Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In 1986, Micro Power Systems Inc. (“MPSI”), a subsidiary that we acquired in June 1994, identified low-level groundwater contamination at its principal manufacturing site. The area and extent of the contamination appear to have been defined. MPSI previously reached an agreement with a prior tenant to share in the cost of ongoing site investigations and the operation of remedial systems to remove subsurface chemicals. The frequency and number of wells monitored at the site was reduced with prior regulatory approval for a plume stability analysis as an initial step towards site closure. No significant rebound concentrations have been observed. The groundwater treatment system remains shut down. In July 2008, we evaluated the effectiveness of the plume stability and decided to initiate an alternative treatment program to pursue a no further action order for the site. In April 2012, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board approved our application for low-threat closure and rescinded the previous cleanup order. We are now in the process of negotiating a deed restriction for the site and sealing the monitoring wells before the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board issues a No Further Action letter.

Outstanding liabilities for remediation activities, net of payments consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

	July 1, 2012		April 1, 2012
Liabilities for remediation activities	$	57	$	65

In a letter dated March 27, 2012, the Company was notified by the Alameda County Water District (“ACWD”) of the recent detection of volatile organic compounds at a site adjacent to a facility that was previously owned and occupied by Sipex Corporation. The letter was also addressed to prior and current property owners and tenants (collectively “property owners”). ACWD requested that the property owners carry out further site investigation activities to determine if the detected compounds are emanating from the site or simply flowing under it. In June 2012, the property owner filed with ACWD a report of its investigation/characterization activities and analytical data obtained. We have received correspondences from the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (“DTSC”) regarding its ongoing investigation of hazardous wastes and hazardous waste constituents at a former regulated treatment facility in San Jose, California. In 1985, MicroPower Systems, Inc. (“MPSI”) made two separate hazmat deliveries to the site. DTSC has requested that companies that had hazardous waste treated at the site participate in further assessment and remediation activities. Given that this matter is in the early stages of investigation and discussions are ongoing, we are unable to ascertain our exposure, if any.

Generally, we warrant all custom products and application specific products, including cards and boards, against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months and occasionally we may provide an extended warranty from the delivery date. We warrant all of our standard products against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 90 days from the date of delivery. Reserve requirements are recorded in the period of sale and are based on an assessment of the products sold with warranty and historical warranty costs incurred. Our liability is generally limited to replacing, repairing or issuing credit, at our option, for the product if it has been paid for. The warranty does not cover damage which results from accident, misuse, abuse, improper line voltage, fire, flood, lightning or other damage resulting from modifications, repairs or alterations performed other than by us, or resulting from failure to comply with our written operating and maintenance instructions. Warranty expense has historically been immaterial for our products. The warranty liabilities related to our products as of July 1, 2012 and April 1, 2012 were immaterial.

In the ordinary course of business, we may provide for indemnification of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, purchasers of assets or subsidiaries, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of our breach of agreements or representations and warranties made by us, services to be provided by us, intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties or, with respect to the sale of assets or a subsidiary, matters related to our conduct of the business and tax matters prior to the sale. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain of our executive officers that will require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or executive officers. We maintain director and officer liability insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from our obligation to indemnify our directors and officers, and former directors and officers of acquired companies, in certain circumstances.

It is not possible to determine the aggregate maximum potential loss under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Such indemnification agreements might not be subject to maximum loss clauses. Historically, we have not incurred material costs as a result of obligations under these agreements and we have not accrued any liabilities related to such indemnification obligations in our consolidated financial statements.