form_10q.htm



 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended April 30, 2010

THE TORO COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
1-8649
41-0580470
(State of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8111 Lyndale Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota  55420
Telephone number: (952) 888-8801

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

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  S    No  £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes  £    No  £

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

Large accelerated filer S
Accelerated filer  £
Non-accelerated filer  £
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  £

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

Yes  £    No  S

The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of May 28, 2010 was 32,490,250.

 




 
 

 


THE TORO COMPANY
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

   
Page Number
     
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
 
     
Item 1.
Financial Statements
 
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
Item 2.
     
Item 3.
     
Item 4.
     
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION:
 
     
Item 1.
     
Item 1A.
     
Item 2.
     
Item 6.
     
 


 
2

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)


   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net sales
  $ 562,819     $ 499,852     $ 894,177     $ 840,024  
Cost of sales
    375,407       338,627       590,374       560,539  
Gross profit
    187,412       161,225       303,803       279,485  
 Selling, general, and administrative expense
    115,289       102,231       211,888       206,790  
Earnings from operations
    72,123       58,994       91,915       72,695  
Interest expense
    (4,271 )     (4,420 )     (8,516 )     (8,778 )
Other income, net
    905       1,483       1,806       2,293  
Earnings before income taxes
    68,757       56,057       85,205       66,210  
Provision for income taxes
    23,096       19,196       28,626       22,618  
Net earnings
  $ 45,661     $ 36,861     $ 56,579     $ 43,592  
                                 
Basic net earnings per share of common stock
  $ 1.35     $ 1.01     $ 1.67     $ 1.20  
                                 
Diluted net earnings per share of common stock
  $ 1.34     $ 1.00     $ 1.65     $ 1.18  
                                 
                                 
Weighted-average number of shares of common
                               
stock outstanding – Basic
    33,714       36,397       33,871       36,382  
 
                               
Weighted-average number of shares of common
                               
stock outstanding – Diluted
    34,142       36,763       34,198       36,807  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
3

 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

   
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
October 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2009
 
ASSETS
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 180,385     $ 29,673     $ 187,773  
Receivables, net
    260,789       407,801       143,709  
Inventories, net
    174,406       215,775       176,275  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    12,150       16,405       14,914  
Deferred income taxes
    57,120       57,704       59,467  
Total current assets
    684,850       727,358       582,138  
                         
Property, plant, and equipment
    567,726       532,950       551,747  
Less accumulated depreciation
    402,212       367,386       385,031  
      165,514       165,564       166,716  
                         
Deferred income taxes
    3,626       6,470       3,585  
Other assets
    21,072       7,486       10,512  
Goodwill
    86,558       86,390       86,407  
Other intangible assets, net
    24,369       18,076       23,324  
Total assets
  $ 985,989     $ 1,011,344     $ 872,682  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                       
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 3,705     $ 3,377     $ 3,765  
Short-term debt
    513       32,900       4,529  
Accounts payable
    171,279       98,592       91,074  
Accrued liabilities
    247,040       238,922       217,433  
Total current liabilities
    422,537       373,791       316,801  
                         
Long-term debt, less current portion
    224,297       225,909       225,046  
Deferred revenue
    9,567       8,755       8,510  
Other long-term liabilities
    7,951       6,256       7,113  
                         
Stockholders' equity:
                       
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, authorized 1,000,000 voting and 850,000 non-voting shares, none issued
    and outstanding
    -       -       -  
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share, authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 32,762,713 shares as of April 30, 2010, 35,892,142 shares as of May 1, 2009, and 33,369,486 shares as of October 31, 2009
    32,763       35,892       33,369  
 Retained earnings
    298,960       374,333       291,246  
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (10,086 )     (13,592 )     (9,403 )
Total stockholders' equity
    321,637       396,633       315,212  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 985,989     $ 1,011,344     $ 872,682  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
4

 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
  $ 56,579     $ 43,592  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by
               
(used in) operating activities:
               
Equity (income) losses from investments
    (480 )     38  
Provision for depreciation, amortization, and impairment losses
    22,254       21,576  
Gain on disposal of property, plant, and equipment
    (49 )     (13 )
Stock-based compensation expense
    2,851       2,084  
Decrease in deferred income taxes
    501       187  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:
               
Receivables, net
    (124,950 )     (150,379 )
Inventories, net
    3,163       (7,382 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    1,471       (3,207 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, deferred revenue, and
  other long-term liabilities
    119,446       20,639  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    80,786       (72,865 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment
    (20,650 )     (17,366 )
Proceeds from asset disposals
    211       75  
Increase in investment in affiliates
    (9,592 )     -  
Decrease (increase) in other assets
    371       (320 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (3,572 )     -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (33,232 )     (17,611 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Increase in short-term debt
    -       30,209  
Repayments of long-term debt, net of costs
    (1,220 )     (1,477 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards
    2,513       3,293  
Proceeds from exercise of stock-based awards
    11,475       3,759  
Purchases of Toro common stock
    (54,106 )     (4,803 )
Dividends paid on Toro common stock
    (12,205 )     (10,919 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (53,543 )     20,062  
                 
Effect of exchange rates changes on cash
    (1,399 )     728  
                 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (7,388 )     (69,686 )
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the fiscal period
    187,773       99,359  
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the fiscal period
  $ 180,385     $ 29,673  
                 
Long-term debt issued in connection with an acquisition
  $ 440     $ -  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
               

 
5

 

THE TORO COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
April 30, 2010
Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for complete financial statements. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “company” and “Toro” refer to The Toro Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting primarily of recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations. Since the company’s business is seasonal, operating results for the six months ended April 30, 2010 cannot be annualized to determine the expected results for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2010. Additional factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expected results, including any forward-looking statements made in this report, are described in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (Item 1A) and later in this report under Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations– Forward-Looking Information.
     The company’s fiscal year ends on October 31, and quarterly results are reported based on three month periods that generally end on the Friday closest to the quarter end. For comparative purposes, however, the company’s second and third quarters always include exactly 13 weeks of results so that the quarter end date for these two quarters is not necessarily the Friday closest to the quarter end.
     For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. The policies described in that report are used for preparing quarterly reports.

Accounting Policies

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures, including disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles to be applied and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. Estimates are used in determining, among other items, sales promotions and incentives accruals, inventory valuation, warranty accruals, allowance for doubtful accounts, pension and postretirement accruals, self-insurance accruals, useful lives for intangible assets, and future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and other long-lived assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment. Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. A number of these factors are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (Item 1A. Risk Factors) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, which include, among others, economic conditions, foreign currency exchange rate impact, commodity costs, credit conditions, and  consumer spending and confidence levels, all of which may increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual amounts could differ significantly from those estimated at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. Changes in those estimates resulting from changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Acquisitions and Divestiture

On April 30, 2010, the company completed the purchase of certain assets and assumed certain liabilities from USPraxis, Inc., a manufacturer of stump grinders, wood chippers, and log splitters for rental centers and landscape professionals. The addition of these products broadens and strengthens the company’s compact equipment solutions for the rental and landscape markets. The estimated purchase price was $2.5 million, which included a cash payment, the issuance of a long-term note, and an estimated earnout consideration.
     On December 1, 2009, during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the company’s wholly owned domestic distribution company completed the acquisition of certain assets and the assumption of certain liabilities of one of the company’s independent Midwestern-based distribution companies. During the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the company also completed the sale of a portion of the operations of our company-owned distributorship.
     These acquisitions and divestiture were immaterial based on the company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 
6

 

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income and the components of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net earnings
  $ 45,661     $ 36,861     $ 56,579     $ 43,592  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Cumulative translation adjustments
    (1,733 )     3,481       (3,865 )     1,725  
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax
    -       -       671       -  
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative
                               
   instruments, net of tax
    762       (3,626 )     2,511       (6,773 )
Comprehensive income
  $ 44,690     $ 36,716     $ 55,896     $ 38,544  

Stock-Based Compensation

Under the company’s equity-based compensation plans, option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the company’s common stock on the date of grant, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange. Options are generally granted to non-employee directors, officers, and other key employees in the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year. Option awards vest one-third each year over a three-year period and have a ten-year term. Compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value is generally recognized for these awards over the vesting period. However, if a director has served on the company’s Board of Directors for ten full fiscal years or longer, the fair value of the options granted is fully expensed as of the date of the grant. Similarly, options granted to officers and other key employees are also subject to accelerated expensing if the option holder meets the retirement definition set forth in the applicable equity-based compensation plan. In that case, the fair value of the options is expensed in the year of grant because the option holder must be employed as of the end of the fiscal year in which the options are granted in order for the option to continue to vest following retirement. Key employees are also granted the right to receive shares of common stock or deferred performance share units, contingent on the achievement of performance goals of the company, which are generally measured over a three-year period. The number of shares of common stock a participant receives will be increased (up to 200 percent of target levels) or reduced (down to zero) based on the level of achievement of performance goals and vest over a three-year period. Performance share awards are granted in the first quarter of the company’s fiscal year. Compensation expense is recognized for these awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the fair value as of the date of grant and the probability of achieving performance goals. Total compensation expense for option and performance share awards for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009 was $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Year-to-date compensation expense for option and performance share awards through the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009 was $2.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
     The fair value of each share-based option is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes valuation method that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected life is a significant assumption as it determines the period for which the risk-free interest rate, volatility, and dividend yield must be applied. The expected life is the average length of time over which the employee groups are expected to exercise their options, which is based on historical experience with similar grants. Separate groups of employees with similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. Expected volatilities are based on the movement of the company’s common stock over the most recent historical period equivalent to the expected life of the option. The risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury rate over the expected life at the time of grant. Dividend yield is estimated over the expected life based on the company’s dividend policy, historical dividends paid, expected future cash dividends, and expected changes in the company’s stock price. The following table illustrates the assumptions for options granted in the following fiscal periods.

 
Fiscal 2010
 
Fiscal 2009
Expected life of option in years
6
 
6
Expected volatility
33.00% - 33.07%
 
30.57% - 30.60%
Weighted-average volatility
33.00%
 
30.60%
Risk-free interest rate
2.51% - 2.87%
 
2.26% - 3.16%
Expected dividend yield
1.52% - 1.68%
 
1.53%- 1.81%
Weighted-average dividend yield
1.54%
 
1.79%


 
7

 

     The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the first quarter of each of fiscal 2010 and 2009 was $12.33 per share and $7.93 per share, respectively. The fair value of performance share awards granted during the first quarter of each of fiscal 2010 and 2009 was $40.73 per share and $28.62 per share, respectively. No option or performance share awards were granted during the second quarters of fiscal 2010 or fiscal 2009.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined by the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for most inventories and first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for all other inventories. The company establishes a reserve for excess, slow-moving, and obsolete inventory that is equal to the difference between the cost and estimated net realizable value for that inventory. These reserves are based on a review and comparison of current inventory levels to the planned production, as well as planned and historical sales of the inventory.
     Inventories were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
October 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2009
 
Raw materials and work in process
  $ 67,277     $ 61,807     $ 56,679  
Finished goods and service parts
    157,272       204,270       169,739  
   Total FIFO value
    224,549       266,077       226,418  
Less: adjustment to LIFO value
    50,143       50,302       50,143  
Total
  $ 174,406     $ 215,775     $ 176,275  
 
 
Per Share Data

Reconciliations of basic and diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding are as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
(Shares in thousands)
April 30,
 
May 1,
 
April 30,
 
May 1,
Basic
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock
33,714
 
36,397
 
33,867
 
36,374
Assumed issuance of contingent shares
-
 
-
 
4
 
8
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock and assumed issuance of contingent shares
33,714
 
36,397
 
33,871
 
36,382
Diluted
             
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock and assumed issuance of contingent shares
33,714
 
36,397
 
33,871
 
36,382
Effect of dilutive securities
428
 
366
 
327
 
425
Weighted-average number of shares of common stock, assumed issuance of contingent shares, and effect of dilutive securities
34,142
 
36,763
 
34,198
 
36,807

     Options to purchase an aggregate of 331,730 and 1,853,681 shares of common stock outstanding during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, were excluded from the diluted net earnings per share calculation because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the company’s common stock during the same respective periods. Options to purchase an aggregate of 679,875 and 1,853,681 shares of common stock outstanding during the year-to-date periods through the second quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, were excluded from the diluted net earnings per share calculations because their exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the company’s common stock during the same respective periods.


 
8

 

Goodwill

The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the first six months of fiscal 2010 were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
 
Professional
   
Residential
       
   
Segment
   
Segment
   
Total
 
Balance as of October 31, 2009
  $ 75,514     $ 10,893     $ 86,407  
Translation adjustment
    53       98       151  
Balance as of April 30, 2010
  $ 75,567     $ 10,991     $ 86,558  

Other Intangible Assets

The components of other amortizable intangible assets were as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
April 30, 2010
 
Estimated
Life (Years)
   
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net
 
Patents
    5-13     $ 8,703     $ (6,836 )   $ 1,867  
Non-compete agreements
    2-10       3,039       (1,703 )     1,336  
Customer related
    6-13       7,413       (1,683 )     5,730  
Developed technology
    2-10       13,950       (3,795 )     10,155  
Other
            800       (800 )      
   Total amortizable
            33,905       (14,817 )     19,088  
Non-amortizable -  Trade names
            5,281             5,281  
Total other intangible assets, net
          $ 39,186     $ (14,817 )   $ 24,369  

(Dollars in thousands)
October 31, 2009
 
Estimated
Life (Years)
   
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net
 
Patents
    5-13     $ 8,654     $ (6,641 )   $ 2,013  
Non-compete agreements
    2-10       2,839       (1,517 )     1,322  
Customer related
    10-13       6,549       (1,458 )     5,091  
Developed technology
    2-10       12,799       (3,182 )     9,617  
Other
            800       (800 )      
   Total amortizable
            31,641       (13,598 )     18,043  
Non-amortizable -  Trade names
            5,281             5,281  
Total other intangible assets, net
          $ 36,922     $ (13,598 )   $ 23,324  

     Amortization expense for intangible assets during the first six months of fiscal 2010 was $1.3 million. Estimated amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal 2010 and succeeding fiscal years is as follows: fiscal 2010 (remainder), $1.4 million; fiscal 2011, $2.9 million; fiscal 2012, $2.8 million; fiscal 2013, $2.6 million; fiscal 2014, $2.3 million; fiscal 2015, $2.1 million; and after fiscal 2015, $5.0 million.
 
Investment in Joint Venture

On August 12, 2009, the company and TCF Inventory Finance, Inc. (TCFIF), a subsidiary of TCF National Bank, established a joint venture in the form of a Delaware limited liability company named Red Iron Acceptance, LLC (Red Iron) to provide inventory financing, including floor plan and open account receivable financing, to distributors and dealers of the company’s products in the U.S. and to select distributors of the company’s products in Canada. The initial term of the joint venture will continue until October 31, 2014, subject to unlimited automatic two-year extensions thereafter. Either the company or TCFIF may elect not to extend the initial term or any subsequent term by giving one-year notice to the other party of its intention not to extend the term. Red Iron began financing floor plan receivables during the company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
     The company sells to Red Iron certain inventory receivables, including floor plan and open account receivables, from distributors and dealers of the company’s products, at a purchase price equal to the face value of the receivables. As the company sells receivables to Red Iron, the company derecognizes non-recourse receivables from its books upon receipt of cash from Red Iron for receivables sold. During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the company sold to Red Iron open account receivables for customers whose floor plan receivables were sold to Red Iron during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, as well as

 
9

 

for customers whose floor plan receivables were previously financed by a third party financing company, in the aggregate amount of $18.1 million.
     The company owns 45 percent of Red Iron and TCFIF owns 55 percent of Red Iron. The company accounts for its investment in Red Iron under the equity method of accounting. Each of the company and TCFIF contributed a specified amount of the estimated cash required to enable Red Iron to purchase the company’s inventory financing receivables and to provide financial support for Red Iron’s inventory financing programs. Red Iron borrows the remaining requisite estimated cash utilizing a $450 million secured revolving credit facility established under a credit agreement between Red Iron and TCFIF. The company’s total investment in Red Iron as of April 30, 2010 was $13.6 million. The company has not guaranteed the outstanding indebtedness of Red Iron. The company has agreed to repurchase products repossessed by Red Iron, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $7.5 million in a calendar year. In addition, the company provided recourse to Red Iron for certain outstanding receivables, which amounted to $0.5 million as of April 30, 2010.
     Red Iron purchased $399.4 million of receivables from the company during the first six months of fiscal 2010, which includes the initial purchase of open accounts receivable in the aggregate amount of $18.1 million. As of April 30, 2010, Red Iron’s total assets were $269.0 million and total liabilities were $238.7 million. Red Iron’s net income from operations since inception through April 30, 2010 was $0.5 million.

Segment Data

The presentation of segment information reflects the manner in which management organizes segments for making operating decisions and assessing performance. On this basis, the company has determined it has three reportable business segments: professional, residential, and distribution. The distribution segment, which consists of a wholly owned domestic distribution company, has been combined with our corporate activities and elimination of intersegment revenues and expenses that is shown as “Other” in the following tables.
     The following table shows the summarized financial information concerning the company’s reportable segments:

 
(Dollars in thousands)
                       
Three months ended April 30, 2010
 
Professional
   
Residential
   
Other
   
Total
 
Net sales
  $ 349,576     $ 210,098     $ 3,145     $ 562,819  
Intersegment gross sales
    6,258       59       (6,317 )     -  
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    67,603       25,113       (23,959 )     68,757  
                                 
Three months ended May 1, 2009
 
Professional
   
Residential
   
Other
   
Total
 
Net sales
  $ 310,377     $ 183,557     $ 5,918     $ 499,852  
Intersegment gross sales
    7,971       1,120       (9,091 )     -  
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    56,859       16,581       (17,383 )     56,057  
                                 
Six months ended April 30, 2010
 
Professional
   
Residential
   
Other
   
Total
 
Net sales
  $ 562,376     $ 326,854     $ 4,947     $ 894,177  
Intersegment gross sales
    8,370       321       (8,691 )     -  
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    93,413       38,540       (46,748 )     85,205  
Total assets
    491,307       212,857       281,825       985,989  
                                 
Six months ended May 1, 2009
 
Professional
   
Residential
   
Other
   
Total
 
Net sales
  $ 539,746     $ 290,581     $ 9,697     $ 840,024  
Intersegment gross sales
    10,942       889       (11,831 )     -  
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    86,988       21,421       (42,199 )     66,210  
Total assets
    526,061       243,224       242,059       1,011,344  


 
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     The following table presents the details of the Other segment operating loss before income taxes:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Corporate expenses
  $ (20,452 )   $ (17,437 )   $ (38,396 )   $ (39,813 )
Finance charge revenue
    -       343       -       521  
Elimination of corporate financing
  expense
    -       2,040       -       3,573  
Interest expense, net
    (4,271 )     (4,420 )     (8,516 )     (8,778 )
Other
    764       2,091       164       2,298  
Total
  $ (23,959 )   $ (17,383 )   $ (46,748 )   $ (42,199 )

Warranty Guarantees

The company’s products are warranted to ensure customer confidence in design, workmanship, and overall quality. Warranty coverage ranges from a period of six months to seven years, and generally covers parts, labor, and other expenses for non-maintenance repairs. Warranty coverage generally does not cover operator abuse or improper use. An authorized Toro distributor or dealer must perform warranty work. Distributors and dealers submit claims for warranty reimbursement and are credited for the cost of repairs, labor, and other expenses as long as the repairs meet prescribed standards. Warranty expense is accrued at the time of sale based on the estimated number of products under warranty, historical average costs incurred to service warranty claims, the trend in the historical ratio of claims to sales, the historical length of time between the sale and resulting warranty claim, and other minor factors. Special warranty reserves are also accrued for major rework campaigns. The company also sells extended warranty coverage on select products for a prescribed period after the factory warranty period expires.
     Warranty provisions, claims, and changes in estimates for the first six-month periods in fiscal 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Beginning
   
Warranty
   
Warranty
   
Changes in
   
Ending
 
Six Months Ended
 
Balance
   
Provisions
   
Claims
   
Estimates
   
Balance
 
April 30, 2010
  $ 54,273     $ 19,167     $ (12,972 )   $ 1,061     $ 61,529  
                                         
May 1, 2009
    58,770       18,611       (15,487 )     1,138       63,032  

Postretirement Benefit and Deferred Compensation Plans

The following table presents the components of net periodic benefit costs of the company’s postretirement medical and dental benefit plan:
   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Service cost
  $ 55     $ 54     $ 110     $ 108  
Interest cost
    101       175       202       350  
Prior service cost
    (49 )     (48 )     (97 )     (96 )
Amortization of losses
    30       48       60       96  
Net expense
  $ 137     $ 229     $ 275     $ 458  

As of April 30, 2010, the company had contributed approximately $0.2 million to its postretirement medical and dental benefit plan in fiscal 2010. The company expects to contribute a total of $0.3 million in fiscal 2010, including contributions made through April 30, 2010.
     The company maintains The Toro Company Investment, Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan for eligible employees. The company’s expenses under this plan were $4.4 million and $7.8 million for the second quarter and year-to-date periods in fiscal 2010, respectively, and $3.8 million and $7.6 million for the second quarter and year-to-date periods in fiscal 2009, respectively.
  The company also offers participants in the company’s deferred compensation plans the ability to invest their deferred compensation in multiple investment funds. The fair value of the investment in the deferred compensation plans as of April 30, 2010 was $15.9 million, which reduced the company’s deferred compensation liability reflected in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

 
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Income Taxes

The company is subject to U.S. federal income tax, as well as income tax of numerous state and foreign jurisdictions. The company is generally no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations for taxable years before fiscal 2006 and with limited exceptions, state and foreign income tax examinations for fiscal years before 2005. The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining the company’s income tax return for the 2006 fiscal year. It is possible that the examination phase of the audit may conclude in the next 12 months, and the related unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions taken may change from those recorded as liabilities for uncertain tax positions in the company’s financial statements as of April 30, 2010. Although the outcome of this matter cannot currently be determined, the company believes adequate provisions have been made for any potential unfavorable financial statement impact.
     As of April 30, 2010 and May 1, 2009, the company had $5.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of liabilities recorded related to unrecognized tax benefits. Accrued interest and penalties on these unrecognized tax benefits were $1.0 million and $0.9 million as of April 30, 2010 and May 1, 2009, respectively. The company recognizes potential interest and penalties related to income tax positions as a component of the provision for income taxes. To the extent interest and penalties are not assessed with respect to uncertain tax positions, the amounts accrued will be revised and reflected as an adjustment to the provision for income taxes. Included in the liability balance as of April 30, 2010 are approximately $3.9 million of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, will affect the company’s effective tax rate.
     The company does not anticipate that total unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly during the next 12 months.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business, such as sales to third party customers, sales and loans to wholly owned foreign subsidiaries, foreign plant operations, and purchases from suppliers. The company actively manages the exposure of its foreign currency market risk by entering into various hedging instruments, authorized under company policies that place controls on these activities, with counterparties that are highly rated financial institutions. The company’s hedging activities involve the primary use of forward currency contracts. The company uses derivative instruments only in an attempt to limit underlying exposure from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and to minimize earnings and cash flow volatility associated with foreign currency exchange rate changes. Decisions on whether to use such contracts are made based on the amount of exposure to the currency involved, and an assessment of the near-term market value for each currency. The company’s policy does not allow the use of derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. The company’s primary foreign currency exchange rate exposures are with the Euro, the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar, the British pound, the Mexican peso, and the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.
 
Cash flow hedges. The company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value on its consolidated balance sheet and formally documents relationships between cash flow hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives to the forecasted transactions, such as sales to third parties and foreign plant operations. Changes in the fair value of outstanding derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI), except for the ineffective portion, until net earnings is affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in net earnings. The consolidated statement of earnings classification of effective hedge results is the same as that of the underlying exposure. Results of hedges of sales and foreign plant operations are recorded in net sales and cost of sales, respectively, when the underlying hedged transaction affects net earnings. The maximum amount of time the company hedges its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted trade sales and purchases is two years.
     The company formally assesses at a hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis whether the derivatives that are used in the hedging transaction have been highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged items and whether those derivatives may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods. When it is determined that a derivative is not, or has ceased to be, highly effective as a hedge, the company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively. When the company discontinues hedge accounting because it is no longer probable, but it is still reasonably possible that the forecasted transaction will occur by the end of the originally expected period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter, the gain or loss on the derivative remains in accumulated other comprehensive loss (AOCL) and is reclassified to net earnings when the forecasted transaction affects net earnings. However, if it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period or within an additional two-month period of time thereafter, the gains and losses that were accumulated in OCI are recognized immediately in net earnings. In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, the company carries the derivative at its fair value on the balance sheet, recognizing future

 
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changes in the fair value in other income, net. For the second quarter of fiscal 2010, there were no gains or losses on contracts reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges. As of April 30, 2010, the notional amount outstanding of forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges was $38.8 million.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments. The company also enters into forward currency contracts to mitigate the change in fair value of specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of hedges of recorded balance sheet positions, such as cash, receivables, payables, intercompany notes, and other various contractual claims to pay or receive foreign currencies other than the functional currency, are recognized immediately in other income, net, on the consolidated statements of earnings together with the transaction gain or loss from the hedged balance sheet position.
     The following table presents the fair value of the company’s derivatives and consolidated balance sheet location.
 
 

 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
April 30, 2010
 
May 1, 2009
 
April 30, 2010
 
May 1, 2009
 
 
Balance
     
Balance
     
Balance
     
Balance
     
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
Sheet
 
Fair
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Location
 
Value
 
Location
 
Value
 
Location
 
Value
 
Location
 
Value
 
                                 
Derivatives Designated as
                             
Hedging Instruments
                               
                                 
Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid expenses
  $ -  
Prepaid expenses
  $ 1,245  
Accrued liabilities
  $ 412  
Accrued liabilities
  $ -  
                                         
Derivatives Not Designated
                                     
as Hedging Instruments
                                       
                                         
Foreign exchange contracts
Prepaid expenses
    -  
Prepaid expenses
    3,285  
Accrued liabilities
    186  
Accrued liabilities
    -  
                                         
Total Derivatives
    $ -       $ 4,530       $ 598       $ -  

         The following table presents the impact of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of earnings for the company’s derivatives designed as cash flow hedging instruments for the three and six months ended April 30, 2010 and May 1, 2009, respectively.

                           
Location of Gain (Loss)
 
Gain (Loss)
 
             
Location of Gain
           
Recognized in Income
 
Recognized in Income
 
   
Gain (Loss)
 
(Loss) Reclassified
 
Gain (Loss)
 
on Derivatives
 
on Derivatives
 
   
Recognized in OCI on
 
from AOCI
 
Reclassified from
 
(Ineffective Portion
 
(Ineffective Portion and
 
   
Derivatives
 
into Income
 
AOCI into Income
 
and excluded from
 
Excluded from
 
   
(Effective Portion)
 
(Effective Portion)
 
(Effective Portion)
 
Effectiveness Testing)
 
Effectiveness Testing)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
     
April 30,
   
May 1,
     
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
For the three months ended
 
2010
   
2009
     
2010
   
2009
     
2010
   
2009
 
Foreign exchange contracts
  $ 407     $ (1,071 )
Net sales
  $ (636 )   $ 5,655  
Other income, net
  $ (54 )   $ 729  
Foreign exchange contracts
    298       380  
Cost of sales
    134       (1,336 )                  
Total
  $ 705     $ (691 )     $ (502 )   $ 4,319                    
                                                     
                                                     
   
   April 30,
   
    May 1,
     
   April 30,
   
    May 1,
     
   April 30,
   
   May 1,
 
For the six months ended
    2010       2009         2010       2009         2010       2009  
Foreign exchange contracts
  $ (2,345 )   $ (1,061 )
Net sales
  $ (1,526 )   $ 8,396  
Other income, net
  $ (177 )   $ (499 )
Foreign exchange contracts
    251       1,687  
Cost of sales
    95       (2,246 )                  
Total
  $ (2,094 )   $ 626       $ (1,431 )   $ 6,150                    

     As of April 30, 2010, the company anticipates to reclassify approximately $0.7 million of losses from AOCL to earnings during the next 12 months.
     The following table presents the impact of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of earnings for the company’s derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.


   
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Net Earnings
   
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
Location of Gain (Loss)
April 30,
May 1,
April 30,
May 1,
(Dollars in thousands)
Recognized in Net Earnings
2010
2009
2010
2009
           
Foreign exchange contracts
Other income, net
 $3,369
 $(947)
 $4,202
 $2,782
 
 

 
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Fair Value Measurements

The company categorizes its assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions (inputs) used in valuing the asset or liability. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:
   Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
   Level 3 — Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.
     Cash and cash equivalents are valued at their carrying amounts in the consolidated balance sheets, which are reasonable estimates of their fair value due to their short maturities. Foreign currency forward exchange contracts are valued at fair market value using the market approach based on exchange rates as of the reporting date, which is the amount the company would receive or pay to terminate the contracts. The unfunded deferred compensation liability is primarily subject to changes in fixed-income investment contracts based on current yields.
     The company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not required to be measured on a recurring basis during the first quarter of fiscal 2010, as required. The company also adopted the provision of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06 for Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during the second quarter of fiscal 2010, as required. The adoption of these provisions had no impact on the company’s financial position or results of operations.
     Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of April 30, 2010, are summarized below:

(Dollars in thousands) 
 
Fair
Value
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
Assets:
                       
 Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 180,385     $ 180,385              
   Total Assets
  $ 180,385     $ 180,385              
Liabilities:
                               
 Foreign exchange contracts
  $ 598           $ 598        
 Deferred compensation liabilities
    5,401             5,401        
   Total Liabilities
  $ 5,999           $ 5,999        
 
 
Contingencies

Litigation

General. The company is party to litigation in the ordinary course of business. Litigation occasionally involves claims for punitive as well as compensatory damages arising out of use of the company’s products. Although the company is self-insured to some extent, the company maintains insurance against certain product liability losses. The company is also subject to administrative proceedings with respect to claims involving the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. Some of these claims assert damages and liability for remedial investigations and clean up costs. The company is also typically involved in commercial disputes, employment disputes, and patent litigation cases in the ordinary course of business. To prevent possible infringement of the company’s patents by others, the company periodically reviews competitors’ products. To avoid potential liability with respect to others’ patents, the company regularly reviews certain patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent offices. Management believes these activities help minimize its risk of being a defendant in patent infringement litigation. The company is currently involved in patent litigation cases, both where it is asserting patents and where it is defending against charges of infringement.


Lawnmower Engine Horsepower Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation. In June 2004, individuals who claim to have purchased lawnmowers in Illinois and Minnesota filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois state court against the company and other defendants alleging that the horsepower labels on the products the plaintiffs purchased were inaccurate. Those individuals later amended their complaint to add additional plaintiffs and an additional defendant. The plaintiffs asserted violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and state statutory and common law claims. The plaintiffs sought certification of a class of all persons in the United States who, beginning January 1, 1994 through the present, purchased a lawnmower containing a two-stroke or four-stroke gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold

 
14

 

by the defendants. The amended complaint also sought an injunction, unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, treble damages under RICO, and attorneys’ fees.
     In May 2006, the case was removed to federal court in the Southern District of Illinois. In August 2006, the company, together with the other defendants other than MTD Products Inc. (MTD), filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Also in August 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of a settlement agreement with MTD and certification of a settlement class. In December 2006, another defendant, American Honda Motor Company (Honda), notified the company and the other defendants that it had reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs.
     In May 2008, the court issued a memorandum and order that (i) dismissed the RICO claim in its entirety; (ii) dismissed all non-Illinois state-law claims but with instructions that such claims could be re-filed in local courts; and (iii) rejected the proposed settlement with MTD. The proposed Honda settlement was not under consideration by the court and was not addressed in the memorandum and order. Also in May 2008, the plaintiffs (i) re-filed the Illinois claims with the court; and (ii) filed non-Illinois claims in federal courts in the District of New Jersey and the Northern District of California with essentially the same state law claims.
     In June 2008, the plaintiffs filed a motion with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the MDL Panel) that (i) stated their intent to file lawsuits in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and (ii) sought to have all of the cases transferred for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In August 2008, the MDL Panel issued an order denying the transfer request. Additional lawsuits, some of which included additional plaintiffs, were filed in various federal and state courts asserting essentially the same state law claims. Lawsuits were subsequently filed in federal and state courts throughout the United States, which collectively assert claims under the laws of each state.
     In September 2008, the company and other defendants filed a motion with the MDL Panel that sought to transfer the multiple actions for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In early December 2008, the MDL Panel issued an order that (i) transferred 23 lawsuits, which collectively asserted claims under the laws of 16 states, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings; (ii) selected the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin as the transferee district; and (iii) provided that additional lawsuits will be treated as “tag-along” actions in accordance with its rules.
     An initial hearing was held in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in January 2009. At that hearing, the Court (i) appointed lead plaintiffs’ counsel, and (ii) entered a stay of all litigation so that the parties could explore mediation. Formal mediation proceedings were commenced, settlement discussions were conducted, and ultimately all defendants entered into various settlement agreements with the plaintiffs in February 2010. The settlement agreement entered into by the company and certain other defendants provides for, among other things, (i) a monetary settlement, (ii) an additional warranty period for some engines that are subject to the litigation, and (iii) injunctive relief relating to power rating labeling practices. The plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement and certification of a settlement class, and the court granted the motion. The settlement is not final for all purposes until after members of the proposed settlement class receive notice of the settlement, the Court determines that the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, and applicable appeal periods expire without appeal. The Court has scheduled a hearing in June 2010, at which it is expected that the Court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. At this time, management is unable to provide assurance that the Court will approve the settlement or that the settlement will become final for all purposes.
     In March 2010, individuals who claim to have purchased lawnmowers in Canada filed class action litigation against the company and other defendants that (i) contains allegations under applicable Canadian law that are similar to the allegations made by the United States plaintiffs, (ii) seeks certification of a class of all persons in Canada who, beginning January 1, 1994 through the present, purchased a lawnmower containing a gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold by the defendants, and (iii) seeks under applicable Canadian law unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ costs and fees, and equitable relief.
     Management continues to evaluate this litigation. If the settlement with the United States plaintiffs becomes final, the company’s obligations under the settlement agreement will not have a material adverse effect on the company’s operating results or financial position. The expected costs of the company’s settlement obligations are consistent with accruals established in prior periods. In the event the settlement with the United States plaintiffs does not become final for all purposes or in the event that the company is unable to favorably resolve the Canadian litigation, management is unable to assess at this time whether this litigation would have a material adverse effect on the company’s annual consolidated operating results or financial condition, although an unfavorable resolution or outcome could be material to the company’s consolidated operating results for a particular period.

Subsequent Events
The company evaluated all subsequent events and concluded that no additional subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the financial statements or disclosure in the notes to the financial statements.

 
15

 

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

Nature of Operations

The Toro Company is in the business of designing, manufacturing, and marketing professional turf maintenance equipment and services, turf and agricultural micro-irrigation systems, landscaping equipment, and residential yard and snow removal products. We sell our products through a network of distributors, dealers, hardware retailers, home centers, mass retailers, and over the Internet. Our businesses are organized into three reportable business segments: professional, residential, and distribution. Our distribution segment, which consists of our company-owned domestic distribution company, has been combined with our corporate activities. Our emphasis is to provide innovative, well-built, and dependable products supported by an extensive service network. A significant portion of our revenues has historically been, and we expect it to continue to be, attributable to new and enhanced products.
     The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 should be read in conjunction with the MD&A included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

Our results for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were generally positive with a net sales growth rate of 12.6 percent and a net earnings growth rate of 23.9 percent compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Year-to-date net earnings increased 29.8 percent in fiscal 2010 compared to the same period in the last fiscal year on a year-to-date sales growth rate of 6.4 percent. Shipments of most professional segment products were up primarily from improved economic conditions, increased demand for our products, the successful introduction of new products, and customers who aligned their orders closer to retail demand. Net sales of micro-irrigation products continued to gain momentum with our investment in addition manufacturing capacity to increase production of our water conserving products to meet the growing worldwide market demand. Residential segment net sales also increased due to favorable weather conditions, as well as increased demand and additional product placement for riding products. In addition, shipments of snow thrower products were up for the second quarter and year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year due to increased demand from heavy snow falls during the winter season of 2009-2010 and the timing of the introduction of our new redesigned offering of snow thrower products that shipped to customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Net earnings as a percentage of net sales rose to 8.1 percent and 6.3 percent in the second quarter and year-to-date period of fiscal 2010, respectively, compared to 7.4 percent and 5.2 percent in the second quarter and year-to-date period of fiscal 2009, respectively. Higher gross margins, leveraging of selling, general, and administrative expenses, and a lower effective tax rate also contributed to the earnings improvement.
     We continued to focus on reducing working capital and improving asset management. As a result of our efforts, as of the end of our fiscal 2010 second quarter we achieved our long-term goal to reduce average net working capital (accounts receivable plus inventory less trade payables) as a percentage of net sales to below 20 percent, or “in the teens.” Our average net working capital as a percentage of net sales for the twelve months ended April 30, 2010 was 19.0 percent. The impact of our efforts to reduce working capital resulted in a significant improvement of our cash flows from operating activities for the first six months of fiscal 2010 compared to the first six months of fiscal 2009. We also paid a cash dividend of $0.18 per share during the second quarter of fiscal 2010, which was an increase of 20 percent over our cash dividend of $0.15 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
     Our fiscal 2010 second quarter financial results were positive, and we are generally optimistic that the positive momentum from our second quarter should continue through the remainder of fiscal 2010. We are off to a good start with our new one-year initiative, “5 in One: Back on Course,” which is intended to guide us through this year of anticipated recovery with an even stronger focus on the customer and a single financial goal: five percent profit after tax as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2010. We believe we have taken the necessary proactive measures through our continued focus on asset management, reductions to our cost structure, and our commitment to product innovation, to position us well to benefit if our markets continue to improve. We will continue to keep a cautionary eye on the global economies, and particularly Europe, retail demand, field inventory levels, commodity prices, weather, competitive actions, and other factors identified below under the heading “Forward-Looking Information,” which could cause our actual results to differ from our outlook.


 
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Net Earnings

Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were $45.7 million, or $1.34 per diluted share, compared to $36.9 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2009, resulting in net earnings per diluted share increase of 34.0 percent. Year-to-date net earnings in fiscal 2010 were $56.6 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, compared to $43.6 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, last fiscal year, resulting in net earnings per diluted share increase of 39.8 percent. The primary factors contributing to these earnings improvement were higher sales volumes, an increase in gross margin, and a lower effective tax rate, somewhat offset by an increase in SG&A expense. In addition, second quarter and year-to-date fiscal 2010 net earnings per diluted share were benefited by approximately $0.10 per share and $0.11 per share, respectively, compared to the same periods in fiscal 2009, as a result of reduced shares outstanding from repurchases of our common stock.
     The following table summarizes the major operating costs and other income as a percentage of net sales:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
   
April 30,
   
May 1,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    (66.7 )     (67.7 )     (66.0 )     (66.7 )
  Gross margin
    33.3       32.3       34.0       33.3  
SG&A expense
    (20.5 )     (20.5 )     (23.7 )     (24.6 )
Interest expense
    (0.8 )     (0.9 )     (1.0 )     (1.0 )
Other income, net
    0.2       0.3       0.2       0.2  
Provision for income taxes
    (4.1 )     (3.8 )     (3.2 )     (2.7 )
  Net earnings
    8.1 %     7.4 %     6.3 %     5.2 %

Net Sales

Worldwide consolidated net sales for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 were up 12.6 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, from the same periods in the prior fiscal year. Worldwide professional segment net sales were up 12.6 percent and 4.2 percent for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year. Shipments of most professional segment products were up as a result of improved economic conditions, the successful introduction of new products, and customers who aligned their orders closer to retail demand, all of which resulted in increased demand for our products. Retail sales increased for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in fiscal 2009, mainly as the result of increased retail demand for landscape contractor equipment. Professional segment field inventory levels were down as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Net sales of micro-irrigation products were up due to our investments in additional manufacturing capacity that increased production of our water conserving products to meet the growing worldwide market demand. Residential segment net sales increased 14.5 percent and 12.5 percent for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010, respectively, compared to the same periods in fiscal 2009 as a result of favorable weather conditions, increased demand and additional product placement for riding products, and the introduction of our new cordless electric walk power mower. In addition, shipments of snow thrower products were up for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year due to increased demand from heavy snow falls during the winter season of 2009-2010 and the timing of the introduction of our new redesigned offering of snow thrower products that shipped to customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Net sales of Pope irrigation products sold in Australia also increased for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 compared to the year-to-date period of fiscal 2009 as a result of dry weather conditions in that region. International net sales for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 increased 13.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, from the same periods in the prior fiscal year due in part to a weaker U.S. dollar compared to other currencies in which we transact business that accounted for approximately $4.7 million and $14.2 million of additional net sales for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010, respectively.

 
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Gross Profit

As a percentage of net sales, gross profit for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 increased to 33.3 percent compared to 32.3 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Gross profit as a percent of net sales for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 also increased to 34.0 percent compared to 33.3 percent for year-to-date period of fiscal 2009. These improvements were due to the following factors: (i) lower average commodity costs in the first half of fiscal 2010 compared to the first half of fiscal 2009, primarily from lower steel and aluminum costs; (ii) lower manufacturing costs from increased plant utilization due to increased demand for our products; (iii) a weaker U.S. dollar compared to other currencies in which we transact business; and (iv) resulting effects from cost reduction efforts implemented in fiscal 2009. Somewhat offsetting those positive factors was an increase in freight expense.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expense

SG&A expense increased $13.1 million, or 12.8 percent, for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009 due to an increase in employee incentive compensation expense, but was even as a percentage of net sales at 20.5 percent as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2009. SG&A expense increased $5.1 million, or 2.5 percent for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 compared to the year-to-date period of fiscal 2009. SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 decreased to 23.7 percent compared to 24.6 percent for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2009. This decrease was primarily attributable to our leaner cost structure resulting from cost reduction efforts taken in fiscal 2009, costs incurred in fiscal 2009 for workforce adjustments of $2.1 million that were not duplicated in fiscal 2010, and a decrease in bad debt expense of $1.1 million. Somewhat offsetting those decreases was an increase in employee incentive compensation expense of $9.0 million from anticipated improved financial performance in fiscal 2010, as compared to fiscal 2009.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 decreased 3.4 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year as a result of lower average debt levels.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 decreased $0.6 million and $0.5 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year. These decreases were due to lower foreign currency exchange rate gains, a decrease in finance charge revenue, somewhat offset by income from our investment in Red Iron.

Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the second quarter and year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 was 33.6 percent compared to 34.2 percent for the same periods in fiscal 2009. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily the result of a valuation allowance for foreign net operating losses and provision adjustments in fiscal 2009, somewhat offset by the expiration of the domestic research tax credit.
 
 
BUSINESS SEGMENTS

As described previously, we operate in three reportable business segments: professional, residential, and distribution. Our distribution segment, which consists of our wholly owned domestic distribution company, has been combined with our corporate activities that is shown as “Other” in the following tables. Operating earnings for our professional and residential segments are defined as earnings from operations plus other income, net. Operating loss for “Other” includes earnings (loss) from operations, corporate activities, other income, net, and interest expense.

 
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     The following table summarizes net sales by segment:
   
Three Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
             
   
2010
   
2009
   
$ Change
   
% Change
 
Professional
  $ 349,576     $ 310,377     $ 39,199       12.6 %
Residential
    210,098       183,557       26,541       14.5  
Other
    3,145       5,918       (2,773 )     (46.9 )
Total *
  $ 562,819     $ 499,852     $ 62,967       12.6 %
                                 
* Includes international sales of:
  $ 168,883     $ 148,756     $ 20,127       13.5 %
       
   
Six Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   April 30,
   
    May 1,
                 
      2010       2009    
$ Change
   
% Change
 
Professional
  $ 562,376     $ 539,746     $ 22,630       4.2 %
Residential
    326,854       290,581       36,273       12.5  
Other
    4,947       9,697       (4,750 )     (49.0 )
Total *
  $ 894,177     $ 840,024     $ 54,153       6.4 %
                                 
* Includes international sales of:
  $ 297,266     $ 279,147     $ 18,119       6.5 %

     The following table summarizes operating earnings (loss) before income taxes by segment:

   
Three Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
April 30,
   
May 1,
             
   
2010
   
2009
   
$ Change
   
% Change
 
Professional
  $ 67,603     $ 56,859     $ 10,744       18.9 %
Residential
    25,113       16,581       8,532       51.5  
Other
    (23,959 )     (17,383 )     (6,576 )     (37.8 )
Total
  $ 68,757     $ 56,057     $ 12,700       22.7 %
       
   
Six Months Ended
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
    April 30,
   
    May 1,
                 
      2010       2009    
$ Change
   
% Change
 
Professional
  $ 93,413     $ 86,988     $ 6,425       7.4 %
Residential
    38,540       21,421       17,119       79.9  
Other
    (46,748 )     (42,199 )     (4,549 )     (10.8 )
Total
  $ 85,205     $ 66,210     $ 18,995       28.7 %

Professional
 
Net Sales. Worldwide net sales for the professional segment in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 increased 12.6 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year. Shipments of most professional segment products were up as a result of improved economic conditions, increased demand for our products, the successful introduction of new products, and customers who aligned their orders closer to retail demand. Retail sales increased for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in fiscal 2009, mainly as the result of increased retail demand for landscape contractor equipment. Professional segment field inventory levels were down as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009. Net sales of micro-irrigation products were up due to our investments in additional manufacturing capacity that increased production of our water conserving products to meet the growing worldwide market demand.

 
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Operating Earnings. Operating earnings for the professional segment in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 increased 18.9 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, professional segment operating margin increased to 19.3 percent compared to 18.3 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, and fiscal 2010 year-to-date professional segment operating margin also increased to 16.6 percent compared to 16.1 percent from the same period in the last fiscal year. These profit improvements were primarily attributable to higher gross margins due to the same factors discussed previously in the Gross Profit section. In addition, a decline in SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales also contributed to the operating earnings improvement, which was due mainly to leveraging SG&A costs over higher sales volumes.

Residential
 
Net Sales. Worldwide net sales for the residential segment in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 increased 14.5 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year. These sales increases were due mainly to favorable weather conditions, additional product placement for riding products, and the introduction of our new cordless electric walk power mower, all of which contributed to an increase in demand for our products. In addition, shipments of snow thrower products were up for the second quarter and year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in the prior fiscal year due to increased demand from heavy snow falls during the winter season of 2009-2010 and the timing of the introduction of our new redesigned offering of snow thrower products that shipped to customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Net sales of Pope irrigation products sold in Australia also increased for the year-to-date period of fiscal 2010 compared to the year-to-date period of fiscal 2009 as a result of dry weather conditions in that region.
 
Operating Earnings. Operating earnings for the residential segment in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 increased 51.5 percent and 79.9 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year. Expressed as a percentage of net sales, residential segment operating margin increased to 12.0 percent compared to 9.0 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, and fiscal 2010 year-to-date residential segment operating margin increased to 11.8 percent compared to 7.4 percent last fiscal year. These profit improvements were due to higher gross margins primarily from lower average commodity costs in the first half of fiscal 2010 compared to the first half of fiscal 2009, a weaker U.S. dollar compared to other currencies in which we transact business, resulting effects of cost reduction efforts implemented in fiscal 2009, and increased sales volumes of higher-margin products. Somewhat offsetting the profit improvements were higher freight expense and an increase in SG&A expense.

Other
 
Net Sales. Net sales for the other segment include sales from our wholly owned domestic distribution company less sales from the professional and residential segments to that distribution company. In fiscal 2009, “Other” also included elimination of the professional and residential segments’ floor plan interest costs from Toro Credit Company (TCC), our wholly owned financing company. With the establishment of Red Iron, net sales for the “Other” segment no longer includes corporate financing activities, including the elimination of floor plan costs from TCC, which results in lower net sales for the other segment. Net sales for the “Other” segment were down for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year by $2.8 million, or 46.9 percent, and $4.8 million, or 49.0 percent, respectively, as a result of the elimination of TCC floor plan interest costs, as well as lower net sales at our wholly owned distributorship.
 
Operating Losses. Operating losses for the other segment were up for the second quarter and year-to-date periods of fiscal 2010 by $6.6 million, or 37.8 percent, and $4.5 million, or 10.8 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in the last fiscal year. These loss increases were primarily attributable to an increase in employee incentive compensation expense due to anticipated improved financial performance in fiscal 2010, as compared to fiscal 2009, lower foreign currency exchange rate gains, and the elimination of TCC floor plan interest costs, as described above. Somewhat offsetting those factors was overall reduced spending from our leaner cost structure as a result of actions we implemented in fiscal 2009, as well as elimination of costs incurred in fiscal 2009 for workforce adjustments.


 
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FINANCIAL POSITION

Working Capital

We have taken proactive measures to improve working capital utilization, including adjusting production plans, controlling costs, and managing our assets. As such, our financial condition remains strong. We continue to place emphasis on asset management, with a focus on minimizing the amount of working capital in the supply chain and maintaining or improving order replenishment and service levels to end users. In connection with the establishment of Red Iron, our financing joint venture with TCFIF, we sold certain receivables, including floor plan and open account receivables, from most U.S. and Canadian distributors and dealers of our products at a purchase price equal to the face value of the receivables or the purchase price paid for such receivables. Red Iron generally began financing floor plan receivables in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. Red Iron also began financing open account receivables, as well as floor plan receivables previously financed by a third party financing company, during our first quarter of fiscal 2010. The sale of these receivables enables us to use our working capital for other strategic purposes, such as strategic acquisitions, research and development of innovative new products, improvements in the quality and performance of existing products, and general corporate purposes.
     Receivables as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were down 36.0 percent compared to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009, and our average days sales outstanding for receivables improved to 50 days based on sales for the last twelve months ended April 30, 2010, compared to 69 days for the twelve months ended May 1, 2009. These improvements were due mainly to the sale of our floor plan receivables and certain open account receivables to Red Iron. Inventory was also down as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010 by 19.2 percent compared to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009 as a result of our asset management efforts, and average inventory turnover improved 19.0 percent for the twelve months ended April 30, 2010 compared to the twelve months ended May 1, 2009. In addition, as part of our working capital initiative, accounts payable increased as of the end of our second quarter of fiscal 2010 by $72.7 million, driven by our supply chain initiatives and higher levels of production due to increased demand for our products. As a result of these efforts, as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010 we achieved our long-term goal to reduce average net working capital (accounts receivable plus inventory less trade payables) as a percentage of net sales to below 20 percent, or “in the teens.” Our average net working capital as a percentage of net sales for the twelve months ended April 30, 2010 was 19.0 percent.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our businesses are working capital intensive and require funding for purchases of raw materials used in production, replacement parts inventory, payroll and other administrative costs, capital expenditures, expansion and upgrading of existing facilities, as well as receivables from customers that are not financed with Red Iron. We believe that anticipated cash generated from operations, together with our fixed rate long-term debt, bank credit lines, and cash on hand, will provide us with adequate liquidity to meet our anticipated operating requirements. One of the purposes of establishing Red Iron was to free up our working capital for other strategic purposes, which may include, among other things, strategic acquisitions, research and development of innovative new products, improvements in the quality and performance of existing products, and general corporate purposes. We believe that the funds available through existing financing arrangements and forecasted cash flows will be sufficient to provide the necessary capital resources for our anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures, investments, debt repayments, and quarterly cash dividend payments for at least the next twelve months.
     Our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.18 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 paid on April 12, 2010, which was an increase of 20 percent over our cash dividend of $0.15 per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2009.
 
 
Cash Flow. The first half of our fiscal year historically used more operating cash than the second half of our fiscal year. However, as a result of our efforts to reduce working capital, we generated cash from operating activities in the amount of $80.8 million during the first six months of fiscal 2010 compared to cash used in operating activities in the amount of $72.9 million during the first six months of fiscal 2009. This improvement was due to declines in receivables and inventory levels and an increase in accounts payable, as previously discussed, as well as higher net earnings, all for the first six months of fiscal 2010 compared to the first six months of fiscal 2009. Cash used in investing activities was up by $15.6 million compared to the first six months of fiscal 2009, due mainly to an increase in investments in affiliates and cash utilized for acquisitions. Cash used in financing activities for the first six months of fiscal 2010 was $53.5 million compared to cash provided by financing activities for the first six months of fiscal 2009 of $20.1 million. During the first half of fiscal 2010, we repurchased $54.1 million of our common stock compared to $4.8 million of common stock repurchases during the first six months of fiscal 2009. In addition, we did not have any short-term debt outstanding under our revolving credit facility as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2010, whereas we had $32.9 million of short-term debt outstanding as of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2009.


 
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Credit Lines and Other Capital Resources. Our businesses are seasonal, with accounts receivable balances historically increasing between January and April, as a result of higher sales volumes and payment terms made available to our customers and decreasing between May and December when payments are received. The seasonality of production and shipments causes our working capital requirements to fluctuate during the year. Seasonal cash requirements are financed from operations, cash on hand, and with short-term financing arrangements, including a $225.0 million unsecured senior five-year revolving credit facility that expires in January 2012. Interest expense on this credit line is determined based on a LIBOR rate plus a basis point spread defined in the credit agreement. In addition, our non-U.S. operations maintain unsecured short-term lines of credit of approximately $15 million. These facilities bear interest at various rates depending on the rates in their respective countries of operation. We also have a letter of credit subfacility as part of our credit agreement. As of April 30, 2010, we had $10.4 million of outstanding standby letters of credit. We had no outstanding short-term debt as of April 30, 2010 and $32.9 million outstanding short-term debt as of May 1, 2009, under these lines of credit. As of April 30, 2010, we had $240 million of unutilized availability under our credit agreements. In addition, we had $0.5 million in short-term debt for certain receivables we provided recourse to Red Iron as of April 30, 2010.
     Significant financial covenants in our credit agreement include interest coverage and debt-to-capitalization ratios. We were in compliance with all covenants related to our credit agreements as of April 30, 2010, and expect to be in compliance with all covenants during the remainder of fiscal 2010.
 
 
Customer Financing Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

Third party financing companies and Red Iron purchased $416.3 million of receivables from us during the first six months of fiscal 2010, and $236.5 million was outstanding as of April 30, 2010. See our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details regarding our customer financing arrangements and contractual obligations.

Inflation

We are subject to the effects of inflation and changing prices. In the first half of fiscal 2010, average prices paid for commodities we purchase, primarily steel and aluminum, were lower compared to the average prices paid for commodities in the first half of fiscal 2009, which benefited our gross margin rate in the first six months of fiscal 2010 compared to the first six months of fiscal 2009. We will continue to closely follow the commodities that affect our product lines, and we anticipate average prices paid for commodities to be slightly higher for the remainder of fiscal 2010 as compared to fiscal 2009. We plan to attempt to mitigate the impact of any inflationary pressures by engaging in proactive vendor negotiations, reviewing alternative sourcing options, substituting materials, engaging in internal cost reduction efforts, and increasing prices on some of our products, as appropriate.

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

See our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 for a discussion of our critical accounting policies.

New Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2010-06, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820).” ASU No. 2010-06 requires new disclosures about recurring and nonrecurring fair-value measurements including significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value measurements and a description of the reasons for the transfers. In addition, ASU No. 2010-06 requires new disclosures regarding activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, including information on purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair-value measurements. We adopted the provision of ASU No. 2010-06 for Level 1 and Level 2 fair-value measurements in our second fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2010, as required. We will adopt the provision of ASU No. 2010-06 for Level 3 fair-value measurements for our second fiscal quarter beginning on January 30, 2011, as required. We do not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2010-06 will have a material impact on our disclosures for fair-value measurements.
     In December 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets,” which amends Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 860, “Transfers and Servicing (FASB Statement No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140).” This ASU eliminates the qualifying special purpose entities from the consolidation guidance and clarifies the requirements for isolation and limitations on portions of financial assets that are eligible for sale accounting. It requires additional disclosures about the risks from continuing involvement in transferred financial

 
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assets accounted for as sales. We will adopt ASU No. 2009-16 on November 1, 2010, as required. The adoption is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
     In December 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-17, “Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities,” which amends ASC 810, “Consolidation (FASB Statement No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)).” This ASU requires a qualitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE). The analysis identifies the primary beneficiary as the enterprise that has both the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the VIE. The ASU also requires additional disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement in a VIE. We will adopt ASU No. 2009-17 on November 1, 2010, as required. The adoption is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
      No other new accounting pronouncement that has been issued but not yet effective for us during fiscal 2010 has had or is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Forward-Looking Information

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains not only historical information, but also forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that are subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. In addition, we or others on our behalf may make forward-looking statements from time to time in oral presentations, including telephone conferences and/or web casts open to the public, in press releases or reports, on our web sites, or otherwise. Statements that are not historical are forward-looking and reflect expectations and assumptions. We try to identify forward-looking statements in this report and elsewhere by using words such as “expect,” “strive,” “looking ahead,” “outlook,” ”forecast,” “optimistic,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” ”will,” ”would,” “may,” “possible,” “likely,” “intend,” and similar expression and the use of future dates. Our forward-looking statements generally relate to our future performance, including our anticipated operating results and liquidity requirements, our business strategies and goals, and the effect of laws, rules, regulations, and new accounting pronouncements and outstanding litigation, on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. These risks and uncertainties include factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market as well as matters specific to Toro. The following are some of the factors known to us that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what we have anticipated in our forward-looking statements:
·
Economic conditions and outlook in the United States and around the world could adversely affect our net sales and earnings, which includes but is not limited to recessionary conditions in the U.S. and other regions around the world and worldwide slow or negative economic growth rates; slow down or reductions in levels of golf course development, renovation, and improvement; slow down or reductions in levels of home ownership, construction, and home sales; consumer spending levels; credit availability or credit terms for our distributors, dealers, and end-user customers; short-term, mortgage, and other interest rates; unemployment rates; inflation; consumer confidence; and general economic and political conditions and expectations in the U.S. and the foreign economies in which we conduct business.
·
Increases in the cost or disruption in the availability of raw materials and components that we purchase and increases in our other costs of doing business, including transportation costs, may adversely affect our profit margins and business.
·
Weather conditions may reduce demand for some of our products and adversely affect our net sales.
·
Our professional segment net sales are dependent upon the level of residential and commercial construction, the level of homeowners’ outsourcing lawn care, the amount of investment in golf course renovations and improvements, new golf course development, golf course closures, availability of credit on acceptable credit terms to finance product purchases, and the level of government and municipal revenue, budget, and spending levels for grounds maintenance equipment and other factors.
·
Our residential segment net sales are dependent upon consumer spending levels, consumer confidence, home construction and existing home sales, the amount of product placement at retailers, changing buying patterns of customers, and The Home Depot, Inc. as a major customer.
·
If we are unable to continue to enhance existing products and develop and market new products that respond to customer needs and preferences and achieve market acceptance, or if we experience unforeseen product quality or other problems in the development, production, or use of new and existing products, we may experience a decrease in demand for our products, and our business could suffer.

 
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·
We face intense competition in all of our product lines with numerous manufacturers, including from some competitors that have greater operations and financial resources than us. We may not be able to compete effectively against competitors’ actions, which could harm our business and operating results.
·
A significant percentage of our consolidated net sales are generated outside of the United States, and we intend to continue to expand our international operations. Our international operations require significant management attention and financial resources, expose us to difficulties presented by international economic, cultural, political, legal, accounting, and business factors; and may not be successful or produce desired levels of net sales.
·
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could result in declines in our reported net sales and net earnings.
·
We manufacture our products at and distribute our products from several locations in the United States and internationally. Any disruption at any of these facilities or our inability to cost-effectively expand existing and/or move production between manufacturing facilities could adversely affect our business and operating results.
·
We intend to grow our business in part through additional acquisitions, alliances, stronger customer relations, and new joint ventures and partnerships, which are risky and could harm our business, particularly if we are not able to successfully integrate such acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures, and partnerships.
·
We rely on our management information systems for inventory management, distribution, and other functions. If our information systems fail to adequately perform these functions or if we experience an interruption in their operation, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
·
As a result of our recently established financing joint venture with TCFIF, we are dependent upon the joint venture to provide competitive inventory financing programs, including floor plan and open account receivable financing, to certain distributors and dealers of our products. Any material change in the availability or terms of credit offered to our customers by the joint venture, any termination or disruption of our joint venture relationship or any delay in securing replacement credit sources could adversely affect our net sales and operating results.
·
A portion of our international net sales are financed by third parties. The termination of our agreements with these third parties, any material change to the terms of our agreements with these third parties or in the availability or terms of credit offered to our international customers by these third parties, or any delay in securing replacement credit sources, could adversely affect our sales and operating results.
·
Our reliance upon patents, trademark laws, and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient to protect our intellectual property from others who may sell similar products. Our products may infringe the proprietary rights of others.
·
Our business, properties, and products are subject to governmental regulation with which compliance may require us to incur expenses or modify our products or operations and non-compliance may expose us to penalties. Governmental regulation may also adversely affect the demand for some of our products and our operating results.
·
Legislative enactments could impact the competitive landscape within our markets and affect demand for our products.
·
We are subject to product liability claims, product quality issues, and other litigation from time to time that could adversely affect our operating results or financial condition, including without limitation the pending litigation against us and other defendants that challenges the horsepower labels on the products the plaintiffs purchased were inaccurate. In the event that settlement discussions with the United States plaintiffs do not result in a court approved settlement agreement or in the event that the company is unable to favorably resolve the Canadian litigation and one or more of these lawsuits go to trial, even if the plaintiffs’ claims are found to be without merit, we have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, substantial costs in defending the lawsuits. The lawsuits could divert the time and attention of our management and could result in adverse publicity, either of which could significantly harm our operating results and financial condition. In addition, an unfavorable resolution or outcome could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or financial condition.
·
If we are unable to retain our key employees, and attract and retain other qualified personnel, we may not be able to meet strategic objectives and our business could suffer.
·
The terms of our credit arrangements and the indentures governing our senior notes and debentures could limit our ability to conduct our business, take advantage of business opportunities, and respond to changing business, market, and economic conditions. Additionally, we are subject to counterparty risk in our credit arrangements. If we are unable to comply with the terms of our credit arrangements and indentures, especially the financial covenants, our credit arrangements could be terminated and our senior notes and debentures could become due and payable.
·
Our business is subject to a number of other factors that may adversely affect our operating results, financial condition, or business, such as natural or man-made disasters or global pandemics that may result in shortages of raw materials, higher fuel costs, and an increase in insurance premiums; financial viability of our distributors and dealers, changes in distributor ownership, changes in channel distribution of our products, relationships with our distribution channel partners, our success in partnering with new dealers, and our customers’ ability to pay amounts owed to us; ability of management to adapt to unplanned events; drug cartel-related violence, which may disrupt our production activities and maquiladora operations based in Juarez, Mexico; and continued threat of terrorist acts and war that may result in heightened security and higher costs for import and export shipments of components or finished goods, reduced leisure travel, and contraction of the U.S. and world economies.
 
 
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For more information regarding these and other uncertainties and factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from what we have anticipated in our forward-looking statements or otherwise could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results, see our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
     All forward-looking statements included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement which speaks only as of the date made and to recognize that forward-looking statements are predictions of future results, which may not occur as anticipated. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and uncertainties described above, as well as others that we may consider immaterial or do not anticipate at this time. The foregoing risks and uncertainties are not exclusive and further information concerning the company and our businesses, including factors that potentially could materially affect our financial results or condition, may emerge from time to time. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements. We advise you, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our future annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk stemming from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity prices. Changes in these factors could cause fluctuations in our net earnings and cash flows. See further discussions on these market risks below. We are also exposed to equity market risk pertaining to the trading price of our common stock.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk. In the normal course of business, we actively manage the exposure of our foreign currency exchange rate market risk by entering into various hedging instruments, authorized under company policies that place controls on these activities, with counterparties that are highly rated financial institutions. Our hedging activities involve the primary use of forward currency contracts. We use derivative instruments only in an attempt to limit underlying exposure from currency fluctuations and to minimize earnings and cash flow volatility associated with foreign currency exchange rate changes and not for trading purposes. We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk arising from transactions in the normal course of business, such as sales and loans to wholly owned foreign subsidiaries, foreign plant operations, and purchases from suppliers. Because our products are manufactured or sourced primarily from the United States and Mexico, a stronger U.S. dollar and Mexican peso generally has a negative impact on our results from operations, while a weaker dollar and peso generally has a positive effect. Our primary currency exchange rate exposures are with the Euro, the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar, the British pound, the Mexican peso, and the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar.
     We enter into various contracts, principally forward contracts that change in value as foreign currency exchange rates change, to protect the value of existing foreign currency assets, liabilities, anticipated sales, and probable commitments. Decisions on whether to use such contracts are made based on the amount of exposures to the currency involved and an assessment of the near-term market value for each currency. Worldwide foreign currency exchange rate exposures are reviewed monthly. The gains and losses on these contracts offset changes in market values of the related exposures. Therefore, changes in market values of these hedge instruments are highly correlated with changes in market values of underlying hedged items both at inception of the hedge and over the life of the hedge contract. Additional information regarding gains and losses on our derivative instruments is presented in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in the section entitled “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”
 
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     The following foreign currency exchange contracts held by us have maturity dates in fiscal 2010 and 2011. All items are non-trading and stated in U.S. dollars. Some derivative instruments we enter into do not meet the cash flow hedging criteria; therefore, changes in fair value are recorded in other income, net. The average contracted rate, notional amount, pre-tax value of derivative instruments in accumulated other comprehensive loss, and fair value impact of derivative instruments in other income, net as of and for the fiscal period ended April 30, 2010 were as follows:
 
 
 
Dollars in thousands
(except average contracted rate)
 
 
Average
Contracted
Rate
   
 
 
Notional
Amount
   
Value in
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
 
Fair Value
Impact
Gain (Loss)
 
Buy US dollar/Sell Australian dollar
    0.8411     $ 30,732.1     $ (1,676.4 )   $ (2,419.6 )
Buy US dollar/Sell Canadian dollar
    0.9457       5,154.0       (248.3 )     (182.3 )
Buy US dollar/Sell Euro
    1.3604       66,385.3       1,105.7       913.0  
Buy US dollar/Sell British pound
    1.5194       3,342.6       -       0.6  
Buy Mexican peso/Sell US dollar
    12.7404       12,950.9       155.8       (45.8 )
 
     Our net investment in foreign subsidiaries translated into U.S. dollars is not hedged. Any changes in foreign currency exchange rates would be reflected as a foreign currency translation adjustment, a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity, and would not impact net earnings.

Interest Rate Risk. Our market risk on interest rates relates primarily to LIBOR-based short-term debt from commercial banks, as well as the potential increase in fair value of long-term debt resulting from a potential decrease in interest rates. However, we do not have a cash flow or earnings exposure due to market risks on long-term debt. We generally do not use interest rate swaps to mitigate the impact of fluctuations in interest rates. See our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (Item 7A). There has been no material change in this information.

Commodity Price Risk. Some raw materials used in our products are exposed to commodity price changes. The primary commodity price exposures are with steel, aluminum, fuel, petroleum-based resin, and linerboard. In addition, we are a purchaser of components and parts containing various commodities, including steel, aluminum, copper, lead, rubber, and others which are integrated into our end products. Further information regarding rising prices for commodities is presented in Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in the section entitled “Inflation.”
     We enter into fixed-price contracts for future purchases of natural gas in the normal course of operations as a means to manage natural gas price risks. These contracts meet the definition of “normal purchases and normal sales” and, therefore, are not considered derivative instruments for accounting purposes.

Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to provide reasonably assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and we are required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible internal controls. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our fiscal second quarter ended April 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 
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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

General. The company is party to litigation in the ordinary course of business. Litigation occasionally involves claims for punitive as well as compensatory damages arising out of use of the company’s products. Although the company is self-insured to some extent, the company maintains insurance against certain product liability losses. The company is also subject to administrative proceedings with respect to claims involving the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. Some of these claims assert damages and liability for remedial investigations and clean up costs. The company is also typically involved in commercial disputes, employment disputes, and patent litigation cases in the ordinary course of business. To prevent possible infringement of the company’s patents by others, the company periodically reviews competitors’ products. To avoid potential liability with respect to others’ patents, the company regularly reviews certain patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and foreign patent offices. Management believes these activities help minimize its risk of being a defendant in patent infringement litigation. The company is currently involved in patent litigation cases, both where it is asserting patents and where it is defending against charges of infringement.


Lawnmower Engine Horsepower Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation. In June 2004, individuals who claim to have purchased lawnmowers in Illinois and Minnesota filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois state court against the company and other defendants alleging that the horsepower labels on the products the plaintiffs purchased were inaccurate. Those individuals later amended their complaint to add additional plaintiffs and an additional defendant. The plaintiffs asserted violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and state statutory and common law claims. The plaintiffs sought certification of a class of all persons in the United States who, beginning January 1, 1994 through the present, purchased a lawnmower containing a two-stroke or four-stroke gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold by the defendants. The amended complaint also sought an injunction, unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, treble damages under RICO, and attorneys’ fees.
     In May 2006, the case was removed to federal court in the Southern District of Illinois. In August 2006, the company, together with the other defendants other than MTD Products Inc. (MTD), filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Also in August 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of a settlement agreement with MTD and certification of a settlement class. In December 2006, another defendant, American Honda Motor Company (Honda), notified the company and the other defendants that it had reached a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs.
     In May 2008, the court issued a memorandum and order that (i) dismissed the RICO claim in its entirety; (ii) dismissed all non-Illinois state-law claims but with instructions that such claims could be re-filed in local courts; and (iii) rejected the proposed settlement with MTD. The proposed Honda settlement was not under consideration by the court and was not addressed in the memorandum and order. Also in May 2008, the plaintiffs (i) re-filed the Illinois claims with the court; and (ii) filed non-Illinois claims in federal courts in the District of New Jersey and the Northern District of California with essentially the same state law claims.
     In June 2008, the plaintiffs filed a motion with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the MDL Panel) that (i) stated their intent to file lawsuits in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and (ii) sought to have all of the cases transferred for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In August 2008, the MDL Panel issued an order denying the transfer request. Additional lawsuits, some of which included additional plaintiffs, were filed in various federal and state courts asserting essentially the same state law claims. Lawsuits were subsequently filed in federal and state courts throughout the United States, which collectively assert claims under the laws of each state.
     In September 2008, the company and other defendants filed a motion with the MDL Panel that sought to transfer the multiple actions for coordinated pretrial proceedings. In early December 2008, the MDL Panel issued an order that (i) transferred 23 lawsuits, which collectively asserted claims under the laws of 16 states, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings; (ii) selected the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin as the transferee district; and (iii) provided that additional lawsuits will be treated as “tag-along” actions in accordance with its rules.
     An initial hearing was held in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in January 2009. At that hearing, the Court (i) appointed lead plaintiffs’ counsel, and (ii) entered a stay of all litigation so that the parties could explore mediation. Formal mediation proceedings were commenced, settlement discussions were conducted, and ultimately all defendants entered into various settlement agreements with the plaintiffs in February 2010. The settlement agreement entered into by the company and certain other defendants provides for, among other things, (i) a monetary settlement, (ii) an additional warranty period for some engines that are subject to the litigation, and (iii) injunctive relief relating to power rating labeling practices. The plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement and certification of a settlement class, and the court granted the motion. The settlement is not final for all purposes until after members of the proposed settlement class receive notice of the settlement, the Court determines that the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, and applicable appeal periods expire without appeal. The Court has scheduled a hearing in June 2010, at which it is expected that

 
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the Court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. At this time, management is unable to provide assurance that the Court will approve the settlement or that the settlement will become final for all purposes.
     In March 2010, individuals who claim to have purchased lawnmowers in Canada filed class action litigation against the company and other defendants that (i) contains allegations under applicable Canadian law that are similar to the allegations made by the United States plaintiffs, (ii) seeks certification of a class of all persons in Canada who, beginning January 1, 1994 through the present, purchased a lawnmower containing a gas combustible engine up to 30 horsepower that was manufactured or sold by the defendants, and (iii) seeks under applicable Canadian law unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ costs and fees, and equitable relief.
     Management continues to evaluate this litigation. If the settlement with the United States plaintiffs becomes final, the company’s obligations under the settlement agreement will not have a material adverse effect on the company’s operating results or financial position. The expected costs of the company’s settlement obligations are consistent with accruals established in prior periods. In the event the settlement with the United States plaintiffs does not become final for all purposes or in the event that the company is unable to favorably resolve the Canadian litigation, management is unable to assess at this time whether this litigation would have a material adverse effect on the company’s annual consolidated operating results or financial condition, although an unfavorable resolution or outcome could be material to the company’s consolidated operating results for a particular period.

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS
 
 
We are affected by risks specific to us as well as factors that affect all businesses operating in a global market. The significant factors known to us that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results or could cause our actual results to differ materially from our anticipated results or other expectations, including those expressed in any forward-looking statement made in this report, are described in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (Item 1A). There has been no material change in those risk factors.


Item 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table shows our second quarter of fiscal 2010 stock repurchase activity.

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
   
Average Price
Paid per Share
   
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
As Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (1)
 
                         
January 30, 2010 through
February 26, 2010
    -     $ -       -       3,916,367  
                                 
February 27, 2010 through
March 26, 2010
    564,457       46.58       564,457       3,351,910  
                                 
March 27, 2010 through
April 30, 2010
    479,269 (2)     50.51       477,753       2,874,157  
                                 
Total
    1,043,726     $ 48.39       1,042,210          

 
(1)
On July 21, 2009, the company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 5,000,000 shares of the company’s common stock in open-market or in privately negotiated transactions. This program has no expiration date but may be terminated by the company’s Board of Directors at any time.

 
(2)
Includes 1,516 units (shares) of the company’s common stock purchased in open-market transactions at an average price of $51.96 per share on behalf of a rabbi trust formed to pay benefit obligations of the company to participants in deferred compensation plans. These 1,516 shares were not repurchased under the company’s repurchase program described in footnote (1) above.

 
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Item 6.  EXHIBITS

(a)
Exhibits
 
     
 
3.1 and 4.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Toro Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 17, 2008, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
3.2 and 4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Toro Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 17, 2008, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
4.3
Specimen Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 1, 2008, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
4.4
Indenture dated as of January 31, 1997, between Registrant and First National Trust Association, as Trustee, relating to The Toro Company’s 7.80% Debentures due June 15, 2027 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 24, 1997, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
4.5
Indenture dated as of April 20, 2007, between Registrant and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, relating to The Toro Company’s 6.625% Notes due May 1, 2037 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2007, Registration No. 333-142282).
     
 
4.6
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 26, 2007, between Registrant and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, relating to The Toro Company’s 6.625% Notes due May 1, 2037 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 23, 2007, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
4.7
Form of The Toro Company 6.625% Note due May 1, 2037 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 23, 2007, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
10.1
The Toro Company 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 16, 2010, Commission File No. 1-8649).
     
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) (filed herewith).
     
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) (filed herewith).
     
 
32
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
     


 
29

 

SIGNATURES

 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
THE TORO COMPANY
(Registrant)

Date:  June 4, 2010
By /s/ Stephen P. Wolfe
 
Stephen P. Wolfe
 
Vice President, Finance
 
and Chief Financial Officer
 
(duly authorized officer and principal financial officer)