Note 6 - Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

12 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2012

Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Text Block]

6. Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

Investments in unconsolidated entities over which the company has significant influence over the investees’ operating and financing activities are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Investments in affiliates in which the company does not have such ability are accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

In 2011, the company invested $6.0 million in certain preferred stock of Shocking Technologies, Inc. (“Shocking”). Shocking is an early-stage company which is developing circuit protection products for the computer and telecommunications markets. At December 31, 2011, the company accounted for its investment at cost as it did not have significant influence over financing or operating activities. Total investment ownership in Shocking was $6.0 million or approximately 6.1% at December 31, 2011.

In April 2012, the company invested an additional $10.0 million in certain common and preferred stock of Shocking, increasing its investment interest to $16.0 million or approximately 18.4%. In addition, in late-November 2012, the company provided an additional $2.0 million short-term secured loan to Shocking and determined that the company then had the ability to exert significant influence. As a result, the company began accounting for the investment in Shocking using the equity method. In accordance with ASC 323, the company retroactively recorded its proportional share of Shocking's operating losses, which amounted to approximately $4.0 million in 2012. The proportional amount of operating losses in 2011 was not material.

Impairment

During the fourth quarter of 2012, the company concluded that there was an other-than-temporary impairment which existed for its investment in Shocking. The company engaged a third-party valuation firm to assist in developing the fair value of the investment in Shocking. Based on the then fair value, the company determined that there was an impairment of approximately $3.3 million which was recorded as a non-operating impairment and equity loss of unconsolidated affiliate in the Consolidated Statements of Net Income.

The effect of retroactively recording the company’s proportional share of Shocking's operating losses (including the impact of differences in the company’s equity in Shocking’s net assets, which is attributable to amortizable intangible assets) for the quarterly periods in 2012 was as follows:

	1st Quarter		2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter		Total 2012
Equity-method losses	$	525	$	1,033	$	1,965	$	488	$	4,011
Impairment charge		—		—		—		3,323		3,323
Total	$	525	$	1,033	$	1,965	$	3,811	$	7,334

The selected quarterly financial data shown in Note 19 has been restated for the first three quarters of 2012 to show the impact of the above retroactive application of the equity method of accounting for Shocking.

The carrying value of the Shocking investment at December 29, 2012 represents the company's best estimate of the fair value of its investment as of that date. Shocking is currently seeking additional funding, and if these fund-raising efforts are not successful, further impairment of this investment may occur.