UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

x                               ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006

OR

o                                  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                  

Commission file number 1-10658

Micron Technology, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

 

75-1618004

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

8000 S. Federal Way, Boise, Idaho

 

83716-9632

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

(208) 368-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $.10 per share

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer x

 

Accelerated Filer o

 

Non-Accelerated Filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing price of such stock on March 2, 2006, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $6.5 billion. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of November 1, 2006, was 754,409,424.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for registrant’s 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 5, 2006, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 




 

PART I

Item 1.  Business

The following discussion contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as those made in “Products” regarding the Company’s expectation regarding sales of DDR and DDR2 products in 2007, continued growth in the NAND Flash and CMOS image sensor markets, significant growth in the sales for NAND Flash memory and CMOS image sensors in future periods and the introduction of new products in 2007; and in “Manufacturing” regarding the Company’s expectation to transition smaller line-width process technologies in 2007.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the Company’s historical results and those discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those identified in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.

Corporate Information

Micron Technology, Inc., and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1978.  The Company’s executive offices are located at 8000 South Federal Way, Boise, Idaho 83716-9632 and its telephone number is (208) 368-4000.  Information about the Company is available on the internet at www.micron.com.  Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to these reports, are available through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Also available on the Company’s website are its:  Corporate Governance Guidelines, Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Audit Committee Charter and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.  Any amendments or waivers of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will also be posted on the Company’s website at www.micron.com within four business days of the amendment or waiver.  Copies of these documents are available to shareholders upon request.  Information contained or referenced on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference and does not form a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  In February 2006, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer certified to the New York Stock Exchange that he was not aware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards.

Overview

The Company is an industry leading, global manufacturer and marketer of semiconductor devices, principally DRAM and NAND Flash memory and CMOS image sensors.  The Company’s products are offered in a wide variety of package and configuration options, architectures and performance characteristics tailored to meet application and customer needs.  Individual devices take advantage of the Company’s advanced silicon processing technology and manufacturing expertise.  The Company aims to continually introduce new generations of products that offer lower costs per unit and improved performance characteristics.  The Company operates in two segments, Memory and Imaging.

Memory:  The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash, which are key components used in a broad array of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, flash memory cards, USB storage devices, MP3 players and other consumer electronics products.  The Company sells primarily to original equipment manufacturers, distributors and retailers located around the world.

In 2006, the Company took several steps towards establishing a significant presence in the NAND Flash market.  In January 2006, the Company partnered with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) to form a NAND Flash manufacturing joint venture, IM Flash Technologies, LLC (“IMFT”), which is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company.  IMFT initiated an accelerated build-out and production ramp at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities that are expected to greatly increase the Company’s production of NAND Flash in 2007.  Furthering its efforts to increase its share of the NAND market, in June 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”), a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  The acquisition of Lexar broadened the Company’s NAND product offering, enhanced the Company’s retail presence and strengthened its portfolio of intellectual property.

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Imaging: The Imaging segment’s primary products are CMOS image sensors, which are key components used in a broad array of electronic applications, including mobile phones, digital still cameras, webcams and other consumer, security and automotive applications.  The Company’s primary customers are camera module integrators located around the world.  During 2006, the Company introduced several new leading-edge Imaging products and significantly increased its Imaging production, enabling it to become a market leader for CMOS image sensors.

Products

Memory:  The Company’s Memory segment has two primary product types:  DRAM and NAND Flash.  Sales of Memory products were 86%, 94% and 98% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Dynamic Random Access Memory (“DRAM”):  DRAM products are high-density, low-cost-per-bit, random access memory devices that provide high-speed data storage and retrieval.  DRAM products were 76%, 87% and 92% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The Company offers DRAM products with a variety of performance, pricing and other characteristics.  In recent years, the Company has significantly increased its production and sales of specialty memory products such as pseudo-static RAM, Mobile DRAM and Reduced Latency DRAM.  Specialty memory products are generally targeted for networking, server and mobile applications that require specific performance characteristics such as low power and low latency.  The transition to specialty memory products has reduced the Company’s concentration on standardized, high-volume products sold for use as main memory in computers such as Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM (“DDR”) and DDR2.

DDR and DDR2:  DDR and DDR2 are standardized, high-density, high-volume, DRAM products that are sold primarily for use as main system memory in computers.  DDR and DDR2 products offer high speed and high bandwidth at a relatively low cost compared to other semiconductor memory products.  DDR products were 26%, 44% and 57% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  DDR2 products were 25% and 14% the Company’s total net sales in 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The Company expects that DDR and DDR2 products will continue to decrease as a percentage of the Company’s total net sales in 2007 due to significant increases in sales of the Company’s other products.

In response to changes in the DRAM market, the Company has broadened its DDR and DDR2 product offerings in recent years.  The Company offers DDR products in 128 megabit (“Mb”), 256 Mb, 512 Mb and 1 gigabit (“Gb”) densities.  The Company also offers 256 Mb, 512 Mb, 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR2 products.  The Company expects that these densities will be necessary to meet future customer demands for a broad array of products.  The Company also offers its DDR and DDR2 products in multiple configurations, speeds and package types.  In September 2006, the Company began sampling a 1 Gb DDR3 device.

Synchronous DRAM (“SDRAM”):  In 2006 and 2005, SDRAM was primarily used in networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment and computer peripherals as well as memory upgrades to legacy computers.  Sales of SDRAM products were 16%, 20% and 31% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  SDRAM sales have declined as personal computer manufacturers have transitioned to DDR and DDR2 products.  The decline has been partially offset by increased usage of SDRAM products in other applications.  The Company offers 64 Mb, 128 Mb, 256 Mb and 512 Mb SDRAM products.

Pseudo-static RAM (“PSRAM”):  PSRAM products, marketed by the Company under the proprietary brand name CellularRAM™, are DRAM products with an SRAM-like interface.  PSRAM combines the minimal power consumption of SRAM with a much lower cost-per-bit to provide an economical alternative to SRAM.  PSRAM products are used primarily in cellular phone applications.  The Company offers PSRAM products in 16 Mb, 32 Mb, 64 Mb and 128 Mb densities.  The Company is the market leader in sales of PSRAM products.  Sales of PSRAM products were 8% and 7% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Mobile DRAM:  Mobile DRAM products are specialty DRAM memory devices designed for applications that demand minimal power consumption, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, GPS devices, digital still cameras and other handheld electronic devices.  The Company sells SDRAM and DDR mobile memory products in 64 Mb, 128 Mb, 256 Mb and 512 Mb densities.  The Company’s mobile DRAM products feature its proprietary Endur-IC™ technology, which the Company believes provides distinct advantages to its customers in terms of low power, high quality and high reliability.

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Reduced Latency DRAM (“RLDRAM”):  RLDRAM products are low-latency DRAM memory devices with high clock rates targeted at network applications.  The Company offers RLDRAM in 256 Mb and 288 Mb densities and expects to begin shipping 576 Mb densities in 2007.

NAND Flash Memory:  Flash memory products are electrically re-writeable, non-volatile semiconductor devices that retain memory content when power is turned off.  The Company’s Flash efforts are concentrated on NAND Flash (“NAND”) devices which use semiconductor technology similar to DRAM.  NAND is ideal for mass-storage devices due to its faster erase and write times, higher density, and lower cost per bit than NOR Flash, which is the primary competing Flash architecture.  The market for NAND products has grown rapidly and the Company expects it to continue to grow due to demand for removable and embedded storage devices.  Removable storage devices such as USB and Flash memory cards are used with applications such as personal computers, digital still cameras, MP3 players and mobile phones.  Embedded NAND-based storage devices are also utilized in mobile phones and other personal and consumer applications.

NAND and DRAM share common manufacturing processes, enabling the Company to leverage its product and process technologies and manufacturing infrastructure.  The Company’s NAND designs feature a small cell structure that allows for higher densities for demanding applications.  In 2006, the Company offered NAND products in 1 Gb, 2 Gb, 4 Gb and 8 Gb densities and plans to introduce 16 Gb densities in 2007.  In 2006, the Company’s products were manufactured primarily using 72nm and 90nm line-width process technology and began sampling products manufactured using 50nm line-width process technology.  In addition, in 2006, the Company began sampling Multi-Level Cell (“MLC”) NAND products, which double the bit density compared to single level cell products.  NAND sales were 6% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006.  The Company expects sales of NAND to increase significantly in 2007 and 2008 as it ramps production from two 300mm facilities dedicated to NAND production and recognizes sales by its Lexar subsidiary.

As a result of its acquisition of Lexar, the Company began selling in the fourth quarter of 2006 high-performance digital media products and other flash-based storage products through retail and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) channels.  The Company’s digital media products include a variety of Flash memory cards with a range of speeds, capacities and value-added features.  The Company’s digital media products also include its JumpDrive™ products, which are high-speed, portable USB flash drives for consumer applications that serve a variety of uses, including floppy disk replacement, digital media accessories and a variety of connectivity products that link media products to PCs and other electronic host devices.  The Company also licenses its patented controller technology to other companies.

The Company offers Flash memory cards in all major media formats currently used by digital cameras and other electronic host devices, including:  CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Secure Digital Card and the xD Picture Card.  Many of CompactFlash, Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO products sold by the Company incorporate its patented controller technology.  Other products, including Secure Digital Card Flash memory cards and some JumpDrive products, incorporate third party controllers.  The Company also resells Flash memory products that are purchased from suppliers.  The Company offers Flash memory cards in a variety of speeds and capacities.  The Company also offers more advanced features in some Flash media card products that provide additional performance advantages, such as Write Acceleration, or WA technology, the ActiveMemory™ System and LockTight™ CompactFlash.  The Company sells products under its Lexar™ brand and also manufactures products that are sold under other brand names.  The Company has a multi-year agreement with Eastman Kodak to sell digital media products under the Kodak brand name.

Imaging: Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensors are the primary product of the Company’s Imaging segment.  CMOS image sensors are semiconductor devices that capture and process images into pictures or video for a variety of consumer and industrial applications.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are used in products such as cellular phone cameras, digital still cameras, pill cameras for medical use, and in automotive and other emerging applications.  The Company offers image sensors in a range of pixel resolutions from its VGA (video graphics array) products to its higher resolution 3.1-megapixel products.  The Company has begun sampling a 5-megapixel sensor designed for use in digital still cameras and camera phones that it expects to begin shipping in commercial volumes in 2007.  In 2006, the Company introduced an 8-megapixel sensor featuring a leading-edge pixel size of 1.75 square microns.  Image sensors are sold either as individual components or combined with integrated circuitry to create complete camera system-on-a-chip (“SOC”) solutions.

The Company’s CMOS image sensors incorporating its DigitalClarity™ technology offered many advantages over other CMOS image sensors and charge-coupled device (“CCD”) sensors in 2006, which enabled the Company to become the leader in CMOS image sensor market share.  The Company’s DigitalClarity™ technology features “active pixels” enabling better sensor performance that produces higher-quality images at faster frame rates.  The Company’s low-leakage DRAM processes are particularly well-suited for the manufacture of CMOS image sensors.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors consume substantially less power than CCD devices, a critical advantage in battery-dependent portable device applications where most

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image sensors are used.  By combining all camera functions on a single chip, from the capture of photons to the output of digital bits, CMOS image sensors reduce the part-count of a digital camera system, which in turn increases reliability, eases miniaturization, and enables on-chip programming of frame size, windowing, exposure and other camera parameters.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are also capable of producing high-quality images in low-light conditions.  In 2006, the Company’s CMOS image sensors’ active-pixel design architecture enabled the Company to achieve CMOS imager performance that was comparable to high-end CCD sensors and better than that of its competitor’s CMOS image sensors.

Sales of Imaging products were 14%, 6% and 2% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  The Company expects its sales of CMOS image sensors to continue to grow in 2007 due to strong demand and increases in the allocation of manufacturing capacity.  The overall market for image sensors is expected to increase significantly over the next several years due to the growth forecasted for applications such as phone cameras and digital still cameras.  Additionally, CMOS image sensors are expected to capture an increasing percentage of the overall image sensor market.

Manufacturing

The Company’s manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore.  The Company’s manufacturing facilities generally operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Semiconductor manufacturing is extremely capital intensive, requiring large investments in sophisticated facilities and equipment.  Most semiconductor equipment must be replaced every three to five years with increasingly advanced equipment.

The Company’s process for manufacturing semiconductor products is complex, involving a number of precise steps, including wafer fabrication, assembly and test.  Efficient production of semiconductor products requires utilization of advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques and effective deployment of these techniques across multiple facilities.  The primary determinants of manufacturing cost are die size, number of mask layers, number of fabrication steps and number of good die produced on each wafer.  Other factors that contribute to manufacturing costs are wafer size, cost and sophistication of manufacturing equipment, equipment utilization, process complexity, cost of raw materials, labor productivity, package type and cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.  The Company is continuously enhancing production processes, reducing die sizes and transitioning to higher density products.  In 2006, the Company manufactured most of its DRAM products using its 95 nanometer (“nm”) and 110nm line-width process technology and began transferring production to 78nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects to continue to transfer more of its DRAM production to 78nm and lower line-width process technology in 2007.  In 2006, the Company manufactured most of its NAND Flash memory products using its 72nm and 90nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects to begin transferring its NAND production to 50nm line-width process technology in 2007.

Wafer fabrication occurs in a highly controlled, clean environment to minimize dust and other yield- and quality-limiting contaminants.  Despite stringent manufacturing controls, dust particles, equipment errors, minute impurities in materials, defects in photomasks and circuit design marginalities or defects can lead to wafers being scrapped and individual circuits being nonfunctional.  Success of the Company’s manufacturing operations depends largely on minimizing defects and thereby maximizing yield of high-quality circuits.  In this regard, the Company employs rigorous quality controls throughout the manufacturing, screening and testing processes.  The Company is able to recover many nonstandard devices by testing and grading them to their highest level of functionality.

After fabrication, silicon wafers are separated into individual die.  The Company sells semiconductor products in both packaged and unpackaged (i.e. “bare die”) forms.  For packaged products, functional die are sorted, connected to external leads and encapsulated in plastic packages.  The Company assembles products in a variety of packages, including TSOP (thin small outline package), TQFP (thin quad flat package) and FBGA (fine pitch ball grid array).  Bare die products address customer requirements for smaller form factors and higher memory densities and provide superior flexibility.  Bare die products are used in packaging technologies such as systems-in-a-package (SIPs) and multi-chip packages (MCPs), which reduce the board area required.

The Company tests its products at various stages in the manufacturing process, performs high temperature burn-in on finished products and conducts numerous quality control inspections throughout the entire production flow.  In addition, the Company uses its proprietary AMBYX™ line of intelligent test and burn-in systems to perform simultaneous circuit tests of DRAM die during the burn-in process, capturing quality and reliability data and reducing testing time and cost.

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The Company assembles a significant portion of its memory products into memory modules.  Memory modules consist of an array of memory components attached to printed circuit boards (“PCBs”) that insert directly into computer systems or other electronic devices.  The Company’s Lexar subsidiary contracts with an independent foundry and assembly and testing organizations to manufacture flash media products such as memory cards and USB devices.

In 2006, the Company significantly increased its 300mm wafer production.  In 2007, the Company plans to continue increasing its 300mm wafer manufacturing capacity as its IMFT subsidiary ramps NAND Flash production at two 300mm facilities and the Company’s consolidated TECH joint venture converts its DRAM production to 300mm wafers.

In recent years the Company has produced an increasingly broad portfolio of products, which enhances the Company’s ability to allocate resources to its most profitable products but increases the complexity of the manufacturing process.  Although new product lines such as NAND Flash, CMOS image sensors and specialty memory can be manufactured using processes that are very similar to the processes for the Company’s predominant DRAM products, frequent conversions to new products and the allocation of manufacturing capacity to more complex, smaller-volume parts can affect the Company’s cost efficiency.  The Company’s ability to competitively manufacture many of these products on existing 200mm lines extends the useful life of this equipment.

IM Flash Technologies, LLC (“IMFT”):  IMFT, which began operations on January 6, 2006, is a joint venture between the Company and Intel.  IMFT manufactures NAND Flash memory products pursuant to NAND Flash designs developed by the Company and Intel and licensed to the Company.  The parties share the output of IMFT generally in proportion to their investment in IMFT.  The Company owned a 51% interest in IMFT at August 31, 2006.  IMFT’s financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Joint Ventures — IM Flash Technologies, LLC.”)

TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”):  TECH is a memory manufacturing joint venture in Singapore among Micron Technology, Inc., the Singapore Economic Development Board, Canon Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company.  The Company owned an approximate 43% interest in TECH at August 31, 2006.  TECH’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities use the Company’s product and process technology.  Subject to specific terms and conditions, the Company has agreed to purchase all of the products manufactured by TECH.  TECH supplied approximately 25%, 25% and 30% of the total megabits of memory produced by the Company in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  TECH’s financial results were included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company beginning in the third quarter of 2006.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Joint Ventures — TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  In the third quarter of 2006, the Company formed a joint venture, MP Mask, with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”) to produce photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors.  The Company contributed its then existing reticle manufacturing operation to the venture and sold a 49.99% interest in MP Mask to Photronics.  The Company and Photronics also entered into supply arrangements wherein the Company is expected to purchase a substantial majority of the reticles produced by MP Mask.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company.

Availability of Raw Materials

The Company’s production processes require raw materials that meet exacting standards, including several that are customized for, or unique to, the Company.  The Company generally has multiple sources of supply; however, only a limited number of suppliers are capable of delivering certain raw materials that meet the Company’s standards.  Various factors could reduce the availability of raw materials such as silicon wafers, photomasks, chemicals, gases, lead frames, molding compound and other materials.  In addition, any transportation problems could delay the Company’s receipt of raw materials.  Although raw materials shortages or transportation problems have not interrupted the Company’s operations in the past, shortages may occur from time to time in the future.  Also, lead times for the supply of raw materials have been extended in the past.  If the Company’s supply of raw materials is interrupted, or lead times are extended, results of operations could be adversely affected.

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Marketing and Customers

The Company’s products are sold into computing and consumer, networking and telecommunications, and imaging markets.  Approximately 70% of the Company’s net sales for 2006 were to the computing market, including desktop PCs, notebooks, servers and workstations.  Sales to Hewlett-Packard Company exceeded 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2006.  Sales to both Hewlett-Packard Company and Dell Computer Corporation exceeded 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2005 and 2004, and aggregated 23% and 27% of the Company’s net sales in 2005 and 2004, respectively.

The Company markets its semiconductor products primarily through its own direct sales force.  The Company maintains inventory at locations in close proximity to certain key customers to facilitate rapid delivery of product shipments.  The Company’s products are also offered through independent sales representatives and distributors.  Lexar sells NAND Flash memory through retail and OEM channels and Crucial Technology offers its products through the Company’s web-based customer direct sales division.  The Company’s products are offered under the Micron, Lexar, SpecTek and Crucial brand names, and under other private labels.  The Company maintains sales offices in all of its primary markets around the world.  Independent sales representatives obtain orders subject to final acceptance by the Company and are compensated on a commission basis.  The Company makes shipments against these orders directly to the customer.  Distributors carry the Company’s products in inventory and typically sell a variety of other semiconductor products, including competitors’ products.

The Company offers products designed to meet the diverse needs of computing, server, automotive, networking, security, commercial/industrial, consumer electronics, medical and mobile applications.  Many of the Company’s customers require a thorough review or qualification of semiconductor products, which may take several months.  As the Company further diversifies its product lines and reduces the die sizes of existing products, more products become subject to qualification which may delay volume introduction of specific devices by the Company.

Backlog

Volatile industry conditions make customers reluctant to enter into long-term, fixed-price contracts.  Accordingly, new order volumes for the Company’s semiconductor products fluctuate significantly.  Orders are typically accepted with acknowledgment that the terms may be adjusted to reflect market conditions at the date of shipment.  Customers can change delivery schedules or cancel orders without significant penalty.  For these reasons, the Company does not believe that its order backlog as of any particular date is a reliable indicator of actual sales for any succeeding period.

Product Warranty

Because the design and manufacturing process for semiconductor products is highly complex, it is possible that the Company may produce products that do not comply with customer specifications, contain defects or are otherwise incompatible with end uses.  In accordance with industry practice, the Company generally provides a limited warranty that its products are in compliance with Company specifications existing at the time of delivery.  Under the Company’s general terms and conditions of sale, liability for certain failures of product during a stated warranty period is usually limited to repair or replacement of defective items or return of, or a credit with respect to, amounts paid for such items.  Under certain circumstances the Company may provide more extensive limited warranty coverage and general legal principles may impose more extensive liability than that provided under the Company’s general terms and conditions.

Competition

The Company faces intense competition in the semiconductor memory markets from a number of companies, including Elpida Memory, Inc.; Hynix Semiconductor Inc.; Qimonda AG ADS; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and emerging companies in Taiwan and China.  Some of the Company’s competitors are large corporations or conglomerates that may have greater resources to withstand downturns in the semiconductor markets in which the Company competes, invest in technology and capitalize on growth opportunities.  The Company’s competitors seek to increase silicon capacity, improve yields, reduce die size and minimize mask levels in their product designs.  These factors have significantly increased worldwide supply and put downward pressure on prices.

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The Company faces competition in the image sensor market from a number of suppliers of CMOS image sensors including MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd.; OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sony Corporation; STMicroelectronics NV; Toshiba Corporation and from a number of suppliers of CCD image sensors including Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation and Sony Corporation.  In recent periods, a number of new companies have entered the CMOS image sensor market.  Competitors include many large domestic and international companies that may have greater presence in key markets, better access to certain customer bases, greater name recognition and more established strategic and financial relationships than the Company.

Research and Development

To compete in the semiconductor memory industry, the Company must continue to develop technologically advanced products and processes.  The Company believes that expansion of its semiconductor product offerings is necessary to meet expected market demand for specific memory and imaging solutions.  The Company has several product design centers around the world, the largest located at its corporate headquarters in Boise, Idaho.  In addition, the Company develops leading edge photolithography mask technology at its MP Mask joint venture facility in Boise.

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses vary primarily with the number of development wafers processed, the cost of advanced equipment dedicated to new product and process development, and personnel costs.  Because of the lead times necessary to manufacture its products, the Company typically begins to process wafers before completion of performance and reliability testing.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.  R&D expenses can vary significantly depending on the timing of product qualification.  The Company and Intel share R&D process and design costs for NAND Flash equally.  Product development costs are recorded as R&D expense.

The Company’s process technology R&D efforts are focused primarily on development of successively smaller line-width process technologies which are designed to facilitate the Company’s transition to next generation memory products and CMOS image sensors.  Additional process technology R&D efforts focus on specialty memory products (including PSRAM, mobile SDRAM and reduced latency DRAM) and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including multi-level cell technology), CMOS image sensors and specialty memory products.  The Company’s R&D expenses were $656 million, $604 million and $755 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Geographic Information

Sales to customers outside the United States totaled $3.6 billion for 2006 and included $1.0 billion in sales to China, $719 million in sales to Europe, $494 million in sales to Japan and $1.1 billion in sales to the rest of the Asia Pacific region, excluding China and Japan.  International sales totaled $3.2 billion for 2005 and $2.6 billion for 2004.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company had net property, plant and equipment of $4.4 billion in the United States, $867 million in Singapore, $269 million in Japan, $318 million in Italy and $12 million in other countries.

Patents and Licenses

In recent years, the Company has been recognized as a leader in volume and quality of patents issued.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company owned approximately 14,500 U.S. patents and 1,500 foreign patents.  In addition, the Company has numerous U.S. and foreign patent applications pending.  The Company’s patents have terms expiring through 2025.

The Company has a number of patent and intellectual property license agreements.  Some of these license agreements require the Company to make one time or periodic payments.  The Company may need to obtain additional patent licenses or renew existing license agreements in the future.  The Company is unable to predict whether these license agreements can be obtained or renewed on acceptable terms.

 

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Employees

As of August 31, 2006, the Company had approximately 23,500 employees, including approximately 14,100 in the United States, 5,500 in Singapore, 2,000 in Italy, 1,400 in Japan and 300 in the United Kingdom.  The Company’s employees include 2,400 employees in its TECH joint venture that are located in Singapore and 800 employees in its IMFT joint venture that are located in the United States.  The Company added approximately 300 employees from its acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc. in the fourth quarter of 2006.  The Company’s employees in Italy are represented by labor organizations that have entered into national and local labor contracts with the Company.  The Company’s employment levels can vary depending on market conditions and the level of the Company’s production, research and product and process development.  Many of the Company’s employees are highly skilled, and the Company’s continued success depends in part upon its ability to attract and retain such employees.  The loss of key Company personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Environmental Compliance

Government regulations impose various environmental controls on raw materials and discharges, emissions and solid wastes from the Company’s manufacturing processes.  In 2006, the Company’s wafer fabrication facilities continued to conform to the requirements of ISO 14001 certification.  To continue certification, the Company met annual requirements in environmental policy, compliance, planning, management, structure and responsibility, training, communication, document control, operational control, emergency preparedness and response, record keeping and management review.  While the Company has not experienced any materially adverse effects on its operations from environmental regulations, changes in the regulations could necessitate additional capital expenditures, modification of operations or other compliance actions.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Officers of the Company are appointed annually by the Board of Directors.  Directors of the Company are elected annually by the shareholders of the Company.  Any directors appointed by the Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the Board serve until the next election by the shareholders.  All officers and directors serve until their successors are duly chosen or elected and qualified, except in the case of earlier death, resignation or removal.

As of August 31, 2006, the following executive officers and directors of the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Mark W. Adams

 

42

 

Vice President of Digital Media Products

Steven R. Appleton

 

46

 

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Kipp A. Bedard

 

47

 

Vice President of Investor Relations

Jan du Preez

 

49

 

Vice President of Memory Marketing

D. Mark Durcan

 

45

 

Chief Operating Officer

Robert J. Gove

 

53

 

Vice President of Imaging Group

Jay L. Hawkins

 

46

 

Vice President of Operations

Roderic W. Lewis

 

51

 

Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Michael W. Sadler

 

49

 

Vice President of Worldwide Sales

Brian J. Shields

 

45

 

Vice President of Worldwide Wafer Fabrication

Brian M. Shirley

 

37

 

Vice President Memory

Wilbur G. Stover, Jr.

 

53

 

Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer

Teruaki Aoki

 

65

 

Director

James W. Bagley

 

67

 

Director

Mercedes Johnson

 

52

 

Director

Robert A. Lothrop

 

80

 

Director

Lawrence N. Mondry

 

46

 

Director

Gordon C. Smith

 

77

 

Director

Robert E. Switz

 

60

 

Director

William P. Weber

 

66

 

Director

 

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Mark W. Adams joined the Company in June 2006.  From January 2006 until he joined the Company, Mr. Adams was the Chief Operating Officer of Lexar Media, Inc.  Mr. Adams served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Creative Labs, Inc. from December 2002 to January 2006.  From March 2000 to September 2002, Mr. Adams was the Chief Executive Officer of Coresma, Inc.  Mr. Adams holds a BA in Economics from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Steven R. Appleton joined the Company in February 1983 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Appleton first became an officer of the Company in August 1989 and has served in various officer positions with the Company since that time.  From April 1991 until July 1992 and since May 1994, Mr. Appleton has served on the Company’s Board of Directors.  Since September 1994, Mr. Appleton has served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  Mr. Appleton is a member of the Board of Directors of National Semiconductor Corporation.  Mr. Appleton holds a BA in Business Management from Boise State University.

Kipp A. Bedard joined the Company in November 1983 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Bedard first became an officer of the Company in April 1990 and has served in various officer positions since that time.  Since January 1994, Mr. Bedard has served as Vice President of Investor Relations for the Company.  Mr. Bedard holds a BBA in Accounting from Boise State University.

Jan du Preez joined the Company in June 2002 as an officer and has served in various officer positions since that time.  Mr. du Preez served as the President of Infineon Technologies North America Corporation from August 2000 until he joined the Company in June 2002.  From October 1996 through July 2000, Mr. du Preez served as the Vice President of Memory Products Group for Infineon Technologies North America Corporation (formerly Siemens Semiconductors).  Mr. du Preez holds Bachelors Degrees in Public Administration and Business Economics from the University of Pretoria and a Masters Degree in Commerce from Rand University.

D. Mark Durcan joined the Company in June 1984 and has served in various technical positions with the Company and its subsidiaries since that time.  Mr. Durcan was appointed Chief Operating Officer in February 2006.  Mr. Durcan has been an officer of the Company since 1996.  Mr. Durcan holds a BS and MChE in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.

Robert J. Gove joined the Company in March 1999 as Senior Director of Engineering and has served in various positions with the Company.  In March 2002, he was appointed Vice President of Imaging.  Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Gove served as Vice President, Engineering, of Equator Technologies, Inc.  Dr. Gove holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Jay L. Hawkins joined the Company in March 1984 and has served in various manufacturing positions for the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Hawkins served as Vice President, Manufacturing Administration from February 1996 through June 1997, at which time he became Vice President of Operations.  Mr. Hawkins holds a BBA in Marketing from Boise State University.

Roderic W. Lewis joined the Company in August 1991 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Lewis has served as Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since July 1996.  Mr. Lewis holds a BA in Economics and Asian Studies from Brigham Young University and a JD from Columbia University School of Law.

Michael W. Sadler joined the Company in September 1992 as a Regional Sales Manager and has held various sales and marketing positions since that time.  Mr. Sadler became an officer of the Company in July 1997 and has served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales since November 2001.  Mr. Sadler holds a BS in Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.

Brian J. Shields joined the Company in November 1996 and has served in various operational positions with the Company.  Mr. Shields first became an officer of the Company in March 2003.

Brian M. Shirley joined the Company in August 1992 and has served in various technical positions with the Company.  Mr. Shirley became an officer of the Company in February 2006.  Mr. Shirley holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

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Wilbur G. Stover, Jr. joined the Company in June 1989 and has served in various financial positions with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Since September 1994, Mr. Stover has served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Stover holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University.

Teruaki Aoki is President of Sony University and Managing Director of Sony Foundation for Education.  Dr. Aoki has been associated with Sony since 1970 and has held various executive positions, including Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Sony Corporation as well as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Electronics, a U.S. subsidiary.  Dr. Aoki holds a Ph.D. in Material Sciences from Northwestern University as well as a BS in Applied Physics from the University of Tokyo.  He was elected as an IEEE Fellow in 2003 and serves as Advisory Board Member of Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University.

James W. Bagley became the Executive Chairman of Lam Research Corporation (“Lam”), a supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, in June 2005.  From August 1997 through June 2005, Mr. Bagley served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lam.  Mr. Bagley is a member of the Board of Directors of Teradyne, Inc.  He has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since June 1996.  Mr. Bagley holds a MS and BS in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University.  Mr. Bagley serves as the presiding director of executive sessions of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Mercedes Johnson has served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avago Technologies Limited, a semiconductor company, since December 2005.  Prior to that, she served as the Senior Vice President, Finance, of Lam from June 2004 to January 2005 and as Lam’s Chief Financial Officer from May 1997 to May 2004.  Before joining Lam, Ms. Johnson spent 10 years with Applied Materials, Inc., where she served in various senior financial management positions, including vice president and worldwide operations controller.  Ms. Johnson holds a degree in accounting from the University of Buenos Aires and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Intersil Corporation.  Ms. Johnson is the Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee.

Robert A. Lothrop served as Senior Vice President of J.R. Simplot Company, an agribusiness company, from January 1986 until his retirement in January 1991.  From August 1986 until July 1992 and since May 1994, Mr. Lothrop has served on the Board of Directors of the Company.  Mr. Lothrop holds a BS in Engineering from the University of Idaho.

Lawrence N. Mondry served as the Chief Executive Officer of CompUSA Inc. from November 2003 to May 2006.  Mr. Mondry joined CompUSA in 1990 as Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager.  He was promoted to Executive Vice President-Merchandising in 1993, and President and Chief Operating Officer of CompUSA Stores in 2000.  Mr. Mondry currently serves on the Board of Directors for Golfsmith, Inc.  Mr. Mondry is the Chairman of the Board’s Compensation Committee.

Gordon C. Smith has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SFG LLC, a holding company for agriculture operations and other investments, since January 2005.  Mr. Smith has also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of G.C. Smith LLC since May 2000.  From July 1980 to March 1994, Mr. Smith served in various management positions with J.R. Simplot Company, including four years as President and Chief Executive Officer, and seven years as Chief Financial Officer.  From February 1982 until February 1984 and since September 1990, he has served on the Company’s Board of Directors.  Mr. Smith holds a BS in Accounting from Idaho State University.

Robert E. Switz is currently President and CEO of ADC Telecommunications, Inc., a supplier of network infrastructure products and services.  Mr. Switz has been with ADC since 1994 and prior to his current position, served ADC as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Switz holds an MBA from the University of Bridgeport as well as a degree in marketing/economics from Quinnipiac University.  Mr. Switz also serves as a director on the board of Broadcom Corporation.  Mr. Switz is the Chairman of the Board’s Governance Committee.

William P. Weber served in various capacities with Texas Instruments Incorporated, a semiconductor manufacturing company, and its subsidiaries from 1962 until April 1998.  From December 1986 until December 1993, he served as the President of Texas Instruments’ worldwide semiconductor operations and from December 1993 until his retirement in April 1998, he served as Vice Chairman of Texas Instruments Incorporated.  He has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since July 1998.  Mr. Weber holds a BS in Engineering from Lamar University and a MS in Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

There is no family relationship between any director or executive officer of the Company.

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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, the following are important factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contained in any forward- looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

We have experienced dramatic declines in average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products which have adversely affected our business.

Per megabit average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products decreased 34% in 2006 as compared to 2005.  In recent years, we have also experienced annual decreases in per megabit average selling prices for our memory products including:  24% in 2005, 17% in 2003, 53% in 2002 and 60% in 2001.  At times, average selling prices for our memory products have been below our costs.  If average selling prices for our memory products decrease faster than we can decrease per megabit costs, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Increased worldwide semiconductor memory production or lack of demand for semiconductor memory could lead to further declines in average selling prices.

The transitions to smaller line-width process technologies and 300mm wafers in the industry have resulted in significant increases in the worldwide supply of semiconductor memory and will likely lead to future increases.  Increases in worldwide supply of semiconductor memory also result from semiconductor memory fab capacity expansions, either by way of new facilities, increased capacity utilization or reallocation of other semiconductor production to semiconductor memory production.  We and several of our competitors have announced plans to increase production through construction of new facilities or expansion of existing facilities.  Increases in worldwide supply of semiconductor memory, if not accompanied with commensurate increases in demand, would lead to further declines in average selling prices for our products and would materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We may be unable to reduce our per megabit manufacturing costs at the same rate as we have in the past.

Historically, our gross margin has benefited from decreases in per unit manufacturing costs achieved through improvements in our manufacturing processes, including reducing the die size of our existing products.  In future periods, we may be unable to reduce our per unit manufacturing costs or reduce these costs at historical rates due to strategic product diversification decisions affecting product mix, the ever increasing complexity of manufacturing processes, changes in process technologies or products which inherently may require relatively larger die sizes.  Per unit manufacturing costs may also be affected by the relatively smaller production quantities and shorter product lifecycles of Imaging and certain specialty memory products.

Our formation of IMFT and the resulting plans to significantly increase our NAND Flash memory production has numerous risks.

On January 6, 2006, we initiated operations of the IMFT joint venture with Intel and as a result we plan to significantly increase our NAND Flash production in future periods.  The IMFT agreement and our NAND Flash strategy in general require substantial investment in capital expenditures for equipment and new facilities.  It also requires significant investments in research and development as well as investments to grow and develop new operations at multiple sites.  These investments involve numerous risks.  We are required to devote a significant portion of our existing semiconductor manufacturing capacity to the production of NAND Flash instead of the Company’s other products.  In conjunction with the IMFT agreement, we entered into a contract with Apple Corporation to provide NAND Flash products for an extended period of time at contractually determined prices.  We currently have a relatively small share of the world-wide market for NAND Flash.

Our NAND Flash investments and commitments involve numerous risks, and may include the following:

·                  increasing our exposure to changes in average selling prices for NAND Flash;

·                  difficulties in establishing new production operations at multiple locations;

·                  increasing capital expenditures to increase production capacity and modify existing processes to produce NAND Flash;

·                  increasing debt to finance future investments;

11




 

 

·                  diverting management’s attention from DRAM and CMOS Image sensor operations;

·                  managing larger operations and facilities and employees in separate geographic areas; and

·                  hiring and retaining key employees.

Our NAND Flash strategy may not be successful and could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

The future success of our Imaging business will be dependent on continued market acceptance of our products and the development, introduction and marketing of new Imaging products.

Our Imaging business has grown rapidly in the recent periods.  Sales of Imaging products increased substantially and represented 14% of our net sales in 2006.  Our imaging products have higher gross margins than the recent overall gross margins from our memory products.  As we continue to expand our imaging business, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain these growth rates or gross margins.  The continued success of our Imaging products will depend on a number of factors, including:

·                  development of products that maintain a technological advantage over the products of our competitors;

·                  accurate prediction of market requirements and evolving standards, including pixel resolution, output interface standards, power requirements, optical lens size, input standards and other requirements;

·                  timely completion and introduction of new Imaging products that satisfy customer requirements;

·                  timely achievement of design wins with prospective customers, as manufacturers may be reluctant to change their source of components due to the significant costs, time, effort and risk associated with qualifying a new supplier; and

·                  efficient, cost-effective manufacturing as we transition to new products and higher volumes.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

Our cash flows from operations depend primarily on the volume of semiconductor memory and CMOS image sensors sold, average selling prices and per unit manufacturing costs.  To develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, we must make significant capital investments in manufacturing technology, facilities and capital equipment, research and development, and product and process technology.  Cash and investments of IMFT and TECH are generally not available to finance our other operations.  In addition to cash provided by operations, we have from time to time utilized external sources of financing.  Depending on general market and economic conditions or other factors, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

The semiconductor industry is highly competitive.

We face intense competition in the semiconductor memory market from a number of companies, including Elpida Memory, Inc.; Hynix Semiconductor Inc.; Qimonda AG ADS; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and from emerging companies in Taiwan and China, who have announced plans to significantly expand the scale of their operations.  Some of our competitors are large corporations or conglomerates that may have greater resources to withstand downturns in the semiconductor markets in which we compete, invest in technology and capitalize on growth opportunities.  Our competitors seek to increase silicon capacity, improve yields, reduce die size and minimize mask levels in their product designs.  These factors have significantly increased worldwide supply and put downward pressure on prices.

12




 

 

We face competition in the image sensor market from a number of suppliers of CMOS image sensors including MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd.; OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sony Corporation; STMicroelectronics NV; Toshiba Corporation and from a number of suppliers of CCD image sensors Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation and Sony Corporation.  In recent periods, a number of new companies have entered the CMOS image sensor market.  Competitors include many large domestic and international companies that have greater presence in key markets, better access to certain customer bases, greater name recognition and more established strategic and financial relationships than the Company.

We may have difficulty integrating the operations of Lexar.

If we are unable to successfully combine and integrate the Lexar operations, we may not be able to realize many of the anticipated benefits of the merger, which could harm our results of operations.  In order to realize the benefits of the merger, we will need to timely integrate the technology, operations, and personnel of Lexar.  Integrating the two companies will be a complex, time-consuming and expensive process that, even with proper planning and implementation, could significantly disrupt the businesses of Micron and Lexar.  The challenges involved in this integration include, combining product and service offerings, optimizing inventory management over a broader distribution chain, and preserving customer, supplier and other important relationships of both Micron and Lexar.  If we are not able to successfully integrate our operations with those of Lexar, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our internal control over financial reporting could be adversely affected by material weaknesses in Lexar’s internal controls.

In Lexar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006, Lexar reported material weaknesses with respect to its revenue recognition controls and inventory accounting controls.  These control deficiencies resulted in audit adjustments to revenues, accounts receivable, cost of product revenues, deferred revenue, sales related accruals and inventory in Lexar’s 2005 consolidated financial statements.  As a result of these material weaknesses, Lexar concluded in its Annual Report and Quarterly Report that its control over financial reporting was not effective as of the end of the periods covered by the reports.  While prior to the close of the merger Lexar continued to take steps to remediate these material weaknesses, there can be no assurance that we will be able to completely remediate these material weaknesses such that we will be able to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.  We began consolidating the financial results of Lexar on June 22, 2006; however, due to the recency of the acquisition, the internal control over financial reporting relating to Lexar was exempt from testing and evaluation as of August 31, 2006.  To the extent we do not remediate the material weaknesses, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting may be adversely affected.

Our net operating loss carryforwards may be limited as a result of the merger.

Micron and Lexar had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes prior to the merger and both entities had provided significant valuation allowances against the tax benefit of such losses as well as certain tax credit carryforwards.  Utilization of these net operating losses and credit carryforwards are dependent upon us achieving profitable results following the Lexar merger.  As a consequence of the merger, as well as earlier issuances of common stock consummated by both companies and business combinations by the Company, utilization of the tax benefits of these carryforwards are subject to limitations imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.  The determination of the limitations is complex and requires significant judgment and analysis of past transactions.  Accordingly, some portion or all of these carryforwards may not be available to offset any future taxable income.

Our resellers receive price protections which may have an adverse affect on our gross margins.

Nearly all of our Lexar sales are made through resellers which traditionally have been provided price protection.  In an environment of slower demand and abundant supply of products, price declines and channel promotions expenses are more likely to occur.  Further, in this environment, high channel inventory may result in substantial price protection charges.  These price protection charges have the effect of reducing gross sales and gross margin.  We expect to continue to incur price protection charges for the foreseeable future due to competitive pricing pressures and, as a result, our revenues and gross margins could be adversely affected.

13




 

 

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are reported in U.S. dollars.  Across our multi-national operations, there are transactions and balances denominated in other currencies, primarily the yen and euro.  The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of August 31, 2006, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately $1 million for the yen and $1 million for the euro.  In the event that the U.S. dollar weakens significantly compared to the yen or euro, our results of operations or financial condition will be adversely affected.

New product development may be unsuccessful.

We are developing new products that complement our traditional memory products or leverage their underlying design or process technology.  We have made significant investments in product and process technologies and anticipate expending significant resources for new semiconductor product development over the next several years.  The process to develop NAND Flash, Imaging and certain specialty memory products requires us to demonstrate advanced functionality and performance, many times well in advance of a planned ramp of production, in order to secure design wins with our customers.  There can be no assurance that our product development efforts will be successful, that we will be able to cost-effectively manufacture these new products, that we will be able to successfully market these products or that margins generated from sales of these products will recover costs of development efforts.

An adverse determination that our products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

As is typical in the semiconductor and other high technology industries, from time to time, others have asserted, and may in the future assert, that our products or manufacturing processes infringe their intellectual property rights.  In this regard, we are engaged in litigation with Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) relating to certain of Rambus’ patents and certain of our claims and defenses.  On August 28, 2000, we filed a complaint (subsequently amended) against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking monetary damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.  Among other things, our amended complaint alleges violation of federal antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation.  The complaint also seeks a declaratory judgment (a) that certain Rambus patents are not infringed by us, are invalid, and/or are unenforceable, (b) that we have an implied license to those patents, and (c) that Rambus is estopped from enforcing those patents against us.  On February 15, 2001, Rambus filed an answer and counterclaim in Delaware denying that we are entitled to relief, alleging infringement of the eight Rambus patents named in our declaratory judgment claim, and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  A number of other suits are pending in Europe alleging that certain of our SDRAM and DDR SDRAM products infringe various of Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 525 068, including:  on September 1, 2000, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany; on September 22, 2000, Rambus filed a complaint against us and Reptronic (a distributor of our products) in the Court of First Instance of Paris, France; and on September 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement.  In addition, on December 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Avezzano, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement of the Italian counterpart to European patent 1 004 956.  Additionally, other suits are pending alleging that certain of our DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642, including:  on August 10, 2001, Rambus filed suit against us and Assitec (an electronics retailer) in the Civil Court of Pavia, Italy; and on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany.  In the European suits against us, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office declared Rambus’ 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of eighteen Rambus patents.  We also are engaged in litigation with Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”).  On June 2, 2005, Ohmi filed suit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (amended on August 31, 2005) alleging infringement of a single Ohmi patent.  We are also engaged in litigation with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”).  On July 24, 2006, we filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 26, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against us and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed our declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.

14




 

 

Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of our SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of our net sales.

  A court determination that our products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require us to make material changes to our products and/or manufacturing processes.  We are unable to predict the outcome of assertions of infringement made against us.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We have a number of patent and intellectual property license agreements.  Some of these license agreements require us to make one time or periodic payments.  We may need to obtain additional patent licenses or renew existing license agreements in the future.  We are unable to predict whether these license agreements can be obtained or renewed on acceptable terms.

Allegations of anticompetitive conduct.

On June 17, 2002, we received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  We are cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation of the DRAM industry.  Our cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for our full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, we will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other DRAM suppliers.  Eighteen cases have been filed in various federal district courts (two of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased DRAM directly from various DRAM suppliers during the period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  All of the cases have been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for consolidated proceedings.  The complaints allege price-fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and seek treble monetary damages, costs, attorneys’ fees, and an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  On June 5, 2006, the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.

Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, at least sixty-two cases have been filed in various state and federal courts (five of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from 1999 through the filing date of the various complaints.  The complaints allege violations of various jurisdictions’ antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts:  Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against us and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the

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State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.

On October 11, 2006, we received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  We believe that we are not a target of the investigation and we are cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other SRAM suppliers.  Two cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, eight cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and one in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against us and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”), and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaints.

We are unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Allegations of violations of securities laws.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against us and certain of our officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of our stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for our benefit, against certain of our current and former officers and directors.  We were also named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from us.  However, we may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.

In March 2006, following our announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name us as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and us.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.

16




 

 

We are unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of the class actions against us could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Current economic and political conditions may harm our business.

Global economic conditions and the effects of military or terrorist actions may cause significant disruptions to worldwide commerce.  If these disruptions result in delays or cancellations of customer orders, a decrease in corporate spending on information technology or our inability to effectively market, manufacture or ship our products.  Global economic conditions may also affect consumer demand for devices that incorporate our products such as mobile phones, personal computers, flash memory cards and USB devices.  As a result, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We face risks associated with our international sales and operations that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Sales to customers outside the United States approximated 67% of our consolidated net sales for 2006.  In addition, we have manufacturing operations in Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore.  Our international sales and operations are subject to a variety of risks, including:

·                  currency exchange rate fluctuations,

·                  export and import duties, changes to import and export regulations, and restrictions on the transfer of funds,

·                  political and economic instability,

·                  problems with the transportation or delivery of our products,

·                  issues arising from cultural or language differences and labor unrest,

·                  longer payment cycles and greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable, and

·                  compliance with trade and other laws in a variety of jurisdictions.

These factors may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

If our manufacturing process is disrupted, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We manufacture products using highly complex processes that require technologically advanced equipment and continuous modification to improve yields and performance.  Difficulties in the manufacturing process or the effects from a shift in product mix can reduce yields or disrupt production and may increase our per megabit manufacturing costs.  Additionally, our control over operations at our IMFT, TECH and MP Mask joint ventures may be limited by our agreements with our partners.  From time to time, we have experienced minor disruptions in our manufacturing process as a result of power outages or equipment failures.  If production at a fabrication facility is disrupted for any reason, manufacturing yields may be adversely affected or we may be unable to meet our customers’ requirements and they may purchase products from other suppliers.  This could result in a significant increase in manufacturing costs or loss of revenues or damage to customer relationships, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Disruptions in our supply of raw materials could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our operations require raw materials that meet exacting standards.  We generally have multiple sources of supply for our raw materials.  However, only a limited number of suppliers are capable of delivering certain raw materials that meet our standards.  Various factors could reduce the availability of raw materials such as silicon wafers, photomasks, chemicals, gases, lead frames and molding compound.  Shortages may occur from time to time in the future.  In addition, disruptions in transportation lines could delay our receipt of raw materials.  Lead times for the supply of raw materials have been extended in the past.  If our supply of raw materials is disrupted or our lead times extended, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

17




 

 

Products that do not meet specifications or that contain, or are perceived by our customers to contain, defects or that are otherwise incompatible with end uses could impose significant costs on us or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Because the design and production process for semiconductor memory is highly complex, it is possible that we may produce products that do not comply with customer specifications, contain defects or are otherwise incompatible with end uses.  If, despite design review, quality control and product qualification procedures, problems with nonconforming, defective or incompatible products occur after we have shipped such products, we could be adversely affected in several ways, including the following:

·                  we may replace product or otherwise compensate customers for costs incurred or damages caused by defective or incompatible product, and

·                  we may encounter adverse publicity, which could cause a decrease in sales of our products.

We expect to make future acquisitions where advisable, which involve numerous risks.

We expect to make future acquisitions where we believe it is advisable to enhance shareholder value.  Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:

·                  difficulties in integrating the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies,

·                  increasing capital expenditures to upgrade and maintain facilities,

·                  increasing debt to finance any acquisition,

·                  diverting management’s attention from normal daily operations,

·                  managing larger operations and facilities and employees in separate geographic areas, and

·                  hiring and retaining key employees.

Mergers and acquisitions of high-technology companies are inherently risky, and future acquisitions may not be successful and may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

18




 

 

Item 2.  Properties

The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Boise, Idaho.  The following is a summary of the Company’s principal facilities:

Location

 

Principal Operations

Boise, Idaho

 

Wafer fabrication, test and assembly, research and development

Lehi, Utah

 

Wafer fabrication

Manassas, Virginia

 

Wafer fabrication, research and development

Singapore

 

Wafer fabrication facility and a test, assembly and module assembly facility

Nishiwaki City, Japan

 

Wafer fabrication

Avezzano, Italy

 

Wafer fabrication

Nampa, Idaho

 

Test

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

 

Module assembly, test

 

The Company also owns and leases a number of other facilities in locations throughout the world that are used for design, research and development, and sales and marketing activities.

The Company’s facility in Lehi is owned and operated by its IMFT joint venture (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Joint Ventures — IM Flash Technologies, LLC”).  The Company’s wafer fabrication facility in Singapore is owned by its TECH joint venture (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Joint Ventures — TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”).

The Company believes that its existing facilities are suitable and adequate for its present purposes and that the productive capacity in such facilities is substantially being utilized or the Company has plans to utilize it.  The Company does not identify or allocate assets by operating segment.  For additional information on net property, plant and equipment by country, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Geographic Information.”

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

On August 28, 2000, the Company filed a complaint against Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking monetary damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.  Among other things, the Company’s complaint (as amended) alleges violation of federal antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation.  The complaint also seeks a declaratory judgment (a) that certain Rambus patents are not infringed by the Company, are invalid, and/or are unenforceable, (b) that the Company has an implied license to those patents, and (c) that Rambus is estopped from enforcing those patents against the Company.  On February 15, 2001, Rambus filed an answer and counterclaim in Delaware denying that the Company is entitled to relief, alleging infringement of the eight Rambus patents named in the Company’s declaratory judgment claim, and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  A number of other suits are currently pending in Europe alleging that certain of the Company’s SDRAM and DDR SDRAM products infringe various of Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 525 068, including:  on September 1, 2000, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany; on September 22, 2000, Rambus filed a complaint against the Company and Reptronic (a distributor of the Company’s products) in the Court of First Instance of Paris, France; on September 29, 2000, the Company filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement.  In addition, on December 29, 2000, the Company filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Avezzano, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement of the Italian counterpart to European patent 1 004 956.  Additionally, other suits are pending alleging that certain of our DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642, including:  on August 10, 2001, Rambus filed suit against the Company and Assitec (an electronics retailer) in the Civil Court of Pavia, Italy; and on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany.  In the European suits against the Company, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office declared Rambus’ 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of eighteen Rambus patents.

On June 2, 2005, Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”) filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (amended on August 31, 2005) alleging infringement of a single Ohmi patent.

19




 

 

On July 24, 2006, the Company filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 26, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against the Company and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed the Company’s declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.

Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of the Company’s SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of the Company’s net sales.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe the product or process intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require the Company to make material changes to its products and/or manufacturing processes.  Any of the foregoing results could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On June 17, 2002, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  The Company is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation.  The Company’s cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for our full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, the Company will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  Eighteen cases have been filed in various federal district courts (two of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased DRAM directly from the various DRAM suppliers during the period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  All of the cases have been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for consolidated proceedings.  The complaints allege price-fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and seek treble monetary damages, costs, attorneys’ fees, and an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  On June 5, 2006, the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.

Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, at least sixty-two cases have been filed in various state courts (five of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of a class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from 1999 through the filing date of the various complaints.  The complaints allege violations of the various jurisdictions’ antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts:  Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and

20




 

 

Wisconsin.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.

On October 11, 2006, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  The Company believes that it is not a target of the investigation and is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other SRAM suppliers.  Two cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, eight cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and one in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including a conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”) and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaints.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against the Company and certain of its officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct or the Company’s operations and financial results.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.  The Company also was named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from the Company.  However, the Company may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of these actions against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the

21




 

 

highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Lexar Media, Inc.”)

(See “Item 1A. Risk Factors”)

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2006.

PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Market for Common Stock

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the symbol “MU.”  The following table represents the high and low closing sales prices for the Company’s common stock for each quarter of 2006 and 2005, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.

 

High

 

Low

 

2006:

 

 

 

 

 

4th quarter

 

$

17.52

 

$

14.15

 

3rd quarter

 

17.40

 

14.43

 

2nd quarter

 

16.99

 

13.13

 

1st quarter

 

14.67

 

11.67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005:

 

 

 

 

 

4th quarter

 

$

12.22

 

$

10.17

 

3rd quarter

 

11.07

 

9.41

 

2nd quarter

 

12.35

 

10.06

 

1st quarter

 

12.76

 

11.08

 

 

Holders of Record

As of November 1, 2006, there were 3,578 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

The Company has not declared or paid cash dividends since 1996 and does not intend to pay cash dividends on its common stock for the foreseeable future.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(amounts in millions except per share amounts)

 

Net sales

 

$

5,272

 

$

4,880

 

$

4,404

 

$

3,091

 

$

2,589

 

Gross margin

 

1,200

 

1,146

 

1,314

 

(21

)

(111

)

Operating income (loss)

 

350

 

217

 

250

 

(1,186

)

(1,025

)

Net income (loss)

 

408

 

188

 

157

 

(1,273

)

(907

)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

0.57

 

0.29

 

0.24

 

(2.11

)

(1.51

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and short-term investments

 

3,079

 

1,290

 

1,231

 

922

 

986

 

Total current assets

 

5,101

 

2,926

 

2,639

 

2,037

 

2,119

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

5,888

 

4,684

 

4,713

 

4,510

 

4,700

 

Total assets

 

12,221

 

8,006

 

7,760

 

7,158

 

7,555

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,661

 

979

 

972

 

993

 

753

 

Long-term debt

 

405

 

1,020

 

1,028

 

997

 

361

 

Redeemable common stock

 

 

 

 

67

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

8,114

 

5,847

 

5,615

 

4,971

 

6,306

 

 

The Company entered into an agreement, effective in the third quarter of 2006, with the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”) a partner in its TECH Semiconductor joint venture.  Under the agreement, the Company granted EDB an option to sell to the Company, EDB’s shares of TECH common stock (approximately 30% as August 31, 2006).  As a result, the Company consolidated its approximate 43% interest in TECH under the provisions of FIN 46(R) “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.”  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Joint Ventures — TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.” note.)

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”), a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

See “Item 1A. Risk Factors”  and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

23




 

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as those made in “Overview” regarding growth for CMOS image sensor and NAND Flash markets and allocations of wafer starts to these products; in “Net Sales” regarding NAND Flash production in future periods and increases in revenue from sales of NAND Flash and Imaging products; in “Selling, General and Administrative” regarding SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2007; in “Research and Development” regarding R&D costs for the first quarter of 2007; in “Stock-Based Compensation” regarding increases in future stock-based compensation costs; in “Income Taxes” regarding future provisions for income taxes and a reduction in the valuation allowance; and in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” regarding capital spending in 2007; and  future capital contributions to IMFT and TECH.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the Company’s historical results and those discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those identified in “Certain Factors.”  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes for the year ended August 31, 2006.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.  All tabular dollar amounts are in millions.  All production data reflects production of the Company and its TECH joint venture.

Overview

The Company is a global manufacturer of semiconductor devices, principally DRAM and NAND Flash memory products, and CMOS image sensors.  The Company operates in two primary segments:  Memory and Imaging.  Its products are used in a broad range of electronic applications including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones and other consumer applications including flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still cameras, MP3 players and in automotive applications.  The Company’s customers are principally original equipment manufacturers located around the world.  The Company’s success is largely dependent on the market acceptance of a diversified semiconductor product portfolio, efficient utilization of the Company’s manufacturing infrastructure, successful ongoing development of advanced process technologies and generation of sufficient return on research and development investments. 

The Company has strategically diversified its business by expanding into semiconductor products such as specialty memory products (including SDRAM, PSRAM, mobile SDRAM and reduced latency DRAM), NAND Flash memory products and CMOS image sensors.  These products are used in a wider range of applications than the computing applications that use the Company’s highest volume products, DDR and DDR2.  The Company leverages its expertise in semiconductor memory manufacturing and product and process technology to provide these products that are differentiated from competitors’ products based on performance characteristics.  In 2006, approximately half of the Company’s sales were other than PC DRAM products.  The Company expects that the markets for these products will grow in the near term more rapidly than the overall semiconductor market.  The Company believes the strategic diversification of its product portfolio will strengthen its ability to allocate manufacturing resources to achieve the highest rate of return.

As part of its diversification strategy the Company took several steps towards establishing a significant presence in the NAND Flash market in 2006.  In January 2006, the Company partnered with Intel to form a NAND Flash manufacturing joint venture, IM Flash Technologies, LLC.  IMFT initiated an accelerated build out and production ramp at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities that are expected to greatly increase the Company’s production of NAND Flash in 2007.  In June 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc., a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  (See “Recent Developments.”)

The Company’s Imaging segment experienced strong growth in 2006 as net sales increased 147% from 2005 and represented 14% of the Company’s net sales for 2006.  The Company ramped production of Imaging products at a second wafer fabrication facility in 2006 and expects to continue to allocate an increasing portion of its manufacturing capacity to CMOS image sensors in 2007.

The Company makes significant ongoing investments to implement its proprietary product and process technology in its facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia to manufacture semiconductor products with increasing functionality and performance at lower costs.  The Company continues to introduce new generations of products that offer improved performance characteristics, such as higher data transfer rates, reduced package size, lower power consumption and increased megapixel count.  The Company generally reduces the manufacturing cost of each generation of product through advancements in product and process technology such as its leading-edge line width process technology and innovative array architecture.

24




 

In order to maximize returns from investments in research and development (“R&D”), the Company develops process technology that effectively reduces production costs and leverages the Company’s capital expenditures.  To be successfully incorporated in customers’ end products, the Company must offer qualified semiconductor solutions at a time when customers are developing their design specifications for their end products.  This is especially true for specialty memory products and CMOS image sensors, which are required to demonstrate advanced functionality and performance well ahead of a planned ramp of production to commercial volumes.  In addition, DRAM and NAND Flash products necessarily incorporate highly advanced design and process technologies.  The Company must make significant investments in R&D to expand its product offering and develop its leading-edge product and process technologies.

Recent Developments

IM Flash Technologies, LLC (“IMFT”):  IMFT, which began operations on January 6, 2006, is a joint venture between the Company and Intel Corporation (“Intel”).  IMFT manufactures NAND Flash memory products pursuant to NAND Flash designs developed by the Company and Intel and licensed to the Company.  The parties share the output of IMFT generally in proportion to their investment in IMFT.  IMFT’s financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  As a result of their contributions to IMFT, the Company owns 51% and Intel owns 49% of IMFT.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – IM Flash Technologies, LLC”)

TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”):  On March 3, 2006, certain shareholders of TECH, including the Company and the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”), contributed approximately $260 million in cash as additional capital to TECH, of which the Company’s contribution was approximately $130 million.  Following the contribution, the Company owned an approximate 43% interest in TECH.  Effective March 3, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with EDB whereby EDB granted the Company an option to purchase from EDB, and the Company granted EDB an option to sell to the Company, EDB’s shares of TECH common stock (approximately 30% as of August 31, 2006).  As a result of the put option agreement noted above, the Company concluded it is the primary beneficiary of TECH and therefore began consolidating TECH’s financial results as of the beginning of the Company’s third quarter of 2006.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  In the third quarter of 2006, the Company formed a joint venture, MP Mask, with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”) to produce photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors.  The Company contributed its then existing reticle manufacturing operation to the venture.  In exchange for a 49.99% interest in MP Mask, Photronics paid cash and issued notes to the Company aggregating $63 million.  In connection with the joint venture, the Company received $72 million in exchange for entering into a license agreement with Photronics, which will be recognized over the term of the 10-year agreement.  The Company and Photronics also entered into supply arrangements wherein the Company is expected to purchase a substantial majority of the reticles produced by MP Mask.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – MP Mask Technology Center, LLC.”)

Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”):  On June 21, 2006, the Company acquired Lexar, a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  Pursuant to the terms of a merger agreement, each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Lexar was converted into 0.5925 shares of Micron’s common stock (the “Exchange Ratio”), and each issued, outstanding and unexercised Lexar employee stock option with an exercise price per share of $9.54 or less was converted into a Micron employee stock option using the Exchange Ratio.  In connection with the merger, the Company issued approximately 50.7 million shares of common stock, issued approximately 6.6 million stock options and incurred other acquisition costs resulting in an aggregate purchase price of $886 million.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Lexar Media, Inc.”)

25




 

Results of Operations

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(amounts in millions and as a percent of net sales)

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

4,523

 

86

%

$

4,577

 

94

%

$

4,305

 

98

%

Imaging

 

749

 

14

%

303

 

6

%

99

 

2

%

 

 

$

5,272

 

100

%

$

4,880

 

100

%

$

4,404

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

878

 

19

%

$

1,020

 

22

%

$

1,289

 

30

%

Imaging

 

322

 

43

%

126

 

42

%

25

 

25

%

 

 

$

1,200

 

23

%

$

1,146

 

23

%

$

1,314

 

30

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

$

460

 

9

%

$

348

 

7

%

$

332

 

8

%

Research and development

 

656

 

12

%

604

 

12

%

755

 

17

%

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

(266

)

(5

)%

(22

)

(0

)%

 

0

%

Net income

 

408

 

8

%

188

 

4

%

157

 

4

%

 

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  The Company’s fiscal 2006 and 2005 contained 52 weeks.  The Company’s fiscal 2004 contained 53 weeks.

Net Sales

Total net sales for 2006 increased 8% as compared to 2005 primarily reflecting a 147% increase in Imaging sales as Memory sales declined 1%.  Imaging sales increased in 2006 primarily due to significant increases in sales volume facilitated by a greater allocation of manufacturing capacity to Imaging devices.  Memory sales for 2006 reflect a 34% decline in per megabit average selling prices from 2005 partially offset by a 50% increase in megabits sold.   Memory sales were 86% of total net sales in 2006 compared to 94% in 2005 and 98% in 2004.  Imaging sales have grown rapidly in recent periods and have represented an increasing portion of the Company’s total net sales.  Total net sales for 2005 increased 11% as compared to 2004 due to a 6% increase in Memory sales and 206% increase in Imaging sales.

Memory:  Memory sales for 2006 declined 1% from 2005 as a 287% increase in NAND Flash sales was offset by a 5% decrease in DRAM sales.  The decrease in DRAM sales for 2006 was the result of a 22% decrease in average selling prices mitigated by a 22% increase in megabits sold.  DRAM megabit production increased 14% for 2006 as compared to 2005, primarily due to production efficiencies including improvements in product and process technologies partially offset by a reduction in wafer starts.  DRAM wafer starts decreased in 2006 as the Company allocated an increasing portion of its manufacturing resources to Imaging and NAND Flash memory products.  Sales of DDR and DDR2 products decreased to 51% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006 as compared to 59% for 2005 and 58% for 2004, reflecting the Company’s progress in diversifying away from PC DRAM.

NAND Flash sales increased to 6% of the Company’s total net sales for 2006 from 2% for 2005 primarily due to a significant increase in megabits sold of NAND partially offset by an approximate 35% decrease in average selling prices.  NAND Flash megabit production increased significantly for 2006 as compared to 2005, primarily due to significant increases in manufacturing resources allocated to the production of NAND Flash.  Sales of NAND Flash include sales from the Company’s consolidated joint venture, IMFT, to Intel at long-term negotiated prices approximating cost.  NAND Flash revenue in 2006 was not significantly affected by the acquisition of Lexar on June 21, 2006, as the Company did not recognize revenue from Lexar’s products that were in the distribution channel at the acquisition date.  The Company expects that NAND Flash revenue will increase significantly in future periods as the Company ramps additional production capacity through its IMFT joint venture and recognizes Lexar sales for a full period.

Memory sales for 2005 increased by 6% as compared to 2004 primarily due to a 40% increase in megabits sold, partially offset by a 24% decrease in the overall average selling price per megabit for the Company’s Memory products.   The Company’s overall megabit production in 2005 increased by 48% as compared to 2004, principally due to a steep ramp in 300mm wafer production and gains in manufacturing efficiencies realized from improvements in product and process technologies.   The Company’s megabit production exceeded megabit sales in 2005, which resulted in an approximate 170% increase in megabit finished goods inventories, primarily consisting of DDR and DDR2 products.  Most of the increase in Memory sales in 2005 as compared to 2004 resulted from sales of the Company’s emerging specialty memory products, such as pseudo-static RAM (“PSRAM”) and mobile DRAM products and NAND Flash memory.  The Company’s combined

26




 

revenue from these products was $509 million in 2005 and nearly quintupled from 2004 due to large increases in production and strong demand for the Company’s offerings in these product groups. 

Imaging:  Imaging sales for 2006 increased by 147% from 2005 as unit sales tripled, which was partially offset by a 19% decrease in average selling price per unit.  The decrease in average selling price per unit was due primarily to a significant increase of lower priced VGA products sold in 2006 as compared to 2005.  The growth in Imaging unit sales for 2006 reflects strong demand for the Company’s products and increased production.  Production increased due to the allocation of more wafers to the manufacture of Imaging products as well as improvements in manufacturing efficiency.  Imaging sales were 14% of the Company’s total net sales in 2006 as compared to 6% for 2005 and 2% for 2004.  Imaging sales for 2005 increased by 206% as compared to 2004 primarily due to increases in unit sales as average selling price per unit were essentially unchanged.  The growth in Imaging unit sales for 2005 reflects increased production.  Due to strong demand for the Company’s products and the planned introduction of new products, the Company expects that revenue from Imaging products will continue to increase in 2007 as additional manufacturing capacity is allocated to the production of these products.

Gross Margin

The Company’s overall gross margin percentage of 23% for 2006 was unchanged from 2005 as a decrease in the gross margin percentage for Memory in 2006 to 19% from 22% for 2005 was offset by a slight increase in the gross margin percentage for Imaging products and a shift in product mix to higher margin Imaging products.  The Company’s overall gross margin percentage for 2005 declined to 23% as compared to 30% for 2004 primarily due to a decline in gross margin for Memory products, as a result of decreases in average selling prices per megabit.  Partially offsetting the effect of the decline in average selling prices in 2005 from 2004 was a reduction in cost of goods sold per megabit and the increase in sales of CMOS image sensors, specialty memory and NAND Flash products, which had significantly higher margins than DDR and DDR2 products in 2005. 

Memory:  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products for 2006 of 19% decreased from 22% for 2005 primarily due to declining margins for NAND Flash products as a result of the 33% decrease in the average selling price per megabit and costs associated with ramp in production at two facilities.  The gross margin percentage for DRAM products in 2006 of 23% was approximately the same as for 2005 as a 22% decrease in the average selling price per megabit was offset by cost reductions.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products in 2006 through improved product yields and an increase in production utilizing the Company’s 110nm and 95nm process technologies.  The cost per megabit for products manufactured on 300mm wafers decreased significantly in 2006 compared to 2005 as the Company continued to increase 300mm wafer production.

The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products for 2005 declined to 22% as compared to 30% for 2004.  This decline in gross margin was primarily due to the 24% decrease in the Company’s overall average selling price per megabit of memory and, to a lesser extent, a shift in product mix from DDR to DDR2 products which had lower margins in 2005.  Partially offsetting this decline in gross margin from 2005 to 2004 were reductions in product costs and the increase in sales of specialty memory and NAND Flash products, which had significantly higher margins than DDR and DDR2 products.  The Company reduced DRAM product costs through manufacturing efficiencies achieved from improved product yields and increases in production utilizing the Company’s 110nm and 95nm process technology.  The cost per megabit for products manufactured on 300mm wafers decreased significantly in 2005 compared to 2004 as the Company increased 300mm wafer production.

The Company’s TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”) joint venture supplied approximately 25% of the total megabits of memory produced by the Company in recent periods.  TECH primarily produced DDR and DDR2 products in 2006 and 2005.  Through the second quarter of 2006, the Company purchased memory products from TECH at prices generally based on a discount from average selling prices realized by the Company for the preceding quarter.  In the first six months of 2006, the Company realized higher gross margin percentages on sales of TECH products than on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  As of the beginning of the third quarter of 2006, TECH’s results are included in the Company’s consolidated results.  TECH utilizes the Company’s product designs and process technology and, as a result, the gross margin percentage on sales of TECH products for the last six months of 2006 approximated those on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  (See “Recent Developments – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

Imaging:  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Imaging products for 2006 increased to 43% from 42% for 2005, primarily due to reductions in costs partially offset by decreases in average selling prices.  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Imaging products increased to 42% for 2005 from 25% for 2004 primarily due to cost reductions as the overall average selling price per unit was essentially unchanged.

27




 

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2006 increased 32% from 2005 primarily due to higher compensation costs and increased costs associated with outstanding legal matters.  Payroll costs in 2006 increased from 2005 primarily due to increased headcount resulting in part from the acquisition of Lexar, the ramp of IMFT and the consolidation of TECH.  SG&A expenses for 2005 increased 5% from 2004 primarily due to higher compensation costs, partially offset by a decrease in costs associated with legal matters.  The Company expects SG&A expenses to approximate $140 million for the first quarter of 2007.  In 2006, SG&A expense for Memory was approximately 8% of Memory sales and SG&A expense for Imaging was approximately 12% of Imaging sales.

Research and Development

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses vary primarily with the number of development wafers processed, the cost of advanced equipment dedicated to new product and process development, and personnel costs.  Because of the lead times necessary to manufacture its products, the Company typically begins to process wafers before completion of performance and reliability testing.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.  R&D expenses can vary significantly depending on the timing of product qualification as costs incurred in production prior to qualification are charged to R&D.

R&D expenses for 2006 increased 9% from 2005, principally due to increases in development wafers processed, higher compensation costs and increases in R&D equipment depreciation.  The Company and Intel share R&D process and design costs for NAND Flash equally.  In 2006, the Company charged $86 million to Intel under this NAND Flash R&D cost sharing arrangement.  R&D expenses for 2005 decreased 20% from 2004 principally because products were qualified on the 300mm wafer fabrication process in the first quarter of 2005.  The Company expects that its R&D costs will approximate $175 million for the first quarter of 2007.  In 2006, R&D expense for Memory was approximately 13% of Memory sales and R&D expense for Imaging was approximately 11% of Imaging sales.

The Company’s process technology R&D efforts are focused primarily on development of successively smaller line-width process technologies which are designed to facilitate the Company’s transition to next generation memory products and CMOS image sensors.  Additional process technology R&D efforts focus on specialty memory products (including PSRAM, mobile SDRAM and reduced latency DRAM) and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including multi-level cell technology), CMOS image sensors and specialty memory products.

Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

Other operating income for 2006 includes $230 million of net proceeds for the sale of the Company’s existing NAND flash memory designs and certain related technology to Intel net of amounts paid by the Company for a perpetual, paid-up license to use and modify such designs.  Other operating income for 2006 also includes $23 million in additional amounts expected to be reimbursed resulting from the extension of an economic development agreement, which allows the Company to recover amounts relating to certain investments in the IMFT Lehi facility.  Other operating income for 2005 includes gains net of losses on disposals of semiconductor equipment of $13 million and $12 million in receipts from the U.S. Government in connection with anti-dumping tariffs.  Other operating expense for 2004 includes losses of $17 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating income for 2004 includes $7 million from the Commonwealth of Virginia for meeting investment commitments at the Virginia wafer fabrication facility and net gains of $4 million on write-downs and disposals of semiconductor equipment.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for 2006 and 2005 primarily reflect taxes on the Company’s non-U.S. operations and U.S. alternative minimum tax.  The Company has a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset associated with its U.S. operations.  The provision for taxes on U.S. operations in 2006 and 2005 was substantially offset by reductions in the valuation allowance.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.7 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $164 million.  The Company also has unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.4 billion and unused state tax credits of $163 million.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2025 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2026.  During 2006, the Company utilized approximately $1.1 billion of its U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards as a result of IMFT, MP Mask and related transactions.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – IM Flash Technologies, LLC” and “Joint Ventures – MP Mask Technology Center, LLC” notes.)

28




 

Stock-Based Compensation

Through 2005, the Company accounted for its stock plans using the intrinsic value method.  Effective the beginning of 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” and elected to adopt the modified prospective application method.  SFAS No. 123(R) requires the Company to use a fair-value based method to account for stock-based compensation.  Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost is measured as of the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employees’ requisite service period.  Total compensation cost for the Company’s equity plans in 2006 was $26 million, of which $1 million was capitalized and remained in inventory at August 31, 2006.  As of August 31, 2006, there was $77 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to equity plans, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.  In 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of substantially all of its unvested stock options then outstanding under the Company’s stock plans to reduce compensation costs recognized subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 123(R).  Because the Company’s near-term, stock-based compensation costs were reduced by the acceleration of vesting in 2005, stock-based compensation costs will grow significantly in future periods if the Company continues to grant amounts of new stock-based compensation awards similar to recent periods.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on average selling prices for its products and the timing of capital expenditures, both of which can vary significantly from period to period.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company had cash and marketable investment securities totaling $3.1 billion compared to $1.3 billion as of September 1, 2005.  The Company’s cash and marketable investment securities as of August 31, 2006, included $875 million held at, and anticipated to be used in the near term by, IMFT and TECH.

Operating Activities:  For 2006, net cash provided by operating activities was $2,019 million, which principally reflects the Company’s $408 million of net income adjusted by $1,281 million for non-cash depreciation and amortization expense.  Cash provided by operations also included $250 million received from Apple Computer Inc. as prepayment for future NAND Flash sales, an increase of $130 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses and $72 million received from Photronics in exchange for entering into a license agreement.

Investing Activities:  For 2006, net cash used by investing activities was $1,756 million, which included cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $1,365 million and net purchases of investment securities of $858 million.  For 2006, cash provided by investing activities included $319 million that resulted from the consolidation of TECH and $97 million from the acquisition of Lexar.  The Company believes that to develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, it must continue to invest in manufacturing technologies, facilities and capital equipment, research and development, and product and process technologies.  The Company projects 2007 capital spending of approximately $4 billion, a significant portion of which is for the capital spending of IMFT and TECH.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company had commitments extending into 2007 of approximately $1.7 billion for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment. 

Financing Activities:  For 2006, net cash provided by financing activities was $644 million, which includes $936 million received from Intel for its interest in IMFT, $171 million from the settlement of call spread options, $113 million of proceeds from the issuance of common stock, $48 million received from Photronics for its interest in MP Mask, net of $624 million of payments on debt and equipment purchase contracts.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures.) 

In the third quarter of 2006, the Company’s TECH joint venture repaid $246 million of its outstanding notes that had been included in the debt recorded by the Company in the initial consolidation of TECH.  TECH also entered into a credit facility that will enable it to borrow up to $400 million.  TECH expects to draw on this facility in future periods to fund its capital expenditures.

In the second quarter of 2006, the Company’s $633 million 2.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) were converted into 53.7 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  In addition, the Company’s related interest rate swap terminated by its terms on February 6, 2006 and, as a result, $35 million pledged as collateral for the swap became unrestricted.

On February 14, 2006, the Company terminated its outstanding call spread options covering a total of approximately 53.7 million shares of its common stock (“Call Spread Options”) and received $171 million for the settlement.  The Company originally entered into the Call Spread Options in connection with its issuance of the Notes. 

29




 

Access to capital markets has historically been important to the Company.  Depending on market conditions, the Company may issue registered or unregistered securities to raise capital to fund a portion of its operations.

Joint Ventures

As of August 31, 2006, IMFT had $654 million of cash and marketable investment securities and $261 million due under notes receivable from Intel.  IMFT’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  Subject to certain conditions, the Company is required to make additional contributions to IMFT of approximately $650 million over the next two years and expects to make additional investments as appropriate to support the growth of IMFT’s operations. 

On November 6, 2006, the Company announced plans to form a new joint venture with Intel to construct a facility in Singapore for the manufacture of NAND Flash memory.  The Company expects to contribute approximately $1.5 billion in cash to the new joint venture over the next three years.

As of August 31, 2006, TECH had $222 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  TECH’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  On March 3, 2006, certain shareholders of TECH, including the Company and the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”), contributed approximately $260 million in cash as additional capital to TECH, of which the Company’s contribution was approximately $130 million.  The Company’s option to purchase EDB’s shares in TECH is exercisable at any time until October 1, 2009.  EDB’s option to put its shares in TECH to the Company is exercisable from March 3, 2008 until October 1, 2010.  Exercise of either option would require the Company to pay approximately $250 million to EDB.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

Contractual Obligations:  The following table summarizes the Company’s significant contractual obligations at August 31, 2006, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future periods.

 

 

 

 

Less than

 

 

 

 

 

More than

 

 

 

Total

 

1 year

 

1-3 years

 

3-5 years

 

5 years

 

 

 

(amounts in millions)

 

Notes payable (including interest)

 

$

329

 

$

86

 

$

119

 

$

124

 

$

 

Capital lease obligations

 

311

 

98

 

153

 

17

 

43

 

Operating leases

 

81

 

30

 

23

 

7

 

21

 

Purchase obligations

 

2,057

 

1,647

 

410

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

445

 

—  

 

340

 

59

 

46

 

Total

 

$

3,223

 

$

1,861

 

$

1,045

 

$

207

 

$

110

 

 

The obligations disclosed above do not include contractual obligations recorded on the Company’s balance sheet as current liabilities except for the current portion of long-term debt.  The expected timing of payment amounts of the obligations discussed above is estimated based on current information.  Timing and actual amounts paid may differ depending on the timing of receipt of goods or services, market prices or changes to agreed-upon amounts for some obligations.

Purchase obligations include all commitments to purchase goods or services of either a fixed or minimum quantity that meet any of the following criteria: (1) they are noncancelable, (2) the Company would incur a penalty if the agreement was cancelled, or (3) the Company must make specified minimum payments even if it does not take delivery of the contracted products or services (“take-or-pay”).  If the obligation to purchase goods or services is noncancelable, the entire value of the contract was included in the above table.  If the obligation is cancelable, but the Company would incur a penalty if cancelled, the dollar amount of the penalty was included as a purchase obligation.  Contracted minimum amounts specified in take-or-pay contracts are also included in the above table as they represent the portion of each contract that is a firm commitment.

30




 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of August 31, 2006, the Company had stock warrants outstanding that may be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.  In 2001, the Company received $480 million from the issuance of warrants to purchase 29.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The warrants entitle the holders to exercise their warrants and purchase shares of the Company’s common stock for $56.00 per share (the “Exercise Price”) at any time through May 15, 2008 (the “Expiration Date”).  Warrants exercised prior to the Expiration Date will be settled on a “net share” basis, wherein investors receive common stock equal to the difference between $56.00 and the average closing sale price for the common shares over the 30 trading days immediately preceding the Exercise Date.  At expiration, the Company may elect to settle the warrants on a net share basis or for cash, provided certain conditions are satisfied.  As of August 31, 2006, there had been no exercises of warrants and all warrants issued remained outstanding.

The Company has an agreement to construct a facility to produce photomasks and sell such facility to its MP Mask joint venture partner, Photronics, Inc., for a negotiated amount.  The Company does not expect to incur a loss on such sale.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”  In SAB No. 108, the SEC staff established an approach that requires quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of the misstatements on each of the company’s financial statements and the related financial statement disclosures.  SAB No. 108 permits existing public companies to initially apply its provisions either by (i) restating prior financial statements or (ii) recording the cumulative effect as adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities with an offsetting adjustment recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings.  The Company is required to adopt SAB No. 108 by the end of 2007 and does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).”  SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. SFAS No. 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position, with limited exceptions.  Under FAS No. 158, the Company is required to initially recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of 2007.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  FAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.  The Company is required to adopt FAS No. 157 effective at the beginning of 2009. The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation Number 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  The interpretation contains a two step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109.  The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company is required to adopt FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008. The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.”  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company did not have any hybrid financial instruments subject to the fair value election under SFAS No. 155.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 155 effective at the beginning of 2008.

31




 

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.”  SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 154 for accounting changes and error corrections that occur after the beginning of 2007.  The Company’s results of operations and financial condition will only be impacted following the adoption of SFAS No. 154 if it implements changes in accounting principle that are addressed by the standard or corrects accounting errors in future periods.

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (“FIN 47”), “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations,” which clarifies that an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value can be reasonably estimated even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method of settlement.  The Company adopted FIN 47 in the third quarter of 2006.  The adoption of FIN 47 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures.  Estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, forecasted future events and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Estimates and judgments may vary under different assumptions or conditions.  The Company evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.  Management believes the accounting policies below are critical in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Acquisitions and consolidations:  Determination and the allocation thereof of the purchase price of acquired operations significantly influences the period in which costs are recognized.  Accounting for acquisitions and consolidations requires the Company to estimate the fair value of the individual assets and liabilities acquired as well as various forms of consideration given.  The Company typically obtains independent third party valuation studies to assist in determining fair values, which may include assistance in determining future cash flows, appropriate discount rates and comparable market values.  The estimation of the fair values of consideration given and assets and liabilities acquired involves a number of judgments, assumptions and estimates that could materially affect the amount and timing of costs recognized.

Contingencies:  The Company is subject to the possibility of losses from various contingencies.  Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the probability and amount of any loss from such contingencies.  An accrual is made when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset has been impaired and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  The Company accrues a liability and charges operations for the estimated costs of adjudication or settlement of asserted and unasserted claims existing as of the balance sheet date. 

Income taxes:  The Company is required to estimate its provision for income taxes and amounts ultimately payable or recoverable in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world.  Estimates involve interpretations of regulations and are inherently complex.  Resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for many years after completion of any fiscal year.  The Company is also required to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the assessment of the Company’s performance and other relevant factors when determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to these deferred tax assets.  Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income.

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs, including product and process technology costs.  Determining market value of inventories involves numerous judgments, including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for future periods and costs to complete products in work in process inventories.  To project average selling prices and sales volumes, the Company reviews recent sales volumes, existing customer orders, current contract prices, industry analysis of supply and demand, seasonal factors, general economic trends and other information.  When these analyses reflect estimated market values below the Company’s manufacturing costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  Differences in forecasted average selling prices used in calculating lower of cost or market adjustments can result in significant changes in the estimated net realizable value of product inventories and accordingly the amount of write-down recorded.  Due to the volatile nature of the semiconductor memory industry, actual selling prices and volumes often vary significantly from projected prices and volumes and, as a result, the timing of when product costs are charged to operations can vary significantly.

32




 

U.S. GAAP provides for products to be grouped into categories in order to compare costs to market values.  The amount of any inventory write-down can vary significantly depending on the determination of inventory categories.  The Company’s inventories have been categorized as Memory products or Imaging products.  The major characteristics the Company considers in determining inventory categories are product type and markets.

Product and process technology:  Costs incurred to acquire product and process technology or to patent technology developed by the Company are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over periods currently ranging up to 10 years.  The Company capitalizes a portion of costs incurred based on its analysis of historical and projected patents issued as a percent of patents filed.  Capitalized product and process technology costs are amortized over the shorter of (i) the estimated useful life of the technology, (ii) the patent term or (iii) the term of the technology agreement.

Property, plant and equipment:  The Company reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and/or disposition.  In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.  The estimation of future cash flows involves numerous assumptions which require judgment by the Company, including, but not limited to, future use of the assets for Company operations versus sale or disposal of the assets, future selling prices for the Company’s products and future production and sales volumes.  In addition, judgment is required by the Company in determining the groups of assets for which impairment tests are separately performed.

Research and development:  Costs related to the conceptual formulation and design of products and processes are expensed as research and development when incurred.  Determining when product development is complete requires judgment by the Company.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.

Stock-based compensation:  In 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective application method and began accounting for its stock-based compensation using a fair-valued based recognition method.  Under the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair-value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award.  Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, expected option life and forfeiture rates.  The Company develops its estimates based on historical data and market information which can change significantly over time.  A small change in the estimates used can result in a relatively large change in the estimated valuation.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to value employee stock awards.  The Company estimates stock price volatility based on an average of its historical volatility and the implied volatility derived from traded options on the Company’s stock.  Estimated option life and forfeiture rate assumptions are derived from historical data.  For stock based compensation awards with graded vesting that were granted after 2005, the Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.

33




 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

As of August 31, 2006, $469 million of the Company’s $571 million in total debt was at fixed interest rates.  As a result, the fair value of the debt fluctuates based on changes in market interest rates.  The estimated fair market value of the Company’s debt was $627 million as of August 31, 2006.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

The information in this section should be read in conjunction with the information related to changes in the exchange rates of foreign currency in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

The functional currency for substantially all of the Company’s operations is the U.S. dollar.  The Company held aggregate cash and other assets in foreign currencies valued at U.S. $425 million as of August 31, 2006, and U.S. $344 million as of September 1, 2005 (including cash and equivalents denominated in yen valued at U.S. $222 million as of August 31, 2006, and U.S. $215 million as of September 1, 2005; cash and equivalents denominated in Singapore dollars valued at U.S. $42 million; and deferred income tax assets denominated in yen valued at U.S. $64 million as of August 31, 2006, and U.S. $51 million as of September 1, 2005).  The Company also held aggregate foreign currency liabilities valued at U.S. $615 million as of August 31, 2006, and U.S. $575 million as of September 1, 2005 (including debt denominated in yen valued at U.S. $228 million as of August 31, 2006, and U.S. $299 million as of September 1, 2005).  Foreign currency receivables and payables as of August 31, 2006, were comprised primarily of yen, euros, Singapore dollars and British pounds.  The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of August 31, 2006, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately $1 million for the yen and $1 million for the euro.

34




 

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Page

 

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 31, 2006, and September 1, 2005, and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2006, September 1, 2005, and September 2, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

36

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

37

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

 

38

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

39

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

40

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

61

 

 

 

Financial Statement Schedule:

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

68

 

35




 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in millions except per share amounts)

For the year ended

 

August 31,
2006

 

September 1,
2005

 

September 2,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

5,272

 

$

4,880

 

$

4,404

 

Cost of goods sold

 

4,072

 

3,734

 

3,090

 

Gross margin

 

1,200

 

1,146

 

1,314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

460

 

348

 

332

 

Research and development

 

656

 

604

 

755

 

Restructure

 

 

(1

)

(23

)

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

(266

)

(22

)

 

Operating income

 

350

 

217

 

250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

101

 

32

 

15

 

Interest expense

 

(25

)

(47

)

(36

)

Other non-operating income (expense), net

 

7

 

(3

)

3

 

Income before taxes

 

433

 

199

 

232

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (provision)

 

(18

)

(11

)

(75

)

Noncontrolling interests in net income

 

(7

)

 

 

Net income

 

$

408

 

$

188

 

$

157

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.59

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.24

 

Diluted

 

0.57

 

0.29

 

0.24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in per share calculations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

692

 

648

 

641

 

Diluted

 

725

 

702

 

646

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

36




 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in millions except par value amounts)

As of

 

August 31,
2006

 

September 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

$

1,431

 

$

524

 

Short-term investments

 

1,648

 

766

 

Receivables

 

956

 

794

 

Inventories

 

963

 

771

 

Prepaid expenses

 

77

 

39

 

Deferred income taxes

 

26

 

32

 

Total current assets

 

5,101

 

2,926

 

Intangible assets, net

 

388

 

260

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

5,888

 

4,684

 

Deferred income taxes

 

49

 

30

 

Goodwill

 

502

 

16

 

Other assets

 

293

 

90

 

Total assets

 

$

12,221

 

$

8,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

1,319

 

$

753

 

Deferred income

 

53

 

30

 

Equipment purchase contracts

 

123

 

49

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

166

 

147

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,661

 

979

 

Long-term debt

 

405

 

1,020

 

Deferred income taxes

 

28

 

35

 

Other liabilities

 

445

 

125

 

Total liabilities

 

2,539

 

2,159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

1,568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized 3 billion shares, issued and outstanding 749.4 million and 616.2 million shares

 

75

 

62

 

Additional capital

 

6,555

 

4,707

 

Retained earnings

 

1,486

 

1,078

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(2

)

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

8,114

 

5,847

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

12,221

 

$

8,006

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

37




 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Amounts in millions)

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated
Other

 

Total

 

 

 

Number
of Shares

 

Amount

 

Additional
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

 

Shareholders’
Equity

 

Balance at August 28, 2003

 

609.9

 

$

61

 

$

4,176

 

$

734

 

$

 

$

4,971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

157

 

 

 

157

 

Stock issued under stock plans

 

3.1

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

Issuance of stock rights

 

 

 

 

 

450

 

 

 

 

 

450

 

Redemption of common stock

 

(1.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable common stock accretion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

Balance at September 2, 2004

 

611.5

 

$

61

 

$

4,664

 

$

890

 

$

 

$

5,615

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

188

 

 

 

188

 

Stock issued under stock plans

 

4.7

 

1

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

44

 

Balance at September 1, 2005

 

616.2

 

$

62

 

$

4,707

 

$

1,078

 

$

 

$

5,847

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

408

 

 

 

408

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

(2

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock and stock options issued in connection with the acquisition of Lexar

 

50.7

 

5

 

878

 

 

 

 

 

883

 

Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance costs

 

53.7

 

5

 

618

 

 

 

 

 

623

 

Settlement of call spread options

 

 

 

 

 

171

 

 

 

 

 

171

 

Stock issued under stock plans

 

11.9

 

1

 

114

 

 

 

 

 

115

 

Premium recognized on convertible debt assumed in Lexar acquisition

 

 

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

 

 

43

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

26

 

Stock issued in connection with Intel stock rights

 

16.9

 

2

 

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at August 31, 2006

 

749.4

 

$

75

 

$

6,555

 

$

1,486

 

$

(2

)

$

8,114

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

38




 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in millions)

For the year ended

 

August 31,
2006

 

September 1,
2005

 

September 2,
2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

408

 

$

188

 

$

157

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,281

 

1,265

 

1,217

 

Stock-based compensation

 

26

 

2

 

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in receivables

 

(62

)

(22

)

(131

)

Increase in inventories

 

(12

)

(193

)

(160

)

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

130

 

11

 

30

 

Increase (decrease) in customer prepayments

 

249

 

(2

)

3

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(24

)

(10

)

58

 

Other

 

23

 

(2

)

(15

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

2,019

 

1,237

 

1,159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

 

(3,080

)

(1,849

)

(1,799

)

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

 

(1,365

)

(1,065

)

(1,081

)

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities

 

2,189

 

1,826

 

1,179

 

Consolidation of TECH

 

319

 

 

 

Cash acquired from acquisition of Lexar

 

97

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

55

 

47

 

93

 

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities

 

33

 

10

 

226

 

Other

 

(4

)

(53

)

69

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(1,756

)

(1,084

)

(1,313

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest in IMFT

 

936

 

 

 

Proceeds from settlement of call spread options

 

171

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

113

 

41

 

37

 

Proceeds from sale of noncontrolling interest in MP Mask

 

48

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of debt

 

 

221

 

64

 

Proceeds from equipment sale-leaseback transactions

 

 

161

 

38

 

Proceeds from issuance of stock rights

 

 

 

450

 

Repayments of debt

 

(415

)

(300

)

(107

)

Payments on equipment purchase contracts

 

(209

)

(236

)

(344

)

Redemption of common stock

 

 

 

(68

)

Other

 

 

(2

)

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

644

 

(115

)

70

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

 

907

 

38

 

(84

)

Cash and equivalents at beginning of year

 

524

 

486

 

570

 

Cash and equivalents at end of year

 

$

1,431

 

$

524

 

$

486

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes refunded (paid), net

 

$

(52

)

$

(21

)

$

10

 

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized

 

(28

)

(58

)

(27

)

Noncash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock and stock options issued in acquisition of Lexar

 

883

 

 

 

Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance cost

 

623

 

 

 

Equipment acquisitions on contracts payable and capital leases

 

326

 

372

 

280

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 

39




 

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All tabular dollar amounts in millions except per share amounts)

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation:  Micron Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”) manufacture and market DRAM, NAND Flash memory, CMOS image sensors and other semiconductor components.  The Company has two reportable segments, Memory and Imaging.   The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash and the Imaging segment’s primary product is CMOS image sensors.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  The Company’s fiscal 2006 and 2005 contained 52 weeks.  The Company’s fiscal 2004 contained 53 weeks.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.

Reclassifications:  Certain reclassifications have been made, none of which affected results of operations, to present the financial statements on a consistent basis.

Use of estimates:  The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures.  Estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, forecasted future events and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Estimates and judgments may differ under different assumptions or conditions.  The Company evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.  Actual results could differ from estimates.

Certain concentrations:  Approximately 70% of the Company’s net sales for 2006 were to the computing market, including desktop PCs, notebooks, servers and workstations.  Sales to one customer were 11%, 11% and 13% of the Company’s net sales in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Sales to another customer were 12% and 14% of the Company’s net sales in 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Sales of DRAM and imaging products constituted 76% and 14%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales for 2006 and no other product group individually constituted greater than 10% of the Company’s net sales.  Certain components used by the Company in manufacturing semiconductor products are available from a limited number of suppliers.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, investment securities and trade receivables.  The Company invests through high-credit-quality financial institutions and, by policy, limits the concentration of credit exposure by restricting investments with any single obligor.  A concentration of credit risk may exist with respect to trade receivables as a substantial portion of the Company’s customers are affiliated with the computing industry.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of customers worldwide and generally does not require collateral from its customers.  Historically, the Company has not experienced significant losses on receivables.

Product warranty:  The Company generally provides a limited warranty that its products are in compliance with Company specifications existing at the time of delivery.  Under the Company’s general terms and conditions of sale, liability for certain failures of product during a stated warranty period is usually limited to repair or replacement of defective items or return of, or a credit with respect to, amounts paid for such items.  Under certain circumstances, the Company may provide more extensive limited warranty coverage and general legal principles may impose upon the Company more extensive liability than that provided under the Company’s general terms and conditions.  The Company’s warranty obligations are not material.

Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes product or license revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.  Because of frequent changes in market prices for the Company’s products, sales made under agreements allowing pricing protection or rights of return (other than for product warranty) are deferred until customers have sold the product.

40




 

 

Research and development:  Costs related to the conceptual formulation and design of products and processes are expensed as research and development as incurred.  Determining when product development is complete requires judgment by the Company.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.  Subsequent to product qualification, product costs are valued in inventory.  Product design and other research and development costs for NAND Flash are shared equally among the Company and Intel.  Costs charged to Intel are reflected as a reduction of research and development expense.  (See “Joint Ventures — IM Flash Technologies, LLC” note.)

Stock-based compensation:  Effective the beginning of 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” and elected to adopt the modified prospective application method.  Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.  For stock awards granted in 2006, expenses are amortized under the straight-line attribution method.  For stock awards granted prior to 2006, expenses are amortized under the multiple option method prescribed by FASB Interpretation No. 28.  Previously reported amounts have not been restated.  The Company adopted the alternative transition method provided in FASB Staff Position No. 123(R)-3 for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation.

Functional currency:  The U.S. dollar is the Company’s functional currency for substantially all of its operations.

Earnings per share:  Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares and stock rights outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares and stock rights outstanding plus the dilutive effects of stock options, warrants and convertible notes.  Potential common shares that would increase earnings per share amounts or decrease loss per share amounts are antidilutive and are, therefore, excluded from diluted earnings per share calculations.

Financial instruments:  Cash equivalents include highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less, readily convertible to known amounts of cash.  Investments with original maturities greater than three months and remaining maturities less than one year are classified as short-term investments.  Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as other noncurrent assets.  Securities classified as available-for-sale are stated at market value.  The carrying value of investment securities sold is determined using the specific identification method.

The amounts reported as cash and equivalents, short-term investments, receivables, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and equipment purchase contracts approximate their fair values.  The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt was $627 million and $1,213 million as of August 31, 2006 and September 1, 2005, respectively.  The fair value estimates presented herein were based on market interest rates and other market information available to management as of each balance sheet date presented.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.  The approximate fair values do not take into consideration expenses that could be incurred in an actual settlement.

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs, including product and process technology costs.  Determining market value of inventories involves numerous judgments, including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for future periods and costs to complete products in work in process inventories.  As a result of these analyses, when market values are below the Company’s costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  The Company’s inventories have been categorized as Memory products or Imaging products for purposes of determining average cost and market value.  The major characteristics the Company considers in determining categories are product type and markets.

Product and process technology:  Costs incurred to acquire product and process technology or to patent technology developed by the Company are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over periods currently ranging up to 10 years.  The Company capitalizes a portion of costs incurred based on its analysis of historical and projected patents issued as a percent of patents filed.  Capitalized product and process technology costs are amortized over the shorter of (i) the estimated useful life of the technology, (ii) the patent term or (iii) the term of the technology agreement.  Fully-amortized costs are removed from product and process technology and accumulated amortization.

41




 

 

Property, plant and equipment:  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 5 to 30 years for buildings, 2 to 20 years for equipment and 2 to 5 years for software.  Assets held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value and are included in other noncurrent assets.  When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the net book value of the asset is removed from the Company’s accounts and any net gain or loss is included in the Company’s results of operations.

The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the active construction period of major capital projects.  Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is amortized over the useful lives of the assets.  The Company capitalized interest costs of $10 million, $2 million and $1 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, in connection with various capital projects.

Recently issued accounting standards:  In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”  In SAB No. 108, the SEC staff established an approach that requires quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of the misstatements on each of the company’s financial statements and the related financial statement disclosures.  SAB No. 108 permits existing public companies to initially apply its provisions either by (i) restating prior financial statements or (ii) recording the cumulative effect as adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities with an offsetting adjustment recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings.  The Company is required to adopt SAB No. 108 by the end of 2007 and does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).”  SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income.  SFAS No. 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position, with limited exceptions.  Under SFAS No. 158, the Company is required to initially recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of 2007.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.  The Company is required to adopt FAS No. 157 effective at the beginning of 2009.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation Number 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  The interpretation contains a two step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109.  The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any.  The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company is required to adopt FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.”  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation.  As of August 31, 2006, the Company did not have any hybrid financial instruments subject to the fair value election under SFAS No. 155.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 155 effective at the beginning of 2008.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.”  SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 154 for accounting changes and error corrections that occur after the beginning of 2007.  The Company’s results of operations and financial condition will only be impacted following the adoption of SFAS No. 154 if it implements changes in accounting principle that are addressed by the standard or corrects accounting errors in future periods.

42




 

 

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (“FIN 47”), “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations,” which clarifies that an entity is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value can be reasonably estimated even though uncertainty exists about the timing and (or) method of settlement.  The Company adopted FIN 47 in the third quarter of 2006.  The adoption of FIN 47 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Investment Securities

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities:

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial paper

 

$

1,272

 

$

485

 

U.S. government and agencies

 

668

 

396

 

Certificates of deposit

 

486

 

47

 

Corporate notes and bonds

 

232

 

66

 

Repurchase agreements

 

67

 

48

 

Other

 

21

 

3

 

 

 

2,746

 

1,045

 

Less cash equivalents

 

(1,077

)

(276

)

Less noncurrent investments

 

(21

)

(3

)

Short-term investments

 

$

1,648

 

$

766

 

 

Receivables

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables

 

$

811

 

$

720

 

Taxes other than income

 

18

 

24

 

Joint venture

 

 

24

 

Other

 

131

 

28

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(4

)

(2

)

 

 

$

956

 

$

794

 

 

In connection with the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company recorded receivables of $123 million.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

Other receivables include $51 million due from Intel primarily for amounts related to NAND Flash product design and process development activities and $51 million due from Toshiba.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

Inventories

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

$

273

 

$

271

 

Work in process

 

530

 

395

 

Raw materials and supplies

 

195

 

129

 

Allowance for obsolescence

 

(35

)

(24

)

 

 

$

963

 

$

771

 

 

In connection with the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006, the Company recorded inventories of $104 million.  (See “Joint Ventures — Tech Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.” note.)  In connection with the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company recorded inventories of $75 million.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

43




 

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product and process technology

 

$

460

 

$

(219

)

$

385

 

$

(178

)

Customer relationships

 

127

 

(4

)

 

 

Joint venture supply arrangement

 

 

 

105

 

(55

)

Other

 

27

 

(3

)

5

 

(2

)

 

 

$

614

 

$

(226

)

$

495

 

$

(235

)

 

In connection with the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company capitalized $127 million for customer related intangible assets, $35 million for product and process technology and $21 million for trademark and trade name intangible assets with weighted-average useful lives of 8 years, 10 years and 5 years, respectively.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

During 2006, including the value of assets acquired from Lexar, the Company capitalized $76 million for product and process technology with a weighted-average useful life of 10 years.  During 2005, the Company capitalized $35 million for product and process technology with a weighted-average useful life of 10 years.

In 2006, as a result of the Company’s consolidation of TECH, the Company ceased amortization of the intangible asset associated with the TECH joint venture supply arrangement and included the remaining amount as part of the Company’s investment in TECH’s net assets, which is eliminated in consolidation.  (See “Joint Ventures — TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.” note.)

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $52 million, $51 million and $50 million in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Annual amortization expense for intangible assets held as of August 31, 2006, is estimated to be $67 million for 2007, $67 million for 2008, $56 million for 2009, $47 million for 2010 and $43 million for 2011.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company recorded $486 million of goodwill from its acquisition of Lexar.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)  As of August 31, 2006, the Company had goodwill of $490 million for its Memory segment and $12 million for its Imaging segment.  As of September 1, 2005, the Company had goodwill of $4 million for its Memory segment and $12 million for its Imaging segment.

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

$

107

 

$

109

 

Buildings

 

2,763

 

2,419

 

Equipment

 

9,528

 

8,045

 

Construction in progress

 

484

 

236

 

Software

 

251

 

220

 

 

 

13,133

 

11,029

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(7,245

)

(6,345

)

 

 

$

5,888

 

$

4,684

 

 

Depreciation expense was $1,258 million, $1,211 million and $1,166 million for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

In connection with the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006, the Company recorded property, plant and equipment of $562 million.  (See “Joint Ventures — Tech Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.” note.)

44




 

 

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

854

 

$

394

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

220

 

167

 

Taxes other than income

 

23

 

17

 

Income taxes

 

20

 

7

 

Joint venture

 

 

51

 

Other

 

202

 

117

 

 

 

$

1,319

 

$

753

 

 

In connection with the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006, the Company recorded accounts payable and accrued expenses of $69 million.  (See “Joint Ventures — Tech Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.” note.)  In connection with the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company recorded accounts payable and accrued expenses of $181 million.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

Debt

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations payable in monthly installments through February 2021, weighted-average imputed interest rate of 6.6%and 6.4%

 

$

264

 

$

197

 

Notes payable in periodic installments through July 2015, weighted-average interest rate of 1.5% and 1.9%

 

237

 

348

 

Convertible subordinated notes payable, interest rate of 5.6%, due April 2010

 

70

 

 

Convertible subordinated notes payable, face amount of $633 million, interest rate of 2.5%, due February 2010

 

 

622

 

 

 

571

 

1,167

 

Less current portion

 

(166

)

(147

)

 

 

$

405

 

$

1,020

 

 

As of August 31, 2006, notes payable of $219 million denominated in Japanese yen were at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.2%.

The Company’s TECH subsidiary has a credit facility that enables it to borrow up to $400 million at Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (“SIBOR”) plus 2.5% subject to customary covenants.  Amounts borrowed under the facility would be due in quarterly installments through September 2009.  As of August 31, 2006, TECH had not borrowed any amounts against the credit facility.

In connection with the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company assumed Lexar’s $70 million 5.625% convertible notes due April 1, 2010 (the “Lexar Notes”).  The Lexar Notes are convertible into the Company’s common stock any time at the option of the holders of the Notes at a price equal to approximately $11.28 per share and are subject to customary covenants.  The Lexar Notes are redeemable for cash at the Company’s option beginning on April 1, 2008, at a price equal to the principal amount plus accrued interest.  The Company may only redeem the Lexar Notes if its common stock has exceeded 175% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days prior to delivery of a notice of redemption.  Upon redemption, the Company will be required to make a payment equal to the net present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments through April 1, 2010.

In the second quarter of 2006, the Company’s $633 million 2.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) were converted into 53.7 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  In addition, the Company’s related interest rate swap terminated by its terms on February 6, 2006 and, as a result, $35 million of cash pledged as collateral for the swap became unrestricted.  On February 14, 2006, the Company terminated its outstanding call spread options covering a total of approximately 53.7 million shares of its common stock (“Call Spread Options”).  The Company originally entered into the Call Spread Options in connection with its issuance of the Notes.  The Company received $171 million for the settlement of the Call Spread Options.  The settlement was accounted for as a capital transaction.

45




 

 

In 2005, the Company entered into two yen-dominated loans aggregating 23.5 billion yen ($221 million), payable in semi-annual installments through 2010.  The first, a syndicated term loan for 13.5 billion yen bears interest at the 6-month Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate (“TIBOR”) plus 1.25% (1.40% as of August 31, 2006).  The second loan for 10.0 billion yen bears interest at a fixed rate of 0.95% and is collateralized by certain equipment owned by the Company.

In 2005, the Company received $161 million in proceeds from sales-leaseback transactions and as a result recorded capital lease obligations aggregating $157 million with a weighted-average imputed interest rate of 6.3%, payable in periodic installments through January 2009.

Certain notes payable are collateralized by property, plant and equipment with a carrying value of $184 million as of August 31, 2006.  Equipment under capital leases and accumulated amortization thereon were $277 million and $102 million, respectively, as of August 31, 2006, and $254 million and $74 million, respectively, as of September 1, 2005.

As of August 31, 2006, maturities of notes payable and future minimum lease payments under capital lease obligations were as follows:

Fiscal year

 

Notes
Payable

 

Capital
Lease
Obligations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

$

80

 

$

98

 

2008

 

62

 

79

 

2009

 

46

 

74

 

2010

 

115

 

9

 

2011

 

4

 

8

 

2012 and thereafter

 

 

43

 

Interest

 

 

(47

)

 

 

$

307

 

$

264

 

 

Commitments

As of August 31, 2006, the Company had commitments of approximately $1.7 billion for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment.  The Company has an agreement to construct a facility to produce photomasks and sell such facility to its MP Mask partner for a negotiated amount.  The Company does not expect to incur a loss on such sale.  The Company leases certain facilities, equipment and software under operating leases.  Total rental expense on all operating leases was $30 million, $23 million and $21 million for 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Minimum future rental commitments under operating leases aggregated $81 million as of August 31, 2006, and are payable as follows:  $30 million in 2007; $17 million in 2008; $6 million in 2009; $4 million in 2010; $3 million in 2011 and $21 million in 2012 and thereafter.

Contingencies

As is typical in the semiconductor and other high technology industries, from time to time, others have asserted, and may in the future assert, that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe their intellectual property rights.  In this regard, the Company is engaged in litigation with Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) relating to certain of Rambus’ patents and certain of the Company’s claims and defenses.  Lawsuits between Rambus and the Company are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Germany, France, and Italy.  The Company also is engaged in patent litigation with Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”) in both the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.  Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of the Company’s SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of net sales.

46




 

 

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of assertions of infringement made against the Company.  A court determination that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require the Company to make material changes to its products and/or manufacturing processes.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On June 17, 2002, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  The Company is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation.  The Company’s cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for the Company’s full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, the Company will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.  Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, at least eighty-four (seven of which have been dismissed) purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM suppliers in various federal and state courts in the United States and in Puerto Rico by direct and indirect purchasers alleging price-fixing in violation of federal and state antitrust laws, violations of state unfair competition law, and/or unjust enrichment relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products.  The complaints seek treble damages for the alleged damages sustained by purported class members, in addition to restitution, costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  The Court has granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.

Three purported class action lawsuits also have been filed in Canada, alleging violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States and Puerto Rico.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.

On October 11, 2006, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  The Company believes that it is not a target of the investigation and is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other SRAM suppliers.  Two cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, eight cases have filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and one in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”) and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaint.

47




 

 

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On July 21, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with Tessera Technologies, Inc. settling all outstanding litigation between the companies.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid $30 million and received a royalty-bearing license to Tessera’s Compliance Chip technology.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against the Company and certain of its officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.  The Company also was named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from the Company.  However, the Company may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of these actions against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

The Company has accrued a liability and charged operations for the estimated costs of adjudication or settlement of various asserted and unasserted claims existing as of the balance sheet date.  The Company is currently a party to other legal actions arising out of the normal course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In the normal course of business, the Company is a party to a variety of agreements pursuant to which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party.  It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these types of agreements due to the conditional nature of the Company’s obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement.  Historically, payments made by the Company under these types of agreements have not had a material effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

48




 

 
Redeemable Common Stock

In connection with the Company’s acquisition on April 22, 2002, of substantially all of the assets of Toshiba Corporation’s (“Toshiba”) DRAM business as conducted by Dominion Semiconductor L.L.C., the Company issued Toshiba 1.5 million shares of common stock and granted Toshiba an option to require the Company to repurchase the shares for $68 million in cash.  During the first quarter of 2004, Toshiba exercised its option and the Company redeemed the 1.5 million shares.

Shareholders’ Equity

Stock Rights:  On September 24, 2003, the Company received $450 million, which is included in additional capital in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, from Intel Corporation (“Intel”) in exchange for the issuance of stock rights exchangeable into approximately 33.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  On August 21, 2006, Intel disposed of stock rights for 16.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The shares issuable pursuant to the remaining stock rights are included in weighted-average common shares outstanding in the computations of earnings per share.

Common Stock Warrants:  In of 2001, the Company received $480 million from the issuance of warrants to purchase 29.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The warrants entitle the holders to exercise their warrants and purchase shares of Common Stock for $56.00 per share (the “Exercise Price”) at any time through May 15, 2008 (the “Expiration Date”).  Warrants exercised prior to the Expiration Date will be settled on a “net share” basis, wherein investors receive common stock equal to the difference between $56.00 and the average closing sale price for the common shares over the 30 trading days immediately preceding the Exercise Date.  At expiration, the Company may elect to settle the warrants on a net share basis or for cash, provided certain conditions are satisfied.  As of August 31, 2006, there have been no exercises of warrants and all warrants issued remain outstanding.

Equity Plans

As of August 31, 2006, the Company had an aggregate of 164.9 million shares of its common stock reserved for issuance under its various equity plans, of which 126.2 million shares were subject to outstanding awards and 38.7 million shares were available for future grants.  Awards are subject to terms and conditions as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Stock Options:   Stock options granted by the Company are generally exercisable in increments of 25% during each year of employment beginning one year from the date of grant.  Stock options issued prior to January 19, 1998, and after September 22, 2004, generally expire six years from the date of grant.  All other options expire ten years from date of grant.

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Lexar on June 21, 2006, the Company assumed Lexar options, which were converted into options to purchase 6.6 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

Option activity for 2006 is summarized as follows:

 

 

Number of
shares
(in millions)

 

Weighted-
average
exercise price
per share

 

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
(in years)

 

Aggregate
intrinsic value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 1,2005

 

119.1

 

$

20.58

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

10.9

 

13.77

 

 

 

 

 

Assumed Lexar options

 

6.6

 

8.28

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(10.1

)

11.34

 

 

 

 

 

Cancelled or expired

 

(2.6

)

23.38

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at August 31, 2006

 

123.9

 

20.02

 

4.9

 

$

329

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at August 31, 2006

 

109.6

 

$

20.92

 

4.8

 

$

269

 

 

 

49




 

 

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding as of August 31, 2006:

 

 

Outstanding options

 

Exercisable options

 

Range of exercise prices

 

Number
of shares
(in millions)

 

Weighted-
average
remaining
contractual life
(in years)

 

Weighted-
average
exercise
price

 

Number
of shares
(in millions)

 

Weighted-
average
exercise
price