Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 27, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year The Company reports results on the basis of 52 and 53 week periods and ends its fiscal year on the last Sunday in January.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Semtech Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
Segment Information	Segment Information The Company operates and accounts for its results in one reportable segment. The Company identified five operating segments which aggregate into one reportable segment. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets high performance analog and mixed signal integrated circuits. The Chief Executive Officer has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by guidance regarding segment disclosures. The Company has evaluated its reportable segments subsequent to its acquisition of Gennum and concluded that it continues to operate and account for its results in one reportable segment.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification	Reclassification Certain prior period immaterial amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentation.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments	Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances and investments in highly qualified financial institutions. At various times such amounts are in excess of insured limits. Investments consist of government and corporate obligations and bank time deposits. The Company’s investment policy restricts investments to high credit quality investments with limits on the length to maturity and the amount invested with any one issuer. These investments, especially corporate obligations, are subject to default risk. The Company designates its investments as available for sale (“AFS”). Investments designated as AFS are reported at fair value. The Company records the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive income. Realized gains or losses are recorded in “Interest income and other expense, net” in the consolidated statements of income.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value or the amount that the Company expects to collect on gross customer trade receivables. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The Company generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable as the majority of the Company’s customers are large, well-established companies. Historically, bad debt provisions have been consistent with management’s expectations. If the Company becomes aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations after a sale has occurred, it records an allowance to reduce the net receivable to the amount it reasonably believes it will be able to collect from the customer. For all other customers, the Company recognizes allowances for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment and historical experience. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate or if economic conditions worsen, additional allowances may be required in the future. All of the Company’s accounts receivables are trade-related receivables. See Note 16 for a discussion of concentration risks.
Inventories	Inventories Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market and consist of materials, labor and overhead. The Company determines the cost of inventory by the first-in, first-out method. The Company evaluates inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence. This evaluation includes analyses of sales levels by product and projections of future demand. In order to state the inventory at lower of cost or market, the Company maintains reserves against its inventory. If future demand or market conditions are less favorable than the Company’s projections, a write-down of inventory may be required, and would be reflected in cost of goods sold in the period the revision is made.
Business Combinations	Business Combinations The Company accounts for business combinations at fair value. Goodwill is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the acquisition date net fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. All changes that do not qualify as measurement period adjustments are included in current period earnings. Significant judgment is required to determine the estimated fair value for assets and liabilities acquired and to assigning their respective useful lives. The fair values assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including contingent consideration, are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including available historical information and valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques. The Company employs the income approach to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. The fair value of acquired in-process research and development projects (“IPR&D”) was determined using an income approach or replacement cost approach as applicable. The replacement cost approach was used for IPR&D projects that were considered long-term core investments and were not anticipated to be profitable for a period of time. IPR&D projects which were valued using an income approach, measured the returns attributable to each specific IPR&D project, discounted to present value using a risk-adjusted rate of return, including as appropriate, any tax benefits derived from amortizing the intangible assets for tax purposes. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect consideration of other marketplace participants, and include the amount and timing of future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability), the underlying product life cycles, economic barriers to entry, a brand’s relative market position and the discount rate applied to the cash flows, among others. If actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these estimates, the amounts recorded in the financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company’s cost basis includes certain assets acquired in business combinations that were initially recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the related asset type or term of the operating lease using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and the costs of additions and betterments that increase the useful lives of the assets are capitalized.
Impairment of Goodwill, Other Intangible and Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Goodwill, Other Intangible and Long-Lived Assets Goodwill Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment using a two-step method on an annual basis in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. These indicators would include a significant change in operating performance, the business climate, legal factors, competition, or a planned sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business among other factors. The recoverability of goodwill is measured at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair market value of the reporting unit. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a business unit one level below that operating segment, and it is the level at which management regularly reviews operating results and makes resource allocation decisions. Step one is the identification of potential impairment. This involves comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount, the goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. Step two is the measurement of the amount of impairment loss. This involves comparison of the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The loss recognized cannot exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. Once a goodwill impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying amount becomes the accounting basis. The fair value of goodwill is tested for impairment on a non-recurring basis in the accompanying consolidated financial statements using Level 3 inputs. The Company’s estimate of fair value was primarily determined using the income approach methodology of valuation that includes the discounted cash flow method as well as other generally accepted valuation methodologies to determine the fair value of the assets. Changes in economic and operating conditions that occur after the annual impairment analysis or an interim impairment analysis that impact these assumptions may result in a future goodwill impairment charge. Other Intangibles and Long-lived Assets Finite-lived intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions or technology licenses purchased are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The useful lives of acquisition-related intangible assets represent the point where over 90% of realizable undiscounted cash flows for each intangible asset are recognized. The assigned useful lives are consistent with the Company’s historical experience with similar technology and other intangible assets owned by the Company. The useful life of technology licenses is usually based on the term of the agreement. In-process research and development is recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts or impairment. Upon completion of development, acquired in-process research and development assets are transferred to finite-lived intangible assets and amortized over their useful lives. The Company reviews indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis in conjunction with goodwill or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future discounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate.
Investments	Investments that have original maturities of three months or less are accounted for as cash equivalents. This includes money market funds, time deposits and U.S. government obligations. Temporary and long-term investments consist of government, bank and corporate obligations, and bank time deposits with original maturity dates in excess of three months. Temporary investments have original maturities in excess of three months, but mature within twelve months of the balance sheet date. Long-term investments have original maturities in excess of twelve months. The Company determines the cost of securities sold based on the specific identification method. Realized gains or losses are reported in “Interest income and other expense, net” on the consolidated statements of income. The Company classifies its investments as “available for sale” because it may sell some securities prior to maturity. The Company’s investments are subject to market risk, primarily interest rate and credit risks. The Company’s investments are managed by a limited number of outside professional managers that operate within investment guidelines set by the Company. These guidelines include specified permissible investments, minimum credit quality ratings and maximum average duration restrictions and are intended to limit market risk by restricting the Company’s investments to high quality debt instruments with relatively short-term maturities.
Fair Value Measurement	Fair Value Measurements When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance. The Company uses the following three levels of inputs in determining the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, focusing on the most observable inputs when available: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of assets or liabilities. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis The Company reduces the carrying amounts of its goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets and non-marketable equity security to fair value when held for sale or determined to be impaired. For its investment in equity interests, the Company has not identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of its cost method investment during the last three months of fiscal year 2013. Available-for-sale securities included in Level 2 are valued utilizing inputs obtained from an independent service (the “Service”), which uses quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments rather than direct observations of quoted prices in active markets. The Service gathers observable inputs for all of our fixed income securities from a variety of industry data providers, for example, large custodial institutions and other third-party sources. Once the observable inputs are gathered by the Service, all data points are considered and an average price is determined. The Service’s providers utilize a variety of inputs to determine their quoted prices. The Company reviews and evaluates the values provided by the Service and agrees with the valuation methods and assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments. The Company believes this method provides a reasonable estimate for fair value. The fair value of the interest rate cap at January 27, 2013 is estimated as described in Note 11 and is included in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheet. Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Some of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature. Such financial assets and financial liabilities include: cash and cash equivalents, receivables, net, certain other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued personnel costs, and other current liabilities. The Company’s long-term debt is not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, but is measured at fair value for disclosure purposes. The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated primarily based on quotes (“ask prices”) provided by pricing services generated in a market with insufficient volume to comprise an active market (Level 2 inputs) based on the Company’s debt obligations. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $336.7 million at January 27, 2013.
Interest Rate Derivative	Interest Rate Derivative The Company incurs interest expense through its variable rate debt. To manage its interest rate risk, the Company occasionally hedges the future cash flows of its variable rate debt, principally through interest rate contracts with major financial institutions. Interest rate contracts that meet specific criteria are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The Company’s objective in using interest rate contracts is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company uses interest rate contracts as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate cap contracts involve the receipts of variable amounts from a counterparty when one-month LIBOR exceeds the capped interest rate in exchange for an upfront payment from the Company, capping the Company’s one-month LIBOR floating interest payments at the strike rate on its interest rate cap contract. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The upfront payment the Company paid for the interest rate cap agreement will be amortized out of accumulated other comprehensive income and recorded as interest expense according to the amortization schedule created at inception of the hedging relationship. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. The Company records derivative instruments in the statements of cash flows to operating, investing, or financing activities consistent with the cash flows of the hedged item.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes product revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectability is probable. Recovery of costs associated with product design and engineering services are recognized during the period in which services are performed. The product design and engineering recovery, when recognized, will be reported as a reduction to product development and engineering expense. Historically, these recoveries have not exceeded the cost of the related development efforts. The Company includes revenue related to granted technology licenses as part of “Net sales.” Historically, revenue from these arrangements has not been significant though it is part of its recurring ordinary business. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company entered into a single licensing arrangement that resulted in the recognition of $7.5 million of revenue. The Company defers revenue recognition on shipment of products to certain customers, principally distributors, under agreements which provide for limited pricing credits or return privileges, until these products are sold through to end-users or the return privileges lapse. For sales subject to certain pricing credits or return privileges, the amount of future pricing credits or inventory returns cannot be reasonably estimated given the relatively long period in which a particular product may be held by the customer. Therefore, the Company has concluded that sales to customers under these agreements are not fixed and determinable at the date of the sale and revenue recognition has been deferred. The Company estimates the deferred gross margin on these sales by applying an average gross profit margin to the actual gross sales. The average gross profit margin is calculated for each category of material using standard costs which is expected to approximate actual costs at the date of sale. The estimated deferred gross margins on these sales, where there are no outstanding receivables, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets under the heading of “Deferred revenue.” The Company records a provision for estimated sales returns in the same period as the related revenues are recorded. The Company bases these estimates on historical sales returns and other known factors. Actual returns could be different from Company estimates and current provisions for sales returns and allowances, resulting in future charges to earnings.
Cost of Sales	Cost of Sales Cost of sales includes materials, depreciation on fixed assets used in the manufacturing process, shipping costs, direct labor and overhead.
Sales and Marketing	Sales and Marketing The Company expenses sales and marketing costs, which include advertising costs, as they are incurred.
Product Development and Engineering	Product Development and Engineering Product development and engineering costs are charged to expense as incurred. Recoveries from nonrecurring engineering services are recorded as an offset to product development expense incurred in support of this effort since these activities do not represent an earnings process core to the Company’s business and serve as a mechanism to partially recover development expenditures.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases. The consolidated balance sheets include current and long term prepaid taxes under “Prepaid taxes” and “Other assets” and current and long term liabilities for uncertain tax positions under “Accrued liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities.” As part of the process of preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves estimating the current tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company must assess the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely, it must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent the Company changes its valuation allowance in a period; the change is generally recorded through the tax provision on the consolidated statements of income. The income tax effects of share-based payments are recognized for financial reporting purposes only if such awards are expected to result in a tax deduction. The Company does not recognize a deferred tax asset for an excess tax benefit (that is, a tax benefit that exceeds the tax benefit for the amount of compensation cost recognized for the award for financial reporting purposes) that has not been realized. In determining when an excess tax benefit is realized, the Company has elected to follow the ordering provision of the tax law. For intra-entity differences between the tax basis of an asset in the buyer’s tax jurisdiction and their cost as reported in the consolidated financial statements, the Company does not recognize a deferred tax asset. Income taxes paid on intra-entity profits on assets remaining within the group are accounted for as prepaid taxes.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, unrealized loss on interest rate hedging activities and foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax. This information is provided in our consolidated statements of comprehensive Income.
Translation	Translation The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries that operate in a local currency environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are translated to the U.S. dollar using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income statement items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The translation gains or losses are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Transaction gains and losses resulting from the re-measurement or settlement of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are included in the determination of net income and have not been significant.
Share-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company has various equity award plans (“Plans”) that provide for granting stock based awards to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. The Plans provide for the granting of several available forms of stock compensation. As of January 27, 2013, the Company has granted stock option awards (“Options”) and restricted stock unit awards (“RSU”) under the Plans and has also issued some stock-based compensation outside of any plan, including options and restricted stock awards issued as inducements to join the Company. Share-based Payment Arrangements The Company has various equity award plans that provide for granting stock-based awards to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. The plans provide for the granting of several available forms of stock compensation. As of January 27, 2013, the Company has granted options and restricted stock under the plans and has also issued some stock-based compensation outside of the plans, including options and restricted stock issued as inducements to join the Company. Grant Date Fair Values and Underlying Assumptions; Contractual Terms The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to value options. For awards classified as equity, stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s or director’s requisite service period. For awards classified as liabilities, stock-based compensation cost is measured at fair value at the end of each reporting date until the date of settlement, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s or director’s requisite service period. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility using daily and monthly stock price observations.
Earnings per Share	Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share incorporates the incremental shares issuable, calculated using the treasury stock method, upon the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock.
Contingencies	Contingencies The Company accrues an undiscounted liability for contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and the Company discloses the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for our financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not record liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote. Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, the Company’s evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of our financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then the Company discloses the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events The Company evaluates all events through the issuance date of the consolidated financial statements to determine whether any subsequent events have occurred that require recognition or disclosure.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 27, 2013

The Company reports results on the basis of 52 and 53 week periods and ends its fiscal year on the last Sunday in January.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Semtech Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and accounts have been eliminated.

Segment Information

The Company operates and accounts for its results in one reportable segment. The Company identified five operating segments which aggregate into one reportable segment. The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets high performance analog and mixed signal integrated circuits. The Chief Executive Officer has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by guidance regarding segment disclosures. The Company has evaluated its reportable segments subsequent to its acquisition of Gennum and concluded that it continues to operate and account for its results in one reportable segment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification

Certain prior period immaterial amounts have been reclassified to conform with current period presentation.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash balances and investments in highly qualified financial institutions. At various times such amounts are in excess of insured limits. Investments consist of government and corporate obligations and bank time deposits. The Company’s investment policy restricts investments to high credit quality investments with limits on the length to maturity and the amount invested with any one issuer. These investments, especially corporate obligations, are subject to default risk. The Company designates its investments as available for sale (“AFS”). Investments designated as AFS are reported at fair value. The Company records the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity as a component of comprehensive income. Realized gains or losses are recorded in “Interest income and other expense, net” in the consolidated statements of income.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value or the amount that the Company expects to collect on gross customer trade receivables. The Company evaluates the collectability of its accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. The Company generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable as the majority of the Company’s customers are large, well-established companies. Historically, bad debt provisions have been consistent with management’s expectations. If the Company becomes aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations after a sale has occurred, it records an allowance to reduce the net receivable to the amount it reasonably believes it will be able to collect from the customer. For all other customers, the Company recognizes allowances for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment and historical experience. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate or if economic conditions worsen, additional allowances may be required in the future. All of the Company’s accounts receivables are trade-related receivables. See Note 16 for a discussion of concentration risks.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at lower of cost or market and consist of materials, labor and overhead. The Company determines the cost of inventory by the first-in, first-out method. The Company evaluates inventories for excess quantities and obsolescence. This evaluation includes analyses of sales levels by product and projections of future demand. In order to state the inventory at lower of cost or market, the Company maintains reserves against its inventory. If future demand or market conditions are less favorable than the Company’s projections, a write-down of inventory may be required, and would be reflected in cost of goods sold in the period the revision is made.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations at fair value. Goodwill is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the acquisition date net fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. All changes that do not qualify as measurement period adjustments are included in current period earnings. Significant judgment is required to determine the estimated fair value for assets and liabilities acquired and to assigning their respective useful lives. The fair values assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including contingent consideration, are based on management’s estimates and assumptions, as well as other information compiled by management, including available historical information and valuations that utilize customary valuation procedures and techniques.

The Company employs the income approach to estimate the fair value of intangible assets, which is based on forecasts of the expected future cash flows attributable to the respective assets. The fair value of acquired in-process research and development projects (“IPR&D”) was determined using an income approach or replacement cost approach as applicable. The replacement cost approach was used for IPR&D projects that were considered long-term core investments and were not anticipated to be profitable for a period of time. IPR&D projects which were valued using an income approach, measured the returns attributable to each specific IPR&D project, discounted to present value using a risk-adjusted rate of return, including as appropriate, any tax benefits derived from amortizing the intangible assets for tax purposes. Significant estimates and assumptions inherent in the valuations reflect consideration of other marketplace participants, and include the amount and timing of future cash flows (including expected growth rates and profitability), the underlying product life cycles, economic barriers to entry, a brand’s relative market position and the discount rate applied to the cash flows, among others.

If actual results differ from the estimates and judgments used in these estimates, the amounts recorded in the financial statements could result in a possible impairment of the intangible assets and goodwill, or require acceleration of the amortization expense of finite-lived intangible assets.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company’s cost basis includes certain assets acquired in business combinations that were initially recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of the related asset type or term of the operating lease using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and the costs of additions and betterments that increase the useful lives of the assets are capitalized.

Impairment of Goodwill, Other Intangible and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment using a two-step method on an annual basis in the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. These indicators would include a significant change in operating performance, the business climate, legal factors, competition, or a planned sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business among other factors.

The recoverability of goodwill is measured at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair market value of the reporting unit. A reporting unit is an operating segment or a business unit one level below that operating segment, and it is the level at which management regularly reviews operating results and makes resource allocation decisions.

Step one is the identification of potential impairment. This involves comparing the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount, the goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.

Step two is the measurement of the amount of impairment loss. This involves comparison of the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The loss recognized cannot exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. Once a goodwill impairment loss is recognized, the adjusted carrying amount becomes the accounting basis.

The fair value of goodwill is tested for impairment on a non-recurring basis in the accompanying consolidated financial statements using Level 3 inputs. The Company’s estimate of fair value was primarily determined using the income approach methodology of valuation that includes the discounted cash flow method as well as other generally accepted valuation methodologies to determine the fair value of the assets. Changes in economic and operating conditions that occur after the annual impairment analysis or an interim impairment analysis that impact these assumptions may result in a future goodwill impairment charge.

Other Intangibles and Long-lived Assets

Finite-lived intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions or technology licenses purchased are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The useful lives of acquisition-related intangible assets represent the point where over 90% of realizable undiscounted cash flows for each intangible asset are recognized. The assigned useful lives are consistent with the Company’s historical experience with similar technology and other intangible assets owned by the Company. The useful life of technology licenses is usually based on the term of the agreement.

In-process research and development is recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts or impairment. Upon completion of development, acquired in-process research and development assets are transferred to finite-lived intangible assets and amortized over their useful lives.

The Company reviews indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis in conjunction with goodwill or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future discounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate.

Investments

Investments that have original maturities of three months or less are accounted for as cash equivalents. This includes money market funds, time deposits and U.S. government obligations. Temporary and long-term investments consist of government, bank and corporate obligations, and bank time deposits with original maturity dates in excess of three months. Temporary investments have original maturities in excess of three months, but mature within twelve months of the balance sheet date. Long-term investments have original maturities in excess of twelve months. The Company determines the cost of securities sold based on the specific identification method. Realized gains or losses are reported in “Interest income and other expense, net” on the consolidated statements of income.

The Company classifies its investments as “available for sale” because it may sell some securities prior to maturity. The Company’s investments are subject to market risk, primarily interest rate and credit risks. The Company’s investments are managed by a limited number of outside professional managers that operate within investment guidelines set by the Company. These guidelines include specified permissible investments, minimum credit quality ratings and maximum average duration restrictions and are intended to limit market risk by restricting the Company’s investments to high quality debt instruments with relatively short-term maturities.

Fair Value Measurement

Fair Value Measurements

When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of nonperformance. The Company uses the following three levels of inputs in determining the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, focusing on the most observable inputs when available:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of fair value of assets or liabilities.

To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is disclosed is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The Company reduces the carrying amounts of its goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets and non-marketable equity security to fair value when held for sale or determined to be impaired.

For its investment in equity interests, the Company has not identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of its cost method investment during the last three months of fiscal year 2013.

Available-for-sale securities included in Level 2 are valued utilizing inputs obtained from an independent service (the “Service”), which uses quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments rather than direct observations of quoted prices in active markets. The Service gathers observable inputs for all of our fixed income securities from a variety of industry data providers, for example, large custodial institutions and other third-party sources. Once the observable inputs are gathered by the Service, all data points are considered and an average price is determined. The Service’s providers utilize a variety of inputs to determine their quoted prices. The Company reviews and evaluates the values provided by the Service and agrees with the valuation methods and assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments. The Company believes this method provides a reasonable estimate for fair value.

The fair value of the interest rate cap at January 27, 2013 is estimated as described in Note 11 and is included in “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheet.

Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Some of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature. Such financial assets and financial liabilities include: cash and cash equivalents, receivables, net, certain other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued personnel costs, and other current liabilities.

The Company’s long-term debt is not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, but is measured at fair value for disclosure purposes. The fair value of the Company’s debt is estimated primarily based on quotes (“ask prices”) provided by pricing services generated in a market with insufficient volume to comprise an active market (Level 2 inputs) based on the Company’s debt obligations. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $336.7 million at January 27, 2013.

Interest Rate Derivative

The Company incurs interest expense through its variable rate debt. To manage its interest rate risk, the Company occasionally hedges the future cash flows of its variable rate debt, principally through interest rate contracts with major financial institutions. Interest rate contracts that meet specific criteria are accounted for as cash flow hedges.

The Company’s objective in using interest rate contracts is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company uses interest rate contracts as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate cap contracts involve the receipts of variable amounts from a counterparty when one-month LIBOR exceeds the capped interest rate in exchange for an upfront payment from the Company, capping the Company’s one-month LIBOR floating interest payments at the strike rate on its interest rate cap contract.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The upfront payment the Company paid for the interest rate cap agreement will be amortized out of accumulated other comprehensive income and recorded as interest expense according to the amortization schedule created at inception of the hedging relationship. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. The Company records derivative instruments in the statements of cash flows to operating, investing, or financing activities consistent with the cash flows of the hedged item.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes product revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectability is probable. Recovery of costs associated with product design and engineering services are recognized during the period in which services are performed. The product design and engineering recovery, when recognized, will be reported as a reduction to product development and engineering expense. Historically, these recoveries have not exceeded the cost of the related development efforts.

The Company includes revenue related to granted technology licenses as part of “Net sales.” Historically, revenue from these arrangements has not been significant though it is part of its recurring ordinary business. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company entered into a single licensing arrangement that resulted in the recognition of $7.5 million of revenue.

The Company defers revenue recognition on shipment of products to certain customers, principally distributors, under agreements which provide for limited pricing credits or return privileges, until these products are sold through to end-users or the return privileges lapse. For sales subject to certain pricing credits or return privileges, the amount of future pricing credits or inventory returns cannot be reasonably estimated given the relatively long period in which a particular product may be held by the customer. Therefore, the Company has concluded that sales to customers under these agreements are not fixed and determinable at the date of the sale and revenue recognition has been deferred. The Company estimates the deferred gross margin on these sales by applying an average gross profit margin to the actual gross sales. The average gross profit margin is calculated for each category of material using standard costs which is expected to approximate actual costs at the date of sale. The estimated deferred gross margins on these sales, where there are no outstanding receivables, are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets under the heading of “Deferred revenue.”

The Company records a provision for estimated sales returns in the same period as the related revenues are recorded. The Company bases these estimates on historical sales returns and other known factors. Actual returns could be different from Company estimates and current provisions for sales returns and allowances, resulting in future charges to earnings.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes materials, depreciation on fixed assets used in the manufacturing process, shipping costs, direct labor and overhead.

Sales and Marketing

The Company expenses sales and marketing costs, which include advertising costs, as they are incurred.

Product Development and Engineering

Product development and engineering costs are charged to expense as incurred. Recoveries from nonrecurring engineering services are recorded as an offset to product development expense incurred in support of this effort since these activities do not represent an earnings process core to the Company’s business and serve as a mechanism to partially recover development expenditures.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax bases. The consolidated balance sheets include current and long term prepaid taxes under “Prepaid taxes” and “Other assets” and current and long term liabilities for uncertain tax positions under “Accrued liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities.”

As part of the process of preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves estimating the current tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company must assess the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely, it must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent the Company changes its valuation allowance in a period; the change is generally recorded through the tax provision on the consolidated statements of income.

The income tax effects of share-based payments are recognized for financial reporting purposes only if such awards are expected to result in a tax deduction. The Company does not recognize a deferred tax asset for an excess tax benefit (that is, a tax benefit that exceeds the tax benefit for the amount of compensation cost recognized for the award for financial reporting purposes) that has not been realized. In determining when an excess tax benefit is realized, the Company has elected to follow the ordering provision of the tax law.

For intra-entity differences between the tax basis of an asset in the buyer’s tax jurisdiction and their cost as reported in the consolidated financial statements, the Company does not recognize a deferred tax asset. Income taxes paid on intra-entity profits on assets remaining within the group are accounted for as prepaid taxes.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

Other comprehensive income includes unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, unrealized loss on interest rate hedging activities and foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax. This information is provided in our consolidated statements of comprehensive Income.

Translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries that operate in a local currency environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are translated to the U.S. dollar using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income statement items are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The translation gains or losses are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Transaction gains and losses resulting from the re-measurement or settlement of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are included in the determination of net income and have not been significant.

Share-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has various equity award plans (“Plans”) that provide for granting stock based awards to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. The Plans provide for the granting of several available forms of stock compensation. As of January 27, 2013, the Company has granted stock option awards (“Options”) and restricted stock unit awards (“RSU”) under the Plans and has also issued some stock-based compensation outside of any plan, including options and restricted stock awards issued as inducements to join the Company.

Share-based Payment Arrangements

The Company has various equity award plans that provide for granting stock-based awards to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. The plans provide for the granting of several available forms of stock compensation. As of January 27, 2013, the Company has granted options and restricted stock under the plans and has also issued some stock-based compensation outside of the plans, including options and restricted stock issued as inducements to join the Company.

Grant Date Fair Values and Underlying Assumptions; Contractual Terms

The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model to value options. For awards classified as equity, stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s or director’s requisite service period. For awards classified as liabilities, stock-based compensation cost is measured at fair value at the end of each reporting date until the date of settlement, and is recognized as an expense over the employee’s or director’s requisite service period. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility using daily and monthly stock price observations.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per common share incorporates the incremental shares issuable, calculated using the treasury stock method, upon the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock.

Contingencies

The Company accrues an undiscounted liability for contingencies where the incurrence of a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and the Company discloses the amount accrued and the amount of a reasonably possible loss in excess of the amount accrued, if such disclosure is necessary for our financial statements not to be misleading. The Company does not record liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated, or when the liability is believed to be only reasonably possible or remote.

Because litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, the Company’s evaluation of legal proceedings often involves a series of complex assessments by management about future events and can rely heavily on estimates and assumptions. If the assessments indicate that loss contingencies that could be material to any one of our financial statements are not probable, but are reasonably possible, or are probable, but cannot be estimated, then the Company discloses the nature of the loss contingencies, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss or a statement that such loss is not reasonably estimable.

Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates all events through the issuance date of the consolidated financial statements to determine whether any subsequent events have occurred that require recognition or disclosure.