EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

The Company accounts for its equity interests in its unconsolidated investees described below under the equity method of accounting as it has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not own a majority equity interest in, or otherwise control, the investees. As of March 31, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company's carrying value of its equity method investments totaled $111.2 million and $111.5 million, respectively, and is classified as “Other long-term assets” in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's share of its earnings (loss) from equity method investments is reflected as "Equity in loss of unconsolidated investees" in its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Related Party Transactions with Equity Method Investees:



	As of
(In thousands)	March 31, 2013		December 30, 2012
Accounts receivable	$	6,958	$	17,847
Accounts payable	37,841		63,469
Other long-term assets:
Long-term note receivable	1,040		1,040



	Three Months Ended
(In thousands)	March 31, 2013		April 1, 2012
Payments made to equity method investees for products/services	$	118,943	$	179,988

Equity Investment in Huaxia CPV (Inner Mongolia) Power Co., Ltd. ("CCPV")

In December 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co. Ltd. ("TZS"), Inner Mongolia Power Group Co. Ltd. ("IMP") and Hohhot Jinqiao City Development Company Co., Ltd. ("HJCD") to form CCPV, a jointly owned entity to manufacture and deploy the Company's C-7 Tracker concentrator technology in Inner Mongolia and other regions in China. Huaxia CPV will be based in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will invest RMB 100,000,000 (or approximately $16.0 million based on the exchange rate as of March 31, 2013), for a 25% equity ownership in CCPV, with the investment to be made over a period of two years subsequent to the establishment of the entity. The establishment of the entity is subject to approval of the Chinese government. No contributions have been made to date.

Equity Investment in Diamond Energy Pty Ltd. ("Diamond Energy")

In October 2012, the Company made a $3.0 million equity investment in Diamond Energy, an alternative energy project developer and clean electricity retailer headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in exchange for a 25% equity ownership. The Company additionally provided Diamond Energy $1.0 million under a five year convertible note agreement. The Company will lend an additional $1.0 million under the convertible note agreement during fiscal 2013 and will receive interest of 1% per annum on the amounts lent to Diamond Energy, to be paid upon conversion or maturity.

The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of Diamond Energy since, although the Company is obligated to absorb losses and has the right to receive benefits, the Company alone does not have the power to direct the activities of Diamond that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Company accounts for its investment in Diamond using the equity method since the Company is able to exercise significant influence over Diamond due to its board position.

Equity Investment and Joint Venture with AUOSP

In fiscal 2010, the Company, AUO and AU Optronics Corporation, the ultimate parent company of AUO ("AUO Taiwan") formed the joint venture AUOSP. The Company and AUO each own 50% of the joint venture AUOSP. AUOSP owns a solar cell manufacturing facility ("FAB 3") in Malaysia and manufactures solar cells and sells them on a "cost-plus" basis to the Company and AUO.

In connection with the joint venture agreement, the Company and AUO also entered into licensing and joint development, supply, and other ancillary transaction agreements. Through the licensing agreement, the Company and AUO licensed to AUOSP, on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis, certain background intellectual property related to solar cell manufacturing (in the case of the Company), and manufacturing processes (in the case of AUO). Under the seven-year supply agreement with AUOSP, renewable by the Company for one-year periods thereafter, the Company is committed to purchase 80% of AUOSP's total annual output allocated on a monthly basis to the Company, in fiscal year 2013 and thereafter. The Company and AUO have the right to reallocate supplies from time to time under a written agreement. As required under the joint venture agreement, in fiscal 2010, the Company and AUOSP entered into an agreement under which the Company will resell to AUOSP polysilicon purchased from a third-party supplier and AUOSP will provide prepayments to the Company related to such polysilicon, which prepayment will then be made by the Company to the third-party supplier.

The Company and AUO are not permitted to transfer any of AUOSP's shares held by them, except to each other and to their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. In the joint venture agreement, the Company and AUO agreed to each contribute additional amounts through 2014 amounting to $241.0 million, or such lesser amount as the parties may mutually agree. In addition, if AUOSP, the Company or AUO requests additional equity financing to AUOSP, then the Company and AUO will each be required to make additional cash contributions of up to $50.0 million in the aggregate (See Note 7).

The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of AUOSP since, although the Company and AUO are both obligated to absorb losses or have the right to receive benefits, the Company alone does not have the power to direct the activities of AUOSP that most significantly impact its economic performance. In making this determination the Company considered the shared power arrangement, including equal board governance for significant decisions, elective appointment, and the fact that both parties contribute to the activities that most significantly impact the joint venture's economic performance. The Company accounts for its investment in AUOSP using the equity method as a result of the shared power arrangement. As of March 31, 2013, the Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with AUOSP is limited to the carrying value of its investment.

Equity Investment in First Philec Solar Corporation ("First Philec Solar")

In fiscal 2007, the Company and First Philippine Electric Corporation ("First Philec") formed First Philec Solar, a jointly owned entity to provide wafer slicing services of silicon ingots to the Company in the Philippines. The Company supplied to First Philec Solar silicon ingots and technology required for slicing silicon. Once manufactured, the Company purchased the completed silicon wafers from First Philec Solar under a six-year wafering supply and sales agreement, which the Company terminated in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. There is no obligation or expectation for the Company to provide additional funding to First Philec Solar.

The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of First Philec Solar since, although the Company and First Philec are both obligated to absorb losses or have the right to receive benefits from First Philec Solar, such variable interests held by the Company do not empower it to direct the activities that most significantly impact First Philec Solar's economic performance. In reaching this determination, the Company considered the significant control exercised by First Philec over the joint venture's Board of Directors, management and daily operations. The Company accounts for its investment in First Philec Solar using the equity method since the Company is able to exercise significant influence over First Philec Solar due to its board positions.

Equity Investment in Woongjin Energy Co., Ltd ("Woongjin Energy")

In fiscal 2006, the Company and Woongjin Holdings Co., Ltd. ("Woongjin") formed Woongjin Energy, a jointly owned entity to manufacture monocrystalline silicon ingots in Korea. The Company may supply polysilicon, services, and technical support required for silicon ingot manufacturing to Woongjin Energy. Once manufactured, the Company may purchase the silicon ingots from Woongjin Energy under a nine-year agreement through 2016. There is no obligation or expectation for the Company to provide additional funding to Woongjin Energy.

During fiscal 2010, Woongjin Energy completed its initial public offering ("IPO") and the sale of 15.9 million new shares of common stock. As a result of the IPO, the Company concluded that Woongjin Energy was no longer a variable interest entity. During fiscal 2011, the Company sold 15.5 million shares of Woongjin Energy on the open market, reducing the Company's percentage equity ownership in Woongjin Energy from 31% to 6%. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company sold its remaining shares of Woongjin Energy on the open market for total proceeds which equaled the remaining investment carrying balance. As a result, the Company's percentage equity ownership and investment carrying balance was reduced to zero.

The Company accounted for its former investment in Woongjin Energy using the equity method as the Company was able to exercise significant influence over Woongjin Energy due to its board position and its consumption of a significant portion of their output.