UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For fiscal year ended, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Commission File Number 1-9965

KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio		34-0794417
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Address of principal executive offices: 28775 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio, 44139
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (440) 248-0400

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act:

Common Shares, Without Par Value		New York Stock Exchange
(Title of Each Class)		(Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes o     No þ

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o     No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ     No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

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

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer o

Non-accelerated filer þ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes o     No þ

The aggregate market value of the Common Shares of the Registrant held by non-affiliates was $44.11 million and the aggregate market value of the Class B Common Shares of the Registrant held by non-affiliates was $0.07 million for a total aggregate market value of all classes of Common Shares held by non-affiliates of $44.18 million at March 31, 2009, the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. While the Class B Common Shares are not listed for public trading on any exchange or market system, shares of that class are convertible into Common Shares at any time on a share-for-share basis. The market values indicated were calculated based upon the last sale price of the Common Shares as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on March 31, 2009, which was $3.39.

As of December 4, 2009 (last practicable date), there were outstanding 13,599,421 Common Shares (net of shares repurchased held in treasury), without par value, and 2,150,502 Class B Common Shares, without par value.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 13, 2010 (the “2010 Annual Meeting”) are incorporated by reference in Part III in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”) and are identified under the appropriate items in this Annual Report.

 

 

Keithley Instruments, Inc.
10-K Annual Report

Table of Contents

				PAGE
PART I:
Item 1		Business			2
Item 1A		Risk Factors			5
Item 1B		Unresolved Staff Comments			7
Item 2		Properties			7
Item 3		Legal Proceedings			8
Item 4		Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders			8
PART II:
Item 5		Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities			9
Item 6		Selected Financial Data			11
Item 7		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			12
Item 7A		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			19
Item 8		Financial Statements and Supplementary Data			20
Item 9		Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure			43
Item 9A		Controls and Procedures			43
Item 9B		Other Information			44
PART III:
Item 10		Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant			44
Item 11		Executive Compensation			44
Item 12		Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters			44
Item 13		Certain Relationships and Related Transactions			44
Item 14		Principal Accountant Fees and Services			44
PART IV:
Item 15		Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules			45
SIGNATURES					47
EX-14.1
EX-22.1
EX-23.1
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements and information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements in this Report on Form 10-K include statements regarding Keithley’s expectations, intentions, beliefs, and strategies regarding the future, including recent trends, cyclicality, growth in the markets into which Keithley sells, conditions of the electronics industry and the economy in general, expected cost savings from recent cost-cutting actions, deployment of our own sales employees throughout the world, investments to develop new products, the potential impact of adopting new accounting pronouncements, our future effective tax rates, liquidity position, ability to generate cash, expected growth, and obligations under our retirement benefit plans.

When used in this report, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “evaluates,” “opinion,” “forecasts,” “may,” “could,” “future,” “forward,” “potential,” “probable,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. We may make other forward-looking statements from time to time, including in press releases and public conference calls and webcasts. All forward-looking statements made by Keithley are based on information available to us at the time the statements are made, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed below in Item 1A Risk Factors of this Form 10-K.

PART I

ITEM 1 — BUSINESS

General

Keithley Instruments, Inc. was founded in 1946 and organized as an Ohio corporation in 1955. Its principal executive offices are located at 28775 Aurora Road, Solon, Ohio 44139; telephone (440) 248-0400. References herein to the “Company,” “Keithley,” “we” or “our” are to Keithley Instruments, Inc. and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

We design, develop, manufacture, and market complex electronic instruments and systems geared to the specialized needs of electronics manufacturers for high-performance production testing, process monitoring, product development and research. Through November 2009, we had approximately 500 products used to source, measure, connect, control or communicate direct current (DC), radio frequency (RF), or optical signals. Our product offerings include integrated systems solutions, along with instruments and personal computer (PC) plug-in boards that can be used as system components or stand-alone solutions. Our customers are scientists and engineers in the worldwide electronics industry involved with advanced materials research, semiconductor device development and fabrication, and the production of end products such as portable wireless devices.

During fiscal 2009, approximately 20 percent of our orders were received from the semiconductor industry; approximately 5 percent came from the wireless communications customer group; approximately 30 percent came from the precision electronics customer group, which includes customers in automotive, computers and peripherals, medical equipment, aerospace and defense, and manufacturers of components; and approximately 40 percent came from research and education customers. The remainder of orders came from customers in a variety of other industries. Although our products vary in capability, sophistication, use, size and price, they generally test, measure and analyze electrical, optical or physical properties. As such, we consider our business to be in a single industry segment.

On November 19, 2009, the Company announced it entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with Agilent Technologies, Inc. (“Agilent”) with respect to the sale of its RF product line. Under terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold substantially all assets of the RF product line for a cash purchase price of $9.0 million and Agilent assumed related contractual (including lease obligations), product support and other liabilities and hired the majority of the employees of the RF team. The Company is prohibited from competing against Agilent with respect solely to the RF product line until November 30, 2012. Agilent will continue to support the RF product line for our RF customers. Both Keithley and Agilent agreed to customary indemnification obligations with respect to the representations, warranties and covenants of both parties in the Purchase Agreement. References to the Company’s RF product line contained herein refer to its historical relationship as part of the Company’s operations unless otherwise indicated.

Business Strategy

We have focused our efforts on identifying test applications within segments of the electronics test and measurement industry that have high rates of technology change, long-term growth in demand, and a meaningful market size, and that leverage our measurement capabilities and/ or other test applications. New products are an important factor in our sales growth strategy, and we have generally sought to maintain our investment in product development activity spending levels to expand our product offering and accelerate the introduction of new products. During fiscal 2009, however, the significant decline in our revenues as a result of global economic conditions made it difficult for us to continue product development spending at historical levels. As a result, we selectively reduced these costs, most notably by exiting our S600 parametric test line, reducing worldwide headcounts, eliminating or curtailing various discretionary spending items, and in early fiscal 2010, selling our RF product line. Our product development spending is now more focused on expanding and enhancing our core product lines.

We work closely with our customers to build partnerships in order to anticipate their current and future measurement needs. A thorough understanding of their applications coupled with our precision measurement technology enables us to add value to our customers’ processes improving the quality, throughput and yield of their products, as well as to determine which test applications we will choose to serve. We believe our ability to serve our customers has been aided by deploying our own sales and support employees throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, as opposed to relying on an independent sales force.

We leverage our applications expertise and product platforms to other industries. By concentrating on interrelated industries and product technologies, we are able to gain insight into measurement problems experienced by one set of customers that can be addressed and offered as solutions for others. Our applications knowledge and technology solutions in one area build credibility as we expand to related fields, often using the same measurement platforms that are already proven among a variety of customers.

Product Offerings

During fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, we had approximately 500 products used to source, measure, connect, control or communicate direct current, RF or optical signals. Product offerings include integrated systems solutions, along with instruments and PC plug-in boards that can be used as system components or stand-alone solutions. Prices per product vary. Our semiconductor characterization system ranges in price from $30,000 to $75,000. Bench top instruments generally range in price from $1,000 to $25,000 on a stand-alone basis and from $15,000 to $35,000 when used as a system. Switch systems generally range in price from $2,000 to $50,000. PC plug-in boards are used for process control and data collection applications, and in production test for machine builders and system integrators. Selling prices generally range from $200 to $4,000. In February 2009, we announced the exit of our S600 series parametric test product line. We will continue to accept orders for the S600 products until February 2010, and will continue to provide technical support, calibration, and repair services for five years through February 2014. In November 2009, we sold substantially all of our RF product line, which will continue to be supported by Agilent.

New Products During Fiscal Year 2009

Our objective is to grow faster than the overall test and measurement industry by pursuing applications that outpace overall demand for test and measurement equipment. New products play a critical role in providing us the opportunity to achieve this higher growth rate. During fiscal 2009, we introduced several new products and enhancements that add complementary capability to our product offering. These products provide our customers with critical tools to serve their production test application and research and development needs.

We continued to enhance our Model 4200 Semiconductor Characterization System by adding a variety of hardware, firmware, and software enhancements to serve a broad range of semiconductor research and development groups including those involved with high density integrated circuits, compound semiconductor devices, power transistors, solar cells, and other related technologies. The upgrades include nine new solar cell test libraries, including the latest techniques in thin film profiling. Other enhancements include expanded frequency range for C-V measurements and support for the extended nine-slot Model 4200-SCS instrument chassis. Solar cell applications are increasingly important, given the growing interest and government support for alternative energy technologies.

The Company also introduced the test and measurement industry’s only cabling solution capable of handling DC Current-Voltage (I-V), Capacitance-Voltage and pulsed I-V signals with a single set of cables, eliminating the need for re-cabling when switching between measurement types, and also eliminating the measurement errors that often result from cabling errors. The patented cables are designed for compatibility with Keithley’s Model 4200-SCS, as well as with other test instruments used for characterization.

We announced ACS Basic Edition, characterization and curve tracer software for component test applications. This software product is another addition to Keithley’s powerful Automated Characterization Suite (ACS) family, which provides an integrated solution for test management and analysis with Keithley’s SourceMeter® Instrument family that performs comprehensive device parameter analysis as well as basic curve tracing at a low cost of ownership. While initial ACS systems were designed for larger semiconductor lab applications, ACS Basic Edition systems provide an economical bench-top solution for component test applications.

We released the S530 Parametric Test System that is ideal for low-volume semiconductor device companies and research institutes that contain fabrication facilities. Such customers often require automated systems that provide greater flexibility and a lower price than high-volume parametric test systems. The S530 is based on Keithley’s Automated Characterization Suite test software which can be applied to individual instruments as well as automated test systems such as the S530. The S530 is another demonstration of the Company’s emphasis on serving the semiconductor industry with instruments, software, and systems as well as decades of semiconductor test applications knowledge.

Keithley introduced the Model 3390 50MHz Arbitrary Waveform/Function Generator, a flexible, easy-to-use programmable signal generator with advanced function, pulse and arbitrary waveform capabilities. The Model 3390 features high waveform resolution for its class.

The Company also expanded its Series 3700 System Switch/Multimeter and plug-in card family with a new high speed matrix card, the Model 3731, and a Web-browser-based graphing toolkit. Keithley’s Series 3700 instruments offer scalable, high-performance switching and multi-channel measurements that are strengthened by the array of cards and software used for automated testing of electronic products and components.

With regard to our RF product family, we announced the availability of Model 2920A, which is an upgrade of our RF Vector Signal Generator line for RF engineers with capabilities that reduce signal generation times and enhances signal quality. Additionally, the Model 2920A’s operating mode flexibility is suitable for MIMO device and system R&D applications, as well as in engineering education settings. We also introduced Model 2820A, which adds enhanced measurement capabilities and support for the latest WSDMA standard. Further, we announced Model 2891-IQ Upconverter, which is used in wireless device testing and is compatible with Keithley’s RF Signal Generators and Analyzers. Applications for the Company’s RF test solutions included R&D, product development, and production testing of a growing range of wireless handsets, modules, and subassemblies; femtocells and picocells; wireless chipsets; and wireless infrastructure equipment.

Geographic Markets and Distribution

During fiscal 2009, the majority of our products were manufactured in Ohio and were sold in over 80 countries throughout the world. Our principal markets are Asia, Europe and the United States.

In the United States, our products are sold by our own sales personnel and through direct marketing and catalog mailings. Outside the United States, we market our products directly in countries in which we have sales offices and through distributors or manufacturers’ representatives in

other countries. We have subsidiary sales and service offices located in Great Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Malaysia and China. We also have sales offices in Belgium, Korea, Taiwan, India, Singapore and Sweden.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

Our products require a wide variety of electronic and mechanical components, most of which are purchased. We have multiple sources for the vast majority of the components and materials we use; however, there are some instances in which the components are obtained from a sole-source supplier. If we were unable to purchase components or materials from a sole-source supplier, we could experience a temporary adverse impact on operations; however, we believe alternative sources could be found. Although shortages of purchased materials and components have been experienced from time to time, these items have generally been available as needed.

Patents

Electronic instruments of the nature we design, develop and manufacture generally cannot be patented in their entirety. Although we hold patents with respect to certain of our products, we do not believe our business is dependent to any material extent upon any single patent or group of patents because of the rapid rate of technological change in the industry.

Seasonal Trends and Working Capital Requirements

Our business is not subject to significant seasonal trends. However, many of the industries we serve, including the semiconductor industry, the wireless communications industry and other sectors of the global electronics industry, historically have been cyclical. We generally maintain adequate working capital to support our business and do not have any unusual working capital requirements. During fiscal 2009, many of the industries we serve experienced a severe drop in sales due to global economic conditions. Our sales to these customers also dropped significantly, and we operated at a loss. In response, we implemented a series of cost cutting measures to reduce our losses and the amount of cash needed to support our operations. Throughout the year, we maintained sufficient working capital levels.

Customers

Our customers generally are involved in production test, engineering research and development, electronic service or repair, and educational and governmental research. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, no one customer accounted for more than 10 percent of our sales. We do not believe that the loss of any one customer would materially affect our sales or net income.

Backlog

Our backlog of unfilled orders amounted to approximately $12.2 million as of September 30, 2009, and approximately $18.4 million as of September 30, 2008. We expect that substantially all of the orders included in the 2009 backlog will be delivered during fiscal 2010. A portion of orders included in backlog may be canceled by the customer prior to shipment. The level of backlog at any given time will be affected by the timing of our receipt of orders, the speed with which those orders are filled and our customers’ requested delivery schedules. Accordingly, our backlog as of September 30, 2009, may not necessarily represent the actual amount of shipments or sales for any future period.

Competition

The Company competes on the basis of quality, performance, service, product availability, and price, with quality and performance frequently being the most important. There are many firms in the world engaged in the manufacture of electronic measurement instruments, some of which are larger and have greater financial resources than the Company. In general, the Company competes with a number of companies in specialized areas of the test and measurement industry and one large broad line measurement products supplier, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Research and Development

Our engineering development activities are directed toward the development of new products that will complement, replace or add to the products currently included in our product line. We do not perform basic research, but on an ongoing basis we utilize new component and software technologies in the development of our products. The highly technical nature of our products and the rapid rate of technological change in the industry require a large and continuing commitment to engineering development efforts. Product development expenses were $18.0 million in 2009, $25.5 million in 2008 and $25.9 million in 2007, or approximately 18%, 17% and 18% of net sales, respectively, for each of the last three fiscal years.

Government Regulations

We believe our current operations and uses of property, plant and equipment conform in all material respects to applicable laws and regulations. Keithley has not experienced, nor do we anticipate, any material claim or material capital expenditure in connection with environmental laws and other regulations.

Employees

As of September 30, 2009, the Company employed approximately 557 persons, 191 of whom were located outside the United States. None of our employees are covered under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, and we believe that relations with our employees are good.

Foreign Operations and Export Sales

Information related to foreign and domestic operations and export sales is contained in Note M of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

During fiscal 2009, non-U.S. sales accounted for more than 70 percent of our revenue. There are several risks attendant to such foreign operations. These risks include increased exposure to the risk of foreign currency fluctuations and the potential economic and political impacts from conducting business in foreign countries. With the exception of changes in the value of foreign currencies, which are not possible to predict, we believe our foreign subsidiaries and other larger international markets are in countries where the economic and political climates generally are stable. The Company also must comply with foreign regulations, which may increase the complexity of conducting its business.

Executive Officers Of The Registrant

Certain information regarding our executive officers is set forth below:

Name		Position		Age
Joseph P. Keithley		Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer			60
Daniel Faia		Vice President Sales and Support			42
Mark A. Hoersten		Vice President Marketing			51
Larry L. Pendergrass		Vice President New Product Development			54
Mark J. Plush		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer			60
Linda C. Rae		Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer			44

Joseph P. Keithley was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in February 1991. He was elected Chief Executive Officer in November 1993, and President in May 1994. He has been a Director since 1986, and was elected Vice Chairman of the Board in February 1988. Mr. Keithley joined the Company in 1976 and held various positions in production, customer service, sales and marketing prior to being elected Vice President of Marketing in 1986. From 1986 until his election to Chief Executive Officer in 1993, Mr. Keithley held various management positions within the Company. He is a director of Brush Engineered Materials, Inc., which in an integrated producer of high performance specialty engineered materials used in a variety of electrical, electronic, thermal and structural applications, and a Director of Nordson Corporation, a worldwide producer of precision dispensing equipment and manufacturer of equipment used in the testing and inspection of electronic components as well as technology-based systems for curing and surface treatment processes.

Daniel Faia joined the Company in February 2009 as Vice President Sales and Support. Prior to joining Keithley, Mr. Faia served as Vice President/Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Eagle Test Systems with responsibility for managing global sales, applications and customer service efforts. Prior to joining Eagle Test, Mr. Faia was employed by Teradyne, Inc. in various sales and product marketing positions from March 1997 to April 2004.

Mark A. Hoersten was elected Vice President Business Management in May 2003, and in September 2008, his role was expanded to Vice President of Marketing. He joined the Company in June 1980 as a Design Engineer and held various positions in product development and marketing before becoming Vice President, including Director of Marketing, Telecommunications Test Business Manager, and General Manager.

Larry L. Pendergrass joined the Company in May 2003 as Vice President New Product Development. Prior to joining Keithley, Mr. Pendergrass had over 20 years experience in research and development, product development, and manufacturing engineering in various roles including Section Manager, Project Manager and Project Leader with Agilent Technologies and Hewlett-Packard.

Mark J. Plush was elected Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in October 1998. Mr. Plush joined the Company in March 1982 as Controller and has been an officer of the Company since 1989.

Linda C. Rae was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in December 2005. Ms. Rae joined the Company in September 1995 as a Product Marketer and has held various marketing positions with the Company since then, including Component Test Business Manager from July 1999 to June 2000, Business Manager of Optoelectronics from June 2000 to April 2001, General Manager from April 2001 to May 2003, and Senior Vice President and General Manager from May 2003 to December 2005.

Available Information

Our website address is http://www.keithley.com. We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) available to the public free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after making such filings. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Additionally, the SEC maintains an internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

ITEM 1A — RISK FACTORS

Current and potential shareholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with the information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents we file with the SEC. The risks and uncertainties described below are those that we have identified as material, but are not the only risks and uncertainties facing us. Our business is subject to general risks and uncertainties that affect many other companies, such as overall U.S. and non-U.S. economic and industry conditions, a global economic slowdown, geopolitical events, changes in laws or accounting rules, terrorism or acts of war, major health concerns, natural disasters or other disruptions of expected economic or business conditions. Additional risks and uncertainties currently not known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial also may impair our business.

Cyclicality of the electronics industry and timing of the current economic downturn and large orders

Many of the industries we serve, including but not limited to the semiconductor, wireless communications, and precision electronic industries, have historically been very cyclical and have experienced periodic downturns. Many of these industries are currently experiencing such a downturn, which has been more severe and prolonged than those experienced in the past and which has also resulted in a reduction in demand for equipment, including test and measurement equipment. The current downturn has also tightened credit markets, limiting our customers’ access to capital, and has caused them to reduce order levels. Any of these conditions could impact our ability to effectively manage inventory levels, create unabsorbed costs due to lower net sales and ultimately result in further write downs of assets, which would adversely affect our profitability.

The factors leading to and the severity and length of a downturn are difficult to predict and there can be no assurance that we will appropriately anticipate changes in the underlying end markets we serve or that any increased levels of business activity will continue as a trend into the future. Our orders are cancelable by customers, and consequently, orders outstanding at the end of a reporting period may not result in realized sales in the future. Orders from our top 25 customers during the quarter can generally vary between 20-40 percent of our total orders for any given quarter. This can cause our financial results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter, which may have an adverse impact on our stock price.

Rapid technology changes

Our business strategy includes significant investment in and expenditures for product development. We sell our products in several industries that are characterized by rapid and significant technological changes, frequent new product introductions and enhancements and evolving industry standards. Without the timely introduction of new products, our products will likely become technologically obsolete over time. Our new products may not gain market acceptance and may not result in significant sources of revenue and earnings in the future. In addition, revenues from our current products may not be sufficient to support development expenses for new generations of our current products or expansions of our product line. If we are unable to make new product development investments or such investments do not result in future earnings, our operating results and stock price could be adversely affected.

Competitive factors

The Company competes on the basis of quality, performance, service, product availability, and price, with quality and performance frequently being the most important. There are many firms in the world engaged in the manufacture of electronic measurement instruments, some of which are larger and have greater financial resources than we do and/or have established significant reputations within the test and measurement industry and with the customer base we serve. If any of our competitors were to develop products or services that were more cost-effective or technically superior to ours, or if we were unable to differentiate our product offerings from those of our competitors, demand for our products could slow. Additionally, aggressive competition could cause downward pricing pressure, which would reduce our gross margins or cause us to lose market share.

Dependence on key personnel

Our future success depends partly on the continued service of research, engineering, sales, marketing, manufacturing, executive and administrative personnel. Competition for employees with the skills we require is strong in any technology industry. Due to the significant reduction in customer demand we experienced in the past twelve to eighteen months and may experience in future periods, we have implemented workforce reductions worldwide as well as reductions in compensation for a significant portion of our domestic employee base. We believe our pay levels remain competitive; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain one or more key or other personnel. Additionally, there is competition for personnel having certain highly technical specialties. The loss of one or more key or other employees, a decrease in our ability to attract additional qualified employees, or a delay in hiring key personnel could each have a material adverse effect on our business.

Dependence on key suppliers

Our products contain large quantities of electronic components and subassemblies that in some cases are supplied through sole or limited source third-party suppliers. The current economic climate has increased the possibility that these suppliers could become insolvent or otherwise go out of business. As a result, there can be no assurance that parts and supplies will be available in a timely manner and at reasonable prices. Additionally, our inventory is subject to risks of changes in market demand for particular products. Our inability to obtain critical parts and supplies or any resulting excess and/or obsolete inventory could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

International operations, political and economic conditions

We currently have subsidiaries or sales offices located in 16 countries outside the United States, and international sales accounted for more than 70 percent of our revenue during fiscal 2009. Our international sales and operations are subject to significant risks and difficulties, including fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, trade protection measures, domestic and foreign import or export licensing requirements, unexpected changes in legal and regulatory requirements, compliance with customs regulations, the credit risk, financial condition of, and relationships with local customers and distributors, and cultural differences in the conduct of business. Any of these factors could have a negative impact on our revenue and operating results.

Effective tax rates

We are subject to taxation and pay taxes in numerous countries and other jurisdictions throughout the world. Because of our operating losses in 2009, we recorded significant valuation allowances against the majority of our deferred tax assets, which resulted in a significant negative effect on our effective tax rate and accordingly, our results of operations. Our future effective tax rate may be lower or higher than experienced in the past due to numerous factors, including a change in the mix of profitability from country to country, changes in accounting for income taxes and recently enacted and future changes in tax laws in jurisdictions in which we operate. Any of these factors could cause us to experience an effective tax rate significantly different than our current expectations, which could have an adverse effect on our future results of operations.

Compliance with NYSE listing standard

The Company previously announced that it was notified by the NYSE that it had fallen below continued listing criteria established by the NYSE because the Company’s total market capitalization had been less than $75 million over a consecutive 30 trading-day period, while its last reported shareholders’ equity was less than the exchange’s $75 million requirement. The listing requirements require that one of these two standards be met. The NYSE notified the Company that it had accepted the Company’s proposed plan for continued listing on the NYSE, subject to a quarterly review process by the NYSE. Since that time, the NYSE modified its continued listing requirements for minimum market capitalization and stockholders’ equity to $50 million from $75 million, on a pilot program basis, effective retroactively to May 12, 2009 and continuing through February 29, 2010.

Currently, the Company’s reported shareholders’ equity is less than the exchange’s $50 million requirement; however, our market capitalization is above the requirement. In addition to the requirement to maintain market capitalization or shareholders’ equity of at least $50 million, under other listing requirements, if our average market capitalization over a 30 trading-day period would fall below $15 million, the NYSE would be expected to start immediate delisting procedures. If our stock price declines to the point where our compliance with the listing standard requiring a market capitalization of at least $50 million is in jeopardy, we would have 45 days from the receipt of notice from the NYSE to submit a plan to the NYSE to demonstrate our ability to achieve compliance with continued listing standards within 18 months. If the Company was unable to maintain compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standards or the listing standard does not become permanent, the NYSE could begin delisting procedures and our stock could be delisted from trading on the NYSE. As a result, we would need to find another exchange on which our stock could be listed or our stock would cease to be traded on an active market, which could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our stock and a reduction in demand for our stock.

Cost reduction initiatives

During fiscal 2009, we implemented a series of cost reduction plans designed to streamline operations, reduce expenses, eliminate unprofitable product lines and improve efficiencies and effectiveness across our global organization. We may not be able to sustain such expense reductions in subsequent periods, and we could incur additional unforeseen expenses that may fully or partially offset our cost savings. These circumstances could cause our income to be lower than it otherwise would be, and as a result, adversely affect our stock price.

Changes in manufacturing processes and capacity

We have implemented a lean manufacturing environment in our sole manufacturing facility located in Solon, Ohio. We may not experience future benefits from lean manufacturing if we are unable to continue to effectively fine-tune our operations, and we could incur additional costs in the future, having a negative impact on gross margin, if new initiatives are needed to further improve manufacturing efficiencies. Further, because we cannot immediately adapt our production capacities to rapidly changing market conditions, when demand does not meet our expectations, our manufacturing capacity will likely exceed our production requirements. Excess manufacturing capacity will result in unabsorbed or underabsorbed fixed costs which would adversely affect our results of operations.

Information technology management systems

Our IT systems are critical to our normal business operations, and we rely on them to provide adequate, accurate and timely information for our order entry, billing, manufacturing and other customer support functions. Any failure in those systems could adversely affect our operating results. We have outsourced the hosting of these systems to a third-party vendor. If our third-party vendor experiences shut downs or other service-related issues, it could interrupt our normal business processes including our ability to process orders, ship our products, bill and service our customers, and otherwise run our business, resulting in a material adverse effect on our revenue and operating results.

Fixed cost of sales force

We have built our direct sales force throughout the world with our own employees rather than utilizing third-party sales representatives. This action increases our fixed costs, and our results could be adversely affected during times of depressed sales.

Impairment charges for definite-lived and long-lived assets

We are required to assess recoverability of the carrying value for property, plant and equipment and other long-lived tangible assets whenever there are indicators of impairment, such as an adverse change in business climate. An impairment charge would reduce our earnings and could negatively affect our stock price.

Historical stock option grant practices

We are subject to an SEC inquiry regarding our historical stock option practices, the outcome of which we cannot predict. It could result in significant new expenses, diversion of management’s attention from our business, commencement of formal similar, administrative or litigation actions against the Company or our current or former officers or directors, significant fines or penalties, indemnity commitments to current and former officers and directors and other material harm to our business. The SEC also may disagree with the manner in which we have accounted for and reported (or not reported) the financial impact of past option grants or other potential accounting errors, and there is a risk that its inquiry could lead to circumstances in which we may have to restate our prior financial statements, amend prior SEC filings or otherwise take actions not currently contemplated. Any such circumstance also could lead to future delays in filing of subsequent SEC reports.

ITEM 1B — UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2 — PROPERTIES

The Company’s principal administrative, marketing, manufacturing and development activities are conducted at a Company-owned building in Solon, Ohio. This building is approximately 125,000 square feet and sits on approximately 26 acres of land. The Company also leased space in Santa Rosa, California for its RF product development group; however, as of November 30, 2009, that lease was assumed by Agilent (with the Company subject to its obligations if Agilent defaults) in connection with the aforementioned sale of the Company’s RF product line. The

Company also owns two additional facilities both of which are located in Solon, Ohio. One facility, adjacent to its executive offices is approximately 50,000 square foot building on 5.5 acres of land, is currently is being leased to others, but is available for expansion should additional space be required. The other facility in Solon is approximately 75,000 square feet and is not currently being used in operations, and accordingly, is available for lease or sale. Because the criteria under U.S. GAAP were not met for “held for sale” treatment as of September 30, 2009, this building is included in “Property, plant and equipment” on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Additionally, we have a number of sales and service offices in the United States and overseas. We believe the facilities owned and leased are well maintained, adequately insured and suitable for their present and intended uses.

ITEM 3 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As previously disclosed, in August 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors formed a Special Committee of independent directors to investigate the Company’s stock option practices since the beginning of the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995. The Committee retained independent counsel (the “Independent Counsel”) to assist it in the investigation. Following appointment of the Special Committee, the Company voluntarily notified the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Special Committee investigation. In September 2006, the Company received notice that the SEC was conducting an inquiry into the Company’s option grant practices.

In December 2006, the Company announced the Special Committee’s findings, which were adopted by the Board of Directors and were as follows:

•		There was no evidence of “backdating” annual stock option grants prior to the date of approval by the Board of Directors.
•		There was a multi-day delay by management in setting the exercise price for annual stock option grants in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The delay resulted in the options having a lower exercise price than the price on the date of Board approval.
•		Although the Special Committee determined that the terms of the Company’s stock incentive plans required the options to be priced on the date the Board approved them, there was no finding of intentional misconduct on the part of senior management or any other Keithley officer, director or employee responsible for the administration of the Company’s stock option grants.
•		Based on evidence gathered and analyzed by the Independent Counsel, the Special Committee found the dates selected by management for the annual grants in 2000-2002 are the appropriate measurement dates for accounting purposes. Accordingly, the Company was not required to record any compensation expense with respect to the annual option grants in 2000-2002, and the Company was not required to restate its financial statements as a result of these grants.
•		The Special Committee concluded that the Company’s public filings regarding annual options grants during the years reviewed were accurate; there is no evidence that the Company timed the grant date or pricing of annual stock option grants to take advantage of material non-public information; and there was no wrong doing or lack of oversight by the Company’s independent directors or the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”).
•		The Special Committee also reviewed the Company’s practices regarding stock option grants, other than its annual grants, which are generally grants of smaller numbers of options to new hires and to existing employees for promotions. The Special Committee concluded that management exceeded certain of the authority granted to management by the Company’s stock option plans and the Compensation Committee, but that these grants involved small numbers of shares and were largely the result of ministerial errors by management.

On August 9, 2006, and August 15, 2006, the Company was named as a nominal defendant in two separate shareholder derivative suits, Nathan Diamond v. Joseph P. Keithley, et al., Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas (“Diamond”) and Michael C. Miller v. Joseph P. Keithley, et al, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas (“Miller”). Both suits were removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on September 8, 2006. Miller and Diamond were consolidated and on November 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated Complaint (the “Consolidated Complaint”).

On October 23, 2006, and October 24, 2006, the Company was named as a nominal defendant in two additional shareholder derivative lawsuits, Edward P. Hardy v. Joseph P. Keithley, et al., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and Mike Marks v. Joseph P. Keithley, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

The four suits were consolidated in a single action, In re Keithley Instruments, Inc. Derivative Litigation, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Pursuant to the consolidation order, the Consolidated Complaint was the operative complaint in the action. The Consolidated Complaint alleged that various Company officers and/or directors manipulated the dates on which stock options were granted by the Company so as to maximize the value of the stock options. The suits alleged numerous claims, including violations of Sections 10(b), 10b(5) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, breaches of fiduciary duties, aiding and abetting, corporate waste, unjust enrichment and rescission.

The Company and other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint. After extensive briefing and oral argument, in March 2008, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss in its entirety. The Court granted plaintiffs leave to amend the Consolidated Complaint within 30 days of the Court’s Order. In April 2008, plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint. The Second Amended Complaint did not include the claims under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 contained in the Consolidated Complaint. The Second Amended Complaint alleges state law claims for unjust enrichment, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and conversion. The Company and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint and, on January 20, 2009, the Court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss in its entirety.

ITEM 4 — SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

PART II

ITEM 5 — MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s Common Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol KEI. There is no established public trading market for the Class B Common Shares; however, they are readily convertible on a one-for-one basis into Common Shares.

The following table shows the high and low sales prices of the Company’s Common Shares as reported on the NYSE and the amount of cash dividends declared on the Company’s Common Shares and Class B Common Shares during the periods indicated.

														Cash Dividends
										Cash Dividends				Per Class B
		High				Low				Per Common Share				Common Share
Fiscal 2009
First Quarter		$	8.64			$	2.02			$	.0375			$	.030
Second Quarter			3.91				1.86				.0375				.030
Third Quarter			4.59				2.76				.0125				.010
Fourth Quarter			6.45				3.47				.0125				.010
Fiscal 2008
First Quarter		$	11.53			$	8.71			$	.0375			$	.030
Second Quarter			11.86				8.46				.0375				.030
Third Quarter			11.80				9.15				.0375				.030
Fourth Quarter			10.26				7.91				.0375				.030

The approximate number of shareholders of record of Common Shares and Class B Common Shares, including those shareholders participating in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, as of December 4, 2009 was 1,908 and 4, respectively.

Equity Compensation Plan Information as of September 30, 2009

										Number of securities remaining
		Number of securities to be				Weighted-average				available for future issuance
		issued upon exercise of				exercise price of				under equity compensation
		outstanding options,				outstanding options,				plans (excluding securities
		rights or warrants				rights or warrants				reflected in column (a))
Plan category		(a)				(b)				(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders			3,531,451	(1)		$	18.72				1,098,446	(2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders			—				—				—
Total			3,531,451	(1)		$	18.72				1,098,446	(2)

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On February 12, 2007, the Company announced its Board of Directors had approved an open market stock repurchase program (the “2007 Program”). Under the terms of the 2007 Program, the Company was permitted to purchase up to 2,000,000 Common Shares, which represented approximately 12 percent of its total outstanding Common Shares at the start of the 2007 Program, through February 28, 2009. The Company did not replace the 2007 Program upon its expiration. As such, the Company no longer has a share repurchase program in place. Accordingly, no shares were repurchased during the third or fourth quarters of fiscal 2009, nor may any be repurchased by the Company at any time in the future.

Stock Performance Graph

The graph below compares the five year cumulative return from investing $100 on September 30, 2004 in each of the Company’s Common Shares, the Russell 2000 Index, the Russell MicroCap and the Standard & Poor’s Information Technology Index. We included the Russell MicroCap this year as we believe it is a more comparable index given our current size, and also because it is the index against which the targets of certain of our incentive compensation programs are measured. The comparison assumes that all dividends are reinvested.

		9/04				9/05				9/06				9/07				9/08				9/09
Keithley Instruments, Inc.			100.00				84.46				74.60				62.78				50.36				34.42
Russell 2000			100.00				117.95				129.66				145.65				124.56				112.67
Russell MicroCap			100.00				116.99				125.21				137.33				106.42				97.98
S&P Information Technology			100.00				113.45				117.14				144.47				110.70				120.10

ITEM 6 — SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following data has been derived from our consolidated financial statements. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2009 and 2008 and the related Consolidated Statements of Operations, Cash Flows and Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2009 and notes thereto appear elsewhere in this Annual Report.

		For the years ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars except for per share data)		2009				2008				2007				2006				2005
Operating Results:
Net sales		$	102,527				152,468				143,658				155,212				141,552
Gross margin percentage			53.7	%(1)			58.9	%			59.8	%			61.3	%			60.7	%
Severance and related charges		$	6,926				1,377				—				—				—
(Loss) income before income taxes		$	(19,366	)			(4,356	)			(1,685	)			9,913				14,087
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		$	31,138	(2)			(1,943	)			(1,336	)			1,552				3,959
Net (loss) income		$	(50,504	)			(2,593	)			(349	)			8,361				10,128
Basic (loss) earnings per share		$	(3.23	)			(0.16	)			(0.02	)			051				0.62
Diluted (loss) earnings per share		$	(3.23	)			(0.16	)			(0.02	)			0.50				0.61
Common Stock Information:
Cash dividends per Common Share		$	0.100				0.150				0.150				0.150				0.150
Cash dividends per Class B Common Share		$	0.080				0.120				0.120				0.120				0.120
Weighted average number of shares outstanding- diluted			15,648				15,854				16,207				16,567				16,591
At fiscal year-end:
Dividend payout ratio			n/m				n/m				n/m				30.0	%			24.6	%
Shareholders’ equity per share		$	2.14				6.12				6.76				7.03				6.81
Closing market price		$	5.54				8.37				10.60				12.75				14.60
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets		$	73,102				137,978				146,406				148,892				142,364
Current ratio			2.9				3.3				3.8				4.2				4.2
Short-term debt		$	—				23				799				872				—
Long-term obligations		$	19,382				12,939				11,102				9,792				8,240
Shareholders’ equity		$	36,610				103,302				113,024				116,503				111,976
Total debt-to-capital			0.0	%			0.0	%			0.7	%			0.7	%			—
Other Data:
Return on average shareholders’ equity			-72.2	%			-2.4	%			-0.3	%			7.3	%			9.5	%
Return on average total assets			-47.9	%			-1.8	%			-0.2	%			5.7	%			7.3	%
Return on net sales			-49.3	%			-1.7	%			-0.2	%			5.4	%			7.2	%
Number of employees at year end			557				696				698				673				651
Sales per employee		$	163.7				218.7				209.6				234.5				220.7
Cash flow:
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		$	(5,416	)			1,706				5,641				5,985				10,543
Ten-year compound annual growth rate:
Net sales			0.2	%			2.6	%			1.5	%			2.7	%			2.6	%
Net income			n/m				n/m				n/m				n/m				7.5	%

ITEM 7 — MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In Thousands of Dollars except for per share information.

Introduction and Overview

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to provide investors with an understanding of the operating performance and financial condition of Keithley Instruments, Inc. A discussion of our business, including our strategy for growth, products and competition, is included in Part I of this Form 10-K.

As discussed in more detail in Part I of this Form 10-K, on November 19, 2009, the Company announced it entered into a Purchase Agreement to sell its RF product line; the transaction closed on November 30, 2009. The acquiring entity assumed related contractual, product support and other liabilities and hired the majority of the employees of the RF team, and will continue to support the RF product line for our RF customers. References to the Company’s RF product line contained herein refer to its historical relationship as part of the Company’s operations unless otherwise indicated.

Business Overview

Our business is to design, develop, manufacture and market complex electronic instruments and systems geared to the specialized needs of electronics manufacturers for high-performance production testing, process monitoring, product development and research. Our primary products are integrated systems used to source, measure, connect, control or communicate electrical direct current (DC), radio frequency (RF) or optical signals. Our customers are engineers, technicians and scientists in manufacturing, product development and research functions. During fiscal 2009, approximately 20 percent of our orders were received from the semiconductor industry; approximately five percent came from the wireless communications customer group; approximately 30 percent came from the precision electronics customer group, which includes customers in automotive, computers and peripherals, medical equipment, aerospace and defense, and manufacturers of components; and approximately 40 percent came from research and education customers. The remainder of orders came from customers in a variety of other industries. Although our products vary in capability, sophistication, use, size and price, they generally test, measure and analyze electrical, RF, optical or physical properties. As such, we consider our business to be in a single industry segment.

The most important factors influencing our ability to grow revenue are (i) our customers’ spending patterns as they invest in new capacity or upgrade manufacturing lines for new product offerings, (ii) our ability to offer interrelated products with differentiated value that solve our customers’ most compelling test challenges, and (iii) our success in penetrating key accounts with our globally deployed sales and service team. We continue to believe that our strategy of pursuing a focused set of applications will allow us to grow faster than the overall test and measurement industry.

Many of the industries we serve, including but not limited to the semiconductor industry, the wireless communications industry, and precision electronics, have historically been very cyclical and have experienced periodic downturns. Our customers across all industries and geographic regions demonstrated reduced order patterns during the latter part of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This pattern deepened during the first quarter of fiscal 2009 and continued into the second quarter of fiscal 2009 as a series of bank and insurance company failures triggered a financial crisis that effectively halted global credit markets and required unprecedented government intervention. While our customers’ capital spending remains at greatly reduced levels, we did experience sequential increases in customer orders the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2009 from their low in March 2009.

In response to the decline in orders we experienced, we began implementing cost-cutting measures in September 2008 and continued this process throughout fiscal 2009. Those actions included worldwide workforce reductions of approximately 20 percent, salary reductions for certain exempt personnel, unpaid time off for nonexempt personnel, hiring freezes, suspension of matching 401(k) contributions, exiting the S600 parametric test product line, curtailment of other discretionary spending and the sale of our RF business in November 2009. We also deferred spending in fiscal 2009 on certain new product development efforts while remaining committed to the successful launch of other new products that we have in development. The cost saving measures were designed to increase our efficiency, refine our competitive focus and position the Company for profitability as demand stabilizes.

Our focus during the past several years has continued to center on building long-term relationships and strong collaborative partnerships with our global customers to serve their measurement needs. Toward that end, we rely primarily upon employing our own sales personnel to sell our products, and use sales representatives, to whom we pay a commission, in areas where we believe it is not cost-beneficial to employ our own people. This sales channel strategy allows us to build a sales network of focused, highly trained sales engineers who specialize in measurement expertise and problem-solving for customers and enhances our ability to sell our products to customers with worldwide operations. We believe our ability to serve our customers has been strongly enhanced by deploying our own employees throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. We expect that selling through our own sales force will be favorable to earnings during times of strong sales and unfavorable during times of depressed sales given that a substantial portion of our selling costs are fixed.

We continue to believe that both the semiconductor and wireless areas drive change within the electronics industry. These technology changes create many opportunities for us and we continued the introduction of new products and enhancements during fiscal 2009 despite the challenging economic conditions. Our research and education customers’ work involves advanced materials research in areas including nanotechnology, organic materials and thin film research. These materials are ultimately used in the next generation of semiconductors and cutting-edge electronic devices. Additionally, our semiconductor customers include large integrated device manufacturers and foundries, fabless manufacturers as well as solar cell developers. We believe these customers will continue to invest because they continually are improving existing devices or developing new devices that in turn, create new measurement requirements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management has identified the Company’s “critical accounting policies.” These policies have the potential to have a more significant impact on our financial statements, either because of the significance of the financial statement item to which they relate, or because they require judgment and estimation due to the uncertainty involved in measuring, at a specific point in time, events which will be settled in the future.

Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management 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 reported financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Revenue recognition:

Keithley Instruments, Inc. recognizes product revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery is considered to have been met when title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. Upon shipment, a provision is made for estimated costs that may be incurred for product warranties and sales returns. Revenue earned from service contracts is recognized ratably over the contractual service periods, and is not material to the Company’s consolidated results. Shipping and handling costs are recorded as Cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Inventories:

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined based on a currently-adjusted standard, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. We periodically review our recorded inventory and estimate a reserve for obsolete or slow-moving items. If actual demand and market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional reserves may be required. If actual market conditions are more favorable than anticipated, our cost of sales will be lower than expected in that period.

Income taxes:

Keithley is subject to taxation from federal, state and international jurisdictions. The annual provision for income taxes and the determination of the resulting deferred tax assets and liabilities involves a significant amount of judgment by management. Judgment also is applied in determining whether the deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. In evaluating our ability to recover our net deferred tax assets, which totaled $1,051 at September 30, 2009, we considered all available positive and negative evidence including our past operating results, the existence of cumulative losses in the most recent fiscal years, and our forecast of future taxable income. In determining future taxable income, we are responsible for assumptions utilized including the amount of pretax operating income in each tax jurisdiction, the reversal of book versus tax differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying business.

We have established a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in the United States and in certain foreign jurisdictions which may not be realized due to the uncertainty of future profit levels in the respective jurisdictions. We intend to maintain this valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support reversal of the valuation allowance, until such NOLs are utilized or until such NOLs expire. Our income tax expense recorded in the future will be reduced to the extent of offsetting decreases in our valuation allowance. The realization of certain tax credits and the remaining deferred tax asset is dependent upon achieving future forecasted taxable income. If actual results are significantly less than our forecast, an additional valuation allowance may be recorded against the remaining net deferred tax assets which totaled $1,051 at September 30, 2009. An increase in the valuation allowance would result in additional income tax expense in such period and could have a material impact on our future earnings and financial position. In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with certain uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations in various tax jurisdictions. We recognize potential liabilities for anticipated tax issues based upon our estimate of whether additional taxes will be due. If payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when we determine that the liabilities are no longer necessary. If our estimate of tax liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, a further charge of income tax expense would result.

Pension plans:

Our retirement benefit plans are a significant cost of doing business and their related obligations will inherently be settled far in future periods. Therefore, the ultimate amount of those obligations is subject to estimation. Pension accounting is intended to reflect the recognition of future benefit costs over the employee’s approximate service period based on the terms of the plans and the investment and funding decisions made by us. We are required to make assumptions regarding such variables as the expected long-term rate of return on assets and the discount rate applied to determine service cost and interest cost to arrive at pension income or expense for the year. Because the assumption regarding the rate of return on plan assets is a long-term estimate, it can differ materially from the actual return realized on plan assets in any given year, particularly when markets are highly volatile. We have analyzed the rates of return on assets used and determined that the rates we use are reasonable based on the plans’ historical performance relative to the overall markets in the countries where the plans are in place, as well as the plans’ asset allocation between equities and fixed income investments. Assumed discount rates are used in measurements of the projected and accumulated benefit obligations, and the service and interest cost components of net periodic pension cost. See note H to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

The discount rate for the United States plan was determined as of the September 30, 2009 measurement date by constructing a portfolio of bonds with cash flows from coupon payments and maturities matching the projected benefit payments under the Plan. Bonds considered in constructing the model portfolio are rated AA- or higher by Standard & Poor’s. Callable bonds were excluded from consideration in this analysis. The longest maturity of any bond included in the data is August 15, 2037. Benefit payments beyond 2037 were discounted back to this year using interest rates taken from the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve Comparison to Above Median as of September 30, 2009. The

matching bond portfolio produces coupon income in excess of what is needed to meet early period benefit payments. The excess coupon income is accumulated as interest, based on the Citigroup Pension Discount Curve Comparison to Above Median as of September 30, 2009, until such time as it is used to pay benefits.

The discount rates used in determining the recorded liability as of year end for our United States pension plan were 6.0% for 2009, 7.0% for 2008 and 6.375% for 2007. The 100 basis point decrease from 2008 to 2009 reflects the decline in interest rates stemming from the global economic crisis that began in late fiscal 2008; this situation pushed bond yields lower than previous levels. The increase in the rate from 2007 to 2008 was primarily due to higher interest rates on long-term, highly rated corporate bonds. The discount rates for our German pension plan were 6.5% for 2009, 6.25% for 2008 and 5.5% for 2007. The slight increases in this rate reflects the change in spread between government and highly-rated Corporate bond yields for Euro instruments having durations similar to the German pension liability.

Actual rate of (loss) return on United States plan assets was (5.8%) for 2009 compared to an expected rate of return of 8.0%. A 0.25% increase (decrease) in the expected rate of return would have produced a $113 decrease (increase) in 2009 expense.

The pension plan assets in Germany are invested through an insurance company. The insurance company directs the investments for this insurance contract. Because of the type of investments in the insurance contract, an expected rate of return of 5.0% was assumed.

Management will continue to assess the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and discount rate assumptions for both the United States plan and the non-U.S. plans based on relevant market conditions as prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and will make adjustments to the assumptions as appropriate. Pension income or expense is allocated to Cost of goods sold, Selling, general and administrative expenses, and Product development expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock compensation plans:

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company is required to record the fair value of stock-based compensation awards as an expense. In order to determine the fair value of stock options on the date of grant, the Company applies the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Inherent in this model are assumptions related to expected stock-price volatility, option life, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. While risk-free interest rate and dividend yield are less subjective assumptions, typically based on factual data derived from public sources, the expected stock-price volatility and option life assumptions require a greater level of judgment which makes them critical accounting estimates. We use an expected stock-price volatility assumption primarily based upon observed historical volatility of Keithley’s stock price, as there is not a substantial enough market for exchange-traded options. During fiscal year 2009, we used a stock-price volatility assumption of 49%. With regard to the weighted-average expected option life assumption, we consider several factors, including the historical option exercise behavior of our employees, historical cancellation rates of past options, and the current life of options outstanding and vested. During fiscal year 2009, we used an expected life assumption of 4.75 years. We also are required to estimate an expected forfeiture rate when recognizing compensation cost. We review this rate during each reporting period and adjust it when necessary based upon our past history of actual forfeitures. The total estimated unrecognized compensation at September 30, 2009 was $948 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years.

We currently grant non-cash compensation in the form of non-qualified stock options, performance share units and restricted share units. The final number of common shares to be issued pursuant to the performance share unit awards will be determined at the end of each three-year performance period. The awards granted in fiscal year 2008 can be adjusted in 25 percent increments and may range from a maximum of twice the initial award, as specified in the agreement, to a minimum of zero units depending upon the level of attainment of performance thresholds. During fiscal 2009, we reversed previously-recorded expenses of $950 relating to the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 periods, as performance attainment thresholds were either not achieved or were no longer expected to be achieved. We granted no performance share awards during fiscal 2009. Our future earnings can fluctuate throughout the performance period specified in the agreements depending upon our estimate of the number of awards we expect will be issued upon the completion of the performance period.

Restructuring and Cost Reduction Programs:

We expense costs associated with exit and disposal activities designed to restructure operations and reduce ongoing costs of operations when we incur the related liabilities or when other triggering events occur. After the appropriate level of management having the authority approves the detailed cost reduction or restructuring plan, we establish accruals for underlying activities by estimating employee termination costs. Our estimates are based upon factors including affected employees’ length of service, any statutory requirements, contract provisions, salary level, and health care benefit choices. As part of our assessment of exit and disposal activities, we also analyze the carrying value of any affected long-lived assets for impairment and reductions in the estimated useful lives. We believe our estimates and assumptions used to calculate the costs associated with these restructuring provisions are appropriate, and although we do not anticipate significant changes, actual costs could differ from the estimates should we make changes to the nature or timing of the plans.

Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Supplementary Data included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

Percent of net sales for the years ended September 30:

		2009				2008				2007
Net sales			100.0	%			100.0	%			100.0	%
Cost of goods sold			43.8				41.1				40.2
Inventory write off and accelerated depreciation for exit of product line			2.5				0.0				0.0
Gross profit			53.7				58.9				59.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses			48.4				43.6				44.5
Product development expenses			17.6				16.7				18.0
Severance and related charges			6.8				0.9				0.0
Operating loss			(19.1	)			(2.3	)			(2.7	)
Investment income			0.3				1.0				1.5
Interest expense			(0.1	)			0.0				0.0
Impairment of long-term investments			0.0				(1.7	)			0.0
Loss before income taxes			(18.9	)			(3.0	)			(1.2	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes			30.4				(1.3	)			(1.0	)
Net loss			(49.3	)%			(1.7	)%			(0.2	)%

We recorded net losses of $50,504, or $3.23 per diluted share, for fiscal 2009, $2,593, or $0.16 per diluted share, for fiscal 2008 and $349, or $0.02 per diluted share, for fiscal 2007.

Net sales were $102,527 in 2009 compared with $152,468 in 2008, and $143,658 in 2007. The 33 percent decline in sales in 2009 was substantially driven by the weak worldwide economic conditions that began during the latter part of fiscal 2008, intensified considerably in the first quarter of 2009 as the U.S. financial markets froze, and persisted throughout the duration of fiscal 2009 as global markets reacted and responded. Our customers responded with reduced demand for products in all industries and all geographic regions served. On a relative basis, demand in fiscal 2009 for products used in research and development declined from fiscal 2008 levels less significantly than demand for products used in production for our customers in each of the semiconductor, wireless and precision electronics industries. As such, orders for research and development application mitigated what could otherwise have been a more significant overall reduction in sales between fiscal 2008 and 2009.

Geographically, fiscal 2009 sales declined 29 percent in the Americas, 34 percent in Asia and likewise fell 35 percent in Europe, all as compared to our respective 2008 results. For fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, sales were up 1 percent in the Americas, 8 percent in Asia, and 9 percent in Europe. The stronger U.S. dollar negatively affected sales by two percentage points in fiscal 2009 and one percentage point in fiscal 2007, while a weaker dollar resulted in sales growth by four percentage points in fiscal 2008.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 43.8%, 41.1% and 40.2% in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in costs as a percentage of sales in 2009 was driven by the lower sales volumes that were not fully offset by the various cost cutting measures discussed earlier under Business Overview, whereas the increase in 2008 over 2007 levels was primarily the result of an increase in excess and obsolete inventory reserves and increased freight costs. During 2009, we exited our S600 product line, and as a result, recorded $2,540 of charges for inventory write offs and accelerated depreciation on related production equipment. Foreign exchange hedging had a minimal effect on Cost of goods sold in 2009, 2008, and 2007.

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $49,764 declined $16,649, or 25%, in 2009 as compared to 2008 levels, and increased less than 4% in 2008 from $64,008 in 2007. The sharp decline in 2009 was principally attributable to worldwide headcount reductions and other concerted cost-containment measures which began in September 2008 and continued throughout the entirety of fiscal 2009. Additionally, we recorded reversals of $950 during fiscal 2009 for previously-accrued performance-based stock awards that either did not vest during fiscal 2009 or were no longer expected to vest due to the poor financial performance. The increase in 2008 over 2007 was the result primarily of increased foreign exchange costs as a result of the 10% weaker U.S. dollar, higher commissions and sales incentives, higher salary costs, and increased consultant costs. These costs were partially offset by the absence of costs associated with the stock option investigation and shareholder litigation that were included in 2007.

Product development expenses of $18,024 in 2009 decreased 29% from $25,504 in 2008 and increased 1% in 2008 from $25,863 in 2007. The decline from 2008 to 2009 was attributable to targeted reductions in spending coupled with headcount reductions in response to lower customer demand, as well as the aforementioned exit of the S600 product line. Product development expense in 2008 was approximately one percent lower than 2007 levels.

During 2009, we recorded expenses of $6,926 for costs associated with severance and related charges compared to expenses of $1,377 in 2008 for costs associated with the first reduction in our global workforce. We did not incur such costs during 2007. See Note K for further discussion.

Investment income was $303 in 2009, $1,603 in 2008 and $2,307 in 2007. The 2009 reduction from 2008 levels was driven mostly by lower average cash and investment levels coupled with a more conservative investment portfolio comprised principally of certificates of deposits and money market funds. The decrease in 2008 was the result of lower average cash and investment balances, a change in investment types, and lower average interest rates. Higher interest rates accounted for the higher income in 2007. See Note D for further details. Interest expense was $52 in 2009, $70 in 2007 and $55 in 2006.

During 2008, we recorded impairment losses on our long-term investments totaling $2,620. The impairment losses included $1,500 representing a valuation allowance against a note receivable from a company as well as $1,100 due to impairment on our investment in a company that is carried on a cost basis. We recorded no impairment losses during 2009 or 2007. See Note D for further discussion.

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2009, including discrete items, was 161%, and was substantially driven by a valuation allowance of $29,967 recorded in the first quarter against U.S. deferred tax assets, as well as $6,307 of tax expense on a U.S. loss without tax benefit. We also recorded tax expense on certain profitable foreign jurisdictions. See Note J for further discussion.

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2008, including discrete items, was a benefit of 42.8%, compared to a benefit of 79.3% for 2007. The effective benefit in 2008 was greater than the U.S. statutory rate due to the recognition of current year research tax credits, state and local tax benefits and the recognition of benefits associated with prior year adjustments. These benefits were partially offset by the net impact of losses in foreign jurisdiction which are not available for a tax benefit and U.S. tax on foreign remittances. See Note J for further discussion.

The effective benefit for 2007 was greater than the U.S. statutory rate due to the current year utilization of research tax credits, and an $882 benefit for the retroactive application of research tax credits for fiscal 2006. These benefits were partially offset by the net U.S. tax on foreign remittances, effective tax rates in foreign jurisdictions that are higher than the U.S. statutory tax rate, and the net impact of other permanent differences. See Note J for further discussion.

Our financial results are affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Generally, a weakening U.S. dollar versus foreign currency favorably impacts our foreign currency denominated sales. A strengthening U.S. dollar has an unfavorable effect. This foreign exchange effect cannot be precisely isolated since many other factors affect our foreign sales and earnings. These factors include product offerings and pricing policies of Keithley and our competition, whether competition is foreign or U.S. based, changes in technology, product and customer mix, and local and worldwide economic conditions.

We utilize hedging techniques designed to mitigate the short-term effect of exchange rate fluctuations on operations and balance sheet positions by entering into foreign exchange forward contracts. We do not speculate in foreign currencies or derivative financial instruments, and hedging techniques do not increase our exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital

The following table summarizes working capital as of September 30:

		2009				2008
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	24,114			$	22,073
Restricted cash			569				—
Short-term investments			759				5,700
Refundable income taxes			466				230
Accounts receivable and other, net			11,738				17,035
Total inventories			9,937				19,823
Deferred income taxes			303				5,483
Other current assets			1,753				2,079
Total current assets			49,639				72,423
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt			—				23
Accounts payable			4,916				7,325
Accrued payroll and related expenses			5,648				7,073
Other accrued expenses			5,424				6,142
Income taxes payable			1,122				1,174
Total current liabilities			17,110				21,737
Working capital		$	32,529			$	50,686

Working capital decreased during fiscal year 2009 by $18,157, substantially driven by a $22,784 reduction in current assets from September 30, 2008. The decrease in current assets was caused by the combined effect of $4,941 less short-term investments as those were liquidated into cash to fund operating needs during 2009, $5,527 of lower accounts receivable resulting from lower customer orders, $9,886 of reduced inventories due to concerted inventory management efforts and the exiting of the S600 product line, and $5,180 fewer deferred current tax assets resulting from the aforementioned valuation allowance recorded in the 2009. Current liabilities declined from 2008 to 2009 by $4,627. The lower levels in all current liabilities resulted from the measures implemented throughout 2009 to lower our cost structure, including the reduction in inventory levels, and was partially offset by $748 of higher severance accruals at the end of fiscal 2009 compared to those recorded at the end of fiscal 2008.

Sources and Uses of Cash

The following table is a summary of our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

		2009				2008				2007
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities		$	(5,416	)		$	1,706			$	5,641
Investing activities			9,178				16,031				(525	)
Financing activities			(2,029	)			(8,844	)			(3,152	)

Operating activities. Cash used in operating activities was $5,416 compared to cash provided by operations of $1,706 for fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively. Cash from operating activities is net income adjusted for certain non-cash expenses and changes in assets and liabilities. During fiscal 2009, the net use of cash in operating activities stemmed primarily from the net loss which was not fully offset by non-cash charges and reductions in working capital. We also made $750 of voluntary contributions to our U.S. pension plan. During fiscal year 2008, operating cash flows resulted primarily from a decrease in accounts receivable, and the positive impact of non-cash charges from depreciation, stock-based compensation and assets impairment charges. This was partially offset by non-cash charges for deferred taxes, an increase in inventory, and $1,500 in contributions to the Company’s U.S. pension plan in fiscal 2008. See Note H for further details. During fiscal 2007, operating cash flows of $5,641 resulted primarily from a decrease in accounts receivable, and the positive effect of non-cash charges for depreciation and stock-based compensation. This was partially offset by non-cash charges for deferred income taxes, and $2,500 in contributions to the Company’s U.S. pension plan.

Investing activities. Cash provided by investing activities was $9,178 in fiscal year 2009 compared to $16,031 in fiscal year 2008. Cash flows from investing activities consist primarily of the purchase and sale of investments and purchases of property, plant and equipment. Capital spending declined to $1,994 in 2009 from $3,831 in 2008 as we curtailed spending in response to the difficult economic conditions experienced throughout the year. We purchased $759 of short-term investments in 2009 versus $13,225 last year, while sales of short-term investments generated $12,500 in cash in fiscal 2009 versus $33,087 last year. As a result, during fiscal 2009 we liquidated approximately $11,741 to provide cash for operations and other activities, compared to $19,862 last year. The declines in these investment activities directly relate to the lower financial performance in 2009 compared to 2008. Additionally, in 2009 we used $569 in connection with pledges against outstanding letters of credit as required under our new credit arrangement, which was the result of the amendment of our existing credit arrangement, effective March 30, 2009. See Note E for details.

Cash provided by investing activities was $16,031 in fiscal year 2008 compared to cash used in investing activities of $525 in fiscal year 2007. Capital spending was $3,831 in 2008 versus $4,511 in 2007. We purchased $13,225 of short-term investments in 2008 versus $32,927 in 2007, while sales of short-term investments generated $33,087 in cash in 2008, compared to $36,913 in 2007. Short-term investments totaled $5,700 at September 30, 2008 as compared to $36,340 as of September 30, 2007. During 2008, we converted $14,125 of auction rate securities to cash. Additionally, the decrease in short-term investments in fiscal 2008 was the result of the Company’s strategic initiative in accordance with its investment policy to maintain the safety and liquidity of its cash and investments.

Financing activities. Cash used for financing activities in 2009 was $2,029 versus $8,844 in 2008. During fiscal year 2009, we repurchased $787 of our Common Shares compared to $6,163 in 2008. See Note C for further details. Additionally, we repaid $861 in short-term debt during fiscal year 2008 and $25 in fiscal 2009. Short-term debt was $0 at September 30, 2009 and $23 at September 30, 2008. Cash dividends in 2009 were $1,521 compared with $2,307 in 2008. The decline in cash dividends was driven by the decision to conserve cash in order to maintain liquidity given the low levels of customer demand experienced throughout fiscal 2009.

The Company amended its credit agreement in March 2009. The revised facility consists of a $5,000 debt facility ($0 outstanding at September 30, 2009) that provides unsecured, multi-currency revolving credit at various interest rates based on Prime or LIBOR. The agreement no longer contains debt covenants, but instead requires cash to be pledged against outstanding borrowings and outstanding letters of credit. We are required to pay a facility fee of 0.25% on the total amount of the commitment. The expiration date of March 31, 2011 remains unchanged. Additionally, per the terms of the agreement, the Company may borrow up to $5,000 from other lenders. The Company has a number of other such credit facilities in various currencies and for standby letters of credit aggregating $1,585 ($0 outstanding as September 30, 2009).

At September 30, 2009, we had total unused lines of credit with domestic and foreign banks aggregating $6,016. See Note E for further details. Under certain provisions of the former debt agreement, we were required to comply with various financial ratios and covenants.

Our stock repurchase program expired on February 28, 2009 and was not renewed or replaced. Accordingly, we may repurchase no further Common Shares. See Note C for more details.

During 2010, we expect to finance capital spending and working capital requirements with cash and short-term investments on hand, cash provided by operations as well as the net proceeds from the sale of our RF product line. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2010 are expected to approximate $1,500 to $2,000.

Set forth below is a table of information with respect to the Company’s contractual obligations as of September 30, 2009:

		Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations		Total				Less than 1 year				1-3 years				3-5 years				More than 5 years
Short-Term Debt		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
Operating Lease Obligations (a)			5,788				2,170				2,570				551				497
Payments Under Deferred Compensation Agreements (b)			2,378				317				345				155				1,561
Pension Benefits (c)			—				—					(c)				(c)				(c)
Non-cancelable Purchase Commitments		$	127			$	127				—				—				—
Total Contractual Obligations		$	8,293			$	2,614			$	2,915			$	706			$	2,058

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) to serve as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP. The ASC supersedes all the existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards upon its effective date and, subsequently, the FASB will not issue new standards in the form of Statements, Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts. The guidance is not intended to change or alter existing U.S. GAAP. The guidance became effective for the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which establishes general standards for accounting and disclosure of events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to issuance of the financial statements. The guidance is not intended to result in significant change to current practice. The Company adopted the guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities. The guidance is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s results of operations. The Company adopted the guidance in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In March 2008, the FASB issued updates to guidance, amending and expanding the disclosure requirements related to the use of derivative instruments and hedging activities to provide improved transparency into the uses and financial statement impact of derivative instruments and hedging activities. The new disclosure provisions were adopted by the Company in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. See Note F to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the required disclosures related to derivative instruments and hedging activities.

In September 2006, the FASB issued guidance that requires that employers recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans as a net asset or liability on the balance sheet and recognize as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. Companies are required to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of their fiscal year end. The Company adopted the presentation requirements of the guidance in fiscal 2007, which resulted in a net charge to other comprehensive income of $1,975. We adopted the measurement date provisions in 2009, and as a result, recorded a charge of $105 to retained earnings. See Note H to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the change in measurement date provisions.

In September 2006, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance is applicable to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, the guidance did not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application changed current practice. The guidance became effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. However, the FASB provided a one-year deferral for the implementation for nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2008, except with respect to nonfinancial assets and liabilities, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued guidance which allows companies to choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses shall be reported on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2008, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued updates to guidance that address accounting for variable interest entities. These updates to ASC 810 are effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adoption will have on its consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

In December 2008, the FASB issued updates to the guidance which is intended to enhance disclosures regarding assets in defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The updates are effective for the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company does not anticipate the adoption to have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 7A — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company is exposed to a variety of risks, including foreign currency fluctuations, interest rate fluctuations and changes in the market value of its short-term investments. In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency values and interest rates.

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk primarily through transactions denominated in foreign currencies. We currently utilize foreign exchange forward contracts or option contracts to sell foreign currencies to fix the exchange rates related to near-term sales and effectively fix our margins. Generally, these contracts have maturities of three months or less. Our policy is to only enter into derivative transactions when we have an identifiable exposure to risk, thus not creating additional foreign currency exchange rate risk. In our opinion, a 10 percent adverse change in foreign currency exchange rates would not have a material effect on these instruments nor therefore, on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

The Company maintains a short-term and long-term investment portfolio consisting primarily of various certificates of deposit (CDs) with numerous institutions and having differing maturity dates. A decline in interest rates would generally not change the value of these investments as they mature, but would decrease earnings on future CDs purchased with cash or proceeds from other matured CDs. During fiscal 2009 the amount of short-term investments has declined substantially in terms of both dollars and as a percentage of total current assets. Accordingly, in management’s opinion, a 10 percent decline in interest rates would not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

ITEM 8 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Keithley Instruments, Inc.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Keithley Instruments, Inc. and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in management’s report on internal control over financial reporting included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
December 11, 2009

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 (In Thousands of Dollars Except for Per Share Data)

		2009				2008				2007
Net sales		$	102,527			$	152,468			$	143,658
Cost of goods sold			44,890				62,623				57,724
Inventory writedowns and accelerated depreciation for exit of product line			2,540				—				—
Gross profit			55,097				89,845				85,934
Selling, general and administrative expenses			49,764				66,413				64,008
Product development expenses			18,024				25,504				25,863
Severance and related charges			6,926				1,377				—
Operating loss			(19,617	)			(3,449	)			(3,937	)
Investment income			303				1,603				2,307
Interest expense			(52	)			(70	)			(55	)
Impairment of long-term investments			—				(2,620	)			—
Loss before income taxes			(19,366	)			(4,536	)			(1,685	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes			31,138				(1,943	)			(1,336	)
Net loss		$	(50,504	)		$	(2,593	)		$	(349	)
Basic loss per share		$	(3.23	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.02	)
Diluted loss per share		$	(3.23	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.02	)

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

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of September 30, 2009 and 2008 (In Thousands of Dollars Except for Share Data)

		2009				2008
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	24,114			$	22,073
Restricted cash			569				—
Short-term investments			759				5,700
Refundable income taxes			466				230
Accounts receivable and other, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $598 and $555 as of September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively			11,738				17,035
Inventories:
Raw materials			5,760				12,325
Work in process			613				1,261
Finished products			3,564				6,237
Total inventories			9,937				19,823
Deferred income taxes			303				5,483
Prepaid expenses			1,753				2,079
Total current assets			49,639				72,423
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
Land			1,325				1,325
Buildings and leasehold improvements			18,053				17,240
Manufacturing, laboratory and office equipment			34,703				35,761
			54,081				54,326
Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization			42,981				41,174
Total property, plant and equipment, net			11,100				13,152
Deferred income taxes			748				26,097
Intangible assets			910				1,190
Other assets			10,705				25,116
Total assets		$	73,102			$	137,978
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt		$	—			$	23
Accounts payable			4,916				7,325
Accrued payroll and related expenses			5,648				7,073
Other accrued expenses			5,424				6,142
Income taxes payable			1,122				1,174
Total current liabilities			17,110				21,737
Long-term deferred compensation			2,111				2,561
Deferred income taxes			—				65
Long-term income taxes payable			2,852				2,919
Other long-term liabilities			14,419				7,394
Commitments and contingencies (See Note L)
Shareholders’ equity:
Common Shares, stated value $.0125:
Authorized — 80,000,000; issued and outstanding — 14,950,093 and 14,722,585 in 2009 and 2008, respectively			187				184
Class B Common Shares, stated value $.0125:
Authorized — 9,000,000; issued and outstanding — 2,150,502 in 2009 and 2008			27				27
Capital in excess of stated value			39,121				38,930
Retained earnings			28,629				80,759
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(15,900	)			(1,873	)
Common Shares held in treasury, at cost			(15,454	)			(14,725	)
Total shareholders’ equity			36,610				103,302
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	73,102			$	137,978

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

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

For the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 (In Thousands of Dollars Except for Per Share Data)

										Capital								Accumulated				Common
						Class B				in excess								other				Shares				Total
		Common				Common				of stated				Retained				comprehensive				held in				shareholders’
		Shares				Shares				value				earnings				income				treasury				equity
Balance September 30, 2006		$	180			$	27			$	33,703			$	88,393			$	615			$	(6,415	)		$	116,503
Comprehensive Income:
Net loss															(349	)
Translation adjustment																			459
Minimum pension liability adjustment																			(2	)
Net unrealized loss on derivative securities																			(126	)
Net unrealized investment gain																			83
Total comprehensive income																											65
Adjustment to initially apply accounting change to recognize funded status of pension plans, net of taxes of $1,081																			(1,975	)							(1,975	)
Stock-based compensation			1								1,508																1,509
Cash dividends:
Common Shares ($.15 per share)															(2,110	)											(2,110	)
Class B Common Shares ($.12 per share)															(258	)											(258	)
Shares issued under stock plans, net of taxes			1								1,011												(172	)			840
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees											255												(255	)			—
Common Shares reissued in settlement of Director’s fees											(41	)											41				—
Repurchase of Common Shares																							(1,550	)			(1,550	)
Balance September 30, 2007			182				27				36,436				85,676				(946	)			(8,351	)			113,024
Comprehensive Loss:
Net loss															(2,593	)
Translation adjustment																			85
Pension liability adjustment																			(720	)
Net unrealized gain on derivative securities																			132
Net unrealized investment loss																			(424	)
Total comprehensive loss																											(3,520	)
Stock-based compensation											1,832																1,832
Cash dividends:
Common Shares ($.15 per share)															(2,049	)											(2,049	)
Class B Common Shares ($.12 per share)															(258	)											(258	)
Adoption of FIN 48															(17	)											(17	)
Shares issued under stock plans, net of taxes			2								451																453
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees											234												(234	)			—
Common Shares reissued in settlement of Director’s fees											(23	)											23				—
Repurchase of Common Shares																							(6,163	)			(6,163	)
Balance September 30, 2008			184				27				38,930				80,759				(1,873	)			(14,725	)			103,302
Comprehensive Loss:
Net loss															(50,504	)
Translation adjustment																			424
Pension liability adjustment																			(14,756	)
Net unrealized gain on derivative Securities																			(137	)
Net unrealized investment gain																			442
Total comprehensive loss																											(64,531	)
Stock-based compensation											(53	)															(53	)
Implementation of pension measurement date change															(105	)											(105	)
Cash dividends:
Common Shares ($.10 per share)															(1,349	)											(1,349	)
Class B Common Shares ($.08 per share)															(172	)											(172	)
Shares issued under stock plans, net of taxes			3								302																305
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees											228												(228	)			—
Common Shares reissued in settlement of Director’s fees											(286	)											286				—
Repurchase of Common Shares																							(787	)			(787	)
Balance September 30, 2009		$	187			$	27			$	39,121			$	28,629			$	(15,900	)		$	(15,454	)		$	36,610

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

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 (In Thousands of Dollars)

		2009				2008				2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(50,504	)		$	(2,593	)		$	(349	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			3,626				4,157				4,380
Amortization			280				210				—
Deferred income taxes			30,412				(3,174	)			(4,517	)
Deferred compensation			18				(76	)			519
Stock-based compensation			(53	)			1,832				1,509
Non-cash charges for exit of product line			4,498				—				—
Loss on the disposition/impairment of assets			110				2,775				181
Change in current assets and liabilities:
Refundable income taxes			(191	)			516				449
Accounts receivable and other			5,494				2,330				8,031
Inventories			5,945				(5,210	)			107
Prepaid expenses			465				(90	)			91
Other current liabilities			(5,541	)			1,208				(2,155	)
Other operating activities			25				(179	)			(2,605	)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			(5,416	)			1,706				5,641
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(1,994	)			(3,831	)			(4,511	)
Restricted cash			(569	)			—				—
Purchase of investments and other			(759	)			(13,225	)			(32,927	)
Proceeds from maturities and sales of investments			12,500				33,087				36,913
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			9,178				16,031				(525	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net repayment of short-term debt			(25	)			(861	)			(79	)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase and option plans			212				347				487
Tax benefit of stock purchase and stock-based compensation arrangements			92				140				358
Repurchase of Common Shares			(787	)			(6,163	)			(1,550	)
Cash dividends			(1,521	)			(2,307	)			(2,368	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(2,029	)			(8,844	)			(3,152	)
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents			308				292				423
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			2,041				9,185				2,387
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			22,073				12,888				10,501
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	24,114			$	22,073			$	12,888
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes		$	1,229			$	1,945			$	1,565
Interest			53				59				50

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

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In Thousands of Dollars Except for Per-Share Data)

Note A — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Keithley Instruments, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Keithley” or “Company”). Intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Nature of operations

Keithley’s business is to design, develop, manufacture and market complex electronic instruments and systems to serve the specialized needs of electronics manufacturers for high-performance production testing, process monitoring, product development and research. Our primary products are integrated systems used to source, measure, connect, control or communicate electrical direct current (DC) or optical signals. Although our products vary in capability, sophistication, use, size and price, they generally test, measure and analyze electrical, RF, optical or physical properties. As such, we consider our business to be in a single industry segment.

On November 19, 2009, the Company announced it entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”)with Agilent Technologies, Inc. (“Agilent”) with respect to the sale of its RF product line, and the transaction closed on November 30, 2009. Accordingly, our business will no longer include those operations subsequent to the closing date. See Note N for details.

Revenue recognition

Keithley Instruments, Inc. recognizes product revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Delivery is considered to have been met when title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. Upon shipment, a provision is made for estimated costs that may be incurred for product warranties and sales returns. Revenue earned from service is recognized ratably over the contractual service periods, and is not material to the Company’s consolidated results. Shipping and handling costs are recorded as Cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Foreign currency translation

Our revenues, costs and expenses, and assets and liabilities are exposed to changes in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of our global operations. For those subsidiaries that operate in a local functional currency environment, all assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated using weighted average exchange rates in effect during the period. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of accumulated comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. For those entities that operate in a U.S. dollar functional currency environment, foreign currency assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurement are generally immaterial and are included in the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” caption of the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Advertising

Advertising production and placement costs are expensed when incurred. Advertising expenses were $5,043, $7,985 and $8,066 in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets consist of software costs and are amortized over the estimated economic life of the software products, which is estimated to be five years. At each balance sheet date, the unamortized cost of the software is compared to its net realizable value. The net realizable value is the estimated future gross revenues from the software product reduced by the estimated future costs of completing and disposing of that product, including the costs of performing maintenance and customer support. The excess of the unamortized cost over the net realizable value would then be recognized as an impairment loss. Amortization expense is recorded as “Cost of goods sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and was $280, $210 and $0 in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Product development expenses

Expenditures for product development are charged to expense as incurred.

Fair Value Measurements

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified using the following hierarchy, which is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date.

	•		Level 1 — Valuation is based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
	•		Level 2 — Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
	•		Level 3 — Valuation is based upon other unobservable inputs that are significant to the fair value measurement.

The classification of fair value measurements within the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalents and investments are diversified with numerous financial institutions which management believes to have acceptable credit ratings. These investments are primarily money-market funds and short term certificates of deposit. The recorded amount of these investments approximates fair value determined based on Level 1 and 2 inputs as defined under U.S. GAAP. Cash flows resulting from hedging transactions are classified in the same category as the cash flows from the item being hedged.

Restricted cash

Effective March 31, 2009, the Company amended its $10,000 credit agreement to reduce the borrowing limit to $5,000, among other changes. While the agreement no longer contains debt covenants, the Company is required to pledge cash against outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. See Note E for further details.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based on historical write-off experience by industry and regional economic data. We review our allowance for doubtful accounts periodically and all account balances are reviewed for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when we feel it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. We do not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to our customers. The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for fiscal years ending September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:

		2009				2008				2007
Balance at beginning of year		$	555			$	500			$	448
Additions			79				63				48
Write-offs, net of recoveries			(43	)			(6	)			(11	)
Foreign exchange revaluation			7				(2	)			15
Balance at end of year		$	598			$	555			$	500

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined based on a currently-adjusted standard, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company provides inventory allowances based on excess and obsolete inventories determined primarily by future demand forecasts. The allowance is measured as the difference between the cost of the inventory and market based upon assumptions about future demand and charged to the provision for inventory, which is a component of Cost of goods sold. At the point of the loss recognition, a new, lower-cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis. See Note K for further details.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over periods approximating the estimated useful lives of the assets. Substantially all manufacturing, laboratory and office equipment is depreciated by the double declining balance method over periods of 3 to 10 years. Buildings are depreciated by the straight-line method over periods of 23 to 45 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the asset lives or the terms of the leases. Depreciation expense was $3,626, $4,157 and $4,380 in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Capitalized software

Certain internal and external costs incurred to acquire or create internal use software are capitalized. Capitalized software is included in property, plant and equipment and is depreciated over 3 to 5 years after it is placed in service.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate costs may not be recoverable. Impairment exists when the carrying value of the assets is greater than the pretax undiscounted future cash flows expected to be provided by the asset. If impairment exists, the asset is written down to its fair value. Fair value is determined through quoted market values or through the calculation of the pretax present value of future cash flows expected to be provided by the asset.

Capital stock

The Company has two classes of stock. Each Class B Common Share has ten times the voting power of a Common Share, but the Class B Common Shares are entitled to cash dividends of no more than 80% of the cash dividends on the Common Shares. Holders of Common Shares, voting as a class, elect one-fourth of the Company’s Board of Directors and participate with holders of Class B Common Shares in electing the balance of the Directors and in voting on all other corporate matters requiring shareholder approval. Additional Class B Common Shares may be issued only to holders of such shares for stock dividends or stock splits. These shares are convertible at any time to Common Shares on a one-for-one basis.

The number of Common Shares, Class B Common Shares and Common Shares held in treasury is shown below:

						Class B				Common Shares
		Common Shares				Common Shares				held in treasury
Balance at September 30, 2006			14,410,245				2,150,502				(551,625	)
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees			—				—				(21,542	)
Common Shares reissued in settlement of directors’ fees			—				—				1,934
Shares issued under stock plans			170,733				—				—
Repurchase of Common Shares			—				—				(168,815	)
Balance at September 30, 2007			14,580,978				2,150,502				(740,048	)
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees			—				—				(26,162	)
Common Shares reissued in settlement of directors’ fees			—				—				1,616
Shares issued under stock plans			141,607				—				—
Repurchase of Common Shares			—				—				(636,600	)
Balance at September 30, 2008			14,722,585				2,150,502				(1,401,194	)
Common Shares acquired for settlement of deferred Directors’ fees			—				—				(64,643	)
Common Shares reissued in settlement of directors’ fees			—				—				34,530
Shares issued under stock plans			227,508				—				—
Repurchase of Common Shares			—				—				(166,733	)
Balance at September 30, 2009			14,950,093				2,150,502				(1,598,040	)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, at September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:

		2009				2008				2007
Translation adjustment		$	1,671			$	1,247			$	1,162
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative securities			(91	)			46				(86	)
Net unrealized investment loss			—				(442	)			(18	)
Benefit plan obligation			(17,480	)			(2,724	)			(2,004	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		$	(15,900	)		$	(1,873	)		$	(946	)

Income taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized under the liability method based upon the difference between the amounts reported for financial reporting and tax purposes. Deferred taxes are measured by applying currently enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reflect the estimated amount of deferred tax assets that may not be realized based upon the Company’s analysis of estimated future taxable income and establishment of tax strategies. Future taxable income, the results of tax strategies and changes in tax laws could impact these estimates. We have provided for estimated foreign withholding taxes and United States income taxes, less available tax credits, for the undistributed earnings of the non-United States subsidiaries as of September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Restructuring and Cost Reduction Programs

We expense costs associated with exit and disposal activities designed to restructure operations and reduce ongoing costs of operations when we incur the related liabilities or when other triggering events occur. After the appropriate level of management having the authority approves the detailed cost reduction or restructuring plan, we establish accruals for underlying activities by estimating employee termination costs. Our estimates are based upon factors including affected employees’ length of service, any statutory requirements, contract provisions, salary level, and health care benefit choices. As part of our assessment of exit and disposal activities, we also analyze the carrying value of any affected long-lived assets for impairment and reductions in the estimated useful lives.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the reported financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Examples include the allowance for doubtful accounts, estimates of contingent liabilities, inventory valuation, pension plan assumptions, estimates and assumptions relating to stock-based compensation costs, and the assessment of the valuation of deferred income taxes and income tax reserves. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Earnings per share

Both Common Shares and Class B Common Shares are included in calculating earnings per share. The weighted average number of shares outstanding used in the calculation is set forth below:

		2009				2008				2007
Net loss in thousands		$	(50,504	)		$	(2,593	)		$	(349	)
Weighted average shares outstanding			15,648,258				15,853,938				16,206,698
Assumed exercise of stock options,weighted average of incremental shares			—				—				—
Assumed purchase of stock under stock purchase plan, weighted average			—				—				—
Diluted shares — adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions			15,648,258				15,853,938				16,206,698
Basic loss per share		$	(3.23	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.02	)
Diluted loss per share		$	(3.23	)		$	(0.16	)		$	(0.02	)

Due to the net losses in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, 33,967, 187,252 and 165,176 shares, respectively, were excluded from the dilutive calculation for the exercise of stock options, the issuance of stock-based awards and purchase of stock under the stock purchase plan.

Stock-based compensation

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had established a number of stock-based incentive programs as discussed in more detail in Note I. The provisions of U.S. GAAP require that all stock-based compensation be recognized as an expense in the financial statements and that such cost be measured at the fair value of the award. U.S. GAAP also requires that excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises be reflected as financing cash inflows instead of operating cash inflows. In calculating diluted earnings per share, we have elected to use the actual method for calculating windfall tax benefits or shortfalls for fully and partially vested options in arriving at the assumed proceeds in the treasury stock calculation. We used the adoption transition guidance in determining the pool of windfall tax benefits upon adoption.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, all of the Company’s derivative instruments are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair value. The Company currently utilizes foreign exchange forward contracts or option contracts to sell foreign currencies to fix the exchange rates related to near-term sales and effectively fix the Company’s margins. Underlying hedged transactions are recorded at hedged rates, therefore realized and unrealized gains and losses are recorded when the hedged transactions occur.

On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company designates its derivative as either a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value” hedge), as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received (“cash flow” hedge), or as a foreign-currency cash flow hedge (“foreign currency” hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective as, and that is designated and qualifies as, a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk are recorded in current period earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designed and qualifies as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income until earnings are affected by the transaction in the underlying asset. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are highly effective and that qualify as foreign currency hedges are recorded in either current period income or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the hedge transaction is a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge. We determine fair value based upon Level 2 inputs as defined under U.S. GAAP. At September 30, 2009, the foreign exchange forward contracts were designated as foreign currency hedges.

The Company documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company also assesses whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. Cash flows resulting from hedging transactions are classified in the consolidated statements of cash flows in the same category as the cash flows from the item being hedged.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year notes to conform to the current year presentation.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) to serve as the single source of authoritative U.S. GAAP. The ASC supersedes all the existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards upon its effective date and, subsequently, the FASB will not issue new standards in the form of Statements, Staff Positions, or Emerging Issues Task Force Abstracts. The guidance is not intended to change or alter existing U.S. GAAP. The guidance became effective for the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In May 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which establishes general standards for accounting and disclosure of events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to issuance of the financial statements. The guidance is not intended to result in significant change to current practice. The Company adopted the guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities. The guidance is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s results of operations. The Company adopted the guidance in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Adoption did not have an effect on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In March 2008, the FASB issued updates to guidance, amending and expanding the disclosure requirements related to the use of derivative instruments and hedging activities to provide improved transparency into the uses and financial statement impact of derivative instruments and hedging activities. The new disclosure provisions were adopted by the Company in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. See Note F for the required disclosures related to derivative instruments and hedging activities.

In September 2006, the FASB issued guidance that requires that employers recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans as a net asset or liability on the balance sheet and recognize as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, the gains or losses and prior service costs or credits that arise during the period but are not recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost. Companies are required to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of their fiscal year end. The Company adopted the presentation requirements of the guidance in fiscal 2007, which resulted in a charge to other comprehensive income of $1,975. We adopted the measurement date provisions in 2009, and as a result, recorded a charge of $105 to retained earnings. See Note H for additional information related to the change in measurement date provisions.

In September 2006, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance is applicable to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, the guidance did not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application changed current practice. The guidance became effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. However, the FASB provided a one-year deferral for the implementation for nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2008, except with respect to nonfinancial assets and liabilities, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued guidance which allows companies to choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible financial assets and liabilities at fair value that are not otherwise required to be measured at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses shall be reported on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2008, and the adoption did not have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued updates to guidance that address accounting for variable interest entities. These updates to ASC 810 are effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adoption will have on its consolidated results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.

In December 2008, the FASB issued updates to the guidance which is intended to enhance disclosures regarding assets in defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The updates are effective for the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company does not anticipate the adoption to have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note B — Product Warranties

Generally, the Company’s products are covered under a one-year warranty; however, certain products are covered under a two or three-year warranty. It is the Company’s policy to accrue for all product warranties based upon historical in-warranty repair data. In addition, the Company accrues for specifically identified product performance issues. The Company also offers extended warranties for certain of its products for which revenue is recognized over the life of the contract period. The costs associated with servicing the extended warranties are expensed as incurred. The revenue, as well as the costs related to the extended warranties, are immaterial for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007.

A reconciliation of the estimated changes in the aggregated product warranty liability for fiscal year 2009 and 2008 is as follows:

		2009				2008
Beginning balance		$	701			$	722
Accruals for warranties issued during the period			984				1,345
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties (including changes in estimates and expiring warranties)			(116	)			(178	)
Settlements made (in cash or in kind) during the period			(1,103	)			(1,188	)
Ending balance		$	466			$	701

Note C — Repurchase of Common Shares

In February 2007, the Company announced its Board of Directors had approved an open market stock repurchase program (the “2007 Program”). Prior to its expiration on February 28, 2009, the 2007 Program allowed the Company to purchase up to 2,000,000 Common Shares, which represented approximately 12 percent of its total outstanding Common Shares at the start of the 2007 Program. A total of 942,600 shares at an average price of $8.97 per share including commissions were repurchased through the life of the 2007 Program. The purpose of the 2007 Program was to offset the dilutive effect of stock option and stock purchase plans, and to provide value to shareholders. Common Shares held in treasury may be reissued in settlement of stock purchases under the stock option and stock purchase plans.

During fiscal year 2009, the Company purchased 166,733 Common Shares for $787 at an average cost of $4.72 per share including commissions. This includes 11,733 Common Shares withheld for payroll taxes upon the issuance of Common Shares for vested performance award units in November 2008. During fiscal year 2008, the Company purchased 636,600 Common Shares for $6,163 at an average cost per share of $9.68 including commissions.

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock repurchase activity:

		2009				2008
Total number of shares purchased			166,733				636,600
Average price paid per share (including commissions)		$	4.72			$	9.68
Identity of broker-dealer used to effect the purchases		National Financial Securities LLC				National Financial Securities LLC
Number of shares purchased as part of a publicly announced repurchase program			155,000				636,600
Maximum number of shares that remain to be purchased under the program			0				1,212,400

At September 30, 2009 and 2008, 1,377,648 and 1,210,915 Common Shares purchased under the Company’s share repurchase programs remained in treasury at an average cost, including commissions, of $9.94 and $10.66, respectively.

Also, included in the “Common shares held in treasury, at cost” caption of the consolidated balance sheets are shares repurchased to settle non-employee Directors’ fees deferred pursuant to the Keithley Instruments, Inc. 1996 Outside Directors Deferred Stock Plan. Shares held in treasury pursuant to this plan totaled 220,392 and 190,279 at September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note D — Investments and Notes Receivable

The Company classifies its certificates of deposits and money market fund investments in fiscal year 2009 as “trading”, which requires they be recorded at fair market value in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet with the changes in fair value and resulting gains and losses included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. For fiscal 2008, the Company classified its short-term investments and certain of its long-term investments, which were comprised of corporate notes and bonds and auction rate securities as “available for sale”, which under U.S. GAAP requires they were recorded at fair market value in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet with the changes in fair market value included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss.” There were no realized gains or losses on sales of marketable securities in fiscal years 2009, 2008 or 2007. U.S GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. We determined the fair market value of the trading investments at September 30, 2009, using quoted prices for similar assets, which is a Level 2 hierarchy fair value measurement.

Trading investments at September 30, 2009 were comprised of the following:

		Adjusted cost				Unrealized gains				Unrealized losses				Market value
Short Term:
Certificates of deposits and money market funds		$	759			$	—			$	—			$	759

Available-for-sale investments at September 30, 2008 were comprised of the following:

		Adjusted cost				Unrealized gains				Unrealized losses				Market value
Short Term:
Corporate notes and bonds		$	4,700			$	—			$	—			$	4,700
Auction rate securities			1,000				—				—				1,000
Long Term:
Auction rate securities			6,800				—				(680	)			6,120
Total available-for-sale investments		$	12,500			$	—			$	(680	)		$	11,820

The long-term auction rate securities are included in the caption “Other assets” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2008.

At September 30, 2009 and 2008, the investments have maturity dates as follows:

		2009				2008
Less than 1 year		$	759			$	—
1 year to 5 years			—				—
5 to 10 years			—				—
10 to 15 years			—				—
Greater than 15 years			—				11,820
Total investments		$	759			$	11,820