SEC Filing - Optical Cable Corporation

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Form 10-K for year ended October 31,2003

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003

Commission file number 0-27022

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Virginia		54-1237042
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


5290 Concourse Drive, Roanoke, VA		24019
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(540) 265-0690

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


Title of Each Class		Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, no par value		Nasdaq National Market

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. (1) Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x

The aggregate market value of the common shares held by non-affiliates (without admitting any person whose shares are not included in determining such value is an affiliate) was $21,072,961 based upon the closing price of these shares as reported by the Nasdaq National Market on April 30, 2003.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

On January 23, 2004, the Company had outstanding 5,460,309 Common Shares. The aggregate market value of the common shares held by non-affiliates (without admitting that any person whose shares are not included in determining such value is an affiliate) was $39,796,916 based upon the closing price of these shares as reported by the OTC Nasdaq National Market on January 23, 2004.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K Report: “Election of Directors,” “Beneficial Ownership of Securities,” “Compensation of Executive Officers,” “Compensation of Directors,” “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,” “Code of Ethics,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Performance Graph,” “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock,” “Equity Compensation Plans Information,” “Certain Relationships and Transactions with Management,” “Independent Public Accountants,” and “Audit Committee Pre-approval of Audit and Permissible Non-audit Services of Independent Auditors.” In addition, portions of the Company’s Annual Report filed as exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K are incorporated by reference in Part II of this Form 10-K Report: “Company Information,” “Selected Financial Information,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” “Financial Statements,” “Notes to Financial Statements,” “Independent Auditors’ Report” and “Management’s Statement of Responsibility.”

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS



PART I
Item 1.	Business	4
Item 2.	Properties	12
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	12
Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	13

PART II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	13
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	14
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	14
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	14
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	14
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	14
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	14

PART III
Item 10.	Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant	15
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	15
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	15
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions	15
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	15

PART IV
Item 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K	15

SIGNATURES		18

Exhibit Index

PART I

Item 1.

Business.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This report may contain certain “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include, among other information, (i) statements concerning our outlook for the future, (ii) statements of belief, anticipation or expectation, (iii) future plans, strategies or anticipated events, and (iv) similar information and statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events to differ materially from our expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the level of sales to key customers, including distributors; the economic conditions affecting network service providers; corporate spending on information technology; actions by competitors; fluctuations in the price of raw materials (including optical fiber); our dependence on a single manufacturing facility; our ability to protect our proprietary manufacturing technology; market conditions influencing prices or pricing; our dependence on a limited number of suppliers; an adverse outcome in litigation, claims and other actions, and potential litigation, claims and other actions against us; an adverse outcome in regulatory reviews and audits and potential regulatory reviews and audits; an adverse change in laws and regulations associated with the extraterritorial income exclusion; adverse changes in state tax laws and/or positions taken by state taxing authorities affecting us; technological changes and introductions of new competing products; economic conditions that affect the telecommunications sector, certain technology sectors or the economy as a whole; terrorist attacks or acts of war, particularly given the acts of terrorism against the United States and subsequent military responses by the United States, and any potential future military conflicts; ability to retain key personnel; the impact of changes in accounting policies, including those by the Securities and Exchange Commission; changes in market demand, exchange rates, productivity, weather or market and economic conditions in the areas of the world in which we operate and market our products, and our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

We caution readers that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and we incorporate by reference those factors included in current reports on Form 8-K.

GENERAL

Optical Cable Corporation was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1983. Our executive offices are located at 5290 Concourse Drive, Roanoke, Virginia 24019 and our telephone number is (540) 265-0690.

We are a leading manufacturer of a broad range of tight-buffered fiber optic cables for high bandwidth transmission of data, video and audio communications, primarily sold into the local area network and premises markets, often referred to as the enterprise market. Our fiber optic cables are well-suited for use in short to moderate distance applications.

We pioneered the design and production of special tight-buffered fiber optic cables for the most demanding military field applications in the early 1980s. At our ISO 9001:2000 registered facility in Roanoke, Virginia, we manufacture a broad range of fiber optic cables that can be used both indoors and outdoors and utilize a tight-buffered coating process that provides mechanical and environmental protection for the optical fiber. Our current product portfolio is built on the evolution of our fundamental technologies and designed to provide end-users with significant value.

Our fiber optic cables are easy and economical to install, provide a high degree of reliability and offer outstanding performance characteristics. We have designed and implemented an efficient, automated manufacturing process based on our proprietary technologies. This enables us to produce high quality indoor/outdoor tight-buffer fiber optic cable rapidly and cost efficiently.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

Increased Demand for Bandwidth

The number of communications networks and the quantity of information transmitted over them continues to increase due to the growth of data intensive applications, such as Internet access and e-commerce, e-mail, video conferencing, multimedia file transfers, and the movement of large blocks of stored data across networks. Despite the slowdown beginning in 2001, we believe that demand for bandwidth will increase over the long term.

Network service providers have focused on improving the transmission capacity, or bandwidth, and performance of their networks to keep pace with the increase in traffic. At the same time, the bandwidth of enterprise networks continues to increase with innovations in networking equipment. These improvements have resulted in additional bandwidth intensive applications, further increasing the demand for bandwidth. We believe that these ongoing improvements will continue to generate growth in data, video and voice communications over networks over the long-term.

Deployment of Optical Networks

To meet the demand for more bandwidth and better network performance, optical networks are being deployed because they provide substantially higher data transmission rates, significantly increased bandwidth and improved reliability. Compared to copper wire, optical fiber can have thousands of times the information carrying capacity, occupies much less space and operates more reliably over greater distances. Optical fiber is immune to the electromagnetic interference that causes static in copper wire transmission, as well as to electrical surges. Optical fiber is also a safer choice in environments where flammability is an issue because it does not carry electricity. In addition, communications over optical fiber networks are more secure than communications over copper wire networks because tapping into fiber optic cable without detection is difficult.

Optical networks are comprised of a variety of networking equipment and components required to transmit, process, change, amplify and receive light that carries data, video and voice communications over fiber optic cables from one location to another. Optical networks were originally deployed to serve the needs of large network service providers to carry communications traffic over long distances between cities and across continents. At the same time, improvements in performance and reductions in the cost of optical networking equipment have made it economically feasible to deploy optical networks in short to moderate distance applications such as enterprise networks. To bring the bandwidth and performance of optical networks to metropolitan markets and end-users, short to moderate distance fiber optic cabling infrastructure must be deployed in cities and enterprises and connected to the long-haul fiber optic infrastructure.

Optical fiber is deployed in four primary types of communications networks: enterprise, access, long-haul and metropolitan.

Enterprise Networks. Enterprise networks, often referred to as local area networks or LANs, are communications systems used to transport data, video and voice communications within organizations such as businesses, government agencies and educational institutions. Enterprise networks connect computer users within an organization and allow users to share computer resources. As demand for bandwidth has increased, enterprise networks have increasingly utilized fiber optic technology. Optical fiber was first deployed in the major data routes or backbones of enterprise networks and is increasingly deployed to the end-user’s desktop for high performance applications.

Access Networks. Access networks are communications systems that connect metropolitan networks to end-users such as businesses, residences and governmental agencies. Historically, access networks have been built using copper wire systems due to significant cost advantages over competing technologies, including fiber optic networks. However, copper wire systems are becoming increasingly insufficient to meet end-users’ demand for new services that require high bandwidth and fast transmission speeds. Therefore, fiber optic technology is being increasingly deployed in access networks. This has become more economically feasible with technological improvements in information transmission technologies and cost reductions in optical networking equipment and components. We believe that additional technological improvements and equipment cost reductions will accelerate the deployment of optical fiber to the end-user over the long-term.

Metropolitan Networks. Metropolitan networks are communications systems used to transport data, video and voice communications between major distribution points in metropolitan areas. These networks connect long-haul networks to access networks. They are generally rings of optical fiber that circle metropolitan areas, with branches of optical fiber that transmit information from the ring to co-location centers, data centers or other major distribution points located throughout the metropolitan area. These major distribution points are connected to access networks which in turn connect end-users to

a communications network. We believe service providers, including telephone companies and cable television operators, will invest in the metropolitan fiber optic infrastructure over the long-term to reduce capacity constraints resulting from the increase in data, video and voice communications and demand for enhanced services.

Long-haul Networks. Long-haul networks are long distance, inter-continental and inter-city communications systems that typically employ high fiber count fiber optic cables and advanced, expensive fiber optic networking equipment for the purpose of transmitting large quantities of data, video and voice communications over long distances. Until 2001, this segment had historically experienced strong growth as network providers have sought to improve network infrastructure and support the increased demand for new services and greater traffic volumes. To date, the telecommunications industry has mainly focused on the build-out of the long-haul fiber optic infrastructure. This build-out has slowed substantially recently.

Historically, the vast majority of optical fiber has been installed in long-haul networks with the long-haul capacity exceeding current demand. Subject to the economic slowdown that began in 2001 and funds for expansion being available, we believe that over the long-term optical fiber installations in metropolitan, access and enterprise networks will experience growth as a result of several factors. Among those factors are the increasing demand for bandwidth by commercial and residential end-users, improvements in information transmission technologies and significant cost reductions in optical networking equipment and components. We believe these technological improvements and cost reductions will require the build-out of optical networks in the metropolitan, access and enterprise markets.

Fiber Optic Cables

Optical fiber must be processed into fiber optic cables before it can be installed in a fiber optic network. Fiber optic cables serve several purposes. Fiber optic cable aggregates multiple strands of optical fiber into a single, easy to handle package and protects the optical fiber from damage during installation and from damage that can be caused by a wide variety of environmental factors after installation. A typical fiber optic cable begins with one or more optical fibers that are each coated with a very thin layer of plastic material called a buffer. Groups of buffered optical fibers are further protected by secondary buffers or grouped into plastic tubes that are stranded together with aramid yarns, such as Kevlar(TM), which protect the optical fibers from damage that can occur when the fiber optic cable is pulled and stretched during installation. This combination of elements is then covered with one or more layers of plastic or steel that serve as a protective outer jacket, to make a fiber optic cable.

Fiber optic cable designs can be grouped into two primary categories: loose tube and tight-buffered. Ribbon fiber and blown fiber are other categories of fiber optic cable design that are not discussed here.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cable. A typical outside plant loose tube fiber optic cable consists of optical fibers that have a thin primary buffer coating and are grouped into one or more thin, rigid tubes that are flooded with gel to provide moisture protection to the optical fiber. The tubes are stranded around a strength element, such as a central strand of fiberglass or steel. This combination of elements is again flooded with gel and covered with one or more layers of plastic or steel that serve as a protective outer jacket, forming a loose tube fiber optic cable. A single cable often contains many optical fibers, with groups of optical fibers contained in the individual tubes within the fiber optic cable. This type of fiber optic cable is relatively stiff and is primarily used for long, relatively straight outdoor runs, such as in long-haul networks, metropolitan networks and even access networks. One major drawback to the typical design of loose tube fiber optic cable is that it is difficult to terminate. Termination is the point where the optical fiber is either connected to another optical fiber or to communications equipment. Termination of a loose tube fiber optic cable requires extensive cleaning of the gel filling and preparation of the fiber ends. This is a messy, time consuming and expensive process, which translates into higher installation costs. Additionally, the individual fibers are less mechanically protected, particularly at the point of termination, making them more difficult to field terminate without expensive equipment. As a result, we believe traditional loose tube fiber optic cables are generally less suitable for shorter distance applications and for applications that have a large number of termination points. Furthermore, most outside plan loose tube fiber optic cables are not suited for indoor use because they are flammable.

In addition to the typical outside plant loose tube fiber optical cable design, manufacturers increasingly are offering loose tube designs with dry-gel or no-gel construction. Certain of these cables are designed to be used indoors, or both indoors and outdoors. The advantage of using such loose tube designs is a lower cost per cabled fiber meter. However, we believe termination and installation is not convenient as with a tight-buffered cable construction. The individual fibers are not as well protected mechanically and therefore can be subject to more stress during the cable installation, particularly around tight corners, and at the point of termination.

Tight-buffered Fiber Optic Cable. Tight-buffered fiber optic cable consists of optical fibers that have a primary buffer coating and an additional, heavier secondary tight buffered coating that is placed on each individual optical fiber for added protection. This combined buffer coating is typically six times thicker than the buffer used in loose tube fiber optic cables, providing much greater mechanical and environmental protection for each individual optical fiber. To form the fiber optic cable, groups of buffered optical fibers are combined with aramid yarn and sometimes other strength elements and covered with an outer protective jacket. Certain tight-buffered fiber optic cable designs are specifically for indoor use only. Since indoor use only tight-buffered fiber optic cables are not designed for outdoor installation, there is no need for gel or other fillings to protect against moisture. Tight-buffered fiber optic cables address many of the shortfalls presented by loose tube cable. It is significantly easier and faster to terminate because, without the messy gel, it requires no cleaning and little preparation. However, due to the amount of buffer material used in tight-buffered fiber optic cable, it can be too unwieldy and costly for long-haul, high fiber count applications. Furthermore, standard indoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable is not designed to withstand the additional environmental challenges presented by outdoor use.

In addition to indoor only tight-buffered fiber optic cable designs, there are also tight-buffered fiber optic cables designed to be used both indoor and outdoors. In many fiber optic cable installations, loose tube fiber optic cables are terminated at building entrances and spliced to standard indoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable, which is run indoors. We believe this installation method is not optimal due to the considerable time and expense associated with these multiple terminations and the potential for ongoing fiber failures and optical signal loss at the termination points. The introduction of indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable alleviated these issues. Indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable enjoys all of the benefits of standard tight-buffered fiber optic cable, but its design, fabrication techniques and materials enable it to survive the range of conditions presented by outdoor installations. These same characteristics can make indoor/outdoor tight-buffered cable more rugged and survivable even in indoor only installations where, for example, there can be long pulling distances through conduits with a variety of bends and corners. Additional outdoor environmental challenges might include exposure to moisture, ultra-violet radiation and a variety of microorganisms, animals and insects.

Indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable can be run directly into buildings without the need for costly and time-consuming transitions from loose tube fiber optic cable at building entrances. As a result, we believe indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable is ideal for use in various short and moderate distance applications which require a strong, flexible cable and have numerous termination points, such as installations at universities, corporate campuses, industrial and office complexes, and in a variety of other applications where multiple buildings are interconnected. Due to the significant advantages in moderate distance applications with numerous termination points and subject to economic considerations and funds being available for expansion, we believe that the market for indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cable is poised for growth as fiber optic technology is increasingly deployed in enterprise and access networks.

OUR SOLUTION

Focus on Indoor/Outdoor Tight-buffered Cable

We manufacture and market a broad range of indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cables for use in a variety of short to moderate distance applications which are designed to be very rugged and survivable.

Fiber optic cables used for short to moderate distance applications may be subjected to many different stress environments. Cables installed inside buildings may be routed through cable trays, floor ducts, conduits and walls and may encounter sharp corners or edges. They may be pulled without lubricant, resulting in higher pull tensions, and stressed to the breaking point if care is not used. In the outdoor and underground environments, cables are often subjected to moisture, ultra-violet radiation and long pulling distances through conduits with a variety of bends and corners, resulting in high pulling tensions. These conditions can be aggravated if installers are not adequately trained in the installation of fiber optic cable. We recognized that, for many applications, the stresses on the cables during installation are similar to those in the military tactical environment, for which our technology was initially developed. We applied this technology to develop commercial products serving a market that could not be adequately served by other types of fiber optic cable, including loose-tube gel-filled cable or indoors only tight-buffered fiber optic cable.

We believe our indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cables provide significant advantages to distributors, installers, systems integrators and most importantly, end-users. We believe installers and systems integrators find that the multipurpose feature of our fiber optic cables can significantly reduce installation costs by eliminating the need to transition from outdoor fiber optic cable to indoor fiber optic cable at a building entrance. Our products also enhance network reliability by eliminating splices and reducing potential stress on optical fibers that could lead to breakage. We believe the simplified installation, lower cost and

enhanced reliability of our products are valued by the end-user because a long lasting, trouble-free fiber optic cable minimizes down time and maximizes system availability.

We also believe that our indoor/outdoor tight-buffered cables are particularly well suited for installations in harsher environments, such as those that exist in mining, petrochemical and industrial applications.

Technological Advantages

As a result of our experience developing tight-buffered fiber optic cables, in particular to meet the stringent requirements for military applications, we believe we have a unique technology base that provides significant advantages in addressing the tight-buffered fiber optic cable market. We have developed considerable expertise in fiber optic cable design, manufacturing and production processes that enable us to produce high performance fiber optic cables cost effectively. Our indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cables are designed to provide superior protection against exposure to the elements.

Automated Manufacturing Capabilities

We have designed and developed proprietary manufacturing software and hardware that provides us with automated and technically precise manufacturing capabilities. The automation of our manufacturing process has provided us with a number of important benefits. The most important benefit is that it allows us to produce high-quality fiber optic cable at a low cost. Another important benefit is that we are able to respond to customer requests for additional or unique products. Finally, many of our important technological advances result from our ability to modify and refine our production process.

Customer Focus

We focus on supporting our customers to enhance their business, and we work closely with our customers to identify and define their unique requirements. Sometimes this requires us to create custom fiber optic cables for a variety of special applications and environments. We have established close relationships with our customers. We believe these close relationships allow us to better understand our customers’ specific needs, gives our customers an opportunity to understand how our products can uniquely satisfy their needs, and allow us to deliver more responsive solutions and support. By becoming involved early in our customers’ network design process, we hope to have the opportunity to have our products specified as the fiber optic cables to be used in the customer’s network.

Broad Product Offering

We manufacture a broad, state-of-the-art line of tight-buffered fiber optic cables. We produce what we believe to be the industry’s widest array of indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cables with features and performance characteristics to address the needs of the enterprise market in particular, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan and access markets. Our fiber optic cables range from small single fiber cables for patch cords to large high fiber count fiber optic cables for major network trunks and from fiber optic cables used in computer facilities and datacenters to those used in underground installations. We also offer aerial self-supporting fiber optic cables for easy installation on pole lines, military tactical fiber optic cables, and specialty fiber optic cables for special markets. This wide range of products makes us attractive as a one-stop source for customers with unique as well as standard fiber optic cable requirements.

Our Strategy

Our objective is to be a leading manufacturer and supplier of indoor/outdoor tight-buffered fiber optic cables for the enterprise networks markets by targeting specific market segments in those markets for which our product lines are particularly well suited. We intend to expand our business by providing fiber optic cables that are versatile, reliable, cost effective and responsive to evolving market requirements.

PRODUCTS

We manufacture and market a broad array of fiber optic cables that provide high bandwidth transmission of data, video and voice communications over short to moderate distances. Our product line is diverse and versatile, in keeping with evolving application needs of customers within our markets. Our tight-buffered fiber optic cables address the needs of the enterprise market in particular, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan and access markets.

The following summarizes the major construction types of fiber optic cables we produce and their attributes; however, we produce many other types of fiber optic cables as well:

A-Series Assembly Fiber Optic Cables. Our A-Series fiber optic cables contain one or two optical fiber units. A-Series fiber optic cables contain tight-buffered optical fibers which are surrounded by a layer of Kevlar(TM) or other aramid yarn strength members to prevent the optical fiber from being stretched if there is tension on the fiber optic cable. A flexible and resilient thermoplastic outer jacket is then applied to further strengthen and protect the optical fiber. These fiber optic cables are used for jumpers, which are short length patch cords, and for pigtails, which are short lengths of fiber optic cable with a connector on one end. Various outer jacket materials are offered to provide flammability ratings and handling characteristics tailored to customers’ needs. These fiber optic cables are sometimes privately labeled and often sold to original equipment manufacturers that produce the fiber optic cable assemblies.

B-Series Breakout Fiber Optic Cables. Our B-Series fiber optic cables consist of a number of subcables, each consisting of a single optical fiber, Kevlar(TM) or other aramid yarn strength members and a subcable jacket. These subcables are tightbound in a pressure extruded, high performance Core-Locked(TM) outer jacket to form the finished multifiber fiber optic cables. Like the A-Series fiber optic cables, the subcables are intended to be terminated directly with connectors. This direct termination feature makes this fiber optic cable type particularly well suited for shorter distance installations, where there are many terminations and termination costs are more significant. The materials and construction of the fiber optic cable permit its use both indoors and outdoors. These features make the fiber optic cables cost effective for use in campus and industrial complex installations and between and within buildings since there is no need to splice outdoor fiber optic cables to indoor fiber optic cables at the building entrance.

D-Series Distribution Fiber Optic Cables. Our D-Series fiber optic cables are made with the same tight-buffered optical fiber as the B-Series fiber optic cables and with a high performance outer jacket. Unlike the B-Series fiber optic cables, each tight-buffered optical fiber in a D-Series fiber optic cable is not covered with a separate subcable jacket, giving the D-Series cables a smaller and more lightweight configuration. Our D-Series fiber optic cables also are available with a Core-Locked jacket. However, the tight-buffered optical fiber and high performance outer jacket make D-Series fiber optic cables rugged and survivable. D-Series fiber optic cables are intended for longer distance applications, where termination considerations are less important and often traded off for size, weight and cost. They also can be armored for additional protection for use in buried and overhead installations. The high strength to weight ratio of these fiber optic cables makes them well suited for installations where long lengths of fiber optic cables must be pulled through duct systems. D-Series fiber optic cables are used in relatively longer length segments of installations, such as trunking, LAN and distribution applications, optical fiber in the loop, optical fiber to the curb and drop cables.

G-Series Subgrouping Fiber Optic Cables. Our G-Series fiber optic cables combine a number of multifiber subcables, each similar to a D-Series fiber optic cable. Each multifiber subcable is tightbound with an elastomeric jacket, providing excellent mechanical and environmental performance. These subcables are contained in a pressure extruded, high performance Core-Locked(TM) outer jacket to form the finished fiber optic cable. This design permits the construction of very high fiber count fiber optic cables. These fiber optic cables may be used where groups of optical fibers are routed to different locations.

Other Fiber Optic Cable Types. We produce many variations on the basic fiber optic cable styles discussed above for more specialized installations, as well as various hybrid cables. For outdoor applications, we can armor both the B-Series and D-Series fiber optic cables with corrugated steel tape for further protection in underground or overhead installations. For overhead installations on utility poles, we offer several self-supporting versions of the D-Series fiber optic cables, with higher performance outer jackets, as well as M-Series aerial messenger cables which include a stainless steel or galvanized steel, self-supporting messengered construction. Our fiber optic cables are available in several flammability ratings, including plenum for use in moving air spaces in buildings, and riser for less critical flame-retardant requirements. Zero halogen versions of the B-Series and D-Series fiber optic cables are available for use in enclosed spaces where there is concern over release of toxic gases during fire. We offer composite fiber optic cables combining optical fiber and copper wires to facilitate the transition from copper wire to optical fiber-based systems without further installation of fiber optic cables. We produce a line of VS-Series security cables which include copper power feeds in the cable with the optical fiber. These cables are particularly well suited for surveillance camera operation. We also offer specialty fiber optic cables, including military tactical, industrial and mining fiber optic cables.

CUSTOMERS

We had a global customer base selling in over 50 countries in fiscal year 2003. Our customers include distributors, original equipment manufacturers, system integrators, electrical contractors, value added resellers and end-users. The following is a list of representative types of end-users of our fiber optic cables:

•

Educational Institutions. Colleges, universities, high schools and grade schools are continually upgrading and improving their networks, with existing LANs being expanded and upgraded for higher data transmission speeds, optical fiber to the dorm and other applications. These systems link personal computers with central file servers. As interactive learning systems require increased transmission speeds, optical fiber becomes a logical medium.

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Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies and Other Large Businesses. Banks, stock trading companies, insurance companies, and other large businesses often need to distribute time critical data among a large number of workstations. Businesses are increasingly using fiber optic backbones to cable their enterprise networks to meet these needs.

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Government Agencies. Government agencies tend to have large buildings or complexes, many people, and the need to access and process large quantities of data. Like commercial institutions, these routinely include high performance LANs with fiber optic segments in the backbone. Security also may be desired, and therefore, optical fiber to the desk or workstation may be implemented.

•

Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities. Industrial and manufacturing facilities typically have a more severe environment than other types of businesses with heavy electrical equipment. Fiber optic cable in this environment offers immunity to electrical noise, ruggedness, high information carrying capacity and greater distance capability. Our products are installed in automotive assembly plants, steel plants, chemical and drug facilities, petrochemical facilities and petroleum refineries, mines and other similar environments.

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Original Equipment Manufacturers. Original equipment manufacturers typically manufacture fiber optic cable assemblies, which are short lengths of fiber optic cable pre-terminated with connectors. Supporting virtually all segments of the market, these manufacturers consume large quantities of fiber optic cables, which are often privately labeled.

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Military. Our core technologies enable us to develop and efficiently produce fiber optic cables for military tactical applications that survive extreme mechanical and environmental conditions.

Our extensive technology base and versatile manufacturing processes enable us to respond quickly to diverse customer needs.

SALES AND MARKETING

We used a combination of employee sales staff, dedicated sales representatives, multi-line sales representatives and distributors to serve and attract customers both domestically and in over 50 countries during fiscal year 2003. We believe it is important to maintain customer diversity in order to avoid dependence on any particular segment of the economy or area of the world. Our international net sales in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001 were 19%, 23% and 23% of our net sales. International sales are made primarily through foreign distributors, system integrators and value-added resellers. (See Note 10 to the “Notes to Financial Statements” in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K.)

The decision to purchase our products may be made by end-users, distributors, electrical contractors, system integrators, or specialized installers and influenced by architects, engineers and consultants. We advertise in fiber optic trade journals and other communications magazines and participate in various domestic and international trade shows attended by customers and prospective customers.

MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIERS

We have developed considerable expertise in fiber optic cable design, manufacturing and production processes that enable us to produce high performance fiber optic cables cost effectively. Our proprietary manufacturing software and hardware provides us with automated manufacturing capabilities which enable us to rapidly respond to customer requests for additional or unique products. Many of our important technological advances result from our ability to modify and refine our production processes.

Our manufacturing operations consist of applying a variety of raw plastic materials to optical fibers. The key raw material in the manufacture of our products is optical fiber, which we purchase from a number of manufacturers. We work closely with our vendors to ensure a continuous supply. We have two sources for aramid yarns and various suppliers of plastic coating materials.

An important factor in our success is our ability to deliver product on time. Therefore, we work to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner from existing or, when necessary, alternate sources. Any disruption in the supply of raw materials could adversely affect our fiber optic cable production capability and our operating results. Some of our suppliers of optical fiber also are our competitors. We believe that we carry a sufficient supply of raw materials and finished goods inventory to deal with short-term disruptions in supply of raw materials and to meet customer orders promptly.

Our quality control procedures have been instrumental in achieving high performance and reliability in our products. From January 1994 through March 2003, our quality management system was certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001:1994 quality standard. Since March 2003, our quality management system has been certified to the new ISO 9001:2000 standard. This new standard increases the requirements for customer satisfaction and continual improvement. ISO 9000 is a series of standards agreed to by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9001:2000 is the highest level of accreditation and includes an assessment of eight elements covering various aspects of design, development, distribution and production. We must continue to comply with these standards to maintain our certification.

COMPETITION

The market for fiber optic cable is highly competitive. There are four leading producers of fiber optic cables in the United States. In general, these companies primarily supply loose tube fiber optic cables for outside plant installations (which historically is by far the largest market segment of fiber optic cables), and they also produce tight-buffered fiber optic cables. Corning Cabling Systems, Pirelli, OFS (formerly Lucent Technologies) and Alcatel are the dominant producers of fiber optic cables for the long-haul market and are principal suppliers of optical fiber worldwide. In the market for tight-buffered fiber optic cables supplying the short to moderate distance market, we compete with Corning Cabling Systems and OFS, as well as other domestic and international companies such as Alcatel, Berk-Tek, CommScope, Draka, General Cable, Hitachi, Mohawk/CDT, Pirelli Cable, and Superior Essex.

We also compete with producers of copper wire cable on the basis of cost and performance tradeoffs. The cost of the electro-optical interfaces required for the fiber optic networks and higher speed electronics generally associated with high performance fiber optic networks can make them less desirable for use in applications where the advantages of fiber optic cables are not required. We also compete with producers of other alternative transmission media, including wireless and satellite communications. As fiber optic components continue to improve in performance while costs decrease, fiber optic networks become a more cost effective solution, especially with the increasing demand for higher transmission speeds or bandwidth.

We believe that we compete successfully against our competitors on the basis of:

•

breadth of products and product features;

•

quality;

•

ability to meet unusual delivery requirements and schedules;

•

technical support and service; and

•

total cost of installation and ownership.

Maintaining these competitive advantages requires investment in product development and sales and marketing. There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient resources to make these investments or that we will be able to make the technological advances necessary to maintain our competitive position. An increase in competition could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results because of price reductions and loss of market share. We expect competition to increase as existing competitors expand their market presence and continue to expand their product lines. Additionally, we could see additional competition if new competitors emerge, particularly from countries with historically lower manufacturing costs.

Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, technical, human and other resources than us, and greater brand recognition and market share which may give them competitive advantages, including the ability to negotiate lower prices on raw materials than those that may be available to us. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully with existing or future competitors or that competitive pressures will not seriously harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Our current manufacturing processes and products are not protected by patents. We rely on a combination of trade secret and technical measures to establish and protect our production technology rights. This protection may not deter misappropriation or stop competitors from developing production techniques or equipment with features identical, similar, or even superior to ours.

We consider our proprietary knowledge of the development and manufacture of fiber optic cables to be a valuable asset. This expertise enables us to formulate new fiber optic cable compositions, develop special coatings and coating methods, develop and implement manufacturing improvements and quality control techniques, and design and construct manufacturing and quality control equipment. We restrict access to our manufacturing facility and engineering documentation to maintain security.

We believe that none of our products, trademarks or other proprietary rights infringes upon the proprietary rights of others. There can be no assurance, however, that third parties will not assert infringement claims against us in the future with respect to our present or future products, which may require us to enter into license agreements or result in protracted and costly litigation, regardless of the merits of these claims.

EMPLOYEES

As of October 31, 2003, we employed a total of 170 persons on a full-time basis, including 45 in sales, marketing and customer service, 99 in manufacturing, engineering, product development and quality control and 26 in finance and administration. None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We have experienced no work stoppages and we believe our employee relations are good.

Item 2.

Properties.

Our principal administration, marketing, manufacturing, and product development facilities are situated on approximately 23 acres of land owned by us that is adjacent to the Roanoke, Virginia airport and major trucking company facilities. Our facilities are housed in an approximately 146,000 square foot building on this property. We own this building. We also lease a 385 square foot sales office in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We believe that we are currently operating at approximately 60% of our production equipment capacity.

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

On September 27, 2000, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, also referred to as the “EEOC,” filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act against us in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia. The lawsuit alleged a pattern or practice of discrimination on the bases of gender and race. The lawsuit sought injunctive and other relief and damages in an unspecified amount. On December 13, 2001, the parties reached an agreement as to the amount of a settlement (subject to final documentation and judicial review and approval). On February 20, 2002, we reached a final settlement of the case and the court issued a Consent Decree setting forth the terms of the settlement. Pursuant to the settlement and Consent Decree: (i) we paid $500,000 on February 22, 2002, $175,000 on January 7, 2003 and $175,000 on January 13, 2004 to satisfy the gender and race class claims; (ii) we paid an additional $75,000 on February 20, 2002 to one individual specifically named in the complaint; and (iii) we are required to spend at least $75,000 for our planned diversity, recruitment and human resource management programs over the term of the Consent Decree. The $75,000 used for our planned diversity, recruitment and human resource management programs is being expensed as incurred.

In four class action lawsuits, filed between November 26, 2001 and January 31, 2002, the Company, Robert Kopstein, our former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and two other officers and directors, Luke J. Huybrechts and Kenneth W. Harber, were named as defendants in a consolidated class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (the “Consolidated Suit”).

On September 23, 2002, the Court entered an Order and Final Judgment, approving the settlement and dismissing the Consolidated Suit with prejudice. The settlement provided for a cash payment of $700,000 and the issuance of warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share of $4.88.

We paid $500,000 of the cash portion of the settlement upon preliminary court approval. The second and final installment, totaling $200,000, of the cash portion of the settlement was paid on November 1, 2002. The warrants are exercisable for five years. We have registered the shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

We recorded a charge during fiscal year 2003 in the amount of approximately $871,000 representing additional costs incurred in the settlement of the consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit. Of the total amount expensed, approximately $862,000 represents an increase in the fair value of the warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $4.88 per share issued in connection with the settlement of the shareholder litigation. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States required the fair value of the warrants to be adjusted at each reporting period until such time that the following two conditions were met: (i) we were irrevocably obligated to issue the warrants, and (ii) the underlying shares of common stock to be issued on exercise were registered. The second and final of these two conditions was satisfied on May 19, 2003 when the Securities and Exchange Commission, also referred to as the SEC, declared the registration statement for the underlying shares of common stock to be effective. The expense associated with the increase in the fair value of the warrants is a non-cash item and has no impact on our net cash flow.

The warrant expense portion of the shareholder litigation settlement expense is calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The closing price of our common stock of $5.80 on May 19, 2003, the date the registration statement was declared effective by the SEC, was used in that calculation.

We recorded a charge during fiscal year 2002 in the amount of approximately $997,000 representing the estimated cost of the settlement of the consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit and related professional fees incurred during fiscal year 2002, net of insurance proceeds. Of the total amount expensed, approximately $320,000 represents the fair value of the warrants based on the Black-Scholes pricing model. The closing price of our common stock as of October 31, 2002, of $1.84 per share was used in the calculation for fiscal year 2002.

On January 3, 2003, Anicom, Inc., a former customer that is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, filed a complaint against us in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, also referred to as the “Complaint.” The Complaint seeks to avoid and recover certain alleged preferential payments in the approximate amount of $1.1 million made to us during the 90-day period preceding Anicom’s bankruptcy filing. We have reviewed the claim with legal counsel and based on one of the defenses available to us, believe the maximum liability would not exceed $276,000. We continue to believe that other defenses available will protect us from liability for the remaining amount of the claim and, thus, that the likelihood that Anicom will be successful in adjudication of the claim, or that Anicom’s claim will result in a material loss, is remote.

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the year ended October 31, 2003.

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Equity Compensation Plan Information


	(a)	(b)		(c)
Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights	Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants, and rights		Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	387,245 shares	$	19.59	284,690 shares
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	3,122	$	7.12	—
Total	390,367 shares	$	19.59	284,690 shares

The term “shares” in the table above means our common shares.

During 2002 our Board of Directors approved grants of stock options to purchase a total of 3,122 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $7.12 per share, the closing price at the date of the grant. These grants were not submitted to a vote of the shareholders. These grants were made to non-employee members of the Board of Directors who had not served as an executive officer during the past year as partial compensation for service by non-employee directors. Non-employee members of the Board of Directors abstained from the vote approving the grants. These options vested monthly over one year. The per share estimated fair value of stock options granted to these outside members of the Board of Directors was $6.87 on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: no expected cash dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 5.34%, expected volatility of 133.6% and an expected life of 9 years.

The information pertaining to shareholders beneficially owning more than five percent of the Company’s common stock and the security ownership of management, which is set forth under the caption “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, is incorporated herein by reference.

The information contained under the caption “Corporate Information” of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.

The information contained under the caption “Selected Financial Information” of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The information contained under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We do not engage in transactions in derivative financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments. As of October 31, 2003, our financial instruments were not exposed to significant market risk due to interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange risk, commodity price risk or equity price risk.

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The information contained under the captions “Financial Statements,” “Notes to Financial Statements” and “Independent Auditors’ Report” of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this report on Form 10-K, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

Not Applicable.

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

Senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation process, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective and that there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Since that evaluation process was completed, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls.

PART III

Item 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

For information with respect to the Directors of the registrant, see “Election of Directors” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

For information with respect to the executive officers and significant employees of the registrant, see “Executive Officers” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

The information with respect to compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is set forth under the caption “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, is incorporated herein by reference.

The information concerning the Company’s code of ethics that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, the Company’s principal financial officer, the Company’s controller, or person performing similar functions required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement under the heading “Code of Ethics.”

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

The information set forth under the captions “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Performance Graph” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The information concerning securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans required by this Item pursuant to Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement under the heading “Equity Compensation Plans Information.”

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The information with respect to certain transactions with management of the Company, which is set forth under the caption “Certain Relationships and Transactions with Management” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The information with respect to certain principal accountant fees and services, which is set forth under the caption “Independent Public Accountants” in the Proxy Statement for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, is incorporated herein by reference.

The information concerning pre-approval policies for audit and non-audit services required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement under the heading “Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors.”

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)

List of documents filed as part of this report:

Financial statements: The Company’s financial statements and related information are hereby incorporated by reference to pages 19 to 40 of the Company’s Annual Report filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this Form 10-K.

Financial statement schedules: All schedules are omitted, as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in financial statements or related notes thereto.

Exhibits to this Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K are as follows:


Exhibit No.		Description

3.1		Articles of Amendment filed November 5, 2001 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through November 5, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 5, 2001).

3.2		Bylaws of Optical Cable Corporation, as amended (filed as exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 (file number 0-27022), and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1		Form of certificate representing Common Stock (filed as exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 (file number 0-27022), and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective September 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.2*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Ken Harber, effective November 21, 2001, and amendment thereto (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.3*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Luke Huybrechts, effective November 21, 2001, and amendment thereto (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.4*		Employment Agreement dated November 1, 2002 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Charles W. Carson (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the 1^st quarter ended January 31, 2002 (file number 0-27022)).

10.5*		Optical Cable Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.9 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 1998 (file number 0-27022)).

10.6*		Optical Cable Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 28.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-09733).

13.1		Annual Report. FILED HEREWITH.

23.1		Consent of KPMG LLP. FILED HEREWITH.

31.1		Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

31.2		Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

32.1		Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

32.2		Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

*	Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K:

There was one report on Form 8-K filed by the Company during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2003:

Form 8-K dated as of September 11, 2003, filed September 15, 2003, reporting under Item 12.

Financial statements included in this report on Form 8-K are the following:

(1) Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations for the three months ended July 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the nine months ended July 31, 2003 and 2002.

(2) Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2003 and October 31, 2002.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Date: January 29, 2004	By:	/s/ NEIL D. WILKIN, JR.

		Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer


Date: January 29, 2004	By:	/s/ TRACY G. SMITH

		Tracy G. Smith Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated as of January 29, 2004.



Date: January 29, 2004								/s/ NEIL D. WILKIN, JR.

								Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: January 29, 2004								/s/ LUKE J. HUYBRECHTS

								Luke J. Huybrechts Senior Vice President of Sales and Director

Date: January 29, 2004								/s/ RANDALL H. FRAZIER

								Randall H. Frazier Director

Date: January 29, 2004

								John M. Holland Director

Date: January 29, 2004								/s/ CRAIG H. WEBER

								Craig H. Weber Director

Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.		Description

3.1		Articles of Amendment filed November 5, 2001 to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended through November 5, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the Commission on November 5, 2001).

3.2		Bylaws of Optical Cable Corporation, as amended (filed as exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 (file number 0-27022), and incorporated herein by reference).

4.1		Form of certificate representing Common Stock (filed as exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1997 (file number 0-27022), and incorporated herein by reference).

10.1*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. effective September 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.2*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Ken Harber, effective November 21, 2001, and amendment thereto (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.3*		Employment Agreement by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Luke Huybrechts, effective November 21, 2001, and amendment thereto (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001 (file number 0-27022)).

10.4*		Employment Agreement dated November 1, 2002 by and between Optical Cable Corporation and Charles W. Carson (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.3 to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the 1st quarter ended January 31, 2002 (file number 0-27022)).

10.5*		Optical Cable Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.9 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 1998 (file number 0-27022)).

10.6*		Optical Cable Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to exhibit 28.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 333-09733).

13.1		Annual Report. FILED HEREWITH.

23.1		Consent of KPMG LLP. FILED HEREWITH.

31.1		Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

31.2		Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

32.1		Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

32.2		Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. FILED HEREWITH.

*	Management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

Exhibit 13.1

EXHIBIT 13.1

OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION

Annual Report

2003

TABLE OF CONTENTS



2		Selected Financial Information

4		Letter to Shareholders

6		Management’s Discussion and Analysis

19		Financial Statements

23		Notes to Financial Statements

40		Independent Auditors’ Report

41		Management’s Statement of Responsibility

42		Corporate Information

Selected Financial Information

(in thousands, except per share data and footnotes)


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001			2000			1999
Statement of Operations Information:
Net sales	$	41,114		$	42,598		$	60,405		$	58,219		$	50,699
Cost of goods sold		26,505			27,607			35,983			30,878			27,547

Gross profit		14,609			14,991			24,422			27,341			23,152
Selling, general and administrative expenses		13,309			13,603			17,131			15,024			10,799
Shareholder litigation settlement expense⁽¹⁾		871			997			—			—			—
Loss on impairment of machinery and equipment ⁽²⁾		117			—			—			—			—

Income from operations		312			391			7,291			12,317			12,353
Other income (expense):
Gains (losses) on trading securities, net ⁽³⁾		—			—			(11,414	)		289			—
Interest income (expense), net		(159	)		(184	)		(318	)		173			202
Other, net		39			9			9			(45	)		(36	)

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)		192			216			(4,432	)		12,734			12,519
Income tax expense (benefit) ⁽⁴⁾		(123	)		(68	)		2,297			4,479			4,214

Net income (loss)	$	315		$	284		$	(6,729	)	$	8,255		$	8,305

Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.05		$	0.04		$	(0.96	)	$	1.17		$	1.18

Diluted	$	0.05		$	0.04		$	(0.96	)	$	1.16		$	1.17

Weighted average shares:
Basic		5,736			6,929			7,020			7,038			7,063

Diluted		5,744			6,929			7,043			7,095			7,108

Balance Sheet Information:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,337		$	747		$	2,088		$	1,459		$	6,817
Trading securities		—			—			—			17,983			—
Working capital		14,277			15,480			14,205			31,986			21,980
Total assets		30,185			32,674			42,798			52,688			37,512
Short-term borrowings		—			—			8,271			5,659			—
Total shareholders’ equity		26,634			28,204			27,865			43,508			32,847

⁽¹⁾

The Company recorded a charge during fiscal year 2003 in the amount of $870,549, representing the costs incurred during the year as a result of the settlement of a consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit. Of the total charge during 2003, $862,250 resulted from the variable accounting treatment, required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, related to warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock issued as part of the settlement. Likewise, the Company recorded a charge during fiscal year 2002 in the amount of $997,112, representing the estimated cost of the settlement of the consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit and related professional fees incurred, net of insurance proceeds. Of the total charge recorded in 2002, $320,344 resulted from the variable accounting treatment related to the warrants. See note 6 of the notes to the financial statements for further information on the warrants issued in connection with the litigation settlement.

⁽²⁾

The Company recorded a charge during fiscal year 2003 in the amount of $117,337 due to a loss on impairment of machinery and equipment in connection with an automation upgrade to the Company’s production lines. See note 4 of the notes to the financial statements for further information on the loss on impairment of machinery and equipment.


Optical Cable Corporation		2

⁽³⁾

In January 2000, at the direction of our former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, we began actively buying and selling shares in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, which is designed to closely track the price and yield performance of the Nasdaq 100 stock index. Our active trading in the Nasdaq 100 Trust continued through May 14, 2001, the date of the last purchase of these shares. On October 3, 2001, as part of a policy to invest future excess funds only in short-term interest-bearing investments, we sold all of our remaining investment in the Nasdaq 100 Trust and paid off the outstanding margin borrowings. For accounting purposes, we categorized our past investment in the Nasdaq 100 Trust as trading securities, and we recorded the investment on our balance sheet at fair value, which was based on quoted market prices. Realized and unrealized net gains or losses were included in other gains (losses) on trading securities, net, under the other income (expense) section of the statement of operations.

⁽⁴⁾

The effect of establishing a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets relating to the capital loss carryforward generated by the sale of our trading securities during fiscal year 2001 resulted in an increase in income tax expense of approximately $4.1 million for fiscal year 2001. See note 11 of the notes to the financial statements for further information on income taxes.


		3		Optical Cable Corporation

Dear Shareholders:

The Right Direction

I am pleased to report to you this year that your management team has continued to build on our past successes—delivering on our promises to you.

During a tenuous year in the fiber optic cable market where many of our competitors had net losses—Optical Cable Corporation performed.

We showed net income of $0.05 per fully diluted share during fiscal 2003, with net income increasing 11% over fiscal 2002. This despite a significant noncash accounting charge during 2003 with respect to warrants issued by the Company. (See note 6 to the financial statements.)

We maintained our position as a leading U.S. fiber optic cable manufacturer in the enterprise market.

We paid-off all of the outstanding balance on our bank line of credit ending the year with over $2.3 million in cash on hand.

During 2003, we decreased inventories almost 30% as part of our continued efforts to better optimize inventory levels.

Although net sales decreased 3.5% to $41.1 million in fiscal 2003 from $42.6 million in fiscal 2002, we were able increase net sales in the U.S. by 2.2% to $33.4 million in fiscal 2003 from $32.7 million in fiscal 2002.

In January 2003, we purchased and retired 21.3% of our outstanding stock at a price of $2.00 per share in a privately negotiated transaction in an effort to eliminate a market overhang on our stock.

In May 2003, we received recertification and registration under the new ISO 9001:2000 quality standard—an important step for our quality program.

During the year, we continued to build your Company’s infrastructure by adding appropriate personnel necessary for our future growth, while continuing to monitor our expenses.

These and other successes have been reflected in our stock price, which began the fiscal year at $1.84 per share, ended the fiscal year at $6.65 per share, and closed at $8.21 per share on January 28, 2004, not far from the 52-week high of $8.80 per share. While I continue to strongly believe that the management team must focus on the fundamentals of growing the business rather than daily stock fluctuations—it is gratifying to me that your investment in Optical Cable has moved in the right direction, reflecting the Company’s performance.


Optical Cable Corporation		4

During fiscal 2003, we began to see our industry stabilize and are cautiously optimistic about future sales as our markets appear to show preliminary signs of firming. We also believe we have returned to seasonality patterns experienced prior to fiscal 2001. Specifically, net sales historically were relatively lower in the first half of a fiscal year and relatively higher in the second half of a fiscal year. We expect this trend to continue in fiscal 2004.

By the end of fiscal 2004, we expect to see modest sales growth for the year. Further, your management team will continue to work aggressively on its initiatives to increase sales and profitability ahead of market growth.

Building on the Foundation

Optical Cable Corporation celebrated its 20^th anniversary during 2003. We have a long heritage, of which we are quite proud, of leadership in the fiber optic cable industry. We will continue to build on the strong foundation composed of the best of our past, coupled with our more recent accomplishments and improvements, with the goal of growing our business and continually improving all areas of our operations.

Our strategy is clear: deliver the exceptional services and quality products our customers have come to expect from Optical Cable; continue our expansion into market segments that are particularly well suited for our rugged fiber optic cable designs—like the mining, security and industrial markets; continue to pursue the right opportunities to grow our partnership and alliance base and to expand our product breadth; and continue to improve and upgrade our infrastructure as appropriate to facilitate long-term future growth.

Much progress has been made—and we are quite proud of that fact. BUT, the work is not done! Only by continuing to build and improve on the foundation we have constructed can we position Optical Cable for continued success over the long term.

Thank you for your continued support.

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

President & CEO


		5		Optical Cable Corporation

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results

of Operations and Financial Condition

Forward-Looking Information

We caution readers that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive and we incorporate by reference those factors included in current reports on Form 8-K.

Amounts presented in the following discussion have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand, unless the amounts are less than one million, in which case the amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Overview

During our 2003 fiscal year, we reported net income of $315,000 while operating in an industry that continues to be challenging. We also issued warrants to purchase common stock during the year in connection with the settlement of a class action shareholder lawsuit. Effective May 19, 2003, we registered the common shares to be issued on exercise of the warrants. The combination of the issuance of the warrants and the registration of the shares underlying the warrants fulfilled our remaining obligations with respect to the class action lawsuit and concluded our recognition of expense. In addition, we repurchased 21.3% of our outstanding common stock in January 2003 for a price of $2.00 per share, and completely repaid the debt incurred to fund the transaction prior to the end of the year. Each of these items will be described in further detail later in our discussion.


Optical Cable Corporation		6

We sell our products internationally and domestically through our sales force to our customers, which include original equipment manufacturers, major distributors, regional distributors and various smaller distributors. For the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, approximately 81%, 77% and 77%, respectively, of net sales were from customers located in the United States, while approximately 19%, 23% and 23%, respectively, of net sales were from international customers. Substantially all of our international sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. The lower percentage of international net sales in 2003 compared to 2002 resulted primarily from a nonrecurring large order of one international customer during 2002. There were no such identifiable nonrecurring international sales during 2001; however, we believe the higher percentage of international sales in 2001 when compared to 2002, exclusive of the nonrecurring sale, was a result of the significant change in the industry that occurred during the period subsequent to the down turn in the technology sector.

Net sales consist of gross sales of products less discounts, refunds and returns. Revenue is recognized at the time of product shipment or delivery to the customer (including distributors) provided that the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, based on shipping terms. In fiscal year 2003, one major domestic distributor accounted for 14.9% of our net sales. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of our net sales in fiscal year 2002. In fiscal year 2001, 13.6% of our net sales were attributable to another major domestic distributor. During fiscal year 2002, this distributor advised us that it would no longer stock our products as part of its regular product offering. Other than these two distributors, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our net sales in fiscal years 2003, 2002 or 2001.

A significant percentage of the selling price of our fiber optic cable is based on the cost of raw materials used. Single-mode fiber is less expensive than multimode fiber, and consequently single-mode fiber optic cables have a lower per unit selling price than comparable multimode fiber optic cables. We believe that the metropolitan and access markets are predominantly the users of single-mode fiber optic cable, and that increasingly, single-mode fiber optic cable is also being used for other short to moderate distance installations where higher bandwidth is required. However, any trend toward the use of single-mode fiber optic cables in such other installations may be slowed to the extent that 50 micron 1 gigabit and 10 gigabit multimode fiber optic cables are used to satisfy current bandwidth demands. To the extent that our sales mix shifts toward single-mode cables, we will have to increase the volume of our sales to maintain our current level of net sales.

Cost of goods sold consists of the cost of materials, compensation costs, product warranty costs and overhead related to our manufacturing operations. The largest percentage of costs included in cost of goods sold is attributable to costs of materials which are variable costs as opposed to fixed costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, also referred to as “SG&A expenses,” consist of the compensation costs for sales and marketing personnel, shipping costs, travel expenses, customer support expenses, trade show expenses, advertising, bad debt expense, the compensation cost for administration, finance and general management personnel, as well as legal and accounting fees and costs incurred to settle litigation or claims and other actions against us, excluding legal and accounting fees and other costs reflected as shareholder litigation settlement expense.


		7		Optical Cable Corporation

Other expense, net consists of interest income, interest expense, and other miscellaneous income and expense items not directly attributable to our manufacturing operations. Prior to fiscal year 2002, other expense, net included realized and unrealized net gains and losses on trading securities. In January 2000, the Company, at the direction of its former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, began actively buying and selling shares in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, which is designed to closely track the price and yield performance of the Nasdaq 100 stock index. Short-term margin borrowings payable to an investment broker were used to finance the Company’s position in these trading securities. The Company’s active trading in the Nasdaq 100 Trust continued through May 14, 2001, the date of the last purchase of these shares. On October 3, 2001, as part of a policy to invest future excess funds only in short-term interest-bearing investments, the Company sold all of its remaining investment in the Nasdaq 100 Trust and paid off the outstanding margin borrowings. As a result, there were no gains or losses resulting from the trading of securities subsequent to the 2001 fiscal year. In April 2001, the Board of Directors adopted an Investment Objectives and Guidelines policy, in which we state that we will make no additional cash investments in the above-mentioned Nasdaq 100 Trust or in stocks of other companies. In addition, our Investment Objectives and Guidelines policy states that any future investments will be in U.S. dollar denominated short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.

For accounting purposes, the Company categorized its past investment in the Nasdaq 100 Trust as trading securities, and recorded the investment on its balance sheet at fair value, which was based on quoted market prices. Purchases and sales of trading securities were recognized on a trade-date basis, the date the order to buy or sell was executed. Net realized gains or losses were determined on the first-in, first-out cost method. The Company marked its investment to market on each balance sheet date. Any decline in fair value was recorded as an unrealized loss, while any increase in fair value was recorded as an unrealized gain. Realized gains and losses and unrealized holding gains and losses from trading securities were included in losses on trading securities, net, under the other expense, net section of the statements of operations.

In fiscal year 2001, the Company recognized realized net losses of $11.4 million in connection with our securities trading activities in other expense, net. In fiscal year 2001, the Company incurred interest expense of $305,000 on the margin borrowings.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth selected line items from our statements of operations as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003		2002		2001
Net sales	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of goods sold	64.5		64.8		59.6

Gross profit	35.5		35.2		40.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses	32.4		32.0		28.3
Shareholder litigation settlement expense	2.1		2.3		—
Loss on impairment of machinery and equipment	0.2		—		—

Income from operations	0.8		0.9		12.1
Other expense, net	(0.3	)	(0.4	)	(19.4	)

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)	0.5		0.5		(7.3	)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(0.3	)	(0.2	)	3.8

Net income (loss)	0.8	%	0.7	%	(11.1	)%


Optical Cable Corporation		8

Net Sales

Net sales decreased 3.5% to $41.1 million in fiscal year 2003 from $42.6 million in fiscal year 2002. Despite the slight decrease for the year, net sales increased sequentially from quarter to quarter during 2003. Quarterly net sales ranged from $9.7 million during the first quarter of 2003 to $11.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2003. We believe the pattern of net sales experienced during fiscal year 2003 may reflect a return to seasonality patterns experienced by us prior to fiscal year 2001. Specifically, net sales historically were relatively lower in the first half of each fiscal year and relatively higher in the second half of each fiscal year, which we believe may be partially due to the construction cycles and budgetary cycles of our customers.

During fiscal year 2003, our product mix for cable containing multimode fiber (which typically has a higher relative sales price), compared to cable containing single-mode fiber (which typically has a lower relative sales price), was approximately the same when compared to 2002.

Cable containing multimode fiber is generally used for communications over shorter distances where the higher bandwidth capacity and the higher transmission equipment cost of single-mode fiber is not required. Multimode fiber optic cable is often used in datacom applications. Cable containing single-mode fiber is generally used for communications over longer distances and where higher bandwidth capacity is required. Single-mode fiber optic cable is often used in telecom, CATV and various Internet applications.

Net sales decreased 29.5% to $42.6 million in fiscal year 2002 from $60.4 million in 2001. The decrease in net sales during fiscal year 2002, when compared to 2001, was a result of economic weakness that particularly affected the technology and fiber optic cable sectors, and that significantly affected our net sales since the second half of fiscal year 2001.

During fiscal year 2002, we experienced an increase in product mix for cable containing multimode fiber, compared to cable containing single-mode fiber, when compared to 2001. The impact of the decreased market demand due to overall economic conditions of the industry outweighed the impact on sales resulting from the change in product mix.

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased 2.5% to $14.6 million in fiscal year 2003 from $15.0 million in 2002. Gross profit margin, or gross profit as a percentage of net sales, was approximately the same as gross profit margin in the prior year at 35.5% for fiscal year 2003 versus gross profit margin of 35.2% for fiscal year 2002. We continued to see pressure on pricing as a result of certain industry conditions during fiscal year 2003. We believe the pricing pressure results from the continued excess fiber manufacturing capacity in the marketplace. Therefore, despite a slight increase in volumes shipped during the year, net sales declined. The impact of the increased volumes was partially offset by our ability to obtain lower pricing on certain raw materials during the year.

Gross profit decreased 38.6% to $15.0 million in fiscal year 2002 from $24.4 million in 2001. Gross profit margin decreased to 35.2% in fiscal year 2002 from 40.4% in 2001, as overall production costs did not decrease at the same relative rate as the decrease in net sales. Although raw material cost per fiber meter shipped decreased during fiscal year 2002 compared to 2001, manufacturing overhead costs, and to a lesser extent labor costs, did not decrease proportionately to the decrease in net sales as lower costs were allocated over even lower volumes.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses decreased 2.2% to $13.3 million in fiscal year 2003 from $13.6 million in 2002. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 32.4% in fiscal year 2003 compared to 32.0% in 2002. The slightly higher percentage in fiscal year 2003 reflects the fact that net sales for the period decreased 3.5% compared to 2002, while SG&A expenses only decreased 2.2% compared to 2002.


		9		Optical Cable Corporation

The decrease in SG&A expenses during fiscal year 2003 compared to 2002 results from decreases in certain types of selling costs, legal and professional fees (excluding those fees related to the shareholder litigation), and bad debt expense, partially offset by increases in compensation costs partially resulting from new hires during the year.

SG&A expenses decreased 20.6% to $13.6 million in fiscal year 2002 from $17.1 million in 2001. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 32.0% in fiscal year 2002 compared to 28.3% in 2001. The higher percentage in fiscal year 2002 reflects the fact that net sales for the period decreased 29.5% compared to 2001, while SG&A expenses only decreased 20.6% compared to 2001. Approximately $1.4 million of the decrease in SG&A expenses during fiscal year 2002 compared to 2001 is attributable to various non-recurring charges incurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2001, including a $902,000 charge related to settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, also referred to as the “EEOC,” for alleged prior discriminatory practices and related complaints, a $411,000 charge to write off deferred costs related to an aborted securities offering previously anticipated during fiscal year 2001 and a $102,000 charge for costs related to a business development project. The remaining portion of the decrease in SG&A expenses in fiscal year 2002 compared to fiscal year 2001, was substantially attributable to a decrease in sales commissions and shipping costs, bad debt expense and, to a lesser extent, decreases in legal fees (excluding those fees related to the shareholder litigation) during fiscal year 2002.

Shareholder Litigation Settlement Expense

We recorded a charge during fiscal year 2003 in the amount of $871,000 representing additional costs incurred in the settlement of the consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit. Of the total amount expensed, approximately $862,000 represents an increase in the fair value of the warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $4.88 per share issued in connection with the settlement of the shareholder litigation. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America required the fair value of the warrants to be adjusted at each reporting period until such time that the following two conditions were met: (i) we were irrevocably obligated to issue the warrants, and (ii) the underlying shares of common stock to be issued on exercise were registered. The second and final of these two conditions was satisfied on May 19, 2003 when the Securities and Exchange Commission, also referred to as the SEC, declared the registration statement for the underlying shares of common stock to be effective. The expense associated with the increase in the fair value of the warrants is a non-cash item and has no impact on our net cash flow.

We recorded a charge during fiscal year 2002 in the amount of $997,000 representing the estimated cost of the settlement of the consolidated shareholder class action lawsuit and related professional fees incurred during fiscal year 2002, net of insurance proceeds. Of the total amount expensed, approximately $320,000 represents the fair value of the warrants based on the Black-Scholes pricing model. The closing price of our common stock as of October 31, 2002, of $1.84 per share was used in the calculation for fiscal year 2002.

The shareholder lawsuit is described in more detail in our discussion of “Liquidity and Capital Resources”. There was no charge related to shareholder litigation in fiscal year 2001 since the first lawsuit was initiated in November 2001.


Optical Cable Corporation		10

Loss on Impairment of Machinery and Equipment

During fiscal year 2003, we recorded a loss on impairment of machinery and equipment totaling $117,000 due to an automation upgrade initiative. The impairment loss relates to certain machinery and equipment purchased throughout fiscal year 2001 not yet placed into service that is being replaced in conjunction with our automation upgrade project. The loss is a non-cash item that represents the write-off of the carrying value of the machinery and equipment anticipated to be replaced. There was no such impairment loss during 2002.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net decreased to $121,000 in fiscal year 2003 from $175,000 in 2002. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest expense during fiscal year 2003 as a result of lower balances outstanding throughout 2003 compared to 2002 under our bank line of credit, as well as reduced interest rates. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2003, we met certain fixed charge coverage ratio requirements and the interest rate on our credit facility was reduced from three-quarters of one percent (0.75%) per annum above the prime rate to one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum above the prime rate. Decreases in the prime rate have also resulted in a lower overall interest rate during 2003 compared to 2002. Additional information describing our credit facility can be found in our discussion of “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Other expense, net decreased to $175,000 in fiscal year 2002 from $11.7 million in 2001. This decrease was primarily due to the cessation of securities trading activity which was conducted at the direction of our former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the liquidation of our remaining investments in the Nasdaq 100 Trust and the pay off of the outstanding margin borrowings prior to the end of fiscal year 2001. We recognized net losses of $11.4 million in connection with our securities trading activities in fiscal year 2001. Since October 2001, we have held no trading securities in accordance with our current investment policy and had no outstanding margin borrowings. The trading securities activity is described in more detail in the “Overview” section of our discussion. Additionally, interest expense decreased $147,000 in fiscal year 2002 compared to 2001.

Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income before income tax benefit was $192,000 in fiscal year 2003 compared to income before income tax benefit of $216,000 in 2002. This decrease was primarily due to the decrease in gross profit of $382,000 and an increase in loss on impairment of machinery and equipment of $117,000, partially offset by a decrease in SG&A expenses of $294,000, the decrease in shareholder litigation settlement expense of $127,000 and a decrease in other expense, net, of $55,000.

Income before income tax benefit was $216,000 in fiscal year 2002 whereas we incurred a loss before income tax expense of $4.4 million in 2001. This change was primarily due to the fact that we did not incur trading securities losses during fiscal year 2002 compared to losses totaling $11.4 million on trading securities, net during 2001 and a $3.5 million decrease in SG&A expenses, partially offset by a $9.4 million decrease in gross profit, largely resulting from the decrease in net sales, and the $997,000 charge related to our settlement of the shareholder litigation in 2002.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

Income tax benefit totaled $123,000 in fiscal year 2003 compared to $68,000 in 2002. Notwithstanding the income before income taxes during fiscal year 2003, we reported income tax benefit for the year rather than income tax expense, due primarily to the amount and timing of the tax benefits of $208,000 related to our Extraterritorial Income Exclusion, also referred to as “EIE,” which exempts from federal income taxation a portion of the net profit realized from sales outside the United States of products manufactured in the United States. The EIE is calculated by a complex analysis of all export sales and profits for the year. Fluctuations in the ratio of export sales and profitability to total sales and profitability create changes in the EIE.


		11		Optical Cable Corporation

Income tax benefit totaled $68,000 in fiscal year 2002 compared to income tax expense of $2.3 million in 2001. Notwithstanding the income before income taxes during fiscal year 2002, we reported income tax benefit for the year rather than income tax expense, due primarily to the amount and timing of the tax benefits of $119,000 related to our EIE and a decrease of $63,000 in our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. The decrease in our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is a result of a decrease in the tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in future years.

Fluctuations in our effective tax rates are due primarily to the amount and timing of the tax benefits related to our EIE. The World Trade Organization has ruled against the United States’ EIE regime. In the ruling the World Trade Organization gave permission to the European Union to sanction tariffs on certain products manufactured in the United States if the EIE regime was not repealed by March 31, 2004. There are two proposed bills before the United States Congress that would repeal the EIE regime. Currently, the proposed bills will not be retroactive, giving taxpayers full EIE benefit for 2003. As a result of the proposed bills, we are uncertain as to the extent that we will be able to realize the EIE benefit in future years.

Net Income (Loss)

Net income increased 11.0% to $315,000 in fiscal year 2003 compared to $284,000 in 2002. This increase was primarily due to the increase of $55,000 in income tax benefit offset by the factors previously described as contributing to the decrease in income before income tax benefit.

Net income totaled $284,000 in fiscal year 2002 compared to a net loss of $6.7 million in 2001. This change was primarily due to the decrease of $11.4 million in trading securities losses, net, the $3.5 million decrease in SG&A expenses and the $2.4 million change in tax expense, partially offset by a $9.4 million decrease in gross profit and the $997,000 charge related to our settlement of the shareholder litigation.

Financial Condition

Total assets decreased $2.5 million, or 7.6%, to $30.2 million at October 31, 2003, from $32.7 million at October 31, 2002. This decrease was primarily due to a $578,000 decrease in income taxes refundable, a $2.8 million decrease in inventories resulting from continuing efforts to optimize inventory based on current sales levels and a $623,000 decrease in property and equipment, net, partially offset by an increase in cash of $1.6 million. Cash increased during the year as we were able to pay off outstanding balances on our bank line of credit allowing us to retain cash as a result of positive cash flow from operations.

Total liabilities decreased $919,000, or 20.6%, to $3.6 million at October 31, 2003 from $4.5 million at October 31, 2002. This decrease was primarily due to a $532,000 decrease in accrued shareholder litigation settlement expense, largely as a result of the reclassification of the fair value of warrants, net of issuance costs, from an accrued liability to permanent equity upon meeting certain conditions in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the payment of $175,000 during the year related to the settlement of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s lawsuit against us, filed on September 27, 2000. We made a final payment of $175,000 as a result of this lawsuit during January of 2004.

Total shareholders’ equity at October 31, 2003 decreased $1.6 million, or 5.6% during fiscal year 2003. The decrease resulted primarily from the repurchase and retirement of 21.3% of our outstanding common stock during fiscal year 2003 for $3 million, including brokerage fees. The repurchase of our common shares was accomplished through a privately negotiated transaction. We repurchased the 1,475,867 shares of common stock from a mid-west investment bank for a price of $2 per share. The decrease was partially offset by net income retained and the reclassification of the fair value of the warrants issued in connection with the shareholder litigation, net of issuance costs, totaling $1.1 million.


Optical Cable Corporation		12

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In addition to the repurchase of 21.3% of our outstanding common stock during fiscal year 2003, our primary capital needs have been to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures. Our primary source of capital for these purposes has been cash provided from operations and borrowings under our bank line of credit described later in this discussion of “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, we had no outstanding balance under our bank line of credit.

Our cash totaled $2.3 million as of October 31, 2003, an increase of $1.6 million, compared to $747,000 as of October 31, 2002. We maintain a sweep account arrangement with our bank, where at the end of each day all of our cash is used to paydown our outstanding note payable to the bank, if any. The increase in cash for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, was primarily due to net cash provided by operating activities of $5.2 million, partially offset by the cost of the repurchase of 21.3% of our outstanding common stock totaling $3.0 million.

During fiscal year 2003, we renegotiated two “take-or-pay” agreements to purchase raw optical fiber, reducing our future fiber commitments at the time of renegotiation by approximately $10.6 million. We entered into an amended and restated supply agreement to purchase raw optical fiber from one supplier, and we have amended a supply agreement to purchase raw optical fiber with a second supplier. Both supply agreements were made in the ordinary course of business. Alternative suppliers exist that could provide this material at a similar cost in the event these suppliers are unable or unwilling to perform under the contracts. See further information related to these supply agreements in our discussion of “Contractual Obligations and Commitments.”

On October 31, 2003, we had working capital of $14.3 million, compared to $15.5 million as of October 31, 2002, a decrease of $1.2 million. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities as of October 31, 2003, was 5.0 to 1, compared to 4.6 to 1 as of October 31, 2002. The decrease in working capital during fiscal year 2003 was primarily caused by a $578,000 decrease in income taxes refundable and a $2.8 million decrease in inventories, partially offset by an increase in cash of $1.6 million, a $532,000 decrease in accrued shareholder litigation settlement expense, and the payment of $175,000, during the year related to the settlement of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s lawsuit against us, filed on September 27, 2000.

Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $5.2 million in fiscal year 2003, compared to $7.2 million in 2002. Net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal year 2003 primarily resulted from a $578,000 decrease in income taxes refundable and a $2.8 million decrease in inventories, partially offset by a $603,000 decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses (including accrued compensation and payroll taxes). Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $7.2 million in fiscal year 2002, compared to $3.9 million in 2001. Net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal year 2002 primarily resulted from a $2.5 million decrease in trade accounts receivable and a $4.7 million decrease in inventories, partially offset by a $2.2 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses (including accrued compensation and payroll taxes). Net cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2001 was primarily affected by the sale of approximately $18.0 million in trading securities resulting in a net realized loss of $11.4 million, cash provided by operating income, and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities of $3.6 million, partially offset by an increase in inventories of $6.5 million and a decrease in the amount payable to investment broker of $5.7 million.

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $500,000 in fiscal year 2003 and was for expenditures related to facilities and equipment. Net cash provided by investing activities totaled $17,000 in fiscal year 2002. Net cash generated in investing activities during fiscal year 2002 primarily resulted from $368,000 provided by the receipt of the cash surrender value of a life insurance policy on a former officer, partially offset by $351,000 in purchases of property and equipment. Net cash used in investing activities totaled $2.6 million for fiscal year 2001. Net cash used in investing activities was mainly for expenditures related to facilities and equipment for fiscal year 2001. There are no material commitments for capital expenditures as of October 31, 2003.


		13		Optical Cable Corporation

Net cash used in financing activities was $3.1 million in fiscal year 2003, $8.6 million in 2002 and $715,000 in 2001. Net cash used in financing activities in fiscal year 2003 was primarily the result of the repurchase of 21.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock for $2 per share plus brokerage fees. Net cash used in financing activities in 2002 was the result of repayments on notes payable to our bank under our lines of credit and payments for financing costs related to our new credit facility. Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2001 was primarily the result of $9.3 million used to repurchase shares of our common stock, partially offset by an $8.3 million increase in our bank lines of credit.

On April 18, 2002, we entered into a revolving credit facility with Wachovia Bank, National Association (formerly First Union National Bank). The three-year credit facility provides up to a maximum of $25.0 million and replaced our previous $9.5 million credit facility. The facility is collateralized by all of our tangible and intangible assets. Borrowings under the credit facility are subject to certain coverage ratios, advance limits and qualifications that are applied to our accounts receivable, inventory and fixed assets. Our ability to access the full amount of the credit facility will depend on the future growth of our borrowing base. As of October 31, 2003, we had no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility, with approximately $10.4 million unused and available.

The credit facility bears interest at one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum above the prime rate (facility rate of 4.5% as of October 31, 2003). The facility also provides a LIBOR based rate at our option.

We believe that our cash flow from operations and our credit facility will be adequate to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.

During fiscal year 2001, we wrote off approximately $2.2 million for estimated uncollectible accounts receivable from Anicom. We have received offers, which have since expired, to sell our claim against the bankrupt estate. At this time, we have decided not to sell our claim in the bankruptcy proceeding. A subsequent recovery, if any, will be recognized when payment is received.


Optical Cable Corporation		14

From time to time, we are involved in various other claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Seasonality

Historically, net sales are relatively lower in the first half of each fiscal year and relatively higher in the second half of each fiscal year, which we believe may be partially due to construction cycles and budgetary cycles of our customers. For example, an average of approximately 45% of our net sales occurred during the first half of the fiscal year and an average of approximately 55% of our net sales occurred during the second half of the fiscal year for fiscal years 1996 through 2000. However, our sales did not follow this pattern in fiscal year 2002 or 2001. In fiscal years 2002 and 2001, approximately 52% and 57% of our net sales occurred during the first half of the fiscal year, respectively, and approximately 48% and 43% of our net sales occurred during the second half of the fiscal year, respectively. We believe this shift in the pattern of our net sales appears to be related to overall economic conditions in the industry. During fiscal year 2003, approximately 47% of our net sales occurred during the first half of the fiscal year and approximately 53% of our net sales occurred during the second half of the fiscal year. The pattern of net sales we experienced during fiscal year 2003 may reflect a return to the historical seasonality patterns, and we believe we will see a similar pattern in fiscal year 2004.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The table below sets forth a summary of our contractual obligations and commitments that will impact our future liquidity:


	Fiscal years ending October 31,
Contractual Obligations and Commitments	2004		2005	2006	Totals
Long-term optical fiber supply agreements	$	4,675,000	4,689,000	792,000	10,156,000
EEOC settlement		175,000	—	—	175,000

Total	$	4,850,000	4,689,000	792,000	10,331,000

Long-Term Optical Fiber Supply Agreements

During fiscal year 2001, we entered into separate long-term supply agreements with two raw optical fiber suppliers. Both supply agreements were made in the ordinary course of business.

The agreement with the first optical fiber supplier was amended in December 2002 to significantly reduce the amount of our total fiber purchase commitment. The agreement, as amended, expires on December 31, 2005. The aggregate purchases required under the terms of this amended agreement (subject to certain future market price adjustments) are included in the table above. Additionally, this amended supply agreement requires that one-half of our aggregate multimode fiber purchases and one-half of our aggregate single-mode fiber purchases through December 31, 2005 be purchased from that supplier at market prices.

An agreement with a second optical fiber supplier was also amended in December 2002 to significantly reduce the amount of our total fiber purchase commitment. This supply agreement, as amended, sets forth certain quantities to be purchased for calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005. However, the supply agreement allows us to carry over the purchase commitment of any year to future years without penalty in the event the target quantities in any year are not met; provided that the aggregate amount of the purchase commitment under the supply agreement must be satisfied by December 31, 2005. The aggregate purchases under this supply agreement (subject to certain future market price adjustments) are included in the table above assuming the purchase target quantities are met each year as set forth in the agreement.


		15		Optical Cable Corporation

We believe that the fiber purchase commitments are consistent with our expected requirements. Additionally, we believe we have adequate alternative sources of fiber in the event these suppliers are unable to fulfill their commitments to us. As a result, we also believe our business is not substantially dependent upon any one optical fiber supplier.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Settlement

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on the financial statements and accompanying notes that have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 1 to the financial statements provides a summary of our significant accounting policies. The following are areas requiring significant judgments and estimates due to uncertainties as of the reporting date: revenue recognition, trade accounts receivable and the allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories, long-lived assets, and commitments and contingencies.

Application of the critical accounting policies discussed below requires management’s significant judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. If actual results were to differ materially from the estimates made, the reported results could be materially affected. We are not currently aware of any reasonably likely events or circumstances that would result in materially different results.

Revenue Recognition

Management views revenue recognition as a critical accounting estimate since we must estimate an allowance for sales returns for the reporting period. This allowance reduces net sales for the period and is based on our analysis and judgment of historical trends, identified returns and the potential for additional returns.

Trade Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Management views trade accounts receivable and the related allowance for doubtful accounts as a critical accounting estimate since the allowance for doubtful accounts is based on judgments and estimates concerning the likelihood that individual customers will pay the amounts included as receivable from them. In determining the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts to be recorded for individual customers, we consider the age of the receivable, the financial stability of the customer, discussions that may have occurred with the customer and our judgment as to the overall collectibility of the receivable from that customer. In addition, we establish an


Optical Cable Corporation		16

allowance for all other receivables for which no specific allowances are deemed necessary. This general allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a percentage of total trade accounts receivable with different percentages used based on different age categories of receivables. The percentages used are based on our historical experience and our current judgment regarding the state of the economy and the industry.

Inventories

Management views the determination of the net realizable value of inventories as a critical accounting estimate since it is based on judgments and estimates regarding the salability of individual items in inventory and an estimate of the ultimate selling prices for those items. Individual inventory items are reviewed and adjustments are made based on the age of the inventory and our judgment as to the salability of that inventory.

Long-lived Assets

Management views the determination of the carrying value of long-lived assets as a critical accounting estimate since we must determine an estimated economic useful life in order to properly depreciate our long-lived assets and because we must consider if the value of any of our long-lived assets have been impaired, requiring adjustment to the carrying value.

Economic useful life is the duration of time the asset is expected to be productively employed by us, which may be less than its physical life. Management’s assumptions on wear and tear, obsolescence, technological advances and other factors affect the determination of estimated economic useful life. The estimated economic useful life of an asset is monitored to determine it continues to be appropriate in light of changes in business circumstances. For example, technological advances or excessive wear and tear may result in a shorter estimated useful life than originally anticipated. In such a case, we would depreciate the remaining net book value of an asset over the new estimated remaining life, thereby increasing depreciation expense per year on a prospective basis. Over the past three years, changes in economic useful life assumptions have not had a material impact on our reported results.

We must also consider similar issues when determining whether or not an asset has been impaired to the extent that we must recognize a loss on such impairment. For example during our 2003 fiscal year we recorded a loss on impairment of machinery and equipment totaling $117,337 due to an automation upgrade initiative which is discussed further in note 4 of the notes to the financial statements.

Commitments and Contingencies

Management views accounting for contingencies as a critical accounting estimate since loss contingencies arising from product warranties and defects, claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources require judgment as to any probable liabilities incurred. For example, accrued product warranty costs recorded by us are based primarily on historical experience of actual warranty claims as well as current information on repair costs. Actual results could differ from the expected results determined based on such estimates.

Recent Developments

On December 30, 2003, a restricted stock award of 149,000 shares was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The shares will vest in equal amounts quarterly over almost four years with the first vesting date occurring on January 31, 2004. We will record compensation expense ratably over the vesting period equal to the number of shares multiplied by the closing price of $6.60 on the date of grant.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


		17		Optical Cable Corporation

Future Accounting Considerations

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, also referred to as the “FASB,” issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, also referred to as “SFAS” No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure. SFAS No. 148 amends existing accounting literature to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. We are currently considering the impact the adoption of the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation would have on our financial position and operating results should we choose to adopt such provisions.

As of December 31, 2003, there are no other new accounting standards issued, but not yet adopted by us, which are expected to be applicable to our financial position, operating results or financial statement disclosures.


Optical Cable Corporation		18

Balance Sheets

October 31, 2003 and 2002


	October 31,
	2003		2002
Assets
Current assets:
Cash	$	2,337,259	$	746,771
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $462,981 in 2003 and $476,124 in 2002		7,688,281		7,795,058
Income taxes refundable		262,427		840,013
Other receivables		183,600		285,639
Due from current and former officers, net of allowance for uncollectible advances of $59,078 in 2003 and 2002		25,167		31,467
Inventories		6,624,492		9,412,130
Prepaid expenses		440,555		492,201
Deferred income taxes		265,963		180,144

Total current assets		17,827,744		19,783,423
Other assets, net		172,690		261,344
Property and equipment, net		11,284,205		11,907,567
Deferred income taxes		900,524		721,755

Total assets	$	30,185,163	$	32,674,089

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	2,538,203	$	2,912,177
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes		1,012,956		859,899
Accrued shareholder litigation settlement expense		—		531,643

Total current liabilities		3,551,159		4,303,719
Other liabilities		—		166,383

Total liabilities		3,551,159		4,470,102

Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding		—		—
Common stock, no par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,459,005 shares in 2003 and 6,928,652 shares in 2002		1,142,006		55,313
Retained earnings		25,491,998		28,148,674

Total shareholders’ equity		26,634,004		28,203,987

Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	30,185,163	$	32,674,089

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


		19		Optical Cable Corporation

Statements of Operations

Years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Net sales	$	41,114,041		$	42,598,200		$	60,405,437
Cost of goods sold		26,504,631			27,607,192			35,983,719

Gross profit		14,609,410			14,991,008			24,421,718
Selling, general and administrative expenses		13,308,973			13,602,922			17,130,704
Shareholder litigation settlement expense		870,549			997,112			—
Loss on impairment of machinery and equipment		117,337			—			—

Income from operations		312,551			390,974			7,291,014
Other expense, net:
Losses on trading securities, net		—			—			(11,414,151	)
Interest income		9,756			32,418			45,620
Interest expense		(169,649	)		(216,858	)		(363,417	)
Other, net		38,987			9,021			9,201

Other expense, net		(120,906	)		(175,419	)		(11,722,747	)

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)		191,645			215,555			(4,431,733	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(122,962	)		(67,891	)		2,297,466

Net income (loss)	$	314,607		$	283,446		$	(6,729,199	)

Net income (loss) per share:
Basic and diluted	$	0.05		$	0.04		$	(0.96	)

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


Optical Cable Corporation		20

Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

Years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001


	Common Stock					Retained Earnings			Total Shareholders’ Equity
	Shares		Amount			Retained Earnings			Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balances at October 31, 2000	7,048,999		$	6,893,579		$	36,614,251		$	43,507,830
Exercise of employee stock options ($16.56 per share)	17,805			295,261			—			295,261
Restricted stock award ($50.00per share)	94			4,687			—			4,687
Stock-based compensation	—			5,593			—			5,593
Tax benefit of disqualifying disposition of stock options exercised	—			62,749			—			62,749
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (at cost)	(137,988	)		(7,261,869	)		(2,019,824	)		(9,281,693	)
Net loss	—			—			(6,729,199	)		(6,729,199	)

Balances at October 31, 2001	6,928,910			—			27,865,228			27,865,228
Stock-based compensation	—			(1,377	)		—			(1,377	)
Tax benefit of disqualifying disposition of stock options exercised	—			57,412			—			57,412
Cash payment for fractional shares	(258	)		(722	)		—			(722	)
Net income	—			—			283,446			283,446

Balances at October 31, 2002	6,928,652			55,313			28,148,674			28,203,987
Stock-based compensation	—			17,857			—			17,857
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (at cost)	(1,475,867	)		(61,624	)		(2,971,283	)		(3,032,907	)
Warrants for common stock, net of issuance costs	—			1,100,107			—			1,100,107
Exercise of warrants ($4.88 per share)	6,220			30,353			—			30,353
Net income	—			—			314,607			314,607

Balances at October 31, 2003	5,459,005		$	1,142,006		$	25,491,998		$	26,634,004

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


		21		Optical Cable Corporation

Statements of Cash Flows

Years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	314,607		$	283,446		$	(6,729,199	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion		1,125,953			1,155,807			1,058,489
Bad debt expense		350,266			410,425			1,052,447
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		(264,588	)		292,611			(429,930	)
Tax benefit of disqualifying disposition of stock options exercised		—			57,412			62,749
Stock-based compensation expense (benefit)		17,857			(1,377	)		10,280
Noncash shareholder litigation settlement expense		862,250			320,344			—
Loss on impairment of machinery and equipment		117,337			—			—
Decrease in trading securities		—			—			17,982,830
Decrease in payable to investment broker related to securities trading		—			—			(5,658,574	)
(Increase) decrease in:
Trade accounts receivable		(243,489	)		2,472,731			(303,139	)
Income taxes refundable		577,586			267,994			54,111
Other receivables		102,039			86,017			(9,656	)
Due from employees		6,300			3,551			(102,128	)
Inventories		2,787,638			4,672,801			(6,512,778	)
Prepaid expenses		51,646			(306,370	)		(73,037	)
Other assets		—			(8,339	)		—
Increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities		(756,000	)		(2,546,510	)		3,578,276
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes		153,057			61,696			(49,369	)

Net cash provided by operating activities (including securities trading)		5,202,459			7,222,239			3,931,372

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment		(500,115	)		(350,659	)		(2,481,696	)
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance		—			—			(105,532	)
Receipt of cash surrender value of life insurance		—			367,469			—
Advances on note receivable from former officer		—			—			500,000
Collection of note receivable from former officer		—			—			(500,000	)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(500,115	)		16,810			(2,587,228	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (repayments of) notes payable to bank, net		—			(8,271,000	)		8,271,000
Payments for financing costs		(35,154	)		(308,164	)		—
Cash payment for fractional shares		—			(722	)		—
Payments for warrant issuance costs		(74,148	)		—			—
Repurchase of common stock		(3,032,907	)		—			(9,281,693	)
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options		—			—			295,261
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		30,353			—			—

Net cash used in financing activities		(3,111,856	)		(8,579,886	)		(715,432	)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		1,590,488			(1,340,837	)		628,712
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		746,771			2,087,608			1,458,896

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	2,337,259		$	746,771		$	2,087,608

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash payments for interest	$	30,699		$	148,456		$	320,750

Income taxes paid (refunded), net	$	(435,960	)	$	185,190		$	2,610,536

Noncash investing and financing activities:
Capital expenditures accrued in accounts payable	$	13,773		$	17,910		$	58,650

Issuance costs of warrants for common stock reclassified as a reduction of common stock	$	8,339		$	—		$	—

Accrued shareholder litigation settlement expense reclassified to shareholders’ equity	$	320,344		$	—		$	—

See accompanying notes to financial statements.


Optical Cable Corporation		22

Notes to Financial Statements

Years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(1)

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)

Description of Business

Optical Cable Corporation (the “Company”) is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of tight-buffered fiber optic cables for high bandwidth transmission of data, video and audio communications, primarily sold into the local area network and premises markets, often referred to as the enterprise market. The Company’s fiber optic cables are well-suited for use in short to moderate distance applications.

The Company pioneered the design and production of special tight-buffered cables for the most demanding military field applications in the early 1980s. At its ISO 9001:2000 registered facility in Roanoke, Virginia, the Company manufactures a broad range of fiber optic cables that can be used both indoors and outdoors and utilize a tight-buffered coating process that provides mechanical and environmental protection for the optical fiber. The Company’s current product portfolio is built on the evolution of its fundamental technologies and designed to provide end-users with significant value.

The Company’s fiber optic cables are sold worldwide. Also see note 10.

(b)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company maintained its primary cash accounts at one commercial bank located in Virginia during 2003 and 2002. Accounts in this bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $100,000. As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company had bank deposits in excess of $100,000 totaling $2,197,946 and $645,096, respectively.

For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company had no cash equivalents.

(c)

Trading Securities

In January 2000, the Company, at the direction of its former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, began actively buying and selling shares in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, which is designed to closely track the price and yield performance of the Nasdaq 100 stock index. Short-term margin borrowings payable to an investment broker were used to finance the Company’s position in these trading securities. The Company’s active trading in the Nasdaq 100 Trust continued through May 14, 2001, the date of the last purchase of these shares. On October 3, 2001, as part of a policy to invest future excess funds only in short-term interest-bearing investments, the Company sold all of its remaining investment in the Nasdaq 100 Trust and paid off the outstanding margin borrowings. In April 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted an Investment Objectives and Guidelines policy, in which it states that the Company will make no additional cash investments in the above-mentioned Nasdaq 100 Trust or in stocks of other companies. The Company’s Investment Objectives and Guidelines policy also states that any future investments will be in U.S. dollar denominated short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.


		23		Optical Cable Corporation

Trading securities, consisting of shares in the Nasdaq 100 Trust, were recorded at fair value, which was based on quoted market prices. Purchases and sales of trading securities were recognized on a trade-date basis, the date the order to buy or sell was executed. The Company’s trading securities were bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. In addition to realized gains and losses, unrealized holding gains and losses for trading securities were included in net income (loss). Net realized gains or losses were determined on the first-in, first-out cost method.

The margin account incurred interest at rates ranging from the Call Money rate plus 0.025% to the Call Money rate plus 2.50%, depending on the outstanding balance of margin borrowings. In fiscal year 2001, the Company recognized realized net losses on trading securities of $11,414,151 and incurred interest expense on margin borrowings of $304,595.

(d)

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not typically bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. The Company reviews outstanding trade accounts receivable at the end of each quarter and records allowances for doubtful accounts as deemed appropriate for (i) certain individual customers and (ii) for all other trade accounts receivable in total. In determining the amount of allowance for doubtful accounts to be recorded for individual customers, the Company considers the age of the receivable, the financial stability of the customer, discussions that may have occurred with the customer and management’s judgment as to the overall collectibility of the receivable from that customer. In addition, the Company establishes an allowance for all other receivables for which no specific allowances are deemed necessary. This general allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a percentage of total trade accounts receivable with different percentages used based on different age categories of receivables. The percentages used are based on the Company’s historical experience and management’s current judgment regarding the state of the economy and the industry. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

(e)

Inventories

Inventories of raw materials and production supplies are stated at the lower of cost (specific identification for optical fibers and first-in, first-out for other raw materials and production supplies) or market. Inventories of work in process and finished goods are stated at average cost, which includes raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Also see note 3.

(f)

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are provided for using both straight-line and declining balance methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are thirty-nine years for buildings and improvements and three to seven years for machinery and equipment and furniture and fixtures. Also see note 4.

External direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal use computer software; payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to an internal use computer software project, to the extent of the time spent directly on the project; and interest costs incurred when developing computer software for internal use are capitalized. At October 31, 2003 and 2002, capitalized software development costs totaling $128,579 and $34,520, respectively, are included in construction in progress.


Optical Cable Corporation		24

(g)

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized at the time of product shipment or delivery to the customer, and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss based on shipping terms.

(h)

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs include the costs incurred to physically move finished goods from the Company’s warehouse to the customers’ designated location and the costs to store, move and prepare the finished goods for shipment. All amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction related to shipping and handling are classified as sales revenue. Shipping and handling costs of approximately $1,462,000, $1,565,000 and $2,155,000 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

(i)

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Also see note 11.

(j)

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets

The Company accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. This Statement requires that long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

The Company adopted SFAS No. 144 on November 1, 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not affect the Company’s financial statements. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 144, the Company accounted for long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No. 121, Accounting for Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of.

(k)

Stock Option Plan and Other Stock Options

The Company applies the intrinsic value-based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations for employee stock option grants, including stock option grants to outside members of the Board of Directors, and SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation and EITF Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, for nonemployee stock option grants.


		25		Optical Cable Corporation

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure. SFAS No. 148 amends existing accounting literature to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. The statement also requires additional disclosures in both interim and annual financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Company is considering adopting the accounting provisions of SFAS No. 148 in fiscal year 2004. The disclosure provisions are effective for financial reports containing condensed financial statements for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002.

The Company has elected not to adopt the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003. However, the Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148. Accordingly, no compensation cost for grants of option to employees has been recognized, as all employee stock options under the stock-based compensation plan had an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation. The fair value of each option was estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model for the periods presented.


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Net income (loss) as reported	$	314,607		$	283,446		$	(6,729,199	)
Less total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method, net of related tax effects		640,781			576,228			566,577

Pro forma net loss	$	(326,174	)	$	(292,782	)	$	(7,295,776	)

Net income (loss) per share:
Basic and diluted:
As reported	$	0.05		$	0.04		$	(0.96	)

Pro forma	$	(0.06	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(1.04	)

(l)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net income (loss) of the Company. Also see note 13.

(m)

Comprehensive Income

SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set of financial statements. Enterprises that have no items of other comprehensive income in any period presented are excluded from the scope of this Statement. The Company has no items of other comprehensive income in any period presented.


Optical Cable Corporation		26

(n)

Commitments and Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from product warranties and defects, claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.

(o)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

(p)

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2002 statement of cash flows to place it on a basis comparable with the 2003 statement of cash flows.

(2)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Trade Accounts Receivable

A summary of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 follows:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Balance at beginning of year	$	476,124		$	572,853		$	1,909,069
Bad debt expense		350,266			410,425			982,447
Losses charged to allowance		(412,721	)		(507,949	)		(2,327,753	)
Recoveries added to allowance		49,312			795			9,090

Balance at end of year	$	462,981		$	476,124		$	572,853

One of the Company’s two major distributors filed for protection from its creditors under bankruptcy laws in January 2001. The Company wrote off approximately $2,191,000 for estimated uncollectible accounts receivable from this distributor for the year ended October 31, 2001. The Company has received offers, which have since expired, to sell its claim against the bankrupt estate. At this time, the Company has decided not to sell its claim in the bankruptcy proceeding. A subsequent recovery, if any, will be recognized when payment is received, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also see note 10.

(3)

Inventories

Inventories as of October 31, 2003 and 2002 consist of the following:


	October 31,
	2003		2002
Finished goods	$	2,767,259	$	4,329,080
Work in process		1,119,160		1,399,575
Raw materials		2,661,445		3,616,306
Production supplies		76,628		67,169

	$	6,624,492	$	9,412,130


		27		Optical Cable Corporation

During fiscal year 2001, the Company entered into separate long-term supply agreements with two raw optical fiber suppliers.

The agreement with the first optical fiber supplier was amended in December 2002 to significantly reduce the amount of the Company’s total fiber purchase commitment. The agreement, as amended, expires on December 31, 2005. The aggregate purchases required under the terms of this amended agreement (subject to certain future market price adjustments) are included in the table below. Additionally, this amended supply agreement requires that one-half of the Company’s aggregate multimode fiber purchases and one-half of the Company’s aggregate single-mode fiber purchases through December 31, 2005 be purchased from this first supplier at market prices.

An agreement with the second optical fiber supplier was also amended in December 2002 to significantly reduce the amount of the Company’s fiber purchase commitment. This supply agreement, as amended, sets forth certain quantities to be purchased for calendar years 2004 and 2005. However, the supply agreement allows us to carry over the purchase commitment of any year to future years without penalty in the event the target quantities in any year are not met; provided that the aggregate amount of the purchase commitment under the supply agreement must be satisfied by December 31, 2005. The aggregate purchases under this supply agreement (subject to certain future market price adjustments) are included in the table below assuming the purchase target quantities are met each year as set forth in the agreement.

The aggregate purchases required related to the two supply agreements, as amended, for each of the fiscal years subsequent to October 31, 2003 are approximated as follows (subject to certain future market price adjustments and assuming the annual target purchase quantities related to the second supply agreement are met):


Fiscal year ending October 31,	Amount
2004	$	4,675,000
2005		4,689,000
2006		792,000

Total	$	10,156,000

The aggregate purchases related to these agreements, as amended, totaled approximately $5.8 million, $6.7 million and $9.5 million for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

(4)

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net as of October 31, 2003 and 2002 consists of the following:


	October 31,
	2003			2002
Land	$	2,745,327		$	2,745,327
Building and improvements		6,919,634			6,904,482
Machinery and equipment		9,483,705			9,397,266
Furniture and fixtures		839,257			806,329
Construction in progress		279,059			34,937

Total property and equipment, at cost		20,266,982			19,888,341

Less accumulated amortization and depreciation		(8,982,777	)		(7,980,774	)

Property and equipment, net	$	11,284,205		$	11,907,567


Optical Cable Corporation		28

As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, machinery and equipment totaling $912,685 and $1,030,022, respectively, represents machinery and equipment purchased for expansion in 2001, which is ready for service but has not yet been placed into service due to a reduction in product demand.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, the Company recorded a loss on impairment of machinery and equipment totaling $117,337 due to an automation upgrade initiative. The impairment loss relates to certain of the machinery and equipment not yet placed into service that the Company anticipates will be replaced in conjunction with the automation project. The loss represents the write-off of the carrying value of the machinery and equipment anticipated to be replaced.

(5)

Product Warranties

The Company generally warrants its products against certain manufacturing and other defects in material and workmanship. These product warranties are provided for specific periods of time and are applicable assuming the product has not been subjected to misuse, improper installation, negligence or shipping damage. As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company’s accrual for estimated product warranty claims totaled $150,000 and $100,000, respectively, in the accompanying balance sheets included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The accrued product warranty costs are based primarily on historical experience of actual warranty claims as well as current information on repair costs. Warranty claims expense for the year ended October 31, 2003 totaled $398,441.

The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranties during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003:


Balance at October 31, 2002	$	100,000
Liabilities accrued for warranties issued during the year		321,260
Warranty claims paid during the period		(348,441	)
Changes in liability for pre-existing warranties during the year		77,181

Balance at October 31, 2003	$	150,000

(6)

Warrants and Shareholder Litigation Settlement

In four class action lawsuits, filed between November 26, 2001 and January 31, 2002, the Company, Robert Kopstein, the Company’s former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and two other officers and directors, Luke J. Huybrechts and Kenneth W. Harber, were named as defendants in a consolidated class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (the “Consolidated Suit”). In the Consolidated Suit, the plaintiffs purported to represent purchasers of our common stock during the period ranging from June 14, 2000, through September 26, 2001, (the class period), and alleged that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20 of the federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in making certain alleged misrepresentations and/or omitting to disclose material facts. The plaintiffs in the Consolidated Suit sought compensatory damages in an unspecified amount, as well as reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the cause of action, including attorneys’ fees and expert fees.

On September 23, 2002, the Court entered an Order and Final Judgment, approving the settlement and dismissing the Consolidated Suit with prejudice. The Order and Final Judgment was subject to appeal for 30 days after being entered. Since no appeal was filed with the Court within 30 days, the settlement became final and binding. The settlement provided for a cash payment of $700,000 and the issuance of warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price per share of $4.88.


		29		Optical Cable Corporation

The Company paid $500,000 of the cash portion of the settlement upon preliminary court approval. The second and final installment, totaling $200,000, of the cash portion of the settlement was paid on November 1, 2002.

The Company recorded a charge during fiscal year 2003 in the amount of $870,549, representing the costs incurred during the year as a result of the settlement of the Consolidated Suit. Of the total charge during 2003, $862,250 resulted from the variable accounting treatment, required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, related to the warrants issued as part of the settlement. Likewise, the Company recorded a charge during fiscal year 2002 in the amount of $997,112, representing the estimated cost of the settlement of the Consolidated Suit and related professional fees incurred, net of insurance proceeds. Of the total charge recorded in 2002, $320,344 resulted from the variable accounting treatment related to the warrants.

During fiscal year 2003, the Company issued 250,000 warrants to purchase shares of common stock to class members defined in the Consolidated Suit in accordance with the settlement agreement approved by the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia on September 23, 2002. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.88 per share. The warrants will expire October 24, 2007.

The fair value of the 250,000 warrants, totaling $1,182,594, net of issuance costs of $82,487, as of October 31, 2003, is included in “common stock” in the shareholders’ equity section of the accompanying balance sheet. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America required the fair value of the warrants to be adjusted at each reporting period until such time that the following two conditions were met: (i) the Company was irrevocably obligated to issue the warrants, and (ii) the underlying shares of common stock to be issued on exercise were registered. The second and final of these two conditions was satisfied on May 19, 2003 when the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) declared the registration statement of the underlying shares of common stock to be effective. During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company recorded $862,250 and $320,344, respectively, of noncash expense resulting from the variable accounting treatment of the warrants as the price of the Company’s common stock increased through May 19, 2003. The expense is a noncash item and has no impact on the Company’s net cash flow.

The warrant expense portion of the shareholder litigation settlement expense is calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The closing price of the Company’s common stock of $5.80 on May 19, 2003, the date the registration statement was declared effective by the SEC, was used in that calculation.

No further adjustment of the fair value will be required and future periods’ statements of operations will not be impacted by the variable accounting treatment. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003, the fair value of the warrants, net of issuance costs, was reclassified from an accrued liability to permanent equity in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Warrant activity for the year ended October 31, 2003 is as follows:


	Number of shares		Weighted-average exercise price
Balance at October 31, 2002	—			—
Granted	250,000			4.88
Exercised	(6,220	)		4.88
Forfeited	(3	)		4.88

Balance at October 31, 2003	243,777		$	4.88


Optical Cable Corporation		30

(7)

Note Payable to Bank

The Company has a revolving credit facility with Wachovia Bank, National Association. The three-year credit facility, which expires in April 2005, provides up to a maximum of $25 million and is collateralized by all of the Company’s tangible and intangible assets. Borrowings under the credit facility are subject to certain coverage ratios, advance limits and qualifications that are applied to the Company’s accounts receivable, inventory and fixed assets. The Company’s ability to access the full amount of the credit facility depends on the future growth of the Company’s borrowing base. The Company maintains a sweep arrangement with its bank, where at the end of each day, all of the Company’s cash is used to paydown its outstanding note payable to the bank, if any. As of October 31, 2003, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility, with $10,404,163 unused and available. As of October 31, 2002, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the credit facility.

In connection with obtaining and amending the credit facility described above, the Company incurred various costs totaling $35,154 and $308,164 during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These financing costs have been deferred and are included in other assets, net in the accompanying balance sheet as of October 31, 2003 and 2002. These deferred financing costs are being amortized to interest expense using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the life of the credit facility.

(8)

Related Party Transactions

From February 1, 1995 through October 31, 2001, the Company had entered into employment agreements with the individual who was the Company’s former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and its previously sole shareholder, which typically had a term of less than two years. Compensation under this arrangement, which terminated on October 31, 2001, amounted to $681,546 for the year ended October 31, 2001.

Upon the recommendation of the independent Special Committee of its Board of Directors, the Board of Directors removed this individual as the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer on December 3, 2001.

During the year ended October 31, 2001, the Company paid $90,000 to Serendipity Motorsports, a company owned by the daughter of the Company’s former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The payments were for the sponsorship of a NASCAR Goody’s Dash Series Team involving a race car driven by the daughter.

(9)

Employee Benefits

The Company contracts for health insurance coverage for employees and their dependents through third-party administrators. During the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, total expense of $1,044,402, $1,223,403 and $1,682,107, respectively, was incurred under the Company’s insured health care program.


		31		Optical Cable Corporation

The Company maintains a 401(k) retirement savings plan for the benefit of its eligible employees. Substantially all of the Company’s employees who meet certain service and age requirements are eligible to participate in the plan. Company matching contributions are two dollars for every one dollar contributed by an employee up to 4% of the employees’ annual compensation. The Company made matching contributions to the plan of $337,686, $437,132 and $454,825 for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

The Company adopted on March 1, 1996 the Optical Cable Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is intended to provide a means through the use of stock incentives that the Company can increase the personal financial interest employees have in the future success of the Company, thereby stimulating the efforts of these employees and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company. The Company has reserved 750,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to incentive awards under the Plan. As of October 31, 2003, there were approximately 285,000 additional shares available for grant under the Plan. Through the end of fiscal year 2003, options granted under the plan have terms ranging from 4 to 10 years, and generally vest 25% after two years, 50% after three years, 75% after four years and 100% after five years or in equal quarterly installments over five years, with certain option grants vesting in equal monthly installments over four years.

No new stock options were granted during 2003. The per share weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted during 2002 was $6.97 on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: no expected cash dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 5.15%, expected volatility of 134.6% and an expected life of 9 years. The per share weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted during 2001 was $33.76 on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: no expected cash dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 5.57%, expected volatility of 106.8% and an expected life of 4.87 years.

Additionally, during 2002 the Board of Directors approved grants of stock options outside of the Plan to purchase a total of 3,122 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $7.12 per share, the closing price at the date of the grant. These grants were made to those outside members of the Board of Directors who had not served as an executive officer of the Company during the past year. These options vested monthly over one year. The per share estimated fair value of stock options granted to these outside members of the Board of Directors was $6.87 on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: no expected cash dividend yield, risk-free interest rate of 5.34%, expected volatility of 133.6% and an expected life of 9 years.


Optical Cable Corporation		32

Stock option activity for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 is as follows:


	Number of shares		Weighted-average exercise price
Balance at October 31, 2000	53,625		$	36.24
Granted	93,750			60.32
Exercised	(17,805	)		16.56
Forfeited	(2,875	)		82.08

Balance at October 31, 2001	126,695			55.76
Granted	347,935			7.43
Exercised	—			—
Forfeited	(59,322	)		21.73

Balance at October 31, 2002	415,308			20.13
Granted	—			—
Exercised	—			—
Forfeited	(28,063	)		27.49

Balance at October 31, 2003	387,245		$	19.59

At October 31, 2003, the number, weighted-average exercise price and weighted-average remaining contractual life of outstanding options and the number and weighted-average exercise price of options currently exercisable are as follows:


	Options outstanding				Options exercisable
Range of exercise prices	Number of options	Weighted-average exercise price		Remaining contractual life	Number of options	Weighted-average exercise price
	(in years)
$4.64	5,000	$	4.64	8.61	1,500	$	4.64
$7.12 – $10.00	308,786	$	7.76	8.27	118,828	$	7.91
$13.36	8,282	$	13.36	2.33	8,282	$	13.36
$59.36 – $85.50	65,177	$	77.58	3.11	31,096	$	68.91

Included in total options outstanding as of October 31, 2003 were 11,875 options to nonemployee sales representatives. The Company recorded compensation expense (benefit) of $17,857, $(1,377) and $5,593 related to these options for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

On December 30, 2003, a restricted stock award of 149,000 shares was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. The shares will vest in equal amounts quarterly over almost four years with the first vesting date occurring on January 31, 2004. The Company will record compensation expense ratably over the vesting period equal to the number of shares multiplied by the closing price of $6.60 on the date of grant.

(10)

Business and Credit Concentrations, Major Customers and Geographic Information

The Company has a single reportable segment for purposes of segment reporting. In addition, the Company’s fiber optic cable products are similar in nature. Therefore, the Company has disclosed enterprise-wide information about geographic areas and major customers below.

The Company provides credit, in the normal course of business, to various commercial enterprises, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to the Company’s large number of customers. The Company also manages exposure to credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. Management believes that credit risks as of October 31, 2003 and 2002 have been adequately provided for in the financial statements.


		33		Optical Cable Corporation

For the year ended October 31, 2003, 14.9%, or approximately $6,104,000 of net sales were attributable to one major domestic distributor. The related trade accounts receivable for this distributor as of October 31, 2003 totaled approximately $1.4 million. No other single customer or distributor accounted for more than 10% of net sales for the year ended October 31, 2003. As of October 31, 2003, no other single customer or distributor had an outstanding balance payable to the Company in excess of 5% of total shareholders’ equity.

No single customer or distributor accounted for more than 10% of net sales for the year ended October 31, 2002. As of October 31, 2002, no single customer or distributor had an outstanding balance payable to the Company in excess of 5% of total shareholders’ equity.

For the year ended October 31, 2001, 13.6% or approximately $8,213,000 of net sales were attributable to one major domestic distributor. Subsequent to October 31, 2001, this distributor advised the Company that it will no longer stock the Company’s product line as part of its regular product offering. The related trade accounts receivable for this distributor as of October 31, 2001 totaled approximately $1,916,000. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales for the year ended October 31, 2001. As of October 31, 2001, no other single customer had an outstanding balance payable to the Company in excess of 5% of total shareholders’ equity.

For the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, approximately 81%, 77% and 77%, respectively, of net sales were from customers located in the United States, while approximately 19%, 23% and 23%, respectively, were from international customers. Net sales attributable to the United States and all foreign countries in total for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003		2002		2001
United States	$	33,449,218	$	32,706,256	$	46,342,042
All foreign countries in total		7,664,823		9,891,944		14,063,395

Total net sales	$	41,114,041	$	42,598,200	$	60,405,437

No individual foreign country accounted for more than 10% of total net sales in fiscal years 2003, 2002 or 2001. In addition, none of the Company’s long-lived assets are located outside the United States.

(11)

Income Taxes

Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 was allocated as follows:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Income from operations	$	(122,962	)	$	(67,891	)	$	2,297,466
Shareholders’ equity, for disqualifying disposition of stock options exercised		—			(57,412	)		(62,749	)

	$	(122,962	)	$	(125,303	)	$	2,234,717


Optical Cable Corporation		34

Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income from operations for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 consists of:


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2003	Current			Deferred			Total
U.S. Federal	$	135,310		$	(242,354	)	$	(107,044	)
State		6,316			(22,234	)		(15,918	)

Totals	$	141,626		$	(264,588	)	$	(122,962	)


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2002	Current			Deferred			Total
U.S. Federal	$	(261,254	)	$	240,467		$	(20,787	)
State		(99,248	)		52,144			(47,104	)

Totals	$	(360,502	)	$	292,611		$	(67,891	)


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2001	Current			Deferred			Total
U.S. Federal	$	2,458,680		$	(381,647	)	$	2,077,033
State		268,716			(48,283	)		220,433

Totals	$	2,727,396		$	(429,930	)	$	2,297,466

Reported income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 differs from the “expected” tax expense (benefit), computed by applying the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate of 34% to income before income tax benefit in 2003 and applying the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate of 35% to income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) in 2002 and 2001, as follows:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
“Expected” tax expense (benefit)	$	65,159		$	75,444		$	(1,551,107	)
Increase (reduction) in income tax expense resulting from:
Benefits from extraterritorial income exclusion and foreign sales corporation		(208,165	)		(119,213	)		(155,846	)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (expense)		(15,272	)		2,191			(145,804	)
Increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		—			(62,604	)		4,059,822
Other differences, net		35,316			36,291			90,401

Reported income tax expense (benefit)	$	(122,962	)	$	(67,891	)	$	2,297,466

The significant components of deferred income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income from operations for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:


	Years ended October 31,
	2003			2002			2001
Deferred tax expense (benefit) (exclusive of the effects of the other component below)	$	(264,588	)	$	355,215		$	(4,489,752	)
Increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets		—			(62,604	)		4,059,822

	$	(264,588	)	$	292,611		$	(429,930	)


		35		Optical Cable Corporation

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of October 31, 2003 and 2002 are presented below:


	October 31,
	2003			2002
Deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable, due to allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns	$	203,841		$	244,571
Inventories, due to allowance for damaged and slow-moving inventories and additional costs inventoried for tax purposes pursuant to the Tax Reform Act of 1986		782,268			710,359
Capital loss carryforward and unrealized net loss on trading securities		3,997,218			3,997,218
Fair value of warrants, deductible for tax purposes when exercised		419,613			115,154
Liabilities recorded for loss contingencies, deductible for tax purposes when paid		144,967			229,987
Other		36,768			16,089

Total gross deferred tax assets		5,584,675			5,313,378
Less valuation allowance		(3,997,218	)		(3,997,218	)

Net deferred tax assets		1,587,457			1,316,160

Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment, due to differences in depreciation and capital gain recognition		(354,971	)		(311,582	)
Other receivables, due to accrual for financial reporting purposes		(65,999	)		(102,679	)

Total gross deferred tax liabilities		(420,970	)		(414,261	)

Net deferred tax asset	$	1,166,487		$	901,899

As of October 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company has assessed the realizability of its deferred tax asset relating to the capital loss carryforward generated by the sale of the Company’s trading securities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001. The Company has determined that, based on the tax planning strategies available as of October 31, 2003, it is more likely than not that this deferred tax asset totaling $3,997,218 as of October 31, 2003 and 2002, will not be realized. In addition, the capital loss carryforward may be limited due to certain stock ownership changes. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in the amount of $3,997,218 as of October 31, 2003 and 2002. A decrease in the valuation allowance of $62,604 is included in income tax benefit for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002 and an increase in the valuation allowance of $4,059,822 is included in income tax expense for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001. In order to fully realize this deferred tax asset, the Company would need to generate future taxable capital gains of approximately $11.1 million prior to the expiration of the capital loss carryforward in 2006. The Company will consider tax planning strategies that may be determined to be available in the future in order to realize this benefit to the extent possible.

Based on the Company’s historical and projected pretax earnings and other relevant factors, management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company’s other deferred tax assets will be realized.

(12)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash, trade accounts receivable, other receivables, notes payable to bank, and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments, with the exception of the portion of accrued shareholder litigation settlement expense, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of October 31, 2002, that represented the fair value of the warrants to be issued in connection with the shareholder litigation


Optical Cable Corporation		36

settlement. The fair value of this accrual was calculated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The fair value for other noncurrent liabilities is estimated by discounting the future cash flows at an estimated interest rate of similar instruments of comparable maturities and approximates the carrying amount reported in the balance sheet.

(13)

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the net income (loss) per share computations for the periods presented:


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2003	Net income (numerator)			Shares (denominator)	Per share amount
Basic net income per share	$	314,607		5,736,404	$	0.05

Effect of dilutive stock options and warrants		—		7,952

Diluted net income per share	$	314,607		5,744,356	$	0.05


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2002	Net income (numerator)			Shares (denominator)	Per share amount
Basic net income per share	$	283,446		6,928,845	$	0.04

Effect of dilutive stock options		—		457

Diluted net income per share	$	283,446		6,929,302	$	0.04


Fiscal year ended October 31, 2001	Net loss (numerator)			Shares (denominator)	Per share amount
Basic net loss per share	$	(6,729,199	)	7,019,547	$	(0.96	)

Effect of dilutive stock options		—		23,705

Diluted net loss per share	$	(6,729,199	)	7,043,252	$	(0.96	)

Stock options that could potentially dilute net income (loss) per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share (because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented) totaled 382,245, 410,311 and 60,000 for the years ended October 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

(14)

Shareholders’ Equity

On January 10, 2003, the Company repurchased 1,475,867 shares, or 21.3% of its outstanding common stock, no par value, for $2.00 per share in a privately negotiated transaction. The cost of the transaction including brokerage fees, totaled $3,032,907.

On November 2, 2001, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the Rights Plan) and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a Right) on each outstanding share of common stock. Under the terms of the Rights Plan, if a person or group who is deemed an Acquiring Person as defined in the Rights Plan acquires 15% (or other applicable percentage, as provided in the Rights Plan) or more of the outstanding common stock, each Right will entitle its holder (other than such person or members of such group) to purchase, at the Right’s then current exercise price, a number of shares of common stock having a market value of twice such price. In addition, if the Company is acquired in a merger or other business transaction after a person or group who is deemed an Acquiring Person has acquired such percentage of the outstanding common stock, each Right will entitle its holder (other than such person or members of such group) to purchase, at the Right’s then current exercise price, a number of the acquiring company’s common shares having a market value of twice such price.


		37		Optical Cable Corporation

Upon the occurrence of certain events, each Right will entitle its holder to buy one one-thousandth of a Series A preferred share (Preferred Share), at an exercise price of $200, subject to adjustment. Each Preferred Share will entitle its holder to 1,000 votes and will have an aggregate dividend rate of 1,000 times the amount, if any, paid to holders of common stock. The Rights will expire on November 2, 2011, unless the date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged at the option of the Board of Directors for $0.0001 per Right. Generally, each share of common stock issued after November 5, 2001 will have one Right attached. The adoption of the Rights Plan has no impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

The Company has reserved 100,000 of its authorized preferred stock for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.

(15)

Contingencies

On January 3, 2003, Anicom, Inc., a former customer that is in chapter 11 bankruptcy, filed a complaint against the Company in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division (the “Complaint”). The Complaint seeks to avoid and recover certain alleged preferential payments for products in the approximate amount of $1,100,000 made to the Company during the 90-day period preceding Anicom’s bankruptcy filing. The Company has reviewed the claim with legal counsel and based on one of the defenses available to the Company, believes the maximum liability would not exceed $276,000. The Company continues to believe that other defenses available will protect it from liability for the remaining amount of the claim and, thus, that the likelihood that Anicom will be successful in adjudication of the claim, or that Anicom’s claim will result in a material loss, is remote.

From time to time, the Company is involved in various other claims, legal actions and regulatory reviews arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

(16)

Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)

The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended October 31, 2003 and 2002:


	Quarter ended
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2003	January 31			April 30		July 31			October 31
Net sales	$	9,746,015		$	9,758,672	$	10,259,907		$	11,349,447
Gross profit		3,497,835			3,854,264		3,017,237			4,240,074
Income (loss) before income taxes		(220,321	)		192,405		(218,184	)		437,745
Net income (loss)		(152,022	)		132,759		(71,344	)		405,214
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share		(0.02	)		0.02		(0.01	)		0.07

Fiscal year ended October 31, 2002	January 31			April 30		July 31			October 31
Net sales	$	11,391,421		$	10,915,618	$	9,736,383		$	10,554,778
Gross profit		4,496,237			3,607,822		3,212,080			3,674,869
Income (loss) before income taxes		932,452			166,682		(1,165,294	)		281,715
Net income (loss)		604,452			108,177		(755,633	)		326,450
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share		0.09			0.02		(0.11	)		0.05


Optical Cable Corporation		38

(17)

Significant Fourth Quarter Adjustments in Fiscal Year 2001

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2001, the Company recorded the following significant fourth quarter adjustments, which aggregate to approximately $5.4 million: a $901,553 charge for an anticipated settlement with the EEOC for alleged prior discriminatory practices, a $410,602 charge to write off deferred costs related to an aborted securities offering previously anticipated during fiscal year 2001, a charge of approximately $1.2 million to write down slow-moving and damaged inventory to net realizable value, a $508,225 charge to increase bad debt expense, a $1,662,657 charge to record realized losses from the disposition of trading securities, and an increase in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of approximately $687,000.

In addition, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2001, the Company recorded an inventory adjustment to increase cost of goods sold by approximately $1.5 million caused by book to physical variances resulting from year-end physical inventory counts and by the disposal of certain impaired finished goods inventory during the fourth quarter.


		39		Optical Cable Corporation

Independent Auditors’ Report

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Optical Cable Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Optical Cable Corporation as of October 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Optical Cable Corporation as of October 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Roanoke, Virginia

December 12, 2003, except as to note 9,

which is as of December 30, 2003


Optical Cable Corporation		40

Management’s Statement of Responsibility

Management of the Company is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements and other financial information contained in this report. The accompanying financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include, as necessary, best estimates and judgments by management. Other financial information contained in this annual report is presented on a basis consistent with the financial statements unless otherwise indicated.

To ensure the integrity, objectivity and fairness of the information in these financial statements, management of the Company has established and maintains internal controls. The internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and transactions are executed, recorded and reported in accordance with management’s intentions and authorizations and to comply with applicable laws and regulations. The internal control system includes an organizational structure that provides appropriate delegation of authority and segregation of duties and management review. To enhance the reliability of internal controls, management recruits and trains highly qualified personnel, and maintains sound risk management practices.

There are inherent limitations in any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal controls may vary over time.

The accompanying financial statements have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent auditors, in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. In planning and performing its financial statement audit, KPMG LLP considered the Company’s internal control in order to determine the nature, timing and extent of its audit procedures for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the financial statements and not to provide assurance on internal control. KPMG LLP reviews the results of its audit with both management and the Audit Committee.

The Company’s financial reporting and internal controls are under the general oversight of the Board of Directors, acting through the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically with management and KPMG LLP, and KPMG LLP has direct and unrestricted access to the Audit Committee at all times. The Audit Committee determines that management is fulfilling its responsibilities and supports actions to identify, measure and control risks and augment internal controls.



/s/ Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.				/s/ Tracy G. Smith

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. President & Chief Executive Officer				Tracy G. Smith Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

January 29, 2004


		41		Optical Cable Corporation

Corporate Information

Corporate Headquarters

Optical Cable Corporation

5290 Concourse Drive

Roanoke, VA 24019

Legal Counsel

Woods Rogers PLC

10 South Jefferson Street

Suite 1400

Roanoke, VA 24011

and

McGuireWoods LLP

One James Center

901 East Cary Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Independent Auditors

KPMG LLP

10 South Jefferson Street

Suite 1710

Roanoke, VA 24011

Transfer Agent

Wachovia Bank, N.A.

1525 West W. T. Harris Boulevard, 3C3

Charlotte, NC 28262

Form 10-K Report

Shareholders may obtain, without charge, a copy of Optical Cable Corporation’s Form 10-K, including exhibits, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Write to Optical Cable Corporation, P.O. Box 11967, Roanoke, VA 24022-1967, attention Kenneth W. Harber, Corporate Secretary. Additionally, our SEC filings are available to the public on the SEC Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

Annual Meeting

The 2004 annual meeting of shareholders will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at the Wachovia Tower, 10 S. Jefferson Street, 9^th floor training room, Roanoke, Virginia.


Optical Cable Corporation		42

Corporate Information

Common Stock and Dividend Data

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol OCCF. As of December 31, 2003, there were approximately 7,700 shareholders of record. On January 23, 2004 our common stock closed at a price of $8.39 per share.

The following table sets forth for the fiscal periods indicated the high and low bid prices of our common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market, during the two most recent fiscal years:


	Range of Bid Prices
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2003	High		Low
First Quarter	$	3.85	$	1.81
Second Quarter	$	4.95	$	2.60
Third Quarter	$	8.44	$	4.41
Fourth Quarter	$	7.99	$	6.00


	Range of Bid Prices
Fiscal year ended October 31, 2002	High		Low
First Quarter	$	14.32	$	8.16
Second Quarter	$	9.52	$	5.28
Third Quarter	$	6.08	$	1.68
Fourth Quarter	$	3.85	$	1.75

We have not paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock since our initial public offering in April 1996 and do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business.

We did declare a rights dividend in connection with the adoption of our shareholders’ rights plan on November 2, 2001. See Note 14 to the financial statements for additional details.


		43		Optical Cable Corporation

Corporate Information


Executive Officers of Optical Cable Corporation

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.		President and Chief Executive Officer

Luke J. Huybrechts		Senior Vice President of Sales

Charles W. Carson		Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategy

Tracy G. Smith		Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Board of Directors of Optical Cable Corporation

Randall H. Frazier		President and Founder R. Frazier, Incorporated

John M. Holland		President and Founder Cybermotion

Luke J. Huybrechts		Senior Vice President of Sales Optical Cable Corporation

Craig H. Weber		Managing Partner Hollymeade Group, LLC

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.		President and Chief Executive Officer Optical Cable Corporation


Optical Cable Corporation		44

Exhibit 23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Independent Auditors’ Consent

The Board of Directors

Optical Cable Corporation:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 33-09433 on Form S-8 and Registration Statement No. 333-103108 on Form S-3 of Optical Cable Corporation of our report dated December 12, 2003, except as to note 9 to the financial statements, which is as of December 30, 2003, with respect to the balance sheets of Optical Cable Corporation as of October 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 2003, which report is incorporated by reference in the October 31, 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Optical Cable Corporation.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Roanoke, Virginia

January 29, 2004

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Neil D. Wilkin, Jr., certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Optical Cable Corporation;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date: January 29, 2004				/s/ NEIL D. WILKIN, JR.

				Neil D. Wilkin, Jr. President and Chief Executive Officer Optical Cable Corporation

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Tracy G. Smith, certify that:

1.	I have reviewed this report on Form 10-K of Optical Cable Corporation;

2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

5.	The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.



Date: January 29, 2004				/s/ TRACY G. SMITH

				Tracy G. Smith Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Optical Cable Corporation

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Optical Cable Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that: (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) the information contained in the Report fairly represents, in all material respects, the financial conditions and results of operations of the Company as of October 31, 2003, and for the period then ended.

/s/ Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

Neil D. Wilkin, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

January 29, 2004

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

/s/ Tracy G. Smith

Tracy G. Smith

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

January 29, 2004