Note 12 - Common Stock Repurchases

12 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 12.    COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES

From time to time, we acquire outstanding common stock in the open market to partially offset dilution from our equity award programs, to increase our return on invested capital and to bring our cash to a more appropriate level for our organization.

On August 28, 2007, we announced the approval of a share repurchase plan under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $100.0 million of our common stock.

On July 9, 2013, we announced the approval of a share repurchase program under which we were authorized to repurchase an additional $50.0 million of our common stock. The repurchase program does not have a termination date, and may be modified, extended or terminated at any time. We intend to retire all shares repurchased under the stock repurchase plan. The purchase price for the repurchased shares of Exar is reflected as a reduction of common stock and additional paid-in capital. We may continue to repurchase our common stock under the repurchase plan, which would reduce our cash, cash equivalents and/or short-term marketable securities available to fund future operations and to meet other liquidity requirements.

In the first fiscal quarter of 2014, we retired all of our 19.9 million treasury shares.

As of March 29, 2015, we had repurchased shares valued at $105.2 million under the share repurchase program. During fiscal year 2015, we repurchased $8.0 million of our common stock. The repurchased shares were retired immediately. During fiscal years 2014 and 2013, we repurchased $9.0 million and $0 of our common stock, respectively. The remaining authorized amount for the stock repurchase under the repurchase programs is $44.8 million.

Stock repurchase activities during fiscal years 2015 and 2014 are indicated below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Total number of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)		Amount Paid for Purchase
As of March 31, 2013		9,564	$	9.22	$	88,189
Repurchases – August 25 to September 29, 2013		153		13.07		1,999
Repurchases – September 30 to October 27, 2013		73		13.63		1,001
Repurchases – November 24 to December 29, 2013		83		12.09		1,000
Repurchases – December 30, 2013 to January 26, 2014		122		11.61		1,417
Repurchases – January 27 to February 23, 2014		324		11.05		3,583
As of March 30, 2014		10,319	$	9.42	$	97,189
Repurchases – March 31 to April 27, 2014		273		10.98		3,000
Repurchases – July 28 to September 28, 2014		393		9.83		3,864
Repurchases – September 29 to December 28, 2014		125		9.08		1,135
As of March 29, 2015		11,110	$	9.47	$	105,188

Note: The average price paid per share is based on the total price paid by Exar, which includes applicable broker fees.