Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2014
Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies GSI Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture and sell precision photonic and motion control components and subsystems to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) in the medical equipment and advanced industrial technology markets. Our highly engineered enabling technologies include laser sources, scanning and beam delivery products, medical visualization and informatics solutions, optical data collection and machine vision technologies and precision motion control products. We specialize in collaborating with OEM customers to adapt our component and subsystem technologies to deliver highly differentiated performance in their applications. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the instructions to Form 10-Q and the provisions of Regulation S-X pertaining to interim financial statements. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes included in this report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. In the opinion of management, these interim consolidated financial statements include all adjustments and accruals of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or for any future periods. The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its 50% owned joint venture, Excel Laser Technology Private Limited (“Excel SouthAsia JV”) which is reported as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations . Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company’s ownership percentage in a privately held company located in the United Kingdom, Laser Quantum Ltd. (“Laser Quantum”) increased from approximately 25% to 41% as a result of a share buy-back program by Laser Quantum. The Company continues to record the results of this entity under the equity method as it does not have a controlling interest in the entity. The Company’s unaudited interim financial statements are prepared on a quarterly basis ending on the Friday closest to the end of the calendar quarter, with the exception of the fourth quarter which always ends on December 31. *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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company evaluates its estimates based on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis and the effects of revisions are reflected in the period in which they are deemed to be necessary. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. *Reclassifications* As discussed in Note 2, the Company classified the Scientific Lasers business as held for sale beginning in the first quarter of 2014. As a result, certain prior period information included in the consolidated financial statements has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. *Recent Accounting Pronouncements* Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 provides guidance on determining when disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. A strategic shift may include a disposal of a major line of business, major equity method investment or a major part of an entity. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures regarding discontinued operations. This standard is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity.” ASU 2013-05 provides clarification regarding whether ASC 810-10, “Consolidation – Overall” or ASC 830-30, “Foreign Currency Matters—Translation of Financial Statements,” applies to the release of cumulative translation adjustments into net income when a reporting entity either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that constitute a business within a foreign entity. The revised standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013-11 requires, unless certain conditions exists, an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, similar to a tax loss or a tax credit carryforward. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

GSI Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture and sell precision photonic and motion control components and subsystems to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) in the medical equipment and advanced industrial technology markets. Our highly engineered enabling technologies include laser sources, scanning and beam delivery products, medical visualization and informatics solutions, optical data collection and machine vision technologies and precision motion control products. We specialize in collaborating with OEM customers to adapt our component and subsystem technologies to deliver highly differentiated performance in their applications.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in U.S. dollars and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the instructions to Form 10-Q and the provisions of Regulation S-X pertaining to interim financial statements. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes included in this report should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. In the opinion of management, these interim consolidated financial statements include all adjustments and accruals of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year or for any future periods.

The interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its 50% owned joint venture, Excel Laser Technology Private Limited (“Excel SouthAsia JV”) which is reported as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations . Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. During the second quarter of 2013, the Company’s ownership percentage in a privately held company located in the United Kingdom, Laser Quantum Ltd. (“Laser Quantum”) increased from approximately 25% to 41% as a result of a share buy-back program by Laser Quantum. The Company continues to record the results of this entity under the equity method as it does not have a controlling interest in the entity.

The Company’s unaudited interim financial statements are prepared on a quarterly basis ending on the Friday closest to the end of the calendar quarter, with the exception of the fourth quarter which always ends on December 31.

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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting periods. The Company evaluates its estimates based on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis and the effects of revisions are reflected in the period in which they are deemed to be necessary. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Reclassifications

As discussed in Note 2, the Company classified the Scientific Lasers business as held for sale beginning in the first quarter of 2014. As a result, certain prior period information included in the consolidated financial statements has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 provides guidance on determining when disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. A strategic shift may include a disposal of a major line of business, major equity method investment or a major part of an entity. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures regarding discontinued operations. This standard is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this amendment is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, “Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity.” ASU 2013-05 provides clarification regarding whether ASC 810-10, “Consolidation – Overall” or ASC 830-30, “Foreign Currency Matters—Translation of Financial Statements,” applies to the release of cumulative translation adjustments into net income when a reporting entity either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that constitute a business within a foreign entity. The revised standard is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013-11 requires, unless certain conditions exists, an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, similar to a tax loss or a tax credit carryforward. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.