Organization Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Organization consolidation and presentation of financial statements disclosure and significant accounting policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Harmonic include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s fiscal quarters are based on 13-week periods, except for the fourth quarter which ends on December 31.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents are comprised of highly liquid, investment-grade obligations with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are stated at amounts that approximate fair value based on quoted market prices.

Investments

Investments. Harmonic’s short-term investments are stated at fair value and are principally comprised of U.S. government, U.S. government agencies, state government agencies and corporate debt securities. The Company classifies its investments as available-for-sale in accordance with applicable accounting guidance on accounting for certain investments in debt and equity securities and states its investments at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of securities disposed of, with realized gains and losses reflected in other expense, net. Investments are anticipated to be used for current operations and are, therefore, classified as current assets even though maturities may extend beyond one year. The Company monitors its investment portfolio for impairment on a periodic basis. In the event a decline in value is determined to be other than temporary, an impairment charge is recorded. The Company considers current market conditions, as well as its likeliness or need to sell its investments prior to a recovery of par value, when determining if a loss is other than temporary.

Impairment of Investments

Harmonic monitors its investment portfolio for impairment on a periodic basis. In the event that the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis for the investment is established. A decline of fair value below amortized costs of debt securities is considered other-than temporary if the Company has the intent to sell the security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the entire amortized cost basis. At the present time, the Company does not intend to sell its investments that have unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss. In addition, the Company does not believe that it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell its investments that have unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss before the Company recovers the principal amounts invested. The Company believes that the unrealized losses are temporary and do not require an other-than-temporary impairment, based on its evaluation of available evidence as of December 31, 2011.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The carrying value of Harmonic’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

• Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

• Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company primarily uses broker quotes for valuation of its short-term investments. The forward exchange contracts are classified as Level 2 because they are valued using quoted market prices and other observable data for similar instruments in an active market.

• Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company uses the market approach to measure fair value for its financial assets and liabilities. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no nonrecurring fair value measurements of assets and liabilities subsequent to initial recognition.

Concentrations of Credit Risk/Major Customers/Supplier Concentration

Concentrations of Credit Risk/Major Customers/Supplier Concentration. Financial instruments which subject Harmonic to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are invested in short-term, highly liquid investment-grade obligations of commercial or governmental issuers, in accordance with Harmonic’s investment policy. The investment policy limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution, commercial or governmental issuer. Harmonic’s accounts receivable are derived from sales to cable, satellite, telcos, broadcasters and other media companies. Harmonic generally does not require collateral from its customers and performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and provides for expected losses. Harmonic maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectability of its accounts receivable. No customer had a balance greater than 10% of the Company’s net accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2011. One customer had a balance of 16% of the Company’s net accounts receivable balance as of December 31, 2010. In the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, sales to Comcast accounted for 11%, 17% and 16% of net revenue, respectively.

Certain of the components and subassemblies included in the Company’s products are obtained from a single source or a limited group of suppliers. Although the Company seeks to reduce dependence on those sole source and limited source suppliers, the partial or complete loss of certain of these sources could have at least a temporary adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and damage customer relationships.

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. Harmonic generally does not require collateral and performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and provides for expected losses. Harmonic maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected collectability of its accounts receivable. The expectation of collectability is based on the Company’s review of credit profiles of customers, contractual terms and conditions, current economic trends and historical payment experience.

Purchase Commitments with Contract Manufacturers and Suppliers. The Company relies on a limited number of contract manufacturers and suppliers to provide manufacturing services for a substantial majority of its products. In addition, some components, sub-assemblies and modules are obtained from a sole supplier or limited group of suppliers. During the normal course of business, in order to reduce manufacturing lead times and ensure adequate component supply, the Company enters into agreements with certain contract manufacturers and suppliers that allow them to procure inventory based upon criteria as defined by the Company. The Company had $32.5 million of non-cancelable purchase commitments as of December 31, 2011.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Harmonic’s principal sources of revenue are from the sale of hardware, software, hardware and software maintenance contracts, and end-to-end solutions, encompassing design, manufacture, test, integration and installation of products. Harmonic recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been provided, the sale price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

Revenue from the sale of hardware and software products is recognized when risk of loss and title have transferred. For most of the Company’s product sales, these criteria are met at the time the product is shipped or delivery has occurred. Revenue from distributors and system integrators is recognized on delivery of the related products, provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. The Company’s agreements with these distributors and system integrators have terms which are generally consistent with the standard terms and conditions for the sale of the Company’s equipment to end users and do not provide for product rotation or pricing allowances, as are typically found in agreements with stocking distributors. The Company accrues for sales returns and other allowances based on its historical experience.

Deferred revenue includes billings in excess of revenue recognized, net of deferred cost of revenue, and invoiced amounts remain deferred until applicable revenue recognition criteria are met.

Shipping and handling costs incurred for inventory purchases and product shipments are recorded in cost of revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs associated with services are generally recognized as incurred.

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of hardware products and software bundled with hardware that is essential to the functionality of the hardware in accordance with applicable revenue recognition accounting guidance. For the sale of stand-alone software products, bundled with hardware not essential to the functionality of the hardware, the Company recognizes revenue in accordance with industry specific software accounting guidance. Revenue associated with service and maintenance agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the period in which the services are performed, generally one year. The Company recognizes revenue associated with solution sales using the percentage of completion method. Further details of these accounting policies are described below.

Software

Multiple Element Arrangements. The Company has revenue arrangements that include hardware and software essential to the hardware product’s functionality. For transactions originating or materially modified, beginning January 1, 2011, the Company has applied new accounting guidance on a prospective basis that requires the Company allocate revenue to all deliverables based on their relative selling prices. For transactions originating prior to January 1, 2011, the Company applied software revenue recognition accounting guidance, as described in the “Software” section below. The Company determines the relative selling prices by first considering vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (“VSOE”), if it exists; otherwise third-party evidence (“TPE”) of the selling price is used. If neither VSOE nor TPE exists for a deliverable, the Company uses a best estimate of the selling price (“BESP”) for that deliverable.

Harmonic has established VSOE for certain elements of its arrangements based on either historical stand-alone sales to third parties or stated renewal rates for maintenance. The Company has VSOE of fair value for maintenance, training and certain professional services.

TPE is determined based on competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. The Company is typically not able to determine TPE for competitors’ products or services. Generally, the Company’s go-to-market strategy differs from that of its competitors’ and the Company’s offerings contain a significant level of differentiation, such that the comparable pricing of products with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, the Company is unable to reliably determine what competitor similar products’ selling prices are on a stand-alone basis.

When the Company is unable to establish fair value of non-software deliverables using VSOE or TPE, the Company uses BESP in its allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of using BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. The Company determines BESP for a product or service by considering multiple factors, including, but not limited to, pricing practices, market conditions, competitive landscape, internal costs, geographies and gross margin. The determination of BESP is made through consultation with Company’s management, taking into consideration the Company’s go-to-market strategy.

The impact of the revised accounting guidance on net revenue in 2011 was primarily attributable to the ability to assign a relative selling price to undelivered elements, which previously required VSOE (such as undelivered firmware updates on hardware products).

Software. Sales of stand-alone software that are not considered essential to the functionality of the hardware continue to be subject to the industry-specific software revenue recognition guidance. Further, the Company also applied the industry-specific software revenue recognition guidance to its multiple element arrangements for transactions originating prior to January 1, 2011.

In accordance with the software revenue recognition guidance, the Company applies the residual method to recognize revenue for the delivered elements in stand-alone software transactions. Under the residual method, the amount of revenue allocated to delivered elements equals the total arrangement consideration, less the aggregate fair value of any undelivered elements, typically maintenance, provided that VSOE of fair value exists for all undelivered elements. VSOE of fair value is based on the price charged when the element is sold separately or, in the case of maintenance, substantive renewal rates for maintenance.

Solution Sales

Solution Sales. Solution sales for the design, manufacture, test, integration and installation of products, including equipment acquired from third parties to be integrated with Harmonic’s products, that are customized to meet the customer’s specifications are accounted for in accordance with applicable guidance on accounting for performance of construction/production contracts. Accordingly, for each arrangement that the Company enters into that includes both products and services, the Company performs a detailed evaluation to determine whether the arrangement should be accounted for under guidance for construction/production contracts or, alternatively, for arrangements that do not involve significant production, modification or customization, under other applicable accounting guidance. The Company has a long-standing history of entering into contractual arrangements to deliver the solution sales described.

At the outset of each arrangement accounted for as a single arrangement, the Company develops a detailed project plan and associated labor hour estimates for each project. The Company believes that, based on its historical experience, it has the ability to make labor cost estimates that are sufficiently dependable to justify the use of the percentage-of-completion method of accounting and, accordingly, utilizes percentage-of-completion accounting for most arrangements that are determined to be single arrangements. Under the percentage-of-completion method, revenue recognized reflects the portion of the anticipated contract revenue that has been earned, equal to the ratio of actual labor hours expended to total estimated labor hours to complete the project. Costs are recognized proportionally to the labor hours incurred. For contracts that include customized services for which labor costs are not reasonably estimable, the Company uses the completed contract method of accounting. Under the completed contract method, 100% of the contract’s revenue and cost is recognized upon the completion of all services under the contract. If the estimated costs to complete a project exceed the total contract amount, indicating a loss, the entire anticipated loss is recognized.

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the weighted average method, or market. Harmonic establishes provisions for excess and obsolete inventories to reduce such inventories to their estimated net realizable value after evaluation of historical sales, future demand and market conditions, expected product lifecycles and current inventory levels. Such provisions are charged to cost of revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Capitalized Software Development Costs

Capitalized Software Development Costs. Costs related to research and development are generally charged to expense as incurred. Capitalization of material software development costs begins when a product’s technological feasibility has been established in accordance with applicable accounting guidance on accounting for the costs of computer software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed. To date, the time period between achieving technological feasibility, which the Company has defined as the establishment of a working model, which typically occurs when beta testing commences, and the general availability of such software, has been short, and, as such, software development costs qualifying for capitalization have been insignificant.

The Company incurs costs associated with developing software for internal use and for which no plan exists to market the software externally. If internal software development costs become material, the Company will capitalize the costs as part of property and equipment and recognize the associated depreciation over a useful life of generally three years. In the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company capitalized $1.1 million, $1.0 million and $1.1 million in internal use software development costs, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment. Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are five years for furniture and fixtures and up to four years for machinery and equipment. Depreciation and amortization for leasehold improvements are computed using the shorter of the remaining useful lives of the assets, up to ten years, or the lease term of the respective assets. Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $13.9 million, $10.0 million and $8.7 million, respectively.

Goodwill

Goodwill. Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the estimated fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company tests for impairment of goodwill on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of each of its fiscal years at the Company level, which is the sole reporting unit, and at any other time at which events occur or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may exceed its fair value. When assessing the goodwill for impairment, the Company considers its market capitalization adjusted for a control premium and, if necessary, the Company’s discounted cash flow model, which involves significant assumptions and estimates, including the Company’s future financial performance, the Company’s weighted average cost of capital and the Company’s interpretation of currently enacted tax laws. Circumstances that could indicate impairment and require the Company to perform an impairment test include: a significant decline in the financial results of the Company’s operations; the Company’s market capitalization relative to net book value; unanticipated changes in competition and the Company’s market share; significant changes in the Company’s strategic plans; or adverse actions by regulators. Based on the impairment test performed in the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company’s goodwill was not impaired.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived Assets. Long-lived assets represent property and equipment and purchased intangible assets. Purchased intangible assets from business combinations and asset acquisitions include customer contracts, trademarks and tradenames, and maintenance agreements and related relationships, the amortization of which is charged to general and administrative expenses, and core technology and developed technology, the amortization of which is charged to cost of revenue. The Company evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets and other long-lived assets when indicators of impairment are present. When impairment indicators are present, the Company evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets and other long-lived assets on the basis of undiscounted cash flows from each asset group. If impairment is indicated, provisions for impairment are determined based on fair value, principally using discounted cash flows. This evaluation involves significant assumptions and estimates, including the Company’s future financial performance, the Company’s weighted average cost of capital and the Company’s interpretation of currently enacted tax laws. Circumstances that could indicate impairment and require the Company to perform an impairment test include: a significant decline in the cash flows of such asset or asset group; unanticipated changes in competition and the Company’s market share; significant changes in the Company’s strategic plans; or exiting an activity resulting from a restructuring of operations. See Note 4, “Goodwill and Identified Intangible Assets” for additional information.

Restructuring costs and accruals for excess facilities

Restructuring Costs and Accruals for Excess Facilities. The Company applies applicable accounting guidance on accounting for costs associated with restructuring activities, including exit or disposal activities, which requires that a liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized and measured initially at fair value when the liability is incurred. Harmonic’s restructuring activities have primarily been related to excess facilities. The Company determines the excess facilities accrual based on expected cash payments, under the applicable facility lease, reduced by any estimated sublease rental income for such facility. See Note 9, “Restructuring and Excess Facilities” for additional information.

The Company has recorded restructuring and excess facilities charges beginning in 2001 and throughout subsequent years as a result of changing conditions in the use of its facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. The initial expenses that had been recorded to selling, general and administrative expense and the related liabilities have been adjusted periodically for changes in sublease income estimates.

Accrued warranties

Accrued warranties. The Company accrues for estimated warranty costs at the time of revenue recognition and records such accrued liabilities as part of cost of revenue. Management periodically reviews its warranty liability and adjusts the accrued liability based on the terms of warranties provided to customers, historical and anticipated warranty claims experience, and estimates of the timing and cost of warranty claims.

Currency Translation

Currency Translation. The functional currency of the Company’s Israeli, Cayman and Swiss operations is the U.S. dollar. All other foreign subsidiaries use the respective local currency as the functional currency. When the local currency is the functional currency, gains and losses from translation of these foreign currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. For subsidiaries where the functional currency is the U.S. dollar, gains and losses resulting from remeasuring foreign currency denominated balances into U.S. dollars are included in other expense, net. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses derived from monetary assets and liabilities being stated in a currency other than the functional currency are recorded to other expense, net in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. In preparing the Company’s financial statements, the Company estimates the income taxes for each of the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. This involves estimating the Company’s actual current tax exposures and assessing temporary and permanent differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as reserves and accruals, for tax and accounting purposes.

The Company’s income tax policy is to record the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, as well as operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company follows the guidelines set forth in the applicable accounting guidance regarding the recoverability of any tax assets recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and provides any necessary allowances as required. Determining necessary allowances requires the Company to make assessments about the timing of future events, including the probability of expected future taxable income and available tax planning opportunities.

The Company is subject to examination of its income tax returns by various tax authorities on a periodic basis. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from such examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes. The Company has applied the provisions of the accounting guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, which requires application of a more-likely-than-not threshold to the recognition and de-recognition of uncertain tax positions. If the recognition threshold is met, the applicable accounting guidance permits the Company to recognize a tax benefit measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that, in the Company’s judgment, is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement. It further requires that a change in judgment related to the expected ultimate resolution of uncertain tax positions be recognized in earnings in the period of such change.

The Company files annual income tax returns in multiple taxing jurisdictions around the world. A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position is audited and finally resolved. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular uncertain tax position, the Company believes that its reserves for income taxes reflect the most likely outcome. The Company adjusts these reserves and penalties, as well as the related interest, in light of changing facts and circumstances. Changes in the Company’s assessment of its uncertain tax positions or settlement of any particular position could materially and adversely impact the Company’s income tax rate, operating results, financial position and cash flows.

Pursuant to applicable accounting guidance on accounting for income taxes, the Company is required to periodically review the Company’s deferred tax assets and determine whether, based on available evidence, a valuation allowance is necessary. The Company evaluates the need for a valuation allowance based on historical evidence, trends in profitability, expectations of future taxable income and implemented tax planning strategies. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had a valuation allowance of $28.4 million, which primarily relates to foreign net operating losses and a portion of the California tax credits. More specifically, California tax legislation enacted in February 2009 provides for the election of a single sales apportionment formula beginning in 2011. The Company elected the single sales apportionment method for 2011. The use of this apportionment method reduces the amount of expected future California state taxable income.

The Company anticipates the unrecognized tax benefits may increase during 2012 for items that arise in the ordinary course of business. Such amounts will be reflected as an increase in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits and an increase to the current period tax expense. These increases will be considered in the determination of the Company’s annual effective tax rate. The amount of the unrecognized tax benefit classified as a long-term tax payable, if recognized, would reduce the annual income provision.

U.S. income taxes were not provided on approximately $36.2 million of undistributed earnings for certain non-U.S. subsidiaries. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability for temporary differences related to investments in these non-U.S. subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration is not practicable. The Company has not provided U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011, because the Company intends to permanently reinvest such earnings outside the U.S. If these foreign earnings were to be repatriated in the future, the related U.S. tax liability may be reduced by any foreign income taxes previously paid on these earnings.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising Expenses. The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense was $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Stock-based Compensation Expense

Stock-based Compensation Expense. Harmonic measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards made to employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock units and awards related to our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), based upon the grant-date fair value of those awards.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $20.9 million, $15.5 million and $10.6 million, respectively.

Applicable accounting guidance requires companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense over the requisite service period in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The fair value of stock options is estimated at grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company’s determination of fair value of stock options on the date of grant, using an option pricing model, is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as the assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. The fair value of each restricted stock unit grant is based on the underlying value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.

Expected term. The expected term represents the weighted-average period that the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. Our computation of expected term was determined based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the stock-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior.

Volatility. The Company uses its historical volatility for a period equivalent to the expected term of the options to estimate the expected volatility.

Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free rate that the Company uses in the Black-Scholes option valuation model is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term.

Expected dividends. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, used an expected dividend yield of zero in the valuation model.

The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. All stock-based payment awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods. The Company’s estimated forfeiture rate was 6%, 5% and 5% for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss). Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes cumulative translation adjustments and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

Total comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is displayed as a separate component of stockholders’ equity in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accumulated balances for each component of other comprehensive income (loss) consist of the following, net of taxes:

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities. Harmonic accounts for derivative financial instruments and hedging contracts in accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, which requires that all derivatives be recognized at fair value in the balance sheet and that the corresponding gains or losses be reported either in the statement of operations or as a component of comprehensive income (loss), depending on the type of hedging relationship that exists.

Forward Exchange Contracts Not Designated As Hedging Instruments

Forward Exchange Contracts Not Designated as Hedging Instruments. Periodically, Harmonic enters into foreign currency forward exchange contracts (“forward exchange contracts”) to manage exposure related to monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company does not designate these forward exchange contracts as hedging instruments, and these contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. At December 31, 2011, the Company had a forward exchange contract to sell Israeli Shekels (ILS) with a notional value of $4.3 million, Euros with a notional value of $6.9 million and British Pounds with a notional value of $5.7 million. These foreign exchange contracts mature in the first quarter of 2012. At December 31, 2010, the Company had a forward exchange contract to sell Euros with a notional value of $3.3 million and Japanese Yen with a notional value of $0.4 million. This foreign exchange contract matured in the first quarter of 2011.

The Company’s forward exchange contracts generally have maturities of between one and three months. The fair value of these contracts has historically not been significant at the end of each reporting period. Typically, realized gains and losses on these forward exchange contracts, which arise as a result of closing out the contracts, are substantially offset by remeasurement or realized losses and gains on the underlying balances denominated in non-functional currencies. Gains and losses on forward exchange contracts and from remeasurement and realized gains and losses of the underlying asset balances, denominated in non-functional currencies, are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in other expense, net.