Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 02, 2021

Significant Accounting Policies

Foreign Currency Transactions

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 interest income and other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Use of Estimates

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, goodwill, acquired intangible assets, other long-lived assets, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

Adoption of New Financial Instruments Accounting Standard

Adoption of New Financial Instruments Accounting Standard

The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, on December 29, 2019, the first day of its fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. The adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of the Company's financial instruments are recorded using a hierarchical 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

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

Investments

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 income (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 interest income and other, 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 reviews its available-for-sale investments as of the end of each reporting period for declines in fair value based on the specific identification method. The Company records an allowance for credit loss when a decline in fair value is due to credit-related factors. The Company considers various factors in determining whether an investment is impaired, including the severity 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 a credit-related 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 income (loss).

In addition, the Company has made equity investments in non-publicly traded companies. Equity investments in which the Company does not have control, but has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method. The Company’s proportionate share of income or loss is recorded in interest income and other, net in the Consolidated Statement of Income. All other non-marketable equity investments are recorded at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from qualifying observable price changes. The Company periodically reviews its equity investments for declines in fair value based on the specific identification method and writes down investments to their fair values when it determines that a decline has occurred.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage certain exposures to the variability of foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company’s objective is to offset increases and decreases in expenses resulting from these exposures with gains and losses on the derivative contracts, thereby reducing volatility of earnings. The Company does not use derivative contracts for speculative or trading purposes. The Company recognizes derivatives, on a gross basis, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at fair value. Cash flows from derivatives are classified according to the nature of the cash receipt or payment in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Cash flow hedges used by the Company include foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swap agreements. Foreign currency forward contracts are used to reduce the earnings impact that exchange rate fluctuations have on operating expenses denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Interest rate swap agreements are used to manage exposure to interest rate risks.

The Company also uses foreign currency forward contracts to reduce the earnings impact that exchange rate fluctuations have on non-U.S. dollar balance sheet exposures. The Company does not apply hedge accounting to these foreign currency forward contracts.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. 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

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 fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lease term or their useful life, whichever is shorter.

The Company owns the facilities for its headquarters in Austin, Texas. The buildings are located on land which is leased through 2099 from a third party. The rents for these ground leases were prepaid for the term of the leases. The buildings and leasehold interest in ground leases are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 40 years and 86 years, respectively.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations

The Company records business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, allocates the fair value of acquisition consideration to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The results of operations of the businesses acquired are included in the Company's consolidated results of operations beginning on the date of the acquisition.

Long-Lived Assets

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.

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 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. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying amount. In determining fair value, several valuation methodologies are allowed, although quoted market prices are the best evidence of fair value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to that excess amount.

Leases

Leases

At the commencement date of a lease, the Company recognizes a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term. The lease liability is measured at the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As its leases typically do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date taking into consideration necessary adjustments for collateral, depending on the facts and circumstances of the lessee and the leased asset, and term to match the lease term. The right-of-use (“ROU”) asset is measured at cost, which includes the initial measurement of the lease liability and initial direct costs incurred by the Company and excludes lease incentives. Lease liabilities are recorded in other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities. ROU assets are recorded in other assets, net.

Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease agreements that contain both lease and non-lease components are generally accounted for separately.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Substantially all of the Company’s contracts with customers contain a single performance obligation, the sale of mixed-signal integrated circuit (IC) products. This performance obligation is satisfied when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which typically occurs upon delivery. Unsatisfied performance obligations primarily represent contracts for products with future delivery dates. The Company has opted to not disclose the amount of unsatisfied performance obligations as these contracts have original expected durations of less than one year.

The transaction price reflects the Company’s expectations about the consideration it will be entitled to receive from the customer and may include fixed or variable amounts. Variable consideration primarily includes sales made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return, referred to as stock rotation, and credits issued to the distributor due to price protection. The Company estimates variable consideration at the most likely amount to which it expects to be entitled. The estimate is based on information available to the Company, including recent sales activity and pricing data. The Company applies a constraint to its variable consideration estimate which considers both the likelihood of a return and the amount of a potential price concession. Variable consideration that does not meet revenue recognition criteria is deferred. The Company records a right of return asset in prepaid expenses and other current assets for the costs of distributor inventory not meeting revenue recognition criteria. A corresponding deferred revenue and returns liability amount is recorded for unrecognized revenue associated with such costs. The Company’s products carry a one-year replacement warranty. Payments are typically due within 30 days of invoicing and do not include a significant financing component.

Shipping and Handling

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

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based compensation plans, which are more fully described in Note 15, 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

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expense consists primarily of personnel-related expenses, including stock-based compensation, as well as new product masks, external consulting and services costs, equipment tooling, equipment depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, and an allocated portion of our occupancy costs. 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

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses were not material for any of the periods presented.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method whereby deferred tax asset and liability account balances are determined based on differences between the 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 realized. A valuation allowance is established against deferred tax assets to the extent the Company believes that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized, taking into consideration 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 Note 17, Income Taxes, for additional information.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40). This ASU simplifies the accounting for certain convertible instruments, amends the guidance on derivative scope exceptions for contracts in an entity's own equity and requires the use of the if-converted method for calculating diluted earnings per share. The ASU removes separation models for convertible debt with a cash conversion feature. Such convertible instruments will be accounted for as a single liability measured at amortized cost, as long as no other features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years, using one of two retrospective transition methods. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company expects the primary impacts of this new standard will be to potentially increase the carrying value of its convertible debt and reduce its reported interest expense. In addition, should the Company be required to use the if-converted method for calculating diluted earnings per share, the number of shares used in such calculation could potentially increase. The Company will continue to evaluate the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements.