COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating Leases

We occupy premises and lease equipment under operating lease agreements expiring through 2029. The aggregate undiscounted future minimum rental payments under these leases are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Payments due by period
2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		Thereafter
$	18,596	$	16,971	$	15,635	$	14,432	$	12,528	$	38,630

Lease expense charged to income was $21.4 million, $13.6 million and $7.8 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Contingencies

In Broomfield, Colorado, the owner of a property located adjacent to a manufacturing facility owned by one of our subsidiaries, Microsemi Corp. – Colorado had notified the subsidiary and other parties of a claim that contaminants migrated to his property, thereby diminishing its value. In August 1995, the subsidiary, together with Coors Porcelain Company, FMC Corporation and Siemens Microelectronics, Inc. (former owners of the manufacturing facility), agreed to settle the claim and to indemnify the owner of the adjacent property for remediation costs. Although tricholorethylene and other contaminants previously used by former owners at the facility are present in soil and groundwater on the subsidiary’s property, we vigorously contest any assertion that the subsidiary caused the contamination. In November 1998, we signed an agreement with the three former owners of this facility whereby they have 1) reimbursed us for $0.5 million of past costs, 2) assumed responsibility for 90% of all future clean-up costs, and 3) promised to indemnify and protect us against any and all third-party claims relating to the contamination of the facility. An Integrated Corrective Action Plan was submitted to the State of Colorado. Sampling and management plans were prepared for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. State and local agencies in Colorado are reviewing current data and considering study and cleanup options. The most recent forecast estimated that the total project cost, up to the year 2020, would be approximately $5.3 million; accordingly, we recorded a one-time charge of $0.5 million for this project in 2003. There has not been any significant development since September 28, 2003.

We are generally self-insured for losses and liabilities related to workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance. Accrued workers’ compensation liability was $1.4 million and $1.5 million at September 30, 2012 and October 2, 2011, respectively. Our self-insurance accruals are based on estimates and, while we believe that the amounts accrued are adequate, the ultimate claims may be in excess of the amounts provided.

On December 8, 2010, Intellectual Ventures I LLC and Intellectual Ventures II LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Complaint”) against Altera Corporation, Microsemi, and Lattice Semiconductor Corporation. On February 15, 2011, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding Xilinx, Inc. as a defendant. The complaint alleges, inter alia, that programmable logic devices manufactured and sold by our subsidiary Microsemi – SoC infringe United States Patent Numbers 5,687,325, 6,260,087 and 6,272,646 assigned to Intellectual Ventures II LLC, and seeks damages and other relief at law or in equity as the court deems appropriate. We have responded to the complaint. On April 26, 2011, the defendants filed a motion to transfer the case to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. On August 8, 2011, the defendants filed a motion to stay the litigation pending conclusion of reexamination of the patents-in-suit by the United States Patent & Trademark Office. The Court has not yet decided the motion to transfer or motion to stay. Discovery has not yet commenced and no trial date has been set. While material losses are reasonably possible, given the early stages of this matter, we cannot reasonably estimate the amount of any loss in the event of an unfavorable outcome.

We are also involved in other pending litigation matters arising out of the normal conduct of our business, including litigation relating to acquisitions, employment matters, commercial transactions, contracts, environmental matters and matters related to compliance with governmental regulations. The ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or financial impact with respect to these matters is subject to many uncertainties and is therefore not predictable with assurance. In the opinion of management, the final outcome of these matters, if they are adverse, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance with respect to such result, and monetary liability or financial impact on us from these litigation matters could differ materially from those projected.