fy08-10k.htm




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended August 28, 2008

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
(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)
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
   
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
   
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  x   No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.  Yes ¨   No  x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large Accelerated Filer x
Accelerated Filer o
Non-Accelerated Filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company o
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 aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing price of such stock on February 28, 2008, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $3.6 billion.  Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates.  This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of October 17, 2008, was 763,759,118.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for registrant’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 11, 2008, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 



 

PART I

Item 1.  Business

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 the costs and impact of restructure plans, the Company’s DRAM development costs relative to Nanya, royalty payments from Inotera production, capital commitments for the Company’s joint ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation, the supply of DRAM wafers from Inotera Memories, Inc. and manufacturing plans for CMOS image sensors; “Products” regarding new product offerings in 2009, increased sales of DDR3 DRAM products and growth in demand for NAND Flash and solid-state drives, and market growth for CMOS image sensors; and in “Manufacturing” regarding the transition to smaller line-width process technologies and the supply of DRAM wafers from Inotera Memories, Inc .  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 “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.


Corporate Information

Micron Technology, Inc., and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1978.  The Company’s executive offices are located at 8000 South Federal Way, Boise, Idaho 83716-9632 and its telephone number is (208) 368-4000.  Information about the Company is available on the internet at www.micron.com.  Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to these reports, are available through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Materials filed by the Company with the SEC are also available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room is available by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.  Also available on the Company’s website are its:  Corporate Governance Guidelines, Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Audit Committee Charter and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.  Any amendments or waivers of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will also be posted on the Company’s website at www.micron.com within four business days of the amendment or waiver.  Copies of these documents are available to shareholders upon request.  Information contained or referenced on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference and does not form a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  In January 2008, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer certified to the New York Stock Exchange that he was not aware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards.


Overview

The Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of semiconductor devices, principally DRAM and NAND Flash memory and CMOS image sensors.  The Company’s products are offered in a wide variety of package and configuration options, architectures and performance characteristics tailored to meet application and customer needs.  Individual devices take advantage of the Company’s advanced semiconductor processing technology and manufacturing expertise.  The Company aims to continually introduce new generations of products that offer lower costs per unit and improved performance characteristics.  The Company operates in two segments, Memory and Imaging.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Segment Information.”)

In 2008 and 2007 the semiconductor memory industry experienced a severe downturn due to a significant oversupply of products.  Average selling prices per gigabit for the Company’s DRAM products and NAND Flash products in 2008 were down approximately 50% and 65%, respectively, as compared to 2007 and down approximately 65% and 85%, respectively, as compared to 2006.  As a result of these market conditions, the Company and other semiconductor memory manufacturers have reported negative gross margins and substantial losses in recent periods.  In 2008, the Company reported a net loss of $1.6 billion and many of its competitors reported negative cash flows from operations.  In response to these market conditions, on October 9, 2008 the Company announced a plan to restructure its memory operations.  The Company’s IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) will discontinue its production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory products at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of NAND Flash production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  As part of this restructuring, the Company plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent during 2009 and 2010.  Cash costs for restructuring and other related expenses
 
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incurred in connection with this restructuring are anticipated to be approximately $60 million, and the benefit to the Company’s cash operating results for 2009 is expected to exceed $175 million.

The effects of the worsening global economy and the tightening credit market are also making it increasingly difficult for semiconductor memory manufacturers to obtain external sources of financing to fund their operations.  Although the Company believes that it is better positioned than some of its peers, it faces challenges in the current and near term that require it to continue to make significant improvements in its competitiveness.  The Company is pursuing financing alternatives, delaying capital expenditures and implementing further cost-cutting initiatives.

Memory:  The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash, which are key components used in a broad array of electronic applications, including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones, Flash memory cards, USB storage devices, MP3/4 players and other consumer electronics products.  The Company sells primarily to original equipment manufacturers, distributors and retailers located around the world.

The Company is focused on improving its Memory segment’s competitiveness by developing new products, advancing its technology and reducing costs.  In addition, the Company increased its manufacturing capacity in 2008 and 2007 by ramping NAND Flash production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities and converting another facility to 300mm DRAM wafer fabrication.

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company and Nanya Technology Corporation (“Nanya”) formed MeiYa, a joint venture to manufacture stack DRAM products and sell those products exclusively to the Company and Nanya.  As part of this transaction, the Company transferred and licensed certain intellectual property to Nanya and licensed certain intellectual property from Nanya.  The Company and Nanya also agreed to jointly develop process technology and designs to manufacture stack DRAM products with each party bearing its own development costs until such time that the development costs exceed a specified amount, following which such costs would be shared.  The Company’s development costs are expected to exceed Nanya’s development costs by a significant amount.  Under this arrangement, the Company is to receive an aggregate of $232 million from Nanya and MeiYa through 2010 for licensing and technology transfer fees, of which the Company realized $40 million of revenue in 2008.  The Company will also receive royalties from Nanya on the sale of stack DRAM products manufactured by or for Nanya.

On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera Memories, Inc. (“Inotera”), a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  The Company received commitments for $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack DRAM process technology, and it is anticipated that the Company will receive royalties on Inotera’s production that is delivered to Nanya, a 35.6% stakeholder in Inotera.  The Company will eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.   In connection with this acquisition, the Company expects to enter into a series of agreements with Nanya to restructure MeiYa.  It is anticipated that both parties will cease future resource commitments to MeiYa and redirect those resources to Inotera.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation.”)

Imaging:  The Company’s Imaging segment operates under the Aptina brand name.  Imaging’s primary products are CMOS image sensors, which are key components used in a broad array of electronic applications, including mobile phones, digital still cameras, webcams and other consumer, security and automotive applications.  The Company’s primary customers are camera module integrators located around the world.  The Company is exploring partnering arrangements with outside parties regarding the separation of its Aptina imaging business to an independent entity in which the Company would retain a significant minority ownership interest.  To that end, the Company began operating its Imaging business as a separate wholly-owned subsidiary in October 2008.  Under the arrangements being considered, the Company expects that it will continue to manufacture CMOS image sensors for some period of time.


Products

Memory:  The Company’s Memory segment has two primary product types:  DRAM and NAND Flash.  Sales of Memory products were 89%, 88% and 86% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.


 
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Dynamic Random Access Memory (“DRAM”):  DRAM products are high-density, low-cost-per-bit, random access memory devices that provide high-speed data storage and retrieval.  DRAM products were 54%, 65% and 76% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The Company offers DRAM products with a variety of performance, pricing and other characteristics including high-volume DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as specialty DRAM memory products including DDR, SDRAM, Mobile DRAM and PSRAM.

DDR2 and DDR3:  DDR2 and DDR3 are standardized, high-density, high-volume, DRAM products that are sold primarily for use as main system memory in computers and servers.  DDR2 and DDR3 products offer high speed and high bandwidth at a relatively low cost compared to other DRAM products.  DDR2 products were the highest volume parts in the DRAM market in 2008 and were 28%, 32% and 25% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The Company began volume production of DDR3 products in 2008 and expects that sales of these products will increase significantly in 2009.

The Company offers DDR2 products in 256 megabit (“Mb”), 512 Mb, 1 Gb and 2 Gb densities.  The Company offers DDR3 products in 1 Gb and 2 Gb densities.  The Company expects that these densities will be necessary to meet future customer demands for a broad array of products.  The Company also offers its DDR2 and DDR3 products in multiple configurations, speeds and package types.

DDR:  In 2008, DDR was primarily used in networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment and computer peripherals as well as memory upgrades to legacy computers.  Sales of DDR products were 9%, 15% and 26% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  DDR sales have declined as personal computer manufacturers have transitioned to DDR2 and DDR3 products.  The Company offers 128 Mb, 256 Mb and 512 Mb and 1 Gb DDR products.

Synchronous DRAM (“SDRAM”):  In 2008, 2007 and 2006, SDRAM was primarily used in networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment and computer peripherals as well as memory upgrades to legacy computers.  Sales of SDRAM products were 9%, 11% and 16% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  SDRAM sales have declined as personal computer manufacturers have transitioned to DDR and DDR2 products.  The decline has been partially offset by increased usage of SDRAM products in other applications.  The Company offers 64 Mb, 128 Mb, 256 Mb and 512 Mb SDRAM products.

Other Specialty DRAM Memory Products:  The Company also offers other specialty memory products including Mobile DRAM, Pseudo-static RAM (“PSRAM”) and Reduced Latency DRAM (“RLDRAM”).  Mobile DRAM products are specialty DRAM memory devices designed for applications that demand minimal power consumption, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, GPS devices, digital still cameras and other handheld electronic devices.  The Company sells SDRAM and DDR mobile memory products in 64 Mb, 128 Mb, 256 Mb, 512 Mb and 1Gb densities.  The Company’s mobile DRAM products feature its proprietary Endur-IC™ technology, which the Company believes provides distinct advantages to its customers in terms of low power, high quality and high reliability.  PSRAM products, marketed by the Company under the proprietary brand name CellularRAM™, are DRAM products with an SRAM-like interface.  PSRAM combines the minimal power consumption of SRAM with a much lower cost-per-bit to provide an economical alternative to SRAM.  PSRAM products are used primarily in cellular phone applications.  RLDRAM products are low-latency DRAM memory devices with high clock rates targeted at network applications.

NAND Flash Memory (“NAND”):  NAND products are electrically re-writeable, non-volatile semiconductor memory devices that retain content when power is turned off.  NAND sales were 35%, 23% and 6% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  NAND is ideal for mass-storage devices due to its faster erase and write times, higher density, and lower cost per bit than NOR Flash, which is the primary competing Flash architecture.  The market for NAND products has grown rapidly and the Company expects it to continue to grow due to demand for removable and embedded storage devices.  Removable storage devices such as USB and Flash memory cards are used with applications such as personal computers, digital still cameras, MP3/4 players and mobile phones.  Embedded NAND-based storage devices are utilized in MP3/4 players, mobile phones, computers and other personal and consumer applications.


 
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NAND and DRAM share common manufacturing processes, enabling the Company to leverage its product and process technologies and manufacturing infrastructure across these two product lines.  The Company’s NAND designs feature a small cell structure that allows for higher densities for demanding applications.  The Company offers Single-Level Cell (“SLC”) products and Multi-Level Cell (“MLC”) NAND products, which have double the bit density of SLC products.  In 2008, the Company offered SLC NAND products in 1 Gb, 2 Gb, and 4 Gb densities.  In 2008, the Company offered 8 Gb and 16 Gb MLC NAND products.  In 2008, the Company began sampling 32 Gb MLC NAND products manufactured using industry-leading 34 nanometer (“nm”) process technology.  In 2008,  the Company announced development of new high-speed NAND products that can reach speeds up to 200 megabytes per second (MB/s) for reading data and 100 MB/s for writing data as compared to 40 MB/s for reading data and less than 20 MB/s for writing data conventional SLC NAND.  The high speeds are achieved by leveraging the new ONFI 2.0 specification and a four-plane architecture with higher clock speeds.  In 2008, the Company introduced next-generation RealSSD™ solid-state drives for enterprise server and notebook applications which offer higher performance, reduced power consumption and enhanced reliability as compared to typical hard disk drives.  Using Micron's MLC NAND process technology, the solid-state drives will be offered in 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch form factors, with densities up to 256 gigabytes for the 2.5 inch form factor and from 32 gigabytes to 128 gigabytes in the 1.8-inch form factor.  The Company expects that demand for solid-state drives will increase significantly over the next few years.

The Company’s Lexar subsidiary sells high-performance digital media products and other flash-based storage products through retail and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) channels.  The Company’s digital media products include a variety of Flash memory cards with a range of speeds, capacities and value-added features.  The Company’s digital media products also include its JumpDrive™ products, which are high-speed, portable USB flash drives for consumer applications that serve a variety of uses, including floppy disk replacement and digital media accessories such as card readers and image rescue software.  The Company offers Flash memory cards in all major media formats currently used by digital cameras and other electronic host devices, including:  CompactFlash, Memory Stick and Secure Digital Cards.  Many of CompactFlash, Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO products sold by the Company incorporate its patented controller technology.  Other products, including Secure Digital Card Flash memory cards and some JumpDrive products, incorporate third party controllers.  The Company also resells Flash memory products that are purchased from suppliers.  The Company offers Flash memory cards in a variety of speeds and capacities.  The Company sells products under its Lexar™ brand and also manufactures products that are sold under other brand names.  The Company has a multi-year agreement with Eastman Kodak to sell digital media products under the Kodak brand name.

Imaging:  Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensors are the primary product of the Company’s Imaging segment.  CMOS image sensors are semiconductor devices that capture and process images into pictures or video for a variety of consumer and industrial applications.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are used in products such as cellular phone cameras, digital still cameras, pill cameras for medical use, and in automotive and other emerging applications.  The Company offers image sensors in a range of pixel resolutions from its VGA (video graphics array) products to its higher resolution 9-megapixel products.  The Company manufactures a number of CMOS image sensors featuring an advanced pixel size of 1.4 square microns that enables a smaller form factor product.  Image sensors are sold either as individual components or combined with integrated circuitry to create complete camera system-on-a-chip (“SOC”) solutions.

The Company’s CMOS image sensors incorporate its DigitalClarity™ technology, featuring “active pixels” that enable better sensor performance that produces higher-quality images at faster frame rates.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors’ active-pixel design architecture enabled the Company to achieve CMOS image sensor performance that in 2008 was comparable to high-end CCD sensors.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors consume substantially less power than CCD devices, providing an advantage in battery-dependent portable device applications where most image sensors are used.  By combining all camera functions on a single chip, from the capture of photons to the output of digital bits, CMOS image sensors reduce the part-count of a digital camera system, which in turn increases reliability, eases miniaturization, and enables on-chip programming of frame size, windowing, exposure and other camera parameters.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are also capable of producing high-quality images in low-light conditions.  The Company’s low-leakage DRAM processes are particularly well-suited for the manufacture of CMOS image sensors.

The Company conducts its Imaging operations under the Aptina brand name.  Sales of Imaging products were 11%, 12% and 14% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The overall market for image sensors is expected to increase over the next several years due to the growth forecasted for applications such as phone cameras and digital still cameras.  CMOS image sensors are also expected to capture an increasing percentage of the overall image sensor market.



 
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Manufacturing

The Company’s manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, China, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico and Singapore.  The Company’s manufacturing facilities generally operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Semiconductor manufacturing is extremely capital intensive, requiring large investments in sophisticated facilities and equipment.  Most semiconductor equipment must be replaced every three to five years with increasingly advanced equipment.

The Company’s process for manufacturing semiconductor products is complex, involving a number of precise steps, including wafer fabrication, assembly and test.  Efficient production of semiconductor products requires utilization of advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques and effective deployment of these techniques across multiple facilities.  The primary determinants of manufacturing cost are die size, number of mask layers, number of fabrication steps and number of good die produced on each wafer.  Other factors that contribute to manufacturing costs are wafer size, cost and sophistication of manufacturing equipment, equipment utilization, process complexity, cost of raw materials, labor productivity, package type and cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.  The Company is continuously enhancing its production processes, reducing die sizes and transitioning to higher density products.  In 2008, the Company manufactured most of its DRAM products using its 78nm and 68nm line-width process technology and began transferring its DRAM production to 58nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects to continue to transfer more of its DRAM production to 58nm line-width process technology in 2009.  In 2008, the Company manufactured most of its NAND Flash memory products using its 50nm line-width process technology and began transferring its NAND production to 34nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects that in 2009 the majority of its NAND Flash memory products will be manufactured using its 34nm line-width process technology.  In 2008 and 2007, the Company significantly increased its 300mm wafer production as IM Flash ramped production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities and the Company’s TECH joint venture converted its DRAM production to 300mm wafers.

Wafer fabrication occurs in a highly controlled, clean environment to minimize dust and other yield- and quality-limiting contaminants.  Despite stringent manufacturing controls, dust particles, equipment errors, minute impurities in materials, defects in photomasks and circuit design marginalities or defects can lead to wafers being scrapped and individual circuits being nonfunctional.  Success of the Company’s manufacturing operations depends largely on minimizing defects to maximize yield of high-quality circuits.  In this regard, the Company employs rigorous quality controls throughout the manufacturing, screening and testing processes.  The Company is able to recover many nonstandard devices by testing and grading them to their highest level of functionality.

After fabrication, silicon wafers are separated into individual die.  The Company sells semiconductor products in both packaged and unpackaged (i.e. “bare die”) forms.  For packaged products, functional die are sorted, connected to external leads and encapsulated in plastic packages.  The Company assembles products in a variety of packages, including TSOP (thin small outline package), TQFP (thin quad flat package) and FBGA (fine pitch ball grid array).  Bare die products address customer requirements for smaller form factors and higher memory densities and provide superior flexibility.  Bare die products are used in packaging technologies such as systems-in-a-package (SIPs) and multi-chip packages (MCPs), which reduce the board area required.

The Company tests its products at various stages in the manufacturing process, performs high temperature burn-in on finished products and conducts numerous quality control inspections throughout the entire production flow.  In addition, the Company uses its proprietary AMBYX™ line of intelligent test and burn-in systems to perform simultaneous circuit tests of DRAM die during the burn-in process, capturing quality and reliability data and reducing testing time and cost.

The Company assembles a significant portion of its memory products into memory modules.  Memory modules consist of an array of memory components attached to printed circuit boards (“PCBs”) that insert directly into computer systems or other electronic devices.  The Company’s Lexar subsidiary contracts with an independent foundry and assembly and testing organizations to manufacture flash media products such as memory cards and USB devices.

The Company is pursuing alternatives to reduce its assembly, test and module assembly costs, including relocation of current operations to lower cost locations and outsourcing.  These alternatives could affect the Company’s manufacturing processes in future periods.

In recent years the Company has produced an increasingly broad portfolio of products, which enhances the Company’s ability to allocate resources to its most profitable products but increases the complexity of its manufacturing process.  Although new product lines such as NAND Flash, CMOS image sensors and specialty memory can be manufactured using processes that are very similar to the processes for the Company’s predominant DRAM products, frequent conversions to new products and the allocation of manufacturing capacity to more complex, smaller-volume parts can affect the Company’s cost efficiency.

 
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NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel Corporation:  The Company has formed two joint ventures with Intel to manufacture NAND Flash memory products for the exclusive benefit of the partners:  IM Flash Technologies, LLC and IM Flash Singapore LLP (collectively, “IM Flash”).  IM Flash manufactures NAND Flash memory products pursuant to NAND Flash designs developed by the Company and Intel and licensed to the Company.  The parties share the output of IM Flash generally in proportion to their investment in IM Flash.  The Company owned a 51% interest in IM Flash at August 28, 2008.  IM Flash’s financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

On October 9, 2008, the Company announced that IM Flash will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory products at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  The Company will continue to manufacture a significantly reduced level of NAND Flash at the Boise facility outside of the IM Flash joint venture.  In the first quarter of 2009, IM Flash substantially completed construction of a new 300mm wafer fabrication facility structure in Singapore.  The Singapore facility has not been equipped and in October 2009 the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of NAND Flash production at the facility.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)

TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”):  TECH is a memory manufacturing joint venture in Singapore among Micron Technology, Inc., Canon Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company.  The Company owned an approximate 73% interest in TECH at August 28, 2008.  TECH’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities use 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.  In 2008, TECH accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s total wafer production.  TECH completed its conversion of its manufacturing production from 200mm to 300mm wafers in 2008.  TECH’s financial results were included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company beginning in the third quarter of 2006.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya:  On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera, a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack DRAM process technology.  The Company will eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation.”)

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  The Company produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors through MP Mask, a joint venture with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”).  The Company and Photronics have 50.01% and 49.99% interest, respectively, in MP Mask.  The Company and Photronics also have supply arrangements wherein the Company purchases 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.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – MP Mask Technology Center, LLC.”)


Availability of Raw Materials

The Company’s production processes require raw materials that meet exacting standards, including several that are customized for, or unique to, the Company.  The Company generally has multiple sources and sufficient availability of supply; however, only a limited number of suppliers are capable of delivering certain raw materials that meet the Company’s standards.  Various factors could reduce the availability of raw materials such as silicon wafers, photomasks, chemicals, gases, lead frames, molding compound and other materials.  In addition, any transportation problems could delay the Company’s receipt of raw materials.  Although raw materials shortages or transportation problems have not interrupted the Company’s operations in the past, shortages may occur from time to time in the future.  Also, lead times for the supply of raw materials have been extended in the past.  If the Company’s supply of raw materials is interrupted, or lead times are extended, results of operations could be adversely affected.



 
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Marketing and Customers

The Company’s products are sold into computing, consumer, networking, telecommunications, and imaging markets.  Approximately 50% of the Company’s net sales for 2008 were to the computing market, including desktop PCs, servers, notebooks and workstations.  Sales to Intel, primarily for NAND Flash from the IM Flash joint ventures, were 19% of the Company’s net sales in 2008.  Sales to Hewlett-Packard Company were 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2007.

The Company’s Memory products are offered under the Micron, Lexar, SpecTek and Crucial brand names and private labels.  The Company’s Imaging products are offered under the Aptina brand name.  The Company markets its semiconductor products primarily through its own direct sales force and maintains sales offices in its primary markets around the world.  The Company maintains inventory at locations in close proximity to certain key customers to facilitate rapid delivery of product shipments.  The Company’s Lexar subsidiary sells NAND Flash memory products through retail and OEM channels.  The Company’s Crucial Technology division sells memory products through a web-based customer direct sales channel.  The Company’s products are also offered through independent sales representatives and distributors.  Independent sales representatives obtain orders subject to final acceptance by the Company and are compensated on a commission basis.  The Company makes shipments against these orders directly to the customer.  Distributors carry the Company’s products in inventory and typically sell a variety of other semiconductor products, including competitors’ products.

The Company offers products designed to meet the diverse needs of computing, server, automotive, networking, security, commercial/industrial, consumer electronics, medical and mobile applications.  Many of the Company’s customers require a thorough review or qualification of semiconductor products, which may take several months.  As the Company further diversifies its product lines and reduces the die sizes of existing products, more products become subject to qualification which may delay volume introduction of specific devices by the Company.


Backlog

Because of volatile industry conditions customers are reluctant to enter into long-term, fixed-price contracts.  Accordingly, new order volumes for the Company’s semiconductor products fluctuate significantly.  Orders are typically accepted with acknowledgment that the terms may be adjusted to reflect market conditions at the date of shipment.  Customers can change delivery schedules or cancel orders without significant penalty.  For these reasons, the Company does not believe that its order backlog as of any particular date is a reliable indicator of actual sales for any succeeding period.


Product Warranty

Because the design and manufacturing process for semiconductor products is highly complex, it is possible that the Company may produce products that do not comply with customer specifications, contain defects or are otherwise incompatible with end uses.  In accordance with industry practice, the Company generally provides a limited warranty that its products are in compliance with Company specifications existing at the time of delivery.  Under the Company’s general terms and conditions of sale, liability for certain failures of product during a stated warranty period is usually limited to repair or replacement of defective items or return of, or a credit with respect to, amounts paid for such items.  Under certain circumstances the Company may provide more extensive limited warranty coverage and general legal principles may impose more extensive liability than that provided under the Company’s general terms and conditions.


Competition

The Company faces intense competition in the semiconductor memory markets from a number of companies, including Elpida Memory, Inc.; Hynix Semiconductor Inc.; Qimonda AG; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and emerging companies in Taiwan and China.  Some of the Company’s competitors are large corporations or conglomerates that may have greater resources to withstand downturns in the semiconductor markets in which the Company competes, invest in technology and capitalize on growth opportunities.  The Company’s 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.


 
7

 

The Company faces competition in the image sensor market from a number of suppliers of CMOS image sensors including OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sony Corporation; STMicroelectronics NV; Toshiba Corporation and from a number of suppliers of CCD image sensors including 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 may 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.


Research and Development

The Company’s process technology research and development (“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 advanced computing and mobile memory architectures and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including MLC technology), specialty memory products, memory systems and CMOS image sensors.  The Company’s R&D expenses were $680 million, $805 million and $656 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

To compete in the semiconductor memory industry, the Company must continue to develop technologically advanced products and processes.  The Company believes that expansion of its semiconductor product offerings is necessary to meet expected market demand for specific memory and imaging solutions.  The Company has several product design centers around the world, the largest located at its corporate headquarters in Boise, Idaho.  In addition, the Company develops leading edge photolithography mask technology at its MP Mask joint venture facility in Boise.

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.  The Company and Intel share R&D process and design costs for NAND Flash equally.  The Company and Nanya also jointly develop process technology and designs to manufacture stack DRAM products with each party bearing its own development costs until such time that the development costs exceed a specified amount, following which such costs would be shared.  The Company’s development costs are expected to exceed Nanya’s development costs by a significant amount.  Product development costs are recorded as R&D expense.


Geographic Information

Sales to customers outside the United States totaled $4.4 billion for 2008 and included $1.4 billion in sales to China, $559 million in sales to Europe, $441 million in sales to Japan and $1.7 billion in sales to the Asia Pacific region (excluding China and Japan).  International sales totaled $4.0 billion for 2007 and $3.6 billion for 2006.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had net property, plant and equipment of $6.0 billion in the United States, $2.3 billion in Singapore, $259 million in Italy, $171 million in Japan and $32 million in other countries.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Geographic Information” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”)


Patents and Licenses

In recent years, the Company has been recognized as a leader in volume and quality of patents issued.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company owned approximately 17,300 U.S. patents and 2,600 foreign patents.  In addition, the Company has numerous U.S. and foreign patent applications pending.  The Company’s patents have terms expiring through 2026.

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

 
8

 

In recent years, the Company has recovered some of its investment in technology through sales of intellectual property rights to joint venture partners and other third parties.  The Company is pursing further opportunities to recover its investment in intellectual property through partnering arrangements.


Employees

As of August 28, 2008, the Company had approximately 22,800 employees, including approximately 12,300 in the United States, 5,900 in Singapore, 2,100 in Italy, 1,500 in Japan, 500 in China and 300 in the United Kingdom.  The Company’s employees include 2,300 employees in its IM Flash joint ventures that are located in the United States and Singapore and 2,200 employees in its TECH joint venture that are located in Singapore.  Approximately 400 of the Company’s employees in Italy are represented by labor organizations that have entered into national and local labor contracts with the Company.  The Company’s employment levels can vary depending on market conditions and the level of the Company’s production, research and product and process development.  Many of the Company’s employees are highly skilled, and the Company’s continued success depends in part upon its ability to attract and retain such employees.  The loss of key Company personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.


Environmental Compliance

Government regulations impose various environmental controls on raw materials and discharges, emissions and solid wastes from the Company’s manufacturing processes.  In 2008, the Company’s wafer wholly-owned fabrication facilities continued to conform to the requirements of ISO 14001 certification.  To continue certification, the Company met annual requirements in environmental policy, compliance, planning, management, structure and responsibility, training, communication, document control, operational control, emergency preparedness and response, record keeping and management review.  While the Company has not experienced any materially adverse effects on its operations from environmental regulations, changes in the regulations could necessitate additional capital expenditures, modification of operations or other compliance actions.


Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Officers of the Company are appointed annually by the Board of Directors.  Directors of the Company are elected annually by the shareholders of the Company.  Any directors appointed by the Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the Board serve until the next election by the shareholders.  All officers and directors serve until their successors are duly chosen or elected and qualified, except in the case of earlier death, resignation or removal.

As of August 28, 2008, the following executive officers and directors of the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Name
Age
Position
 
Mark W. Adams
44
Vice President of Worldwide Sales
Steven R. Appleton
48
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Kipp A. Bedard
49
Vice President of Investor Relations
D. Mark Durcan
47
President and Chief Operating Officer
Ronald C. Foster
57
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Jay L. Hawkins
48
Vice President of Operations
Roderic W. Lewis
53
Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Patrick T. Otte
46
Vice President of Human Resources
Brian J. Shields
47
Vice President of Worldwide Wafer Fabrication
Brian M. Shirley
39
Vice President of Memory
Teruaki Aoki
67
Director
James W. Bagley
69
Director
Robert L. Bailey
51
Director
Mercedes Johnson
54
Director
Lawrence N. Mondry
48
Director
Robert E. Switz
62
Director


 
9

 

Mark W. Adams joined the Company in June 2006.  From January 2006 until he joined the Company, Mr. Adams was the Chief Operating Officer of Lexar Media, Inc.  Mr. Adams served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Creative Labs, Inc. from December 2002 to January 2006.  From March 2000 to September 2002, Mr. Adams was the Chief Executive Officer of Coresma, Inc.  Mr. Adams holds a BA in Economics from Boston College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Steven R. Appleton joined the Company in February 1983 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Appleton first became an officer of the Company in August 1989 and has served in various officer positions with the Company since that time.  From April 1991 until July 1992 and since May 1994, Mr. Appleton has served on the Company’s Board of Directors.  From September 1994 to June 2007, Mr. Appleton served as the Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  In June 2007, Mr. Appleton relinquished his position as President of the Company but retained his positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.  Mr. Appleton is a member of the Board of Directors of National Semiconductor Corporation.  Mr. Appleton holds a BA in Business Management from Boise State University.

Kipp A. Bedard joined the Company in November 1983 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Bedard first became an officer of the Company in April 1990 and has served in various officer positions since that time.  Since January 1994, Mr. Bedard has served as Vice President of Investor Relations for the Company.  Mr. Bedard holds a BBA in Accounting from Boise State University.

D. Mark Durcan joined the Company in June 1984 and has served in various technical positions with the Company and its subsidiaries since that time.  Mr. Durcan was appointed Chief Operating Officer in February 2006 and President in June 2007.  Mr. Durcan has been an officer of the Company since 1996.  Mr. Durcan holds a BS and MChE in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.

Ronald C. Foster joined the Company in April 2008 after serving as a member of the Board of Directors from June 2004 to April 2005.  From March 2005 to March 2008, he was the Chief Financial Officer for FormFactor, Inc.  Mr. Foster previously served in senior financial management positions for Hewlett-Packard, Applied Materials, Novell and JDS Uniphase.  Mr. Foster holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Economics from Whitman College.

Jay L. Hawkins joined the Company in March 1984 and has served in various manufacturing positions for the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Hawkins served as Vice President, Manufacturing Administration from February 1996 through June 1997, at which time he became Vice President of Operations.  Mr. Hawkins holds a BBA in Marketing from Boise State University.

Roderic W. Lewis joined the Company in August 1991 and has served in various capacities with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Mr. Lewis has served as Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since July 1996.  Mr. Lewis holds a BA in Economics and Asian Studies from Brigham Young University and a JD from Columbia University School of Law.

Patrick T. Otte has served as the Company's Vice President of Human Resources since March 2007.  Mr. Otte joined Micron in 1987 and has served in various positions of increasing responsibility, including Production Manager in several of Micron’s fabrication facilities, Operations Manager for Micron Technology Italia S.r.l. and, Site Director for the Company's facility in Manassas, Virginia. Mr. Otte holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Paul Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Brian J. Shields joined the Company in November 1986 and has served in various operational positions with the Company.  Mr. Shields first became an officer of the Company in March 2003.

Brian M. Shirley joined the Company in August 1992 and has served in various technical positions with the Company.  Mr. Shirley became an officer of the Company in February 2006.  Mr. Shirley holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.


 
10

 

Teruaki Aoki has served as Vice Chairman of Sony Foundation for Education since July 2008.  Dr. Aoki has been associated with Sony since 1970 and has held various executive positions, including Senior Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Sony Corporation as well as President and Chief Operating Officer of Sony Electronics, a U.S. subsidiary.  Dr. Aoki holds a Ph.D. in Material Sciences from Northwestern University as well as a BS in Applied Physics from the University of Tokyo.  He was elected as an IEEE Fellow in 2003 and serves as Advisory Board Member of Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University.  Dr. Aoki also serves on the board of Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.  Dr. Aoki is the Chairman of the Board’s Governance Committee.

James W. Bagley became the Executive Chairman of Lam Research Corporation (“Lam”), a supplier of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, in June 2005.  From August 1997 through June 2005, Mr. Bagley served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lam. Mr. Bagley is a member of the Board of Directors of Teradyne, Inc.  He has served on the Company’s Board of Directors since June 1997.  Mr. Bagley holds a MS and BS in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Robert L. Bailey was the President and Chief Executive Officer of PMC-Sierra (“PMC”) from July 1997 until May 2008.  PMC is a leading provider of broadband communication and storage semiconductor solutions for the next-generation Internet.  Mr. Bailey has been a director of PMC since October 1996.  Mr. Bailey served as PMC’s President and Chief Executive Officer from July 1997 to May 2008.  He has been Chairman of PMC’s Board of Directors since 2005 and also served as PMC’s Chairman from February 2000 until February 2003.  Mr. Bailey served as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of PMC-Sierra, Ltd., PMC's Canadian operating subsidiary since December 1993.  Mr. Bailey was employed by AT&T-Microelectronics (now a division of LSI Logic) from August 1989 to November 1993, where he served as Vice President and General Manager, and at Texas Instruments in various management positions from June 1979 to August 1989.  Mr. Bailey holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport and an MBA from the University of Dallas.

Mercedes Johnson was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avago Technologies Limited, a semiconductor company, from December 2005 to August 2008.  Prior to that, she served as the Senior Vice President, Finance, of Lam from June 2004 to January 2005 and as Lam’s Chief Financial Officer from May 1997 to May 2004.  Before joining Lam, Ms. Johnson spent 10 years with Applied Materials, Inc., where she served in various senior financial management positions, including Vice President and Worldwide Operations Controller.  Ms. Johnson holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Buenos Aires and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Intersil Corporation.

Lawrence N. Mondry was the President and Chief Executive Officer of CSK Auto Corporation, (“CSK”), a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, from June 2006 to July 2008.  Prior to his appointment at CSK, Mr. Mondry served as the Chief Executive Officer of CompUSA Inc. from November 2003 to May 2006.  Mr. Mondry joined CompUSA in 1990.  Mr. Mondry currently serves on the Board of Directors of CSK. Mr. Mondry is the Chairman of the Board’s Compensation Committee.

Robert E. Switz is currently Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADC Telecommunications, Inc., (“ADC”), a supplier of network infrastructure products and services.  Mr. Switz has been with ADC since 1994 and prior to his current position, served ADC as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Switz holds an MBA from the University of Bridgeport as well as a degree in Marketing/Economics from Quinnipiac University.  Mr. Switz also serves on the Board of Directors for ADC and Broadcom Corporation.  Mr. Switz is the Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee.

There is no family relationship between any director or executive officer of the Company.


 
11

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, 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.

For 2008 average selling prices of DRAM products and NAND Flash products decreased approximately 50% and 65%, respectively, as compared to 2007.  For 2007, average selling prices of DRAM products and NAND Flash products decreased 23% and 56%, respectively, as compared to 2006.  In other recent years, we also have experienced significant annual decreases in per gigabit average selling prices for our memory products including: 34% in 2006, 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.  We recorded inventory write-downs of $282 million in 2008 and $20 million in 2007 as a result of significant decreases in average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products.  If the estimated market values of products held in finished goods and work in process inventories at a quarter end date are below the manufacturing cost of these products, we recognize charges to cost of goods sold to write down the carrying value of our inventories to market value.  Future charges for inventory write-downs could be significantly larger than the amount recorded in 2008 and 2007.  If average selling prices for our memory products remain depressed or decrease faster than we can decrease per gigabit costs, as they recently have, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows or obtain access to external financing necessary to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

Our cash flows from operations depend primarily on the volume of semiconductor memory 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.  We currently estimate our capital spending to approximate between $1.0 billion to $1.3 billion for 2009.  Cash and investments of IM Flash and TECH are generally not available to finance our other operations.  In the past we have utilized external sources of financing and access to capital markets has historically been very important to us.  As a result of the severe downturn in the semiconductor memory market, the downturn in general economic conditions, and the adverse conditions in the credit markets, financing instruments that we have used in the past are currently not available to us and may not be available to us for extended periods.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows or find other sources of financing to fund our operations; make adequate capital investments to remain competitive in terms of technology development and cost efficiency; or access capital markets.  Our inability to do the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We may be unable to reduce our per gigabit manufacturing costs at the rate average selling prices decline.

Our gross margins are dependent upon continuing decreases in per gigabit 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 gigabit manufacturing costs at sufficient levels to increase gross margins due to factors, including, but not limited to, strategic product diversification decisions affecting product mix, the increasing complexity of manufacturing processes, changes in process technologies or products that inherently may require relatively larger die sizes.  Per gigabit manufacturing costs may also be affected by the relatively smaller production quantities and shorter product lifecycles of certain specialty memory products.

The semiconductor memory 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; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and from emerging companies in Taiwan and China, who have significantly expanded 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.


 
12

 

Our competitors seek to increase silicon capacity, improve yields, reduce die size and minimize mask levels in their product designs.  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 significantly increased production in recent periods 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.

Our NAND Flash memory operations involve numerous risks.

As a result of severe oversupply in the NAND Flash market, our average selling prices of NAND Flash products for 2008 decreased approximately 65% as compared to 2007 after decreasing 56% for 2007 as compared to 2006.  As a result, we experienced negative gross margins on sales of our NAND Flash products in 2008.  In October 2008, we announced that our IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, we and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production NAND Flash at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  A continuation of the challenging conditions in the NAND Flash market will materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our joint ventures and strategic partnerships involve numerous risks.

We have entered into partnering arrangements to manufacture products and develop new manufacturing process technologies and products.  These arrangements include our IM Flash NAND flash joint ventures with Intel, our DRAM joint ventures with Nanya, our TECH DRAM joint venture and our MP Mask joint venture with Photronics.  These strategic partnerships and joint ventures are subject to various risks that could adversely affect the value of our investments and our results of operations.  These risks include the following:
 
·  
our interests could diverge from our partners in the future or we may not be able to agree with partners on the amount, timing or nature of further investments in our joint venture;

·  
due to financial constraints, our partners may be unable to meet their commitments to us or our joint ventures and may pose credit risks for our transactions with them;

·  
the terms of our arrangements may turn out to be unfavorable;

·  
cash flows may be inadequate to fund increased capital requirements;

·  
we may experience difficulties in transferring technology to joint ventures;

·  
we may experience difficulties and delays in ramping production from joint ventures; and

·  
political or economic instability may occur in the countries where our joint ventures and/or partners are located.

If our joint ventures and strategic partnerships are unsuccessful our business, results of operations or financial condition may be adversely affected.

Economic conditions may harm our business.

Economic and business conditions, including a continuing downturn in the semiconductor memory industry or the overall economy could adversely affect our business.  Adverse conditions may affect consumer demand for devices that incorporate our products such as mobile phones, personal computers, Flash memory cards and USB devices.  Reduced demand for our products could result in market oversupply and significant decreases in our selling prices.  A continuation of conditions in credit markets would limit our ability to obtain external financing to fund our operations and capital expenditures.  In addition, we may experience losses on our holdings of cash and investments due to failures of financial institutions and other parties.  Difficult economic conditions may also result in a higher rate of losses on our accounts receivables due to credit defaults.  As a result, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

 
13

 

We may incur additional restructure charges or not realize the expected benefits of new initiatives to reduce costs across our operations.

On October 9, 2008 we announced a plan to restructure our memory operations including IM Flash’s shutdown of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory production at our Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, we and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  As part of this restructuring, we plan to reduce our global workforce by approximately 15 percent during 2009 and 2010.  Cash costs for restructuring and other related expenses incurred in connection with this restructuring are anticipated to be approximately $60 million, and the benefit to our cash operating results for 2009 is expected to exceed $175 million.  We may incur additional restructure costs or not realize the expected benefits of these new initiatives.  As a result of these initiatives, we expect to lose production output, incur restructuring or other infrequent charges and we may experience disruptions in our operations, loss of key personnel and difficulties in delivering products timely.

Our acquisition of a 35.6% interest in Inotera Memories, Inc. involves numerous risks.

On October 12, 2008, we announced that we had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera Memories, Inc., a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  We received commitments of $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack process technology.  We expect to eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.  Our acquisition of an interest in Inotera involves numerous risks including the following:
 
·  
difficulties in converting Inotera production from Qimonda’s trench technology to our stack technology;

·  
difficulties in obtaining financing for capital expenditures necessary to convert Inotera production to our stack technology;

·  
increasing debt to finance the acquisition;

·  
uncertainties around the timing and amount of wafer supply received;

·  
obligations during the technology transition period to procure product based on a competitor’s technology which may be difficult to sell and provide product support for due to our limited understanding of the technology;

·  
uncertainties relating to Qimonda’s purchase of certain agreed quantities of products made using Qimonda’s trench technology during the technology transition period;

·  
uncertainties relating to Qimonda’s financial stability prior to and after the final closing of the transaction; and

·  
the inability to reach satisfactory joint venture agreements.

As a result of these risks, we may be unable to complete the Inotera acquisition or achieve our objectives for the acquisition, which may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

An adverse result in our litigation matters could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

On January 13, 2006, Rambus, Inc. (“Rambus”) filed a lawsuit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  Rambus alleges that certain of our DDR2, DDR3, RLDRAM, and RLDRAM II products infringe as many as eighteen Rambus patents and seeks monetary damages, treble damages, and injunctive relief.   The accused products account for a significant portion of our net sales.  On June 2, 2006, we filed an answer and counterclaim against Rambus alleging, among other things, antitrust and fraud claims.  Trial on the patent phase of that case is currently scheduled to begin January 19, 2009.


 
14

 

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a lawsuit 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 complaint.  Trial is currently scheduled to begin in March 2009.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and other Rambus matters pending in Europe and Delaware.)

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

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.

We are engaged in patent litigation with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. ("Mosaid") in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  Mosaid alleges that certain of our DRAM and CMOS image sensor products infringe up to twelve Mosaid patents and seeks monetary damages, treble damages, and injunctive relief.  The accused products account for a significant portion of our net sales.  Trial is currently scheduled for June 5, 2009.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details.)

We are unable to predict the outcome of assertions of infringement made against us.  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.  Any of the foregoing results 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.

A number of purported class action price-fixing lawsuits have been filed against us and other DRAM suppliers.  Numerous cases have been filed in various state and federal courts 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 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.  On January 29, 2008, the Northern District of California Court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s second amended consolidated complaint.  The District Court subsequently certified the decision for interlocutory appeal.  On February 27, 2008, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint.  On June 26, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit accepted plaintiffs’ interlocutory appeal.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and related matters.)

Various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against us and other DRAM manufacturers alleging violations of state and federal competition laws.  The amended complaint 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.  On October 3, 2008, the California Attorney General filed a similar lawsuit in California Superior Court, purportedly on behalf of local California government entities, alleging, among other things, violations of the Cartwright Act and state unfair competition law.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and related matters.)

A number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other SRAM suppliers asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased SRAM directly or indirectly from various SRAM suppliers.  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.  The first trial in these cases is currently scheduled for September 2010.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and related matters.)


 
15

 

Three purported class action lawsuits alleging price-fixing of Flash products have been filed in Canada asserting violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  These cases assert claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased Flash memory directly and indirectly from various Flash memory suppliers.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and related matters.)

We are unable to predict the outcome of these lawsuits.  An adverse court determination in any of these lawsuits alleging 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 number of purported class action complaints were 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.  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.  On December 19, 2007, the Court issued an order certifying the class but reducing the class period to purchasers of our stock during the period from February 24, 2001 to September 18, 2002.  (See “Item 3.  Legal Proceedings” for additional details on these cases and related matters.)

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

Covenants in our debt instruments may obligate us to repay debt, increase contributions to our TECH joint venture and limit our ability to obtain financing.

Our ability to comply with the financial and other covenants contained in our debt may be affected by economic or business conditions or other events.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had notes payable of $108 million, denominated in Japanese yen, that were subject to covenants, including the ratio of debt to equity.  As a result of financing that we are pursuing for our acquisition of a 35.6% interest in Inotera, we may prepay all of this yen-denominated debt in the first quarter of 2009 to avoid defaulting on these covenants.  In addition, as of August 28, 2008, our 73% owned TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd., (“TECH”) subsidiary, had $600 million outstanding under a credit facility with covenants that, among other requirements, establish certain liquidity, debt service coverage and leverage ratios for TECH and restrict TECH’s ability to incur indebtedness, create liens and acquire or dispose of assets.  If TECH does not comply with these debt covenants and restrictions, this debt may be deemed to be in default and the debt declared payable.  Additionally, if TECH is unable to repay its borrowings when due, the lenders under TECH’s credit facility could proceed against substantially all of TECH’s assets.   We have guaranteed approximately 73% of the outstanding amount of TECH’s credit facility, and our obligation increases to 100% of the outstanding amount of the facility upon the occurrence of certain conditions.  If TECH’s debt is accelerated, we may not have sufficient assets to repay amounts due.  Existing covenant restrictions may limit our ability to obtain additional debt financing and to avoid covenant defaults we may have to pay off debt obligations and make additional contributions to TECH, which could adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.

Products that fail to meet specifications, are defective or that are otherwise incompatible with end uses could impose significant costs on us.

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:

 
16

 

·  
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.

Our debt level is higher than compared to historical periods.

We currently have a higher level of debt compared to historical periods.  As of August 28, 2008, we had $2.7 billion of debt, and we will incur an additional $285 million of debt in connection with our acquisition of a 35.6% interest in Inotera. We may need to incur additional debt in the future. Our debt level could have a negative impact on us.  For example it could:

·  
make it more difficult for us to make payments on our debt;

·  
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations and other capital resources to debt service;

·  
limit our future ability to raise funds for capital expenditures, acquisitions, research and development and other general corporate requirements;

·  
increase our vulnerability to adverse economic and semiconductor memory industry conditions;

·  
expose us to fluctuations in interest rates with respect to that portion of our debt which is at variable rate of interest; and

·  
require us to make additional investments in joint ventures to maintain compliance with financial covenants.

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.

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.

We face competition in the image sensor market from a number of suppliers of CMOS image sensors including OmniVision Technologies, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd; Sony Corporation; STMicroelectronics NV; Toshiba Corporation and from a number of suppliers of CCD image sensors including 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.

In recent years, our Imaging net sales and gross margins decreased and we faced increased competition.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to grow or maintain our market share or gross margins for Imaging products in the future.  The success of our Imaging business 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;

 
17

 


·  
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.

Our efforts to restructure our Imaging business may be unsuccessful.

We are exploring partnering arrangements with outside parties regarding the separation of our Aptina Imaging business to an independent entity in which we would retain a significant minority ownership interest.  To that end, we began operating our Imaging business as a separate, wholly-owned, subsidiary in October 2008.  To the extent we form a partnering arrangement, the resulting business model may not be successful and the Imaging operations revenues and margins could be adversely affected.  We may incur significant costs to convert Imaging operations to a new business structure and operations could be disrupted.  In addition, we may lose key personnel.  If our efforts to restructure the Imaging business are unsuccessful, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We expect to make future acquisitions and alliances, which involve numerous risks.

Acquisitions and the formation of alliances such as joint ventures and other partnering arrangements, involve numerous risks including the following:

·  
difficulties in integrating the operations, technologies and products of acquired or newly formed entities;

·  
increasing capital expenditures to upgrade and maintain facilities;

·  
increasing debt to finance any acquisition or formation of a new business;

·  
difficulties in protecting our intellectual property as we enter into a greater number of licensing arrangements;

·  
diverting management’s attention from normal daily operations;

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

·  
hiring and retaining key employees.

Acquisitions of, or alliances with, high-technology companies are inherently risky, and any future transactions may not be successful and may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards may be limited.

We have significant net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards.  We have 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 is dependent upon us achieving sustained profitability.  As a consequence of prior business acquisitions, utilization of the tax benefits for some of the tax carryforwards is subject to limitations imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and some portion or all of these carryforwards may not be available to offset any future taxable income.  The determination of the limitations is complex and requires significant judgment and analysis of past transactions.


 
18

 

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.  We recorded a net loss of $25 million from changes in currency exchange rates for 2008.  We estimate that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as of August 28, 2008, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately U.S. $1 million for the euro and yen.  In the event that the U.S. dollar weakens significantly compared to the euro, yen or Singapore dollar, our results of operations or financial condition will be 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 75% of our consolidated net sales for 2008.  In addition, we have manufacturing operations in China, 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 gigabit manufacturing costs.  Additionally, our control over operations at our IM Flash, TECH, Inotera, MeiYa 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, improperly functioning equipment and 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.


 
19

 

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 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.
 
Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.


 
20

 

Item 2.  Properties

The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Boise, Idaho.  The following is a summary of the Company’s principal facilities:

Location
Principal Operations
   
Boise, Idaho
Wafer fabrication, test and assembly, reticle manufacturing and R&D
Lehi, Utah
Wafer fabrication
Manassas, Virginia
Wafer fabrication
Singapore
Two wafer fabrication facilities and a test, assembly and module assembly facility
Nishiwaki City, Japan
Wafer fabrication
Avezzano, Italy
Wafer fabrication
Nampa, Idaho
Test
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Module assembly, test
Xi’an, China
Test

The Company also owns and leases a number of other facilities in locations throughout the world that are used for design, research and development, and sales and marketing activities.  The Company’s facility in Lehi is owned and operated by its IM Flash joint venture with Intel.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)  One of the Company’s wafer fabrication facilities in Singapore is owned by its TECH joint venture and collateralizes, in part, TECH’s $600 million credit facility.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)  The Company’s other wafer fabrication facility in Singapore is owned by its IM Flash Singapore joint venture.  The IM Flash Singapore facility was substantially completed in the first quarter of 2009 but has not been equipped.  In October 2008, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  On October 9, 2008, the Company announced that its IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.

The Company believes that its existing facilities are suitable and adequate for its present purposes.  The Company does not identify or allocate assets by operating segment.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Geographic Information.”)
 
Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

Patent Matters

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.  In the Delaware action, the Company subsequently added claims and defenses based on Rambus’s alleged spoliation of evidence and litigation misconduct.  The spoliation and litigation misconduct claims and defenses were heard in a bench trial before Judge Robinson in October 2007.  Post-trial briefing is complete, and a decision on this phase is now pending.

A number of other suits involving Rambus 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, on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany alleging that certain of the Company’s DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus’ country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642.  In the European suits against the
 
21

Company, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office (the “EPO”) declared Rambus’ 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  The declaration of invalidity with respect to the '068 patent was upheld on appeal.  The original claims of the '956 patent also were declared invalid on appeal, but the EPO ultimately granted a Rambus request to amend the claims by adding a number of limitations.

On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  The complaint alleges that certain of the Company’s DDR2, DDR3, RLDRAM, and RLDRAM II products infringe as many as eighteen Rambus patents and seeks monetary damages, treble damages, and injunctive relief.  On June 2, 2006, the Company filed an answer and counterclaim against Rambus alleging among other things, antitrust and fraud claims.  The Northern District of California Court subsequently consolidated the antitrust and fraud claims and certain equitable defenses of the Company and other parties against Rambus in a jury trial that began on January 29, 2008.  On March 26, 2008, a jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus on the Company’s antitrust and fraud claims.  Trial on the patent phase of that case is currently scheduled to begin January 19, 2009.

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 25, 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 three additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed the Company’s declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.  The Company appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  On February 29, 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an order reversing the dismissal of the Company’s declaratory judgment action filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and remanding the suit to that Court.   The Texas action was subsequently transferred to the Northern District of California.  Mosaid alleges that certain of the Company’s DRAM and CMOS image sensor products infringe up to twelve Mosaid patents and seeks monetary damages, treble damages, and injunctive relief.  The accused products account for a significant portion of our net sales.  Trial is currently scheduled for June 5, 2009.

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.

Antitrust Matters

A number of purported class action price-fixing lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM 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 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-four cases have been filed in various state courts 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 April 1999 through at least June 2002.  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.  On January 29, 2008, the Northern District of California Court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s second amended consolidated complaint.  Plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion seeking certification for interlocutory appeal of the decision.  On February 27, 2008, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint.  On June 26, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit accepted plaintiffs’ interlocutory appeal.


 
22

 

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.  In May and June 2008 respectively, plaintiffs’ motion for class certification was denied in the British Columbia and Quebec cases.  Plaintiffs have filed an appeal of each of those decisions.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, and on September 8, 2006 in an amended complaint, the following Attorneys General 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.  Three states, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Texas, subsequently voluntarily dismissed their claims.  The remaining states filed a third amended complaint on October 1, 2007.  Alaska, Delaware, and Vermont subsequently voluntarily dismissed their claims.  The amended complaint 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 State of New York filed an amended complaint on October 1, 2007.  On October 3, 2008, the California Attorney General filed a similar lawsuit in California Superior Court, purportedly on behalf of local California government entities, alleging, among other things, violations of the Cartwright Act and state unfair competition law.

On February 28, 2007, February 28, 2007 and March 8, 2007, cases were filed against the Company and other manufacturers of DRAM in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by All American Semiconductor, Inc., Jaco Electronics, Inc. and DRAM Claims Liquidation Trust, respectively, that opted-out of a direct purchaser class action suit that was settled.  The complaints allege, among other things, violations of federal and state antitrust and competition laws in the DRAM industry, and seek damages, injunctive relief, and other remedies.

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.  Six 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 November 1, 1996 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, at least seventy-four cases have been 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 November 1, 1996 through December 31, 2006.  In September 2008, a class of direct purchasers was certified, and plaintiffs were granted leave to amend their complaint to cover Pseudo-Static RAM or “PSRAM” products as well.   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.

Three purported class action SRAM lawsuits also have been filed in Canada, on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers, alleging violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the SRAM cases filed in the United States.

In addition, three purported class action lawsuits alleging price-fixing of Flash products have been filed in Canada, asserting violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  These cases assert claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased Flash memory directly and indirectly from various Flash memory suppliers.

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.  Trial is currently scheduled to begin in March 2009.   The complaint seeks treble damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and a permanent injunction enjoining the defendants from the conduct alleged in the complaints.


 
23

 

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.

Securities Matters

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.  On December 19, 2007, the Court issued an order certifying the class but reducing the class period to purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period from February 24, 2001 to September 18, 2002.

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.  An amended complaint was filed on August 23, 2006 and was subsequently dismissed by the Court.  Another amended complaint was filed on September 6, 2007.  The amended 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 amended complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The amended 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.  On January 25, 2008, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint without leave to amend.  On March 10, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Idaho Court of Appeals.

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.

(See “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”)

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.


 
24

 

PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market for Common Stock

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the symbol “MU.”  The following table represents the high and low closing sales prices for the Company’s common stock for each quarter of 2008 and 2007, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.

 
 
 
High
   
Low
 
             
2008:
           
4th quarter
  $ 8.53     $ 4.24  
3rd quarter
    8.84       5.46  
2nd quarter
    9.26       5.75  
1st quarter
    11.79       7.94  
2007:
               
4th quarter
  $ 13.98     $ 10.60  
3rd quarter
    12.36       10.95  
2nd quarter
    14.93       11.86  
1st quarter
    18.57       13.57  

Holders of Record

As of October 17, 2008, there were 3,212 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

The Company has not declared or paid cash dividends since 1996 and does not intend to pay cash dividends on its common stock for the foreseeable future.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company acquired, as payment of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards, 26,218 shares of its common stock at an average price of $6.17 per share.  In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company retired the 26,218 shares acquired in the fourth quarter of 2008.

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
 
                         
May 30, 2008 – July 3, 2008
    15,607     $ 7.23       N/A       N/A  
July 4, 2008 – July 31, 2008
    9       5.45       N/A       N/A  
August 1, 2008 – August 28, 2008
    10,602       4.61       N/A       N/A  
      26,218       6.17                  


 
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Performance Graph

The following graph illustrates a five-year comparison of cumulative total returns for the Company’s Common Stock, the S&P 500 Composite Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) from August 28, 2003, through August 28, 2008.

Note:  Management cautions that the stock price performance information shown in the graph below is provided as of fiscal year-end and may not be indicative of current stock price levels or future stock price performance.


The Company operates on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year which ends on the Thursday closest to August 31.  Accordingly, the last day of the Company’s fiscal year varies.  For consistent presentation and comparison to the industry indices shown herein, the Company has calculated its stock performance graph assuming an August 31 year end.  The performance graph assumes $100 invested on August 31, 2003 in Common Stock of Micron Technology, Inc., the S&P 500 Composite Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX).  Any dividends paid during the period presented are assumed to be reinvested.  The performance was plotted using the following data:

Performance Graph Data

   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
   
2008
 
                                     
Micron Technology, Inc.
  $ 100     $ 80     $ 83     $ 120     $ 80     $ 30  
S&P 500 Composite Index
    100       111       125       137       157       140  
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)
    100       82       105       100       112       80  


 
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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
 
   
(in millions except per share amounts)
 
                               
Net sales
  $ 5,841     $ 5,688     $ 5,272     $ 4,880     $ 4,404  
Gross margin
    (55 )     1,078       1,200       1,146       1,314  
Operating income (loss)
    (1,595 )     (280 )     350       217       250  
Net income (loss)
    (1,619 )     (320 )     408       188       157  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
    (2.10 )     (0.42 )     0.57       0.29       0.24  
                                         
Cash and short-term investments
    1,362       2,616       3,079       1,290       1,231  
Total current assets
    3,779       5,234       5,101       2,926       2,639  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    8,811       8,279       5,888       4,684       4,713  
Total assets
    13,430       14,818       12,221       8,006       7,760  
Total current liabilities
    1,598       2,026       1,661       979       972  
Long-term debt
    2,451       1,987       405       1,020       1,028  
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
    2,865       2,607       1,568       --       --  
Total shareholders’ equity
    6,178       7,752       8,114       5,847       5,615  

In 2008, the Company recorded a charge of $463 million to write off all the goodwill associated with the Company’s memory segment.

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company and Nanya Technology Corporation (“Nanya”) formed MeiYa, a joint venture to manufacture stack DRAM and sell those products exclusively to the Company and Nanya.  As part of this transaction, the Company transferred and licensed certain intellectual property related to the manufacture of stack DRAM products to Nanya and licensed certain intellectual property from Nanya.  The Company and Nanya also agreed to jointly develop process technology and designs to manufacture stack DRAM products with each party bearing its own development costs until such time that the development costs exceed a specified amount, following which such costs would be shared.  Under this arrangement, the Company is to receive an aggregate of $232 million from Nanya and MeiYa through 2010 for licensing and technology transfer fees, of which the Company realized $40 million of revenue in 2008.  The Company will also receive royalties from Nanya on the sale of stack DRAM products manufactured by or for Nanya.  On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera Memories, Inc. (“Inotera”), a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  The Company received commitments for $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack process technology, and it is anticipated that the Company will receive royalties on Inotera’s production that flows to Nanya, a 35.6% stakeholder in Inotera.  The Company will eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.  In connection with this acquisition, the Company expects to enter into a series of agreements with Nanya to restructure MeiYa.  It is anticipated that both parties will cease future resource commitments to MeiYa and redirect those resources to Inotera.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation.”)

The Company has formed two joint ventures, IM Flash, with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) to manufacture NAND Flash memory products for the exclusive benefit of the partners:  IM Flash Technologies, LLC, which began operations in the second quarter of 2006, and IM Flash Singapore LLP, which began operations in the third quarter of 2007.  The Company owns 51% and Intel owns 49% of IM Flash.  The financial results of IM Flash are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Venture with Intel.”)

The Company began consolidating the financial results of its TECH Semiconductor joint venture (“TECH”) as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2006.  In the third quarter of 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of TECH common stock held by Singapore Economic Development Board, which increased the Company’s ownership interest in TECH from 43% to 73%.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc., a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.


 
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In the third quarter of 2006, the Company formed a joint venture, MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”), with Photronics, Inc. to produce photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors.  The Company owns 50.01% and Photronics, Inc. owns 49.99% of MP Mask.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – MP Mask Technology Center, LLC.”)

(See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”)


 
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Item 7.  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 the costs and impact of restructure plans, the Company’s DRAM development costs relative to Nanya, royalty payments from Inotera production, capital commitments for the Company’s joint ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation, the supply of DRAM wafers from Inotera Memories, Inc. and manufacturing plans for CMOS image sensors; in “Net Sales” regarding increases in NAND Flash memory production; in “Gross Margin” regarding future charges for inventory write-downs; in “Restructure” regarding the costs and impact of restructure plans;  in “Stock-based Compensation” regarding future stock-based compensation costs;  in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” regarding capital spending in 2009, plans to pay off certain debt, future distributions from IM Flash to Intel and future contributions to joint ventures; and in “Recently Issued Accounting Standards” regarding the impact from the adoption of new accounting standards.  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 “Item 1A.  Risk Factors.” This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes for the year ended August 28, 2008.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated. The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  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, MP3/4 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 portfolio of semiconductor memory products, 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.

In 2008 and 2007 the semiconductor memory industry experienced a severe downturn due to a significant oversupply of products.  Average selling prices per gigabit for the Company’s DRAM products and NAND Flash products in 2008 were down approximately 50% and 65%, respectively, as compared to 2007 and down approximately 65% and 85%, respectively, as compared to 2006.  As a result of these market conditions, the Company and other semiconductor memory manufacturers have reported negative gross margins and substantial losses in recent periods.  In 2008, the Company reported a net loss $1.6 billion and many of its competitors reported negative cash flows from operations.  In response to these market conditions, on October 9, 2008 the Company announced a plan to restructure its memory operations.  The Company’s IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of NAND Flash production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  As part of the restructuring, the Company plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent during 2009 and 2010.  Cash costs for restructuring and other related expenses incurred in connection with this restructuring are anticipated to be approximately $60 million, and the benefit to the Company’s cash operating results for 2009 is expected to exceed $175 million.

The effects of the worsening global economy and the tightening credit market are also making it increasingly difficult for semiconductor memory manufacturers to obtain external sources of financing to fund their operations.  Although the Company believes that it is better positioned than some of its peers, it faces challenges in the current and near term that require it to continue to make significant improvements in its competitiveness.  Additionally, the Company is pursuing financing alternatives, delaying capital expenditures and implementing further cost-cutting initiatives.

The Company is focused on improving its competitiveness by developing new products, advancing its technology and reducing costs.  In addition, the Company increased its manufacturing capacity in 2008 and 2007 by ramping NAND Flash production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities and converting another facility to 300mm DRAM wafer fabrication.  To reduce costs, the Company implemented restructure initiatives aimed at reducing manufacturing and overhead costs through outsourcing, relocation of operations and workforce reductions.


 
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The Company makes significant ongoing investments to develop proprietary product and process technology that is implemented in its worldwide manufacturing facilities and through its joint ventures to enable the production of semiconductor products with increasing functionality and performance at lower costs.  The Company generally reduces the manufacturing cost of each generation of product through advancements in product and process technology such as its leading-edge line width process technology and innovative array architecture.  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 memory density and megapixel count.  To leverage its significant investments in research and development, the Company has formed strategic joint ventures under which the costs of developing memory product and process technologies are shared with its joint venture partners.  In addition, from time to time, the Company has also sold and/or licensed technology to third parties.  The Company is pursuing further opportunities to recover its investment in intellectual property through partnering and other arrangements.

 DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation (“Nanya”):  In the third quarter of 2008, the Company and Nanya formed MeiYa, a joint venture to manufacture stack DRAM and sell those products exclusively to the Company and Nanya.  As part of this transaction, the Company transferred and licensed certain intellectual property related to the manufacture of stack DRAM products to Nanya and licensed certain intellectual property from Nanya.  The Company and Nanya also agreed to jointly develop process technology and designs to manufacture stack DRAM products with each party bearing its own development costs until such time that the development costs exceed a specified amount, following which such costs would be shared.  The Company’s development costs are expected to exceed Nanya’s development costs by a significant amount.  Under this arrangement, the Company is to receive an aggregate of $232 million from Nanya and MeiYa through 2010 for licensing and technology transfer fees, of which the Company realized $40 million of revenue in 2008.  The Company will also receive royalties from Nanya on the sale of stack DRAM products manufactured by or for Nanya.

On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera Memories, Inc. (“Inotera”), a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  The Company received commitments for $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack DRAM process technology, and it is anticipated that the Company will receive royalties on the sale of Inotera’s production that is delivered to Nanya, a 35.6% stakeholder in Inotera.  The Company will eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.  In connection with this acquisition, the Company expects to enter into a series of agreements with Nanya to restructure MeiYa.  It is anticipated that both parties will cease future resource commitments to MeiYa and redirect those resources to Inotera.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation.”)

Aptina Imaging Business:  The Company is exploring partnering arrangements with outside parties regarding the separation of its CMOS image sensor business, operating under the name “Aptina,” to an independent entity in which the Company would retain a significant minority ownership interest.  To that end, the Company began operating its Imaging business as a separate wholly-owned subsidiary in October 2008.  Under the arrangements being considered, the Company expects that it will continue to manufacture CMOS image sensors for some period of time.

Goodwill Impairment:  In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a noncash impairment charge of $463 million to the goodwill recorded in its Memory segment.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Goodwill.”)

Inventory Write-Downs: The Company’s results of operations for the fourth, second and first quarters of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2007 included charges of $205 million, $15 million, $62 million and $20 million, respectively, to write down the carrying value of work in process and finished goods inventories of Memory products (both DRAM and NAND Flash) to their estimated market values.

 
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Results of Operations

   
2008
     
2007
     
2006
     
   
(in millions and as a percent of net sales)
     
                                       
Net sales:
                                     
Memory
  $ 5,188       89   %   $ 5,001       88   %   $ 4,523       86   %
Imaging
    653       11   %     687       12   %     749       14   %
    $ 5,841       100   %   $ 5,688       100   %   $ 5,272       100   %
                                                         
Gross margin
                                                       
Memory
  $ (241 )     (5 ) %   $ 845       17   %   $ 878       19   %
Imaging
    186       28   %     233       34   %     322       43   %
    $ (55 )     (1 ) %   $ 1,078       19   %   $ 1,200       23   %
                                                         
Selling, general and administrative
  $ 455       8   %   $ 610       11   %   $ 460       9   %
Research and development
    680       12   %     805       14   %     656       12   %
Goodwill impairment
    463       8   %     --       --         --       --    
Restructure
    33       1   %     19       0   %     --       --    
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (91 )     (2 ) %     (76 )     (1 ) %     (266 )     (5 ) %
Net income (loss)
    (1,619 )     (28 ) %     (320 )     (6 ) %     408       8   %

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.

Net Sales

Total net sales for 2008 increased 3% as compared to 2007 primarily due to a 4% increase in Memory sales partially offset by a 5% decrease in Imaging sales.  Memory sales for 2008 reflect significant increases in gigabits sold partially offset by significant declines in per gigabit average selling prices as compared to 2007.  Memory sales were 89% of total net sales for 2008, 88% for 2007 and 86% for 2006.  Imaging sales for 2008 decreased 5% from 2007 primarily reflecting pricing pressure.  Total net sales for 2007 increased 8% as compared to 2006 primarily due to an 11% increase in Memory sales partially offset by an 8% decline in Imaging sales.

Memory:  Memory sales for 2008 increased 4% from 2007 primarily due to a 55% increase in sales of NAND Flash products offset by a 15% decrease in sales of DRAM products.

Sales of NAND Flash products for 2008 increased from 2007 primarily due to an increase of approximately 370% in gigabits sold as a result of production increases partially offset by a decline of approximately 65% in average selling prices per gigabit.  Gigabit production of NAND Flash products increased approximately 350% for 2008 as compared to 2007, primarily due to the continued ramp of NAND Flash products at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities and transitions to higher density, advanced geometry devices.  Sales of NAND Flash products represented approximately 35% of the Company’s total net sales for 2008 as compared to approximately 25% for 2007 and approximately 5% for 2006.  The Company expects that its gigabit production of NAND Flash products will continue to increase in 2009 but at a slower rate than 2008.

Sales of DRAM products for 2008 decreased from 2007 primarily due to a decline of approximately 50% in average selling prices (which included the effects of a $50 million charge to revenue in the first quarter of 2007 as a result of a settlement agreement with a class of direct purchasers of certain DRAM products), mitigated by an increase in gigabits sold of approximately 70%.  Gigabit production of DRAM products increased approximately 70% for 2008, primarily due to production efficiencies from improvements in product and process technologies, including TECH’s conversion to 300mm wafer fabrication.  Sales of DDR2 and DDR3 DRAM, the Company’s highest volume products, were approximately 30% of the Company’s total net sales for 2008 and 2007 and approximately 25% for 2006.


 
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Memory sales for 2007 increased 11% from 2006 primarily due to a 287% increase in sales of NAND Flash products offset by an 11% decrease in sales of DRAM products.  Sales of NAND Flash products for 2007 increased from 2006 primarily due to significant increases in gigabit production and the Company’s acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc. (which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2006), partially offset by a 56% decline in average selling prices per gigabit.  Gigabit production of NAND Flash products increased over 800% for 2007 as compared to 2006, primarily due to the ramp of NAND Flash products at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities and transitions to higher density, advanced geometry devices.  Sales of DRAM products for 2007 decreased from 2006 primarily due to a 23% decline in average selling prices (which included the effects of a $50 million charge to revenue in the first quarter of 2007 as a result of a settlement agreement with a class of direct purchasers of certain DRAM products), which was partially mitigated by a 16% increase in gigabits sold.  Gigabit production of DRAM products increased 23% for 2007, primarily due to transitions to higher density, advanced geometry devices.

Imaging:  Imaging sales for 2008 decreased 5% from 2007 primarily due to significant declines in average selling prices by product type partially offset by a shift in product mix from products with 1-megapixel or lower resolution to products with 3-megapixel or higher resolution, which had higher average selling prices per unit.  Imaging sales were 11% of the Company’s total net sales in 2008 as compared to 12% for 2007 and 14% for 2006.  Imaging sales for 2007 decreased 8% from 2006 primarily due to declines in average selling prices as a result of industry softness in mobile handset sales and pricing pressure.  Declines in average selling prices for 2007 were mitigated by increased sales of higher resolution products.

Gross Margin

The Company’s overall gross margin percentage declined from 19% for 2007 to negative 1% for 2008 primarily due to a decrease in the gross margin percentage for Memory as a result of the significant declines in per gigabit average selling prices.  The Company’s overall gross margin percentage for 2007 declined to 19% from 23% for 2006 due to a decrease in both the gross margin percentages for Memory and Imaging products.

Memory:  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products declined from 17% for 2007 to negative 5% for 2008 primarily due to the significant decreases in average selling prices and the shift in product mix to NAND Flash products (which had a significantly lower gross margin than DRAM products in 2008), mitigated by cost reductions.

The Company’s gross margins for Memory in 2008 were reduced by a $205 million charge in the fourth quarter of 2008 to write-down inventories to their estimated market values as a result of the significant decreases in average selling prices for both DRAM and NAND Flash Products.  The Company’s inventory write-downs of $15 million and $62 million in the second and first quarters of 2008, respectively, did not significantly impact 2008 gross margins as a substantial portion of the written-down inventory was sold in 2008.  Gross margins for 2007 were reduced by a $20 million inventory write-down in the fourth quarter of 2007.  In future periods the Company would record additional inventory write-downs if estimated average selling prices of products held in finished goods and work in process inventories at a quarter-end date are below the manufacturing cost of these products.

The Company’s gross margin for DRAM products for 2008 declined from 2007, primarily due to the decrease in average selling prices per gigabit of approximately 50% mitigated by a reduction in costs per gigabit.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products through transitions to higher-density, advanced-geometry devices.  Cost reductions in 2008 for DRAM products were partially offset by the inventory write-downs.  Excluding the inventory write-downs, the Company reduced its DRAM costs per gigabit by approximately 35% for 2008 as compared to 2007.

The Company’s gross margin for NAND Flash products for 2008 declined from 2007 primarily due to the decrease in average selling prices per gigabit of approximately 65% mitigated by a reduction in costs per gigabit.  Cost reductions in 2008 primarily reflect lower manufacturing costs and lower costs of NAND Flash products purchased for sale under the Company’s Lexar brand.  The Company achieved manufacturing cost reductions for NAND Flash products primarily through increased production of higher-density, advanced-geometry devices at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities.  NAND Flash costs for 2008 were also reduced by a recovery of $70 million for price adjustments for NAND Flash products purchased from other suppliers in prior periods.  Cost reductions in 2008 for NAND Flash Products were partially offset by the inventory write-downs.  Excluding the inventory write-downs and the effect of pricing adjustments from other suppliers, the Company reduced its NAND Flash costs per gigabit by approximately 65%.  Sales of NAND Flash products include sales from IM Flash to Intel at long-term negotiated prices approximating cost.  IM Flash sales to Intel were $1,037 million, $497 million and $114 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.


 
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The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products of 17% for 2007 declined from 19% for 2006 primarily due to the shift in product mix from DRAM products to NAND Flash products, which had a significantly lower gross margin than DRAM products in 2007.  This decline in gross margin percentage was mitigated by improvements in the gross margin for 2007 on sales of both DRAM and NAND Flash products as compared to 2006.  The gross margin for DRAM products for 2007 improved from 2006, primarily due to a reduction in costs per gigabit of approximately 25%, partially offset by a decline in average selling prices of approximately 25%.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products through transitions to production of devices utilizing the Company’s 78nm process technologies.  The Company’s gross margin for NAND Flash products for 2007 improved slightly from 2006 primarily due to a reduction in costs per gigabit of approximately 55%, partially offset by a decline in average selling prices of approximately 55%.  Cost reductions in 2007 reflect lower manufacturing costs, lower costs of NAND Flash products purchased for sale under the Company’s Lexar brand and shifts in product mix.  The Company achieved manufacturing cost reductions for NAND Flash products primarily through increased production of higher-density, advanced-geometry devices at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities.

In 2008, the Company’s TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”) joint venture accounted for approximately 12% of the Company’s total wafer production.  TECH primarily produced DDR and DDR2 products in 2008, 2007 and 2006.  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 approximates gross margins on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

Imaging:  The Company’s gross margin for Imaging declined to 28% for 2008 from 34% for 2007 primarily due to declines in average selling prices mitigated by cost reductions and a shift to higher resolution products, which realized better gross margins.  The Company’s gross margin for Imaging declined to 34% for 2007 from 43% for of 2006 primarily due to declines in average selling prices that were 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 2008 decreased 25% from 2007 primarily due to lower legal costs as well as lower payroll costs and other expenses driven by the Company’s restructure initiatives.  The reduction of payroll costs in 2008 was primarily the result of a decrease in headcount.  In 2007, the Company recorded a $31 million charge to SG&A as a result of the settlement of certain antitrust class action (direct purchaser) lawsuits.  SG&A expenses for 2007 increased 33% from 2006 primarily due to higher personnel costs and higher legal costs including the $31 million charge for settlement of the direct purchaser lawsuits.  Personnel costs in 2007 increased from 2006 primarily due to increased headcount resulting from the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the formation of IM Flash in the second quarter of 2006 and subsequent ramp of its operations, and the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006. Future SG&A expense is expected to vary, potentially significantly, depending on, among other things, the number of legal matters that are resolved relatively early in their life-cycle and the number of matters that progress to trial.  For the Company’s Memory segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales were 7% in 2008, 11% in 2007 and 8% in 2006.  For the Imaging segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales were 11% in 2008, 11% in 2007 and 12% in 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 2008 decreased 16% from 2007 primarily due to decreases in development wafers processed and lower payroll costs driven by the Company’s restructure initiatives.  R&D expenses for 2007 increased 23% from 2006 primarily due to NAND pre-production wafer processing mitigated by reimbursements received from Intel under a NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement.  R&D expenses were reduced by $148 million in 2008, $240 million in 2007 and $86 million in 2006 for amounts reimbursable from Intel under the NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement.  For the Memory segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of sales were 10% for 2008, 13% for 2007 and 13% for 2006.  For the Imaging segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of sales were 22% for 2008, 23% for 2007 and 11% for 2006.


 
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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 advanced computing and mobile memory architectures and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including MLC technology), specialty memory products, memory systems and CMOS image sensors.

Goodwill Impairment

In the second quarter of 2008, the Company performed an assessment of impairment for goodwill.  In the first and second quarters of 2008, the Company experienced a sustained, significant decline in its stock price.  As a result of the decline in stock price, the Company’s market capitalization fell significantly below the recorded value of its consolidated net assets for most of the second quarter of 2008.  The reduced market capitalization reflected, in part, the Memory segment’s lower average selling prices and expected continued weakness in pricing for the Company’s Memory products.

Based on the results of the Company’s assessment of goodwill for impairment, it was determined that the carrying value of the Memory segment exceeded its estimated fair value.  Therefore, the Company performed the second step of the impairment test to determine the implied fair value of goodwill.  Specifically, the Company allocated the estimated fair value of the Memory segment as determined in the first step to recognized and unrecognized net assets, including allocations to intangible assets such as intellectual property, customer relationships and brand and trade names.  The result of the analysis indicated that there would be no remaining implied value attributable to goodwill in the Memory segment and accordingly, the Company wrote off all $463 million of goodwill associated with its Memory segment as of February 28, 2008.  The Company’s assessment of goodwill for impairment in the second and fourth quarters of 2008 indicated that the fair value of the Imaging segment exceeded its carrying value and therefore goodwill in the segment was not impaired.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Goodwill.”)

Restructure

In an effort to increase its competitiveness and efficiency, in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company began pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce costs across its operations.  These initiatives included workforce reductions in certain areas of the Company as its business was realigned.  Additional initiatives included establishing certain operations closer in location to the Company’s global customers and evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside relationships.  In 2008, the Company recorded charges of $33 million, primarily within its Memory segment, for employee severance and related costs, relocation and retention bonuses and a write-down of certain facilities to their fair values.  Since the restructure initiatives were initiated in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company has incurred $52 million of restructure costs.

On October 9, 2008 the Company announced a plan to restructure its Memory operations.  The Company’s IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  As part of the restructuring, the Company plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent during 2009 and 2010.  Cash costs for restructuring and other related expenses incurred in connection with this restructuring are anticipated to be approximately $60 million, and the benefit to the Company’s cash operating results for 2009 is expected to exceed $175 million.

Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

Other operating (income) for 2008 included gains of $66 million for disposals of semiconductor equipment and $38 million for receipts from the U.S. government in connection with anti-dumping tariffs.  Other operating expenses for 2008 included losses of $25 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating (income) for 2007 included gains of $43 million from disposals of semiconductor equipment, $30 million from the sale of certain intellectual property to Toshiba Corporation and $7 million in grants received in connection with the Company’s operations in China.  Other operating expense for 2007 included losses of $14 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating (income) for 2006 included $230 million of net proceeds for the sale of the Company’s existing NAND Flash memory designs and certain related technology to Intel, net of amounts paid by the Company for a perpetual, paid-up license to use and modify such designs.  Other operating (income) for 2006 also included $23 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 IM Flash.


 
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Income Taxes

Income taxes for 2008, 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 benefit for taxes on U.S. operations in 2008, 2007 and 2006 was substantially offset by changes in the valuation allowance.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $2.7 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $205 million.  The Company also had unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.8 billion and unused state tax credits of $189 million as of August 28, 2008.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2028 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2028.  Due to certain foreign statutes of limitations, which expired on December 31, 2007, the Company recognized approximately $15 million of previously unrecognized tax benefits in the second quarter of 2008.

Noncontrolling Interests in Net (Income) Loss

Noncontrolling interests for 2008, 2007 and 2006 primarily reflects the share of income or losses of the Company’s TECH joint venture attributable to the noncontrolling interests in TECH.  On March 30, 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of TECH common stock held by the Singapore Economic Development Board, which had the effect of reducing the noncontrolling interests in TECH as of that date from 57% to 27%.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

Stock-Based Compensation

Total compensation cost for the Company’s equity plans in 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $48 million, $44 million and $26 million, respectively.  As of August 28, 2008, August 30, 2007 and August 31, 2006, $3 million, $3 million and $1 million of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized and remained in inventory.  As of August 28, 2008, $107 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested awards was expected to be recognized through the fourth quarter of 2012.  In 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of substantially all of its unvested stock options then outstanding which reduced stock compensation recognized in subsequent periods.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of August 28, 2008, the Company had cash and equivalents and short-term investments totaling $1.4 billion compared to $2.6 billion as of August 30, 2007.  The balance as of August 28, 2008, included an aggregate of $508 million held at the Company’s IM Flash and TECH joint ventures.  The Company’s ability to access funds held by joint ventures to finance the Company’s other operations is subject to agreement by the joint venture partners.

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.  Depending on conditions in the semiconductor memory market, the Company’s cash flows from operations and current holdings of cash and investments may not be adequate to meet the Company’s current and long-term needs for capital expenditures and operations.  Historically, the Company has used external financing to fund these needs.  Due to conditions in the credit markets, some financing instruments used by the Company in the past are currently not available to the Company.  As a result, the Company is pursuing financing alternatives, delaying capital expenditures and implementing further cost-cutting initiatives.  The Company has the ability and intent to significantly reduce capital expenditures and limit contributions to joint venture partners if necessary to meet its operating obligations.

Operating Activities:  The Company generated $1.0 billion of cash from operating activities in 2008, which primarily reflects the Company’s $1.6 billion of net loss adjusted by $2.1 billion for noncash depreciation and amortization expense and a $463 million noncash goodwill impairment charge.


 
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Investing Activities:  Net cash used by investing activities was $2.1 billion in 2008, which included cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $2.5 billion partially offset by the net effect of purchases, sales and maturities of marketable investment securities of $288 million and $187 million in proceeds from sales of equipment.  A significant portion of the capital expenditures relate to the ramp of IM Flash facilities and 300mm conversion of manufacturing operations 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 and research and development.  The Company expects 2009 capital spending to approximate $1.0 billion to $1.3 billion.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had commitments of approximately $300 million for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, nearly all of which are expected to be paid within one year.

Financing Activities:  Net cash provided by financing activities was $125 million in 2008, which primarily reflects $837 million in proceeds from borrowings and $268 million in cash contributions received (net of distributions paid) from joint venture partners partially offset by $698 million in debt payments and $387 million in payments on equipment purchase contracts.

During the second quarter of 2008, the Company’s TECH subsidiary borrowed $240 million against a credit facility at Singapore Interbank Offered Rate ("SIBOR") plus 2.5%.  On March 31, 2008, TECH entered into a new credit facility enabling it to borrow up to $600 million at SIBOR plus 2.5%.  The facility is available for drawdown through December 31, 2008.  During 2008, TECH drew $600 million under the new credit facility and retired the previous credit facility by paying off the $240 million outstanding.  The new credit facility is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of TECH (approximately $1,741 million as of August 28, 2008) and contains covenants that, among other requirements, establish certain liquidity, debt service coverage and leverage ratios, and restrict TECH’s ability to incur indebtedness, create liens and acquire or dispose of assets.  Payments under the new facility are due in approximately equal installments over 13 quarters commencing in May 2009.  Beginning March 2009, TECH will be required to maintain $30 million in restricted cash and this restricted cash requirement will increase to $60 million in September 2009.  The Company has guaranteed approximately 73% of the outstanding amount of the facility, with the Company’s obligation increasing to 100% of the outstanding amount of the facility upon the occurrence of certain conditions.  As a condition to granting the guarantee, the Company has a second position priority interest in all of the assets of TECH behind the lenders.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Debt.”)

As of August 28, 2008, the Company had notes payable of $108 million, denominated in Japanese yen, that was subject to customary covenants, including the ratio of debt to equity.  As a result of financing that the Company is pursuing for its acquisition of a 35.6% interest in Inotera, the Company may prepay all of this debt in the first quarter of 2009 to avoid potential violations of these covenants.

Joint Ventures:  As of August 28, 2008, IM Flash had $393 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  IM Flash plans to make distributions of approximately $420 million to Intel through the end of 2009.  Timing of these distributions and any future contributions, however, is subject to market conditions and approval of the partners.  The Company anticipates additional investments as appropriate to support the growth of IM Flash’s operations.

As of August 28, 2008, TECH had $115 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  The Company expects to make additional capital contributions to TECH in 2009.  The timing and amount of these contributions is subject to market conditions and partner participation.

In the third quarter of 2008, the Company entered into a joint venture arrangement with Nanya.  Under this arrangement, the Company transferred and licensed certain intellectual property related to the manufacture of stack DRAM products to Nanya and licensed certain intellectual property from Nanya. On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera, a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  The Company received commitments of $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  In connection with this acquisition, the Company expects to enter into a series of agreements with Nanya (a 35.6% stakeholder in Inotera) to restructure the MeiYa joint venture between the Company and Nanya.  It is anticipated that both parties will cease future resource commitments to MeiYa and redirect those resources to Inotera.  The Company and Nanya each contributed $84 million in cash to MeiYa in 2008.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation.”)


 
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Contractual Obligations:  The following table summarizes the Company’s significant contractual obligations at August 28, 2008, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future periods.

   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than
5 years
 
   
(in millions)
 
                               
Notes payable (1)
  $ 2,299     $ 158     $ 614     $ 202     $ 1,325  
Capital lease obligations (1)
    767       215       409       62       81  
Operating leases
    94       18       28       22       26  
Purchase obligations
    695       511       147       10       27  
Other long-term liabilities
    338       --       205       34       99  
Total
  $ 4,193     $ 902     $ 1,403     $ 330     $ 1,558  
                                         
(1) Includes interest
                                       

The obligations disclosed above do not include contractual obligations recorded on the Company’s balance sheet as current liabilities except for the current portion of long-term debt.  The expected timing of payment amounts of the obligations discussed above is estimated based on current information.  Timing and actual amounts paid may differ depending on the timing of receipt of goods or services, market prices or changes to agreed-upon amounts for some obligations.

Purchase obligations include all commitments to purchase goods or services of either a fixed or minimum quantity that meet any of the following criteria: (1) they are noncancelable, (2) the Company would incur a penalty if the agreement was cancelled, or (3) the Company must make specified minimum payments even if it does not take delivery of the contracted products or services (“take-or-pay”).  If the obligation to purchase goods or services is noncancelable, the entire value of the contract was included in the above table.  If the obligation is cancelable, but the Company would incur a penalty if cancelled, the dollar amount of the penalty was included as a purchase obligation.  Contracted minimum amounts specified in take-or-pay contracts are also included in the above table as they represent the portion of each contract that is a firm commitment.


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In May 2007, in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes, the Company paid approximately $151 million for three Capped Call transactions (the “Capped Calls”).  The Capped Calls cover an aggregate of approximately 91.3 million shares of common stock.  The Capped Calls are in three equal tranches with cap prices of $17.25, $20.13 and $23.00 per share, respectively, each with an initial strike price of approximately $14.23 per share, subject to certain adjustments.  The Capped Calls expire on various dates between November 2011 and December 2012.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Capped Call Transactions.”)

In 2001, the Company received $480 million from the issuance of warrants to purchase 29.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The warrants entitled the holders to exercise their warrants and purchase shares of common stock for $56.00 per share at any time through May 15, 2008.  All of the warrants expired unexercised on May 15, 2008.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board  (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement).”  FSP No. APB 14-1 requires that issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate as interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods.  The Company is required to adopt FSP No. APB 14-1 at the beginning of 2010.  On adoption, the Company will retrospectively account for its $1.3 billion of 1.875% convertible senior notes issued in May of 2007 under the provisions of FSP No. APB 14-1.  Based on a preliminary analysis, the Company estimates that debt recognized on issuance of the $1.3 billion convertible senior notes would be approximately $400 million lower under FSP No. APB 14-1.  The difference of approximately $400 million would be accreted to interest expense over the approximate seven-year term of the notes.  A significant portion of the interest expense would be deferred as capitalized interest costs in accordance with the Company’s regular accounting policies and will impact results of operations as the assets
 
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that include the capitalized interest are depreciated.  The Company is continuing to evaluate the full impact that the adoption of FSP No. APB 14-1 will have on its financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations(“SFAS No. 141(R)”), which establishes the principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination (1) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, (2) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (3) determines what information to disclose.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 141(R) effective at the beginning of 2010.  The impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will depend on the nature and extent of business combinations occurring on or after the beginning of 2010.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51.”  SFAS No. 160 requires that (1) noncontrolling interests be reported as a separate component of equity, (2) net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest be separately identified in the income statement, (3) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, and (4) any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 160 effective at the beginning of 2010.  The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 160 will have on its financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.”  Under SFAS No. 159, the Company may elect to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on an instrument by instrument basis, subject to certain restrictions.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 159 effective at the beginning of 2009.  The Company did not elect to measure any existing items at fair value on the adoption of SFAS No. 159.

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.  In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13,” which amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement under SFAS No. 13.  In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 until the beginning of 2010 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).  In October 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset when the Market for That Asset Is Not Active,” which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets in a market that is not active.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities effective at the beginning of 2009.  The Company does not expect that the adoption in 2009 of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities will have a significant impact on its financial statements.  The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption in 2010 of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities will have on its financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  FIN 48 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 adopted FIN 48 on August 31, 2007.  The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.  The Company did not change its policy of recognizing accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax provision with the adoption of FIN 48.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Income Taxes.”)

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.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 as of the beginning of 2008.  The adoption of SFAS No. 155 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.



 
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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 requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Acquisitions and consolidations:  Determination and the allocation 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, which involves a number of judgments, assumptions and estimates that could materially affect the amount and timing of costs recognized.  The Company typically obtains independent third party valuation studies to assist in determining fair values, including assistance in determining future cash flows, appropriate discount rates and comparable market values.

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:  In the second quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $463 million.  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 (including declines in selling prices for products) or a decision to sell or dispose of a reporting unit.  Goodwill is tested for impairment using a two-step process.  In the first step, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the unit.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is considered not impaired.  If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the second step of the impairment test must be performed in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill.  Determining the implied fair value of goodwill requires valuation of all of the Company’s tangible and intangible asset and liabilities.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.

Determining when to test for impairment, the Company’s reporting units, the fair value of a reporting unit and the fair value of assets and liabilities within a reporting unit, requires judgment and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount rates, future economic and market conditions and determination of appropriate market comparables.  The Company bases fair value estimates on assumptions it believes to be reasonable but that are unpredictable and inherently uncertain.  Actual future results may differ from those estimates.  In addition, judgments and assumptions are required to allocate assets and liabilities to reporting units.

The Company tests other identified intangible assets with definite useful lives and subject to amortization when events and circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable 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.  The Company adopted FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008.


 
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Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value and in 2008 the Company recorded aggregate charges of $282 million to write down the carrying value of inventories of memory products to their estimated market values.  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.  For example, a 5% variance in the estimated selling prices would have changed the estimated market value of the Company’s semiconductor memory inventory by approximately $70 million at August 28, 2008.  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.

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.  For stock based compensation awards with graded vesting that were granted after 2005, the Company recognizes compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.  For performance-based stock awards, the expense recognized is dependent on the probability of the performance measure being achieved.  The Company utilizes forecasts of future performance to assess these probabilities and this assessment requires considerable judgment.

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.


 
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Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

As of August 28, 2008, $2,063 million of the Company’s $2,726 million of 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 $2,167 million and $2,411 million as of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, respectively.  The Company estimates that as of August 28, 2008, a 1% decrease in market interest rates would change the fair value of the fixed-rate debt by approximately $46 million.  An increase in interest rates of 1% would increase annual interest expense on the Company’s variable-rate debt as of August 28, 2008 by approximately $7 million.

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. $425 million as of August 28, 2008 and U.S. $448 million as of August 30, 2007.  The Company also had aggregate foreign currency liabilities valued at U.S. $580 million as of August 28, 2008 and U.S. $979 million as of August 30, 2007.  Significant components of the Company’s assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies were as follows (in U.S. dollar equivalents):

   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Singapore Dollars
   
Yen
   
Euro
   
Singapore Dollars
   
Yen
   
Euro
 
                                     
Cash and equivalents
  $ 84     $ 130     $ 25     $ 58     $ 180     $ 11  
Net deferred tax assets
    --       85       2       --       76       2  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (105 )     (127 )     (61 )     (116 )     (168 )     (137 )
Debt
    (49 )     (108 )     (4 )     (258 )     (165 )     (5 )

The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as of August 28, 2008, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately U.S. $1 million for the euro and the yen.
 
41

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
Page
   
Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007 and for the fiscal years ended August 28, 2008, August 30, 2007, and August 31, 2006:
 
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations
43
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets
44
   
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
45
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
46
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
47
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
69
   
Financial Statement Schedule:
 
   
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
76


 
42

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions except per share amounts)

 
For the year ended
 
August 28,
2008
   
August 30,
2007
   
August 31,
2006
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 5,841     $ 5,688     $ 5,272  
Cost of goods sold
    5,896       4,610       4,072  
Gross margin
    (55 )     1,078       1,200  
                         
Selling, general and administrative
    455       610       460  
Research and development
    680       805       656  
Goodwill impairment
    463       --       --  
Restructure
    33       19       --  
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (91 )     (76 )     (266 )
Operating income (loss)
    (1,595 )     (280 )     350  
                         
Interest income
    79       143       101  
Interest expense
    (82 )     (40 )     (25 )
Other non-operating income (expense), net
    (13 )     9       7  
Income (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests
    (1,611 )     (168 )     433  
                         
Income tax (provision)
    (18 )     (30 )     (18 )
Noncontrolling interests in net (income) loss
    10       (122 )     (7 )
Net income (loss)
  $ (1,619 )   $ (320 )   $ 408  
                         
Earnings (loss) per share:
                       
Basic
  $ (2.10 )   $ (0.42 )   $ 0.59  
Diluted
    (2.10 )     (0.42 )     0.57  
                         
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
                       
Basic
    772.5       769.1       691.7  
Diluted
    772.5       769.1       725.1  
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
43

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions except par value amounts)

 
As of
 
August 28,
2008
   
August 30,
2007
 
             
Assets
           
Cash and equivalents
  $ 1,243     $ 2,192  
Short-term investments
    119       424  
Receivables
    1,032       994  
Inventories
    1,291       1,532  
Other current assets
    94       92  
Total current assets
    3,779       5,234  
Intangible assets, net
    364       401  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    8,811       8,279  
Goodwill
    58       515  
Other assets
    418       389  
Total assets
  $ 13,430     $ 14,818  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 1,111     $ 1,385  
Deferred income
    114       84  
Equipment purchase contracts
    98       134  
Current portion of long-term debt
    275       423  
Total current liabilities
    1,598       2,026  
Long-term debt
    2,451       1,987  
Other liabilities
    338       446  
Total liabilities
    4,387       4,459  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
    2,865       2,607  
                 
Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized 3 billion shares, issued and outstanding 761.1 million and 757.9 million shares, respectively
     76        76  
Additional capital
    6,566       6,519  
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
    (456 )     1,164  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
    (8 )     (7 )
Total shareholders’ equity
    6,178       7,752  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 13,430     $ 14,818  

 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
44

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)

   
Common Stock
               
Accumulated
Other
   
Total
 
   
Number
of Shares
   
Amount
   
Additional Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Comprehensive
(Loss)
   
Shareholders’ Equity
 
                                     
Balance at September 1, 2005
    616.2     $ 62     $ 4,707     $ 1,078     $ --     $ 5,847  
                                                 
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net income
                            408               408  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax
                                    (2 )     (2 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
                                            406  
                                                 
Stock issued under stock plans
    11.9       1       114                       115  
Stock-based compensation expense
                    26                       26  
Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance costs
    53.7       5       618                       623  
Stock and stock options issued in connection with the acquisition of Lexar
    50.7       5       878                       883  
Premium recognized on convertible debt assumed in Lexar acquisition
                    43                       43  
Settlement of capped calls
                    171                       171  
Stock issued in connection with Intel stock rights
    16.9       2       (2 )                     --  
Balance at August 31, 2006
    749.4     $ 75     $ 6,555     $ 1,486     $ (2 )   $ 8,114  
                                                 
Net loss
                            (320 )             (320 )
Stock issued under stock plans
    8.7       1       73                       74  
Stock-based compensation expense
                    44                       44  
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
    (0.2 )             (2 )     (2 )             (4 )
Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax benefit of $3
                                    (5 )     (5 )
Purchase of capped calls
                    (151 )                     (151 )
Balance at August 30, 2007
    757.9     $ 76     $ 6,519     $ 1,164     $ (7 )   $ 7,752  
                                                 
Comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net loss
                            (1,619 )             (1,619 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax
                                    (1 )     (1 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
                                            (1,620 )
                                                 
Stock issued under stock plans
    3.7               3                       3  
Stock-based compensation expense
                    48                       48  
Adoption of FIN 48
                            (1 )             (1 )
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
    (0.5 )             (4 )                     (4 )
Balance at August 28, 2008
    761.1     $ 76     $ 6,566     $ (456 )   $ (8 )   $ 6,178  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
45

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)

 
For the year ended
 
August 28,
2008
   
August 30,
2007
   
August 31,
2006
 
                   
Cash flows from operating activities
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ (1,619 )   $ (320 )   $ 408  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    2,060       1,718       1,281  
Goodwill impairment
    463       --       --  
Provision to write-down inventories to estimated market values
    282       20       --  
Gain from disposition of equipment, net of write-downs
    (66 )     (43 )     (2 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
(Increase) decrease in receivables
    (26 )     5       (62 )
Increase in inventories
    (40 )     (591 )     (12 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (92 )     (1 )     130  
Increase (decrease) in customer prepayments
    (38 )     (4 )     249  
Other
    94       153       27  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,018       937       2,019  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment
    (2,529 )     (3,603 )     (1,365 )
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (283 )     (1,466 )     (3,080 )
Investments in non-marketable equity instruments
    (84 )     --       --  
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in TECH
    --       (73 )     --  
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities
    547       2,156       2,189  
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
    187       94       55  
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
    24       540       33  
Consolidation of TECH
    --       --       319  
Cash acquired in acquisition of Lexar
    --       --       97  
Other
    46       (39 )     (4 )
Net cash used for investing activities
    (2,092 )     (2,391 )     (1,756 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities
                       
Proceeds from debt
    837       1,300       --  
Cash received from noncontrolling interests
    400       1,249       984  
Proceeds from equipment sale-leaseback transactions
    111       454       --  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    4       69       113  
Repayments of debt
    (698 )     (193 )     (415 )
Payments on equipment purchase contracts
    (387 )     (487 )     (209 )
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
    (132 )     --       --  
Cash received (paid) for capped call transactions
    --       (151 )     171  
Other
    (10 )     (26 )     --  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    125       2,215       644  
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents
    (949 )     761       907  
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year
    2,192       1,431       524  
Cash and equivalents at end of year
  $ 1,243     $ 2,192     $ 1,431  
                         
Supplemental disclosures
                       
Income taxes paid, net
  $ (36 )   $ (41 )   $ (52 )
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
    (84 )     (22 )     (28 )
Noncash investing and financing activities:
                       
Equipment acquisitions on contracts payable and capital leases
    501       1,010       326  
Stock and stock options issued in acquisition of Lexar
    --       --       883  
Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance cost
    --       --       623  




See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 
46

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All tabular amounts in millions except per share amounts)

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 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 United States of America and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  The Company’s fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 each contained 52 weeks.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.

Use of estimates:  The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 differ under different assumptions or conditions.  The Company evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.  Actual results could differ from estimates.

Product warranty:  The Company generally provides a limited warranty that its products are in compliance with Company specifications existing at the time of delivery.  Under the Company’s general terms and conditions of sale, liability for certain failures of product during a stated warranty period is usually limited to repair or replacement of defective items or return of, or a credit with respect to, amounts paid for such items.  Under certain circumstances, the Company may provide more extensive limited warranty coverage and general legal principles may impose upon the Company more extensive liability than that provided under the Company’s general terms and conditions.  The Company’s warranty obligations are not material.

Revenue recognition:  The Company recognizes product or license revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.  Since the Company is unable to estimate returns and changes in market price and therefore the price is not fixed or determinable, sales made under agreements allowing pricing protection or rights of return (other than for product warranty) are deferred until customers have sold the product.

Research and development:  Costs related to the conceptual formulation and design of products and processes are expensed as research and development as 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.  Subsequent to product qualification, product costs are valued in inventory.  Product design and other research and development costs for NAND Flash are shared equally among the Company and Intel Corporation (“Intel”).  These charges to Intel are reflected as a reduction of research and development expense.  (See “Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)

Stock-based compensation:  Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.  For stock awards granted after the beginning of 2006, expenses are amortized under the straight-line attribution method.  The Company grants new shares upon the exercise of stock options or conversion of share units.  (See “Equity Plans.”)

Functional currency:  The U.S. dollar is the Company’s functional currency for substantially all of its operations.

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 and stock rights 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 diluted per share calculations.

 
47

 

Financial instruments:  Cash equivalents include highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities to the Company of three months or less, readily convertible to known amounts of cash.  Investments with original maturities greater than three months and remaining maturities less than one year are classified as short-term investments.  Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as other noncurrent assets.  Securities classified as available-for-sale are stated at market value.  The carrying value of investment securities sold is determined using the specific identification method.

Amounts reported as cash and equivalents, short-term investments, receivables, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and equipment purchase contracts approximate their fair values.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, the estimated fair value of the Company’s debt was $2,167 million and $2,411 million, respectively, compared to their carrying value of $2,726 million and $2,410 million, respectively.  The estimated fair values presented herein were based on market interest rates and other market information available to management as of each balance sheet date presented.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values.  The estimated fair values do not take into consideration expenses that could be incurred in an actual settlement.

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 fair market values 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.  As a result of these analyses, when fair market values are below the Company’s costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  The Company’s inventories have been categorized as Memory products or Imaging products for purposes of determining average cost and fair market value.  The major characteristics the Company considers in determining 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.  Fully-amortized assets are removed from product and process technology and accumulated amortization.

Property, plant and equipment:  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 5 to 30 years for buildings, 2 to 20 years for equipment and 2 to 5 years for software.  Assets held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value and are included in other noncurrent assets.  When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the net book value of the asset is removed from the Company’s accounts and any gain or loss is included in the Company’s results of operations.

The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the active construction period of major capital projects.  Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is amortized over the useful lives of the assets.  The Company capitalized interest costs of $13 million, $18 million and $10 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, in connection with various capital projects.

Recently issued accounting standards:  In May 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement).”  FSP No. APB 14-1 requires that issuers of convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate as interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods.  The Company is required to adopt FSP No. APB 14-1 at the beginning of 2010.  On adoption, the Company will retrospectively account for its $1.3 billion of 1.875% convertible senior notes issued in May of 2007 under the provisions of FSP No. APB 14-1.  Based on a preliminary analysis, the Company estimates that debt recognized on issuance of the $1.3 billion convertible senior notes would be approximately $400 million lower under FSP No. APB 14-1.  The difference of approximately $400 million would be accreted to interest expense over the approximate seven-year term of the notes.  A significant portion of the interest expense would be deferred as capitalized interest costs in accordance with the Company’s regular accounting policies and will impact results of operations as the assets that include the capitalized interest are depreciated.  The Company is continuing to evaluate the full impact that the adoption of FSP No. APB 14-1 will have on its financial statements.


 
48

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations(“SFAS No. 141(R)”), which establishes the principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination (1) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interests in the acquiree, (2) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (3) determines what information to disclose.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 141(R) effective at the beginning of 2010.  The impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will depend on the nature and extent of business combinations occurring on or after the beginning of 2010.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51.”  SFAS No. 160 requires that (1) noncontrolling interests be reported as a separate component of equity, (2) net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest be separately identified in the income statement, (3) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, and (4) any retained noncontrolling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 160 effective at the beginning of 2010.  The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 160 will have on its financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.”  Under SFAS No. 159, the Company may elect to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on an instrument by instrument basis, subject to certain restrictions.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 159 effective at the beginning of 2009.  The Company did not elect to measure any existing items at fair value on the adoption of SFAS No. 159.

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.  In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-1, “Application of FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease Classification or Measurement under Statement 13,” which amends SFAS No. 157 to exclude accounting pronouncements that address fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification or measurement under SFAS No. 13.  In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 until the beginning of 2010 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually).  In October 2008, the FASB also issued FSP No. FAS 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset when the Market for That Asset Is Not Active,” which clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets in a market that is not active.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities effective at the beginning of 2009.  The Company does not expect that the adoption in 2009 of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities will have a significant impact on its financial statements.  The Company is evaluating the impact that the adoption in 2010 of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities will have on its financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.”  FIN 48 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 adopted FIN 48 on August 31, 2007.  The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.  The Company did not change its policy of recognizing accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax provision with the adoption of FIN 48.  (See “Income Taxes” note.)

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.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 155 as of the beginning of 2008.  The adoption of SFAS No. 155 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 
49

 

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Investment Securities
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Available-for-sale securities:
           
Commercial paper
  $ 271     $ 687  
U.S. government and agencies
    289       642  
Certificates of deposit
    198       532  
Other
    28       39  
      786       1,900  
Less cash equivalents
    (641 )     (1,449 )
Less noncurrent investments in equity
    (26 )     (27 )
Short-term investments
  $ 119     $ 424  

In 2008, the Company realized losses of $5 million on sales of investment securities and recognized losses of $8 million for other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had gross unrealized losses of $7 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, substantially all of which was in commercial paper that had a fair value of $86 million and had been in an unrealized loss position for less than one year.  Gross unrealized losses and gains in accumulated other comprehensive income as of August 30, 2007 were not material.  Gross realized gains and losses on sales of securities in 2007 and 2006 were also not material.

Receivables
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Trade receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2 and $4,respectively)
  $ 741     $ 735  
Income and other taxes
    43       47  
Other
    248       212  
    $ 1,032     $ 994  

As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, other receivables included $71 million and $108 million, respectively, due from Intel for amounts related to NAND Flash product design and process development activities.  Other receivables as of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007 also included $75 million and $83 million, respectively, due from settlement of litigation and $58 million as of August 28, 2008 due from settlements of pricing adjustments with certain suppliers.

Other noncurrent assets as of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007 included receivables of $39 million and $110 million, respectively, due from settlement of litigation.

Inventories
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Finished goods
  $ 444     $ 517  
Work in process
    671       772  
Raw materials and supplies
    176       243  
    $ 1,291     $ 1,532  

The Company’s results of operations for the fourth, second and first quarters of 2008 and fourth quarter of 2007 included charges of $205 million, $15 million, $62 million and $20 million, respectively, to write down the carrying value of work in process and finished goods inventories of memory products (both DRAM and NAND Flash) to their estimated market values.

Intangible Assets
                       
                         
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Gross
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Gross
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
 
                         
Product and process technology
  $ 577     $ (320 )   $ 544     $ (271 )
Customer relationships
    127       (35 )     127       (19 )
Other
    29       (14 )     29       (9 )
    $ 733     $ (369 )   $ 700     $ (299 )


 
50

 

During 2008, the Company capitalized $43 million for product and process technology with a weighted-average useful life of 10 years.  During 2007, the Company capitalized $86 million for product and process technology with a weighted-average useful life of 9 years and $2 million of other intangible assets with a weighted-average useful life of 4 years.

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $80 million, $75 million and $52 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Annual amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be $72 million for 2009, $62 million for 2010, $56 million for 2011, $47 million for 2012 and $44 million for 2013.

Property, Plant and Equipment
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Land
  $ 99     $ 107  
Buildings (includes $142 and $131, respectively, for capital leases)
    3,829       3,636  
Equipment (includes $755 and $744, respectively, for capital leases)
    13,591       12,379  
Construction in progress
    611       209  
Software
    283       267  
      18,413       16,598  
Accumulated depreciation (includes $327 and $258, respectively, for capital leases)
    (9,602 )     (8,319 )
    $ 8,811     $ 8,279  

Depreciation expense was $1,976 million, $1,664 million and $1,258 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Goodwill
   

As of August 30, 2007, the Company had goodwill related to its Memory segment of $463 million.  During the second quarter of 2008, the Company wrote off all of the segment’s goodwill based on the results of the Company’s test for impairment.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, the Company had goodwill related to its Imaging segment of $58 million and $52 million, respectively.  The $6 million increase in goodwill for the Imaging segment during 2008 was due to additional contingent payments made in connection with the Company’s acquisition of the CMOS image sensor business of Avago Technologies Limited.  The Company’s assessment of goodwill for impairment in the second and fourth quarters of 2008 indicated that the fair value of the Imaging segment exceeded its carrying value and therefore goodwill in the segment was not impaired.

SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at a reporting unit level.  The Company has determined that its reporting units are its Memory and Imaging segments based on its organizational structure and the financial information that is provided to and reviewed by management.  The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred.  Goodwill is tested for impairment using a two-step process.  In the first step, the fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit, goodwill is considered not impaired and no further testing is required.  If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of a reporting unit, the second step of the impairment test is performed in order to determine the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill.  Determining the implied fair value of goodwill requires valuation of a reporting unit’s tangible and intangible assets and liabilities in a manner similar to the allocation of purchase price in a business combination.  If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference.

In the first and second quarters of 2008, the Company experienced a sustained, significant decline in its stock price.  As a result of the decline in stock prices, the Company’s market capitalization fell significantly below the recorded value of its consolidated net assets for most of the second quarter of 2008.  The reduced market capitalization reflected, in part, the Memory segment’s lower average selling prices and expected continued weakness in pricing for the Company’s memory products.  Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2008, the Company performed an assessment of goodwill for impairment.  Based on the results of the Company’s assessment of goodwill for impairment, it was determined that the carrying value of the Memory segment exceeded its estimated fair value.  Therefore, the Company performed the second step of the impairment test to determine the implied fair value of goodwill.  Specifically, the Company allocated the estimated fair value of the Memory segment as determined in the first step to recognized and unrecognized net assets, including allocations to intangible assets such as intellectual property, customer relationships and brand and trade names.  The result of the analysis indicated that there would be no remaining implied value attributable to goodwill in the Memory segment and accordingly, the Company wrote off all $463 million of goodwill associated with its Memory segment as of February 28, 2008.


 
51

 

In the first step of the impairment analysis, the Company performed extensive valuation analyses utilizing both income and market approaches to determine the fair value of its reporting units.  Under the income approach, the Company determined the fair value based on estimated future cash flows discounted by an estimated weighted-average cost of capital, which reflects the overall level of inherent risk of a reporting unit and the rate of return an outside investor would expect to earn.  Estimated future cash flows were based on the Company’s internal projection models, industry projections and other assumptions deemed reasonable by management.  Under the market-based approach, the Company derived the fair value of its reporting units based on revenue and earnings multiples of comparable publicly-traded peer companies.  In the second step of the impairment analysis, the Company determined the implied fair value of goodwill for the Memory segment by allocating the fair value of the segment to all of its assets and liabilities in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” as if the segment had been acquired in a business combination and the price paid to acquire it was the fair value.

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Accounts payable
  $ 597     $ 856  
Salaries, wages and benefits
    244       247  
Customer advances
    130       85  
Income and other taxes
    27       33  
Other
    113       164  
    $ 1,111     $ 1,385  

As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, customer advances included $129 million and $83 million, respectively, for the Company’s obligation to provide certain NAND Flash memory products to Apple Computer, Inc. (“Apple”) until December 31, 2010 pursuant to a prepaid NAND Flash supply agreement.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, other accounts payable and accrued expenses included $16 million and $17 million, respectively, for amounts due to Intel for NAND Flash product design and process development and licensing fees pursuant to a product designs development agreement.

As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, other noncurrent liabilities included $83 million and $167 million, respectively, pursuant to the supply agreement with Apple.

Debt
 
2008
   
2007
 
             
Convertible senior notes payable, interest rate of 1.875%, due June 2014
  $ 1,300     $ 1,300  
Notes payable in periodic installments through July 2015, weighted-average interest rates of 4.5%
    699       374  
Capital lease obligations payable in monthly installments through February 2023, weighted-average imputed interest rate of 6.6%
    657       666  
Convertible subordinated notes payable, interest rate of 5.6%, due April 2010
    70       70  
      2,726       2,410  
Less current portion
    (275 )     (423 )
    $ 2,451     $ 1,987  

As of August 28, 2008, notes payable and capital lease obligations above included an aggregate of $108 million, denominated in Japanese yen, at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.6%, which was subject to customary covenants, including the ratio of debt to equity.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company was in compliance with these customary covenants.  Notes payable and capital lease obligations as of August 28, 2008 also included $49 million, denominated in Singapore dollars, at a weighted average interest rate of 6.0%.

During the second quarter of 2008, the Company’s joint venture subsidiary, TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”), borrowed $240 million against a credit facility at Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (“SIBOR”) plus 2.5%.  During the third quarter of 2008, TECH entered into a new credit facility enabling TECH to borrow up to $600 million at SIBOR plus 2.5%.  During 2008, TECH drew $600 million under the new credit facility and retired the previous credit facility by paying off the $240 million outstanding balance.  The new credit facility is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of TECH (approximately $1,741 million as of August 28, 2008) and contains covenants that, among other requirements, establish certain liquidity, debt service coverage and leverage ratios, and restrict TECH’s ability to incur indebtedness, create liens and acquire or dispose of assets.  Payments under the new facility are due in approximately equal installments over 13 quarters commencing in May 2009.  Beginning March 2009, TECH will be required to maintain $30 million in restricted cash and this restricted cash requirement will increase to $60 million in September 2009.  The Company has guaranteed approximately 73% of the outstanding amount of the facility, with the Company’s obligation increasing to 100% of the outstanding amount of the facility upon the occurrence of certain conditions.

 
52

 

In 2008, the Company received $111 million in proceeds from sales-leaseback transactions and in connection with these transactions, recorded capital lease obligations aggregating $110 million with a weighted-average imputed interest rate of 6.7% and payable in periodic installments through June 2012.

In May 2007, the Company issued $1.3 billion of 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due June 1, 2014 (the “Senior Notes”).  The issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes totaled $26 million and the net proceeds to the Company from the offering of the Senior Notes were $1,274 million.  The initial conversion rate for the Senior Notes is 70.2679 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Senior Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $14.23 per share of common stock.  Holders may convert the Senior Notes prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date for the Senior Notes only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter beginning after August 30, 2007 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the closing price of the Company's common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is more than 130% of the then applicable conversion price per share of the Senior Notes; (2) if the Senior Notes have been called for redemption; (3) if specified distributions to holders of the Company's common stock are made, or specified corporate events occur, as specified in the indenture for the Senior Notes; (4) during the five business days after any five consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Senior Notes for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the closing price of the Company’s common stock and the then applicable conversion rate of the Senior Notes; or (5) at any time on or after March 1, 2014.  Upon conversion, the Company will have the right to deliver, in lieu of shares of its common stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of common stock.  If a holder elects to convert its Senior Notes in connection with a make-whole change in control, as defined in the indenture, the Company will, in certain circumstances, pay a make-whole premium by increasing the conversion rate for the Senior Notes converted in connection with such make-whole change in control.  On or after June 6, 2011, the Company may redeem for cash all or part of the Senior Notes if the last reported sale price of its common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending within five trading days prior to the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption.  The redemption price is 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest.  Upon a change in control or a termination of trading, as defined in the indenture, the holders may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or a portion of their Senior Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.  The Company expects that the accounting for the Senior Notes will be significantly impacted by adoption of FSP No. APB 14-1, which is effective at the beginning of 2010 and will require the Company to retrospectively account for the Senior Notes from their issuance date.  (See “Significant Accounting Policies – Recently issued accounting standards.”)

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company assumed Lexar’s $70 million 5.625% convertible notes due April 1, 2010 (the “Lexar Notes”).  The Lexar Notes are convertible into the Company’s common stock any time at the option of the holders of the Lexar Notes at a price equal to approximately $11.28 per share and are subject to customary covenants.  The Lexar Notes became redeemable for cash at the Company’s option on April 1, 2008, at a price equal to the principal amount plus accrued interest plus the net present value of the remaining scheduled interest payments through April 1, 2010.  The Company may only redeem the Lexar 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.

Certain notes payable are collateralized by property, plant and equipment with a carrying value of $28 million as of August 28, 2008.


 
53

 

As of August 28, 2008, maturities of notes payable and future minimum lease payments under capital lease obligations were as follows:

   
Notes
Payable
   
Capital
Lease
Obligations
 
             
2009
  $ 99     $ 215  
2010
    318       148  
2011
    205       261  
2012
    150       46  
2013
    --       16  
2014 and thereafter
    1,300       81  
Discount and interest, respectively
    (3 )     (110 )
    $ 2,069     $ 657  


Commitments

As of August 28, 2008, the Company had commitments of approximately $300 million for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment.  The Company leases certain facilities and equipment under operating leases.  Total rental expense was $39 million, $62 million and $30 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Minimum future rental commitments under operating leases aggregated $94 million as of August 28, 2008 and are payable as follows:  $18 million in 2009; $15 million in 2010; $13 million in 2011, $11 million in 2012, $11 million in 2013 and $26 million in 2014 and thereafter.


Contingencies

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, including those described below.  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.

The Company is involved in the following patent, antitrust, securities and Lexar matters.

Patent Matters:  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 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, DDR3 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 and therefore cannot estimate the range of possible loss.  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.


 
54

 

Antitrust Matters:  At least sixty-eight purported class action price-fixing 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 on behalf of 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 during the period from April 1999 through at least June 2002.  The complaints seek treble damages sustained by purported class members in addition to restitution, costs 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 for consolidated proceedings.   On January 29, 2008, the Northern District of California court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ second amended consolidated complaint.  Plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion seeking certification for interlocutory appeal of the decision.  On February 27, 2008, plaintiffs filed a third amended complaint.  On June 26, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit accepted plaintiffs’ interlocutory appeal.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, and on September 8, 2006 in an amended complaint, the following Attorneys General 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.  Three states, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Texas, subsequently voluntarily dismissed their claims.  The remaining states filed a third amended complaint on October 1, 2007.  Alaska, Delaware, and Vermont subsequently voluntarily dismissed their claims.  The amended complaint 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 State of New York filed an amended complaint on October 1, 2007.  On October 3, 2008, the California Attorney General filed a similar lawsuit in California Superior Court, purportedly on behalf of local California government entities, alleging, among other things, violations of the Cartwright Act and state unfair competition law.

Three purported class action DRAM lawsuits also have been filed in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, Canada, on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers, 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.  In May and June 2008 respectively, plaintiffs’ motion for class certification was denied in the British Columbia and Quebec cases.  Plaintiffs subsequently filed an appeal of each of those decisions.

In February and March 2007, All American Semiconductor, Inc., Jaco Electronics, Inc., and the DRAM Claims Liquidation Trust each filed suit against the Company and other DRAM suppliers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California after opting-out of a direct purchaser class action suit that was settled.  The complaints allege, among other things, violations of federal and state antitrust and competition laws in the DRAM industry, and seek damages, injunctive relief, and other remedies.

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.  Six 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 November 1, 1996 through December 31, 2005.  Additionally, at least seventy-four cases have been 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 November 1, 1996 through December 31, 2006.  In September 2008, a class of direct purchasers was certified, and plaintiffs were granted leave to amend their complaint to cover Pseudo-Static RAM or “PSRAM” products as well.   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.


 
55

 

Three purported class action SRAM lawsuits also have been filed in Canada, on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers, alleging violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the SRAM cases filed in the United States.

In addition, three purported class action lawsuits alleging price-fixing of Flash products have been filed in Canada, asserting violations of the Canadian Competition Act.  These cases assert claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased Flash memory directly and indirectly from various Flash memory suppliers.

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.  Trial is currently scheduled to begin in March 2009.   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 and therefore cannot estimate the range of possible loss.  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.

Securities Matters:  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.  On December 19, 2007, the Court issued an order certifying the class but reducing the class period to purchasers of the Company’s stock during the period from February 24, 2001 to September 18, 2002.

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.  An amended complaint was filed on August 23, 2006 and subsequently dismissed by the Court.  Another amended complaint was filed on September 6, 2007.  The amended 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 amended complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The amended 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.  On January 25, 2008, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint without leave to amend.  On March 10, 2008, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the Idaho Court of Appeals.

The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these cases and therefore cannot estimate the range of possible loss.  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.



 
56

 

Capped Call Transactions

In connection with the offering of the Senior Notes in May 2007, the Company entered into three capped call transactions (the “Capped Calls”).  The Capped Calls each have an initial strike price of approximately $14.23 per share, subject to certain adjustments, which matches the initial conversion price of the Senior Notes.  The Capped Calls are in three equal tranches, have cap prices of $17.25, $20.13 and $23.00 per share, and cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments similar to those contained in the Senior Notes, an approximate combined total of 91.3 million shares of common stock.  The Capped Calls may reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Senior Notes.  Settlement of the Capped Calls in cash on their respective expiration dates would result in the Company receiving an amount ranging from zero if the market price per share of the Company’s common stock is at or below $14.23 to a maximum of $538 million.  The Company paid $151 million to purchase the Capped Calls.  The Capped Calls expire on various dates between November 2011 and December 2012.  The Capped Calls are considered capital transactions and the related cost was recorded as a charge to additional capital.


Shareholders’ Equity

Stock Rights:  As of August 28, 2008, Intel held stock rights exchangeable into approximately 16.9 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The shares are issuable pursuant to the stock rights are included in weighted-average common shares outstanding in the computations of earnings per share.

Stock Warrants:  In 2001, the Company received $480 million from the issuance of warrants to purchase 29.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The warrants entitled the holders to exercise their warrants and purchase shares of common stock for $56.00 per share at any time through May 15, 2008.  The warrants expired unexercised on May 15, 2008.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, consisted of the following as of the end of the periods shown below:

   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Unrealized loss on investments, net
  $ (3 )   $ (2 )
Unrecognized pension liability
    (5 )     (5 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (8 )   $ (7 )


Equity Plans

As of August 28, 2008, the Company had an aggregate of 200.6 million shares of its common stock reserved for issuance for stock options and restricted stock awards, of which 122.1 million shares were subject to outstanding awards and 78.5 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:  Stock options granted by the Company are generally exercisable in increments of 25% during each year of employment beginning one year from the date of grant.  Stock options issued after September 22, 2004 generally expire six years from the date of grant.  All other options expire ten years from the grant date.


 
57

 

Option activity for 2008 is summarized as follows:

   
Number of shares
   
Weighted-average exercise price per share
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual life
(in years)
   
Aggregate intrinsic value
 
                         
Outstanding at August 30, 2007
    119.5     $ 20.00              
Granted
    7.4       6.20              
Exercised
    (0.2 )     4.34              
Cancelled or expired
    (13.8 )     19.01              
Outstanding at August 28, 2008
    112.9       19.24       3.25     $ --  
                                 
Exercisable at August 28, 2008
    95.8     $ 20.86       3.01     $ --  
Expected to vest after August 28, 2008
    16.2       10.28       4.56       --  

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding as of August 28, 2008:

   
Outstanding options
   
Exercisable options
 
Range of exercise prices
 
Number
of shares
   
Weighted-
average
remaining contractual
life (in years)
   
Weighted-
average
exercise
price
per share
   
Number
of shares
   
Weighted-
average
exercise
price
per share
 
                               
$   0.51  -  $ 14.02
    61.1       3.73     $ 11.78       45.4     $ 12.49  
   14.06  -     22.83
    25.2       3.59       19.08       23.8       19.32  
   23.25  -     34.06
    17.0       1.89       29.95       17.0       29.95  
   34.09  -     40.06
    6.0       1.40       36.90       6.0       36.90  
   40.57  -     96.56
    3.6       2.11       66.99       3.6       66.99  
      112.9       3.25       19.24       95.8       20.86  

The weighted-average grant-date fair value per share was $2.52, $4.87 and $5.92 for options granted during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The total intrinsic value was $1 million, $32 million and $46 million for options exercised during 2008, 2007 and 2006.

Changes in the Company’s nonvested options for 2008 are summarized as follows:

   
Number of shares
   
Weighted- average grant date fair value
 per share
 
             
Nonvested at August 30, 2007
    16.6     $ 5.50  
Granted
    7.4       2.52  
Vested
    (5.0 )     5.65  
Cancelled
    (1.9 )     5.12  
Nonvested at August 28, 2008
    17.1       4.21  

As of August 28, 2008, $51 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards was expected to be recognized through the fourth quarter of 2012, resulting in a weighted-average period of 1.2 years.  The Company’s nonvested options as of August 28, 2008 have a weighted-average exercise price of $10.22, a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 4.6 years and no aggregate intrinsic value.


 
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The fair value of each option award is estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.  The Black-Scholes 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.  The expected volatilities utilized by the Company are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock and on historical volatility.  The expected life of options granted was based on the simplified method provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission as historical data did not provide a reasonable basis to estimate future terms due to significant changes in the terms of prior grants.  The risk-free rates utilized by the Company are based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant.  No dividends have been assumed in the Company’s estimated option values.  Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model are presented below:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Average expected life in years
    4.25       4.25       4.25  
Expected volatility
    37%-54 %     33%-42 %     42%-48 %
Weighted-average volatility
    47 %     39 %     47 %
Weighted-average risk-free interest rate
    2.9 %     4.7 %     4.4 %

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units (“Restricted Stock Awards”):  As of August 28, 2008, there were 9.2 million shares of restricted stock awards outstanding, of which 2.9 million were performance-based restricted stock awards.  For service-based restricted stock awards, restrictions generally lapse either in one-fourth or one-third increments during each year of employment after the grant date.  For performance-based restricted stock awards, vesting is contingent upon meeting certain Company-wide performance goals.  Restricted stock awards activity for 2008 is summarized as follows:

   
Number of shares
   
Weighted-average remaining contractual life
(in years)
   
Aggregate intrinsic value
 
                   
Outstanding at August 30, 2007
    5.3              
Granted
    5.6              
Restrictions lapsed
    (1.3 )            
Cancelled
    (0.4 )            
Outstanding at August 28, 2008
    9.2       2.2     $ 40  
                         
Expected to vest after August 28, 2008
    7.5       2.4     $ 32  

The weighted-average grant-date fair value for restricted stock awards granted during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $8.41, $14.91 and $13.04 per share, respectively.  The aggregate value at the lapse date of awards for which restrictions lapsed during 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $12 million, $11 million and $2 million, respectively.  As of August 28, 2008, there was $56 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to nonvested restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.

Stock Purchase Plan:  The Company’s 1989 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) allowed eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock through payroll deductions.  Shares could be purchased at 95% of the ending closing stock price of each offering quarterly period and could be resold when purchased.  Purchases were limited to 20% of an employee’s eligible compensation.  During 2008, the ESPP was suspended by the Company.  As of August 28, 2008, 1.8 million shares were reserved for future issuance under this plan.

Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan:  Shares are issued under the Director Stock Incentive Plan (“DSIP”) as compensation to non-employee directors of the Company.  As of August 28, 2008, 69,808 shares of the Company’s common stock had been issued under the DSIP and 430,192 shares were reserved for future issuance under the plan.


 
59

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense:  Total compensation costs for the Company’s equity plans were as follows:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Stock-based compensation expense by caption:
                 
Cost of goods sold
  $ 15     $ 11     $ 8  
Selling, general and administrative
    19       21       11  
Research and development
    14       12       7  
    $ 48     $ 44     $ 26  
                         
Stock-based compensation expense by type of award:
                       
Stock options
  $ 26     $ 26     $ 17  
Restricted stock awards
    22       18       9  
    $ 48     $ 44     $ 26  

As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, $3 million of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized and remained in inventory, and $1 million was capitalized and remained in inventory as of August 31, 2006.  As of August 28, 2008, $107 million of total unrecognized compensation costs, net of estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested awards was expected to be recognized through the fourth quarter of 2012, resulting in a weighted-average period of 1.2 years.  Stock-based compensation expense in the above presentation does not reflect any significant income tax benefits, which is consistent with the Company’s treatment of income or loss from its U.S. operations.  (See “Income Taxes” note.)


Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has employee retirement plans at its U.S. and international sites.  Details of the more significant plans are discussed as follows:

Employee Savings Plan for U.S. Employees:  The Company has a 401(k) retirement plan (“RAM Plan”) under which U.S. employees may contribute up to 45% of their eligible pay (subject to IRS annual contribution limits) to various savings alternatives, none of which include direct investment in the Company’s common stock.  Under the RAM plan, the Company matches in cash eligible contributions from employees up to 4% of the employee’s annual eligible earnings or $2,000, whichever is greater.  Contribution expense for the Company’s RAM Plan was $32 million, $31 million and $26 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Retirement Plans:  The Company has pension plans in various countries worldwide.  The pension plans are only available to local employees and are generally government mandated.  Upon adoption of FAS 158 as of August 30, 2007, the Company increased its liability by $8 million related to the unfunded pension liabilities of the plans.


Restructure

In an effort to increase its competitiveness and efficiency, in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company began pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce costs across its operations.  These initiatives included workforce reductions in certain areas of the Company as its business was realigned.  Additional initiatives included establishing certain operations closer in location to the Company’s global customers and evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside relationships.  In 2008, the Company recorded charges of $33 million, primarily within its Memory segment, for employee severance and related costs, relocation and retention bonuses and a write-down of certain facilities to their fair values.  Since the restructure initiatives were initiated in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company has incurred $52 million of restructure costs.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, $6 million and $5 million, respectively, of the restructure costs remained unpaid and were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

On October 9, 2008 the Company announced a plan to restructure its memory operations.  The Company’s IM Flash joint venture with Intel Corporation will discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.  The NAND Flash production shutdown will reduce IM Flash’s NAND flash production by approximately 35,000 200mm wafers per month.  In addition, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production at IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication plant.  As part of the restructuring, the Company plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 15 percent during 2009 and 2010.  Cash costs for restructuring and other related expenses incurred in connection with this restructuring are anticipated to be approximately $60 million.

 
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Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

Other operating (income) for 2008 included gains of $66 million for disposals of semiconductor equipment and $38 million for receipts from the U.S. government in connection with anti-dumping tariffs.  Other operating expenses for 2008 included losses of $25 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating (income) for 2007 included gains of $43 million from disposals of semiconductor equipment, $30 million from the sale of certain intellectual property to Toshiba Corporation and $7 million in grants received in connection with the Company’s operations in China.  Other operating expense for 2007 included losses of $14 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating (income) for 2006 included $230 million of net proceeds for the sale of the Company’s existing NAND Flash memory designs and certain related technology to Intel, net of amounts paid by the Company for a perpetual, paid-up license to use and modify such designs.  Other operating (income) for 2006 also included $23 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 IM Flash.  (See “Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)


Income Taxes

Income (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests in net income and the income tax (provision) benefit consisted of the following:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Income (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests in net income:
                 
U.S.
  $ (1,713 )   $ (571 )   $ 351  
Foreign
    102       403       82  
    $ (1,611 )   $ (168 )   $ 433  
                         
Income tax (provision) benefit:
                       
Current:
                       
U.S. federal
  $ (7 )   $ (5 )   $ (12 )
State
    --       --       (1 )
Foreign
    (17 )     (39 )     (29 )
      (24 )     (44 )     (42 )
Deferred:
                       
U.S. federal
    --       --       --  
State
    --       --       --  
Foreign
    6       14       24  
      6       14       24  
Income tax (provision)
  $ (18 )   $ (30 )   $ (18 )

The Company’s income tax (provision) benefit computed using the U.S. federal statutory rate reconciled to the Company’s income tax (provision) follows:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
U.S. federal income tax (provision) benefit at statutory rate
  $ 564     $ 59     $ (152 )
State taxes, net of federal benefit
    38       3       5  
Tax credits
    8       25       7  
Change in valuation allowance
    (446 )     (219 )     103  
Goodwill impairment
    (155 )     --       --  
Foreign operations
    (21 )     93       3  
Export sales benefit
    --       8       13  
Other
    (6 )     1       3  
Income tax (provision)
  $ (18 )   $ (30 )   $ (18 )

State taxes reflect investment tax credits of $12 million, $10 million and $23 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

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Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the bases of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes.  The Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following as of the end of the periods shown below:

   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Deferred tax assets:
           
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards
  $ 1,358     $ 1,136  
Inventories
    235       35  
Basis differences in investments in joint ventures
    200       236  
Deferred income
    155       160  
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
    76       64  
Other
    48       61  
Gross deferred tax assets
    2,072       1,692  
Less valuation allowance
    (1,569 )     (1,142 )
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance
    503       550  
                 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Excess tax over book depreciation
    (141 )     (225 )
Unremitted earnings on certain subsidiaries
    (114 )     (68 )
Intangible assets
    (51 )     (59 )
Product and process technology
    (48 )     (44 )
Receivables
    (43 )     (76 )
Other
    (16 )     (13 )
Deferred tax liabilities
    (413 )     (485 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 90     $ 65  
                 
Reported as:
               
Current deferred tax assets (included in other current assets)
  $ 25     $ 25  
Noncurrent deferred tax assets (included in other assets)
    74       65  
Noncurrent deferred tax liabilities (included in other liabilities)
    (9 )     (25 )
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 90     $ 65  

The Company has a valuation allowance against substantially all of its U.S. net deferred tax assets.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $2.7 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $205 million.  The Company also has unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.8 billion and unused state tax credits of $189 million as of August 28, 2008.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2028 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2028.  As a consequence of prior business acquisitions, utilization of the tax benefits for some of the tax carryforwards is subject to limitations imposed by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and some portion or all of these carryforwards may not be available to offset any future taxable income.

The changes in valuation allowance of $427 million and $227 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, are primarily due to uncertainties of realizing certain U.S. net operating losses and certain tax credit carryforwards.  The change in the valuation allowance in 2007 included $6 million for stock plan deductions, which will be credited to additional capital if realized.

Provision has been made for deferred taxes on undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries to the extent that dividend payments from such companies are expected to result in additional tax liability.  During 2008 a decision was made to not be indefinitely reinvested in certain foreign jurisdictions.  For the year ended August 28, 2008, $322 million of earnings that in prior years had been considered indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations were determined to no longer be indefinitely reinvested.  This decision resulted in no impact to the consolidated statement of operations as the Company has a full valuation allowance against its net U.S. deferred tax assets.  Remaining undistributed earnings of $608 million as of August 28, 2008 have been indefinitely reinvested; therefore, no provision has been made for taxes due upon remittance of these earnings.  Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability on these unremitted earnings is not practicable.


 
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Effective at the beginning of 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48.  In connection with the adoption of FIN 48, the Company increased its liability and decreased retained earnings by $1 million for net unrecognized tax benefits at August 31, 2007.  Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits:

   
2008
 
       
Beginning unrecognized tax benefits
  $ 16  
Foreign exchange fluctuations
    1  
Settlements with taxing authorities
    (1 )
Expiration of foreign statutes of limitations
    (15 )
Ending unrecognized tax benefits
  $ 1  

The balance at August 28, 2008 represents unrecognized income tax benefits, which if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 31, 2007, accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions were de minimis.

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns with the United States federal government, various U.S. states and various foreign jurisdictions throughout the world.  The Company’s U.S. federal and state tax returns remain open to examination for 2005 through 2008 and 2004 through 2008, respectively.  In addition, tax years open to examination in multiple foreign taxing jurisdictions range from 2001 to 2008.  The Company is currently undergoing audits in the U.K. for years 2004 through 2007.


Earnings Per Share

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders – Basic
  $ (1,619 )   $ (320 )   $ 408  
Net effect of assumed conversion of debt
    --       --       6  
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders – Diluted
  $ (1,619 )   $ (320 )   $ 414  
                         
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Basic
    772.5       769.1       691.7  
Net effect of dilutive stock options and assumed conversionof debt
    --       --       33.4  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Diluted
    772.5       769.1       725.1  
                         
Earnings (loss) per share:
                       
Basic
  $ (2.10 )   $ (0.42 )   $ 0.59  
Diluted
    (2.10 )     (0.42 )     0.57  

Listed below are the potential common shares, as of the end of the periods shown below, that could dilute basic earnings per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Employee stock plans
    122.1       124.8       68.7  
Convertible notes
    97.6       97.6       6.2  
Common stock warrants
    --       29.1       29.1  



 
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Acquisitions

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 memory product offering, enhance its retail presence and strengthen its portfolio of intellectual property.  Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, 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.  In the final allocation of the $886 million purchase price, the Company recorded total assets of $1,344 million (including cash and short-term investments of $101 million, receivables of $317 million, intangible assets of $183 million, deferred tax assets of $180 million and goodwill of $458 million) and total liabilities of $458 million (including accounts payable and accrued expenses of $169 million, deferred tax liabilities of $176 million and debt of $113 million).
 
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 necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations.

   
2006
 
   
(unaudited)
 
       
Net sales
  $ 5,746  
Net income
    266  
         
Earnings per share – diluted
  $ 0.35  

Effective September 15, 2006, the Company and Toshiba Corporation entered into agreements settling all outstanding NAND Flash memory-related litigation between the companies.  Toshiba purchased certain of the Company’s semiconductor technology patents and licensed certain patents previously owned by Lexar in exchange for payments totaling $288 million over three years, a substantial portion of which was included in the allocation of the purchase price for Lexar as a receivable at an imputed interest rate of 5.9%.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, $116 and $193 million of the settlement proceeds remained in current and noncurrent receivables.

Avago Technologies Limited Image Sensor Business (“Avago”):  On December 11, 2006, the Company acquired the CMOS image sensor business of Avago for an initial cash payment of $53 million and additional contingent consideration at the date of acquisition of up to $17 million if certain milestones were met through calendar 2008.  Through August 28, 2008, the Company has paid a total of $10 million of additional contingent consideration, which has been recorded as an increase in goodwill subsequent to the acquisition date.  The Company recorded total assets of $64 million (including intangible assets of $17 million and goodwill of $46 million) and total liabilities of $1 million.  The Company’s results of operations subsequent to the acquisition date include the CMOS image sensor business acquired from Avago as part of the Company’s Imaging segment.  Mercedes Johnson, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, was the Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Avago at the time of the transaction.  Ms. Johnson recused herself from all deliberations of the Company’s Board of Directors concerning this transaction.


Joint Ventures

NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel (“IM Flash”):  The Company has formed two joint ventures with Intel to manufacture NAND Flash memory products for the exclusive benefit of the partners:  IM Flash Technologies, LLC and IM Flash Singapore LLP.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company owned 51% and Intel owned 49% of IM Flash.  The Company has determined that both of the IM Flash joint ventures are variable interest entities as defined in FIN 46 (R), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities – an interpretation of ARB No. 51,” (“FIN 46(R)”) and that the Company is the primary beneficiary of both.  Accordingly, IM Flash financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and all amounts pertaining to Intel’s interests in IM Flash are reported as noncontrolling interest.


 
64

 

IM Flash sells products to the joint venture partners generally in proportion to their ownership at long-term negotiated prices approximating cost.  IM Flash sales to Intel were $1,037 million, $497 million and $114 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, IM Flash had receivables from Intel for sales of NAND Flash products of $144 million and $121 million, respectively.  Under the terms of a lease agreement, IM Flash has the use of approximately 50% of the Company’s manufacturing facility in Manassas, Virginia through January 2016.  IM Flash purchases and installs manufacturing equipment into the leased facility, which is operated and maintained by the Company.  The cost of operating and maintaining the equipment is charged to IM Flash.  The Company and Intel entered into various service contracts with IM Flash under which they provide operational and administrative support services, and generally charge IM Flash for the costs of providing such services.  As of August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, IM Flash had payables to Intel of $4 million and $1 million, respectively.

IM Flash manufactures NAND Flash memory products based on NAND Flash designs developed by the Company and Intel and licensed to the Company.  Product design and other research and development (“R&D”) costs for NAND Flash are generally shared equally between the Company and Intel.  As a result of reimbursements received from Intel under a NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement, the Company’s R&D expenses were reduced by $148 million, $240 million and $86 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Under the terms of a wafer supply agreement, the Company manufactured wafers for IM Flash in its Boise, Idaho facility.  On October 9, 2008, the Company announced that it had agreed with Intel to discontinue production of 200mm wafer NAND flash memory at Micron’s Boise facility.  In the first quarter of 2009, IM Flash substantially completed construction of a new 300mm wafer fabrication facility in Singapore, which has not been equipped.  Additionally, the Company and Intel agreed to suspend tooling and the ramp of production at IM Flash’s Singapore facility.

Intel contributed to IM Flash $261 million and $1,238 million (net of $132 million of distributions to Intel in 2008) in 2008 and 2007, respectively.  Company’s ability to access IM Flash’s cash and marketable investment securities ($393 million as of August 28, 2008) to finance the Company’s other operations is subject to agreement by the joint venture partners.  IM Flash’s cash and marketable investment securities ($393 million as of August 28, 2008) are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  The creditors of IM Flash have recourse only to the assets of IM Flash 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, Canon Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company (“HP”).  As of August 28, 2008, the Company owned an approximate 73% interest in TECH.  The shareholders’ agreement for the TECH joint venture expires in 2011.  The Company began consolidating TECH’s financial results as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2006.

In March, 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of TECH common stock held by the Singapore Economic Development Board for approximately $290 million, (including a note payable that was fully paid in 2008) increasing the Company’s ownership interest in TECH from 43% to 73%.

TECH uses the Company’s product and process technology to manufacture its memory semiconductor products.  The Company generally purchases all the semiconductor memory products manufactured by TECH, subject to specific terms and conditions, 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 second 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 $287 million for the first six months of 2006.

The Company’s ability to access TECH’s cash and marketable investment securities ($115 million as of August 28, 2008) to finance the Company’s other operations is subject to agreement by the joint venture partners.  In March, 2008, TECH entered into a $600 million credit facility, which is guaranteed, in part, by the Company.  (See “Debt” note.)

DRAM Joint Ventures with Nanya Technology Corporation (“Nanya”):  On June 8, 2008, the Company and Nanya formed a joint venture corporation ("MeiYa") to manufacture stack DRAM products and sell such products exclusively to the Company and Nanya.  The Company and Nanya each contributed approximately $84 million in cash to MeiYa in 2008 and each owns 50% of MeiYa.  The Company has determined that MeiYa is a variable interest entity as defined in FIN 46(R) and that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of MeiYa.  The Company's maximum loss in MeiYa is equal to it’s investment as of August 28, 2008 of $84 million.  The Company accounts for its interest in MeiYa under the equity method because of the Company’s ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of MeiYa.

65


In the third quarter of 2008, the Company transferred and licensed certain intellectual property related to the manufacture of stack DRAM products to Nanya and licensed certain intellectual property from Nanya.  The Company and Nanya also agreed to jointly develop process technology and designs to manufacture stack DRAM products with each party bearing its own development costs until such time that the development costs exceed a specified amount, following which such costs would be shared.  The Company’s development costs are expected to exceed Nanya’s development costs by a significant amount.  Under this arrangement, the Company is to receive an aggregate of $232 million from Nanya and MeiYa through 2010 for licensing and technology transfer fees, of which the Company realized $40 million of revenue in 2008.  As of August 28, 2008, receivables from Nanya were $40 million related to licensing of intellectual property.  The Company will also receive royalties from Nanya for stack DRAM products manufactured by or for Nanya.
 
On October 12, 2008, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Qimonda AG’s 35.6% ownership stake in Inotera Memories, Inc. (“Inotera”), a Taiwanese DRAM memory manufacturer, for $400 million in cash.  The Company received commitments for $285 million of term loans to fund this acquisition in part.  Inotera is expected to implement the Company’s stack DRAM process technology and it is anticipated that the Company will receive royalties on the sale of Inotera’s production that is delivered to Nanya, a 35.6% stakeholder in Inotera.  The Company will eventually gain access to approximately 60,000 300mm DRAM wafers per month, 50% of Inotera’s output.    In connection with this acquisition, the Company expects to enter into a series of agreements with Nanya to restructure MeiYa.  It is anticipated that both parties will cease future resource commitments to MeiYa and redirect those resources to Inotera.

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  In 2006, the Company formed a joint venture, MP Mask, with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”) to produce photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors.  As of August 28, 2008, the Company owned 50.01% and Photronics owned 49.99% of MP Mask.  The Company purchases a substantial majority of the reticles produced by MP Mask pursuant to a supply arrangement.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company.  In connection with the joint venture, the Company received $72 million in 2006 in exchange for entering into a license agreement with Photronics, which is being recognized over the term of the 10-year agreement.

In 2008 the Company completed the construction of a facility to produce photomasks and leased such facility to Photronics under a build to suit lease agreement.  Under the terms of the lease agreement, the Company will receive future minimum lease payments in approximately equal quarterly installments through January 2013.  As of August 28, 2008, other receivables included $12 million and other noncurrent assets included $46 million of these minimum lease payments.


Segment Information

The Company’s reportable segments are 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.  Segment information reported below is consistent with how it is reviewed and evaluated by the Company’s chief operating decision makers 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.

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Net sales:
                 
Memory
  $ 5,188     $ 5,001     $ 4,523  
Imaging
    653       687       749  
Total consolidated net sales
  $ 5,841     $ 5,688     $ 5,272  
                         
Operating income (loss):
                       
Memory
  $ (1,564 )   $ (288 )   $ 197  
Imaging
    (31 )     8       153  
Total consolidated operating income (loss)
  $ (1,595 )   $ (280 )   $ 350  



 
66

 

Certain Concentrations

Approximately 50% of the Company’s net sales for 2008 were to the computing market, including desktop PCs, servers, notebooks and workstations.  Sales to Intel were 19% of the Company’s net sales in 2008 and were included in the Memory segment.  Sales of DRAM, NAND Flash and CMOS image sensor products constituted 54%, 35% and 11%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales for 2008.  Certain components used by the Company in manufacturing semiconductor products are available from a limited number of suppliers.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, investment securities and trade receivables.  The Company invests through high-credit-quality financial institutions and, by policy, generally limits the concentration of credit exposure by restricting investments with any single obligor.  A concentration of credit risk may exist with respect to trade receivables as a substantial portion of the Company’s customers are affiliated with the computing industry.  The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of customers worldwide and generally does not require collateral from its customers.  Historically, the Company has not experienced significant losses on receivables.


Geographic Information

Geographic net sales based on customer location were as follows:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
Asia Pacific (excluding China and Japan)
  $ 1,696     $ 1,496     $ 1,068  
United States
    1,486       1,719       1,721  
China
    1,372       1,064       1,049  
Europe
    559       666       719  
Japan
    441       477       494  
Other
    287       266       221  
    $ 5,841     $ 5,688     $ 5,272  

Net property, plant and equipment by geographic area was as follows:

   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
                   
United States
  $ 6,004     $ 6,545     $ 4,422  
Singapore
    2,345       1,212       867  
Italy
    259       268       318  
Japan
    171       226       269  
Other
    32       28       12  
    $ 8,811     $ 8,279     $ 5,888  


 
67

 

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
(in millions except per share amounts)

 
2008
 
First
Quarter
   
Second
Quarter
   
Third
Quarter
   
Fourth
Quarter
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 1,535     $ 1,359     $ 1,498     $ 1,449  
Gross margin
    5       (43 )     48       (65 )
Operating loss
    (260 )     (772 )     (225 )     (338 )
Net loss
    (262 )     (777 )     (236 )     (344 )
                                 
Diluted loss per share
  $ (0.34 )   $ (1.01 )   $ (0.30 )   $ (0.45 )


 
2007
 
First
Quarter
   
Second
Quarter
   
Third
Quarter
   
Fourth
Quarter
 
                         
Net sales
  $ 1,530     $ 1,427     $ 1,294     $ 1,437  
Gross margin
    442       357       106       173  
Operating income (loss)
    110       (34 )     (195 )     (161 )
Net income (loss)
    115       (52 )     (225 )     (158 )
                                 
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $ 0.15     $ (0.07 )   $ (0.29 )   $ (0.21 )

The results of operations for the second quarter of 2008 included a charge of $463 million to write off all the goodwill associated with the Company’s Memory segment.

The Company’s results of operations for the fourth, second and first quarters of 2008 and fourth quarter of 2007 included charges of $205 million, $15 million, $62 million and $20 million, respectively, to write down the carrying value of work in process and finished goods inventories of memory products (both DRAM and NAND Flash) to their estimated market values.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, costs of goods sold benefited by $70 million due to settlements of pricing adjustments with certain suppliers.

As a result of a settlement agreement with a class of direct purchasers of certain DRAM products, the Company recorded a $50 million charge to revenue and $31 million net charge to selling, general and administrative expenses in 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.

 
68

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Micron Technology, Inc.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 8 present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Micron Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries at August 28, 2008 and August 30, 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 28, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index appearing under Item 8 presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 28, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
October 27, 2008

 
69

 

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A.  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 (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, 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.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company.  Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance regarding the prevention or detection of misstatements because of inherent limitations.  These inherent limitations are known by management and considered in the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting which reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 28, 2008.  The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 28, 2008 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included in Part II, Item 8, of this Form 10-K.

Item 9B.  Other Information

None.


 
70

 


PART III

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
 
Certain information concerning the registrant’s executive officers is included under the caption, “Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant,” in Part I, Item 1 of this report.  Other information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 will be contained in the registrant’s Proxy Statement which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after August 28, 2008 and is incorporated herein by reference.


PART IV

Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1.  
Financial Statement:  See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8.
2.  
Certain Financial Statement Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable or the information is otherwise included.
3.  
Exhibits.

ExhibitNumber
 
Description of Exhibits
   
1.1
Underwriting Agreement dated as of May 17, 2007, by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representative of the underwriters (1)
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Micron Technology, Inc., March 2006 Merger Corp. and Lexar Media, Inc., dated as of March 8, 2006 (2)
2.2
First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 30, 2006, by and among Micron Technology, Inc., March 2006 Merger Corp. and Lexar Media, Inc. (3)
2.3
Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of June 4, 2006, by and among Micron Technology, Inc., March 2006 Merger Corp. and Lexar Media, Inc. (4)
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (5)
3.2
Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended (6)
4.2
Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 24, 2003, between the Registrant and Intel Capital Corporation (7)
4.3
Stock Rights Agreement dated September 24, 2003, between the Registrant and Intel Capital Corporation (7)
4.4
Indenture dated March 30, 2005, by and between Lexar Media, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (8)
4.5
First Supplemental Indenture to the Lexar Indenture dated as of June 21, 2006, between Lexar and U.S. Bank National Association (9)
4.6
Indenture dated as of May 23, 2007 by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (1)
10.1
Executive Officer Performance Incentive Plan (10)
10.2
1989 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (11)
10.3
1994 Stock Option Plan (12)
10.4
1994 Stock Option Plan Form of Agreement and Terms and Conditions (11)
10.5
1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan (13)
10.6
1998 Non-Employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (14)
 
71

10.7
1998 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan (13)
10.8
2001 Stock Option Plan (15)
10.9
2001 Stock Option Plan Form of Agreement (16)
10.10
2002 Employment Inducement Stock Option Plan (15)
10.11
2004 Equity Incentive Plan (25)
10.12
2004 Equity Incentive Plan Forms of Agreement and Terms and Conditions (11)
10.13
Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan (17)
10.14
Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan Form of Agreement and Terms and Conditions (11)
10.15
Lexar Media, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (18)
10.16
Micron Quantum Devices, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (12)
10.17
Micron Quantum Devices, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan Sample Stock Option Assumption Letter (12)
10.18
Rendition, Inc. 1994 Equity Incentive Plan (19)
10.19
Rendition, Inc. 1994 Equity Incentive Plan Sample Stock Option Assumption Letter (19)
10.20*
Settlement and Release Agreement dated September 15, 2006, by and among Toshiba Corporation, Micron Technology, Inc. and Acclaim Innovations, LLC (20)
10.21*
Patent License Agreement dated September 15, 2006, by and among Toshiba Corporation, Acclaim Innovations, LLC and Micron Technology, Inc. (20)
10.22*
Omnibus Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007, between Micron Technology, Inc. and Intel Corporation (9)
10.23*
Limited Liability Partnership Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007, between Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte. Ltd. and Intel Technology Asia Pte. Ltd. (9)
10.24*
Supply Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007, between Micron Semiconductor Asia Pte. Ltd. and IM Flash Singapore, LLP (9)
10.25*
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of IM Flash Technologies, LLC dated as of February 27, 2007, between Micron Technology, Inc. and Intel Corporation (9)
10.26*
Supply Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007, between Intel Technology Asia Pte. Ltd. and IM Flash Singapore, LLP (9)
10.27
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its officers and directors (21)
10.28
Form of Severance Agreement between the Company and its officers (22)
10.29
Form of Agreement and Amendment to Severance Agreement between the Company and its officers (23)
10.30
Purchase Agreement dated October 1, 1998, between the Registrant and TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (24)
10.34*
Business Agreement dated September 24, 2003, between the Registrant and Intel Corporation (7)
10.35
Securities Rights and Restrictions Agreement dated September 24, 2003, between the Registrant and Intel Capital (7)
10.36*
Master Agreement dated as of November 18, 2005, between Micron Technology, Inc. and Intel Corporation (25)
10.37*
Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of IM Flash Technologies, LLC dated as of January 6, 2006, between Micron Technology, Inc. and Intel Corporation (25)
10.38*
Manufacturing Services Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, between Micron Technology, Inc. and IM Flash Technologies, LLC (25)
10.39*
Boise Supply Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, between IM Flash Technologies, LLC and Micron Technology, Inc. (25)
10.40*
MTV Lease Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, between Micron Technology, Inc. and IM Flash Technologies, LLC (25)
10.41*
Product Designs Assignment Agreement dated January 6, 2006, between Intel Corporation and Micron Technology, Inc. (25)
10.42*
NAND Flash Supply Agreement, effective as of January 6, 2006, between Apple Computer, Inc. and Micron Technology, Inc. (25)
10.43*
Supply Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, between Micron Technology, Inc. and IM Flash Technologies, LLC (25)
10.44*
Supply Agreement dated as of January 6, 2006, between Intel Corporation and IM Flash Technologies, LLC (25)
10.45
Capped Call Confirmation (Reference No.CEODL6) by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (1)
10.46
Capped Call Confirmation (Reference No. 53228800) by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Credit Suisse International (1)
10.47
Capped Call confirmation (Reference No. 53228855) by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Credit Suisse International (1)
 
72

10.48
2007 Equity Incentive Plan (27)
10.49
2007 Equity Incentive Plan Forms of Agreements (27)
10.50
Severance Agreement dated April 9, 2008, between Micron Technology, Inc. and Ronald C. Foster (28)
10.51*
Master Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2008, by and between Nanya Technology Corporation and Micron Technology, Inc. (26)
10.52*
Joint Venture Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2008, by and between Micron Semiconductor B.V. and Nanya Technology Corporation (26)
10.53*
Supply Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2008, by and among Micron Technology, Inc., Nanya Technology Corporation and MeiYa Technology Corporation (26)
10.54*
Joint Development Program Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2008, by and between Nanya Technology Corporation and Micron Technology, Inc. (26)
10.55*
Technology Transfer and License Agreement for 68-50nm Process Nodes, dated as of April 21, 2008, by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Nanya Technology Corporation (26)
10.56*
Technology Transfer and License Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2008, by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and Nanya Technology Corporation (26)
10.57*
Technology Transfer Agreement for 68-50nm Process Nodes, dated as of May 13, 2008, by and between Micron Technology, Inc. and MeiYa Corporation (26)
10.58*
Technology Transfer Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2008, by and among Nanya Technology Corporation, Micron Technology, Inc. and MeiYa Technology Corporation (26)
10.59
Services Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2008, by and between Nanya Technology Corporation and MeiYa Technology Corporation (26)
10.60
Micron Guaranty Agreement, dated April 21, 2008, by and between Nanya Technology Corporation and Micron Semiconductor B.V. (26)
10.61
TECH Facility Agreement, dated March 31, 2008, among TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. and ABN Amro Bank N.V., Citibank, N.A., Singapore Branch, Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte Ltd., DBS Bank Ltd and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, as Original Mandated Lead Arrangers (26)
10.62
Guarantee, dated March 31, 2008, by Micron Technology, Inc. as Guarantor in favor of ABN Amro Bank N.V., Singapore Branch acting as Security Trustee (26)
10.63
Form of Severance Agreement (29)
21.1
Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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
________________________

(1)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 17, 2007
(2)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2006
(3)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 30, 2006
(4)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 2006
(5)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2001
(6)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 5, 2006
(7)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 2003
(8)
Incorporated by reference to Lexar Media, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2005
(9)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 1, 2007
(10)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 2, 2004
(11)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 3, 2005
(12)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-50353)
(13)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 28, 2002
(14)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 3, 1999
(15)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-102545)
(16)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 3, 2005
(17)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-103341)
(18)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-135459)
(19)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-65449)
(20)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2006
(21)
Incorporated by reference to Proxy Statement for the 1986 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
 
73

(22)
Incorporated by reference to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 28, 2003
(23)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 27, 1997
(24)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 3, 1998
(25)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 1, 2005
(26)
Incorporated by reference to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 29, 2008
(27)
Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-148357)
(28)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 9, 2008
(29)
Incorporated by reference to Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 26, 2007
________________________
* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Commission.

 
74

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, in the City of Boise, State of Idaho, on the 27th day of October 2008.

 
Micron Technology, Inc.
   
   
   
 
By:                   /s/ Ronald C. Foster                                                   
 
Ronald C. Foster
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
 
Title
Date
       
       
/s/ Steven R. Appleton
 
Chairman of the Board,
October 27, 2008
(Steven R. Appleton)
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
   
(Principal Executive
 
   
 Officer)
 
       
/s/ Ronald C. Foster
 
Vice President of Finance,
October 27, 2008
(Ronald C. Foster)
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
   
(Principal Financial and
 
   
Accounting Officer)
 
       
/s/ Teruaki Aoki
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(Teruaki Aoki)
     
       
       
/s/ James W. Bagley
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(James W. Bagley)
     
       
       
/s/ Robert L. Bailey
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(Robert L. Bailey)
     
       
       
/s/ Mercedes Johnson
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(Mercedes Johnson)
     
       
       
/s/ Lawrence N. Mondry
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(Lawrence N. Mondry)
     
       
       
/s/ Robert E. Switz
 
Director
October 27, 2008
(Robert E. Switz)
     

 
75

 

MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in millions)

   
Balance at
Beginning of
Year
   
Acquisitions and Consolidation of TECH
   
Charged
(Credited) to
Costs and
Expenses
   
 
Deductions/
Write-Offs
   
Balance
at End of
Year
 
                               
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
                             
Year ended August 28, 2008
  $ 4     $ --     $ (1 )   $ (1 )   $ 2  
Year ended August 30, 2007
    4       --       1       (1 )     4  
Year ended August 31, 2006
    2       --       2       --       4  
                                         
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance
                                       
Year ended August 28, 2008
  $ 1,142     $ --     $ 446     $ (19 )   $ 1,569  
Year ended August 30, 2007
    915       (12 )     219       20       1,142  
Year ended August 31, 2006
    1,029       (36 )     (103 )     25       915  

 
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