the reopener provision under a 1991 consent decree relating to the environmental conditions at, and remediation of, New Bedford Harbor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  In 1991, in connection with that consent decree, we paid $66,000, plus interest, toward the environmental conditions at, and remediation of, the harbor in settlement with the EPA and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, subject to reopener provisions, including a reopener if certain remediation costs for the site exceed $130,500.  The EPA has indicated that remediation costs through October 22, 2010 were approximately $427,700, not all of which is subject to the reopener provisions. In March 2011, the EPA issued the Fourth Explanation of Significant Differences (“ESD #4”) that explains the planned changes to the existing remedial action plan for the harbor to include the use of confined aquatic disposal (“CAD”) cells, along with interim off-site transportation and disposal of contaminated dredge spoils, and the continued use of on-site storage.  ESD #4, issued by the EPA, provides future cost estimates under the new remedial action plan (in addition to costs incurred to date) ranging from $362,000 to $401,000, net present value, based on certain criteria included in the ESD.

We have not received complete documentation of past response costs from the EPA and therefore have not yet completed an investigation of the monies spent or available defenses in light of these notifications and indications. We have also not yet determined whether the Company can avoid responsibility for all, or some portion, of these past or future costs because the remediation method has changed over time and costs can be appropriately allocated to parties other than the Company.  We anticipate further discussions with the U.S. Department of Justice, the EPA, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are continuing to investigate the claim as well as potential defenses and other actions with respect to the site. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of this notification on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows cannot be determined at this time.

During fiscal 2011, AVX was named as a third party defendant in a case filed in Massachusetts Superior Court captioned DaRosa v. City of New Bedford as well as a parallel case brought by the City of New Bedford containing substantially the same allegations.  These cases relate to a former disposal site in the City of New Bedford located at Parker Street.  The City asserts that AVX, among others, contributed to that site.  We intend to defend vigorously the claims that have been asserted in these lawsuits. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of this case on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows cannot be determined at this time.
 
There are two suits pending with respect to property adjacent to the Company’s Myrtle Beach, South Carolina factory claiming property values have been negatively impacted by alleged migration of certain pollutants from our property.  On November 27, 2007, a suit was filed in the South Carolina State Court by certain individuals as a class action.  Another suit is a commercial suit filed on January 16, 2008 in South Carolina State Court. Both of these suits are pending.  We intend to defend vigorously the claims that have been asserted in these two lawsuits. At this stage of the litigation, there has not been a determination as to responsible parties or the amount, if any, of damages. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of these cases on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows cannot be determined at this time.
 
We also operate on sites that may have potential future environmental issues as a result of activities at sites during AVX’s long history of manufacturing operations or prior to the start of operations by AVX.  Even though we may have rights of indemnity for such environmental matters at certain sites, regulatory agencies in those jurisdictions may require us to address such issues.  Once it becomes probable that we will incur costs in connection with remediation of a site and such costs can be reasonably estimated, we establish reserves or adjust reserves for the projected share of these costs.  A separate account receivable is recorded for any indemnified costs.

We are involved in disputes, warranty, and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business.  While we cannot predict the outcome of these disputes and proceedings, management believes, based upon a review with legal counsel, that none of these proceedings will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

From time to time we enter into delivery contracts with selected suppliers for certain metals used in our production processes.  The delivery contracts represent routine purchase orders for delivery within three months and payment is due upon receipt.  As of December 31, 2011, we had no significant outstanding purchase commitments.

We have an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer which provides for salary continuance equivalent to his most recent base salary as a full-time employee during a two-year advisory period upon retirement.

 
-13-

 
9.  
Comprehensive Income:

Comprehensive income represents changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by and distributions to shareholders.  The specific components include net income, pension liability and other post-retirement benefit adjustments, deferred gains and losses resulting from foreign currency translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on qualified foreign currency cash flow hedges and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

Comprehensive income includes the following components:


   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Net income
  $ 60,552     $ 36,871     $ 180,743     $ 166,389  
Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes:
                               
Pension liability adjustment
    720       459       1,446       1,031  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (11,190 )     (16,270 )     (3,642 )     (26,879 )
Foreign currency cash flow hedges
    (757 )     (1,194 )     1,006       (436 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities
    150       164       319       (86 )
Comprehensive income
  $ 49,475     $ 20,030     $ 179,872     $ 140,019  



10.  
Segment and Geographic Information:

We have three reportable segments: Passive Components, KED Resale and Interconnect. The Passive Components segment consists primarily of surface mount and leaded ceramic capacitors, RF thick and thin film components, tantalum capacitors, film capacitors, ceramic and film power capacitors, super capacitors, EMI filters, thick and thin film packages, varistors, thermistors, inductors and resistive products.  The KED Resale segment consists primarily of ceramic capacitors, frequency control devices, SAW devices, sensor products, RF modules, actuators, acoustic devices and connectors produced by Kyocera, and resold by AVX.  The Interconnect segment consists primarily of Elco automotive, telecom and memory connectors manufactured by AVX Interconnect.  Sales and operating results from these reportable segments are shown in the tables below.  In addition, we have a corporate administration group consisting of finance and administrative activities and a separate Research and Development group.

We evaluate performance of our segments based upon sales and operating profit.  There are no intersegment revenues.  We allocate the costs of shared resources between segments based on each segment's usage of the shared resources.  Cash, accounts receivable, investments in securities and certain other assets, which are centrally managed, are not readily allocable to operating segments.

The tables below present information about reported segments:

   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Net sales:
                       
Passive Components
  $ 258,579     $ 209,370     $ 772,532     $ 731,383  
KDP and KKC Resale
    105,977       87,456       332,422       314,039  
KEC Resale
    14,768       13,003       52,029       42,921  
Total KED Resale
    120,745       100,459       384,451       356,960  
Interconnect
    26,538       31,036       76,055       93,711  
Total
  $ 405,862     $ 340,865     $ 1,233,038     $ 1,182,054  



 
-14-

 
   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Operating profit:
                       
Passive Components
  $ 86,663     $ 52,343     $ 245,338     $ 225,407  
KED Resale
    5,993       2,340       24,168       13,742  
Interconnect
    4,765       5,588       14,443       17,911  
Research & development
    (1,854 )     (1,824 )     (5,526 )     (4,884 )
Corporate administration
    (12,795 )     (8,232 )     (30,997 )     (26,898 )
Total
  $ 82,772     $ 50,215     $ 247,426     $ 225,278  

   
March 31,
2011
   
December 31,
2011
 
Assets:
           
Passive Components
  $ 703,602     $ 766,890  
KED Resale
    63,706       60,337  
Interconnect
    44,315       48,033  
Research & development
    5,337       6,015  
Cash, A/R and investments in securities
    1,239,426       1,239,399  
Goodwill - Passive components
    152,255       152,233  
Goodwill - Interconnect
    10,277       10,277  
Corporate administration
    100,564       106,795  
Total
  $ 2,319,482     $ 2,389,979  
 
 
The following geographic data is based upon net sales generated by operations located within particular geographic areas:
 
   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Net sales:
                       
Americas
  $ 124,593     $ 94,098     $ 384,743     $ 323,344  
Europe
    96,333       93,599       293,016       325,471  
Asia
    184,936       153,168       555,279       533,239  
Total
  $ 405,862     $ 340,865     $ 1,233,038     $ 1,182,054  

11.  
Pension Plans:

Net periodic pension cost for our defined benefit plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2010 and 2011:

   
U.S. Plans
   
International Plans
 
   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Service cost
  $ 113     $ 133     $ 123     $ 121  
Interest cost
    436       435       1,570       1,613  
Expected return on plan assets
    (530 )     (584 )     (1,155 )     (1,468 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    3       3       -       -  
Recognized actuarial loss
    108       156       362       405  
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 130     $ 143     $ 900     $ 671  

 
-15-

 
 
   
U.S. Plans
   
International Plans
 
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
   
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
 
Service cost
  $ 339     $ 399     $ 369     $ 363  
Interest cost
    1,308       1,305       4,710       4,839  
Expected return on plan assets
    (1,590 )     (1,752 )     (3,465 )     (4,404 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    9       9       -       -  
Recognized actuarial loss
    324       468       1,086       1,215  
Net periodic pension cost
  $ 390     $ 429     $ 2,700     $ 2,013  
 
Based on current actuarial computations, during the nine months ended December 31, 2011, we made contributions of $5,864 to the international plans. We expect to make additional contributions of approximately $1,907 to the international plans over the remainder of fiscal 2012.  Due to their funded status, we made no contributions to the U.S. plans during the nine month period ended December 31, 2011 and do not anticipate making any contributions during the remainder of the fiscal year.
 
12.  
Derivative Financial Instruments:

We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in the normal course of business and use derivative instruments (forward contracts) to hedge certain foreign currency exposures as part of the risk management strategy.  The objective is to offset gains and losses resulting from these exposures with gains and losses on the forward contracts used to hedge them, thereby reducing volatility of earnings or protecting fair values of assets and liabilities.  We do not enter into any trading or speculative positions with regard to derivative instruments.

We primarily use forward contracts, with maturities less than four months, designated as cash flow hedges to protect against the foreign currency exchange rate risks inherent in our forecasted transactions related to purchase commitments and sales, denominated in various currencies.  These derivative instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges.

The effectiveness of the cash flow hedges is determined by comparing the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedge contract with the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedged transaction, both of which are based on forward rates. The effective portion of the gain or loss on these cash flow hedges is initially recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of stockholders' equity.  Once the hedged transaction is recognized, the gain or loss is recognized in our statement of operations. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2011, respectively, the following forward contracts were entered into to hedge against the volatility of foreign currency exchange rates for certain forecasted sales and purchases.

March 31, 2011
             
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance
     
Balance
     
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
 
Caption
 
Value
 
Caption
 
Value
 
                 
   Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid and other
  $ 876  
Accrued expenses
  $ 1,409  
 
 
December 31, 2011
               
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance
     
Balance
     
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
 
Caption
 
Value
 
Caption
 
Value
 
                 
   Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid and other
  $ 1,206  
Accrued expenses
  $ 2,288  
 
-16-

 
For these derivatives designated as hedging instruments, during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, net pretax loss of $2,535 and gain of $862, respectively, were recognized in other comprehensive income. In addition, during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, net pretax loss of $2,461 and gain of $2,471, respectively, were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into cost of sales (for hedging purchases), and net pretax gain of $1,574 and loss of $964, respectively, were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into sales (for hedging sales) in the accompanying Statement of Operations. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, we discontinued an immaterial amount of cash flow hedges for which it was probable that a forecasted transaction would not occur.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consist primarily of forwards used to hedge foreign currency balance sheet exposures representing hedging instruments used to offset foreign currency changes in the fair values of the underlying assets and liabilities.  The gains and losses on these foreign currency forward contracts are recognized in other income and expense in the same period as the remeasurement gains and losses of the related foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities and thus naturally offset these gains and losses. At March 31, 2011 and December 31 2011, we had the following forward contracts that were entered into to hedge against these exposures.
 
March 31, 2011
               
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance
     
Balance
     
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
 
Caption
 
Value
 
Caption
 
Value
 
                 
   Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid and other
  $ 662  
Accrued expenses
  $ 443  
 
December 31, 2011
               
 
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
 
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance
     
Balance
     
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
 
Caption
 
Value
 
Caption
 
Value
 
                 
   Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid and other
  $ 392  
Accrued expenses
  $ 276  

For these derivatives not designated as hedging instruments during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, gains of zero and $2,608, respectively, on hedging contracts were recognized in other income (expense) which substantially offset the approximately $662 and $4,177 in exchange losses, respectively, that were recognized in other income (expense) in the accompanying Statement of Operations.

At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2011, we had outstanding foreign exchange contracts with additional amounts totaling $274,083 and $218,489, respectively, denominated primarily in euros, Czech korunas, British pounds and Japanese yen.
 
13.  
Subsequent Event:

On February 7, 2012, our Board of Directors declared a $0.075 dividend per share of common stock with respect to the quarter ended December 31, 2011.  The dividend will be paid to stockholders of record on February 20, 2012 and will be disbursed on March 9, 2012.
 
-17-

 
 
ITEM 2.
 
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking" information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding industry prospects and future results of operations or financial position, made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking.  The forward-looking information may include, among other information, statements concerning our outlook for fiscal year 2012, overall volume and pricing trends, cost reduction and acquisition strategies and their anticipated results, expectations for research and development, and capital expenditures.  There may also be other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  Forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are inherently uncertain.  The forward-looking information and statements in this report are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the information or statements herein.  Forward-looking statements should be read in context with, and with the understanding of, the various other disclosures concerning the Company and its business made elsewhere in this quarterly report as well as other public reports filed by the Company with the SEC.  You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results or developments.

Any forward-looking statements by the Company are intended to speak as of the date thereof. We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this quarterly report to reflect new events or circumstances unless and to the extent required by applicable law.  All forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, to the extent it may be applicable by way of incorporation of statements contained in this quarterly report by reference or otherwise, Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, each of which establishes a safe-harbor from private actions for forward-looking statements as defined in those statutes.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" is based upon our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods.  On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to investment securities, revenue recognition, inventories, property and equipment, goodwill, intangible assets, income taxes and contingencies.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from those estimates.

We have identified the accounting policies and estimates that are critical to our business operations and understanding the Company's results of operations.  Those policies and estimates can be found in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and in "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates", in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 and in Note 1, "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates", in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.  Accordingly, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.  During the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2011, except as noted in Note 1, “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates”, of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there were no significant changes to any critical accounting policies, judgments involved in applying those policies or the methodology used in determining estimates with respect to those related to investment securities, revenue recognition, inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment, income taxes and contingencies.

 
-18-

 
Business Overview

AVX is a leading worldwide manufacturer and supplier of a broad line of passive electronic components. Virtually all types of electronic devices use our passive component products to store, filter or regulate electric energy.  We also manufacture and supply high-quality electronic connectors and interconnect systems for use in electronic products.

We have manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities located throughout the world which are divided into three main geographic regions: the Americas, Asia and Europe.  AVX is organized into five main product groups with three reportable segments: Passive Components, KED Resale and Connectors.  The Passive Components segment consists primarily of surface mount and leaded ceramic capacitors, RF thick and thin film components, tantalum capacitors, film capacitors, ceramic and film power capacitors, super capacitors, EMI filters, thick and thin film packages, varistors, thermistors, inductors and resistive products.  The KED Resale segment consists primarily of ceramic capacitors, frequency control devices, SAW devices, sensor products, RF modules, actuators, acoustic devices and connectors produced by Kyocera and resold by AVX.  The Interconnect segment consists of Elco automotive, telecom and memory connectors manufactured by AVX Interconnect and KEC Resale connector products.
 
 
Our customers are multi-national original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, independent electronic component distributors and electronic manufacturing service providers, or EMSs.  We market our products through our own direct sales force and independent manufacturers' representatives, based upon market characteristics and demands.  We coordinate our sales, marketing and manufacturing organizations by strategic customer account and globally by region.

We sell our products to customers in a broad array of industries, such as telecommunications, information technology hardware, automotive electronics, medical devices and instrumentation, industrial instrumentation, defense and aerospace electronic systems and consumer electronics.

Results of Operations - Three Months Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was $36.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.22, compared to net income of $60.6 million, or $0.36 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.  This decrease is a result of the factors set forth below.
 
in thousands, except per share data
Three Months Ended
 December 31,
 
 
2010
 
2011
 
Net Sales
$ 405,862   $ 340,865  
Gross Profit
  114,597     78,332  
Operating Income
  82,772     50,215  
Net Income
  60,552     36,871  
Diluted Earnings per Share
$ 0.36   $ 0.22  


Net sales in the three months ended December 31, 2011 decreased $65.0 million, or 16.0%, to $340.9 million compared to $405.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010. This decrease is a result of lower Passive Component sales to our distribution and other customers across most of the markets we serve as customers continued to work down their inventory levels that had increased earlier when there were heightened concerns about the availability of components.  The uncertainty in the global economy resulted in cautiousness in predicting future inventory requirements.  This decrease was partially offset by stronger Interconnect sales in the automotive sector. Overall sales prices for our commodity components declined slightly during this third quarter.
 
-19-

 
The table below represents product group revenues for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2011.
 
Sales Revenue
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
$(000's)
 
2010
   
2011
 
Ceramic Components
  $ 48,690     $ 40,371  
Tantalum Components
    110,865       82,125  
Advanced Components
    99,025       86,874  
Total Passive Components
    258,580       209,370  
KDP and KKC Resale
    105,977       87,456  
KEC Resale
    14,767       13,003  
Total KED Resale
    120,744       100,459  
AVX Interconnect
    26,538       31,036  
Total Revenue
  $ 405,862     $ 340,865  


Passive Component sales decreased $49.2 million, or 19.0%, to $209.4 million in the three months ended December 31, 2011 from $258.6 million during the same quarter last year.  The sales decrease in Passive Components reflects the supply chain inventory correction referred to above, as well as overall lower demand for electronics across global markets as both consumers and manufacturers decreased spending as a result of global economic uncertainty when compared to the same quarter last year. Compared to the same period last year, we saw lower sales in most of the markets we serve, particularly in the industrial, medical and consumer markets. Those declines were partially offset by higher demand in the automotive market.

KDP and KKC Resale sales decreased $18.5 million, or 17.5%, to $87.5 million in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $106.0 million during the same period last year.  When compared to the same period last year, the decrease during the quarter ended December 31, 2011 is primarily attributable to the inventory correction mentioned above, as well as a decrease in unit sales volume in the Asian region due to lower end user demand, particularly in the consumer market.

Total Interconnect sales, including AVX Interconnect manufactured and KEC Resale connectors, increased $2.7 million, or 6.6%, to $44.0 million in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $41.3 million during the same period last year. This increase was primarily attributable to an increased demand in the European and other regional automotive sector reflective of the increased electronic content in today’s automobiles.

Our sales to independent electronic distributor customers represented 35% of total sales for the three months ended December 31, 2011, compared to 41% for the three months ended December 31, 2010.  This decrease in sales is a result of distributors reducing purchases to realign inventory balances in light of expected demand.  Our sales to distributor customers involve specific ship and debit and stock rotation programs for which sales allowances are recorded as reductions in sales.  Such allowance charges were $6.8 million, or 5.4% of gross sales to distributor customers, for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and $8.9 million, or 5.1% of gross sales to distributor customers, for the three months ended December 31, 2010.  Applications under such programs for the quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were approximately $7.5 million and $8.9 million, respectively.

Geographically, compared to the same period last year, sales decreased 2.8% in Europe, 17.2% in Asia and 24.5% in the Americas compared to the same period last year due to the lower demand resulting from uncertainty in the global economy discussed above. The movement of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies resulted in a favorable impact on sales of approximately $8.1 million when compared to the same quarter last year.

Gross profit in the three months ended December 31, 2011 was 23.0% of sales, or $78.3 million, compared to a gross profit margin of 28.2%, or $114.6 million, in the three months ended December 31, 2010. This overall decrease is primarily attributable to lower sales and increased costs for materials. In addition, costs due to currency movement of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies were unfavorably impacted in the current quarter by approximately $13.4 million when compared to the same quarter last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the three months ended December 31, 2011 remained steady at $28.1 million, or 8.2% of net sales, compared to $31.8 million, or 7.8% of net sales, in the three months ended December 31, 2010.  The overall increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales reflects the impact of the lower sales when compared to the same quarter last year.
 
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As a result of the factors above, income from operations decreased $32.6 million to $50.2 million in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $82.8 million in the three months ended December 31, 2010.

Other income decreased $1.5 million in the three months ended December 31, 2011 compared to the same period last year. This decrease is primarily due to slightly higher interest income, offset by unfavorable foreign currency activity in the quarter ended December 31, 2011.

Our effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was 27.0% compared to 29.0% for the same period last year. This lower effective tax rate is primarily due to a decrease in the overall effective tax rate for the year resulting from a shift in income in different tax jurisdictions.

Results of Operations – Nine Months Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

Net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 was $166.4 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.98, compared to $180.7 million, or $1.06 diluted earnings per share, for the nine months ended December 31, 2010.  This decrease is a result of the factors set forth below.


in thousands, except per share data
Nine Months Ended
 December 31,
 
 
2010
 
2011
 
Net Sales
$ 1,233,038   $ 1,182,054  
Gross Profit
  339,621     313,809  
Operating Income
  247,426     225,278  
Net Income
  180,743     166,389  
Diluted Earnings per Share
$ 1.06   $ 0.98  


Net sales in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 decreased $50.9 million, or 4.1%, to $1,182.1 million compared to sales of $1,233.0 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2010.  This decrease is a result of lower sales to our distribution and other customers across most of the markets we serve.  This decrease was partially offset by stronger sales in the automotive sector, primarily in our Interconnect segment.  Supply chain inventory levels decreased during the nine months ended December 31, 2011 as distributor customers and product manufacturers decreased inventory purchases during the nine month period to realign their inventory levels that had increased earlier when there were heightened concerns about the availability of components. Overall sales prices for commodity products declined slightly when compared to the same nine-month period last year.
 
 
The table below represents product group revenues for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2010 and 2011.

Sales Revenue
 
Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
$(000's)
 
2010
   
2011
 
Ceramic Components
  $ 164,239     $ 137,050  
Tantalum Components
    303,829       306,601  
Advanced Components
    304,465       287,732  
Total Passive Components
    772,533       731,383  
KDP and KKC Resale
    332,423       314,039  
KEC Resale
    52,027       42,921  
Total KED Resale
    384,450       356,960  
AVX Interconnect
    76,055       93,711  
Total Revenue
  $ 1,233,038     $ 1,182,054  


 
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Passive Component sales decreased $41.1 million, or 5.3%, to $731.4 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to sales of $772.5 million during the same period last year. The sales decrease in Passive Components reflects the supply chain inventory correction referred to above, as well as lower demand for our Ceramic and Advanced components in most of the markets we serve, partially offset by an increase for tantalum components during the first nine months of the current fiscal year when compared to the same nine-month period last year. Compared to the same nine-month period last year, we saw improvement in the automotive market, partially offset by lower demand in the consumer, medical and industrial markets. Lower revenues from Ceramic and Advanced Components reflect the decreased demand primarily resulting from the uncertainty in global economic conditions. The increase in sales of Tantalum Components reflects an increase in the volume of units sold as customers reacted to the tight supply situation during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, in addition to higher average selling prices, when compared to the nine months ended December 31, 2010.

KDP and KKC Resale sales decreased $18.4 million to $314.0 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $332.4 million during the same period last year.  The decrease during the nine month period ended December 31, 2011 is primarily attributable to the inventory correction referred to above, as well as a decrease in unit sales volume in the Asian region due to lower end user demand, particularly in the consumer market.

Total Connector sales, including AVX Interconnect manufactured and KEC Resale connectors, increased $8.6 million, or 6.7%, to $136.6 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $128.1 million during the same period last year.  This increase was primarily attributable to an increased demand in the European and other regional automotive sector reflective of the increased electronic content in today’s automobiles.

Our sales to independent electronic distributor customers represented 38.3% of total sales for the nine months ended December 31, compared to 42.4% for the nine months ended December 31, 2010.  This decrease in sales is a result of distributor customers reducing purchases during the second half of the nine months ended December 31, 2011 to realign inventory balances that had increased earlier when there were heightened concerns about the availability of components in light of ongoing uncertainty in the global economy. Our sales to distributor customers involve specific ship and debit and stock rotation programs for which sales allowances are recorded as reductions in sales.  Such allowance charges were $21.5 million, or 4.5% of gross sales to distributor customers, for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and $25.5 million, or 4.9% of gross sales to distributor customers, for the nine months ended December 31, 2010. Applications under such programs for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were approximately $21.6 million and $23.0 million, respectively.

Geographically, compared to the same period last year, sales increased 11.1% in Europe primarily as a result of stronger automotive sales.  Sales decreased 16.0% in the Americas and 4.0% in Asia due to the lower demand resulting from uncertainty in the global economy discussed above. The movement of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies resulted in a favorable impact on sales of approximately $40.6 million when compared to the same nine month period last year.

Gross profit in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 was 26.5% of sales, or $313.8 million compared to a gross profit margin of 27.5%, or $339.6 million, in the nine months ended December 31, 2010. This overall decrease is primarily attributable to lower sales and increased costs for materials.  The lower gross margin percentage also reflects the movement of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies which resulted in an unfavorable impact of approximately $56.1 million on cost of sales when compared to the same period last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 were $88.5 million, or 7.5% of net sales, compared to $92.2 million, or 7.5% of net sales, in the nine months ended December 31, 2010.

As a result of the above factors, income from operations decreased $22.1 million to $225.3 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $247.4 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2010.

Other income decreased $4.4 million to $2.7 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $7.1 million in the same period last year. This decrease is primarily due to higher net currency exchange losses when compared to the same nine month period last year offset by slightly higher interest income in the current fiscal year.

Our effective tax rate for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2011 was 27.0% compared to 29.0% for the same period last year. This lower effective tax rate is primarily due to a shift in income to different tax jurisdictions when compared to the same period last year. We continue to evaluate countries where we have a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets due to historical operating losses and when such positive evidence outweighs negative evidence we will release such valuation allwance as appropriate.
 
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Outlook

Near-Term:

We expect that the remainder of the current fiscal year will continue to be challenging as the uncertainty resulting from fiscal issues in Europe and other global uncertainties.  Near term results for us will depend on overall global economic and geopolitical conditions and their impact on the markets that we serve.  We expect to see typical selling price pressure as electronic component product supply comes more in balance with demand as well as higher costs for labor, materials, supplies, and utilities.  We continue to focus on productivity and process improvements in conjunction with enhanced production capabilities in addition to our focus on the sales of value-added electronic components to support today’s advanced electronic devices. If current global economic and geopolitical conditions change significantly, the overall impact on our customers, as well as end users demand for electronic products, could have a significant adverse impact on our near-term results.

Long-Term:

Although there is unpredictability in the near-term market as a result of the current economic and geopolitical conditions, we continue to be optimistic that opportunities for long-term growth and profitability will continue due to: (a) a projected increase in the long-term worldwide demand for electronic devices, which require electronic components such as the ones we sell, (b) a continuing focus on cost reductions and improvements in our production processes, (c) opportunities for growth in our Advanced Component and Interconnect product lines due to advances in component design and our production capabilities and (d) opportunities for strategic acquisitions.  We have fostered our financial health and the strength of our balance sheet.  We remain confident that our strategies will enable our continued long-term success.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity needs arise primarily from working capital requirements, dividend payments, capital expenditures and acquisitions.  Historically, we have satisfied our liquidity requirements through funds from operations and investment income from cash and investments in securities.  As of December 31, 2011, we had a current ratio of 8.6 to 1, $1,048.7 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments in securities, $2,143.9 million of stockholders’ equity and no debt.

As of December 31, 2011, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments in securities of $1,048.7 million, of which $580.7 million was held outside the U.S. Liquidity is subject to many factors, such as normal business operations as well as general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, and regulatory factors that are beyond our control. Cash balances generated and held in foreign locations are used for on-going working capital, capital expenditure needs and to support acquisitions. These balances are currently expected to be permanently reinvested outside the U.S. If these funds were needed for general corporate use in the U.S., we would incur significant income taxes to repatriate cash held in foreign locations. In addition, local government regulations may restrict our ability to move funds among various locations under certain circumstances. Management does not believe such restrictions would limit our ability to pursue its intended business strategy.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $121.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2011 compared to $125.7 million of cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended December 31, 2010.  The decrease in operating cash flow compared to the same period last year was primarily a result of lower net income and increased working capital requirements resulting from the strategic purchases of certain raw materials. Decreased operating cash flows resulting from increased accounts payable and inventory levels were partially offset by lower accounts receivable balances.

Purchases of property and equipment were $38.6 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2012 compared to $19.2 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Expenditures were primarily made in connection with the expansion of passive component and interconnect manufacturing operations and process improvements in passive component product lines.  We continue to make strategic investments in our advanced passive component and interconnect product lines and expect to incur capital expenditures of approximately $45 - $50 million in fiscal 2012.  The actual amount of capital expenditures will depend upon the outlook for end-market demand.

 
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The majority of our funding is internally generated through operations and investment income from cash and investments in securities.  Since March 31, 2011, there have been no material changes in our contractual obligations or commitments for the acquisition or construction of plant and equipment or future minimum lease commitments under noncancellable operating leases.  Based on our financial condition as of December 31, 2011, we believe that cash on hand and cash expected to be generated from operating activities and investment income from cash and investments in securities will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated financing needs for working capital, capital expenditures, environmental clean-up costs, research, development and engineering expenses, any acquisitions of businesses and any dividend payments or stock repurchases to be made during the year.  Changes in demand may have an impact on our future cash requirements. However, changes in those requirements are mitigated by our ability to adjust manufacturing capabilities to meet increases or decreases in customer demand.  We do not anticipate any significant changes in our ability to generate or meet our liquidity needs in the long-term.

From time to time we enter into delivery contracts with selected suppliers for certain precious metals used in our production processes.  The delivery contracts represent routine purchase orders for delivery within three months and payment is due upon receipt.  As of December 31, 2011, we did not have any significant delivery contracts outstanding.

We are involved in disputes, warranty and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. While we cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings, we believe, based upon our review with legal counsel, that none of these proceedings will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, we cannot be certain if the eventual outcome and any adverse result in these or other matters that may arise from time to time may harm our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

We have been named as a potentially responsible party in state and federal administrative proceedings seeking contribution for costs associated with the correction and remediation of environmental conditions at various waste disposal and operating sites.  In addition, we operate on sites that may have potential future environmental issues as a result of activities at sites during AVX’s long history of manufacturing operations or prior to the start of operations by AVX.  Even though we may have rights of indemnity for such environmental matters at certain sites, regulatory agencies in those jurisdictions may require us to address such issues.  Once it becomes probable that we will incur costs in connection with remediation of a site and such costs can be reasonably estimated, we establish reserves or adjust our reserves for our projected share of these costs.  A separate account receivable is recorded for any indemnified costs. Our environmental reserves are not discounted and do reflect any possible future insurance recoveries, which are not expected to be significant, but do reflect a reasonable estimate of cost sharing at multiple party sites or indemnification of our liability by a third party.

We currently have remaining environmental reserves for current remediation, compliance and legal costs totaling $20.3 million at December 31, 2011.  Additional information related to environmental and legal issues can be found in Note 8 “Commitments and Contingencies” of the Company’s Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

New Accounting Standards

Information related to new Statement of Financial Accounting Standards and Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Positions that we have recently adopted or are currently reviewing can be found in Note 1 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates”, in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.  Accordingly, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our sales are denominated in various foreign currencies in addition to the U.S. dollar. Certain manufacturing and operating costs denominated in local currencies are incurred in Europe, Asia, Mexico and Central and South America. Additionally, purchases of resale products from Kyocera may be denominated in Yen.  As a result, fluctuations in currency exchange rates affect our operating results and cash flow. In order to minimize the effect of movements in currency exchange rates, we periodically enter into forward exchange contracts to hedge external and intercompany foreign currency transactions. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.  Accordingly, we have hedging commitments to cover a portion of our exchange risk on purchases, operating expenses and sales. There have been no material net changes in our exposure to its foreign currency exchange rate as reflected in Part II, Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. See Note 12 of our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further discussion of derivative financial instruments.
 
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of the end of the period covered in this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the 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 such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

In addition, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our first half of fiscal 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II:
OTHER INFORMATION

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Please refer to Part I Item 3, “Legal Proceedings”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011. In addition, see Note 8, “Commitments and Contingencies”, in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 to this Form 10-Q for a discussion of our involvement as a PRP at certain environmental remediation sites.

RISK FACTORS

Please refer to Part I, Item 1A., Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (the “Annual Report Risk Factors”) for information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. For an update of risk factors relating to our potential environmental liabilities as described under the caption “Changes in our environmental liability and compliance obligations may adversely impact our operations” in the Annual Report Risk Factors, see Note 8, “Commitments and Contingencies”, in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 to this Form 10-Q.
 
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table shows our purchases of common stock during the quarter.
 
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
   
Average Price Paid Per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)
   
Maximum Number of Shares that may yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
 
10/01/11 - 10/31/11
  -     $ -     -     6,790,131  
11/01/11 - 11/30/11
  109,318       12.99     109,318     6,680,813  
12/01/11 - 12/31/11
  35,000       12.90     35,000     6,645,813  
Total
  144,318     $ 12.97     144,318     6,645,813  

(1)  
Our Board of Directors have approved stock repurchase authorizations whereby up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock could be purchased from time to time in the open market at the discretion of management. The repurchased shares are held as treasury stock and are available for general corporate purposes.
 
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ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
 
31.1
 
 
31.2
 
 
32.1
 
101
 
The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operation, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 


 
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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.




Date:   February 8, 2012





AVX Corporation
   
By:
/s/ Kurt P. Cummings

 
Kurt P. Cummings
 
Vice President,
 
Chief Financial Officer,
 
Treasurer and Secretary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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