Inventories (Notes)

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

The components of inventories consist of the following (amounts in thousands):



	September 30, 2015		March 31, 2015
Raw materials	$	15,135	$	13,263
Work in process	248,277		197,565
Finished goods	100,348		68,628
	$	363,760	$	279,456

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method. Inventory impairment charges establish a new cost basis for inventory and charges are not subsequently reversed to income even if circumstances later suggest that increased carrying amounts are recoverable. The inventory balance at September 30, 2015 includes a $37.2 million acquired inventory fair value adjustment resulting from the acquisition of Micrel.