Note 14 - Commitments and Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

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 and well closure activities. 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2012, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board approved our application for low-threat closure and rescinded the previous cleanup order. All monitoring well closure activities on adjacent/neighboring sites have been completed. We have finalized and executed access environmental indemnity and tolling agreements, and deed restriction covenants with the property owner. The parties have agreed that onsite well closure activities can commence.

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

	December29, 2013		March 31, 2013
Liabilities for remediation activities	$	31	$	76

In early 2012, we 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, MPSI made two separate permitted hazmat deliveries to a licensed and regulated site for treatment. DTSC has requested that former/current property owners and companies, currently in excess of 50, that had hazardous waste treated at the site participate in further site assessment and limited remediation activities. We have entered into various agreements with other named generators, former property owners and DTSC limited to the investigation of the sites’ condition and evaluation, and selection of appropriate remedial measures. The designated environmental consulting firm is moving forward with the agreed preliminary site assessment and periodic status reporting. Given that this matter is in the early stages of investigation and discussions are ongoing, we are unable to ascertain our exposure, if any.

In a letter dated March 27, 2012, Exar 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. 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 Owners filed with ACWD a report of its investigation/characterization activities and analytical data obtained. Accumulated data suggests that compounds of concern in groundwater appear to be from an offsite source. ACWD is investigating alternative upgradient sites. Given that this investigation is ongoing, we are unable to ascertain our exposure, if any.

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, historical warranty costs incurred and customer/product specific circumstances. Our liability is generally limited, at our option, to replacing, repairing, or issuing a credit (if it has been paid for). Our 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 remaining balance of warranty liabilities established for the return and replacement of certain older generation data compression products shipped in prior years was $1.2 million as of December 29, 2013, and warranty liability as of March 31, 2013 was immaterial.

As of the dates indicated below, our warranty reserve balance, which is included in the “Other current liabilities” line item on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, consisted of the following (in thousands):

	December 29, 2013			March 31, 2013
Beginning balance	$	50		$	90
Provisions for warranties issued		1,440		─
Settlements/adjustments		(328	)		(40	)
Ending balance	$	1,162		$	50

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, matters related to our conduct of the business. 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 unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement and claims. 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 condensed consolidated financial statements.