Note 11 - Common Stock Repurchases

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 11.   COMMON STOCK REPURCHASES  

From time to time, we acquire outstanding common stock in the open market to partially offset dilution from our equity award programs, to increase our return on our invested capital and to bring our cash to a more appropriate level for Exar.

On August 28, 2007, we announced the approval of a share repurchase plan (“2007 SRP”) and authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million of our common stock.

As of March 27, 2011, we had purchased shares valued at $88.2 million under the 2007 SRP. During the three months ended June 30, 2013 and July 1, 2012, respectively, we did not repurchase any shares under the 2007 SRP. As of June 30, 2013, the remaining authorized amount for the stock repurchase under the 2007 SRP was $11.8 million. The 2007 SRP does not have a termination date. We may continue to utilize our 2007 SRP, which would reduce our cash, cash equivalents and/or short-term marketable securities available to fund future operations and to meet other liquidity requirements.

In the first fiscal quarter of 2014, we retired all of our 19.9 million treasury shares.

On July 9, 2013, we announced the approval of an additional stock repurchase program. See “Note 19 – Subsequent Events.”