1.	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

Our fiscal years are based on a 52- or 53-week period ending on the last Saturday in December. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 27, 2014 has been derived from our audited financial statements at that date. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 28, 2015 (also referred to as “the first quarter of fiscal 2015” and “the first three months of fiscal 2015”) and March 29, 2014 (also referred to as “the first quarter of fiscal 2014” and “the first three months of fiscal 2014”) are unaudited. However, in management’s opinion, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring items) necessary to provide a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The first quarter of fiscal 2015 and 2014 were each comprised of 13 weeks.

Our interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that should be expected for the full year. For a better understanding of Cohu, Inc. and our financial statements, we recommend reading these interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with our audited financial statements for the year ended December 27, 2014, which are included in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the following notes to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements, Cohu, Inc. is referred to as “Cohu”, “we”, “our” and “us”.

Reclassifications

We have reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the financial position or results of operations or cash flows for the periods presented.

Risks and Uncertainties

We are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may significantly impact our future operating results. These risks and uncertainties are discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” included in this Form 10-Q. Understanding these risks and uncertainties is integral to the review of our interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

Discontinued Operations

On June 6, 2014 we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets of our video camera segment, Cohu Electronics, and its operating results are being presented as discontinued operations and all prior period amounts have been reclassified accordingly. See Note 2, “Disposal of Video Camera Segment” for additional information. Unless otherwise indicated, all amounts herein relate to continuing operations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade accounts receivable. We invest in a variety of financial instruments and, by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure with any one issuer.

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.2 million and $0.3 million at March 28, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively. Our customers include semiconductor manufacturers and semiconductor test subcontractors and other customers located throughout many areas of the world. While we believe that our allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate and represents our best estimate at March 28, 2015, we will continue to monitor customer liquidity and other economic conditions, which may result in changes to our estimates regarding collectability.

Goodwill, Other Intangible Assets and Long-lived Assets

We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually and when an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We test goodwill for impairment by first comparing the book value of net assets to the fair value of the reporting units. If the fair value is determined to be less than the book value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of impairment as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and the carrying value. We estimated the fair values of our reporting units primarily using the income approach valuation methodology that includes the discounted cash flow method, taking into consideration the market approach and certain market multiples as a validation of the values derived using the discounted cash flow methodology. Forecasts of future cash flows are based on our best estimate of future net sales and operating expenses, based primarily on customer forecasts, industry trade organization data and general economic conditions.

We conduct our annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1st of each year. As of October 1, 2014, we concluded there was no impairment as the estimated fair values of our semiconductor equipment and microwave communications reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately 35% and 17%, respectively. Subsequent to our annual goodwill impairment test, in the fourth quarter of 2014, we determined an interim analysis was required and as of December 27, 2014 concluded that the fair market value of our microwave communications reporting unit goodwill was lower than its carrying value. As a result, we recorded a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $5.0 million, comprised of $3.1 million of goodwill, and $1.9 million other assets in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Long-lived assets, other than goodwill, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recoverable. Conditions that would necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant decline in the observable market value of an asset, a significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or any other significant adverse change that would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. For long-lived assets, impairment losses are only recorded if the asset’s carrying amount is not recoverable through its undiscounted, probability-weighted future cash flows. We measure the impairment loss based on the difference between the assets carrying amount and estimated fair value.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of our wholly owned foreign subsidiaries that use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency are translated using exchange rates in effect at the end of the period, except for nonmonetary assets, such as inventories and property, plant and equipment, which are translated using historical exchange rates. Revenues and costs are translated using average exchange rates for the period, except for costs related to those balance sheet items that are translated using historical exchange rates. Gains and losses on foreign currency transactions are recognized as incurred. Certain of our foreign subsidiaries have designated the local currency as their functional currency and, as a result, their assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date, while revenue and expenses are translated using the average exchange rate for the period. During the first quarter of 2015 strengthening of the U.S. dollar, against primarily the Swiss Franc and Euro resulted in approximately $0.2 million of gains being recognized in our consolidated statement of operations in the first quarter of 2015. Gains and losses were not significant in any other period presented. Cumulative translation adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements are included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Share-Based Compensation

We measure and recognize all share-based compensation under the fair value method. Our estimate of share-based compensation expense requires a number of complex and subjective assumptions including our stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns (expected life of the options), future forfeitures and related tax effects. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based awards represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made are reasonable and appropriate, changes in assumptions could materially impact our reported financial results.

Reported share-based compensation is classified, in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements, as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	March 28,			March 29,
	2015			2014
Cost of sales	$	115		$	75
Research and development		338			490
Selling, general and administrative		1,276			916

Total share-based compensation		1,729			1,481
Income tax benefit		(44	)		(41	)

Total share-based compensation, net	$	1,685		$	1,440

Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted income per share includes the dilutive effect of common shares potentially issuable upon the exercise of stock options, vesting of outstanding restricted stock units and issuance of stock under our employee stock purchase plan using the treasury stock method. In loss periods, potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the per share computations due to their anti-dilutive effect. For purposes of computing diluted income per share, stock options with exercise prices that exceed the average fair market value of our common stock for the period are excluded.

The following table reconciles the denominators used in computing basic and diluted income (loss) per share (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	March 28,		March 29,
	2015		2014
Weighted average common shares		25,751		25,123
Effect of dilutive stock options		—		—

		25,751		25,123

Cohu has utilized the “control number” concept in the computation of diluted earnings per share to determine whether potential common stock instruments are dilutive. The control number used is income/loss from continuing operations. The control number concept requires that the same number of potentially dilutive securities applied in computing diluted earnings per share from continuing operations be applied to all other categories of income or loss, regardless of their anti-dilutive effect on such categories. Therefore, no dilutive effect has been recognized in the calculation of income from discontinued operations per share for the three months ended March 29, 2014.

Revenue Recognition

Our revenue recognition policy is disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 27, 2014. As more fully described in that policy, revenue from products that have not previously satisfied customer acceptance requirements is recognized upon customer acceptance. The gross profit on sales that are not recognized is generally recorded as deferred profit and reflected as a current liability in our consolidated balance sheet.

At March 28, 2015, we had deferred revenue totaling approximately $12.0 million and deferred profit of $7.7 million. At December 27, 2014, we had deferred revenue totaling approximately $11.3 million and deferred profit of $7.4 million. The periodic increase is primarily a result of deferrals of revenue associated with shipments of semiconductor equipment.

Comprehensive Loss

Our accumulated other comprehensive loss balance totaled approximately $19.1 million and $10.7 million at March 28, 2015 and December 27, 2014, respectively, and was attributed to all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity and consists of, on an after-tax basis where applicable, foreign currency adjustments resulting from the translation of certain of our subsidiary accounts where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar and adjustments related to postretirement benefits. Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income during the three months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 were not significant.

Retiree Medical Benefits

We provide post-retirement health benefits to certain executives and directors under a noncontributory plan. The net periodic benefit cost incurred during the three months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 was not significant.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements – In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance on reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity, which amends the existing definition of a discontinued operation and requires entities to disclose additional information about disposal transactions that do not meet the discontinued operations criteria. The guidance redefines a discontinued operation as a component or group of components of an entity that has been disposed of by sale or other than by sale or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The guidance was effective prospectively for disposals or components classified as held for sale in periods on or after December 15, 2014 with early adoption permitted. Cohu elected to implement this new guidance in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In May 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The amended guidance outlines a single comprehensive revenue model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The guidance supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is that “an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.” Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified approach to adopt the guidance. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. In April 2015, the FASB agreed to propose a one-year deferral of the revenue recognition standard’s effective date for all entities, which would change the effectiveness to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with the option to adopt as early as December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet determined which transition method we will utilize upon adoption.

In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on going concern, which requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On April 15, 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-04, Compensation-Retirement Benefits, to provide a practical expedient for the measurement date of defined benefit plan assets and obligations. The practical expedient allows employers with fiscal year-end dates that do not fall on a calendar month-end (e.g., companies with a 52/53-week fiscal year) to measure pension and post-retirement benefit plan assets and obligations as of the calendar month-end date closest to the fiscal year-end. The FASB also provided a similar practical expedient for interim remeasurements for significant events. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 with early adoption permitted. We do not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.