8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): March 6, 2018

CREE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

North Carolina	0-21154	56-1572719
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

4600 Silicon Drive
Durham, North Carolina	27703
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(919) 407-5300

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ]    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company    [ ]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    [ ]

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

As previously announced,Cree, Inc. (the “Company”) will host a conference call on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. ET. Presentation materials are attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Furthermore, the information in this report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Conference Call Presentation Materials for March 6, 2018

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

CREE, INC.
By:	/s/ Michael E. McDevitt
	Michael E. McDevitt
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: March 6, 2018

EX-99.1

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved Cree Acquires Infineon Technologies RF Power Business EXPANDING LEADERSHIP IN RF POWER March 6, 2018

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved 2 Note on Forward-Looking Statements This presentation includes forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause Cree’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including future financial and operating results. Actual results, including with respect to our targets and prospects, could differ materially due to a number of factors, including the possibility that anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized; the risk that we may not obtain sufficient orders to achieve our targeted revenues; price competition in key markets; the risk that our results will suffer if we are unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity; the risk that we are not able to enter into contractual arrangements with the customers of the acquired business; risks associated with acquisitions generally; the risk that we are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as we experience wide fluctuations in supply and demand; our ability to lower costs; product mix; risks associated with our ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of new products and our entry into new business channels; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render our products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for our products; and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this presentation represent Cree's judgment as of the date of this presentation. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Cree disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise. Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures This presentation includes certain non-GAAP financial measures and targets. Cree's management evaluates results and makes operating decisions using both GAAP and non-GAAP measures included in this presentation. Non-GAAP results exclude certain costs, charges and expenses which are included in GAAP results. By including these non-GAAP measures, management intends to provide investors with additional information to further analyze the Company's performance, core results and underlying trends. Non-GAAP results are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and non-GAAP information should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Forward-Looking Statements & Non-GAAP Measures

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved 3 WOLFSPEED A Powerhouse Semiconductor company focused on Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) • Large multi-decade growth opportunities with SiC and GaN in Electric Vehicles, Solar energy, Telecommunications, Industrial, and Mil/Aero • Invest to expand scale and to accelerate growth of SiC Materials, Power Devices and GaN RF Devices where SiC and GaN have distinct advantage • Objectives: High growth, strong gross margins with good fall through to the bottom line Cree’s Transformation Path

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved 4 Transaction Summary Asset Purchase of Infineon RF Power Business Price • Euro 345 million cash (~$426 million) Assets Acquired • GaN-on-SiC and LDMOS packaging and test operations in Morgan Hill, CA • Well-established customer relationships with leading wireless infrastructure OEMs • Plastic packaging services line in Melaka, Malaysia • ~260 employees Impact • Increases Wolfspeed revenue ~40% with strong future growth opportunity • Expands the Cree Wolfspeed business unit’s RF market opportunity • Strengthens Wolfspeed’s leadership position in RF GaN-on-SiC technologies • Targeted to be accretive to non-GAAP* earnings per share in its first full quarter of operations with Cree Financing • Financed with cash on hand and revolver draw • Proforma leverage of 2.25x with strong balance sheet flexibility and ~$530 million of liquidity post transaction Timing • Transaction closed today - March 6, 2018 *Targeted non-GAAP earnings per share exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles, stock based compensation expense and one-time acquisition related expenses

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved 5 Positions Wolfspeed to further enable faster 4G networks and the revolutionary transition to 5G Strengthens Wolfspeed’s leadership position in RF GaN-on-SiC technologies • Increased scale – increases Wolfspeed revenue by ~$115 million in the first 12 months • Broader product offering - silicon LDMOS and GaN RF packaged devices • Additional RF expertise - 70+ engineers, silicon and GaN know-how, extensive IP • Unique positioning – only Wolfspeed is vertically integrated from SiC wafers to devices Provides access to additional markets and customers • Offering packaged devices expands Wolfspeed’s RF market opportunity • Existing relationships with the top OEMs in wireless infrastructure provide direct market access Adds in-house packaging expertise and capability • GaN-on-SiC and LDMOS packaging and test operations in Morgan Hill, CA Financially attractive Targeted to be accretive to non-GAAP* earnings per share in its first full quarter of operations with Cree Business supports achieving our 40/20/20 long-range margin model presented at our Investor Day on February 26, 2018 Strategic Rationale *Targeted non-GAAP earnings per share exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles, stock based compensation expense and one-time acquisition related expenses

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved 6 Key Takeaways Strengthens Market Position Added scale, packaging capabilities and domain expertise will help extend our considerable technology leadership position Expands TAM Offering packaged devices allows us to address more of the overall RF market opportunity, including gaining customer relationships with the top OEMs in wireless infrastructure Accelerates Growth Increases Wolfspeed revenue by about 40% Financial Flexibility Intact Balance sheet remains strong with approximately $530 million in available liquidity, and leverage is modest at ~2.25x trailing EBITDA

© 2018 Cree, Inc. All rights reserved