| Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business
Linear Technology Corporation (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “Linear,” “Linear Technology” or the “Company”), a member of the S&P 500, has been designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad line of high performance analog integrated circuits for major companies worldwide for over three decades. The Company’s products provide an essential bridge between our analog world and the digital electronics in communications, networking, industrial, transportation, computer, medical, instrumentation, consumer, and military and aerospace systems. Linear Technology produces power management, data conversion, signal conditioning, RF and interface ICs, µModule® subsystems, and wireless sensor network products. The Company is a Delaware corporation; it was originally organized and incorporated in California in 1981.
Recent Developments
On July 26, 2016, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement (the “Analog Merger Agreement”) with Analog Devices, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“Analog Devices”), under which a wholly owned subsidiary of Analog Devices will merge with and into the Company, and the Company will survive as a wholly owned subsidiary of Analog Devices (the “Analog Acquisition”). Under the terms of the Analog Merger Agreement, Linear Technology stockholders who do not exercise their appraisal rights under Delaware law will have the right to receive, for each Linear Technology share held by such stockholders, $46.00 in cash (the “Cash Consideration”) and 0.2321 shares of Analog Devices common stock, par value $0.16 2/3 per share (the “Stock Consideration,” and together with the Cash Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”) (with the ratio of Stock Consideration to Cash Consideration subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Analog Merger Agreement so that the aggregate number of shares issued by Analog Devices as Stock Consideration will not exceed 19.9% of the total outstanding common stock of Analog Devices prior to the Analog Acquisition). Each of the Company’s equity awards that were outstanding as of July 22, 2016 and are unvested as of the closing of the Analog Acquisition will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of each share of the Company’s common stock underlying such award when such award vests. Each of the Company’s other equity awards that were granted after July 22, 2016 and are unvested as of the closing of the Analog Acquisition will be converted into the right to receive 0.9947 shares of Analog Devices common stock in respect of each share of the Company’s common stock underlying such award when such award vests.
The transaction has been approved by both the Company’s Board of Directors and the board of directors of Analog Devices, and was approved by Linear Technology stockholders at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on October 18, 2016. The completion of the Analog Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions including, among others, various regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of calendar 2017. For additional information on the Analog Merger Agreement and the Analog Acquisition, please refer to the Company’s definitive proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2016. The Company cannot guarantee that the Analog Acquisition will be completed or that, if completed, it will be exactly on the terms set forth in the Analog Merger Agreement. Should the Analog Acquisition not be completed, the Company will continue to be responsible for payment of commitments to current employees under retention agreements and may receive a termination fee depending on the circumstances, as provided for in the Analog Merger Agreement.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying interim financial statements and information are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair and accurate presentation of the interim results in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been made. All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. All information reported in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 3, 2016 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The accompanying year-end balance sheet data has been presented for comparative purposes from the audited financial statements. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of, nor comparable to, the results of operations for any other interim period or for a full fiscal year.
The Company operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest June 30. Fiscal year 2017 is a 52-week year. Fiscal year 2016 was a 53-week fiscal year, with the additional week falling in the second quarter.
Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. Cash equivalents consist of investment grade securities in commercial paper, bank certificates of deposit, and money market funds.
Investments with maturities over three months at the time of purchase are classified as marketable securities. At October 2, 2016 and July 3, 2016 , the Company’s marketable securities balance consisted primarily of debt securities in municipal bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper, U.S. and foreign government and agency securities. The Company’s marketable securities are managed by outside professional managers within investment guidelines set by the Company. The Company’s investment guidelines generally restrict the professional managers to high quality debt instruments with a credit rating of AAA. Within the Company’s investment policy there is a provision that allows the Company to hold AA+ securities under certain circumstances. The Company’s investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale. Investments in available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company classifies investments with maturities greater than twelve months as current as it considers all investments as a potential source of operating cash regardless of maturity date. The cost of securities matured or sold is based on the specific identification method.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues when the earnings process is complete, when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. For the three months e nded October 2, 2016 , the Company recognized approxima tely 15% of net revenues from North American (“domestic”) distributors. Domestic distributor revenues are recognized under agreements which provide for certain sales price rebates and limited product return privileges. Given the uncertainties associated with the levels of pricing rebates, the ultimate sales price on domestic distributor sales transactions is not fixed or determinable until domestic distributors sell the merchandise to the end-customer. Domestic distributor agreements permit the following: price protection on certain domestic distribution inventory if the Company lowers the prices of its products; exchanges up to 5% of certain purchases on a quarterly basis; and ship and debit transactions. Ship and debit transactions occur when the Company agrees to accept a lower selling price for a specific quantity of product at the request of the domestic distributor in order to complete a sales transaction in the domestic distributor channel. For such sales, the Company rebates the negotiated price decrease to the distributor upon shipment as a reduction in the accounts receivable from the distributor.
At the time of shipment to domestic distributors, the Company records a trade receivable and deferred revenue at the distributor’s purchase price since there is a legally enforceable obligation from the distributor to pay for the products delivered. The Company relieves inventory as title has passed to the distributor and recognizes deferred cost of sales in the same amount. “Deferred income on shipments to distributors” represents the difference between deferred revenue and deferred costs of sales and is recognized as a current liability until such time as the distributor confirms a final sale to its end customer. ”Deferred income on shipments to distributors” effectively represents the deferred gross margin on the sale to the distributor, however, the actual amount of gross margin the Company ultimately recognizes in future periods may be less than the originally recorded amount as a result of price protection, negotiated price rebates and exchanges as mentioned above. The wide range and variability of negotiated price rebates granted to distributors does not allow the Company to accurately estimate the portion of the balance in the “Deferred income on shipments to distributors” that will be remitted back to the distributors. At October 2, 2016 , the Company had approximately $61.3 million of deferred revenue and $12.5 million of deferred cost of sales recognized as $48. 8 million of “Deferred income on shipments to distributors.” During fiscal years 201 6 and 2017 , the price rebates that have been remitted back to distributors have ranged from $3.4 million to $4.1 mi llion per quarter. The Company does not reduce deferred income by anticipated future price rebates. Instead, price rebates are recorded against “Deferred income on shipments to distributors” when incurred, which is generally at the time the distributor sells the product to the end customers.
The Company’s sales to international distributors are made under agreements which permit limited stock return privileges but not sales price rebates. Revenue on these sales is recognized upon shipment at which time title passes. The Company has reserves to cover expected product returns. If product returns for a particular fiscal period exceed or are below expectations, the Company may determine that additional or less sales return allowances are required to properly reflect its estimated exposure for product returns. Generally, changes to sales return allowances have not had a significant impact on operating margin.
Product Warranty and Indemnification
The Company’s warranty policy provides for the replacement of defective parts. In certain large contracts, the Company has agreed to negotiate in good faith a product warranty in the event that an epidemic failure of its parts was to take place. To date there have been no significant occurrences of epidemic failure. Warranty expense historically has been immaterial.
The Company provides a limited indemnification for certain customers against intellectual property infringement claims related to the Company’s products. In certain cases, there are limits on and exceptions to the Company’s potential liability for ind emnification relating to intellectual property infringement claims. To date, the Company has not incurred any significant indemnification expenses relating to intellectual property infringement claims. The Company cannot estimate the amount of potential future payments, if any, which the Company might be required to make as a result of these agreements, and accordingly, the Company has not accrued any amounts for its indemnification obligations.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has equity incentive plans, which are described more fully in “Note 5: Stock-Based Compensation.” Stock-based compensation is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award. The Company’s equity awards granted in fiscal years 2017 and 2016 were restricted stock awards. Stock-based compensation cost for restricted stock awards is based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation cost for stock options is calculated on the date of grant using the fair value of stock options as determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The Black-Sch oles valuation model requires the Company to estimate key assumptions such as expected option term and stock price volatility to determine the fair value of a stock option. The estimate of these key assumptions is based on historical information and judgment regarding market factors and trends. The Company amortizes restricted stock and stock option award compensation cost straight-line over the awards vesting period, which is generally 5 years.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss components include unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax.
Adoption of New and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. Each reporting period, management is required to assess whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and if so to provide related footnote disclosures. The Company will adopt this update in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The new guidance changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The Company adopted this update in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures.
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). On July 9, 2015, the FASB agreed to delay the effective date by one year from the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. In accordance with the agreed upon delay, the new standard is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date of the standard. The core principle of ASU No. 2014-09 is that a company should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 provides for one of the two methods of transition: retrospective application to each prior period presented; or recognition of the cumulative effect of retrospective application of the new standard in the period of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2014-09 on its consolidated financial statements and which transition method to elect.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. This standard requires entities that lease assets, with a lease term of more than 12 months, to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Under existing guidance, operating leases are not recorded as lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The standard is effective for fiscal years and the interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of adoption and the effects of the adoption of this ASU on the consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This standard will impact how to account for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The standard is effective for fiscal years and the interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of adoption and the effects of the adoption of this ASU on the consolidated financial statements.
|
