UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x                              QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2006

OR

o                                 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from      to

Commission file number 1-10658

Micron Technology, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

 

 

 

75-1618004

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8000 S. Federal Way, Boise, Idaho

 

 

 

83716-9632

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

 

 

(208) 368-4000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer x

 

Accelerated Filer o

 

Non-Accelerated Filer ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ No x

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of January 4, 2007, was 754,795,709.

 




Part I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Financial Statements

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Amounts in millions except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

November 30,
2006

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,530

 

$

1,362

 

Cost of goods sold

 

1,088

 

1,051

 

Gross margin

 

442

 

311

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

180

 

95

 

Research and development

 

183

 

166

 

Other operating (income), net

 

(31

)

(12

)

Operating income

 

110

 

62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

41

 

11

 

Interest expense

 

(1

)

(11

)

Other non-operating income, net

 

3

 

1

 

Income before taxes

 

153

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax (provision)

 

(9

)

 

Noncontrolling interests in net income

 

(29

)

 

Net income

 

$

115

 

$

63

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.10

 

Diluted

 

0.15

 

0.09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in per share calculations:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

767.0

 

650.1

 

Diluted

 

779.6

 

707.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

1




MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in millions except par value amounts)

(Unaudited)

As of

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

$

1,303

 

$

1,431

 

Short-term investments

 

1,335

 

1,648

 

Receivables

 

996

 

956

 

Inventories

 

1,114

 

963

 

Prepaid expenses

 

81

 

77

 

Deferred income taxes

 

24

 

26

 

Total current assets

 

4,853

 

5,101

 

Intangible assets, net

 

410

 

388

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

7,010

 

5,888

 

Deferred income taxes

 

55

 

49

 

Goodwill

 

502

 

502

 

Other assets

 

244

 

293

 

Total assets

 

$

13,074

 

$

12,221

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

1,578

 

$

1,319

 

Deferred income

 

69

 

53

 

Equipment purchase contracts

 

119

 

123

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

159

 

166

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,925

 

1,661

 

Long-term debt

 

409

 

405

 

Deferred income taxes

 

27

 

28

 

Other liabilities

 

452

 

445

 

Total liabilities

 

2,813

 

2,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

 

1,982

 

1,568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized 3 billion shares,
issued and outstanding 754.5 million and 749.4 million shares

 

75

 

75

 

Additional capital

 

6,604

 

6,555

 

Retained earnings

 

1,600

 

1,486

 

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)

 

 

(2

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

8,279

 

8,114

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

13,074

 

$

12,221

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

2




MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in millions)

(Unaudited)

 

Quarter ended

 

November 30,
2006

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

115

 

$

63

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

380

 

303

 

Stock-based compensation

 

10

 

4

 

Gain from sale of product and process technology

 

(30

)

 

Gain from disposition of equipment

 

(5

)

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in receivables

 

(2

)

(11

)

(Increase) decrease in inventories

 

(151

)

89

 

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

72

 

16

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(1

)

(4

)

Other

 

41

 

(35

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

429

 

425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

 

(1,099

)

(269

)

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

 

(827

)

(478

)

Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities

 

1,082

 

530

 

Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities

 

66

 

 

Proceeds from sale of product and process technology

 

30

 

 

Decrease in restricted cash

 

14

 

1

 

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

11

 

5

 

Other

 

(45

)

(8

)

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(768

)

(219

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest in IMFT

 

388

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

41

 

11

 

Payments on equipment purchase contracts

 

(161

)

(31

)

Repayments of debt

 

(56

)

(49

)

Other

 

(1

)

 

Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities

 

211

 

(69

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents

 

(128

)

137

 

Cash and equivalents at beginning of period

 

1,431

 

524

 

Cash and equivalents at end of period

 

$

1,303

 

$

661

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes paid, net

 

$

(9

)

$

(2

)

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized

 

(2

)

(10

)

Noncash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment acquisitions on contracts payable and capital leases

 

208

 

62

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

3




MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(All tabular dollar amounts in millions except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 

Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation:  Micron Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”) manufacture and market DRAM, NAND Flash memory, CMOS image sensors and other semiconductor components.  The Company has two reportable segments, Memory and Imaging.  The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash and the Imaging segment’s primary product is CMOS image sensors. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.  In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated results of operations and cash flows.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  The Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2007 and 2006 ended on November 30, 2006, and December 1, 2005, respectively.  The Company’s fiscal 2006 ended on August 31, 2006.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.  These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

Recently issued accounting standards:  In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”  The Company is required to adopt SAB No. 108 by the end of 2007 and does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans–an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).”  Under SFAS No. 158, the Company is required to initially recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of 2007.  The Company does not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 158 will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations. 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 157 effective at the beginning of 2009.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  The interpretation contains a two step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109.  The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any.  The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.  The Company is required to adopt FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.”  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company did not have any hybrid financial instruments subject to the fair value election under SFAS No. 155.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 155 effective at the beginning of 2008.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.”  SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle.  The Company adopted SFAS

4




No. 154 at the beginning of 2007.  The adoption of SFAS No. 154 did not impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

 

Receivables

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables

 

$

782

 

$

811

 

Taxes other than income

 

38

 

18

 

Other

 

180

 

131

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

(4

)

(4

)

 

 

$

996

 

$

956

 

 

As of November 30, 2006 and August 31, 2006, other receivables include $65 million and $51 million, respectively, due from Intel Corporation primarily for amounts related to NAND Flash product design and process development activities, and $87 million and $51 million, respectively, due from settlement of litigation.  Long-term receivables due from settlement of litigation of $142 million and $181 million as of November 30, 2006, and August 31, 2006, respectively, are included in other noncurrent assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

Inventories

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

$

351

 

$

273

 

Work in process

 

578

 

530

 

Raw materials and supplies

 

229

 

195

 

Allowance for obsolescence

 

(44

)

(35

)

 

 

$

1,114

 

$

963

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2006

 

August 31, 2006

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Gross
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

 Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product and process technology

 

$

499

 

$

(231

)

$

460

 

$

(219

)

Customer relationships

 

127

 

(8

)

127

 

(4

)

Other

 

27

 

(4

)

27

 

(3

)

 

 

$

653

 

$

(243

)

$

614

 

$

(226

)

 

During the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, the Company capitalized $39 million and $9 million, respectively, for product and process technology with weighted-average useful lives of 9 years and 10 years, respectively.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $17 million and $13 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Annual amortization expense for intangible assets held as of November 30, 2006, is estimated to be $72 million for 2007, $72 million for 2008, $61 million for 2009, $51 million for 2010 and $47 million for 2011.

As of November 30, 2006, and August 31, 2006, the Company had goodwill of $490 million for its Memory segment and $12 million for its Imaging segment.

5




 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

$

107

 

$

107

 

Buildings

 

2,850

 

2,763

 

Equipment

 

10,574

 

9,528

 

Construction in progress

 

745

 

484

 

Software

 

253

 

251

 

 

 

14,529

 

13,133

 

Accumulated depreciation

 

(7,519

)

(7,245

)

 

 

$

7,010

 

$

5,888

 

 

Depreciation expense was $375 million and $292 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,087

 

$

854

 

Salaries, wages and benefits

 

209

 

220

 

Income taxes

 

22

 

20

 

Taxes other than income

 

19

 

23

 

Other

 

241

 

202

 

 

 

$

1,578

 

$

1,319

 

 

Debt

 

November 30,
2006

 

August 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations payable in monthly installments through June 2021, weighted-average imputed interest rate of 6.6%

 

$

295

 

$

264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable in periodic installments through July 2015, weighted-average interest rate of 1.6% and 1.5%

 

203

 

237

 

Convertible subordinated notes payable, interest rate of 5.6%, due April 2010

 

70

 

70

 

 

 

568

 

571

 

Less current portion

 

(159

)

(166

)

 

 

$

409

 

$

405

 

 

As of November 30, 2006, notes payable above included $189 million, denominated in Japanese yen, at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.4%.

The Company’s TECH subsidiary has a credit facility that enables it to borrow up to $400 million at Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (“SIBOR”) plus 2.5% subject to customary covenants.  Amounts borrowed under the facility would be due in quarterly installments through September 2009.  As of November 30, 2006, TECH had not borrowed any amounts against the credit facility.

The Company’s $70 million 5.625% convertible notes (“Notes”) assumed in the acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc. are convertible into the Company’s common stock any time at the option of the holders of the Notes at a price equal to approximately $11.28 per share and are subject to customary covenants.  The Notes are redeemable for cash at the Company’s option beginning on April 1, 2008, at a price equal to the principal amount plus accrued interest.  The Company may only redeem the Notes if its common stock has exceeded 175% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days prior to delivery of a notice of redemption.  Upon redemption, the Company will be required to make a payment equal to the net present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments through April 1, 2010.

6




Contingencies

 

As is typical in the semiconductor and other high technology industries, from time to time, others have asserted, and may in the future assert, that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe their intellectual property rights.  In this regard, the Company is engaged in litigation with Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) relating to certain of Rambus’ patents and certain of the Company’s claims and defenses.  Lawsuits between Rambus and the Company are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Germany, France, and Italy.  The Company also is engaged in patent litigation with Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”) in both the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.  Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of the Company’s SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of net sales. 

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of assertions of infringement made against the Company.  A court determination that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require the Company to make material changes to its products and/or manufacturing processes.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On June 17, 2002, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  The Company is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation.  The Company’s cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for the Company’s full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, the Company will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.  Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, at least eighty-four (seven of which have been dismissed) purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM suppliers in various federal and state courts in the United States and in Puerto Rico by direct and indirect purchasers alleging price-fixing in violation of federal and state antitrust laws, violations of state unfair competition law, and/or unjust enrichment relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products.  The complaints seek treble damages sustained by purported class members, in addition to restitution, costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  The direct purchaser cases were consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.  On January 9, 2007, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the class of direct purchasers (“Direct Purchaser Settlement”).  Under terms of the Direct Purchaser Settlement, the Company will pay $91 million and will be dismissed with prejudice from the direct purchaser consolidated class-action suit.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve the indirect purchaser suits.

The Direct Purchaser Settlement is reflected in the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2007 because it provided additional information with regard to the litigation contingency existing at the end of the quarter.  As a result of the Direct Purchaser Settlement, the Company recorded a $50 million charge to revenue and $31 million net charge to selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2007.  The aggregate net charge including the impact on the Company’s compensation programs was a $77 million reduction in net income.  The Company recorded the costs of the Direct Purchaser Settlement attributable to current customers as a charge to revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Three purported class action lawsuits also have been filed in Canada, alleging violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States and Puerto Rico.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act,

7




Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

On October 11, 2006, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  The Company believes that it is not a target of the investigation and is cooperating with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other SRAM suppliers.  Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, fifty-one cases have filed in various U.S. District Courts asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees. 

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”) and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaint.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against the Company and certain of its officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses. 

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.  The Company also was named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from the Company.  However, the Company may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants. 

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of these actions against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage

8




in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “Lexar Media, Inc.” note.)

The Company has accrued a liability and charged operations for the estimated costs of adjudication or settlement of various asserted and unasserted claims existing as of the balance sheet date.  The Company is currently a party to other legal actions arising out of the normal course of business, none of which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In the normal course of business, the Company is a party to a variety of agreements pursuant to which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party.  It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these types of agreements due to the conditional nature of the Company’s obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement.  Historically, payments made by the Company under these types of agreements have not had a material effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

Equity Plans

 

As of November 30, 2006, the Company had an aggregate of 159.1 million shares of its common stock reserved for issuance under its various equity plans, of which 125.3 million shares were subject to outstanding stock awards and 33.8 million shares were available for future grants.  Awards are subject to terms and conditions as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors.

Stock Options:   The Company granted 1.0 million and 0.5 million shares of stock options during the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share was $5.94 and $5.66 for options granted during the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The fair value of each option award is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model.  Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and historical volatility.  The expected life of options granted is based on historical experience and on the terms and conditions of the options.  The risk-free rates are based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant.  Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model are presented below:

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

November 30,
2006

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average expected life in years

 

4.25

 

4.25

 

Expected volatility

 

42

%

48

%

Weighted-average volatility

 

42

%

48

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.7

%

3.9

%

 

The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable and requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility and estimated option life.  For purposes of this valuation model, no dividends have been assumed.

Restricted Stock:   During the first quarter of 2007, the Company granted 1.0 million shares of service-based restricted awards and 0.9 million shares of performance-based restricted awards.  During the first quarter of 2006, the Company granted 0.8 million shares of service-based restricted awards and 0.6 million shares of performance-based restricted awards.  The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share was $17.58 and $12.21 for restricted stock awards granted during the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively. 

9




Stock-Based Compensation Expense:  Total compensation costs for the Company’s stock plans in the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 were $10 million and $4 million, respectively, and included the following:

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

November 30,
2006

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense by caption:

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

2

 

$

1

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

5

 

2

 

Research and development

 

3

 

1

 

 

 

$

10

 

$

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

$

6

 

$

2

 

Restricted stock

 

4

 

2

 

 

 

$

10

 

$

4

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense of $2 million was capitalized and remained in inventory at the end of the first quarter of 2007.  As of November 30, 2006, $106 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested awards was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.

Stock-based compensation expense in the above presentation does not reflect any significant income taxes, which is consistent with the Company’s treatment of income or loss from its U.S. operations.  (See “Income Taxes” note.)

Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

 

Other operating income for the first quarter of 2007 includes a gain of $30 million from the sale of certain intellectual property to Toshiba Corporation. Other operating expense in the first quarter of 2007 includes net losses of $8 million from changes in currency exchange rates. Other operating income for the first quarter of 2006 includes net gains of $12 million from changes in currency exchange rates. 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes for 2007 and 2006 primarily reflect taxes on the Company’s non-U.S. operations and U.S. alternative minimum tax.  The Company has a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset associated with its U.S. operations.  The provision for taxes on U.S. operations in 2007 and 2006 was substantially offset by a reduction in the valuation allowance.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.5 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $169 million.  The Company also has unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.3 billion and unused state tax credits of $167 million.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2025 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2026.  

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares and stock rights outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effects of stock options, warrants and convertible notes.  Potential common shares that would increase earnings per share amounts or decrease loss per share amounts are antidilutive and are, therefore, excluded from earnings per share calculations.  Antidilutive potential common shares that could dilute basic earnings per share in the future were 105.2 million and 102.5 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

10




 

 

 

Quarter Ended

 

 

 

November 30,
2006

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders – Basic

 

$

115

 

$

63

 

Net effect of assumed conversion of debt

 

 

3

 

Net income available to common shareholders – Diluted

 

$

115

 

$

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Basic

 

767.0

 

650.1

 

Net effect of dilutive stock options and assumed conversion of debt

 

12.6

 

57.0

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Diluted

 

779.6

 

707.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.10

 

Diluted

 

0.15

 

0.09

 

 

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income for 2007 and 2006 includes net income and de minimis amounts of unrealized gains and losses on investments.  Comprehensive income for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006 was $117 million and $61 million, respectively. 

Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”)

 

On June 21, 2006, the Company acquired Lexar, a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of flash memory products, in a stock for stock merger to broaden the Company’s NAND Flash product offering, enhance its retail presence and strengthen its portfolio of intellectual property.  In connection therewith, the Company issued 50.7 million shares of common stock, issued 6.6 million stock options and incurred other acquisition costs resulting in an aggregate purchase price of $886 million, which was allocated to the assets and liabilities of Lexar based on a preliminary estimate of fair values.  The Company recorded total assets of $1,356 million, including cash and short-term investment of $101 million, receivables of $302 million, intangible assets of $183 million and goodwill of $486 million; and total liabilities of $470 million.  The Company’s results of operations subsequent to the acquisition date include Lexar, as part of the Company’s Memory segment.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the consolidated results of operations of the Company as if the acquisition of Lexar had taken place at the beginning of 2006.  The pro forma information does not necessary reflect the actual results that would have occurred nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations.

Quarter ended

 

December 1,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,599

 

Net income

 

34

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share – diluted

 

$

0.05

 

 

Joint Ventures

 

IM Flash Technologies, LLC (“IMFT”):  IMFT, which began operations on January 6, 2006, is a joint venture between the Company and Intel Corporation that was formed to manufacture NAND Flash memory products for the exclusive benefit of its partners.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company owned 51% and Intel owned 49% of IMFT.  The parties share the output of IMFT generally in proportion to their ownership in IMFT.

11




The Company has determined that IMFT is a variable interest entity as defined in FIN 46(R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” and that the Company is the primary beneficiary.  Accordingly, IMFT’s financial results are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company.  The Creditors of IMFT have recourse only to the assets of IMFT and do not have recourse to any other assets of the Company.

 

TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”):  Since 1998, the Company has participated in TECH, a semiconductor memory manufacturing joint venture in Singapore among the Company, the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”), Canon Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company owned an approximate 43% interest in TECH.  The shareholders’ agreement for the TECH joint venture expires in 2011.

 

Effective March 3, 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with EDB whereby EDB granted the Company an option to purchase from EDB, and the Company granted EDB an option to sell to the Company, EDB’s shares of TECH common stock (approximately 30% as of November 30, 2006) (collectively, the “TECH Options”).  The Company’s option to purchase EDB’s shares in TECH is exercisable at any time prior to October 1, 2009.  EDB’s option to put its shares in TECH to the Company is exercisable from March 3, 2008, until October 1, 2010.  The Company has determined that TECH is a variable interest entity, and as a result of the put option agreement noted above, the Company concluded it is the primary beneficiary of TECH as defined by FIN 46(R) and therefore began consolidating TECH’s financial results as of the beginning of the Company’s third quarter of 2006.  The Creditors of TECH have recourse only to the assets of TECH and do not have recourse to any other assets of the Company.

 

The option granted by the Company to EDB to sell to the Company EDB’s shares in TECH is being accounted for as if the shares are mandatorily redeemable by the Company.  The initial carrying value of the noncontrolling interest in TECH attributable to EDB of $287 million is being amortized to its estimated redemption value (approximately $270 million as of November 30, 2006) through March 3, 2008, the date EDB’s option becomes exercisable.  The amortization is recognized as other non-operating income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and amounted to $4 million for the first quarter of 2007.

 

TECH’s semiconductor manufacturing uses the Company’s product and process technology.  Subject to specific terms and conditions, the Company has agreed to purchase all of the products manufactured by TECH.  The Company generally purchases semiconductor memory products from TECH at prices determined quarterly, based on a discount from average selling prices realized by the Company for the preceding quarter.  The Company performs assembly and test services on product manufactured by TECH.  The Company also provides certain technology, engineering and training to support TECH.  Through the first quarter of 2006, prior to the consolidation of TECH, all of these transactions with TECH were recognized as part of the net cost of products purchased from TECH.  The net cost of products purchased from TECH amounted to $140 million for the first quarter of 2006.

 

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  In the third quarter of 2006, the Company formed a joint venture, MP Mask, with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”) to produce photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next- generation semiconductors.  The Company contributed its then existing reticle manufacturing operation to the venture.  In exchange for a 49.99% interest in MP Mask, Photronics paid $48 million cash and $15 million in notes due over two years to the Company.  In connection with the joint venture, the Company received $72 million in exchange for entering into a license agreement with Photronics, which will be recognized over the term of the 10-year agreement.  The Company and Photronics also entered into supply arrangements wherein the Company is expected to purchase a substantial majority of the reticles produced by MP Mask.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company.

 

Subsequent Events

 

On December 11, 2006, the Company acquired CMOS image sensor assets from Avago Technologies Limited (“Avago”) for approximately $53 million, plus additional contingent payments up to $17 million if certain milestones are met.  Mercedes Johnson, a member of the Companys board of directors, is the Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, of Avago.  Ms. Johnson recused herself from all deliberations of the Companys board of directors concerning this transaction.

 

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of 2007, the Company received approximately $300 million in proceeds from equipment financing arrangements that are payable in periodic installments over the next five years.

12




Segment Information

 

The Company’s reportable segments are Memory and Imaging. The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash memory and the Imaging segment’s primary product is CMOS image sensors.  Segment information reported below is consistent with how it is reviewed and evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision maker and is based on the nature of the Company’s operations and products offered to customers.  The Company does not identify or report depreciation and amortization, capital expenditures or assets by segment.  The information below represents the Company’s reportable segments.

 

 

Quarter ended

 

 

 

November 30,

 

December 1,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

1,286

 

$

1,208

 

Imaging

 

244

 

154

 

Total consolidated net sales

 

$

1,530

 

$

1,362

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income:

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

60

 

$

21

 

Imaging

 

50

 

41

 

Total consolidated operating income

 

$

110

 

$

62

 

 

13




Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as those made in “Overview” regarding growth for CMOS image sensor and NAND Flash markets and allocations of wafer starts to NAND Flash products; in “Net Sales” regarding NAND Flash production in future periods and expected revenue from sales of NAND Flash and Imaging products; in “Selling, General and Administrative” regarding SG&A expenses for the second quarter of 2007; in “Research and Development” regarding R&D costs in future periods; in “Stock-Based Compensation” regarding increases in future stock-based compensation costs; and in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” regarding capital spending in 2007 and  future capital contributions to IMFT, IMFS and TECH.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the Company’s historical results and those discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those identified in “PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION – Item 1A.  Risk Factors.”  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes and with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.  All tabular dollar amounts are in millions.  All production data reflects production of the Company and its consolidated joint ventures.

 

Overview

 

The Company is a global manufacturer of semiconductor devices, principally semiconductor memory products (including DRAM and NAND Flash) and CMOS image sensors.  The Company operates in two segments:  Memory and Imaging.  Its products are used in a broad range of electronic applications including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones and other consumer applications including flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still cameras, MP3 players and in automotive applications.  The Company markets its products through its internal sales force, independent sales representatives and distributors primarily to original equipment manufacturers and retailers located around the world.  The Company’s success is largely dependent on the market acceptance of a diversified semiconductor product portfolio, efficient utilization of the Company’s manufacturing infrastructure, successful ongoing development of advanced process technologies and generation of sufficient return on research and development investments. 

 

The Company has strategically diversified its business by expanding into semiconductor products such as specialty memory products (including SDRAM, PSRAM, mobile SDRAM and reduced latency DRAM), NAND Flash memory products and CMOS image sensors.  These products are used in a wider range of applications than the computing applications that use the Company’s highest volume products, DDR and DDR2 DRAM.  The Company leverages its expertise in semiconductor memory manufacturing and product and process technology to provide products that are differentiated from competitors’ products based on performance characteristics.  In 2006, approximately half of the Company’s revenue came from sales of specialty memory products, NAND Flash memory products and CMOS image sensors.  The Company expects that the markets for these products will grow in the near term more rapidly than the overall semiconductor market.  The Company believes the strategic diversification of its product portfolio will strengthen its ability to allocate manufacturing resources to achieve the highest rate of return.

 

The Company is taking steps to establish a significant presence in the NAND Flash market.  In January 2006, the Company partnered with Intel to form a NAND Flash manufacturing joint venture, IM Flash Technologies, LLC.  IMFT’s operations include two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities that are expected to greatly increase the Company’s production of NAND Flash in 2007.  The Company also expects its sales of NAND Flash to increase in 2007, as result of its acquisition in June 2006 of Lexar Media, Inc., a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  

 

The Company’s Imaging segment experienced strong growth in recent periods as net sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased 9% from the fourth quarter of 2006 and 2006 net sales increased 147% from 2005.  Imaging net sales represented 16% of the Company’s net sales in the first quarter of 2007.

 

The Company makes significant ongoing investments to implement its proprietary product and process technology in its facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia to manufacture semiconductor products with increasing functionality and performance at lower costs.  The Company continues to introduce new generations of products that offer improved performance characteristics, such as higher data transfer rates, reduced package size, lower power consumption and increased megapixel count.  The Company generally reduces the manufacturing cost of each generation of product through

14




advancements in product and process technology such as its leading-edge line width process technology and innovative array architecture.

 

In order to maximize returns from investments in research and development (“R&D”), the Company develops process technology that effectively reduces production costs and leverages the Company’s capital expenditures.  To leverage its R&D investments, the Company has formed strategic joint ventures under which the costs of developing NAND Flash memory product and process technologies are shared with its joint venture partner.  In addition, from time to time, the Company has also sold and/or licensed technology to third parties.  To be successfully incorporated in customers’ end products, the Company must offer qualified semiconductor solutions at a time when customers are developing their design specifications for their end products.  This is especially true for specialty memory products and CMOS image sensors, which are required to demonstrate advanced functionality and performance well ahead of a planned ramp of production to commercial volumes.  In addition, DRAM and NAND Flash products necessarily incorporate highly advanced design and process technologies.  The Company must make significant investments in R&D to expand its product offering and develop its leading-edge product and process technologies.

 

Results of Operations

 

First Quarter

 

Fourth Quarter

 

 

 

2007

 

% of net
sales

 

2006

 

% of net
sales

 

2006

 

% of net
sales

 

 

 

(amounts in millions and as a percent of net sales)

 

Net sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

1,286

 

84

%

$

1,208

 

89

%

$

1,149

 

84

%

Imaging

 

244

 

16

%

154

 

11

%

224

 

16

%

 

 

$

1,530

 

100

%

$

1,362

 

100

%

$

1,373

 

100

%

Gross margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory

 

$

340

 

26

%

$

238

 

20

%

$

230

 

20

%

Imaging

 

102

 

42

%

73

 

47

%

94

 

42

%

 

 

$

442

 

29

%

$

311

 

23

%

$

324

 

24

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

$

180

 

12

%

$

95

 

7

%

$

144

 

10

%

Research and development

 

183

 

12

%

166

 

12

%

163

 

12

%

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

(31

)

(2

)%

(12

)

(1

)%

(36

)

(3

)%

Net income

 

115

 

8

%

63

 

5

%

64

 

5

%

 

On January 9, 2007, the Company reached a settlement agreement with a class of direct purchasers of certain DRAM products (“Direct Purchaser Settlement”).  The Direct Purchaser Settlement resolves cases filed in various federal district courts asserting claims on behalf of a class of individuals and entities that purchased DRAM directly from Micron during the period from April 1, 1999, through June 30, 2002.  The litigation arose following a 2002 U.S. Department of Justice inquiry into the DRAM industry. 

 

The Direct Purchaser Settlement is reflected in the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2007 because it provided additional information with regard to the litigation contingency existing at the end of the quarter.  As a result of the Direct Purchaser Settlement, the Company recorded a $50 million charge to revenue and $31 million net charge to selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2007.  The aggregate net charge including the impact on the Company’s compensation programs was a $77 million reduction in net income.  The Company recorded the costs of the Direct Purchaser Settlement attributable to current customers as a charge to revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

The following discussion takes into account the impact of the Direct Purchaser Settlement on the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2007.

 

Net Sales

 

Total net sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased 11% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily reflecting a 12% increase in Memory sales and a 9% increase in Imaging sales.  The increase in Memory sales for the first quarter of 2007 primarily reflects a higher sales volume of NAND Flash memory.  Imaging sales increased in the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, primarily due to increases in sales volume facilitated by a greater

15




allocation of manufacturing capacity to Imaging devices.  Total net sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased 12% as compared to the first quarter of 2006 due to a 58% increase in Imaging sales and 6% increase in Memory sales.

 

Memory:  Memory sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased 12% from the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily due to a 102% increase in sales of NAND Flash memory products.  The 102% increase in sales of NAND Flash products was primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc., which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2006, and a significant increase in megabits manufactured by IMFT, the Company’s consolidated joint venture with Intel.  The Company’s sales of NAND Flash products in the first quarter of 2007 also benefited from an increase in sales of NAND Flash products in packaged form.  Megabit production of NAND Flash increased significantly for the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, primarily due to IMFT’s ramp of its wafer fabrication facility in Virginia.  Sales of NAND Flash include sales from IMFT to Intel at long-term negotiated prices approximating cost.  Sales of NAND Flash products represented 16% of the Company’s total net sales for the first quarter of 2007 as compared to 9% for the fourth quarter of 2006 and 6% for the first quarter of 2006.  The Company expects that sales of NAND Flash products will continue to increase in future periods as IMFT ramps additional production capacity.

 

Sales of DRAM products for the first quarter of 2007 were relatively unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2006 as a 9% increase in average selling prices (which includes the effect of the $50 million charge to revenue as a result of the Direct Purchaser Settlement) was offset by a 9% decrease in megabits sold.  Megabit sales of DRAM decreased due in part to the Company allocation of a larger portion of its manufacturing resources to Imaging products.  Sales of DDR and DDR2 DRAM products were 44% of the Company’s total net sales in the first quarter of 2007 as compared to 49% for the fourth quarter of 2006 and 52% for the first quarter of 2006, reflecting the Company’s progress in diversifying away from the PC market.

 

Memory sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased 6% as compared to the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to a 224% increase in sales of NAND Flash products partially offset by an 11% decrease in sales of DRAM products.  The 224% increase in sales of NAND Flash products was primarily due to the Company’s acquisition of Lexar and a significant increase in megabits manufactured by IMFT, partially offset by significant decreases in average selling prices.  Megabit production of NAND Flash increased significantly for the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the first quarter of 2006, primarily due to the continued ramp of the Company’s wafer fabrication facility in Virginia.  The decrease in sales of DRAM products for the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the first quarter of 2006 was primarily due to a 21% decrease in megabits sold mitigated by a 12% increase in average selling prices (which includes the effects of the $50 million charge to revenue as a result of the Direct Purchaser Settlement).  Megabit production of DRAM decreased 13% for the first quarter of 2007 as compared to the first quarter of 2006, primarily due to a reduction in wafer starts as the Company allocated a larger portion of its manufacturing resources to Imaging and NAND Flash products. 

 

Imaging:  Imaging sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased by 9% from the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily due to a 9% increase in unit sales as average selling prices were approximately the same.  The Company maintained its average selling prices through a shift in the mix of imaging products to those with one megapixel and higher resolutions.  Production increased due to the Company’s allocation of more wafers to the manufacture of Imaging products as well as improvements in manufacturing efficiency.  Imaging sales were 16% of the Company’s total net sales in the first quarter of 2007 as compared to 16% for the fourth quarter of 2006 and 11% for the first quarter of 2006.  Imaging sales for the first quarter of 2007 increased by 58% as compared to the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to increases in unit sales.  Imaging sales over the next few quarters are expected to stabilize at approximately their current levels.

 

Gross Margin

 

The Company’s overall gross margin for the first quarter of 2007 increased significantly as compared to the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to increases in the gross margin for Memory.

 

Memory:  The Company’s gross margin for Memory for the first quarter of 2007 increased to 26% from 20% for the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily due to improving margins for DRAM and NAND Flash products.  The gross margin for DRAM products in the first quarter of 2007 improved significantly from the fourth quarter of 2006 primarily as a result of the 9% increase in average selling price per megabit and lower costs.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products in the first quarter of 2007 through improved product yields and an increase in production utilizing the Company’s 95nm and 78nm process technologies.

 

The Company’s gross margin for Memory for the first quarter of 2007 improved to 26% as compared to 20% for the first quarter of 2006.  This increase in gross margin was primarily due to improved margins on DRAM products partially

16




offset by declines in the margins for NAND Flash products.  The gross margin for DRAM products in the first quarter of 2007 improved significantly from the first quarter of 2006, primarily due to the 12% increase in average selling prices and reductions in production costs.  The Company reduced DRAM product costs through manufacturing efficiencies achieved from improved product yields and increases in production utilizing the Company’s 95nm and 78nm process technologies.  The Company’s gross margin on NAND Flash products for the first quarter of 2007 declined from the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to a 49% decrease in average selling prices.

 

The Company’s TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”) joint venture supplied approximately 25% of the total megabits of memory produced by the Company in recent periods.  TECH primarily produced DDR and DDR2 products in 2007 and 2006.  As of the beginning of the third quarter of 2006, TECH’s results are included in the Company’s consolidated results.  Through the second quarter of 2006, the Company’s results reflected memory products purchased from TECH at prices generally based on a discount from average selling prices realized by the Company for the preceding quarter.  In the first six months of 2006, the Company realized higher gross margin percentages on sales of TECH products than on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  Subsequent to the second quarter of 2006, the Company’s purchases from TECH are eliminated in consolidation and, as a result, TECH’s actual manufacturing costs are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations.  Since TECH utilizes the Company’s product designs and process technology and has a similar manufacturing cost structure, the gross margin on sales of TECH products since the third quarter of 2006 approximated those on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  (See “Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

 

Imaging:  The Company’s gross margin for Imaging for the first quarter of 2007 was the same as for the fourth quarter of 2006.  The Company mitigated the effect of declining average selling prices for most of its high-volume Imaging products through a shift in mix of products to those with one megapixel and higher resolutions, which offered higher margins.  The Company’s gross margin for Imaging declined to 42% for the first quarter of 2007 from 47% for the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to reductions in average selling prices that were partially mitigated by cost reductions and shifts in product mix to higher resolution products.

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the first quarter of 2007 increased 25% from the fourth quarter of 2006 and 89% from the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to the $31 million net charge to SG&A as a result of the Direct Purchaser Settlement and higher compensation costs.  Compensation costs in the first quarter of 2007 increased from the first quarter of 2006 primarily due to increased headcount resulting in part from the acquisition of Lexar, the formation of IMFT in the second quarter of 2006 and the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006, as well as higher levels of variable pay and stock-based compensation.  The Company expects SG&A expenses to approximate $140 million to $150 million for the second quarter of 2007.  For the Company’s Memory segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of Memory sales were 12% in the first quarter of 2007, 10% in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 7% in the first quarter of 2006.  For the Imaging segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of Imaging sales were 11% in the first quarter of 2007, 13% in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 10% in the first quarter of 2006.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses vary primarily with the number of development wafers processed, the cost of advanced equipment dedicated to new product and process development, and personnel costs.  Because of the lead times necessary to manufacture its products, the Company typically begins to process wafers before completion of performance and reliability testing.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.  R&D expenses can vary significantly depending on the timing of product qualification as costs incurred in production prior to qualification are charged to R&D.

 

R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2007 increased 12% from the fourth quarter of 2006, principally due to increases in development wafers processed, higher compensation costs and increases in equipment depreciation.  The Company and Intel share equally R&D process and design costs for NAND Flash.  Under this NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement, the Company charged Intel $48 million in the first quarter of 2007 and $31 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.   R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2007 increased 10% from the first quarter of 2006 principally due to increases in development wafers processed, higher compensation costs and increases in equipment depreciation partially mitigated by reimbursements received from Intel under the NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement.  The Company expects that its R&D costs will increase to as much as $250 million for the second quarter of 2007 as costs associated with preproduction

17




wafer processing at the Company’s Utah fabrication facility will be reflected as R&D expense.  Subsequent to qualification of the Utah facility, R&D expense is expected to decrease to approximately $200 million per quarter.  For the Memory segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of Memory sales were 12% in the first quarter of 2007, the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2006.  For the Imaging segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of Imaging sales were 13% in the first quarter of 2007, 10% in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 12% in the first quarter of 2006.

 

The Company’s process technology R&D efforts are focused primarily on development of successively smaller line-width process technologies which are designed to facilitate the Company’s transition to next-generation memory products and CMOS image sensors.  Additional process technology R&D efforts focus on specialty memory products (including PSRAM, mobile SDRAM and reduced latency DRAM) and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including multi-level cell technology), CMOS image sensors and specialty memory products.

 

Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

 

Other operating income for the first quarter of 2007 includes a gain of $30 million from the sale of certain intellectual property to Toshiba Corporation.  Other operating expense in the first quarter of 2007 includes net losses of $8 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating income for the fourth quarter of 2006 includes $16 million in additional amounts expected to be reimbursed resulting from the extension of an economic development agreement, which allows the Company to recover amounts relating to certain investments in the IMFT Utah facility. Other operating income for the first quarter of 2006 includes net gains of $12 million from changes in currency exchange rates.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes for 2007 and 2006 primarily reflect taxes on the Company’s non-U.S. operations and U.S. alternative minimum tax.  The Company has a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset associated with its U.S. operations.  The provision for taxes on U.S. operations in 2007 and 2006 was substantially offset by reductions in the valuation allowance.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.5 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $169 million.  The Company also has unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.3 billion and unused state tax credits of $167 million.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2025 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2026.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Total compensation cost for the Company’s equity plans was $10 million, $8 million and $4 million for the first quarter of 2007, fourth quarter of 2006 and first quarter of 2006, respectively.  As of November 30, 2006, $2 million of stock compensation costs were capitalized and remained in inventory.  As of November 30, 2006, there was $106 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to equity plans, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.  In 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of substantially all of its unvested stock options then outstanding under the Company’s stock plans to reduce compensation costs recognized subsequent to the adoption in 2006 of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.”  Because the Company’s stock-based compensation costs were reduced by the effect of the acceleration of vesting in 2005, stock-based compensation costs will continue to grow in future periods if the Company continues to grant amounts of new stock-based compensation awards similar to recent periods.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on average selling prices for its products and the timing of capital expenditures, both of which can vary significantly from period to period.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company had cash and equivalents and short-term investments totaling $2.6 billion compared to $3.1 billion as of August 31, 2006.  The balance as of November 30, 2006, included an aggregate of $589 million held at, and anticipated to be used in the near term by, IMFT and TECH.

 

Operating Activities:  For the first quarter of 2007, the Company generated $429 million of cash from operating activities, which principally reflects the Company’s $115 million of net income adjusted by $380 million for non-cash depreciation and amortization expense.  Cash provided by operations was net of the effects of an increase of $151 million in inventories primarily due to an increase in production and higher levels of inventories required to support a more

18




diversified product portfolio.  The Company expects to make payments of $91 million in the second quarter of 2007 in connection with the Direct Purchaser Settlement.

Investing Activities:  For the first quarter of 2007, net cash used by investing activities was $768 million, which included cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $1.1 billion partially offset by the net effect of purchases, sales and maturities of investment securities of $321 million.  A significant portion of the capital expenditures relate to the ramp of IMFT and 300mm conversion at TECH.  The Company believes that to develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, it must continue to invest in manufacturing technologies, facilities and capital equipment, research and development, and product and process technologies.  The Company projects 2007 capital spending to approximate $4 billion, of which approximately $1.5 billion is expected to be funded by capital contributions from joint venture partners.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company had commitments of approximately $1.4 billion for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, nearly all of which are expected to be paid within one year.

 

On December 11, 2006, the Company acquired CMOS image sensor assets from Avago Technologies Limited for approximately $53 million in cash, plus additional contingent payments up to $17 million if certain milestones are met. 

 

Financing Activities:  For the first quarter of 2007, net cash provided by financing activities was $211 million, which includes $388 in capital contributions received from a joint venture partner.  The Company also made an aggregate of $217 million in scheduled debt payments and payments on equipment purchase contracts in the first quarter of 2007.

 

The Company’s TECH joint venture has a credit facility that enables it to borrow up to $400 million in future periods to fund its capital expenditures.

 

Subsequent to the end of its first quarter of 2007, the Company received approximately $300 million in proceeds from equipment financing arrangements that are payable in periodic installments over 5 years.

 

Access to capital markets has historically been important to the Company.  Depending on market conditions, the Company may issue registered or unregistered securities to raise capital to fund a portion of its operations.

 

Joint Ventures:  As of November 30, 2006, IMFT had $485 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  IMFT’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  Subject to certain conditions, the Company is required to make additional contributions to IMFT of approximately $800 million over the next two years and expects to make additional investments as appropriate to support the growth of IMFT’s operations. 

 

On November 6, 2006, the Company announced plans to form a new joint venture with Intel to construct a facility in Singapore for the manufacture of NAND Flash memory.  The Company expects to contribute approximately $1.5 billion in cash to the new joint venture over the next three years, with similar contributions to be made by Intel.

 

As of November 30, 2006, TECH had $104 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  TECH’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  The Company has an option to purchase the equity interest of another TECH shareholder, EDB, which is exercisable at any time until October 1, 2009.  EDB also has an option to put its shares in TECH to the Company, which is exercisable from March 3, 2008 until October 1, 2010.  Exercise of either option would require the Company to pay approximately $270 million to EDB.  (See “Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

 

Contractual Obligations:  As of November 30, 2006, contractual obligations for notes payable, capital lease obligations and operating leases were as follows:

 

 

 

Total

 

Remainder
of 2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

2012 and
thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes payable (including interest)

 

$

291

 

$

48

 

$

68

 

$

51

 

$

120

 

$

4

 

$

 

Capital lease obligations

 

351

 

75

 

86

 

81

 

16

 

15

 

78

 

Operating leases

 

109

 

27

 

31

 

17

 

8

 

4

 

22

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Capital lease obligation shown above does not include approximately $300 million in equipment financing that was obtained subsequent to the end of the first quarter of 2007.

19




Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”  The Company is required to adopt SAB No. 108 by the end of 2007 and does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).”  Under SFAS No. 158, the Company is required to initially recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required disclosures as of the end of 2007.  The Company does not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 158 will have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 157 effective at the beginning of 2009.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  The interpretation contains a two step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109.  The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any.  The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.  The Company is required to adopt FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008.  The Company is evaluating the impact this statement will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.”  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation.  As of November 30, 2006, the Company did not have any hybrid financial instruments subject to the fair value election under SFAS No. 155.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 155 effective at the beginning of 2008.

 

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.”  SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 154 at the beginning of 2007.  The adoption of SFAS No. 154 did not impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures.  Estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, forecasted future events and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Estimates and judgments may vary under different assumptions or conditions.  The Company evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.  Management believes the accounting policies below are critical in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

 

Acquisitions and consolidations:  Determination and the allocation thereof of the purchase price of acquired operations significantly influences the period in which costs are recognized.  Accounting for acquisitions and consolidations requires the Company to estimate the fair value of the individual assets and liabilities acquired as well as various forms of consideration given.  The Company typically obtains independent third party valuation studies to assist in determining fair values, which may include assistance in determining future cash flows, appropriate discount rates and comparable market values.  The estimation of the fair values of consideration given and assets and liabilities acquired involves a number of judgments, assumptions and estimates that could materially affect the amount and timing of costs recognized.

20




Contingencies:  The Company is subject to the possibility of losses from various contingencies.  Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the probability and amount of any loss from such contingencies.  An accrual is made when it is probable that a liability has been incurred or an asset has been impaired and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.  The Company accrues a liability and charges operations for the estimated costs of adjudication or settlement of asserted and unasserted claims existing as of the balance sheet date.

 

Goodwill and intangible assets:  The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred, such as a significant adverse change in the business climate or a decision to sell or dispose of a reporting unit.  Determining whether impairment has occurred requires valuation of the respective reporting unit.  If the analysis indicates goodwill is impaired, measuring the impairment requires a fair value estimate of each identified tangible and intangible asset.  The Company tests other identified intangible assets with defined useful lives and subject to amortization by comparing the carrying amount to the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. The Company tests intangible assets with indefinite lives annually for impairment using a fair value method such as discounted cash flows.  Estimating fair values involves significant assumptions, especially regarding future sales prices, sales volumes, costs and discount rates.

 

Income taxes:  The Company is required to estimate its provision for income taxes and amounts ultimately payable or recoverable in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world.  Estimates involve interpretations of regulations and are inherently complex.  Resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for many years after completion of any fiscal year.  The Company is also required to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the assessment of the Company’s performance and other relevant factors when determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to these deferred tax assets.  Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income.

 

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs, including product and process technology costs.  Determining market value of inventories involves numerous judgments, including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for future periods and costs to complete products in work in process inventories.  To project average selling prices and sales volumes, the Company reviews recent sales volumes, existing customer orders, current contract prices, industry analysis of supply and demand, seasonal factors, general economic trends and other information.  When these analyses reflect estimated market values below the Company’s manufacturing costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  Differences in forecasted average selling prices used in calculating lower of cost or market adjustments can result in significant changes in the estimated net realizable value of product inventories and accordingly the amount of write-down recorded.  Due to the volatile nature of the semiconductor memory industry, actual selling prices and volumes often vary significantly from projected prices and volumes and, as a result, the timing of when product costs are charged to operations can vary significantly.

 

U.S. GAAP provides for products to be grouped into categories in order to compare costs to market values.  The amount of any inventory write-down can vary significantly depending on the determination of inventory categories.  The Company’s inventories have been categorized as Memory products or Imaging products.  The major characteristics the Company considers in determining inventory categories are product type and markets.

 

Product and process technology:  Costs incurred to acquire product and process technology or to patent technology developed by the Company are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over periods currently ranging up to 10 years.  The Company capitalizes a portion of costs incurred based on its analysis of historical and projected patents issued as a percent of patents filed.  Capitalized product and process technology costs are amortized over the shorter of (i) the estimated useful life of the technology, (ii) the patent term or (iii) the term of the technology agreement.

 

Property, plant and equipment:  The Company reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and/or disposition.  In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.  The estimation of future cash flows involves numerous assumptions which require judgment by the Company, including, but not limited to, future use of the assets for Company operations versus sale or disposal of the assets, future selling prices for the Company’s products and future production and sales volumes.  In addition, judgment is required by the Company in determining the groups of assets for which impairment tests are separately performed.

 

21




Research and development:  Costs related to the conceptual formulation and design of products and processes are expensed as research and development when incurred.  Determining when product development is complete requires judgment by the Company.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.

 

Stock-based compensation:  Under the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), stock-based compensation cost is estimated at the grant date based on the fair-value of the award and is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period of the award.  Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards at the grant date requires considerable judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, expected option life and forfeiture rates.  The Company develops its estimates based on historical data and market information which can change significantly over time.  A small change in the estimates used can result in a relatively large change in the estimated valuation.

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to value employee stock awards.  The Company estimates stock price volatility based on an average of its historical volatility and the implied volatility derived from traded options on the Company’s stock.  Estimated option life and forfeiture rate assumptions are derived from historical data.  For stock based compensation awards with graded vesting that were granted after 2005, the Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.

 

22




Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

As of November 30, 2006, $478 millionof the Company’s $568 million in total debt was at fixed interest rates.  As a result, the fair value of the debt fluctuates based on changes in market interest rates.  The estimated fair market value of the Company’s debt was $606 million as of November 30, 2006.  The difference between the estimated fair value of the Company’s debt and its recorded value is primarily attributable to the Company’s convertible debt.

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

 

The information in this section should be read in conjunction with the information related to changes in the exchange rates of foreign currency in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

The functional currency for substantially all of the Company’s operations is the U.S. dollar.  The Company held aggregate cash and other assets in foreign currencies valued at U.S. $368 million as of November 30, 2006, and U.S. $425 million as of  August 31, 2006 (including cash and equivalents denominated in yen valued at U.S. $173 million as of November 30, 2006, and U.S. $222 million as of August 31, 2006; cash and equivalents denominated in Singapore dollars valued at U.S. $12 million as of November 30, 2006 and $42 million as of August 31, 2006; and deferred income tax assets denominated in yen valued at U.S. $67 million as of November 30, 2006, and U.S. $64 million as of August 31, 2006).  The Company also held aggregate foreign currency liabilities valued at U.S. $707 million as of November 30, 2006, and U.S. $615 million as of August 31, 2006 (including debt denominated in yen valued at U.S. $198 million as of November 30, 2006, and U.S. $228 million as of August 31, 2006).  Foreign currency receivables and payables as of November 30, 2006, were comprised primarily of yen, euros, Singapore dollars and British pounds.  The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of November 30, 2006, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately $2 million for the euro, $1 million for the yen and $1 million for the Singapore dollar.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

 

During the quarterly period covered by this report, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

23




PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

On August 28, 2000, the Company filed a complaint against Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking monetary damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.  Among other things, the Company’s complaint (as amended) alleges violation of federal antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation.  The complaint also seeks a declaratory judgment (a) that certain Rambus patents are not infringed by the Company, are invalid, and/or are unenforceable, (b) that the Company has an implied license to those patents, and (c) that Rambus is estopped from enforcing those patents against the Company.  On February 15, 2001, Rambus filed an answer and counterclaim in Delaware denying that the Company is entitled to relief, alleging infringement of the eight Rambus patents named in the Company’s declaratory judgment claim, and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  A number of other suits are currently pending in Europe alleging that certain of the Company’s SDRAM and DDR SDRAM products infringe various of Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 525 068, including:  on September 1, 2000, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany; on September 22, 2000, Rambus filed a complaint against the Company and Reptronic (a distributor of the Company’s products) in the Court of First Instance of Paris, France; on September 29, 2000, the Company filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement.  In addition, on December 29, 2000, the Company filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Avezzano, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement of the Italian counterpart to European patent 1 004 956.  Additionally, other suits are pending alleging that certain of our DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642, including:  on August 10, 2001, Rambus filed suit against the Company and Assitec (an electronics retailer) in the Civil Court of Pavia, Italy; and on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany.  In the European suits against the Company, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office declared Rambus’ 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of eighteen Rambus patents.

On June 2, 2005, Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”) filed suit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (amended on August 31, 2005) alleging infringement of a single Ohmi patent.

On July 24, 2006, the Company filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 26, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against the Company and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed the Company’s declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.

Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of the Company’s SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of the Company’s net sales.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination that the Company’s products or manufacturing processes infringe the product or process intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require the Company to make material changes to its products and/or manufacturing processes.  Any of the foregoing results could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On June 17, 2002, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  The Company is cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation.  The Company’s cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for

24




our full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, the Company will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  Eighteen cases have been filed in various federal district courts (two of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased DRAM directly from the various DRAM suppliers during the period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  All of the cases have been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for consolidated proceedings.  The complaints allege price-fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and seek treble damages sustained by purported class members, in addition to restitution, costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  On June 5, 2006, the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.  On January 9, 2007, Micron entered into a settlement agreement with the class of direct purchasers (“Direct Purchaser Settlement”).  Under terms of the Direct Purchaser Settlement, Micron will pay $91 million and will be dismissed with prejudice from the direct purchaser consolidated class-action suit.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, at least sixty-two cases have been filed in various state courts (five of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of a class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from 1999 through the filing date of the various complaints.  The complaints allege violations of the various jurisdictions’ antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts:  Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

On October 11, 2006, the Company received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust

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violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  The Company believes that it is not a target of the investigation and is cooperating with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other SRAM suppliers.  Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, fifty-one cases have filed in various U.S. District Courts asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including a conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”) and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaints.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against the Company and certain of its officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct or the Company’s operations and financial results.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.  The Company also was named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from the Company.  However, the Company may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of these actions against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block

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the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION – Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Lexar Media, Inc.”)

(See “Item 1A. Risk Factors”)

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, the following are important factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

We have experienced dramatic declines in average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products which have adversely affected our business.

Per megabit average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products decreased 34% in 2006 as compared to 2005.  In recent years, we have also experienced annual decreases in per megabit average selling prices for our memory products including:  24% in 2005, 17% in 2003, 53% in 2002 and 60% in 2001.  At times, average selling prices for our memory products have been below our costs.  If average selling prices for our memory products decrease faster than we can decrease per megabit costs, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Increased worldwide semiconductor memory production or lack of demand for semiconductor memory could lead to further declines in average selling prices.

The transitions to smaller line-width process technologies and 300mm wafers in the industry have resulted in significant increases in the worldwide supply of semiconductor memory and will likely lead to future increases.  Increases in worldwide supply of semiconductor memory also result from semiconductor memory fab capacity expansions, either by way of new facilities, increased capacity utilization or reallocation of other semiconductor production to semiconductor memory production.  We and several of our competitors have announced plans to increase production through construction of new facilities or expansion of existing facilities.  Increases in worldwide supply of semiconductor memory, if not accompanied with commensurate increases in demand, would lead to further declines in average selling prices for our products and would materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We may be unable to reduce our per megabit manufacturing costs at the same rate as we have in the past.

Historically, our gross margin has benefited from decreases in per unit manufacturing costs achieved through improvements in our manufacturing processes, including reducing the die size of our existing products.  In future periods, we may be unable to reduce our per unit manufacturing costs or reduce these costs at historical rates due to strategic product diversification decisions affecting product mix, the ever increasing complexity of manufacturing processes, changes in process technologies or products which inherently may require relatively larger die sizes.  Per unit manufacturing costs may also be affected by the relatively smaller production quantities and shorter product lifecycles of Imaging and certain specialty memory products.

Our plans to significantly increase our NAND Flash memory production and sales have numerous risks.

We plan to significantly increase our NAND Flash production and sales in future periods.  As part of this plan we have formed a manufacturing joint venture with Intel and made substantial investments in capital expenditures for equipment and new facilities as well as research and development.  Our plans also require significant future investments in capital expenditures and research and development.  These investments involve numerous risks.  In addition we are required to devote a significant portion of our existing semiconductor manufacturing capacity to the production of NAND Flash instead of the Company’s other products.  We are party to a contract with Apple Inc.

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to provide NAND Flash products for an extended period of time at contractually determined prices.  We currently have a relatively small share of the world-wide market for NAND Flash.

Our NAND Flash strategy involves numerous risks, and may include the following:

·                  increasing our exposure to changes in average selling prices for NAND Flash;

·                  difficulties in establishing new production operations at multiple locations;

·                  increasing capital expenditures to increase production capacity and modify existing processes to produce NAND Flash;

·                  increasing debt to finance future investments;

·                  diverting management’s attention from DRAM and CMOS Image sensor operations;

·                  managing larger operations and facilities and employees in separate geographic areas; and

·                  hiring and retaining key employees.

Our NAND Flash strategy may not be successful and could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

The future success of our Imaging business will be dependent on continued market acceptance of our products and the development, introduction and marketing of new Imaging products.

Our Imaging business has grown rapidly in the recent periods.  Sales of Imaging products increased substantially and represented 16% of our net sales in the first quarter of 2007.  Our Imaging products have higher gross margins than the recent overall gross margins from our Memory products.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our market share or gross margins.  The continued success of our Imaging products will depend on a number of factors, including:

·                  development of products that maintain a technological advantage over the products of our competitors;

·                  accurate prediction of market requirements and evolving standards, including pixel resolution, output interface standards, power requirements, optical lens size, input standards and other requirements;

·                  timely completion and introduction of new Imaging products that satisfy customer requirements;

·                  timely achievement of design wins with prospective customers, as manufacturers may be reluctant to change their source of components due to the significant costs, time, effort and risk associated with qualifying a new supplier; and

·                  efficient, cost-effective manufacturing as we transition to new products and higher volumes.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

Our cash flows from operations depend primarily on the volume of semiconductor memory and CMOS image sensors sold, average selling prices and per unit manufacturing costs.  To develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, we must make significant capital investments in manufacturing technology, facilities and capital equipment, research and development, and product and process technology.  Cash and investments of IMFT and TECH are generally not available to finance our other operations.  In addition to cash provided by operations, we have from time to time utilized external sources of financing.  Depending on general market and economic conditions or other factors, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

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The semiconductor industry is highly competitive.

We face intense competition in the semiconductor memory market from a number of companies, including Elpida Memory, Inc.; Hynix Semiconductor Inc.; Qimonda AG ADS; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and from emerging companies in Taiwan and China, who have announced plans to significantly expand the scale of their operations.  Some of our competitors are large corporations or conglomerates that may have greater resources to withstand downturns in the semiconductor markets in which we compete, invest in technology and capitalize on growth opportunities.  Our competitors seek to increase silicon capacity, improve yields, reduce die size and minimize mask levels in their product designs.  These factors have significantly increased worldwide supply and put downward pressure on prices.

We face competition in the image sensor market from a number of suppliers of CMOS image sensors including MagnaChip Semiconductor Ltd.; OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sony Corporation; STMicroelectronics NV; Toshiba Corporation and from a number of suppliers of CCD image sensors Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation and Sony Corporation.  In recent periods, a number of new companies have entered the CMOS image sensor market.  Competitors include many large domestic and international companies that have greater presence in key markets, better access to certain customer bases, greater name recognition and more established strategic and financial relationships than the Company.

We may have difficulty integrating the operations of Lexar.

If we are unable to successfully combine and integrate the Lexar operations, we may not be able to realize many of the anticipated benefits of the merger, which could harm our results of operations.  In order to realize the benefits of the merger, we will need to timely integrate the technology, operations, and personnel of Lexar.  Integrating the two companies will be a complex, time-consuming and expensive process that, even with proper planning and implementation, could significantly disrupt the businesses of Micron and Lexar.  The challenges involved in this integration include:  combining product and service offerings, optimizing inventory management over a broader distribution chain, and preserving customer, supplier and other important relationships of both Micron and Lexar.  If we are not able to successfully integrate our operations with those of Lexar, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our internal control over financial reporting could be adversely affected by material weaknesses in Lexar’s internal controls.

In Lexar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2005, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2006, Lexar reported material weaknesses with respect to its revenue recognition controls and inventory accounting controls.  These control deficiencies resulted in audit adjustments to revenues, accounts receivable, cost of product revenues, deferred revenue, sales related accruals and inventory in Lexar’s 2005 consolidated financial statements.  As a result of these material weaknesses, Lexar concluded in its Annual Report and Quarterly Report that its control over financial reporting was not effective as of the end of the periods covered by the reports.  While prior to the close of the merger Lexar continued to take steps to remediate these material weaknesses, there can be no assurance that we will be able to completely remediate these material weaknesses such that we will be able to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective.  We began consolidating the financial results of Lexar on June 22, 2006.  However, due to the timing of the acquisition, the internal control over financial reporting relating to Lexar was exempt from testing and evaluation for 2006.  To the extent we do not remediate the material weaknesses, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting may be adversely affected.

Our net operating loss carryforwards may be limited as a result of the Lexar merger.

Micron and Lexar had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes prior to the merger and both entities had provided significant valuation allowances against the tax benefit of such losses as well as certain tax credit carryforwards.  Utilization of these net operating losses and credit carryforwards are dependent upon us achieving profitable results following the Lexar merger.  As a consequence of the merger, as well as earlier issuances of common stock consummated by both companies and business combinations by the Company, utilization of the tax benefits of these carryforwards are subject to limitations imposed by Section 382 of the Internal

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Revenue Code.  The determination of the limitations is complex and requires significant judgment and analysis of past transactions.  Accordingly, some portion or all of these carryforwards may not be available to offset any future taxable income.

Our resellers receive price protections which may have an adverse affect on our gross margins.

NAND Flash sales are made through resellers which traditionally have been provided price protection.  In an environment of slower demand and abundant supply of products, price declines and channel promotions expenses are more likely to occur.  Further, in this environment, high channel inventory may result in substantial price protection charges.  These price protection charges have the effect of reducing gross sales and gross margin.  We expect to continue to incur price protection charges for the foreseeable future due to competitive pricing pressures and, as a result, our revenues and gross margins could be adversely affected.

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are reported in U.S. dollars.  Across our multi-national operations, there are transactions and balances denominated in other currencies, primarily the euro, yen and Singapore dollar.  The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of November 30, 2006, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately $2 million for the euro, $1 million for the yen and $1 million for the Singapore dollar.  In the event that the U.S. dollar weakens significantly compared to the euro, yen or Singapore dollars, our results of operations or financial condition will be adversely affected.

New product development may be unsuccessful.

We are developing new products that complement our traditional memory products or leverage their underlying design or process technology.  We have made significant investments in product and process technologies and anticipate expending significant resources for new semiconductor product development over the next several years.  The process to develop NAND Flash, Imaging and certain specialty memory products requires us to demonstrate advanced functionality and performance, many times well in advance of a planned ramp of production, in order to secure design wins with our customers.  There can be no assurance that our product development efforts will be successful, that we will be able to cost-effectively manufacture these new products, that we will be able to successfully market these products or that margins generated from sales of these products will recover costs of development efforts.

An adverse determination that our products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

As is typical in the semiconductor and other high technology industries, from time to time, others have asserted, and may in the future assert, that our products or manufacturing processes infringe their intellectual property rights.  In this regard, we are engaged in litigation with Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) relating to certain of Rambus’ patents and certain of our claims and defenses.  On August 28, 2000, we filed a complaint (subsequently amended) against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking monetary damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.  Among other things, our amended complaint alleges violation of federal antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation.  The complaint also seeks a declaratory judgment (a) that certain Rambus patents are not infringed by us, are invalid, and/or are unenforceable, (b) that we have an implied license to those patents, and (c) that Rambus is estopped from enforcing those patents against us.  On February 15, 2001, Rambus filed an answer and counterclaim in Delaware denying that we are entitled to relief, alleging infringement of the eight Rambus patents named in our declaratory judgment claim, and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  A number of other suits are pending in Europe alleging that certain of our SDRAM and DDR SDRAM products infringe various of Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 525 068, including:  on September 1, 2000, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany; on September 22, 2000, Rambus filed a complaint against us and Reptronic (a distributor of our products) in the Court of First Instance of Paris, France; and on September 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-

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infringement.  In addition, on December 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Avezzano, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement of the Italian counterpart to European patent 1 004 956.  Additionally, other suits are pending alleging that certain of our DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642, including:  on August 10, 2001, Rambus filed suit against us and Assitec (an electronics retailer) in the Civil Court of Pavia, Italy; and on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany.  In the European suits against us, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office declared Rambus’ 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of eighteen Rambus patents.  We also are engaged in litigation with Tadahiro Ohmi (“Ohmi”).  On June 2, 2005, Ohmi filed suit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (amended on August 31, 2005) alleging infringement of a single Ohmi patent.  We are also engaged in litigation with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”).  On July 24, 2006, we filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 26, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against us and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed our declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.

Among other things, the above lawsuits pertain to certain of our SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, DDR2 SDRAM, RLDRAM, and image sensor products, which account for a significant portion of our net sales.

A court determination that our products or manufacturing processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others could result in significant liability and/or require us to make material changes to our products and/or manufacturing processes.  We are unable to predict the outcome of assertions of infringement made against us.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

We have a number of patent and intellectual property license agreements.  Some of these license agreements require us to make one time or periodic payments.  We may need to obtain additional patent licenses or renew existing license agreements in the future.  We are unable to predict whether these license agreements can be obtained or renewed on acceptable terms.

Allegations of anticompetitive conduct.

On June 17, 2002, we received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) into possible antitrust violations in the “Dynamic Random Access Memory” or “DRAM” industry.  We are cooperating fully and actively with the DOJ in its investigation of the DRAM industry.  Our cooperation is pursuant to the terms of the DOJ’s Corporate Leniency Policy, which provides that in exchange for our full, continuing and complete cooperation in the pending investigation, we will not be subject to prosecution, fines or other penalties from the DOJ.

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other DRAM suppliers.  Eighteen cases have been filed in various federal district courts (two of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased DRAM directly from various DRAM suppliers during the period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  All of the cases have been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for consolidated proceedings.  The complaints allege price-fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and seek treble damages sustained by purported class members, in addition to restitution, costs and attorneys’ fees, as well as an injunction against the allegedly unlawful conduct.  On June 5, 2006, the Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify the proposed class of direct purchasers.  On January 9, 2007, we entered into a settlement agreement with the class of direct purchasers (“Direct Purchaser Settlement”).  Under terms of the Direct Purchaser Settlement, we will pay $91 million and will be dismissed with prejudice from the direct purchaser consolidated class-action suit.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.

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The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, at least sixty-two cases have been filed in various state and federal courts (five of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from 1999 through the filing date of the various complaints.  The complaints allege violations of various jurisdictions’ antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts:  Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.  The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against us and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The amended complaint, filed September 8, 2006, alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.   The Direct Purchaser Settlement does not resolve these suits.

On October 11, 2006, we received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the “Static Random Access Memory” or “SRAM” industry.  We believe that we are not a target of the investigation and we are cooperating with the DOJ in its investigation of the SRAM industry.

Subsequent to the issuance of subpoenas to the SRAM industry, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other SRAM suppliers.  Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly from various SRAM suppliers during the period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, forty-three cases have filed in various U.S. District Courts asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased SRAM and/or products containing SRAM from various SRAM suppliers during the time period from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California (San Francisco County) against us and other DRAM suppliers.  The complaint alleges various causes of action under California state law including conspiracy to restrict output and fix prices on Rambus DRAM (“RDRAM”), and unfair competition.  The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaints.

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We are unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits and investigations.  The final resolution of these alleged violations of antitrust laws could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Allegations of violations of securities laws.

On February 24, 2006, a putative class action complaint was filed against us and certain of our officers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho alleging claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.  Four substantially similar complaints subsequently were filed in the same Court.  The cases purport to be brought on behalf of a class of purchasers of our stock during the period February 24, 2001 to February 13, 2003.  The five lawsuits have been consolidated and a consolidated amended class action complaint was filed on July 24, 2006.  The complaint generally alleges violations of federal securities laws based on, among other things, claimed misstatements or omissions regarding alleged illegal price-fixing conduct.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for our benefit, against certain of our current and former officers and directors.  We were also named as a nominal defendant.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from us.  However, we may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.

In March 2006, following our announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name us as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and us.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.

We are unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of the class actions against us could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases.  A court determination in any of these actions against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “PART I. FINANCIAL

33




INFORMATION – Item 1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Lexar Media, Inc.”)

Current economic and political conditions may harm our business.

Global economic conditions and the effects of military or terrorist actions may cause significant disruptions to worldwide commerce.  If these disruptions result in delays or cancellations of customer orders, a decrease in corporate spending on information technology or our inability to effectively market, manufacture or ship our products.  Global economic conditions may also affect consumer demand for devices that incorporate our products such as mobile phones, personal computers, flash memory cards and USB devices.  As a result, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We face risks associated with our international sales and operations that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Sales to customers outside the United States approximated 70% of our consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2007.  In addition, we have manufacturing operations in Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore.  Our international sales and operations are subject to a variety of risks, including:

·                  currency exchange rate fluctuations,

·                  export and import duties, changes to import and export regulations, and restrictions on the transfer of funds,

·                  political and economic instability,

·                  problems with the transportation or delivery of our products,

·                  issues arising from cultural or language differences and labor unrest,

·                  longer payment cycles and greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable, and

·                  compliance with trade and other laws in a variety of jurisdictions.

These factors may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

If our manufacturing process is disrupted, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We manufacture products using highly complex processes that require technologically advanced equipment and continuous modification to improve yields and performance.  Difficulties in the manufacturing process or the effects from a shift in product mix can reduce yields or disrupt production and may increase our per megabit manufacturing costs.  Additionally, our control over operations at our IMFT, TECH and MP Mask joint ventures may be limited by our agreements with our partners.  From time to time, we have experienced minor disruptions in our manufacturing process as a result of power outages or equipment failures.  If production at a fabrication facility is disrupted for any reason, manufacturing yields may be adversely affected or we may be unable to meet our customers’ requirements and they may purchase products from other suppliers.  This could result in a significant increase in manufacturing costs or loss of revenues or damage to customer relationships, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Disruptions in our supply of raw materials could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our operations require raw materials that meet exacting standards.  We generally have multiple sources of supply for our raw materials.  However, only a limited number of suppliers are capable of delivering certain raw materials that meet our standards.  Various factors could reduce the availability of raw materials such as silicon wafers, photomasks, chemicals, gases, lead frames and molding compound.  Shortages may occur from time to time in the future.  In addition, disruptions in transportation lines could delay our receipt of raw materials.  Lead times for

34




the supply of raw materials have been extended in the past.  If our supply of raw materials is disrupted or our lead times extended, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Products that do not meet specifications or that contain, or are perceived by our customers to contain, defects or that are otherwise incompatible with end uses could impose significant costs on us or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Because the design and production process for semiconductor memory is highly complex, it is possible that we may produce products that do not comply with customer specifications, contain defects or are otherwise incompatible with end uses.  If, despite design review, quality control and product qualification procedures, problems with nonconforming, defective or incompatible products occur after we have shipped such products, we could be adversely affected in several ways, including the following:

·                  we may replace product or otherwise compensate customers for costs incurred or damages caused by defective or incompatible product, and

·                  we may encounter adverse publicity, which could cause a decrease in sales of our products.

We expect to make future acquisitions where advisable, which involve numerous risks.

We expect to make future acquisitions where we believe it is advisable to enhance shareholder value.  Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:

·                  difficulties in integrating the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies,

·                  increasing capital expenditures to upgrade and maintain facilities,

·                  increasing debt to finance any acquisition,

·                  diverting management’s attention from normal daily operations,

·                  managing larger operations and facilities and employees in separate geographic areas, and

·                  hiring and retaining key employees.

Mergers and acquisitions of high-technology companies are inherently risky, and future acquisitions may not be successful and may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

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Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the first quarter of 2007, the Company acquired, as payment of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards, an aggregate of 109,072 shares of its common stock as follow:

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period

 

(a) Total number of
shares purchased

 

(b) Average price
paid per share

 

(c) Total number of
shares (or units)
purchased as part
of publicly
announced plans or
programs

 

(d) Maximum
number (or
approximate dollar
value) of shares (or
units) that may yet
be purchased
under the plans or
programs

 

September 1 – October 5

 

71,261

 

$

17.40

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

November 3 – November 30

 

37,811

 

$

14.57

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Total

 

109,072

 

$

16.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders

The registrant’s 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on December 5, 2006.  At the meeting, the following items were submitted to a vote of the shareholders:

(a)   The following nominees for Directors were elected.  Each person elected as a Director will serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until such person’s successor is elected and qualified.

 

Votes

 

Votes Cast

 

Name of Nominee

 

Cast For

 

Against/Withheld

 

Steven R. Appleton

 

632,178,964

 

51,940,192

 

Teruaki Aoki

 

564,231,098

 

119,888,058

 

James W. Bagley

 

626,201,663

 

57,917,493

 

Mercedes Johnson

 

616,487,701

 

67,631,455

 

Lawrence N. Mondry

 

564,216,981

 

119,902,175

 

Gordon C. Smith

 

632,234,359

 

51,884,797

 

Robert E. Switz

 

638,794,633

 

45,324,523

 

 

(b)   The proposal by the Company to approve an amendment to the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan increasing the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance thereunder by 30,000,000 was approved with 408,220,320 votes in favor, 174,530,141 votes against, 8,105,481 abstentions and 93,263,214 broker non-votes.

(c)   The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending August 30, 2007, was approved with 662,238,694 votes in favor, 14,619,752 votes against and 7,260,710 abstentions.

(d)   The proposal by a shareholder relating to certain of the Company’s policies on discrimination was approved with 299,901,550 votes in favor, 240,749,801 votes against, 50,204,591 abstentions and 93,263,214 broker non-votes.

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Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

Articles of Incorporation of Registrant, Restated (1)

3.7

 

Bylaws of the Registrant, As Amended (2)

10.65*

 

Settlement and Release Agreement dated September 15, 2006, by and among Toshiba Corporation, Micron Technology, Inc. and Acclaim Innovations, LLC

10.66*

 

Patent License Agreement dated September 15, 2006, by and among Toshiba Corporation, Acclaim Innovations, LLC and Micron Technology, Inc.

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350

 


*                 Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the
Commission.

(1)   Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2001

(2)   Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 5, 2006

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SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

Micron Technology, Inc.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: January 16, 2007

 

/s/ W. G. Stover, Jr.

 

 

W. G. Stover, Jr., Vice President of Finance and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and

 

 

Accounting Officer)

 

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