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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended February 28, 2003

OR

Commission File No. 0-22183

MEADE INSTRUMENTS CORP.

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 451-1450

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

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

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per Share

(Title of Class)

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

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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. x

     As of May 15, 2003, there were 19,806,026 outstanding shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“common stock”), which is the only class of common stock of the Registrant. As of May 15, 2003 the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed based on the closing sale price of $2.90 per share as reported by Nasdaq, was approximately $28 million.

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12(b).2 of the Exchange Act).

Documents Incorporated by Reference

     Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after February 28, 2003, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I

Item 1. Business

General

     Meade Instruments Corp. is a multinational consumer optics company that designs, manufactures, imports and distributes telescopes, telescope accessories, binoculars, riflescopes, microscopes and other optical products. Meade is dedicated to bringing innovative, cutting-edge, consumer-friendly products to the consumer optics marketplace. That dedication to bringing consumers the broadest offering of consumer optical products led to the Company’s acquisition of Simmons Outdoor Corp. (“Simmons”) in October 2002. Simmons, a highly-regarded and well-known designer and distributor of riflescopes and binoculars, offers complete binocular and riflescope product lines under the Simmons®, Weaver® and Redfield® brand names. With Simmons, Meade has expanded its presence in the sporting goods market, a market the Company has not significantly penetrated in the past. Meade’s dedication to product innovation and brand recognition has led to the successful introduction of a wide range of products — products such as the Meade CaptureView™, a binocular with an integrated digital camera introduced in early fiscal 2003 that contributed over $15 million to net sales in its first year on the market. The Company believes that it offers not only the broadest and most complete line of telescopes and telescope accessories available but also, with the acquisition of Simmons, one of the broadest, most complete and most highly respected lines of riflescopes, binoculars and spotting scopes for the sports optics enthusiast. The Company offers hundreds of different telescope, riflescope and binocular models as well as hundreds of accessory products for consumer telescope and sports optics buyers. The Company’s telescopes range in aperture from under 2 inches to 16 inches and in retail price from less than $100 to more than $15,000. The Company offers several families of riflescopes and binoculars under its brand names at retail price points from about $10 to more than $500. Whether a consumer is a serious amateur astronomer, an avid naturalist or someone just looking for a good binocular, Meade offers a complete range of quality products to satisfy almost any desire the consumer optics buyer may have.

     Founded in 1972, Meade has a decades-long reputation for providing the amateur astronomer with technically sophisticated products at competitive prices. Combining its manufacturing expertise with its dedication to innovation, quality and value, Meade has developed and produced some of the industry’s most technologically advanced consumer telescopes at affordable prices. Although professional and institutional applications of Meade’s telescopes are not Meade’s primary market, the Company’s Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are used by many universities, scientific laboratories and aerospace companies throughout the world. The Company has capitalized on its brand name recognition among serious amateur astronomers and its ability to bring advanced technology to lower price points to market successfully its less-expensive telescopes to beginning and intermediate amateur astronomers. Meade is a major supplier of telescopes to such retailers as Discovery Channel Stores (formerly The Nature Company), Aldi (Germany), Wal-Mart, and Sam’s Club.

     Meade was sold by its founder and then-current Chief Executive Officer to an investor group in 1986. It was reacquired by the Company’s senior management in 1991. After the reacquisition, management emphasized a business plan that concentrated on new product development, securing a reliable supplier of less-expensive telescopes, effective targeted marketing and customer service. To those ends the Company committed $3.0 million, $2.2 million and $2.1 million to research and development during fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and has, over the last five fiscal years, committed $9.7 million in the aggregate to research and development. These research and development expenditures were centered on the development of technologically advanced less-expensive telescopes, new products for the general consumer and sports optics markets as well as product improvement and industrial applications of the Company’s existing technologies.

     Meade manufactures a complete line of advanced astronomical telescopes in Irvine, California, including the production of all of the advanced optical systems, which are critical components of telescopes. Many of the Company’s less-expensive telescopes and its binoculars and riflescopes are manufactured under proprietary designs by manufacturers located in Asia, including mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Japan. The Company also sources component parts for small to midrange telescopes and related accessories from several suppliers in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. These parts are assembled into finished products in the Company’s wholly-owned Mexican assembly plant (See Item 2. Properties).

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     The Company complements its efforts in new product development with an aggressive marketing plan. The Company’s marketing plan includes print advertising in astronomy, outdoor and hunting related magazines and, at times, in general consumer magazines. The marketing plan also includes extensive co-operative advertising campaigns with many of the Company’s key retail partners, as well as point-of-sale marketing displays. In addition, Meade publishes comprehensive, full-color, high-quality product catalogs that provide significant product exposure for a broad range of consumers including the serious amateur astronomer, the avid birder, the weekend sports enthusiast or hunter.

     On September 1, 1999 the Company acquired 100% of the stock and equity interests in Bresser Optik GmbH & Co. KG, and Bresser Optik Geschaftsfuhrung und Verwaltungs GmbH (collectively “Bresser”), for $5.0 million in cash and 201,830 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at approximately $2.0 million. Bresser is a German distributor of binoculars, telescopes, microscopes and other consumer optical products. Bresser has provided the Company greater distribution opportunities for the Company’s products. Moreover, Bresser’s significant presence in the binocular and low-priced telescope market in Europe has strengthened the Company’s penetration into these markets. In January 2000, the Company also purchased what was formerly its German distributor for approximately $1.1 million cash.

     On October 25, 2002 the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding common stock of Simmons Outdoor Corp. for $20,829,000 cash ($16,000,000 was paid at close; the balance was paid in December, 2002). Simmons, a designer and distributor of riflescopes, binoculars and other consumer sports optics offers products under the Simmons, Weaver and Redfield brand names. To fund a portion of the purchase price, the Company sold 3,291,801 shares of its common stock in a private placement for net cash proceeds of $7,344,000. The balance of the purchase price was funded through borrowings on the Company’s bank line of credit.

     In the United States and Canada, the Company distributes its products through a network of more than 500 specialty retailers, distributors and mass merchandisers, which offer Meade’s products in more than 3,000 retail store locations. The Company also sells certain of its telescope models to selected national mail order dealers. In addition to products sold through Meade Europe (formerly Bresser) channels, Meade sells its products internationally through a network of over 30 foreign distributors, many of which service dealer locations in their respective countries. Revenues from customers outside North America were $27.2 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003, and accounted for approximately 24.5% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 (See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company intends to continue to pursue an integrated strategy of product line expansion, aggressive marketing, and expansion of the Company’s domestic and international distribution networks.

     The Company continues to pursue industrial applications for its technologies and its product development and manufacturing capabilities. To that end, Meade announced, during fiscal 2002, several relationships with companies involved in free-space optics communication technologies and digital imaging applications in the scientific research and medical diagnostic equipment markets. Several of those companies have since ceased doing business. Meade’s principal source of revenue in the industrial marketplace is the sale of digital CCD imagers used in a life sciences research system manufactured and sold by the Eastman Kodak Company’s Scientific Imaging Systems group (based in Rochester, NY and New Haven, CT). However, sales to Eastman Kodak amounted to less than 1% of net sales for the year ended February 28, 2003. While Meade continues to pursue industrial applications for its technologies, the Company does not believe sales of products into such markets will contribute meaningfully to the Company’s sales and profitability for the foreseeable future.

Recent Developments

     On April 21, 2003, the Company announced that John C. Diebel will resign as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer effective May 31, 2003. Steven G. Murdock will become Chief Executive Officer and retain his position as President. Harry L. Casari, a current member of the Company’s Board of Directors, will become Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Diebel remains a member of the Board of Directors.

     In connection with Mr. Diebel’s resignation, the Company and Mr. Diebel have entered into a Transition Agreement pursuant to which, among other matters, Mr. Diebel has agreed to serve as a consultant to the Company until May 31, 2004.

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Industry Overview

     Market-size data for the consumer optics industry are difficult to obtain because nearly all of the companies in the industry are privately held. The Company believes the overall size of the consumer optics market is driven, in part, by the introduction of new products.

     The Company offers products at numerous price points in the consumer optics market, from advanced astronomical telescopes, state-of-the-art riflescopes and cutting-edge binoculars with integrated digital cameras to less-expensive telescopes for beginning amateur astronomers and low-priced binoculars for the casual observer.

     The advanced astronomical telescope market is characterized by frequent technological developments, including the relatively recent introduction of electronic and computer-aided features. Serious amateur astronomers demand that the optical, electronic and mechanical performance of the telescopes and accessories they purchase be of very high quality. These advanced telescopes continue to drive the technological advances specifically in the telescope industry and generally in the consumer optics industry.

     Telescopes are generally offered in three different optical configurations: (a) refracting telescopes, which use a lens at the upper end of the optical tube to collect light; (b) reflecting telescopes, which use a concave mirror as the primary optical element; and (c) catadioptric (mirror-lens) telescopes, which employ a combination of mirrors and lenses to form the image. Each type has its own advantages: refractors are easy to maintain, yield sharp images and are relatively inexpensive in smaller apertures; reflectors generally are the lowest-cost means of purchasing larger apertures and are well suited to the intermediate amateur astronomer; and mirror-lens telescopes are more portable in larger apertures.

     The binocular market is typically characterized less by technological developments than by styling, features and price. However, Meade believes its introduction of the CaptureView binocular with an integrated digital camera demonstrates that innovation can drive binocular sales as well. Among the first to market with the concept of an integrated binocular/digital camera, Meade’s CaptureView offered a quality integrated product at an attractive retail price (only $99 at most retail outlets in the U.S.) The principal features considered by binocular buyers include: (1) the diameter of the objective lenses, which serve to collect light, (2) the types of prisms used to right the visual image — either porro prisms (which give some binoculars the familiar zig-zag profile) or roof prisms that permit straight line designs, and (3) the magnification, or power, of the optical system. A binocular’s field of view, anti-reflective lens coatings and eye relief are also considered by consumers buying binoculars. Binoculars typically range in size from mini binoculars that generally have objective lenses not larger than 26mm to professional-level binoculars that can support objective lenses exceeding 60mm in diameter. Binocular retail prices range from under $10 to several thousand dollars. Meade binoculars, offered under the Meade, Bresser, Simmons, Weaver and Redfield brand names, generally sell for between $15 and $400 at retail.

     The riflescope (and pistolscope) market demands a product that is rugged, absolutely waterproof and unerringly accurate. Like the binocular and telescope markets, features, styling and price are prime motivators in the riflescope market. Brand reputation is also a critical element in the riflescope consumer’s buying decision. The principal features considered by rifle and pistol scope buyers include: (1) light gathering ability and light transmission which are principally dependent on the diameter of the objective lens and the effectiveness of the anti-reflective coatings applied to the various lens surfaces in the scope, (2) waterproof/fogproof/shockproof integrity and durability of construction, (3) eye relief, which measures the distance from the shooter’s eye to the surface of the ocular lens, (4) ease of adjustment for windage and elevation and (5) magnification – riflescopes typically offer variable magnification but come in fixed magnifications as well. Rifle and pistol scopes are sized by the diameter of the objective lens, which typically ranges from 20mm to 50mm, and are priced from under $30 to nearly $2,000 at retail. Meade rifle and pistol scopes, offered under the Simmons, Weaver and Redfield brand names, generally sell for between $30 and $600 at retail.

     Meade believes that it is uniquely positioned in the marketplace to capitalize on its strong family of brand names, its research and development resources, its history of innovation and its manufacturing capabilities, to bring new and innovative products to the consumer and sports optics markets.

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Competitive Strengths

     Meade believes that it derives significant benefits from its position as a leading designer and distributor of telescopes, binoculars, riflescopes, microscopes and other optical related products. These benefits include its ability to offer its customers one of the most innovative, broadest product lines available, embodying both high quality and value. The Company attributes its success to the following competitive strengths:

     New Products/Research and Development. Meade places a primary emphasis on product innovation and quality through its research and development efforts. The Company employs an in-house engineering staff that develops new products for the broad spectrum of markets the Company sells into as well as technological advances and improvements to existing products. The Company is able to obtain additional benefits by out-sourcing certain research and development services to supplement its internal expertise. Meade believes that the members of its senior level management are among the most experienced in the telescope industry. The Company, its management and its employees are dedicated to the goal of producing technically superior yet price-competitive products and have been responsible for some of the consumer optics industry’s most technically advanced, easy to use, consumer telescopes, binoculars and riflescopes.

     Broad Line of Products. The Company has pursued a strategy in which it uses the tremendous advancements in microprocessor technology to building on its existing know-how in advanced telescope design and operation to bring computer technology and features to telescopes at lower and lower price points. Through its acquisitions of Bresser in 1999, and Simmons in 2002, the Company has expanded its product lines to include a wide variety of binoculars and telescopes under the Bresser brand name (a well-known and respected brand in Germany and throughout Europe) and complete lines of riflescopes, pistolscopes and binoculars under the Simmons, Weaver and Redfield brand names. As a result, the Company offers hundreds of different telescope, riflescope and binocular models with several different optical configurations, as well as hundreds of accessory products for the consumer telescope and sports optics buyers. The Company’s telescopes range in aperture from under 2 to 16 inches and in retail price from less than $100 to more than $15,000. The Company offers several families of riflescopes and binoculars under its several brand names at retail price points from about $10 to more than $500. Whether a consumer is a serious amateur astronomer, an avid hunter or someone just looking for a good binocular, Meade offers a complete range of quality products to satisfy almost any desire the consumer optics buyer may have.

     Optical Systems Expertise. Meade has made substantial investments to develop an expertise in optical engineering, providing it with the ability to produce high quality optics on-site in Irvine, California. Meade employs highly skilled opticians who use sophisticated manufacturing techniques and equipment, including specialized optical polishing machines and vacuum-coating machines, to produce what the Company believes to be the highest quality optics available in the more advanced consumer telescope market. Meade uses its optical engineering expertise to ensure that the optics in its foreign-sourced telescopes, binoculars and riflescopes meet the strictest of standards.

     Quality Control. Meade’s manufacturing and engineering personnel coordinate the manufacturing process in order to ensure that product quality is maintained at a high level within an efficient cost structure. The Company has in place quality controls covering all aspects of the manufacturing process of its products, from each product’s precision optical system to its final assembly and testing. Certain of the Company’s less expensive and mid-range telescope models and accessories are assembled at the Company’s assembly plant located in Tijuana, Mexico. The Company manufactures the majority of its high-end advanced telescopes in its manufacturing facility in Irvine, California, while many of the Company’s less-expensive telescopes, and its binoculars and riflescopes are produced for the Company by manufacturers located in the Far East, principally mainland China, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines. Meade regularly sends product and design engineers to the Far East to monitor the manufacturing processes at the various plants that produce its telescopes, telescope components, binoculars, riflescopes and accessories. Meade also regularly commits at least one of its United States based quality control engineers to the Far East.

     Broad Distribution Network. The Company’s sales force in the U.S. and in Germany works closely with specialty retailers, distributors and mass merchandisers on product quality, technical knowledge and customer

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service. Meade expanded its distribution network with the acquisition of Simmons. Simmons distributes its products, inside and outside the U.S., principally through mass merchandisers and distributors in the sporting goods marketplace. Meade did not have significant presence in the sporting goods marketplace prior to the acquisition of Simmons. Meade has its own on-site graphic arts departments to work with specialty retailers, distributors and mass merchandisers to produce print advertising, hang-tags for displays within retail outlets and other point-of-sale support. This capability provides the Company’s customers with a comprehensive marketing program to assist in their sales efforts. As a result of these efforts, Meade has become a major supplier of telescopes, binoculars and riflescopes to such retailers as Discovery Channel Store (formerly The Nature Company), Aldi (Germany), Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Jerry’s Sport Center. Meade Europe also has continued to expand Meade’s international presence.

     Superior Customer Service. Meade believes that its high levels of customer service and technical support are important factors that differentiate it from its competitors. In an effort to provide each of the Company’s customers with post-sale service and to relieve them of the burden of such service, Meade has established multiple dedicated toll-free telephone numbers so that its customers and end users can call the Company’s support personnel with any questions relating to its products. In addition to giving its customers personal attention, the Company believes that providing this toll-free assistance also reduces product returns by better educating first-time users about telescope, binocular and riflescope operation. In addition, in an effort to simplify assembly of the Company’s products, Meade pre-assembles a substantial portion of its telescopes prior to packaging.

Products

     Meade has developed and expanded its product line to include a full line of telescopes and accessories for the beginning, intermediate and serious amateur astronomer. The Company offers a complete line of binoculars from small aperture theater glasses to full-size waterproof roof-prism glasses and the Company’s recently introduced CaptureView binocular with an integrated digital camera. The Company’s product offerings also include a complete line of riflescopes from the lower-to-moderate priced Simmons and Redfield lines to the higher priced precision scopes in the Weaver line. Moreover, in addition to adding new products, the Company continually refines and improves its existing products. Certain of Meade’s products are described in greater detail below:

     Advanced Astronomical Telescopes. Among the Company’s most sophisticated products are its LX series Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes, which incorporate an optical system that provides high-quality resolution, contrast and light transmission. The LX series offers the serious amateur astronomer a broad range of products, from the attractively priced Autostar-controlled LX90, to the state-of-the-art LX200GPS line. The LX200GPS telescopes, available in 7, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16-inch apertures, are the most popular of the Company’s telescopes among serious amateur astronomers. The LX200GPS telescopes feature a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) receiver for automatic telescope alignment and a built-in computer library of more than 145,000 celestial objects. These objects are cataloged in the Company’s proprietary hand-held computerized Autostar II control system. By entering any of the celestial objects presented on the Autostar II display, the telescope automatically locates and tracks the selected object. Advanced telescopes also include the Company’s LXD55 series. The LXD55 series offers the more serious amateur a wide variety of advanced features on larger aperture telescopes at economical prices. The advanced astronomical telescopes collectively represented approximately 3% of telescope units shipped and approximately 21% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

     Entry-Level Telescopes. Designed specifically for the beginning to intermediate amateur astronomer or terrestrial observer, the Company’s less-expensive 60mm to 114mm refracting, reflecting and spotting telescopes and the ETX series telescopes include many of the features of the more advanced telescopes at economical prices. With the NG and NGC series of telescopes (the “NG telescopes”) and the Digital Electronic Series telescopes (the “DS telescopes”), with apertures ranging from 60mm to 114mm, and the ETX series, with apertures ranging from 70mm to 125mm, some of the most sophisticated features of the Company’s advanced telescopes are made available at some of the Company’s lowest retail price points. Equipped with the hand-held Autostar Computer Controller, the ETX series and the DS telescopes can find and track any one of one thousand or more celestial objects at the push of a button. The Autostar, with its “go to” capability, brought to the general consumer for prices starting at a few hundred dollars, features that had previously been available only on the most sophisticated high-end telescopes selling for thousands of dollars. The Company offers several variations of its small refracting and reflecting telescopes (including its traditional models, the NG telescopes and the DS telescopes) for distribution on a semi-exclusive

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basis to specific specialty retailers. These telescope models comprise the lower-price end of the Company’s telescope product line. Sales of entry-level telescopes comprised approximately 97% of the Company’s telescope units shipped and approximately 36% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

     Binoculars. The Company expanded its market presence in binoculars with the acquisition of Simmons in 2002 and Bresser in 1999. The Simmons brands are widely recognized in the sports optics marketplace as quality products at competitive prices. The Bresser name is equally well recognized in Germany and other countries in Europe as a quality supplier of a wide range of binoculars. Binocular sales accounted for well over one half of the Company’s sales attributed to Germany during fiscal 2003. The Company also sells a complete line of consumer binoculars through its existing domestic distribution network under the Meade brand name, including the Company’s CaptureView, a binocular with an integrated digital camera. The binoculars sold by the Company are purchased from manufacturers outside the United States. Binocular sales, comprising over one million units in fiscal 2003, represented approximately 24% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

     Rifle and pistol scopes. The Company expanded its product offerings to include riflescopes and pistolscopes with the acquisition of Simmons in October 2002. Simmons sells riflescopes under the Simmons, Weaver and Redfield brand names. Riflescope sales accounted for most of the Company’s sales attributed to Simmons during fiscal 2003. The riflescopes sold by the Company are purchased from manufacturers outside the United States. Riflescopes represented approximately 8% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

     Accessories. The Company also offers accessories for each of its principal product lines that range from additional eyepieces and celestial observation software for telescopes to bore sighters for riflescopes. Approximately 250 telescope accessory products are currently available from the Company. Sales of accessories represented approximately 9% of the Company’s net sales for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003. Other miscellaneous products such as industrial optical and digital imaging products, microscopes and other consumer optical products accounted for approximately 2% of the Company’s net sales for fiscal 2003.

Sales and Marketing

     The Company’s telescopes, binoculars, riflescopes, microscopes and accessories are sold through a domestic network of mail order dealers, specialty retailers, distributors and mass merchandisers. Internationally, the Company’s products are sold through its wholly owned subsidiary in Germany to specialty retailers and mass merchandisers and through a network of foreign distributors and dealers in other countries around the world. The Company’s high-end telescopes are generally sold through mail order dealers or single and multiple-location specialty retailers. Meade’s less-expensive telescopes are sold in similar venues but are sold principally through mass merchandisers. The Company’s binoculars and riflescopes are sold principally through a network of domestic distributors, as well as through specialty retailers and mass merchandisers. The Company maintains direct contact with its larger dealers and its domestic and foreign distributors through the Company’s sales professionals. A network of independent representatives is used to maintain contact with its smaller specialty retailers. Included among the Company’s customers are the following retail outlets, mass merchandisers and foreign distributors: Discovery Channel Stores (formerly The Nature Company), Wal-Mart, Aldi (Germany), MIC International Corp. (Japan), Sam’s Club and Jerry’s Sport Center. For additional information about geographic areas, see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

     The Company’s sales force works closely with its dealers, specialty retailers, distributors and mass merchandisers on product quality, technical knowledge and customer service. The Company employs approximately thirty-seven persons in sales and customer service positions in the U.S. and Europe, all of whom have significant industry experience. These individuals advise the Company’s specialty retailers about the quality features of the Company’s products and provide answers to questions from specialty retailers as well as directly from end users of the Company’s products. The Company stresses service to both its customers and end users by providing marketing assistance in the form of hang-tags, catalog layouts and other print media as well as dedicated toll free customer service telephone numbers. In addition to giving its customers personal attention, the Company believes toll free telephone numbers also help reduce the number of product returns from end users who are generally unfamiliar with the assembly and operation of telescopes, binoculars and riflescopes. The Company’s dedication to providing a high level of customer service is one factor that management believes sets Meade apart from its competition.

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     The Company’s telescope products are regularly advertised in most major domestic and international telescope and astronomy-related magazines and periodicals with comprehensive, full color, technically informative advertisements which present a consistent message of innovation and quality about the Company and its products. Innovation and quality is also the theme in the Simmons advertising and marketing programs. The Simmons brands are regularly advertised in several of the most widely circulated hunting and outdoors consumer magazines. The Company also focuses advertising dollars on point-of-sale promotions and displays in partnership with its retail customers to cooperatively market the Company’s products to the end consumer.

     Throughout fiscal 2003, the Company sold its products to mail order dealers, to distributors and to more than 600 specialty retailers and mass merchandisers that offer Meade’s products in more than 11,000 retail store outlets. During fiscal 2003, Wal-Mart (including Sam’s Club) and Discovery Channel Store (“DCS”, formerly The Nature Company), accounted for approximately 15% and 11% of the Company’s net sales, respectively. During fiscal 2002, Wal-Mart (including Sam’s Club) and DCS, accounted for approximately 13% and 11% of the Company’s net sales, respectively. During fiscal 2001, DCS accounted for approximately 13% of the Company’s net sales. The Company’s ten largest customers, in the aggregate, accounted for approximately 49% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2003. The loss of, or the failure to replace, any significant portion of the sales made to any significant customer could adversely affect results of operations of the Company to the extent the Company did not replace any such lost sales with increased sales to existing or new customers.

Operations

     Materials and Supplies. The Company purchases high grade optical glass in order to avoid imperfections that can degrade optical performance. Lenses and mirrors for the Company’s domestically manufactured telescopes are individually polished and hand-figured by master opticians to achieve a high level of resolution. The Company purchases metal telescope components from numerous foundries, metal stamping and metal working companies. Certain of the Company’s products contain computerized drive systems and other electronic circuitry. The components of these computerized drive and electronic systems are purchased from various suppliers and are generally assembled by third party vendors.

     Polishing and Hand Figuring. After a Schmidt-Cassegrain, Maksutov-Cassegrain, ED-refractor or Schmidt-Newtonian glass surface is fine ground, the mirror or lens is polished for up to 16 hours to obtain full transmission or reflectivity. It is at this point that the Company’s opticians perform the final lens or mirror shaping (a process called figuring).

     Optical Testing. As each of the Company’s ED-refractors, Maksutov-Cassegrain optical sets, Schmidt-Cassegrain optical sets, or parabolic Newtonian primary mirrors progress through the grinding, polishing and hand-figuring stages of development, they are repeatedly tested and re-tested for irregularities, smoothness of figure and correction.

     Optical Alignment and Centration. Finished, individually-matched Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain optical sets and matched ED-refractor doublet objective lenses are sent to the optical alignment and centration department, where each optical set is placed into a special optical tube that permits rotation of the optical elements about their optical axes. With optimal orientation fixed, each optics set is placed into machined housings of an optical tube or collimation lens cell. The optical system is once again tested and only after passing this final test is an optical tube system ready to be used.

     The Company works closely with factories in the Far East developing proprietary telescope, binocular and riflescope designs and ensuring that the manufacturing processes result in products that meet the Company’s quality standards. Meade maintains relationships with several suppliers in the Far East in order to diversify its supply. Most of those suppliers are located in mainland China. Many of the Company’s telescopes, telescope components and accessories, binoculars and riflescopes purchased during fiscal 2003 were supplied by these Chinese manufacturers. The Company owns many of the key designs, molds and dies used by the Far-Eastern suppliers. Meade regularly sends product and design engineers to the Far-East to monitor the manufacturing processes at the various plants that produce its products and accessories. Meade also regularly commits at least one of its United States based quality control engineers to the Far East.

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     In fiscal year 2000 the Company began an assembly operation in a 26,000 sq. ft. building located in Tijuana, Mexico (the “Mexico Facility”). In December 1999, the Mexico Facility was expanded to approximately 50,000 sq. ft. At February 28, 2003, this facility employed approximately 135 people engaged in the assembly of several products including less-expensive and mid-range telescopes, electronic sub-assemblies, and accessory products.

Competition

     The telescope, binocular and riflescope industries are highly competitive and sensitive to consumer needs and preferences. In the telescope market, Meade competes in the United States and Canada with Celestron International, Inc. (“Celestron”), and Bushnell Performance Optics, Inc. (“Bushnell”) and, to a lesser extent, with other significantly smaller companies which service niche markets. In Europe and Japan, the Company competes primarily with Celestron, Vixen Optical Industries, Ltd., and with other smaller regional telescope importers and manufacturers. Some of the Company’s current and potential competitors in the telescope market may possess greater financial or technical resources and competitive cost advantages due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, lower taxes and substantially lower costs of labor associated with manufacturing. In May 2002, Celestron transferred certain of its assets in an assignment for the benefit of creditors proceeding. Those assets were sold in June 2002 to a new Celestron entity, Celestron Acquisition LLC.

     The binocular and riflescope markets are generally more competitive than the telescope market with a greater number of competitors at each price point. In the binocular market, the Company competes primarily with Bushnell, Nikon Inc., Canon Inc., Minolta Camera, Co., Ltd., Pentax Corporation and various smaller manufacturers and resellers. In the riflescope market, the Company competes primarily with Bushnell, Leupold & Stevens, Inc., BSA Optics, Inc., Burris Company and Kahles GmbH. Many of these competitors in the binocular and riflescope market have significantly greater brand name recognition and financial and technical resources than those of the Company, and many have long-standing positions, customer relationships and established brand names in their respective markets.

Employees

     As of February 28, 2003, Meade had approximately 500 full-time employees. The Company believes that it offers competitive compensation and other benefits and that its employee relations are good. None of the Company’s United States-based employees is represented by a union. The Company’s employees at the Mexico Facility are represented by a union. The success of the Company’s future operations depends in large part on the Company’s ability to attract and retain highly skilled technical, marketing and management personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting and retaining such key personnel.

     In order to enable its employees to share in the Company’s growth and prosperity, Meade established the Meade Instruments Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), effective March 1, 1996. The ESOP provides participating United States-based employees an opportunity to receive beneficial ownership of Meade’s common stock.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

     Set forth below are the names, ages, titles and present and past positions of the persons serving as executive officers of the Company as of May 15, 2003:

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     John C. Diebel founded Meade Instruments Corp. in 1972. He has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for the majority of the time since December 1975. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Diebel worked as an engineer for TRW Inc. and Hughes Aircraft Co. Mr. Diebel graduated from the California Institute of Technology with BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering and received a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. On April 21, 2003, the Company announced that John C. Diebel will resign as the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer effective May 31, 2003. Mr. Diebel remains a member of the Board of Directors.

     Steven G. Murdock, a director of the Company since April 1996, has been the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since October 1990 and the Company’s Secretary since April 1996. From May 1980 to October 1990, Mr. Murdock was the Company’s Vice President of Optics. From November 1968 to May 1980, Mr. Murdock worked as the optical manager for Coulter Optical, Inc., an optics manufacturer. Mr. Murdock received a BS degree in business administration from California State University at Northridge. In connection with Mr. Diebel’s resignation as Chief Executive Officer, Steven G. Murdock will become Chief Executive Officer and retain his position as President.

     Joseph A. Gordon, Jr., a director of the Company since April 1996, has been the Company’s Senior Vice President — North American Sales since June 1995. From December 1984 to June 1995, he worked as the Company’s Vice President — North American Sales. From January 1981 to December 1984, Mr. Gordon was the Vice President of Sales at Celestron. Mr. Gordon received a BS degree in marketing from the University of Cincinnati.

     Brent W. Christensen has been the Company’s Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer since March 1, 2002. Mr. Christensen was the Company’s Vice President — Finance from June 1995 and Chief Financial Officer from April 1996. From August 1993 to June 1995, he worked as the Company’s controller. Mr. Christensen is a Certified Public Accountant, and from January 1985 to August 1993, he worked as an audit manager with Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Christensen received a BA degree in business administration from California State University at Fullerton.

     Mark D. Peterson has been the Company’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel since March 1, 2002. Mr. Peterson was the Company’s Vice President and General Counsel from October 1997. From October 1991 to October 1997, Mr. Peterson was an attorney with O’Melveny & Myers LLP, specializing in corporate and securities law. Mr. Peterson received a BS degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and a JD degree from the University of California — Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

     Robert L. Davis has been the Company’s Senior Vice President — Corporate Development since March 1, 2003. Mr. Davis was the Company’s Vice President and Assistant General Counsel from December 1999. From September 1996 to December 1999, Mr. Davis was an attorney with O’Melveny & Myers LLP, specializing in corporate and securities law. From August 1994 to September 1996 he worked as an attorney with Morrison & Foerster LLP, specializing in corporate finance and labor and employment law. Mr. Davis received a BA degree in English and a JD degree from Brigham Young University.

Item 2. Properties

     During fiscal 2003, the Company leased a 161,000 square foot manufacturing, distribution and corporate facility and a 42,000 square foot warehouse both of which are located in Irvine, California. The manufacturing, distribution and corporate facility lease expires in 2007. The warehouse lease expired in March 2003 and the Company vacated the premises as of April 1, 2003. Simmons leases a 96,000 square foot distribution facility in Thomasville, Georgia that includes 6,000 square feet of office space. The Simmons lease expires in December 2007. The Company leases 45,000 square feet of warehouse space in Meridian, Mississippi on a month-to-month basis. The Company also leases a 50,000 square foot assembly plant in Tijuana, Mexico. The Tijuana lease expires in 2004 with three, five-year options. The Company owns a 30,000 square foot office and distribution facility located in Borken, Germany. The Company also leases a 1,200 square foot office space, in Graefelfing, Germany with a cancellation notice period of 6 months to the end of any calendar year. The Company leases office space in Florida for a sales employee, which lease expires in July 2003. The Company’s management believes that all facilities occupied by the Company are adequate for present requirements, and that the Company’s current equipment is in good condition and suitable for the operations involved.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

     On October 17, 2001, the Company filed suit against Tasco Sales, Inc. (“Tasco”) and Celestron International, Inc. (“Celestron”), charging the two companies with patent infringement and unfair competition. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Southern Division (Case No. SA-CV 01-976 (GLT)), alleges that Tasco and Celestron willfully infringed Meade’s Patent No. 6,304,376, entitled “Fully Automated Telescope System With Distributed Intelligence.” In addition to seeking compensation for damages incurred, including enhanced damages, the suit seeks to enjoin Tasco and Celestron from continuing to manufacture or sell products that infringe Meade’s patent. On or around November 7, 2001, the defendants filed an answer, subsequently amended, to the complaint in which it denied the Company’s allegations and set forth various affirmative defenses. On or around November 19, 2001, Defendants filed a counterclaim, also subsequently amended, against the Company for declaratory judgment of non-infringement of the Company’s patent, for declaratory judgment that the Company’s patent is unenforceable and invalid, and for claims that the Company is infringing a Celestron design patent, U.S. Patent No. D438,221, and Celestron’s trade dress. The counterclaim further alleges that the Company has willfully infringed Celestron’s design patent and seeks an unspecified amount of damages, enhanced damages, and an injunction and other unspecified relief against the Company. However, Celestron recently dismissed its design-patent counterclaim with prejudice as to Meade products on sale up to that time. On February 28, 2003, a partial Summary Judgment issued in favor of Celestron in which the Court held that Celestron did not literally infringe Meade’s ‘376 patent. On May 23, 2003, a further partial Summary Judgment issued in favor of Celestron in which the Court held that Celestron did not infringe Meade’s ‘376 patent under the doctrine of equivalents. Meade is currently evaluating its options with respect to an appeal of these rulings. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, the Company is unable to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in these cases.

     On June 4, 2002, the Company filed suit against Celestron, Tasco and other related or affiliated parties charging the defendant with patent infringement. The complaint, (“the ‘799 lawsuit”) filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Southern Division (Case No. SA CV 02-544 (GLT)), alleges that the defendants willfully infringed Meade’s Patent No. 6,392,799, entitled “Fully Automated Telescope System With Distributed Intelligence.” The patent covers the Company’s “level the telescope and point it North” alignment technology (the “Telescope Alignment Technology”), which allows a telescope user to easily align a computer operated telescope. In addition to seeking compensation for damages incurred, including enhanced damages, the suit seeks to enjoin Tasco, Celestron and the other defendants from continuing to manufacture or sell products that infringe Meade’s telescope alignment patent. On December 16, 2002, the District Court denied Meade’s motion. The Company intends to continue to vigorously assert the ‘799 patent against Celestron, Tasco, and the other defendants and to vigorously defend against their counterclaims. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, the Company is unable to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in this case.

     On June 7, 2002, the Company filed suit against Celestron, Tasco and other related or affiliated parties, charging the defendants with correction of patent inventorship, false and misleading representations in violation of the Lanham Act, unfair competition and fraudulent business practices. The complaint, (“the ‘942 lawsuit) filed in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Southern Division (Case No. SA-CV 02-558 (GLT)), alleges that the defendants misappropriated the Company’s Telescope Alignment Technology and subsequently conspired to obtain United States Patent No. 6,369,942, entitled “Auto-alignment tracking telescope mount” (“the ‘942 Patent”), by fraudulently representing themselves as the inventors and owners of the Telescope Alignment Technology. In addition to other remedies, the suit seeks to establish that the Company invented the Telescope Alignment Technology and that equitable and legal title to the ‘942 Patent should be vested in the Company. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, the Company is unable to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in this case.

     On November 21, 2002, Celestron filed an action alleging that Meade products infringe United States Patent No. 6,467,738 entitled “Tripod Structure for Telescopes.” The complaint seeks injunctive relief, compensatory and treble damages in an unspecified amount, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Meade has filed an answer denying all claims in Celestron’s complaint. Celestron also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction based on its patent. Meade opposed Celestron’s motion. On December 16, 2002, the District Court denied Celestron’s motion. Due to the uncertainties of litigation, the Company is unable to provide an evaluation of the likelihood of either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in this case.

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     Celestron and Tasco, in May 2002, transferred certain of their assets in an assignment for the benefit of creditors proceeding to James Feltman, an assignee. Assignee James Feltman subsequently sold the assets on or around June 24, 2002 to a new Celestron entity, Celestron Acquisition LLC. Celestron Acquisition LLC, along with Celestron and Tasco, is a defendant in the above-referenced lawsuits. James Feltman is also a named defendant in the ‘799 lawsuit, but not the ‘942 lawsuit.

     The Company is also involved from time to time in litigation incidental to its business. Management believes that the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     No matters were submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

     The Company’s initial public offering was completed on April 14, 1997 (the “Offering”), and from that date to the present, the Company’s common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “MEAD”. The high and low sales prices on a per share basis for the Company’s common stock during each quarterly period for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were:

     The reported closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on May 15, 2003 was $2.90. As of May 15, 2002, there were 197 holders of record of the Company’s common stock.

     Other than dividends paid to the Company’s ESOP in August 1996, the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock and does not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on its common stock in the foreseeable future. Although the Company intends to make future contributions to the ESOP upon Board approval, no cash dividends (other than dividends paid to all holders of common stock) will be paid to the ESOP with respect to future periods.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following data have been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, including the consolidated balance sheets at February 28, 2003 and 2002 and the consolidated statements of operations for the three years ended February 28, 2003 and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere herein.