Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Amkor Technology, Inc. and our subsidiaries (“Amkor”). Our Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the elimination of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions. Our investments in variable interest entities in which we are the primary beneficiary are consolidated. We reflect the remaining portion of variable interest entities and foreign subsidiaries that are not wholly owned as noncontrolling interests.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

We have variable interests in certain Philippine realty corporations in which we have a 40% ownership and from whom we lease land and buildings in the Philippines, for which we are the primary beneficiary. As of December 31, 2011, the combined book value of the assets and liabilities associated with these Philippine realty corporations included in our Consolidated Balance Sheet was $17.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively. The impact of consolidating these variable interest entities on our Consolidated Statements of Income was not significant, and other than our lease payments, we have not provided any significant assistance or other financial support to these variable interest entities for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 or 2009. The creditors of the Philippine realty corporations have no recourse to our general credit.

Foreign Currency Translation

The U.S. dollar is the functional currency of our subsidiaries in China, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan, and the foreign currency asset and liability amounts at these subsidiaries are remeasured into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates, except for nonmonetary items which are remeasured at historical rates. Foreign currency income and expenses are remeasured at average exchange rates in effect during the period, except for expenses related to balance sheet amounts which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Exchange gains and losses arising from remeasurement of foreign currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in other expense (income) in the period in which they occur.

The local currency is the functional currency of our subsidiaries in Japan and was the functional currency of our subsidiaries in Taiwan prior to July 1, 2009. The asset and liability amounts of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates. Income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at average exchange rates in effect during the period. The resulting asset and liability translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet. Assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are remeasured into the functional currency prior to translation into U.S. dollars and the resulting exchange gains or losses are included in other expense (income) in the period in which they occur.

Concentrations and Credit Risk

Financial instruments, for which we are subject to credit risk, consist principally of accounts receivable and cash and cash equivalents. With respect to accounts receivable, we mitigate our credit risk by selling primarily to well established companies, performing ongoing credit evaluations and making frequent contact with customers. We have historically mitigated our credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents through diversification of our holdings into various high quality mutual funds and bank deposit accounts. At December 31, 2011, our cash and cash equivalents were invested in U.S. money market funds and various U.S. and foreign bank operating and time deposit accounts.

Risks and Uncertainties

Our future results of operations involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could affect our business or future results and cause actual results to vary materially from historical results include, but are not limited to, dependence on the highly cyclical nature of the semiconductor and electronic products industries, fluctuations in operating results and cash flows, high fixed costs, failure to meet guidance, declining average selling prices, decisions by our integrated device manufacturer customers to curtail outsourcing, our substantial indebtedness, our ability to fund liquidity needs, our ability to draw on our current loan facilities, restrictive covenants contained in the agreements governing our indebtedness, significant severance plan obligations, failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls, product return and liability risks including warranty claims, the absence of significant backlog in our business, dependence on international operations and sales, proposed changes to U.S. tax laws regarding earnings of our subsidiaries located outside the U.S., continuing implementation of changes to our management information systems, attracting and retaining qualified employees, difficulties consolidating and integrating our operations, dependence on materials and equipment suppliers, loss of customers, the need for significant capital expenditures, impairment charges, litigation incident to our business, adverse tax consequences, the development of new proprietary technology and the enforcement of intellectual property rights by or against us, complexity of packaging and test processes, competition, our need to comply with existing and future environmental regulations, natural disasters, fire, flood or other calamity and continued control by existing stockholders.

We believe that our cash flows from operating activities together with existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our working capital, capital expenditure and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months. Thereafter, our liquidity will continue to be affected by, among other things, volatility in the global economy and credit markets, the performance of our business, our capital expenditure levels and our ability to either repay debt out of operating cash flows or refinance debt at or prior to maturity with the proceeds of debt or equity offerings.

We are subject to certain legal proceedings, lawsuits and other claims, as discussed in Note 16. We assess the likelihood of any adverse judgment or outcome related to these matters, as well as potential ranges of probable losses. Our determination of the amount of reserves required, if any, for these contingencies is based on an analysis of each individual issue, often with the assistance of outside legal counsel. We record provisions in our Consolidated Financial Statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of amounts invested in U.S. money market funds and various U.S. and foreign bank operating and time deposit accounts.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash, current, consists of short-term cash equivalents used to collateralize our daily banking services. Restricted cash, non-current, consists of collateral to fulfill foreign trade compliance requirements.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market (net realizable value). Cost is principally determined by standard cost (on a first-in, first-out basis for raw materials and purchased components and an average cost basis for work-in-process) or by the weighted moving average method (for commodities), both of which approximate actual cost. We review and set our standards as needed, but at a minimum on an annual basis. We reduce the carrying value of our inventories for the cost of inventory we estimate is excess and obsolete based on the age of our inventories. When a determination is made that the inventory will not be utilized in production or is not saleable, it is written-off.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of depreciable assets which are as follows:

Land use rights	50 years
Buildings and improvements	10 to 25 years
Machinery and equipment	2 to 7 years
Software and computer equipment	3 to 5 years
Furniture, fixtures and other equipment	4 to 10 years

Cost and accumulated depreciation for property retired or disposed of are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in earnings. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation expense recorded as costs of sales was $302.0 million, $290.2 million and $273.3 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Depreciation expense recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses was $24.1 million, $23.0 million, and $19.6 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Depreciation expense recorded as research and development expenses was $4.3 million, $4.5 million and $5.6 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of a long-lived asset group to be held and used in operations is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount to the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset group. If such asset group is considered to be impaired, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less the costs of disposal.

Intangibles

Finite-lived intangible assets include customer relationship and supply agreements as well as patents and technology rights and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, generally for periods ranging from 3 to 10 years. We continually evaluate the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets. Finite-lived intangibles are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment loss, if any, would be measured as the excess of the carrying value over the fair value determined by discounted future cash flows. Amortization of finite-lived assets was $5.2 million, $5.9 million and $7.0 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Investments

On October 30, 2009, we acquired a 30% interest in a packaging and test services business in Japan, J-Devices Corporation (“J-Devices”). See Note 10 for additional information. Our investment is accounted for as an equity method investment. We evaluate the investment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. To the extent the book value of the investment exceeds its assessed fair value, we will record an appropriate impairment charge.

Components of Stockholders' Equity

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, consist of the following:

	December 31,
	2011			2010
	(In thousands)
Unrealized foreign currency translation gains, net of tax	$	21,359		$	20,167
Unrealized components of defined benefit pension plan adjustments, net of tax	(10,510		)	(4,710		)
Total accumulated other comprehensive income	$	10,849		$	15,457

Treasury stock is recognized when outstanding shares are repurchased or otherwise acquired by us, including when outstanding shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with certain restricted share awards under our equity incentive plans. The repurchased and withheld shares are accounted for as treasury stock at cost. See Notes 3 and 14 for more information

Fair Value Measurements

We apply fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. We define fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue from our packaging and test services when there is evidence of a fixed arrangement, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, fees are fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally these criteria are met and revenue is recognized upon shipment. If the revenue recognition criteria are not met, we defer the revenue. Deferred revenue generally results from two types of transactions: invoicing at interim points in the packaging and test process prior to delivery and customer advances. Deferred revenue relates to contractual invoicing at interim points prior to the delivery of the finished product. The invoicing that is completed in advance of our revenue recognition criteria being met is recorded as deferred revenue. Customer advances represent supply agreements with customers where we commit capacity in exchange for customer prepayment of services. These prepayments are deferred and recorded as customer advances within accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities.

We generally do not take ownership of customer-supplied semiconductor wafers. Title and risk of loss remains with the customer for these materials at all times. Accordingly, the cost of the customer-supplied materials is not included in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

An allowance for sales credits is recorded as a reduction to sales and accounts receivable during the period of sale such that accounts receivable is reported at its estimated net realizable value. The allowance for sales credits is an estimate of the future credits we will issue for billing adjustments primarily for invoicing corrections and miscellaneous customer claims and is estimated based upon recent credit issuance, historical experience and specific identification of known or expected sales credits at the end of the reporting period. Additionally, provisions are made for doubtful accounts when there is doubt as to the collectibility of accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as bad debt expense and is classified as selling, general and administrative expense. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon specific identification of doubtful accounts considering the age of the receivable balance, the customer’s historical payment history and current credit worthiness as well as specific identification of any known or expected collectibility issues

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are presented in net sales. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are included in cost of sales

Research and Development Costs

Research and development expenses include costs attributable to the conduct of research and development programs primarily related to the development of new package designs and improving the efficiency and capabilities of our existing production processes. Such costs include salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefit costs, materials, supplies, depreciation and maintenance of research equipment, services provided by outside contractors and the allocable portions of facility costs such as rent, utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance, depreciation and general support services. All costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis as well as for net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which these 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. A valuation allowance is provided for those deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized.

In determining the amount of the valuation allowance, we consider all available evidence of realization, as well as feasible tax planning strategies, in each taxing jurisdiction. If all or a portion of the remaining deferred tax assets will not be realized, the valuation allowance will be increased with a charge to income tax expense. Conversely, if we will ultimately be able to utilize all or a portion of the deferred tax assets for which a valuation allowance has been provided, the related portion of the valuation allowance will be released to income as a credit to income tax expense. We monitor on an ongoing basis our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets and the continuing need for a related valuation allowance.

We recognize in our Consolidated Financial Statements the impact of an income tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position.