INTEST CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)

We are an independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of manipulator and docking hardware, temperature management and tester interface products that are used by semiconductor manufacturers in conjunction with automatic test equipment ("ATE") in the testing of integrated circuits ("ICs" or "semiconductors").

The consolidated entity is comprised of inTEST Corporation (parent) and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. We manufacture our products in the U.S., Germany and Singapore. Marketing and support activities are conducted worldwide from our facilities in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan and Singapore. We have three reportable segments which are also our reporting units: Manipulator and Docking Hardware, Temperature Management and Tester Interface.

The semiconductor industry in which we operate is characterized by rapid technological change, competitive pricing pressures and cyclical market patterns. This industry is subject to significant economic downturns at various times. Our financial results are affected by a wide variety of factors, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions worldwide or in the markets in which we operate, economic conditions specific to the semiconductor industry, our ability to safeguard patents and intellectual property in a rapidly evolving market, downward pricing pressures from customers, and our reliance on a relatively few number of customers for a significant portion of our sales. In addition, we are exposed to the risk of obsolescence of our inventory depending on the mix of future business and technological changes within the industry. As a result of these or other factors, we may experience significant period-to-period fluctuations in future operating results.

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain of our accounts, including long-lived assets, inventory, deferred income tax valuation allowances and product warranty reserves, are particularly affected by estimates.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and changes in cash flows for the interim periods presented. Certain footnote information has been condensed or omitted from these consolidated financial statements. Therefore, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (our "2007 Form 10-K").

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to be comparable with the current period's presentation. In particular, prior to the first quarter of 2008, certain facility costs of our Singaporean operation were included under general and administrative expense and selling expense. Effective January 1, 2008, we include these facility costs under cost of revenues, to be consistent with the treatment of similar expenses for other manufacturing operations we own. Prior periods have been reclassified accordingly.

Inventories

Inventory is valued at standard cost, which approximates actual cost computed on a first-in, first-out basis, not in excess of market value. Cash flows from the sale of inventory are recorded in operating cash flows. On a quarterly basis, we review our inventories and record excess and obsolete inventory charges based upon our established objective excess and obsolete inventory criteria. These criteria identify material that has not been used in a work order during the prior twelve months and the quantity of material on hand that is greater than the average annual usage of that material over the prior three years. In certain cases, additional excess and obsolete inventory charges are recorded based upon current industry conditions, anticipated product life cycles, new product

introductions and expected future use of the inventory. The charges for excess and obsolete inventory we record establish a new cost basis for the related inventory. We incurred excess and obsolete inventory charges of $189 and $173 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Finite-lived Intangible Asset

As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had a finite-lived intangible asset which totaled $280 and $273, net of accumulated amortization of $342 and $302, respectively. This finite-lived intangible asset consists of the patent applications held by our Intestlogic subsidiary at the time of our acquisition of this operation in 2002 and is being amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of ten years. As of March 31, 2008, the remaining estimated useful life of this asset was approximately five years. This finite-lived intangible asset is allocated to the Manipulator and Docking Hardware reporting unit. The following table sets forth changes in the amount of the carrying value of this finite-lived intangible asset for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

Income Taxes

The asset and liability method is used in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards and for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we recorded income tax expense of $62 compared to income tax expense of $33 for the same period in 2007. On a quarterly basis, we record income tax expense or benefit based on the expected annualized effective tax rate for the various taxing jurisdictions in which we operate our businesses. Due to our history of operating losses in both our domestic and certain of our foreign operations, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets of these operations, including net operating loss carryforwards, where we believe it is more likely than not that we will not have sufficient taxable income to utilize these assets before they expire. During the first quarter of 2008, the income tax expense recorded primarily represents income tax expense on the taxable income of our foreign operations where we do not have a history of operating losses and therefore do not have net operating loss carryforwards to offset income tax expense on those earnings.

Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

Net earnings (loss) per common share is computed in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during each period. Common share equivalents represent stock options and unvested shares of restricted stock and are calculated using the treasury stock method. Common share equivalents are excluded from the calculation if their effect is anti-dilutive.

The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, a reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding - basic to weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted and the average number of potentially dilutive securities and their respective weighted average exercise prices that were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their effect was anti-dilutive:

However, this exclusion does not apply to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination, regardless of whether those assets and liabilities are related to leases. In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, Effective Date for FASB Statement No. 157, which delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities until January 1, 2009, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). We adopted SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008 for assets and liabilities not subject to the deferral. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 as of January 1, 2008 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 permits companies to choose to measure certain financial instruments and other items at fair value using an instrument-by-instrument election. SFAS No. 159 requires that unrealized gains and losses are reported in earnings for items measured using the fair value option and establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. We adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements as we did not elect to measure any eligible items at fair value that were not already required to be measured at fair value.

New Accounting Standards

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(revised), Business Combinations. SFAS 141(R) significantly changes the accounting for business combinations in a number of areas including the treatment of contingent consideration, preacquisition contingencies, transaction costs, in-process research and development and restructuring costs. SFAS 141(R) is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008 and early adoption is prohibited. We will adopt SFAS 141(R) beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. SFAS 141(R) will change our accounting for business combinations on a prospective basis.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets. FSP FAS 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. FSP FAS 142-3 also adds certain disclosures to those already prescribed in SFAS No. 142. FSP FAS 142-3 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008 and early adoption is prohibited. The guidance for determining useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date. The disclosure requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of the effective date.

As discussed in Note 2, on January 1, 2008 we adopted SFAS No. 157 for our financial assets and financial liabilities, which consisted of cash and cash equivalents and a note receivable as of March 31, 2008. We will not apply the provisions of SFAS No. 157 until January 1, 2009 for the following major categories of nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities: Property and Equipment and Intangible Assets. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a three-tiered fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument's categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of inputs within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

The following table presents our financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008 consistent with the fair value hierarchy provisions of SFAS No. 157:

Texas Instruments Incorporated accounted for 25% and 17% of our consolidated net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. While all three of our operating segments sold products to this customer, these revenues were primarily generated by our Manipulator and Docking Hardware product segment. Teradyne, Inc. accounted for 13% of our consolidated net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008. While all three of our operating segments sold products to this customer, these revenues were primarily generated by our Tester Interface and Manipulator and Docking Hardware product segments. During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, no other customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated net revenues.

Inventories held at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 were comprised of the following:

In accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 88-1, Issues Relating to Accounting for Leases, we record tenant improvements made to our leased facilities based on the amount of the total cost to construct the improvements regardless of whether a portion of that cost was paid through an allowance provided by the facility's landlord. The amount of the allowance, if any, is recorded as deferred rent. We amortize deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the lease term and record the amortization as a reduction of rent expense. Amortization of deferred rent was $30 for the three months ended March 31 during both 2008 and 2007.

In addition, certain of our operating leases contain predetermined fixed escalations of minimum rentals during the original lease terms. For these leases, we recognize the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease and record the difference between the amounts charged to operations and amounts paid as accrued rent which is included in other accrued expenses on our balance sheet.

Product Warranties

Warranty expense (recovery) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $34 and $(47), respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, we recorded a reduction in our consolidated warranty accrual reflecting favorable claims experience. The level of our product warranty charges both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of net revenues is affected by a number of factors including the cyclicality of demand in the ATE industry, the prototype nature of much of our business, the complex nature of many of our products, and, at our discretion, providing warranty repairs or replacements to customers after the contracted warranty period has expired in order to promote strong customer relations.

The following table sets forth the changes in the liability for product warranties for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

As of March 31, 2008, we have outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock awards granted under stock-based employee compensation plans that are described more fully in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements in our 2007 Form 10-K.

As of March 31, 2008, total compensation expense to be recognized in future periods was $724. The weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be recognized is 2.4 years. All of this expense is related to nonvested shares of restricted stock.

Restricted Stock Awards

We record compensation expense for restricted stock awards (nonvested shares) based on the quoted market price of our stock at the grant date and amortize the expense over the vesting period. Restricted stock awards generally vest over four years. The following table shows the allocation of the compensation expense we recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to nonvested shares:

We have a defined contribution 401(k) plan (the "inTEST 401(k) Plan") for our employees who work in the U.S. As a part of this plan, we match a portion of employee contributions. This plan, including our employer matching contributions, is more fully discussed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2007 Form 10-K.

In addition to the employer matching contributions for which employees of our Temptronic subsidiary are eligible, upon the termination of the Temptronic Equity Participation Plan ("EPP"), we acknowledged that it was our intention to contribute $3,000 in the aggregate to the inTEST 401(k) Plan as a form of profit sharing (not to exceed $300 per year) for the benefit of Temptronic employees. The amount of these profit sharing contributions approximates the amount that we had been committed to contribute to the EPP as of its termination date. All such profit sharing contributions are at the discretion of management, and will be allocated to employees annually in essentially the same manner in which the shares held by the EPP had been allocated. The vesting provisions for these contributions will be the same as those of the inTEST 401(k) Plan. Accruals for profit sharing contributions totaling $75 were made during the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Through

March 31, 2008, we had made a total of $1,103 in profit sharing contributions. We have historically funded these obligations through the use of treasury shares during the quarter subsequent to the quarter in which we record the profit sharing liability, although management has the discretion to use cash to fund these obligations. Our current intention is to use cash to fund these obligations when our stock price is below $3.00 per share.

We have three reportable segments, which are also our reporting units: Manipulator and Docking Hardware Products, Temperature Management Products and Tester Interface Products. The Manipulator and Docking Hardware product segment includes the operations of our Cherry Hill, New Jersey manufacturing facility as well as the operations of three of our foreign subsidiaries: inTEST KK (Japan), inTEST PTE, Limited (Singapore) and Intestlogic GmbH (Germany). Sales of this segment consist primarily of manipulator and docking hardware products which we design, manufacture and market, as well as certain other related products which we design and market, but which are manufactured by third parties. The Temperature Management product segment includes the operations of Temptronic Corporation in Sharon, Massachusetts as well as Temptronic GmbH (Germany). Sales of this segment consist primarily of temperature management systems which we design, manufacture and market under our Temptronic product line. In addition, this segment provides after sale service and support, which is paid for by its customers. The Tester Interface product segment includes the operations of inTEST Silicon Valley Corporation. Sales of this segment consist primarily of tester interface products which we design, manufacture and market. We operate our business worldwide, and all three segments sell their products both domestically and internationally. All three segments sell to semiconductor manufacturers, third-party test and assembly houses and ATE manufacturers. Our Temperature Management product segment also sells into a variety of industries outside of the semiconductor industry including the aerospace, automotive, communications, consumer electronics, defense, and medical industries. Intercompany pricing between segments is either a multiple of cost for component parts or list price for finished goods.

Overview

As discussed more fully in our 2007 Form 10-K, our business and results of operations are substantially dependent upon the demand for ATE by semiconductor manufacturers and companies that specialize in the testing of ICs. Demand for ATE is driven by semiconductor manufacturers that are opening new, or expanding existing, semiconductor fabrication facilities or upgrading existing equipment, which in turn is dependent upon the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors and products incorporating semiconductors. In the past, the semiconductor industry has been highly cyclical with recurring periods of oversupply, which often have a severe impact on the semiconductor industry's demand for ATE, including the products we manufacture. This can cause wide fluctuations in both our orders and net revenues and, depending on our ability to react quickly to these shifts in demand, can significantly impact our results of operations. These industry cycles are difficult to predict and in recent years have become more volatile and shorter in duration. Because the industry cycles are generally characterized by sequential periods of growth or declines in orders and net revenues during each cycle, year over year comparisons of operating results may not always be as meaningful as comparisons of periods at similar points in either up or down cycles. In addition, during both downward and upward cycles in our industry, in any given quarter, the trend in both our orders and net revenues can be erratic. This can occur, for example, when orders are canceled or currently scheduled delivery dates are accelerated or postponed by a significant customer or when customer forecasts and general business conditions fluctuate during a quarter.

We believe that purchases of most of our products are typically made from semiconductor manufacturers' capital expenditure budgets. Certain portions of our business, however, are generally less dependent upon the capital expenditure budgets of the end users. For example, purchases of certain related ATE interface products, such as sockets and interface boards, which must be replaced periodically, are typically made from the end users' operating budgets. In addition, purchases of certain of our products, such as docking hardware, for the purpose of upgrading or improving the utilization, performance and efficiency of existing ATE, tend to be counter cyclical to sales of new ATE. Moreover, we believe a portion of our sales of temperature management products results from the increasing need for temperature testing of circuit boards and specialized components that do not have the design or quantity to be tested in an electronic device handler. In addition, in recent years we have begun to market our Thermostream temperature management systems in industries outside semiconductor test, such as the automotive, aerospace, medical and telecommunications industries. We believe that these industries usually are less cyclical than the ATE industry.

While the majority of our orders and net revenues are derived from the ATE market, our operating results do not always follow the overall trend in the ATE market in any given period. We believe that these anomalies may be driven by a variety of emerging changes within the ATE market, including, for example, changing product requirements, longer time periods between new product offerings by OEMs and changes in customer buying patterns. In particular, demand for our manipulator, docking hardware and tester interface products, which are sold exclusively within the ATE industry, and our operating margins in these product segments have been affected by recent shifts in the competitive landscape, including (i) customers placing heightened emphasis on shorter lead times (which places increased demands on our available engineering and production capacity increasing unit costs) and ordering in smaller quantities (which prevents us from acquiring component materials in larger volumes at lower cost and increasing unit costs), (ii) the increasing practice of OEM manufacturers to specify other suppliers as primary vendors, with less frequent opportunities to compete for such designations, (iii) the increased role of third-party test and assembly houses in the ATE market and their requirement of products with a greater range of use at the lowest cost, and (iv) customer supply line management groups demanding lower prices and spreading purchases across multiple vendors. These shifts in market practices have had, and may continue to have, varying levels of impact on our operating results, but it is difficult to quantify the impact of these practices from period to period. Management has taken, and will continue to take, such actions it deems appropriate to adjust our strategies, products and operations to counter such shifts in market practices as they become evident but there can be no assurance that such actions will be fully or timely effective to counter shifts in market practices.

Net Revenues and Orders

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, a breakdown of the net revenues from unaffiliated customers both by product segment and geographic area (based on the location of the selling entity).

Business Restructuring Initiatives

In response to the cyclical nature of the ATE market in which we operate, we have taken various actions to restructure our operations in recent years. The goal of these actions was to significantly reduce our fixed operating costs and position ourselves to more effectively meet the needs and expectations of the cyclical ATE market. In the past, these restructuring actions have included workforce reductions and facility closures which allowed us to eliminate excess manufacturing capacity at certain of our locations. Additional information regarding the various restructuring plans implemented in recent years, including the costs incurred, is set forth in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in our 2007 Form 10-K.

In early 2008, we commenced a review of our operations to more aggressively streamline our cost structure in line with the current business environment. As part of this process, we will also focus on methods to increase our profitability worldwide, including pursuing other types of revenue streams and additional growth opportunities. As a result of this process, we will likely incur restructuring charges in future periods, however, we cannot predict the amount of such charges at this time.

Product/Customer Mix

Our three product segments each have multiple products that we design, manufacture and sell to our customers. The gross margin on each product we offer is impacted by a number of factors including the amount of intellectual property (such as patents) utilized in the product, the number of units ordered by the customer at one time, or the amount of inTEST designed and fabricated material included in our product compared with the amount of third-party designed and fabricated material included in our product. The weight of each of these factors, as well as the current market conditions, determines the ultimate sales price we can obtain for our products and the resulting gross margin.

The mix of products we sell in any period is ultimately determined by our customers' needs. Therefore, the mix of products sold in any given period can change significantly from the prior period. As a result, our consolidated gross margin can be significantly impacted in any given period by a change in the mix of products sold in that period.

We sell most of our products to semiconductor manufacturers and third-party test and assembly houses (end user sales) and to ATE manufacturers (OEM sales) who ultimately resell our equipment with theirs to semiconductor manufacturers. Our Temperature Management product segment also sells into a variety of other industries including the aerospace, automotive, communications, consumer electronics, defense, and medical industries. The mix of customers during any given period will affect our gross margin due to differing sales discounts and commissions. For the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, our OEM sales as a percentage of net revenues were 20% and 24%, respectively.

OEM sales generally have a lower gross margin than end user sales, as OEM sales historically have had a more significant discount. Our current net operating margins on most OEM sales, however, are only slightly less than margins on end user sales because of the payment of third party sales commissions on most end user sales. We have also continued to experience demands from our OEM customers' supply line managers to reduce our sales prices to them. If we cannot further reduce our manufacturing and operating costs, these pricing pressures will continue to reduce our gross and operating margins.

Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains statements relating to possible future events and results that are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can often be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," "should" "or anticipates" or similar terminology. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on various assumptions. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, investors and prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are only projections, and there cannot be any assurance that these events or results will occur.

Information about the primary risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from our historic results or the results described in the forward-looking statements made in this report or presented elsewhere by Management from time to time are included in Part I, Item 1A - "Risk Factors" of our 2007 Form 10-K. Material changes to such risk factors may be reported in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q in Part II, Item 1A. There have been no such changes from the risk factors set forth in our 2007 Form 10-K.

Results of Operations

All of our products are used by semiconductor manufacturers in conjunction with ATE in the testing of ICs. Consequently, the results of operations for each product segment are generally affected by the same factors. Separate discussions and analyses for each product segment would be repetitive and obscure any unique factors that affected the results of operations of our different product segments. The discussion and analysis that follows, therefore, is presented on a consolidated basis and includes discussion of factors unique to each product segment where significant to an understanding of that segment.

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the principal items included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a percentage of total net revenues.

Gross Margin. Gross margin was 39% for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 36% for the same period in 2007. The increase in gross margin is primarily the result of a reduction in component material costs as a percentage of net revenues, reflecting changes in product and customer mix. To a lesser extent, the increase in gross margin is a result of a $328,000 decline in our fixed operating costs during the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter of 2007. The decline in our fixed operating costs was primarily a result of lower depreciation expense, reflecting a lower asset base, combined with a reduction in salary and benefits expense, reflecting headcount reductions that occurred in mid-2007. These headcount reductions were primarily driven by the reduced levels of demand we have been experiencing for our products.

Selling Expense. Selling expense was $2.1 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2.2 million for the same period in 2007, a decrease of $77,000 or 4%. A reduction in travel costs and lower levels of commissions were partially offset by increased warranty charges. The reduction in travel costs reflects fewer trips, particularly to trade shows in Asia, in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter of 2007. The lower level of commissions reflects the lower net revenues experienced in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter of 2007. The increase in warranty charges primarily reflects that, during the first quarter of 2007, we recorded a recovery of previously expensed warranty charges as a result of favorable claims experience. There was no similar recovery recorded during the first quarter of 2008.

Engineering and Product Development Expense. Engineering and product development expense was relatively unchanged at $1.4 million for both the first quarter of 2008 and the same period in 2007. There were no significant changes in any of the components of engineering and product development expense during the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $2.2 million for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2007, an increase of $117,000 or 6%. This increase was primarily a result of higher professional fees for third-party consultants who assist us with the documentation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting procedures and related compliance matters.

Other Income. Other income was $35,000 for the first quarter of 2008 compared to $121,000 for the comparable period in 2007, a decrease of $86,000. The decrease primarily represents an increase in foreign currency losses.

Income Tax Expense. For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, we recorded income tax expense of $62,000 compared to income tax expense of $33,000 for the same period in 2007. On a quarterly basis, we record income tax expense or benefit based on the expected annualized effective tax rate for the various taxing jurisdictions in which we operate our businesses. Due to our history of operating losses in both our domestic and certain of our foreign operations, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets of these operations, including net operating loss carryforwards, where we believe it is more likely than not that we will not have sufficient taxable income to utilize these assets before they expire. During the first quarter of 2008, the income tax expense recorded primarily represents income tax expense on the taxable income of our foreign operations where we do not have a history of operating losses and therefore do not have net operating loss carryforwards to offset income tax expense on those earnings.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used in operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $452,000 compared to $645,000 for the same period in 2007. Accounts payable increased $1.2 million for the first three months of 2008, primarily reflecting increased inventory purchases late in the quarter related to increased order levels at certain of our operations. To a lesser extent, the timing of payments to vendors also impacted the level of accounts payable at March 31, 2008. As a result of the aforementioned increase in inventory purchases, total inventory increased $534,000 as of March 31, 2008 as compared to December 31, 2007. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, accounts receivable increased $533,000 primarily reflecting the timing of our net revenues during the quarter. For several of our operations, net revenues in the first quarter of 2008 were more heavily weighted toward the end of the quarter. Prepaid expenses and other current assets declined $325,000 from December 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008, primarily as a result of our Japanese operation receiving a refund of an estimated tax payment made in 2007.

Purchases of property and equipment were $100,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008. These purchases primarily consisted of demonstration equipment for our facilities in Sharon, Massachusetts and San Jose, California. We have no significant commitments for capital expenditures for the balance of 2008, however, depending upon changes in market demand, we may make such purchases as we deem necessary and appropriate.

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $1,000, which represents payments made under capital lease obligations.

We have a secured credit facility that provides for maximum borrowings of $250,000. We have not utilized this facility to borrow any funds. Our usage consists of the issuance of letters of credit in the face amount of $250,000. We pay a quarterly fee of 1.5% per annum on the total amount of the outstanding letters of credit. The terms of the loan agreement require that we maintain a minimum level of $200,000 of domestic cash. This credit facility expires on September 30, 2008.

As of March 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $12.0 million. We believe our cash balances will be sufficient to satisfy our cash requirements for the foreseeable future. Should the current downturn be prolonged, or should we utilize significant amounts of cash to implement our acquisition strategy, we may require additional debt or equity financing to meet working capital or capital expenditure needs. We cannot be certain that, if needed, we would be able to raise such additional financing or upon what terms such financing would be available.

New or Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

See the Notes to the consolidated financial statements for information concerning the implementation and impact of new or recently adopted accounting standards.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to inventories, long-lived assets, identifiable intangibles, deferred income tax valuation allowances and product warranty reserves. We base our estimates on historical experience and on appropriate and customary assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Some of these accounting estimates and assumptions are particularly sensitive because of their significance to our consolidated financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ markedly from what had been assumed when the financial statements were prepared. As of March 31, 2008, there have been no significant changes to the accounting policies that we have deemed critical. These policies are more fully described in our 2007 Form 10-K.

This disclosure is not required for a smaller reporting company.

CEO and CFO Certifications. Included with this Quarterly Report as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 are two certifications, one by each of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer (the "Section 302 Certifications"). This Item 4T contains information concerning the evaluations of our disclosure controls and procedures that are referred to in the Section 302 Certifications. This information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 Certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics addressed therein.

Evaluation of Our Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The SEC requires that as of the end of the quarter covered by this Report, our CEO and CFO must evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures and report on the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.

"Disclosure controls and procedures" mean the controls and other procedures that are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), such as this Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms promulgated by the SEC. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. Our management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, as opposed to absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within an entity have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a system of controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Accordingly, our management has designed the disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of the control system were met.

CEO/CFO Conclusions about the Effectiveness of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As required by Rule 13a-15(b), inTEST management, including our CEO and CFO, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Report, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

From time to time we may be a party to legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings.

Information regarding the primary risks and uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect our future performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, appears in Part I, Item 1A -- "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. There have been no material changes from the risk factors as disclosed in that report.

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A list of the Exhibits which are required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and filed with this Report is set forth in the Index to Exhibits immediately following the signature page, which Index to Exhibits is incorporated herein by reference.