XML 29 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Company prepares financial statements on a 52-53 week year that ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009 were 52-week years and ended on December 31, 2011, January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, respectively. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Foreign Currency Transactions

The Company's foreign subsidiaries are considered to be extensions of the U.S. Company. The functional currency of the foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, gains and losses resulting from remeasuring transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars are included in other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to inventories, stock-based compensation, investments in auction-rate securities, acquired intangible assets, goodwill, long-lived assets and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements to conform to current year presentation.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of the Company's financial instruments are recorded using a hierarchal disclosure framework based upon the level of subjectivity of the inputs used in measuring assets and liabilities. The three levels are described below:

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2—Inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances, which might include the Company's own data.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash deposits, money market funds and investments in debt securities with original maturities of ninety days or less when purchased.

Investments

The Company's investments typically have original maturities greater than ninety days as of the date of purchase and are classified as either available-for-sale or trading securities. Investments in available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Investments in trading securities are reported at fair value, with both realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded in other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statement of Income. Investments in which the Company has the ability and intent, if necessary, to liquidate in order to support its current operations (including those with contractual maturities greater than one year from the date of purchase) are classified as short-term. The Company's long-term investments consist of auction-rate securities.

The Company reviews its available-for-sale investments as of the end of each reporting period for other-than-temporary declines in fair value based on the specific identification method. The Company considers various factors in determining whether an impairment is other-than-temporary, including the severity and duration of the impairment, changes in underlying credit ratings, forecasted recovery, its intent to sell or the likelihood that it would be required to sell the investment before its anticipated recovery in market value and the probability that the scheduled cash payments will continue to be made. When the Company concludes that an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred, the Company assesses whether it intends to sell the security or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery. If either of these two conditions is met, the Company recognizes a charge in earnings equal to the entire difference between the security's amortized cost basis and its fair value. If the Company does not intend to sell a security and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, the unrealized loss is separated into an amount representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and the amount related to all other factors, which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage exposures to the variability of interest rates used to calculate base rents for its corporate headquarters leases. The Company's objective is to offset increases and decreases in expenses resulting from changes in interest rates with gains and losses on the derivative contracts, thereby reducing volatility of earnings. The Company does not use derivative contracts for speculative purposes. The effective portion of the gain or loss on interest rate swaps is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of stockholders' equity and is subsequently recognized in earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings. Cash flows from derivatives are classified as cash flows from operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out method, or market. The Company writes down the carrying value of inventory to net realizable value for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory based upon assumptions about the age of inventory, future demand and market conditions. Inventory impairment charges establish a new cost basis for inventory and charges are not subsequently reversed to income even if circumstances later suggest that increased carrying amounts are recoverable.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the assets ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the contractual lease period or their useful life, whichever is shorter.

Long-Lived Assets

Purchased intangible assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, ranging from two to twelve years. Fair values are determined primarily using the income approach, in which the Company projects future expected cash flows and applies an appropriate discount rate.

Long-lived assets "held and used" by the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their net book value may not be recoverable. When such factors and circumstances exist, the Company compares the projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their estimated useful lives, against their respective carrying amounts. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of those assets and is recorded in the period in which the determination was made.

The carrying value of goodwill is reviewed at least annually by the Company for possible impairment. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process. The first step of the impairment analysis compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the net book value of the reporting unit. In determining fair value, several valuation methodologies are allowed, although quoted market prices are the best evidence of fair value. If the results of the first step demonstrate that the net book value is greater than the fair value, the Company must proceed to step two of the analysis. Step two of the analysis compares the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess. The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually as of the first day of its fourth fiscal quarter and in interim periods if events occur that would indicate that the carrying value of goodwill may be impaired.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are generated almost exclusively by sales of the Company's ICs. The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are met: 1) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, 2) delivery of goods has occurred, 3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, revenue from product sales to direct customers and contract manufacturers is recognized upon shipment.

A portion of the Company's sales are made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection related to the final selling price to the end customers. Accordingly, the Company defers revenue and cost of revenue on such sales until the distributors sell the product to the end customers. The net balance of deferred revenue less deferred cost of revenue associated with inventory shipped to a distributor but not yet sold to an end customer is recorded in the deferred income on shipments to distributors liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Such net deferred income balance reflects the Company's estimate of the impact of rights of return and price protection.

Shipping and Handling

Shipping and handling costs are classified as a component of cost of revenues in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation. The Company accounts for those plans using a fair-value method and recognizes the expense in its Consolidated Statement of Income.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, new product mask, external consulting and services costs, equipment tooling, equipment depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, as well as an allocated portion of our occupancy costs for such operations. Assets purchased to support the Company's ongoing research and development activities are capitalized when related to products which have achieved technological feasibility or have an alternative future use, and are amortized over their estimated useful lives.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses were $1.6 million, $1.4 million and $1.5 million in fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between financial reporting and the tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax laws and related rates that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company then assesses the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the temporary differences are deductible.

Uncertain tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not threshold to be recognized in the financial statements and the tax benefits recognized are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon final settlement. See further discussion in Note 15, Income Taxes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210)—Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. ASU 2011-11 requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. Entities are required to disclose both gross and net information about these instruments. ASU 2011-11 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)—Testing Goodwill for Impairment. ASU 2011-08 permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then it is required to perform the two-step impairment test. If an entity concludes otherwise, then the two-step impairment test is not required. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)—Presentation of Comprehensive Income. This ASU requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income. In December 2011, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)—Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. ASU 2011-12 defers the effective date pertaining to presenting reclassification adjustments by component in both the statements where net income and other comprehensive income are presented. ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and are to be applied retrospectively. The adoptions of these ASUs are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations, but will result in an additional statement of other comprehensive income.

In May 2011, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820)—Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. This ASU provides a consistent definition of fair value between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Additionally, the ASU changes certain fair value measurement principles and expands the disclosures for fair value measurements. ASU 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is to be applied prospectively. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.