form6-k20120229.htm


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.   20549


FORM 6-K


Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of April 2012

EXFO Inc.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

400 Godin Avenue, Quebec, Quebec, Canada   G1M 2K2
(Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.


Form 20-F þ
Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes o
No þ


If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-______.

 


 
 
 

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Signatures
Press Release
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 

 
On March 27, 2012, EXFO Inc., a Canadian corporation, reported its results of operations for the second fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2012. This report on Form 6-K sets forth the news release relating to EXFO’s announcement and certain information relating to EXFO’s financial condition and results of operations for the second fiscal quarter of the 2012 fiscal year.  This press release and information relating to EXFO’s financial condition and results of operations for the second fiscal quarter of the 2012 fiscal year are hereby incorporated as a document by reference to Form F-3 (Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933) declared effective as of July 30, 2001 and to Form F-3 (Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933) declared effective as of March 11, 2002 and to amend certain material information as set forth in these two Form F-3 documents.


 
Page 1 of 44

 
 
SIGNATURES

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



 
EXFO INC.
 
 
 
By: /s/ Germain Lamonde
Name:  Germain Lamonde
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer
   


Date: April 3, 2012
 

 
Page 2 of 44

 
 
 
 
EXFO Reports Second-Quarter Results for Fiscal 2012

§  
Sales reach US$66.9 M
§  
Gross margin* attains 64.7%
§  
Cash flows from operations total US$13.6 million

QUEBEC CITY, CANADA, March 27, 2012 — EXFO Inc. (NASDAQ: EXFO; TSX: EXF) reported today financial results for the second quarter ended February 29, 2012.

Sales reached US$66.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$72.0 million in the second quarter of 2011 and US$66.4 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Bookings reached US$60.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$57.6 million in the same period last year and US$71.4 million in the first quarter of 2012. The company’s book-to-bill ratio was 0.91 in the second quarter of 2012 and 0.99 at the mid-way mark of fiscal 2012.

Gross margin* amounted to 64.7% of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 61.4% in the second quarter of 2011 and 64.8% in the first quarter of 2012.

IFRS net earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 totaled US$1.0 million, or US$0.02 per diluted share, compared to US$1.7 million, or US$0.03 per diluted share, in the same period last year and US$2.9 million, or US$0.05 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2012. Net earnings in the second quarter of 2012 included US$1.9 million in after-tax amortization of intangible assets and US$0.5 million in stock-based compensation costs. EXFO also incurred a foreign exchange loss of US$1.5 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Adjusted EBITDA** amounted to US$5.8 million, or 8.7% of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$8.4 million, or 11.6% of sales, in the second quarter of 2011 and US$7.6 million, or 11.4% of sales, in the first quarter of 2012. Foreign exchange losses or gain are included in adjusted EBITDA**.

“EXFO performed well in the second quarter given typical seasonality, difficult European economic environment, near absence of year-end capital spending and some later approvals of 2012 spending budgets,” said Germain Lamonde, EXFO’s Chairman, President and CEO. “In the second half of our fiscal year, which is typically our strongest, we expect to benefit from major product launches, as well as continued market penetration with our wireless, 40G/100G and other Protocol solutions, to complete the year with at least single-digit sales growth. In terms of operating leverage, our corporate gross margin of 64.8% at the halfway mark of fiscal 2012 reached its highest level in the last 10 years and we generated healthy cash flows from operations and adjusted EBITDA. In short, we should continue growing both revenues and earnings despite a challenging environment in 2012, while significantly strengthening our long-term competitive position.”
 

 
Page 3 of 44

 
 
 
 
Selected Financial Information
(In thousands of US dollars)

      Q2 2012       Q1 2012       Q2 2011  
                         
Sales
  $ 66,917     $ 66,388     $ 72,046  
                         
Gross margin*
  $ 43,301     $ 43,018     $ 44,225  
      64.7 %     64.8 %     61.4 %
                         
Other selected information:
                       
IFRS net earnings
  $ 1,040     $ 2,914     $ 1,716  
Amortization of intangible assets
  $ 1,974     $ 1,921     $ 2,367  
Stock-based compensation costs
  $ 508     $ 555     $ 625  
Net income tax effect of the above items
  $ (56 )   $ (30 )   $ (157 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
  $ (1,471 )   $ 1,664     $ (2,395 )
Adjusted EBITDA**
  $ 5,847     $ 7,581     $ 8,351  

Operating Expenses
Selling and administrative expenses totaled US$23.7 million, or 35.4% of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$22.2 million, or 30.9% of sales, in the same period last year and US$24.6 million, or 37.1% of sales, in the first quarter of 2012.

Gross research and development expenses amounted to US$14.8 million, or 22.1% of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$13.8 million, or 19.2% of sales, in the second quarter of 2011 and US$14.8 million, or 22.3% of sales, in the first quarter of 2012.

Net R&D expenses totaled US$12.3 million, or 18.4% of sales, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to US$11.2 million, or 15.6% of sales, in the same period last year and US$12.5 million, or 18.8% of sales, in the first quarter of 2012.

Second-Quarter Business Highlights
§  
EXFO’s increased traction in the wireless sector allowed its Protocol solutions to achieve strong sales growth year-over-year, contributing to a significant increase in gross margin. The company signed a multi-million contract for the industry’s highest-capacity wireless simulators with a major network equipment manufacturer (NEM). This unique EXFO solution enables NEMs and mobile network operators (MNOs) to fully simulate the impact that enormous traffic (data, SMS, calls, etc.) will have on wireless networks in order to assure end-to-end quality of service and interoperability of 4G/LTE, 3G and 2G services. The bulk of this order was shipped in the second quarter.

§  
EXFO’s top customer accounted for 5.4% of sales in the second quarter, while the top three represented 13.7%. Global sales were diversified with 49% originating from the Americas, 31% from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and 20% from Asia-Pacific.

§  
EXFO launched seven new products in the second quarter, including amongst others, the QA-805/QA-813 QualityAssurer, the industry’s most scalable platform (simulates more than 12 million active subscribers) for load simulation and only one supporting converged 3G, LTE and IMS; EXFO Apps, a portal offering software applications that boost the capabilities and productivity of the FTB Ecosystem of smart platforms and test modules; a fully featured optical spectrum analyzer (IQS-5240S/B-P) for lab and manufacturing in 40G/100G coherent communication environments; and the MaxTester 630, a handheld tester that can characterize advanced capabilities like bonding and vectoring in VDSL2 technologies.

Profitable Growth
EXFO generated adjusted EBITDA** of US$5.8 million (8.7% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 on revenue of US$66.9 million. Foreign exchange losses or gains are included in adjusted EBITDA**. See the section entitled “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA** and IFRS net earnings. The company also reported US$13.6 million in cash flows from operations in the second quarter of 2012.


 
Page 4 of 44

 
 
 

Business Outlook
EXFO forecasts sales between US$68.0 million and US$73.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, while net earnings are expected to range between US$0.01 and US$0.05 per diluted share. Net earnings include US$0.04 per share in after-tax amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation costs.
 
This guidance was established by management based on existing backlog as of the date of this press release, seasonality, anticipated bookings for the remaining of the quarter, no changes to the discounted value of long-term tax credits, as well as exchange rates as of the day of this press release.
 
Conference Call and Webcast
EXFO will host a conference call today at 5 p.m. (Eastern time) to review its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2012. To listen to the conference call and participate in the question period via telephone, dial (416) 641-6684. Germain Lamonde, Chairman, President and CEO, and Pierre Plamondon, CA, Vice-President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the call. An audio replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the event until 7 p.m. on April 3, 2012. The replay number is (402) 977-9141 and the reservation number is 21580650. The audio Webcast and replay of the conference call will also be available on EXFO’s Website at www.EXFO.com, under the Investors section.

About EXFO
Listed on the NASDAQ and TSX stock exchanges, EXFO is among the leading providers of next-generation test and service assurance solutions for wireline and wireless network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global telecommunications industry. The company offers innovative solutions for the development, installation, management and maintenance of converged, IP fixed and mobile networks—from the core to the edge. Key technologies supported include 3G, 4G/LTE, IMS, Ethernet, OTN, FTTx, VDSL2, ADSL2+ and various optical technologies accounting for an estimated 35% of the portable fiber-optic test market. EXFO has a staff of approximately 1800 people in 25 countries, supporting more than 2000 telecom customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.EXFO.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition. Words such as may, will, expect, believe, anticipate, intend, could, estimate, continue, or the negative or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events and circumstances are considered forward-looking statements. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements due to various factors including economic uncertainty (including our ability to quickly adapt cost structures with anticipated levels of business, ability to manage inventory levels with market demand); future economic, competitive, financial and market conditions; capital spending levels in the telecommunications industry; limited visibility with regards to customer orders and the timing of such orders; fluctuating exchange rates; our ability to successfully integrate our acquired and to-be-acquired businesses; consolidation in the global telecommunications test and service assurance industry and increased competition among vendors; concentration of sales; market acceptance of our new products and other upcoming products; our ability to successfully expand international operations; and the retention of key technical and management personnel. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments and risks, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Other risk factors that may affect our future performance and operations are detailed in our Annual Report, on Form 20-F, and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities commissions. We believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to us, but we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Unless required by law or applicable regulations, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any of them to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this document.
 
 
 
Page 5 of 44


 

 
 
NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES
 
EXFO provides non-IFRS financial measures (gross margin*, EBITDA** and adjusted EBITDA**) as supplemental information regarding its operational performance. The company uses these measures for the purposes of evaluating its historical and prospective financial performance, as well as its performance relative to competitors. These measures also help EXFO to plan and forecast future periods as well as to make operational and strategic decisions. EXFO believes that providing this information, in addition to the IFRS measures, allows investors to see the company’s results through the eyes of management, and to better understand its historical and future financial performance.
 
The presentation of this additional information is not prepared in accordance with IFRS. Therefore, the information may not necessarily be comparable to that of other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with IFRS.
 
*
Gross margin represents sales less cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization.
 
**
EBITDA is defined as net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding changes in the fair value of the cash contingent consideration.
 
The following tables summarize the reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to IFRS net earnings and additional information, in thousands of US dollars:
 
 
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA
 
      Q2 2012       Q1 2012       Q2 2011  
                         
IFRS net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 2,914     $ 1,716  
                         
Add (deduct):
                       
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    1,546       1,568       1,597  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,974       1,921       2,367  
Interest expenses (income)
    (171 )     27       (49 )
Income taxes
    1,769       1,151       2,720  
                         
EBITDA for the period
    6,158       7,581       8,351  
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration
    (311 )            
                         
Adjusted EBITDA for the period
  $ 5,847     $ 7,581     $ 8,351  
                         
EBITDA in percentage of total sales
    9.2 %     11.4 %     11.6 %
Adjusted EBITDA in percentage of total sales
    8.7 %     11.4 %     11.6 %



For more information
Vance Oliver
Manager, Investor Relations
(418) 683-0913, Ext. 23733
vance.oliver@exfo.com
 
 
 
 
Page 6 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of US dollars)
 

   
As at
February 29,
2012
   
As at
August 31,
2011
 
Assets
           
             
Current assets
           
Cash
  $ 71,249     $ 22,771  
Short-term investments
    5,144       47,091  
Accounts receivable
               
Trade
    42,787       45,151  
Other (note 4)
    4,449       6,329  
Income taxes and tax credits recoverable
    7,068       5,414  
Inventories
    44,327       52,754  
Prepaid expenses
    3,418       3,237  
      178,442       182,747  
                 
Tax credits recoverable
    33,810       34,120  
Forward exchange contracts (note 4)
    309       149  
Property, plant and equipment (note 5)
    39,545       32,076  
Intangible assets
    18,198       22,901  
Goodwill
    29,750       30,942  
Deferred income taxes
    16,471       17,314  
                 
    $ 316,525     $ 320,249  
Liabilities
               
                 
Current liabilities
               
Bank loan
  $     $ 784  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    30,313       30,320  
Provisions
    1,581       1,817  
Income taxes payable
    1,218       876  
Contingent liability (note 6)
          338  
Current portion of long-term debt
    597       645  
Deferred revenue
    9,793       10,590  
      43,502       45,370  
                 
Deferred revenue
    5,630       5,704  
Long-term debt
    597       968  
Other liabilities
    559       723  
Deferred income taxes
    5,402       4,803  
      55,690       57,568  
                 
Shareholders’ equity
               
Share capital (note 7)
    111,421       110,341  
Contributed surplus
    17,345       18,017  
Retained earnings
    117,392       113,438  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    14,677       20,885  
                 
      260,835       262,681  
                 
    $ 316,525     $ 320,249  
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 7 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data)
 
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Sales
  $ 66,917     $ 133,305     $ 72,046     $ 137,699  
                                 
Cost of sales (1) (note 8)
    23,616       46,986       27,821       52,606  
Selling and administrative (note 8)
    23,676       48,294       22,235       42,134  
Net research and development  (note 8)
    12,307       24,790       11,244       22,845  
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 8)
    1,546       3,114       1,597       3,243  
Amortization of intangible assets (note 8)
    1,974       3,895       2,367       4,933  
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration (note 6)
    (311 )     (311 )            
Earnings from operations
    4,109       6,537       6,782       11,938  
                                 
Interest income
    171       144       49       42  
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
    (1,471 )     193       (2,395 )     (3,508 )
Earnings before income taxes
    2,809       6,874       4,436       8,472  
                                 
Income taxes (note 9)
    1,769       2,920       2,720       5,549  
                                 
Net earnings from continuing operations
    1,040       3,954       1,716       2,923  
                                 
Net earnings from discontinued operations
                      12,926  
                                 
Net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 3,954     $ 1,716     $ 15,849  
                                 
Basic net earnings from continuing operations per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.07     $ 0.03     $ 0.05  
Diluted net earnings from continuing operations per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.06     $ 0.03     $ 0.05  
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per share
  $     $     $     $ 0.22  
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per share
  $     $     $     $ 0.21  
Basic net earnings per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.07     $ 0.03     $ 0.27  
Diluted net earnings per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.06     $ 0.03     $ 0.26  
                                 
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (000’s)
    60,441       60,391       59,900       59,782  
                                 
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (000’s) (note 10)
    61,606       61,685       61,524       61,314  

(1)   The cost of sales is exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately.
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 8 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands of US dollars)
 
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 3,954     $ 1,716     $ 15,849  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    6,148       (5,604 )     12,760       18,987  
Unrealized gains on forward exchange contracts
    963       144       1,794       3,238  
Reclassification of realized gains on forward exchange contracts in net earnings
    (355 )     (980 )     (464 )     (653 )
Deferred income tax effect of the components of other comprehensive income (loss)
    (163 )     232       (365 )     (703 )
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    6,593       (6,208 )     13,725       20,869  
Comprehensive income (loss) for the period
  $ 7,633     $ (2,254 )   $ 15,441     $ 36,718  

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

 
Page 9 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

(in thousands of US dollars)
 
 
   
Six months ended February 28, 2011
 
   
Share
capital
   
Contributed surplus
   
Retained
earnings
   
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
Total
shareholders’ equity
 
                               
Balance as at September 1, 2010
  $ 106,126     $ 18,563     $ 91,152     $ 1,016     $ 216,857  
Exercise of stock options
    1,280                         1,280  
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs
    2,152       (2,152 )                  
Stock-based compensation costs
          1,210                   1,210  
Net earnings for the period
                15,849             15,849  
Other comprehensive income
                                       
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      18,987       18,987  
Changes in unrealized gains on forward exchange contracts, net of deferred income taxes of $703
                      1,882       1,882  
                                         
Total comprehensive income for the period
                15,849       20,869       36,718  
                                         
Balance as at February 28, 2011
  $ 109,558     $ 17,621     $ 107,001     $ 21,885     $ 256,065  



   
Six months ended February 29, 2012
 
   
Share
Capital
   
Contributed Surplus
   
Retained
earnings
   
Accumulated other comprehensive income
   
Total
shareholders’ equity
 
                               
Balance as at September 1, 2011
  $ 110,341     $ 18,017     $ 113,438     $ 20,885     $ 262,681  
Exercise of stock options
    78                         78  
Redemption of share capital (note 7)
    (404 )     (222 )                 (626 )
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs
    1,406       (1,406 )                  
Stock-based compensation costs
          956                   956  
Net earnings for the period
                3,954             3,954  
Other comprehensive loss
                                       
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      (5,604 )     (5,604 )
Changes in unrealized gains on forward exchange contracts, net of deferred income taxes of $232
                      (604 )     (604 )
                                         
Total comprehensive loss for the period
                3,954       (6,208 )     (2,254 )
                                         
Balance as at February 29, 2012
  $ 111,421     $ 17,345     $ 117,392     $ 14,677     $ 260,835  


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

 
Page 10 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands of US dollars)

 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
Cash flows from operating activities
                       
Net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 3,954     $ 1,716     $ 15,849  
Add (deduct) items not affecting cash
                               
Change in discount on short-term investments
    12       43       (9 )     (27 )
Stock-based compensation costs
    508       1,063       625       1,363  
Depreciation and amortization
    3,520       7,009       3,964       8,194  
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
                      (13,212 )
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration (note 6)
    (311 )     (311 )            
Deferred revenue
    488       (653 )     3,250       679  
Deferred income taxes
    888       1,623       2,619       4,609  
Foreign exchange gain/loss
    175       (1,039 )     1,054       1,591  
      6,320       11,689       13,219       19,046  
                                 
Change in non-cash operating items
                               
Accounts receivable
    5,504       2,607       9,085       4,605  
Income taxes and tax credits
    (1,547 )     (1,419 )     (2,260 )     (3,319 )
Inventories
    7,050       7,643       (2,098 )     (3,460 )
Prepaid expenses
    (228 )     (213 )     (324 )     (709 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and provisions
    (3,432 )     (35 )     3,074       1,850  
Other liabilities
    (91 )     (152 )     17       152  
      13,576       20,120       20,713       18,165  
Cash flows from investing activities
                               
Additions to short-term investments
    (9,876 )     (67,798 )     (88,804 )     (314,950 )
Proceeds from disposal and maturity of    short-term investments
    16,987       107,766       70,313       279,918  
Additions to capital assets
    (6,691 )     (11,177 )     (1,316 )     (3,295 )
Net proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations
                (61 )     22,063  
Business combination
                (111 )     (243 )
      420       28,791       (19,979 )     (16,507 )
Cash flows from financing activities
                               
Bank loan
          (785 )            
Repayment of long-term debt
    (296 )     (296 )     (296 )     (296 )
Exercise of stock options
    78       78       1,219       1,280  
Redemption of share capital
    (263 )     (626 )            
      (481 )     (1,629 )     923       984  
                                 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
    1,564       1,196       784       1,128  
                                 
Change in cash
    15,079       48,478       2,441       3,770  
Cash – Beginning of the period
    56,170       22,771       23,438       22,109  
Cash – End of the period
  $ 71,249     $ 71,249     $ 25,879     $ 25,879  
                                 
Supplementary information
                               
Interest paid
  $ 31     $ 58     $ 28     $ 56  
Income taxes paid
  $ 255     $ 990     $ 487     $ 860  
 
As at February 28, 2011 and February 29, 2012, unpaid purchases of capital assets amounted to $218 and $2,017 respectively.
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
Page 11 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)
 
 
1  Nature of Activities and Incorporation
 
EXFO Inc. and its subsidiaries (together “EXFO” or the company) designs, manufactures and markets test and service assurance solutions for wireless and wireline network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global telecommunications industry. The company offers core-to-edge solutions to assess the performance and reliability of converged Internet protocol (IP) fixed and mobile networks.
 
EXFO is a company incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and domiciled in Canada. The address of its headquarters is 400 Godin Avenue, Quebec, Province of Quebec, Canada, G1M 2K2.
 
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on March 27, 2012.
 
 
2  Basis of Presentation and Adoption of IFRS
 
The company used to prepare its consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles as set out in the Handbook of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (“CICA Handbook”). In 2010, the CICA Handbook was revised to incorporate International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and now requires publicly accountable enterprises to apply such standards effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2011. Accordingly, the company has commenced reporting on this basis in its 2012 condensed interim consolidated financial statements. In these condensed consolidated financial statements, the term “Canadian GAAP” refers to Canadian GAAP applied before the adoption of IFRS.
 
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the IFRS applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, including IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”, and IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards”.
 
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements do not include all disclosures that will normally be found in the company’s annual consolidated financial statements. The accounting policies followed in these interim financial statements are the same as those applied in the company’s interim financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2011. Subject to certain transition elections, the company has consistently applied the same accounting policies in its consolidated opening balance sheet as at September 1, 2010, and through all periods presented, as if these accounting policies had always been in effect. Note 3 discloses the impact of the transition to IFRS on the company’s reported shareholders’ equity and the consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows, including the nature and effect of significant changes in accounting policies from those used in the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2011. Specifically, note 3 presents a reconciliation of the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for the six months ended February 28, 2011 as well as of the consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows for the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011.
 
The policies applied in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements are based on IFRS issued as of March 27, 2012, that is the date on which the Board of Directors approved the financial statements. Any subsequent changes to IFRS that are given effect in the company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the year ending August 31, 2012, could result in restatement of these condensed interim consolidated financial statements, including the transition adjustments recognized on change-over to IFRS.
 
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the company’s most recent annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2011, and the company’s condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2011, prepared in accordance with IFRS applicable to interim financial statements. These condensed interim consolidated results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.
 

 
Page 12 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
New IFRS pronouncements and amendments not yet adopted
 
Financial Instruments – Disclosure
 
IFRS 7, “Financial Instruments: Disclosures, has been amended to include additional disclosure requirements in the reporting of transfer transactions and risk exposures relating to transfers of financial assets and the impact of those risks on an entity’s financial position, particularly those involving securitization of financial assets. The amendment is applicable for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2011, with earlier application permitted. While the company is currently assessing the effect of these amendments, it does not expect the amendments to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
Financial Instruments
 
IFRS 9, “Financial Instruments, was issued in November 2009 and addresses classification and measurement of financial assets. It replaces the multiple category and measurement models in IAS 39, “Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement”, for debt instruments with a new mixed measurement model having only two categories: amortized cost and fair value through profit or loss. IFRS 9 also replaces the models for measuring equity instruments. Such instruments are either recognized at fair value through profit or loss or at fair value through other comprehensive income. Where equity instruments are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, dividends are recognized in profit or loss to the extent that they do not clearly represent a return of investment; however, other gains and losses (including impairments) associated with such instruments remain in accumulated comprehensive income indefinitely. Requirements for financial liabilities were added to IFRS 9 in October 2010, and they largely carried forward existing requirements in IAS 39, except that fair value changes due to credit risk for liabilities designated at fair value through profit and loss are generally recorded in other comprehensive income. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015. The company has not yet assessed the impact that this new standard is likely to have on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2011, the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) issued the following standards: IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements”, IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”, and IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement”. Each of these new standards is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The company has not yet assessed the impact that the new standards may have on its consolidated financial statements or whether or not to early adopt any of these new requirements.
 
The following is a brief summary of these new standards:
 
Consolidation
 
IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, requires an entity to consolidate an investee when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Under existing IFRS, consolidation is required when a company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. IFRS 10 replaces Standing Interpretations Committee (“SIC”) 12, “Consolidation – Special Purpose Entities”, and parts of IAS 27, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements”.
 
Joint Arrangements
 
IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements”, requires a venturer to classify its interest in a joint arrangement as a joint venture or joint operations. Joint ventures will be accounted for using the equity method of accounting whereas for a joint operation, the venturer will recognize its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the joint operation. Under existing IFRS, entities have the choice to proportionately consolidate or equity-account for interests in joint ventures. IFRS 11 replaces IAS 31, “Interests in Joint Ventures” and SIC 13, “Jointly Controlled Entities-Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers”.
 

 
Page 13 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities
 
IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”, establishes disclosure requirements for interests in other entities, such as joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and off-balance-sheet vehicles. This standard carries forward existing disclosures and also introduces significant additional disclosure requirements that address the nature of, and risks associated with, an entity's interests in other entities.
 
Fair Value Measurement
 
IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement”, is a comprehensive standard for fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across all IFRS standards. The new standard clarifies that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants, at the measurement date. It also establishes disclosures about fair value measurement. Under existing IFRS, guidance on measuring and disclosing fair value is dispersed among the specific standards requiring fair value measurements and, in many cases, does not reflect a clear measurement basis or consistent disclosures.
 
Financial Statement Presentation
 
In June 2011, the IASB amended IAS 1, “Financial Statement Presentation”. The amendments to IAS 1 requires entities to separate items presented in other comprehensive income into two groups, based on whether or not they may be recycled to the statement of earnings in the future. Items that will not be recycled will be presented separately from items that may be recycled in the future, such as unrealized gains and losses on cash flows hedges. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012. Early adoption is permitted and full retrospective application is required. The company does not expect the amendments to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
 
3  First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
 
For all periods up to and including the year ended August 31, 2011, the company prepared its consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP. The company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending August 31, 2012 will be the first annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS.
 
These condensed interim consolidated financial statements as at and for the three months and six months ended February 29, 2012 have been prepared in conformity with IFRS.
 
In preparing these condensed interim consolidated financial statements, and in compliance with IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards’’, the company’s opening IFRS balance sheet has been presented as at September 1, 2010, which is the company’s date of transition to IFRS. For a detailed explanation of the IFRS adjustments to the opening balance sheet, including adjustments to shareholders’ equity as at September 1, 2010, refer to the company’s condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2011.
 
The following section explains the principal adjustments made by the company in transitioning from Canadian GAAP to IFRS and its impact on the previously published Canadian GAAP interim consolidated financial statements for the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011.
 

 
Page 14 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
Reconciliation of consolidated shareholders’ equity as previously reported under Canadian GAAP to IFRS as at February 28, 2011
 
   
Notes
 
Share
capital
   
Contributed
Surplus
   
Retained
earnings
   
Accumulated
Other
comprehensive income
   
Total
shareholders’
equity
 
                                     
Canadian GAAP
        $ 109,558     $ 17,621     $ 66,252     $ 66,397     $ 259,828  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    d )                   44,186       (44,186 )      
Adjustment to long-term tax credits recoverable, net of deferred income taxes
    a )                 (1,750 )     (177 )     (1,927 )
Adjustment to the carrying value of property, plant and equipment, net of deferred income taxes
    c )                 973       93       1,066  
Changes in the fair value of the cash contingent consideration
    b )                 (2,660 )     (242 )     (2,902 )
IFRS
          $ 109,558     $ 17,621     $ 107,001     $ 21,885     $ 256,065  
 
 
Reconciliation of consolidated net earnings as previously reported under Canadian GAAP to IFRS for the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011
 
         
Three months ended February 28, 2011
   
Six months ended February 28, 2011
 
   
Notes
 
Canadian
GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
IFRS
   
Canadian
GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
IFRS
 
                                           
Sales
        $ 72,046     $     $ 72,046     $ 137,699     $     $ 137,699  
                                                       
Cost of sales
          27,821             27,821       52,606             52,606  
Selling and administrative
          22,235             22,235       42,134             42,134  
Net research and development
          11,244             11,244       22,845             22,845  
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    c)       1,626       (29 )     1,597       3,300       (57 )     3,243  
Amortization of intangible assets
            2,367             2,367       4,933             4,933  
Earnings from operations
            6,753       (29 )     6,782       11,881       (57 )     11,938  
                                                         
Interest income (expenses)
    a)       (8 )     57       49       (72 )     114       42  
Foreign exchange loss
            (2,395 )           (2,395 )     (3,508 )           (3,508 )
Earnings before income taxes
            4,350       86       4,436       8,301       171       8,472  
                                                         
Income taxes
    a), c)       2,697       23       2,720       5,503       46       5,549  
                                                         
Net earnings from continuing operations
            1,653       63       1,716       2,798       125       2,923  
Net earnings from discontinued operations
                              12,926             12,926  
                                                         
Net earnings for the period
          $ 1,653     $ 63     $ 1,716     $ 15,724     $ 125     $ 15,849  

 
Page 15 of 44


 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
Reconciliation of consolidated comprehensive income as previously reported under Canadian GAAP to IFRS for the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011
 
         
Three months ended February 28, 2011
   
Six months ended February 28, 2011
 
   
Notes
   
Canadian GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
IFRS
   
Canadian GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
IFRS
 
                                           
Net earnings for the period
        $ 1,653     $ 63     $ 1,716     $ 15,724     $ 125     $ 15,849  
                                                       
Other comprehensive income
                                                     
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    a). b), c)       12,974       (214 )     12,760       19,313       (326 )     18,987  
Unrealized gains on forward exchange contracts
            1,794             1,794       3,238             3,238  
Reclassification of realized gains on forward exchange contracts in net earnings
            (464 )           (464 )     (653 )           (653 )
Deferred income tax effect of the components of other comprehensive income
            (365 )           (365 )     (703 )           (703 )
Other comprehensive income
            13,939       (214 )     13,725       21,195       (326 )     20,869  
Comprehensive income for the period
          $ 15,592     $ (151 )   $ 15,441     $ 36,919     $ (201 )   $ 36,718  
 
 
Statements of cash flows
 
The adjustments from Canadian GAAP to IFRS had no significant effect on the reported consolidated cash flows of the company for the three months and six months ended February 28, 2011.
 
Explanatory notes
 
a)  
Tax credits recoverable
 
Under IFRS, long-term tax credits recoverable must be discounted using risk-free interest rates for the periods when the tax credits will be recovered. Under Canadian GAAP, such treatment is not required.
 
·  
At as February 28, 2011, the discounted value of the company’s long-term tax credits recoverable was $2,640,000 lower than the carrying value under Canadian GAAP, and the related deferred income tax assets increased by $713,000. For the three months ended February 28, 2011, changes in the discounted value of long-term tax credits recoverable resulted in interest income of $57,000 and a related deferred income tax expense of $15,000. For the six months ended February 28, 2011, changes in the discounted value of long-term tax credits recoverable resulted in interest income of $114,000 and a related deferred income tax expense of $30,000. It also resulted in a foreign currency translation loss of $177,000 recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the shareholders’ equity for the six months ended February 28, 2011.
 
b)  
Business combinations
 
As permitted by IFRS 1, “First Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards”, the company did not apply IFRS 3R, “Business Combinations”, to business combinations completed before the transition date, that is, September 1, 2010. However, under IAS 37, “Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets”, the cash contingent consideration for the acquisition of NetHawk Oyj, completed before the transition date and outstanding as at September 1, 2010, had to be recorded at fair value on that date with a corresponding adjustment to opening retained earnings. Thereafter, the fair value of the cash contingent consideration was re-assessed at the end of each reporting periods and any changes in the fair value were recognized in the statements of earnings.
 

 
Page 16 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
·  
As at February 28, 2011, there was no change in the fair value of the contingent cash consideration compared to the transition date. However, the fair value of the cash contingent consideration was translated into the US dollar (the reporting currency), which resulted in an increase of $242,000 in the carrying value and a corresponding foreign currency translation loss recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the shareholders’ equity for the six months ended February 28, 2011.
 
c)  
Property, plant and equipment
 
Under IFRS, depreciation must be based on the allocation of the depreciable amount over the asset’s estimated useful life. Depreciable amount is defined as the cost of the asset less its residual value. Residual value is defined as the estimated amount that an entity would currently obtain from disposal of the asset, after deducting the estimated cost of disposal, if the asset were already of the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life. Under Canadian GAAP, the depreciable amount of an asset is the greater of the cost less salvage value over the estimated life of the asset, and the cost less residual value over the estimated useful life of the asset. Residual value is the estimated net realizable value of an item of property, plant and equipment at the end of its useful life to the company. Salvage value is the estimated net realizable value of an item of property, plant and equipment at the end of its life.
 
·  
As at February 28, 2011, this resulted in an increase in the carrying value of property, plant and equipment of $1,460,000 and a decrease in deferred income tax assets of $394,000. For the three months ended February 28, 2011, this resulted in a decrease of depreciation of property, plant and equipment of $29,000 and a deferred income tax expense of $8,000. For the six months ended February 28, 2011, this resulted in a decrease in depreciation of property, plant and equipment of $57,000 and a deferred income tax expense of $16,000. It also resulted in a foreign exchange translation gain of $93,000 recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the shareholders’ equity for the six months ended February 28, 2011.
 
d)  
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
In accordance with IFRS transitional provisions, the company elected to reset the foreign currency translation adjustment from the translation of consolidated financial statements in the reporting currency (US dollars) to zero as at the transition date to IFRS. Accordingly, the foreign currency translation adjustment as at September 1, 2010, in the amount of $44,186,000 was eliminated in the opening balance of retained earnings. Any foreign currency translation adjustment from the translation of the consolidated financial statements in the reporting currency arising after the transition date is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the shareholders’ equity in the balance sheet.
 
 
4  Derivative Financial Instruments
 
The principal functional currency of the company is the Canadian dollar. The company is exposed to a currency risk as a result of its export sales of products manufactured in Canada, China and Finland, the majority of which are denominated in US dollars and euros. This risk is partially hedged by forward exchange contracts (US dollars) and certain operating expenses (US dollars and euros). Forward exchange contracts, which are designated as cash flow hedging instruments, qualify for hedge accounting.
 
As at February 29, 2012, the company held contracts to sell US dollars for Canadian dollars at various forward rates, which are summarized as follows:
 
 
Expiry dates
 
Contractual
amounts
 
Weighted average contractual
forward rates
           
 
March 2012 to August 2012
 
$                   15,500
 
 1.0401
 
September 2012 to August 2013
 
         19,000
 
 1.0212
 
September 2013 to August 2014
 
        3,600
 
 1.0439
 
Total
 
$                   38,100
 
 1.0310
 
 
 
Page 17 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
The carrying amount of forward exchange contracts is equal to fair value, which is based on the amount at which they could be settled, based on estimated current market rates.The fair value of forward exchange contracts amounted to net gains of $2,278,000 as at August 31, 2011, and $1,367,000 as at February 29, 2012.
 
Based on the portfolio of forward exchange contracts as at February 29, 2012, the company estimates that the portion of the net unrealized gains on these contracts as of that date, which will be realized and reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to net earnings over the next 12 months, amounts to $640,000.
 
As at February 29, 2012, forward exchange contracts in the amount of $640,000 are presented as current assets in other receivable in the balance sheet and forward exchange contracts, in the amount of $309,000, are presented as forward exchange contracts in the balance sheet. These forward exchange contracts are not yet recorded within sales.
 
During the three months ended February 28, 2011 and February 29, 2012, the company recognized within its sales foreign exchange gains on forward exchange contracts of $591,000 and $439,000 respectively. During the six months ended February 28, 2011 and February 29, 2012, the company recognized within its sales foreign exchange gains on forward exchange contracts of $1,051,000 and $872,000 respectively.
 
 
5  Property, plant and equipment
 
During the three months and the six months ended February 29, 2012, additions to property, plant and equipment amounted to $6,553,000 and $10,709,000, respectively , most of which relates to the construction of a new building, in Montreal, Canada.
 
 
6  Contingent Liability
 
Under the acquisition agreement of NetHawk Oyj, the company has a cash contingent consideration of up to €8,700,000 ($11,600,000) based on sales volume of certain NetHawk products over a three-year period ending on December 2012. The company records the cash contingent consideration at fair value in each balance sheet date based on actual and forecasted sales over the period of the contingent consideration. Changes in the fair value of the cash contingent consideration are recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings.
 
As at February 29, 2012, the fair value of the cash contingent consideration was estimated to nil based on actual and forecasted sales of certain NetHawk products over the period of the contingent consideration; the resulting change in the fair value, in the amount of $311,000, has been recorded in the consolidated statements of earnings for the three months and the six months ended February 29, 2012.
 
 
7  Share Capital
 
On November 7, 2011, the company announced that its Board of Directors had approved the renewal of its share repurchase program, by way of a normal course issuer bid on the open market of up to 2% of its issued and outstanding subordinate voting shares, representing 575,690 subordinate voting shares at the prevailing market price. The company expects to use cash, short-term investments or future cash flow from operations to fund the repurchase of shares. The normal course issuer bid started on November 10, 2011, and will end on November 9, 2012, or on an earlier date if the company repurchases the maximum number of shares permitted under the bid. The program does not require that the company repurchases any specific number of shares, and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and without prior notice. All shares repurchased under the bid will be cancelled.
 

 
Page 18 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
The following tables summarize changes in share capital for the six months ended February 28, 2011 and February 29, 2012.
 
   
Six months ended February 28, 2011
 
   
Multiple voting shares
   
Subordinate voting shares
       
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Total
amount
 
                               
Balance as at September 1, 2010
    36,643,000     $ 1       22,936,709     $ 106,125     $ 106,126  
Exercise of stock options
                11,478       61       61  
Redemption of restricted share units
                157,790              
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs to share capital upon exercise of stock awards
                      861       861  
                                         
Balance as at November 30, 2010
    36,643,000       1       23,105,977       107,047       107,048  
Conversion of multiple voting shares into subordinate voting shares
    (5,000,000 )           5,000,000              
Exercise of stock options
                263,622       1,219       1,219  
Redemption of restricted share units
                90,782              
Redemption of deferred share units
                37,491              
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs to share capital upon exercise of stock awards
                      1,291       1,291  
                                         
Balance as at February 28, 2011
    31,643,000     $ 1       28,497,872     $ 109,557     $ 109,558  
 
 
   
Six months ended February 29, 2012
 
   
Multiple voting shares
   
Subordinate voting shares
       
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Number
   
Amount
   
Total
amount
 
                               
Balance as at September 1, 2011
    31,643,000     $ 1       28,621,999     $ 110,340     $ 110,341  
Redemption of restricted share units
                184,167              
Redemption of share capital
                (63,146 )     (244 )     (244 )
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs to share capital upon exercise of stock awards
                      848       848  
                                         
Balance as at November 30, 2011
    31,643,000       1       28,743,020       110,944       110,945  
Exercise of stock options
                25,250       78       78  
Redemption of restricted share units
                127,632              
Redemption of share capital
                (41,651 )     (160 )     (160 )
Reclassification of stock-based compensation costs to share capital upon exercise of stock awards
                      558       558  
                                         
Balance as at February 29, 2012
    31,643,000     $ 1       28,854,251     $ 111,420     $ 111,421  
 

 
Page 19 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
8  Statements of Earnings
 
Net research and development expenses comprise the following:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Gross research and development expenses
  $ 14,800     $ 29,613     $ 13,824     $ 27,514  
Research and development tax credits and grants
    (2,493 )     (4,823 )     (2,580 )     (4,669 )
                                 
    $ 12,307     $ 24,790     $ 11,244     $ 22,845  
 
 
Depreciation and amortization expenses by functional area are as follows:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Cost of sales
                       
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
  $ 524     $ 1,052     $ 494     $ 998  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,266       2,550       1,637       3,461  
      1,790       3,602       2,131       4,459  
                                 
Selling and administrative expenses
                               
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    240       523       269       593  
Amortization of intangible assets
    453       927       488       992  
      693       1,450       757       1,585  
                                 
Net research and development expenses
                               
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    782       1,539       834       1,652  
Amortization of intangible assets
    255       418       242       480  
      1,037       1,957       1,076       2,132  
    $ 3,520     $ 7,009     $ 3,964     $ 8,176  
                                 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment for the period
  $ 1,546     $ 3,114     $ 1,597     $ 3,243  
Amortization of intangible assets for the period
    1,974       3,895       2,367       4,933  
    $ 3,520     $ 7,009     $ 3,964     $ 8,176  
 
 
 
Page 20 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
Employee compensation comprises the following:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Salaries and benefits
  $ 32,596     $ 65,590     $ 30,544     $ 59,670  
Stock-based compensation costs
    508       1,063       625       1,363  
                                 
Total employee compensation for the period
  $ 33,104     $ 66,653     $ 31,169     $ 61,033  
 
 
Stock-based compensation costs by functional area are as follows:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Cost of sales
  $ 60     $ 119     $ 51     $ 99  
Selling and administrative expenses
    328       705       433       755  
Net research and development expenses
    120       239       141       245  
Net earnings from discontinued operations
                      264  
    $ 508     $ 1,063     $ 625     $ 1,363  
 
 
 
Page 21 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
9  Income taxes
 
For the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011 and February 29, 2012, the reconciliation of the income tax provision calculated using the combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory income tax rate with the income tax provision in the financial statements is as follows:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Income tax provision at combined Canadian federal and provincial statutory tax rate (28% in 2012 and 29% in 2011)
  $ 786     $ 1,924     $ 1,286     $ 2,457  
                                 
Increase (decrease) due to:
                               
Foreign income taxed at different rates
    (42 )     63       (1 )     112  
Non-taxable income/loss
    (126 )     681       (1,167 )     (1,825 )
Non-deductible expenses
    217       682       277       537  
Foreign exchange effect of translation of foreign operations
    (55 )     (1,434 )     1,121       1,613  
Recognition of previously unrecognized deferred income tax assets
          (557 )            
Utilization of previously unrecognized deferred income tax assets
    2       (26 )           (70 )
Unrecognized deferred income tax assets on temporary deductible differences and unused tax losses and deductions
    1,120       1,687       1,555       3,052  
Other
    (133 )     (100 )     (351 )     (327 )
                                 
    $ 1,769     $ 2,920     $ 2,720     $ 5,549  
 
The income tax provision consists of the following:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Current
  $ 881     $ 1,297     $ 101     $ 1,114  
Deferred
    888       1,623       2,619       4,435  
                                 
    $ 1,769     $ 2,920     $ 2,720     $ 5,549  
 
 
 
Page 22 of 44

 
 
EXFO Inc.
Notes to Condensed Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data and as otherwise noted)

 
The income tax provision for the discontinued operations is as follows:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Current
  $     $     $     $ 27  
Deferred
                      174  
                                 
    $     $     $     $ 201  
 
 
10    Earnings per Share
 
The following table summarizes the reconciliation of the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding and the diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding:
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
                         
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (000’s)
    60,441       60,391       59,900       59,782  
Plus dilutive effect of (000’s):
                               
Stock options
    167       165       339       306  
Restricted share units
    881       1,016       1,165       1,098  
Deferred share units
    117       113       120       128  
                                 
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (000’s)
    61,606       61,685       61,524       61,314  
Stock awards excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average number of shares because their exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares (000’s)
    18       96       464       567  


 
Page 23 of 44


 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
 
 
This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition. Words such as may, will, expect, believe, anticipate, intend, could, estimate, continue, or the negative or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events and circumstances are considered forward-looking statements. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements due to various factors including economic uncertainty (including our ability to quickly adapt cost structures with anticipated levels of business and our ability to manage inventory levels with market demand); future economic, competitive, financial and market condition; capital spending levels in the telecommunications industry; limited visibility with regards to customer orders and the timing of such orders; fluctuating exchange rates; our ability to successfully integrate our acquired and to-be-acquired businesses; consolidation in the global telecommunications test and service assurance industry and increased competition among vendors; concentration of sales; market acceptance of our new products and other upcoming products; our ability to successfully expand international operations; and the retention of key technical and management personnel. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments and risks, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Other risk factors that may affect our future performance and operations are detailed in our Annual Report, on Form 20-F, and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities commissions. We believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to us, but we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this document. Unless required by law or applicable regulations, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any of them to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this document.
 
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is dated March 27, 2012.
 
All dollar amounts are expressed in US dollars, except as otherwise noted.
 
 
TRANSITION TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS)
 
On September 1, 2011, we adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Our condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months and the six months ended February 29, 2012, have been prepared in accordance with IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards”, and with IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”, as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB). Previously, we prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, in effect prior to September 1, 2011 (previous GAAP). Comparative information as at August 31, 2011 and for the three months and the six months ended February 28, 2011, has been restated to comply with IFRS. Note 3 to our condensed interim consolidated financial statements details the most significant adjustments to our reported statement of change in shareholders’ equity, statements of earnings, comprehensive income and cash flows for comparative periods.
 

 
Page 24 of 44

 
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
Market conditions in the telecommunications industry remain tenuous due to weak global economic growth and unresolved sovereign debt issues in Europe. This economic uncertainty was exacerbated in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 by the late approval of annual capital spending budgets among certain Tier-1 network operators.
 
Nevertheless, the fundamental drivers toward broadband deployments and fixed-mobile Internet protocol (IP) network convergence are firmly entrenched in the telecommunications industry. Although we do not expect that network operators will significantly increase their capital expenditures in calendar 2012, we believe they will spend more in select, high-growth areas to accommodate bandwidth-intensive broadband applications and to facilitate the migration to more flexible and cost-effective fixed and mobile IP networks.
 
According to Cisco’s Visual Networking Index, global IP traffic will quadruple from 2010 to 2015, reaching 966 exabytes per year in 2015. (An exabyte is equal to 1 billion gigabytes or 250 million DVDs). Global mobile traffic, a subset of this larger group, is expected to increase 18-fold from 2011 to 2016. This explosive growth is being driven by a proliferation of media-rich communication devices (smartphones and tablets), a growing number of Internet users, faster broadband speeds and increased video usage.
 
To support such bandwidth growth, wireline networks are being transformed into next-generation IP-based infrastructures. Legacy SONET/SDH networks, which were established in the mid-1980s, do not have the flexibility to seamlessly mix and transport voice, data and video services. These networks are not capable of efficiently carrying triple-play services because they were designed for point-to-point voice communication. As a result, new optical transport network (OTN) standards, which are at the very heart of what the industry is labeling next-generation IP networks, have been defined to carry IP applications over Ethernet. Network operators are increasingly turning to such next-generation, IP-based networks in order to offer customers higher-margin triple-play services while lowering their operating costs.
 
Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) has also become the access network architecture of choice for wireline operators wishing to provide a superior user experience for a combined voice, data and video offering. This architecture allows operators to meet heightened bandwidth requirements and future-proof their access networks as residential bandwidth demands grow from 1 to 5 Mbit/s (megabits per second) to 30 to 100 Mbit/s required for the long term. Hybrid architectures, combining copper and fiber (fiber-to-the-curb, or FTTC, and fiber-to-the-node, or FTTN), will also increase in the short term, since they are less expensive methods to increase bandwidth and can be mass-deployed quickly.
 
As bandwidth growth in access networks continues to increase, it has begun placing a strain on metro rings and core networks. It is also driving the need for higher-speed technologies. For example, 43 Gbit/s (gigabits per second) SONET/SDH is becoming mainstream, while commercial deployments of 100 Gbit/s Ethernet networks are beginning to take place. In the long run, these solutions will offer a more economical way to add capacity to saturated network links, especially if trenches need to be dug in order to deploy new fiber in metro and long-distance routes.
 
On the wireless side, operators are also faced with major investments to meet soaring bandwidth demand. Wireless operators are accelerating deployments of 3G networks, fast-tracking 4G/LTE (long-term evolution) adoption, and investing in mobile backhaul networks in order to increase transmission rates for bandwidth-hungry consumers to approach wireline speeds. Furthermore, as these consumers expect wireline and wireless networks to transport any content to any device at any time, both fixed and mobile networks are converging to a common IP-based infrastructure supported by IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) for seamless network interoperability.
 
These market dynamics affected telecom test and service assurance suppliers in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.
 

 
Page 25 of 44

 
 
COMPANY OVERVIEW
 
We reported sales of $66.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, which represents a decrease of 7.1% compared to the same period last year. We also reported bookings of $60.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, for a book-to-bill ratio of 0.91; this represents an increase of 5.3% compared to $57.6 million for the same period last year.
 
We generated net earnings of $1.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $1.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 included $1.9 million in after-tax amortization of intangible assets and $508,000 in stock-based compensation costs. Earnings from operations amounted to $4.1 million, or 6.1% of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to $6.8 million, or 9.4% of sales for the same period last year.
 
Adjusted EBITDA (net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration) reached $5.8 million, or 8.7% of sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to $8.4 million, or 11.6% of sales for the same period last year. Adjusted EBIDTA for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 included a foreign exchange loss of $1.5 million, compared to $2.4 million for the same period last year. See further in this document for a complete reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and IFRS net earnings.
 
On November 7, 2011, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved the renewal of our share repurchase program, by way of a normal course issuer bid on the open market of up to 2% of the issued and outstanding subordinate voting shares, representing 575,690 subordinate voting shares at the prevailing market price. We expect to use cash, short-term investments or future cash flow from operations to fund the repurchase of shares. The normal course issuer bid started on November 10, 2011, and will end on November 9, 2012, or on an earlier date if we repurchase the maximum number of shares permitted under the bid. The program does not require that we repurchase any specific number of shares, and it may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and without prior notice. All shares repurchased under the bid will be cancelled.
 
EXFO launched seven new products in the second quarter, including amongst others, the QA-805/QA-813 QualityAssurer, the industry’s most scalable platform (simulates more than 12 million active subscribers) for load simulation and only one supporting converged 3G, LTE and IMS; EXFO Apps, a portal offering software applications that boost the capabilities and productivity of the FTB Ecosystem of smart platforms and test modules; a fully featured optical spectrum analyzer (IQS-5240S/B-P) for lab and manufacturing in 40G/100G coherent communication environments; and the MaxTester 630, a handheld tester that can characterize advanced capabilities like bonding and vectoring in VDSL2 technologies.
 
 
OUR STRATEGY, KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND CAPABILITY TO DELIVER RESULTS
 
For a complete description of our strategy and the related key performance indicators, as well as our capability to deliver results in fiscal 2012, please refer to the corresponding sections in our most recent Annual Report, filed with the securities commissions.
 
However, given the sales level reached in the first half of fiscal 2012 of $133.3 million, the sales forecast for the third quarter of 2012 and the ongoing difficult macro-economic environment, we no longer believe that we can organically achieve our corporate objective to increase our sales by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 25% for fiscal 2010 to 2012. Nevertheless, we remain confident that we will grow faster than our end-markets during this period.
 

 
Page 26 of 44

 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands of US dollars, except per share data, and as a percentage of sales for the periods indicated)
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
             
Sales
  $ 66,917     $ 72,046     $ 133,305     $ 137,699  
                                 
Cost of sales (1)
    23,616       27,821       46,986       52,606  
Selling and administrative
    23,676       22,235       48,294       42,134  
Net research and development
    12,307       11,244       24,790       22,845  
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    1,546       1,597       3,114       3,243  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,974       2,367       3,895       4,933  
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration
    (311 )           (311 )      
Earnings from operations
    4,109       6,782       6,537       11,938  
Interest income
    171       49       144       42  
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
    (1,471 )     (2,395 )     193       (3,508 )
Earnings before income taxes
    2,809       4,436       6,874       8,472  
Income taxes
    1,769       2,720       2,920       5,549  
Net earnings from continuing operations
    1,040       1,716       3,954       2,923  
Net earnings from discontinued operations
                      12,926  
Net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 1,716     $ 3,954     $ 15,849  
                                 
Basic net earnings from continuing operations per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.03     $ 0.07     $ 0.05  
Diluted net earnings from continuing operations per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.03     $ 0.06     $ 0.05  
Basic net earnings from discontinued operations per share
  $     $     $     $ 0.22  
Diluted net earnings from discontinued operations per share
  $     $     $     $ 0.21  
Basic net earnings per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.03     $ 0.07     $ 0.27  
Diluted net earnings per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.03     $ 0.06     $ 0.26  
                                 
Other selected information:
                               
                                 
Gross margin (2)
  $ 43,301     $ 44,225     $ 86,319     $ 85,093  
                                 
Research and development data:
                               
Gross research and development
  $ 14,800     $ 13,824     $ 29,613     $ 27,514  
Net research and development
  $ 12,307     $ 11,244     $ 24,790     $ 22,845  
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA (2)
  $ 5,847     $ 8,351     $ 13,428     $ 16,539  

(1)  
The cost of sales is exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately.
(2)  
Refer to page 43 for non-IFRS measures.
 
 
 
Page 27 of 44


 
   
Three months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28,
2011
   
Six months
ended
February 29,
2012
   
Six months
ended
February 28,
2011
 
             
Sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                 
Cost of sales (1)
    35.3       38.6       35.2       38.2  
Selling and administrative
    35.4       30.9       36.3       30.6  
Net research and development
    18.4       15.6       18.6       16.6  
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
    2.3       2.2       2.3       2.3  
Amortization of intangible assets
    3.0       3.3       2.9       3.6  
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration
    (0.5 )           (0.2 )      
Earnings from operations
    6.1       9.4       4.9       8.7  
Interest income
    0.3       0.1       0.1        
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
    (2.2 )     (3.4 )     0.1       (2.5 )
Earnings before income taxes
    4.2       6.1       5.1       6.2  
Income taxes
    2.6       3.7       2.1       4.1  
Net earnings from continuing operations
    1.6       2.4       3.0       2.1  
Net earnings from discontinued operations
                      9.4  
Net earnings for the period
    1.6 %     2.4 %     3.0 %     11.5 %
                                 
Other selected information:
                               
                                 
Gross margin (2)
    64.7 %     61.4 %     64.8 %     61.8 %
                                 
Research and development data:
                               
Gross research and development
    22.1 %     19.2 %     22.2 %     20.0 %
Net research and development
    18.4 %     15.6 %     18.6 %     16.6 %
                                 
Adjusted EBITDA (2)
    8.7 %     11.6 %     10.1 %     11.8 %

(1)  
The cost of sales is exclusive of amortization, shown separately.
(2)  
Refer to page 43 for non-IFRS measures.

 
 
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RESULTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (formerly the Telecom Division)
 
SALES
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, our sales decreased 7.1% to $66.9 million, compared to $72.0 million for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, our sales decreased 3.1% to $133.3 million, compared to $137.7 million for the same period last year.
 
In the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, we reported a decrease in sales compared to the same periods last year. Network operators and equipment manufacturers are increasingly scrutinizing their capital expenditures and even delaying some purchasing decisions considering global economic conditions. Namely, in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2012, we did not benefit from the same level of calendar year-end budget spending from some of our customers compared to the same periods last year. In addition, we believe that our sales in the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012 were affected by the late approval of annual capital spending budgets of certain Tier-1 network operators.
 
Furthermore, during the first quarter of fiscal 2011 (included in the first half of fiscal 2011), we received a follow-on order worth over $6 million from a Tier-1 European operator for our AXS-200/635 triple-play tester, and recognized $5.7 million from that order during that quarter and the remaining portion in the second quarter. We did not recognize such large single order in fiscal 2012.
 
Finally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we reported record-high bookings of $89.8 million, which positively affected our sales during the first and the second quarters of fiscal 2011. In fact, a portion of our sales in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 was generated by exceptionally large bookings as bookings of the second quarter of 2011 significantly decreased sequentially.
 
Despite current challenging market conditions on a global basis and the general decrease in our sales year-over-year in the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, we delivered double-digit sales growth for our protocol products year-over-year, which were positively affected by the increased sales of our SONET/SDH and Ethernet test equipment and the increased traction gained in the high-growth wireless market.
 
Bookings
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, our bookings increased 5.3% to $60.6 million, compared to $57.6 million for the same period last year, for a book-to-bill ratio of 0.91.
 
Our second quarter is typically lower in terms of bookings due to seasonality, especially in North America, because of holidays and annual budget approvals from large customers. Also, in fiscal 2011, bookings were significantly front-end- loaded (first quarter) due to timing of orders, including maintenance-contract renewal, and the magnitude of calendar year-end budget spending from some of our customers, which resulted in significant bookings in the first quarter and much lower bookings in the second quarter of that year. In fiscal 2012, they were closer to our normal pattern, although we did not reach the same level of calendar year-end budget spending compared to last year.
 
Although we reported a year-over-year increase in bookings in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, market conditions in the telecommunications industry remain tenuous based on weak global economic growth. In addition, as mentioned earlier, network operators and equipment manufacturers are increasingly scrutinizing their capital expenditures and even delaying some purchasing decisions, and some Tier-1 network operators were late to approve their annual capital spending budgets, which affected our bookings in fiscal 2012.
 

 
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Geographic distribution
 
In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, sales to the Americas, Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounted for 49%, 31% and 20% of sales respectively, compared to 52%, 29% and 19% for the same period last year respectively. In the first half of fiscal 2012, sales to the Americas, EMEA and APAC accounted for 52%, 29% and 19% of sales, respectively, compared to 52%, 30% and 18%, respectively, for the same period last year respectively.
 
Customer concentration
 
We sell our products to a broad range of customers, including network service providers, network equipment manufacturers, wireless operators and cable TV operators. In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales, and our top three customers accounted for 13.7% of our sales. In the corresponding period last year, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales, and our top three customers accounted for 17.9% of our sales. For the six months ended February 29, 2012, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales, and our top three customers accounted for 11.1% of our sales. In the corresponding period last year, no customer accounted for more than 10% of our sales, and our top three customers accounted for 18.5% of our sales.
 
 
GROSS MARGIN (non-IFRS measure – refer to page 43 of this document)
 
Gross margin reached 64.7% of sales for the three months ended February 29, 2012, compared to 61.4% for the same period last year.
 
Gross margin amounted to 64.8% of sales for the six months ended February 29, 2012, compared to 61.8% for the same period last year.
 
The increase in our gross margin in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to the same period last year, can be explained by the following factors.
 
First, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, there has been a more favorable product mix in favor of our protocol products compared to the same period last year, which resulted in a higher gross margin year-over-year. Protocol products deliver higher gross margin than our other product lines. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2012, there was a more favorable wireless product mix within our protocol products compared to the same period last year, which further increased our gross margin year-over-year. In contrast, in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we reported larger orders for copper-access test solutions, which typically deliver lower margins than our other test solutions, and we granted larger volume discounts on a significant part of these sales.
 
Furthermore, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, our warranty provision decreased compared to the same period last year; this resulted in a positive impact on our gross margin year-over-year.
 
The increase in our gross margin in the first half of fiscal 2012, compared to the same period last year, can be explained by the following factors.
 
To begin with, during the first half of fiscal 2012, the product mix was more favorable as we sold more protocol products compared to the same period last year, which resulted in a higher gross margin year-over-year. Protocol products deliver higher gross margin than our other product lines. In addition, during the first half of fiscal 2012, there was a more favorable wireless product mix within our protocol products compared to the same period last year, which further increased our gross margin year-over-year. In contrast, in the first half of fiscal 2011, we reported larger orders for copper-access test solutions, which typically deliver lower margins than our other test solutions, and we granted larger volume discounts on a significant part of these sales.
 
Furthermore, in the first half of fiscal 2012, our warranty provision decreased compared to the same period last year; this resulted in a positive impact on our gross margin year-over-year.
 

 
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In the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, a larger portion of our sales came from products manufactured in our facilities in China compared to the same periods last year; those products have a lower cost of goods than those manufactured in our facilities in Canada, thus resulting in an improvement in our gross margin year-over-year.
 
Finally, the increase in the value of the Canadian dollar, compared to the US dollar over the last few months had a positive impact on our gross margin in the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012 compared to the same periods last year; in fact, our procurement costs decreased as the Canadian dollar strengthened compared to the US dollar, as a significant portion of our raw material purchases are denominated in US dollars. This allowed us to improve our gross margin continually over the last few quarters, as our raw material costs of parts purchased in US dollars are measured in Canadian dollars in our financial statements.
 
On the other hand, a lower sales volume in the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012 compared to the same periods last year resulted in a lower absorption of our fixed manufacturing costs, which prevented us from further improving our gross margin year-over-year.
 
Considering the expected sales growth in fiscal 2012, the expected increase in sales of protocol products as well as software-intensive products and services, the cost-effective design of our products, our increased manufacturing activities in China and our tight control on operating costs, we expect our gross margin to continue to improve in the future. However, our gross margin may fluctuate quarter-over-quarter due to the mix of our products and as our sales may fluctuate. Furthermore, our gross margin can be negatively affected by increased competitive pricing pressure, customer concentration and/or consolidation, increased obsolescence and warranty costs, shifts in customer and product mix, under-absorption of fixed manufacturing costs and increases in product offerings by other suppliers in our industry. Finally, any increase in the strength of the Canadian dollar, compared to the US dollar, may have a negative impact on our gross margin in fiscal 2012 and beyond.
 
 
SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, selling and administrative expenses were $23.7 million, or 35.4% of sales, compared to $22.2 million, or 30.9% of sales for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, selling and administrative expenses were $48.3 million, or 36.3% of sales, compared to $42.1 million, or 30.6% of sales for the same period last year.
 
In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, considering our goal of becoming the leading player in the telecom test and service assurance space, we continued intensifying our sales and marketing efforts, including additional domestic and international headcounts, which caused our expenses to increase year-over-year.
 
However, in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, commission expenses to our sales channels were lower compared to the same period last year mainly due to lower sales volume.
 
In the first half of fiscal 2012, we continued intensifying our sales and marketing efforts, including additional headcounts, both domestically and internationally, which caused our expenses to increase year-over-year.
 
In addition, in the first half of fiscal 2012, despite lower sales volume year-over-year, we had larger commission expenses to our sales channels compared to the same period last year due to the shift in product and territory mix.
 
For fiscal 2012, we expect our selling and administrative expenses to increase in dollars and range between 33% and 35% of sales. In addition, in fiscal 2012, we expect our commission expenses to increase as the sales volume increases. Furthermore, considering our goal of becoming the leading player in the telecom test and service assurance space and to deliver the synergies expected from our recent acquisition, we plan to continue intensifying our sales and marketing efforts, both domestically and internationally, which will also cause our expenses to rise. Finally, any increase in the strength of the Canadian dollar and the euro versus the US dollar would also cause our selling and administrative expenses to increase, as a portion of these expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars and euros.
 

 
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES
 
Gross research and development expenses
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, gross research and development expenses totaled $14.8 million, or 22.1% of sales, compared to $13.8 million, or 19.2% of sales for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, gross research and development expenses amounted to $29.6 million, or 22.2% of sales, compared to $27.5 million, or 20.0% of sales for the same period last year.
 
During the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, we intensified our research and development activities, including additional headcounts, which resulted in increased gross research and development expenses during these periods compared to the same periods last year.
 
In addition, in the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, a shift in the mix of research and development projects resulted in increased gross research and development expenses compared to the same periods last year.
 
Tax credits and grants
 
We are entitled to tax credits from the Canadian federal and provincial governments for eligible research and development activities conducted in Canada. We are also eligible for grants by a Finnish technology organization on certain research and development projects conducted in Finland.
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, tax credits and grants for research and development activities were $2.5 million, or 16.8% of gross research and development expenses, compared to $2.6 million, or 18.7% of gross research and development expenses for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, tax credits and grants for research and development activities amounted to $4.8 million, or 16.3% of gross research and development expenses, compared to $4.7 million, or 17.0% of gross research and development expenses for the same period last year.
 
For fiscal 2012, we expect our net research and development expenses to increase in dollars, and range between 17% and 19% of sales, given our focus on innovation, the addition of software features in our products, our desire to gain market share and our goal to exceed customer needs and expectations. Finally, any increase in the strength of the Canadian dollar, the euro and the Indian Rupee versus the US dollar in the upcoming quarters would also cause our net research and development expenses to increase, as a significant portion of these expenses are incurred in Canadian dollars, euros and Indian Rupees.
 
 
AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, amortization of intangible assets was $2.0 million, compared to $2.4 million for the same period last year. For the six months ended February 29, 2012, amortization of intangible assets amounted $3.9 million, compared to $4.9 million for the same period last year.
 
The decrease in amortization expenses during the second quarter and the first half of fiscal 2012, compared to the same periods last year comes from the fact that core technologies related to the acquisition of Consultronics Limited became fully amortized during the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
 

 
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FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAIN (LOSS)
 
Foreign exchange gains and losses are mainly the result of the translation of operating activities denominated in currencies other than our functional currency, which is the Canadian dollar. A large portion of our foreign exchange gains or losses results from the translation of cash balances and deferred income taxes denominated in US dollars. We manage our exposure to currency risks in part with forward exchange contracts. In addition, some of our entities’ operating activities are denominated in US dollars, euros, or other currencies, which further hedges these risks. However, we remain exposed to currency risks and any increase in the value of the Canadian dollar, compared to the US dollar and euro, would have a negative impact on our operating results.
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, we recorded a significant foreign exchange loss of $1.5 million, compared to $2.4 million for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, we recorded a foreign exchange gain of $193,000, compared to significant a foreign exchange loss of $3.5 million for the same period last year.
 
During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased versus the US dollar, compared to the previous quarter, which resulted in a significant foreign exchange loss during that period. In fact, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased 3.0% to CA$0.9895 = US$1.00 in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to CA$1.0197 = US$1.00 at the end of the previous quarter.
 
During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased versus the US dollar, compared to the previous quarter, which resulted in a significant foreign exchange loss during that period. In fact, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased 5.7% to CA$0.9714 = US$1.00 in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to CA$1.0264 = US$1.00 at the end of the previous quarter.
 
During the first half of fiscal 2012, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar slightly decreased versus the US dollar, compared to August 31, 2011, which resulted in a small foreign exchange gain during that period. In fact, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar decreased 1.1% to CA$0.9895 = US$1.00 in the first half of fiscal 2012, compared to CA$0.9784 = US$1.00 as at August 31, 2011.
 
During the first half of fiscal 2011, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased versus the US dollar, compared to August 31, 2010, which resulted in a significant foreign exchange during that period. In fact, the period-end value of the Canadian dollar increased 9.8% to CA$0.9714 = US$1.00 in the first half of fiscal 2011, compared to CA$1.0665 = US$1.00 as at August 31, 2010.
 
 
INCOME TAXES
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, our income tax expenses totaled $1.8 million, compared to $2.7 million for the same period last year.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, our income tax expenses amounted to $2.9 million, compared to $5.5 million for the same period last year.
 
For the three months ended February 29, 2012, we reported income tax expenses of $1.8 million on earnings before income taxes of $2.8 million, for an effective income tax rate of 63.0%; this compares to our combined Canadian and provincial statutory tax rate of 28%. This situation mainly results from the fact that we did not recognize deferred income taxes for some of our subsidiaries at loss and we have some non-deductible expenses, such as stock-based compensation costs.
 

 
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For the three months ended February 28, 2011, we reported income tax expenses of $2.7 million on earnings before income taxes of $4.4 million, for an effective income tax rate of 61.3%. Our combined Canadian and provincial statutory tax rate was 29%. This situation mainly results from the fact that a significant portion of our foreign exchange loss was created by the translation of financial statements of our foreign operations, and was therefore non-deductible. In addition, we did not recognize deferred income taxes for some of our subsidiaries at loss and we had some non-deductible expenses, such as stock-based compensation costs. On the other hand, we had some non-taxable income.
 
For the six months ended February 29, 2012, we reported income tax expenses of $2.9 million on earnings before income taxes of $6.9 million, for an effective income tax rate of 42.5%; this compares to our combined Canadian and provincial statutory tax rate of 28%. This situation mainly resulted from the fact that we did not recognize deferred income taxes for some of our subsidiaries at loss and we have some non-deductible loss and expenses, such as stock-based compensation costs. However, a significant portion of our foreign exchange gain is created by the translation of financial statements of our foreign operations, and is therefore non-taxable. In addition, during the first quarter, we recognized previously unrecognized deferred income tax assets of one of our subsidiaries, which resulted in a one-time income tax recovery of $557,000. In fact, during the first quarter of fiscal 2012, based on available positive and negative evidence, as well as on the level and the nature of cumulative and expected profits of one of our subsidiaries located in Asia, we concluded that it was probable that deferred income tax assets of that subsidiary would be realizable. Consequently, we recognized deferred income tax assets in the amount of $557,000 during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. These deferred income tax assets are mainly comprised of operating losses carried forward.
 
For the six months ended February 28, 2011, we reported income tax expenses of $5.5 million on earnings before income taxes of $8.5 million, for an effective income tax rate of 65.5%. Our combined Canadian and provincial statutory tax rate was 29%. This situation mainly results from the fact that a significant portion of our foreign exchange loss was created by the translation of financial statements of our foreign operations and was therefore non-deductible. In addition, we did not recognize deferred income taxes for some of our subsidiaries at loss and we had some non-deductible expenses, such as stock-based compensation costs. On the other hand, we had some non-taxable income.
 
Please refer to note 9 to our condensed interim consolidated financial statements for a full reconciliation of our income tax provision.
 
 
RESULTS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (formerly the Life Sciences and Industrial Division)
 
On October 1, 2010, we completed the sale of our Life Sciences and Industrial Division and that Division contributed one month to our results of the first quarter of fiscal 2011. Results from operations for that Division for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 were included in net earnings from discontinued operations along with the gain on the sale of the Division.
 
 
SALES
 
For the first quarter of fiscal 2011, sales of the discontinued operations (one-month contribution) amounted to $2.0 million.
 
 
NET EARNINGS
 
During the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we reported net earnings from discontinued operations of $12.9 million, which included a gain on disposal of discontinued operations of $13.2 million and $264,000 in stock-based compensation costs.
 

 
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Cash requirements and capital resources (from continuing operations)
 
As at February 29, 2012, cash and short-term investments totaled $76.4 million, while our working capital was at $134.9 million. Our cash and short-term investments increased $8.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to the previous quarter. During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, operating activities generated $13.6 million in cash. In addition, we recorded an unrealized foreign exchange gain on our cash and short-term investments of $1.7 million. This unrealized foreign exchange gain resulted from the translation, in US dollars, of our Canadian-dollar-denominated cash and short-term investments and was included in the accumulated other comprehensive income in the balance sheet. However, we made cash payments of $6.7 million for the purchase of capital assets, mainly for our new building in Montreal, Canada, as well as cash payments of $296,000 and $263,000 for the repayment of our long-term debt and the redemption of share capital pursuant to our share repurchase program respectively.
 
Our short-term investments consist of a banker acceptance issued by a high-credit quality corporation; therefore, we consider the risk of non-performance of this financial instrument to be limited. This debt instrument is not expected to be affected by a significant liquidity risk. For the purpose of managing our cash position, we have established a cash management policy, which we follow and monitor on a regular basis. Our cash and short-term investments will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, potential acquisitions, the construction of our new building in Montreal, Canada, as well as our share repurchase program. As at February 29, 2012, cash balances included an amount of $43.4 million that bears interest at a rate of 1.3%.
 
We believe that our cash balances and short-term investments will be sufficient to meet our liquidity and capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including the remaining construction costs, over the next quarter, of our new building in Montreal, Canada, as well as the effect of our normal course issuer bid. In addition to these assets, we have unused available lines of credit totaling $16.7 million for working capital and other general corporate purposes and unused lines of credit of $15.9 million for foreign currency exposure related to forward exchange contracts. However, possible operating losses and/or possible investments in or acquisitions of complementary businesses, products or technologies may require additional financing. There can be no assurance that additional debt or equity financing will be available when required or, if available, that it can be secured on satisfactory terms.
 
Sources and uses of cash
 
We finance our operations and meet our capital expenditure requirements mainly through cash flows from operating activities, the use of our cash and short-term investments as well as the issuance of subordinate voting shares.
 
Operating activities (including discontinued operations)
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $13.6 million for the three months ended February 29, 2012, compared to $20.7 million for the same period last year.
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $20.1 million for the six months ended February 29, 2012, compared to $18.2 million for the same period last year.
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 were mainly attributable to the net earnings after items not affecting cash of $6.3 million and the positive net change in non-cash operating items of $7.3 million; this was mainly due to the positive effect on cash of the decrease of $5.5 million in our accounts receivable due to timing of sales during the quarter, and the positive effect on cash of the decrease of $7.1 million in our inventories due to timing of purchases and improved inventory turn. These positive effects on cash were offset in part by the negative effect of the increase of $1.5 million in our income taxes and tax credits recoverable due to tax credits earned during the quarter not yet recovered, the decrease of $3.5 million in our accounts payable, accrued liabilities, provisions and other liabilities due to timing of purchases and payments during the quarter, as well as the decrease of $311,000 in our contingent liability payable (changes in fair value).
 

 
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Cash flows provided by operating activities in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 were attributable to the net earnings after items not affecting cash of $13.2 million, and the positive net change in non-cash operating items of $7.5 million; this was mainly due to the positive effect on cash of the decrease of $9.1 million in our accounts receivable (timing of sales) and the increase of $3.1 million in our accounts payable, accrued liabilities, provisions, and other liabilities due to timing of purchases and payments during the quarter. These positive effects on cash were offset in part by the increase of $2.2 million in our income taxes and tax credits recoverable (mainly tax credits earned during the quarter and not yet recovered) and the increase of $2.1 million in our inventories, to sustain increased sales activities.
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2012 were mainly attributable to the net earnings after items not affecting cash of $12.0 million and the positive net change in non-cash operating items of $8.1 million; this was mainly due to the positive effect on cash of the decrease of $2.6 million in our accounts receivable due to timing of sales during the period, and the positive effect on cash of the decrease of $7.6 million in our inventories due to timing of purchases and improved inventory turn. These positive effects on cash were offset in part by the negative effect on cash of the increase of $1.4 million in our income taxes and tax credits recoverable due to tax credits earned during the period not yet recovered, the decrease of $187,000 in our accounts payable, accrued liabilities, provisions and other liabilities due to timing of purchases and payments as well as the decrease of $311,000 in our contingent liability payable (changes in fair value).
 
Cash flows provided by operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2011 were mainly attributable to the net earnings after items not affecting cash of $19.0 million, offset in part by the negative net change in non-cash operating items of $881,000; this was mainly due to the negative effect on cash of the increase of $3.3 million in our income taxes and tax credits recoverable (mainly tax credits earned during the period and not yet recovered) and the increase of $3.5 million in our inventories, to sustain increased sales activities. These negative effects on cash were offset in part by the decrease of $4.6 million in our accounts receivable (timing of sales) and the increase of $2.0 million in our accounts payable, accrued liabilities, provisions, and other liabilities, due to timing of purchases and payments during the period.
 
Investing activities (including discontinued operations)
 
Cash flows provided by investing activities were $420,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2012, compared to cash flows used of $20.0 million for the same period last year.
 
Cash flows provided by investing activities were $28.8 million for the six months ended February 29, 2012, compared to cash flows used of $16.5 million for the same period last year.
 
In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we disposed (net of acquisitions) of $7.1 million worth of short-term investments, but we paid $6.7 million for the purchase of capital assets, mainly for our new building in Montreal, Canada.
 
For the corresponding period last year, we acquired (net of disposal) $18.5 million worth of short-term investments, and we paid $1.3 million for the purchase of capital assets as well as $111,000 in relation to the acquisition of NetHawk.
 
In the first half of fiscal 2012, we disposed (net of acquisitions) of $40.0 million worth of short-term investments, but we paid $11.2 million for the purchase of capital assets, mainly for our new building in Montreal, Canada.
 
For the corresponding period last year, we acquired (net of disposal) $35.0 million worth of short-term investments, and we paid $3.3 million for the purchase of capital assets as well as $243,000 in relation to the acquisition of NetHawk. However, we received $22.1 million from the disposal of discontinued operations.
 
Financing activities (including discontinued operations)
 
Cash flows used by financing activities were $481,000 for the three months ended February 29, 2012, compared to cash flows provided of $923,000 for the same period last year.
 

 
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Cash flows used by financing activities were $1.6 million for the six months ended February 29, 2012, compared to cash flows provided of $984,000 for the same period last year.
 
In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we made a repayment of $296,000 of our long-term debt and redeemed share capital for a cash consideration of $263,000. However, we received $78,000 from the exercise of stock options.
 
For the corresponding period last year, we received $1.2 million from the exercise of stock options but made a repayment of $296,000 of our long-term debt.
 
In the first half of fiscal 2012, we reimbursed our bank loan of $785,000, we made a repayment of $296,000 of our long-term debt and redeemed share capital for a cash consideration of $626,000. However, we received $78,000 from the exercise of stock options.
 
For the corresponding period last year, we received $1.3 million from the exercise of stock options but made a repayment of $296,000 of our long-term debt.
 
 
FORWARD EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
 
We utilize forward exchange contracts to manage our foreign currency exposure. Our policy is not to utilize those derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
 
Our forward exchange contracts, which are used to hedge anticipated US-dollar-denominated sales, qualify for hedge accounting; therefore, realized foreign exchange translation gains and losses on these contracts are recognized as an adjustment of the revenues when the corresponding sales are recorded.
 
As at February 29, 2012, we held forward exchange contracts to sell US dollars at various forward rates, which are summarized as follows:
 
Expiry dates
 
Contractual
amounts
   
Weighted average contractual
forward rates
 
             
March 2012 to August 2012
  $ 15,500,000       1.0401  
September 2012 to August 2013
    19,000,000       1.0212  
September 2013 to August 2014
    3,600,000       1.0439  
Total
  $ 38,100,000       1.0310  
 
The carrying amount of forward exchange contracts is equal to fair value, which is based on the amount at which they could be settled based on estimated current market rates. The fair value of forward exchange contracts amounted to net gains of $2.3 million as at August 31, 2011, and $1.4 million as at February 29, 2012. The quarter-end exchange rate was CA$0.9895 = US$1.00 as at February 29, 2012.
 
 
CONTINGENCY
 
On November 27, 2001, a class action suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the company, four of the underwriters of its Initial Public Offering and some of its executive officers pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and Sections 11, 12 and 16 of the Securities Act of 1933. This class action alleges that the company’s registration statement and prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2000, contained material misrepresentations and/or omissions resulting from (i) the underwriters allegedly soliciting and receiving additional, excessive and undisclosed commissions from certain investors in exchange for which they allocated material portions of the shares issued in connection with the company’s Initial Public Offering; and (ii) the underwriters allegedly entering into agreements with customers whereby shares issued in connection with the company’s Initial Public Offering would be allocated to those customers in exchange for which customers agreed to purchase additional amounts of shares in the after-market at predetermined prices.
 
 
 
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On April 2, 2009, a stipulation and agreement of settlement between the plaintiffs, issuer defendants and underwriter defendants was submitted to the Court for preliminary approval. The Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval and preliminarily certified the settlement classes on June 10, 2009. The settlement fairness hearing was held on September 10, 2009. On October 6, 2009, the Court entered an opinion granting final approval to the settlement and directing that the Clerk of the Court close these actions. Appeals of the opinion granting final approval were filed, all of which have been dismissed or settled as of January 9, 2012. The settlement payment on behalf of EXFO has been made by the insurers, the settlement among the parties is final, and the case is concluded.
 
 
SHARE CAPITAL
 
Share capital
 
As at March 27, 2012, EXFO had 31,643,000 multiple voting shares outstanding, entitling to 10 votes each and 28,857,826 subordinate voting shares outstanding. The multiple voting shares and the subordinate voting shares are unlimited as to number and without par value.
 
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
 
As at February 29, 2012, our off-balance sheet arrangements consisted of letters of guarantee amounting to $5.2 million; these letters of guarantee expire at various dates through fiscal 2017. From this amount, we had $0.8 million worth of letters of guarantee for our own selling and purchasing requirements, which were for the most part reserved from one of our lines of credit. The remainder, in the amount of $4.4 million, was used to secure our line of credit in CNY (Chinese currency) of $4.0 million plus any accrued interests. This line of credit was unused as at February 29, 2012.
 
 
SPECIAL PURPOSES ENTITIES
 
As at February 29, 2012, we did not have interests in any special purposes entities.
 
 
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
 
Our condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS 1, “First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)”, and IFRS applicable to the preparation of interim financial statements, IAS 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”. Note 2 of our condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2011, details accounting policies that we adopted under IFRS. In addition, note 3 to our condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2011, as well as for the three months and the six months ended February 29, 2012, discloses the impact of the transition to IFRS on our reported financial position, financial performance and cash flows, including the nature and effect of significant changes in accounting policies from those used in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended August 31, 2011, under Canadian GAAP (previous GAAP).
 

 
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The preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate these estimates and assumptions, including those related to the fair value of financial instruments, the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, the amount, timing and discounted value of recovery of tax credits recoverable, the provision for excess and obsolete inventories, the estimated useful lives of capital assets, the valuation of long-lived assets, the impairment of goodwill, the recoverable amount of deferred income tax assets, the amount of certain accrued liabilities, provisions and deferred revenue as well as stock-based compensation costs. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the result of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.
 
The following summarizes our critical accounting policies as well as other policies that require the most significant judgment and estimates in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
 
(a)  
Long-term tax credits
 
Our long-term tax credits must be discounted under IFRS. The discounted value is influenced by interest rates used and the expected recovery period of the tax credits. The higher the interest rates are and the longer the recovery period is, the lower the discounted value of the tax credits will be. We use Canadian government bond yield rates as risk-free interest rates for the periods when the tax credits are expected to be recovered. In addition, we make reasonable estimates of future taxable income to determine the recovery period of our long-term tax credits. As at February 29, 2012, risk-free interest rates ranged between 1.00% and 2.88% and the estimated recovery period was six years. Any increase in interest rates or the recovery period would adversely affect our future results. As at February 29, 2012, the discounted value of our tax credits was $35.6 million.
 
(b)  
Inventories
 
We state our inventories at the lower of cost, determined on an average cost basis and net realizable value, and we provide reserves for excess and obsolete inventories. We determine our reserves for excess and obsolete inventories based on the quantities on hand at the reporting dates compared to foreseeable needs over the next twelve months, taking into account changes in demand, technology or market. It is possible that additional inventory reserves may occur if future sales are less than our forecasts or if there is a significant shift in product mix compared to our forecasts, which could adversely affect our future results.
 
(c)  
Income taxes
 
We are subject to income tax laws and regulations in several jurisdictions.  Under these laws and regulations, uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation of complex tax regulations and the amount and timing of future taxable income. We maintain provisions for uncertain tax positions that we believe appropriately reflect our risk based on our interpretation of laws and regulations. In addition, we make reasonable estimates and assumptions to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognized in our consolidated financial statements, based upon the likely timing and level of anticipated future taxable income together with tax planning strategies. The ultimate realization of our deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of sufficient future taxable income during the periods in which those assets are expected to be realized.
 
As at February 29, 2012, our net deferred income tax assets recognized in the balance sheet amounted to $11.1 million, and our non-refundable research and development tax credits amounted to $38.8 million. In order to realize these deferred income tax assets and non-refundable research and development tax credits, we need to generate approximately $258 million (CA$255 million) in pre-tax earnings at the Canadian federal level, approximately $10 million at the Canadian provincial levels, approximately $31 million at the United States federal level, and approximately $3 million in Singapore.
 

 
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(d)  
Impairment of non-financial assets
 
Impairment exists when the carrying value of an asset or group of assets (cash generating unit (CGU)) exceeds its recoverable amount, which is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The fair value less costs to sell calculation is based on available data from binding sales transactions in an arm’s length transaction of similar assets or observable market prices less incremental costs for disposing of the asset, when available. When such information is not available, we base our calculations on discounted cash flows. These calculations require the use of estimates, including management’s expectations of future revenue growth, operating costs and profit margins as well as discount rates for each CGU.
 
i)  
Growth rates
 
The assumptions used are based on historical growth, our internal budget, expectations of future revenue growth as well as industry and market trends. We projected revenues, operating margins and cash flows for periods of five years, and applied a perpetual long-term growth rate thereafter.
 
ii)  
Discount rate
 
We use a discount rate to calculate the present value of estimated future cash flows, which represents our weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
 
 
NEW IFRS PRONOUNCEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS NOT YET ADOPTED
 
Financial Instruments – Disclosure
 
IFRS 7, “Financial Instruments: Disclosures, has been amended to include additional disclosure requirements in the reporting of transfer transactions and risk exposures relating to transfers of financial assets and the impact of those risks on an entity’s financial position, particularly those involving securitization of financial assets. The amendment is applicable for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2011, with earlier application permitted. While we are currently assessing the effect of this new standard, we do not expect the standard to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Financial Instruments
 
IFRS 9, “Financial Instruments, was issued in November 2009 and addresses classification and measurement of financial assets. It replaces the multiple category and measurement models in IAS 39, “Financial Instruments – Recognition and Measurement, for debt instruments with a new mixed measurement model having only two categories: amortized cost and fair value through profit or loss. IFRS 9 also replaces the models for measuring equity instruments. Such instruments are either recognized at fair value through profit or loss or at fair value through other comprehensive income. Where equity instruments are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income, dividends are recognized in profit or loss to the extent that they do not clearly represent a return of investment; however, other gains and losses (including impairments) associated with such instruments remain in accumulated comprehensive income indefinitely. Requirements for financial liabilities were added to IFRS 9 in October 2010, and they largely carried forward existing requirements in IAS 39, except that fair value changes due to credit risk for liabilities designated at fair value through profit and loss are generally recorded in other comprehensive income. This standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015. We have not yet assessed the impact that this new standard is likely to have on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2011, the IASB issued the following standards: IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements”, IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”, and IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement”. Each of the new standards is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, with early adoption permitted. We have not yet assessed the impact that the new and amended standards may have on our consolidated financial statements or whether or not to early adopt any of these new requirements.
 

 
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The following is a brief summary of these new standards:
 
Consolidation
 
IFRS 10, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, requires an entity to consolidate an investee when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Under existing IFRS, consolidation is required when a company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. IFRS 10 replaces Standing Interpretations Committee (“SIC”) 12, “Consolidation – Special Purpose Entities” and parts of IAS 27, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements”.
 
Joint Arrangements
 
IFRS 11, “Joint Arrangements”, requires a venturer to classify its interest in a joint arrangement as a joint venture or joint operations. Joint ventures will be accounted for using the equity method of accounting, whereas for a joint operation the venturer will recognize its share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the joint operation. Under existing IFRS, entities have the choice to proportionately consolidate or equity-account for interests in joint ventures. IFRS 11 replaces IAS 31, “Interests in Joint Ventures”, and SIC 13, “Jointly Controlled Entities-Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers”.
 
Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities
 
IFRS 12, “Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities”, establishes disclosure requirements for interests in other entities, such as joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and off-balance-sheet vehicles. This standard carries forward existing disclosures and also introduces significant additional disclosures requirements that address the nature of, and risks associated with, an entity's interests in other entities.
 
Fair Value Measurement
 
IFRS 13, “Fair Value Measurement”, is a comprehensive standard for fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across all IFRS standards. The new standard clarifies that fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants, at the measurement date. It also establishes disclosures about fair value measurement. Under existing IFRS, guidance on measuring and disclosing fair value is dispersed among the specific standards requiring fair value measurements and, in many cases, does not reflect a clear measurement basis or consistent disclosures.
 
Financial Statement Presentation
 
In June 2011, the IASB amended IAS 1, “Financial Statement Presentation”. The amendments to IAS 1 requires entities to separate items presented in other comprehensive income into two groups, based on whether or not they may be recycled to the statement of earnings in the future. Items that will not be recycled will be presented separately from items that may be recycled in the future, such as unrealized gains and losses on cash flows hedges. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012. Early adoption is permitted and full retrospective application is required. We do not expect the standard to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
 
Over the past several years, we have managed our business in a difficult environment; focused on research and development programs for new and innovative solutions aimed at expected growth pockets in our sector; continued the development of our domestic and international markets; and made strategic acquisitions. However, we operate in a highly competitive and complex sector that is in constant evolution and, as a result, we encounter various risks and uncertainties that must be given appropriate consideration in our strategic management plans and policies.
 

 
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Also, our business is subject to the effects of general economic conditions in North America and throughout the world and, more particularly, market conditions in the telecommunications industry. In the past, our operating results were adversely affected by reduced telecom capital spending in North America, Europe and Asia and by unfavorable general economic conditions. In particular, sales to network service providers in North America were significantly and adversely affected by a downturn in the telecommunications industry in 2001 and by the global economic recession in 2009. These occurrences affected our key geographic regions or markets. In the event of another recession or slowdown in key geographic regions or markets, we may experience a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial conditions.
 
In addition, we are exposed to currency risks due to the export of our products manufactured in Canada, China and Finland; the large majority of these sales are denominated in US dollars and euros. These risks are partially hedged by operating expenses denominated in US dollars and euros, the purchase of raw materials in US dollars as well as forward exchange contracts. Any decrease in the value of the US dollar, compared to the Canadian dollar and the euro, in the coming months would negatively affect our results of operations.
 
While strategic acquisitions, like those we have made in the past and possibly others in the future, are essential to our long-term growth, they also expose us to certain risks and uncertainties related to the rapid and effective integration of these businesses, their products, technologies and personnel as well as key personnel retention. Finally, integration of new acquisitions will require the dedication of management resources, which may detract their attention from our day-to-day business and operations.
 
Furthermore, risks and uncertainties related to the telecommunications test and service assurance industry involve the rapid development of new products that may have short lifecycles and require extensive research and development; the difficulty of adequately predicting market size and trends; the difficulty of retaining highly skilled employees; and the ability to quickly adapt our cost structure to changing market conditions in order to achieve profitability.
 
Also, given our strategic goals for growth and competitive positioning in our industry, we are continuously expanding into international markets, such as the operation of our manufacturing facilities in China and our software development centers in India as well as operating other subsidiaries in many countries. This exposes us to certain risks and uncertainties, namely changes in local laws and regulations, multiple technological standards, protective legislation, pricing pressure, cultural differences and the management of operations in different countries.
 
The economic environment of our industry could also result in some of our customers experiencing difficulties, which, consequently, could have a negative effect on our results, especially in terms of future sales and recoverability of accounts receivable. However, the sectorial and geographic diversity of our customer base provides us with a reasonable level of protection in this area. Finally, other financial instruments, which potentially subject us to credit risks, consist mainly of cash, short-term investments and forward exchange contracts. Our short-term investments consist of debt instruments issued by high-credit quality corporations and trusts. Our cash and forward exchange contracts are held with or issued by high-credit quality financial institutions; therefore, we consider the risk of non-performance on these instruments to be limited.
 
We depend on a limited number of suppliers for some of the parts used to manufacture our products for which alternative sources may not be readily available. In addition, all our orders are placed through individual purchase orders and, therefore, our suppliers may experience difficulties, suffer from natural disasters, delays or stop supplying parts to us at any time. The reliance on a single source or limited number of suppliers could result in increased costs, delivery problems and reduced control over product pricing and quality. Any interruption or delay in the supply of any of these parts could significantly harm our ability to meet scheduled product deliveries to our customers and cause us to lose sales. Furthermore, the process of qualifying a new manufacturer for complex parts designed to our specifications, such as our optical, electronic or mechanical parts, is lengthy and would consume a substantial amount of time for our technical personnel and management. If we were required to change a supplier in a short period of time, our business would be disrupted. In addition, we may be unsuccessful in identifying a new supplier capable of meeting and willing to meet our needs on terms that we would find acceptable.
 

 
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For a more complete understanding of risk factors that may affect us, please refer to the risk factors set forth in our disclosure documents published with securities commissions at www.EXFO.com, or at www.sedar.com in Canada or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml in the U.S.
 
 
NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES
 
We provide non-IFRS financial measures (gross margin*, EBITDA** and adjusted EBITDA**) as supplemental information regarding our operational performance. We use these measures for the purposes of evaluating our historical and prospective financial performance, as well as our performance relative to our competitors. These measures also help us to plan and forecast future periods as well as to make operational and strategic decisions. We believe that providing this information to our investors, in addition to the IFRS measures, allows them to see the company’s results through the eyes of management, and to better understand our historical and future financial performance.
 
The presentation of this additional information is not prepared in accordance with IFRS. Therefore, the information may not necessarily be comparable to that of other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with IFRS.
 
*
Gross margin represents sales less cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization.
 
**
EBITDA is defined as net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA excluding changes in the fair value of the cash contingent consideration and the gain from the disposal of discontinued operations.
 
The following tables summarize the reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to IFRS net earnings and additional information, in thousands of US dollars:
 
 
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA (including discontinued operations)
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29, 2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29, 2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28, 2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28, 2011
 
                         
IFRS net earnings for the period
  $ 1,040     $ 3,954     $ 1,716     $ 15,849  
                                 
Add (deduct):
                               
                                 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
                               
Continuing operations
    1,546       3,114       1,597       3,243  
Discontinued operations
                      14  
Amortization of intangible assets
                               
Continuing operations
    1,974       3,895       2,367       4,933  
Discontinued operations
                      4  
Interest income
                               
Continuing operations
    (171 )     (144 )     (49 )     (42 )
Income taxes
                               
Continuing operations
    1,769       2,920       2,720       5,549  
Discontinued operations
                      201  
                                 
EBITDA for the period
    6,158       13,739       8,351       29,751  
Changes in fair value of cash contingent consideration
    (311 )     (311 )            
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations
                      (13,212 )
Adjusted EBITDA for the period
  $ 5,847     $ 13,428     $ 8,351     $ 16,539  
                                 
EBITDA in percentage of total sales
    9.2 %     10.3 %     11.6 %     21.3 %
Adjusted EBITDA in percentage of total sales
    8.7 %     10.1 %     11.6 %     11.8 %
 
 
 
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Additional information
 
   
Three months
ended
February 29, 2012
   
Six months
ended
February 29, 2012
   
Three months
ended
February 28, 2011
   
Six months
ended
February 28, 2011
 
                         
Sales from continued operations
  $ 66,917     $ 133,305     $ 72,046     $ 137,699  
Sales from discontinued operations
                      1,991  
                                 
Total sales
  $ 66,917     $ 133,305     $ 72,046     $ 139,690  
 
 
QUARTERLY SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (unaudited)
(tabular amounts in thousands of US dollars, except per share data)
 
   
Quarters ended
 
   
February 29,
2012
   
November 30,
2011
   
August 31,
2011
   
May 31,
2011
 
                         
Sales
  $ 66,917     $ 66,388     $ 64,414     $ 67,630  
Cost of sales (1)
  $ 23,616     $ 23,370     $ 23,447     $ 24,243  
Earnings from operations
  $ 4,109     $ 2,428     $ 5,878     $ 3,489  
Net earnings
  $ 1,040     $ 2,914     $ 4,638     $ 1,798  
Basic and diluted net earnings per share
  $ 0.02     $ 0.05     $ 0.08     $ 0.03  

 
   
Quarters ended
 
   
February 28, 2011
   
November 30,
2010
   
August 31,
2010 (2)
   
May 31,
2010 (2)
 
                         
Sales
  $ 72,046     $ 65,653     $ 58,583     $ 55,930  
Cost of sales (1)
  $ 27,821     $ 24,785     $ 20,629     $ 20,421  
Earnings from operations
  $ 6,782     $ 5,156     $ 4,414     $ 1,840  
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
  $ 1,716     $ 1,208     $ 4,124     $ (600 )
Net earnings
  $ 1,716     $ 14,133     $ 4,962     $ 169  
Basic and diluted net earnings (loss) from continuing operations per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.02     $ 0.07     $ (0.01 )
Basic net earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.24     $ 0.08     $ 0.00  
Diluted net earnings per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.23     $ 0.08     $ 0.00  
 
(1)  
The cost of sales is exclusive of depreciation and amortization.
(2)  
Quarterly data for fiscal 2010 has not been adjusted to reflect new standards under IFRS.


 
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