Basis of Presentation and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Dec. 25, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Changes in Significant Accounting Policies

Overview

Cree, Inc. (the "Company") is a leading innovator of lighting-class light emitting diode (LED) products, lighting products and semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. The Company's products are targeted for applications such as general illumination, video displays, automotive, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and solar inverters.

The Company develops and manufactures semiconductor materials and devices primarily based on silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN) and related compounds. The physical and electronic properties of SiC and GaN offer technical advantages over traditional silicon, gallium arsenide (GaAs), sapphire and other materials used for electronic and opto-electronic applications.

The Company's LED products consist of LED components, LED chips, and SiC wafers. As the Company develops and improves its LED technology and the market continues to focus on energy efficiency, the Company believes the potential market for LED lighting will continue to expand. The Company's success in selling LED products depends upon its ability to drive adoption and offer innovative products and solutions that enable its customers to succeed in the market. By driving adoption, the Company believes it can influence the growth of the market and open more opportunities for LEDs.

The Company's lighting products consist of both LED and traditional lighting systems. The Company designs, manufactures and sells lighting systems for indoor and outdoor applications, with its primary focus on LED lighting systems for the commercial and industrial markets. The Company also uses its LED systems expertise to accelerate LED adoption and expand the market for its LED components.

In addition, the Company develops, manufactures and sells power and RF devices. The Company's power products are made from SiC and provide faster switching speeds than comparable silicon-based power devices. The Company's RF devices are made from SiC or GaN and produce higher power densities as compared to silicon or gallium arsenide.

The majority of the Company's products are manufactured at production facilities located in North Carolina, Wisconsin and China. The Company also uses contract manufacturers for certain aspects of its product fabrication, packaging and assembly. The Company operates research and development facilities in North Carolina, California, Wisconsin and China.

The Company currently operates its business as one reportable segment.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated balance sheet at December 25, 2011 and the consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended December 25, 2011 and December 26, 2010, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended December 25, 2011 and December 26, 2010 (“consolidated financial statements”) have been prepared by the Company and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows at December 25, 2011, and for all periods presented, have been made. The consolidated balance sheet at June 26, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2011 (“fiscal 2011”). The results of operations for the period ended December 25, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that may be attained for the entire fiscal year ending June 24, 2012 (“fiscal 2012”).

Certain fiscal 2011 amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2012 presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported consolidated net income or shareholders’ equity.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Fair Value Disclosures

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued amended standards requiring additional fair value disclosures. The amended standards require disclosures of transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 of the fair value hierarchy, as well as requiring gross basis disclosures for purchases, sales, issuances and settlements within the Level 3 reconciliation. Additionally, the update clarifies the requirement to determine the level of disaggregation for fair value measurement disclosures and to disclose valuation techniques and inputs used for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements in either Level 2 or Level 3. The Company adopted the new guidance in the third quarter of fiscal 2010, except for the disclosures related to purchases, sales, issuance and settlements, which was effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Because these new standards are related primarily to disclosures, their adoption has not had a significant impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill Impairment Testing

On September 15, 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance concerning the testing of goodwill for impairment.  This guidance modifies goodwill impairment testing by allowing the inclusion of qualitative factors in the assessment of whether a two-step goodwill impairment test is necessary.   Thus, entities are no longer required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless they conclude through an assessment of qualitative factors that it is more likely than not that the unit's carrying value is greater than its fair value.  When an entity's qualitative assessment reveals that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, the entity must perform the two-step goodwill impairment test.   This guidance became effective for the Company in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  The Company's adoption of this guidance has not had a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Presentation of Comprehensive Income

In June 2010, the FASB issued new guidance concerning the presentation of total comprehensive income and its components. Under this guidance an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance, as amended in December 2011, will become effective for the Company beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The Company's adoption of the new accounting guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.