2.2.0.25falsefalse2105100 - Disclosure - Note 4. Acquisitionstruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$D2011Q1http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0fslr_AcquisitionsNoteAbstractfslrfalsenadurationAcquisitions note.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAcquisitions note.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">4. Acquisitions</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Fiscal 2011 Acquisition</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Ray Tracker</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">On </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">January 4, 2011</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, we acquired </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">100%</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of the ownership interest of Ray Tracker, Inc., a tracking technology and photovoltaic (PV) balance of systems business in an all-cash transaction. We have included the financial results of Ray Tracker in our condensed consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. We concluded that the impact of this acquisition was not material to our consolidated balance sheets and results of operations.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Fiscal 2010 Acquisition</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">NextLight Renewable Power</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">On </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">July 12, 2010</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, we completed the acquisition of NextLight Renewable Power, LLC (NextLight), a leading developer of utility-scale solar power projects in the southwestern United States. NextLight was formed by a private equity firm focused on investing in North America's energy infrastructure. This transaction expanded our pipeline of solar power projects in the southwestern United States and supports our expansion in the U.S. utility-scale power market. We have integrated NextLight into our systems business, which provides a complete PV solar power solution, including project development, EPC services, O&M services, when applicable, and project finance, when required.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:26px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">The total consideration for this acquisition was </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">$296.7 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> in an all-cash transaction. In allocating the purchase price based on estimated fair values, we recorded approximately </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">$146.8 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of goodwill, </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">$2.5 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of net tangible assets, and </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">$147.4 million</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of project assets. We have included the financial results of NextLight in our condensed consolidated financial statements beginning on the acquisition date. For the period from January 1, 2010 to March 27, 2010, NextLight did not recognize any revenue and did not incur a material net loss. Therefore, had the acquisition of NextLight occurred on December 27, 2009 (the first day of our fiscal year 2010), our reported net sales would not have changed and our reported net income would not have materially changed from the amounts previously reported.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div></div>4. Acquisitions  Fiscal 2011 Acquisition Ray Tracker On January 4, 2011, we acquired 100% of the ownership interest of Ray Tracker, Inc., afalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. This element may be used as a single block of text to encapsulate the entire disclosure (including data and tables) regarding business combinations, including leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51, 52
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 88-16
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 67-73
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph F4
-Subparagraph e
-Appendix F
falsefalse12Note 4. AcquisitionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue