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Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Significant Accounting Policies | Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Business Microchip Technology Incorporated ("Microchip" or the "Company") develops, manufactures and sells specialized semiconductor products used by its customers for a wide variety of embedded control applications. Microchip's product portfolio comprises general purpose and specialized 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit microcontrollers, 32-bit microprocessors, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) products, a broad spectrum of high-performance linear, mixed-signal, power management, thermal management, discrete diodes and Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETS), radio frequency (RF), timing, timing systems, safety, security, wired connectivity and wireless connectivity devices, as well as Serial Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), Serial Flash memories, Parallel Flash memories, Serial Electrically Erasable Random Access Memory (EERAM), and Serial Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) memories. Microchip also licenses Flash-IP solutions that are incorporated in a broad range of products. Principles of Consolidation The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (US GAAP). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Microchip and its majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. As further discussed in Note 2, on May 29, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of Microsemi Corporation (Microsemi) and the Company's financial results include Microsemi's results beginning as of such acquisition date. All of the Company's subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All dollar amounts in the financial statements and tables in these notes, except per share amounts, are stated in millions of U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. Revenue Recognition (subsequent to the adoption of ASC 606) The Company generates revenue primarily from sales of semiconductor products to distributors and non-distributor customers (direct customers) and, to a lesser extent, from royalties paid by licensees of intellectual property. The Company applies the following five-step approach to determine the timing and amount of revenue recognition: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Sales to distributors are governed by a distributor agreement, a purchase order, and an order acknowledgment. Sales to distributors do not meet the definition of a contract, as defined by ASC 606, until the distributor has sent in a purchase order, the Company has acknowledged the order, the Company has deemed the collectability of the consideration to be probable, and legally enforceable rights and obligations have been created; this generally occurs 30 days prior to the estimated ship date. As is customary in the semiconductor industry, the Company offers price concessions and stock rotation rights to many of their distributors. As these are forms of variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of consideration to which they will be entitled using recent historical data and applying the expected value method. Usually, there is only a single performance obligation in the contract, and therefore the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. After the transaction price has been allocated, the Company recognizes revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Substantially all of the revenue generated from contracts with distributors is recognized at the time risk and title of the inventory transfers to the distributor. Sales to direct customers are generally governed by a purchase order and an order acknowledgment. Sales to direct customers usually do not meet the definition of a contract, as defined by ASC 606, until shipment of the product occurs. Generally, the transaction price associated with contracts with direct customers is set at the standalone selling price and is not variable. Usually, there is only a single performance obligation in the contract, and therefore the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. After the transaction price has been allocated, the Company recognizes revenue when the performance obligation is satisfied. Substantially all of the revenue generated from contracts with direct customers is recognized at the time risk and title of the inventory transfers to the customer. Revenue generated from licensees is governed by licensing agreements. The Company's primary performance obligation related to these agreements is to provide the licensee the right to use the intellectual property. The final transaction price is determined by multiplying the usage of the license by the royalty, which is fixed in the licensing agreement. Revenue is recognized as usage of the license occurs. For a discussion of the financial statement impact related to the adoption of ASC 606, see “Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.” Revenue Recognition (prior to the adoption of ASC 606) The Company recognized revenue when the earnings process was complete, as evidenced by an agreement with the customer, transfer of title had occurred, the pricing was fixed or determinable and collectability was reasonably assured. The Company recognized revenue from product sales to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) upon shipment and recorded reserves for estimated customer returns. Distributors worldwide generally had broad price protection and product return rights which prevented the sales pricing from being fixed or determinable at the time of the Company's shipment to the distributors. Therefore, revenue recognition was deferred until the pricing uncertainty was resolved, which generally occurred when the distributor sold the product to their customer. At the time of shipment to these distributors, the Company recorded a trade receivable for the selling price as there was a legally enforceable right to payment, relieved inventory for the carrying value of goods shipped since legal title had passed to the distributor, and recorded the gross margin in deferred income on shipments to distributors on its consolidated balance sheets. In connection with its acquisition of Atmel, the Company acquired certain distributor relationships where revenue was recognized upon shipment to the distributors based on certain contractual terms or prevailing business practices that resulted in the price being fixed and determinable at such time. Following an acquisition, the Company undertook efforts to align the contract terms and business practices of the acquired entity with its own. Once these efforts were complete, the related revenue recognition was changed. With respect to such distributor relationships acquired in the Atmel acquisition, as of October 1, 2016, these business practices were conformed to those of the Company’s other distributors, which beginning in October 2016 resulted in the deferral of revenue recognition until the distributor sold the product to their customers. Deferred income on shipments to distributors effectively represented gross margin on the sale to the distributor at the initial shipment date; however, the amount of gross margin recognized by the Company in future periods was less than the deferred margin as a result of credits granted to distributors on specifically identified products and customers to allow the distributors to earn a competitive gross margin on the sale of the Company's products to their end customers and price protection concessions related to market pricing conditions. The Company sold the majority of the items in its product catalog to its distributors worldwide at a uniform list price. However, distributors resold the Company's products to end customers at a broad range of individually negotiated price points. The majority of the Company's distributors' resales required a reduction from the original list price paid. Often, under these circumstances, the Company remitted back to the distributor a portion of their original purchase price after the resale transaction was completed in the form of a credit against the distributors' outstanding accounts receivable balance. The credits were on a per unit basis and were not given to the distributor until they provided information regarding the sale to their end customer. The price reductions varied significantly based on the customer, product, quantity ordered, geographic location and other factors and discounts to a price less than the Company's cost have historically been rare. The effect of granting these credits established the net selling price from the Company to its distributors for the product and resulted in the net revenue recognized by the Company when the product was sold by the distributors to their end customers. Thus, a portion of the "deferred income on shipments to distributors" balance represented the amount of distributors' original purchase price that was to be credited back to the distributors in the future. The Company did not reduce deferred income on shipments to distributors or accounts receivable by anticipated future price concessions; rather, price concessions are recorded against deferred income on shipments to distributors when incurred, which is generally at the time the distributor sold the product. At March 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $479.6 million of deferred revenue and $145.8 million in deferred cost of sales recognized as $333.8 million of deferred income on shipments to distributors. The deferred income on shipments to distributors that was ultimately to be recognized in the Company's income statement was lower than the amount reflected on the balance sheet due to price credits to be granted to the distributors when the product is sold to their customers. These price credits historically have resulted in the deferred income approximating the overall gross margins that the Company recognizes in the distribution channel of its business. The Company reduced product pricing through price protection based on market conditions, competitive considerations and other factors. Price protection was granted to distributors on the inventory they have on hand at the date the price protection was offered. When the Company reduced the price of its products, it allowed the distributor to claim a credit against its outstanding accounts receivable balances based on the new price of the inventory it has on hand as of the date of the price reduction. There was no immediate revenue impact from the price protection, as it was reflected as a reduction of the deferred income on shipments to distributors' balance. Products returned by distributors and subsequently scrapped have historically been immaterial to the Company's consolidated results of operations. The Company routinely evaluated the risk of impairment of the deferred cost of sales component of the deferred income on shipments to distributors' account. Because of the historically immaterial amounts of inventory that have been scrapped, and historically rare instances where discounts given to a distributor resulted in a price less than the Company's cost, the Company believed the deferred costs have a low risk of material impairment. Shipping charges billed to customers were included in net sales, and the related shipping costs were included in cost of sales. The Company collected and remitted certain sales-related taxes on a portion of its sales of inventory and reported such amounts under the net method in its consolidated statements of income. For licenses or other technology arrangements without an upgrade period, non-royalty revenue from the license was recognized upon delivery of the technology if the fee was fixed or determinable and collection of the fee was reasonably assured. Royalties were recognized when reported to the Company, which generally coincided with the receipt of payment. In certain limited circumstances, the Company entered into license and other arrangements for technologies that the Company was continuing to enhance and refine or under which it was obligated to provide unspecified enhancements. Under these arrangements, non-royalty revenue is recognized over the lesser of (1) the estimated period that the Company has historically enhanced and developed refinements to the specific technology, typically one to three years (the "upgrade period"), and (2) the remaining portion of the upgrade period after the date of delivery of all specified technology and documentation, provided that the fee is fixed or determinable and collection of the fee is reasonably assured. Royalties received during the upgrade period were recognized as revenue based on an amortization calculation of the elapsed portion of the upgrade period compared to the entire estimated upgrade period. Royalties received after the upgrade period has elapsed were recognized when reported to the Company, which generally coincided with the receipt of payment. Product Warranty The Company typically warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship and non-conformance to specifications for 12 to 24 months. The majority of the Company's product warranty claims are settled through the return of the defective product and the shipment of replacement product. Warranty returns are included within the Company's allowance for returns, which is based on historical return rates. Actual future returns could differ from the allowance established. In addition, the Company accrues a liability for specific warranty costs expected to be settled other than through product return and replacement, if a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Product warranty expenses were immaterial for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Advertising Costs The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs were immaterial for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Assets purchased to support the Company's ongoing research and development activities are capitalized when related to products which have achieved technological feasibility or that have alternative future uses and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Renewals or extensions of these assets are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include expenditures for labor, share-based payments, depreciation, masks, prototype wafers, and expenses for development of process technologies, new packages, and software to support new products and design environments. Restructuring Charges The Company recognizes a liability measured at fair value for restructuring costs when the liability is incurred. Restructuring charges are included within special charges and other, net in the consolidated statements of income and are primarily comprised of employee separation costs, asset impairments, contract exit costs and costs of facility consolidation and closure, including the related gains or losses associated with the sale of owned facilities. Employee separation costs includes one-time termination benefits that are recognized as a liability at estimated fair value, at the time of communication to employees, unless future service is required, in which case the costs are recognized ratably over the future service period. Ongoing termination benefits are recognized as a liability at estimated fair value when the amount of such benefits are probable and reasonably estimable. Contract exit costs includes contract termination fees and future contractual commitments for lease payments. A liability for contract exit costs is recognized in the period in which the Company terminates the contract or on the cease-use date for leased facilities. Foreign Currency Translation The Company's foreign subsidiaries are considered to be extensions of the U.S. company and any translation gains and losses related to these subsidiaries are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income. As the U.S. dollar is utilized as the functional currency, gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions (transactions denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries' functional currency) are also included in income. For a portion of fiscal 2019 and 2017, certain foreign subsidiaries acquired as part of the Company's acquisition activities had the local currency as the functional currency. For subsidiaries acquired as part of the Company's acquisition of Microsemi, the U.S. dollar is expected to become the functional currency for such entities once integrated into the Company's legal structure and intercompany agreements are executed. Income Taxes As part of the process of preparing its consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves estimating its actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The Company must then assess the likelihood that its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income within the relevant jurisdiction and to the extent the Company believes that recovery is not likely, it must establish a valuation allowance. The Company provided valuation allowances for certain of its deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of such assets, will not be realized. Various taxing authorities in the U.S. and other countries in which the Company does business scrutinize the tax structures employed by businesses. Companies of a similar size and complexity as the Company are regularly audited by the taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which they conduct significant operations. During the year ended March 31, 2019, various foreign jurisdictions finalized their audits. The close of these audits did not have an adverse impact on the financial statements. The Company is currently being audited by the tax authorities in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. At this time, the Company does not know what the outcome of these audits will be. The Company records benefits for uncertain tax positions based on an assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on their technical merits under currently enacted law. If this threshold is not met, no tax benefit of the uncertain tax position is recognized. If the threshold is met, the Company recognizes the largest amount of the tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. The accounting model as defined in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 740 related to the valuation of uncertain tax positions requires the Company to presume that the tax position will be examined by the relevant taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information and that each tax position will be evaluated without consideration of the possibility of offset or aggregation with other positions. The recognition requirement for the liability exists even if the Company believes the possibility of examination by a taxing authority or discovery of the related risk matters is remote or where it has a long history of the taxing authority not performing an exam or overlooking an issue. The Company will record an adjustment to a previously recorded position if new information or facts related to the position are identified in a subsequent period. All adjustments to the positions are recorded through the income statement. Generally, adjustments will be recorded in periods subsequent to the initial recognition if the taxing authority has completed an audit of the period or if the statute of limitation expires. Due to the inherent uncertainty in the estimation process and in consideration of the criteria of the accounting model, amounts recognized in the financial statements in periods subsequent to the initial recognition may significantly differ from the estimated exposure of the position under the accounting model. On December 22, 2017, the Act was enacted into law. The Act provides for numerous significant tax law changes and modifications including the reduction of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, the requirement for companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred and the creation of new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings. As a fiscal year-end taxpayer, certain provisions of the Act began to impact the Company in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, while other provisions have become effective for the Company in fiscal 2019. In addition to the impacts of tax reform on fiscal 2018, the Act establishes new tax laws that are effective for fiscal 2019, including, but not limited to, (1) a new provision designed to tax low-taxed income of foreign subsidiaries (“GILTI”), which allows for the possibility of using foreign tax credits ("FTCs") and a deduction of up to 50% to offset the income tax liability (subject to some limitations); (2) limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation; (3) limitations on the deductibility of interest expense; and (4) limitations on the use of FTCs to reduce the U.S. income tax liability. While each of these provisions is expected to have an impact on the Company's tax expense for future periods, the increase in tax expense for GILTI is the most significant. The FASB allows taxpayers to make an accounting policy election of either (1) treating taxes due on GILTI inclusions as a current-period expense when incurred or (2) recognizing deferred taxes for temporary basis differences that are expected to reverse as GILTI in future years. The Company is making a policy choice to include taxes due on the future GILTI inclusion in taxable income when incurred. Cash and Cash Equivalents All highly liquid investments, including marketable securities with an original maturity to the Company of three months or less when acquired are considered to be cash equivalents. Available-for-Sale Investments The Company classifies its investments in debt and marketable equity securities as available-for-sale based upon management's intent with regard to the investments and the nature of the underlying securities. The Company's available-for-sale debt securities consist of government agency bonds, municipal bonds and corporate bonds. The Company's available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in stockholders' equity unless losses are considered to be other than temporary impairments in which case the losses are recognized through the statement of income. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related available-for-sale security. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. The cost of available-for-sale debt securities sold is calculated using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis at the individual security level for sales from multiple lots. Marketable equity securities are equity securities with a readily determinable fair value that are measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis with changes in fair value, whether realized or unrealized, recorded through the statement of income. Prior to fiscal 2019, these securities were classified as available-for-sale securities and measured and recorded at fair value with unrealized changes in fair value reported in stockholders' equity. The Company includes within short-term investments its income yielding available-for-sale securities that can be readily converted to cash and includes within long-term investments those income yielding available-for-sale securities with maturities of over one year that have unrealized losses attributable to them or those that cannot be readily liquidated. As discussed in Note 5, if the Company anticipates that investments will be liquidated in anticipation of a pending merger or otherwise, any unrealized losses are recognized as other-than-temporary impairments. If the anticipated liquidity event is within 12 months, the securities are classified as short-term investments. In the normal course of business, the Company intends and has the ability to hold its long-term investments with temporary impairments until such time as these assets are no longer impaired. Derivative Instruments Derivative instruments are required to be recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. The Company's accounting policies for derivative instruments depends on whether the instrument has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and further, on the type of hedging relationship. The Company does not apply hedge accounting to foreign currency forward contracts. Gains and losses associated with currency rate changes on forward contracts are recorded currently in income. These gains and losses have been immaterial to the Company's financial statements. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in prices for energy that it consumes, particularly electricity and natural gas. The Company also enters into variable-priced contracts for some purchases of electricity and natural gas, on an index basis. The Company seeks, or may seek, to partially mitigate these exposures through fixed-price contracts. These contracts meet the characteristics of derivative instruments, but generally qualify for the “normal purchases or normal sales” exception under authoritative guidance and require no mark-to-market adjustment. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for probable losses on uncollectible accounts receivable resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments, which is included in bad debt expense. The Company determines the adequacy of this allowance by routinely analyzing the composition of accounts receivable and evaluating customer creditworthiness, credit history, facts and circumstances specific to outstanding balances and current economic conditions. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out method. The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by the Company, additional inventory write-downs may be required. Inventory impairment charges establish a new cost basis for inventory and charges are not subsequently reversed to income even if circumstances later suggest that increased carrying amounts are recoverable. In estimating reserves for obsolescence, the Company primarily evaluates estimates of demand over a 12-month period and provides reserves for inventory on hand in excess of the estimated 12-month demand. Estimates for projected 12-month demand are generally based on the average shipments of the prior three-month period, which are then annualized to adjust for any potential seasonality in the Company's business. The estimated 12-month demand is compared to the Company's most recently developed sales forecast to further reconcile the 12-month demand estimate. Management reviews and adjusts the estimates as appropriate based on specific situations. For example, demand can be adjusted up for new products for which historic sales are not representative of future demand. Alternatively, demand can be adjusted down to the extent any existing products are being replaced or discontinued. In periods where the Company's production levels are substantially below normal operating capacity, unabsorbed overhead production costs associated with the reduced production levels of the Company's manufacturing facilities are charged directly to cost of sales. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed when incurred. The Company's property and equipment accounting policies incorporate estimates, assumptions and judgments relative to the useful lives of its property and equipment. Depreciation is provided for assets placed in service on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the relative assets, which range from 10 to 40 years for buildings and building improvements and 3 to 7 years for machinery and equipment. The Company evaluates the carrying value of its property and equipment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may be impaired. Asset impairment evaluations are, by nature, highly subjective. Senior and Junior Subordinated Convertible Debt The Company separately accounts for the liability and equity components of its senior and junior subordinated convertible debt in a manner that reflects its nonconvertible debt (unsecured debt) borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized. This results in a bifurcation of a component of the debt, classification of that component in equity and the accretion of the resulting discount on the debt to be recognized as part of interest expense in its consolidated statements of income. Lastly, the Company includes the dilutive effect of the shares of its common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding senior and junior subordinated convertible debt in its diluted income per share calculation regardless of whether the market price triggers or other contingent conversion features have been met. The Company applies the treasury stock method as it has the intent and ability to settle the principal amounts of the senior and junior subordinated convertible debentures in cash. This method results in incremental dilutive shares when the average market value of the Company's common stock for a reporting period exceeds the conversion prices per share and adjust as dividends are recorded in the future. Upon a de-recognition event such as a settlement or conversion, the Company estimates the fair value of the liability component and compares that to the carrying amount in order to calculate the appropriate amount of gain or loss. The remaining amounts paid or issued (in the case of non cash consideration in the form of shares of common stock) are recognized as a reduction of additional paid-in-capital. The fair value of the liability component is estimated using the current comparable borrowing rate for an otherwise identical non-convertible debt instrument. Defined Benefit Pension Plans The Company maintains defined benefit pension plans, covering certain of its foreign employees. For financial reporting purposes, net periodic pension costs and pension obligations are determined based upon a number of actuarial assumptions, including discount rates for plan obligations, and assumed rates of compensation increases for employees participating in plans. These assumptions are based upon management's judgment and consultation with actuaries, considering all known trends and uncertainties. Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to various liabilities as a result of contracts, product liability, customer claims and other matters. Additionally, the Company is involved in a limited number of legal actions, both as plaintiff and defendant. Consequently, the Company could incur uninsured liability in any of those actions. The Company also periodically receives notifications from various third parties alleging infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights, or from customers requesting reimbursement for various costs. With respect to pending legal actions to which the Company is a party and other claims, although the outcomes are generally not determinable, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, cash flows or results of operations. Litigation and disputes relating to the semiconductor industry are not uncommon, and the Company is, from time to time, subject to such litigation and disputes. As a result, no assurances can be given with respect to the extent or outcome of any such litigation or disputes in the future. The Company accrues for claims and contingencies when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, the Company reviews each of its matters and, where it is probable that a liability has been or will be incurred, it accrues for all probable and reasonably estimable losses. Where the Company can reasonably estimate a range of losses it may incur regarding such a matter, it records an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes its best estimate. If the Company can reasonably estimate a range but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, it uses the amount that is the low end of such range. Business Combinations All of the Company's business combinations are accounted for at fair value under the acquisition method of accounting. Under the acquisition method of accounting, (i) acquisition-related costs, except for those costs incurred to issue debt or equity securities, will be expensed in the period incurred; (ii) non-controlling interests will be valued at fair value at the acquisition date; (iii) in-process research and development will be recorded at fair value as an intangible asset at the acquisition date and amortized once the technology reaches technological feasibility; (iv) restructuring costs associated with a business combination will be expensed subsequent to the acquisition date; and (v) changes in deferred tax asset valuation allowances and income tax uncertainties after the acquisition date will be recognized through income tax expense. The aggregate amount of consideration paid by the Company is allocated to net tangible assets and intangible assets based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the value of the net tangible assets and intangible assets is recorded to goodwill. The measurement of fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires significant judgment. The valuation of intangible assets, in particular, requires that the Company use valuation techniques such as the income approach. The income approach includes the use of a discounted cash flow model, which includes discounted cash flow scenarios and requires the following significant estimates: revenue, expenses, capital spending and other costs, and discount rates based on the respective risks of the cash flows. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets The Company's intangible assets include goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is recorded when the purchase price paid for an acquisition exceeds the estimated fair value of the net identified tangible and intangible assets acquired. Other intangible assets include existing technologies, core and developed technology, in-process research and development, trademarks and trade names, distribution rights and customer-related intangibles. In-process research and development is capitalized until such time the related projects are completed or abandoned at which time the capitalized amounts will begin to be amortized or written off. Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of goodwill and in-process research and development intangible assets that have not yet been placed in service. All other intangible assets are definite-lived intangible assets, including in-process research and development assets that have been placed in service, and are amortized over their respective estimated lives, ranging from 1 to 15 years. The Company is required to perform an impairment review of indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill annually, and more frequently under certain circumstances. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are subjected to this annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year. The Company engages primarily in the development, manufacture and sale of semiconductor products as well as technology licensing. As a result, the Company concluded there are two reporting units, semiconductor products and technology licensing. Under the qualitative indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment standard, management evaluates whether it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. If it is determined that it is more likely than not, the Company proceeds with the next step of the impairment test, which compares the fair value of the reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset to its carrying value. If the Company determines through the impairment process that the indefinite-lived intangible asset has been impaired, the Company will record the impairment charge in its results of operation. Through March 31, 2019, the Company has not had impaired goodwill. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate definite-lived intangible assets may be impaired, the Company evaluates the recoverability and estimated useful lives of such assets. If such indicators are present, recoverability is evaluated based on whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the asset (group) in question is less than their carrying value. If less, the Company measures the fair value of the asset (group) and recognizes an impairment loss if the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their respective fair values. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company assesses whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present. If such indicators are present, the Company determines whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets in question is less than their carrying value. If less, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their respective fair values. Fair value is determined by discounted future cash flows, appraisals or other methods. If the assets determined to be impaired are to be held and used, the Company recognizes an impairment loss through a charge to operating results to the extent the present value of anticipated net cash flows attributable to the asset are less than the asset's carrying value. The Company would depreciate the remaining value over the remaining estimated useful life of the asset. Share-Based Compensation The Company has equity incentive plans under which non-qualified stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) have been granted to employees and non-employee members of the Board of Directors. The Company uses RSUs as its primary equity incentive compensation instrument for employees. The Company also has employee stock purchase plans for eligible employees. Share-based compensation cost is measured on the grant date based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock discounted for expected future dividends and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods. If there are any modifications or cancellations of the underlying unvested securities, the Company may be required to accelerate or increase any remaining unearned share-based compensation expense. Future share-based compensation expense and unearned share-based compensation will increase to the extent that the Company grants additional equity awards to employees or it assumes unvested equity awards in connection with acquisitions. During fiscal 2017, the Company elected to early adopt ASU 2016-09-Compensation - Stock Compensation, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718). See "Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements" for additional information on the new guidance. Concentrations of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of investments in debt securities and trade receivables. Investments in debt securities with original maturities of greater than six months consist primarily of AAA and AA rated financial instruments and counterparties. The Company's investments are primarily in direct obligations of the U.S. government or its agencies, corporate bonds, and municipal bonds. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are generally not significant due to the diversity of the Company's customers and geographic sales areas. The Company sells its products primarily to OEMs and distributors in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition and, as deemed necessary, may require collateral, primarily letters of credit. Distributor advances in the consolidated balance sheets, totaled $170.7 million and $203.9 million at March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively. On sales to distributors, the Company's payment terms generally require the distributor to settle amounts owed to the Company for an amount in excess of their ultimate cost. The Company's sales price to its distributors may be higher than the amount that the distributors will ultimately owe the Company because distributors often negotiate price reductions after purchasing the products from the Company and such reductions are often significant. It is the Company's practice to apply these negotiated price discounts to future purchases, requiring the distributor to settle receivable balances, on a current basis, generally within 30 days, for amounts originally invoiced. This practice has an adverse impact on the working capital of the Company's distributors. As such, the Company has entered into agreements with certain distributors whereby it advances cash to the distributors to reduce the distributors' working capital requirements. These advances are reconciled at least on a quarterly basis and are estimated based on the amount of ending inventory as reported by the distributor multiplied by a negotiated percentage. Such advances have no impact on revenue recognition or the Company's consolidated statements of income. The Company processes discounts taken by distributors against its deferred income on shipments to distributors' balance and trues-up the advanced amounts generally after the end of each completed fiscal quarter. The terms of these advances are set forth in binding legal agreements and are unsecured, bear no interest on unsettled balances and are due upon demand. The agreements governing these advances can be canceled by the Company at any time. Use of Estimates The Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare its consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Business Segments Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision makers ("CODMs") to assess the performance of the component and make decisions about the resources to be allocated to the component. The Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer have been identified as the CODMs as they jointly manage the Company's worldwide consolidated enterprise. Based on the Company's structure and manner in which the Company is managed and decisions are made, the Company's business is made up of two operating segments, semiconductor products and technology licensing. In the semiconductor products segment, the Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets microcontrollers, development tools and analog, interface, mixed-signal, timing, wired and wireless connectivity devices, and memory products. Under the leadership of the CODMs, the Company is structured and organized around standardized roles and responsibilities based on product groups and functional activities. The Company's product groups are responsible for product research, design and development. The Company's functional activities include sales, marketing, manufacturing, information technology, human resources, legal and finance. The Company's product groups have similar products, production processes, types of customers and methods for distribution. In addition, the tools and technologies used in the design and manufacture of the Company's products are shared among the various product groups. The Company's product group leaders, under the direction of the CODMs, define the product roadmaps and team with sales personnel to achieve design wins and revenue and other performance targets. Product group leaders also interact with manufacturing and operational personnel who are responsible for the production, prioritization and planning of the Company's manufacturing capabilities to help ensure the efficiency of the Company's operations and fulfillment of customer requirements. This centralized structure supports a global operating strategy in which the CODMs assess performance and allocate resources based on the Company's consolidated results. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On April 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09-Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606) and all related amendments (“New Revenue Standard”) using the modified retrospective method. The Company has applied the new revenue standard to all contracts that were entered into after adoption and to all contracts that were open as of the initial date of adoption. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. The adoption of the new standard impacts the Company's net sales on an ongoing basis depending on the relative amount of revenue sold through its distributors, the change in inventory held by its distributors, and the changes in price concessions granted to its distributors. Previously, the Company deferred revenue and cost of sales on shipments to distributors until the distributor sold the product to their end customer. As required by the new revenue standard, the Company no longer defers revenue and cost of sales, but rather, estimates the effects of returns and allowances provided to distributors and records revenue at the time of sale to the distributor. Sales to non-distributor customers, under both the previous and new revenue standards, are generally recognized upon the Company’s shipment of the product. The cumulative effect of the changes made to the consolidated April 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of the new revenue standard is summarized in the table of opening balance sheet adjustments below. In accordance with the new revenue standard requirements, the disclosure of the impact of adoption on the consolidated income statement and balance sheet for the period ended March 31, 2019 was as follows (in millions):
Income Statement |  | For the year ended March 31, 2019
| As reported |  | Balances without adoption of New Revenue Standard |  | Effect of Change Higher / (Lower)
Net sales |  | $ | 5,349.5 |  |  | $ | 5,380.1 |  |  | $ | (30.6 | )
Cost of sales |  | $ | 2,418.2 |  |  | $ | 2,434.0 |  |  | $ | (15.8 | )
Gross profit |  | $ | 2,931.3 |  |  | $ | 2,946.1 |  |  | $ | (14.8 | )
Income before income taxes |  | $ | 204.5 |  |  | $ | 219.3 |  |  | $ | (14.8 | )
Income tax (benefit) provision |  | $ | (151.4 | ) |  | $ | (149.0 | ) |  | $ | (2.4 | )
Net income from continuing operations |  | $ | 355.9 |  |  | $ | 368.3 |  |  | $ | (12.4 | )
Balance Sheet |  | As of March 31, 2019
| As reported |  | Balances without adoption of New Revenue Standard |  | Effect of Change Higher / (Lower)
ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net |  | $ | 880.6 |  |  | $ | 556.1 |  |  | $ | 324.5 |
Inventories |  | $ | 711.7 |  |  | $ | 724.2 |  |  | $ | (12.5 | )
Other current assets |  | $ | 191.6 |  |  | $ | 154.7 |  |  | $ | 36.9 |
Other assets |  | $ | 111.8 |  |  | $ | 106.3 |  |  | $ | 5.5 |
Long-term deferred tax assets |  | $ | 1,677.2 |  |  | $ | 1,700.7 |  |  | $ | (23.5 | )
LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities |  | $ | 787.3 |  |  | $ | 420.3 |  |  | $ | 367.0 |
Deferred income on shipments to distributors |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 288.2 |  |  | $ | (288.2 | )
Long-term deferred tax liability |  | $ | 706.1 |  |  | $ | 689.3 |  |  | $ | 16.8 |
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |  |  |  |  |  |
Retained Earnings |  | $ | 3,210.6 |  |  | $ | 2,975.3 |  |  | $ | 235.3 |
The significant changes in the financial statements noted in the table above are primarily due to the transition from sell-through revenue recognition to sell-in revenue recognition as required by the New Revenue Standard, which eliminated the balance of deferred income on shipments to distributors, significantly reduced accounts receivable, and significantly increased retained earnings. Prior to the acquisition of Microsemi, Microsemi already recognized revenue on a sell-in basis, so the impact of the adoption of the New Revenue Standard was primarily driven by Microchip's historical business excluding Microsemi. During the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-01-Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This standard requires available-for-sale equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. During the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-16-Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. This standard addresses the recognition of current and deferred income taxes resulting from an intra-entity transfer of any asset other than inventory. This standard has been applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings. The adoption of this standard resulted in a cumulative-effect increase in the Company's deferred tax assets of approximately $1.58 billion, a decrease to the Company's deferred tax liabilities of $1.1 million, a decrease to other assets of $24.1 million, and a decrease of $1.7 million to other long-term liabilities. During the three months ended June 30, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-18-Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash. This standard requires that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The standard has been applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements. The following table summarizes the opening balance sheet adjustments related to the adoption of the New Revenue Standard, ASU 2016-01-Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, and ASU 2016-16-Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (in millions):
|  | Balance as of |  | Adjustments from |  | Balance as of
|  | March 31, 2018 |  | ASC 606 |  | ASU 2016-01 |  | ASU 2016-16 |  | April 1, 2018
ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, net |  | $ | 563.7 |  |  | $ | 340.1 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 903.8 |
Inventories |  | $ | 476.2 |  |  | $ | (5.1 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 471.1 |
Other current assets |  | $ | 119.8 |  |  | $ | 17.2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 137.0 |
Long-term deferred tax assets |  | $ | 100.2 |  |  | $ | (23.1 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,579.4 |  |  | $ | 1,656.5 |
Other assets |  | $ | 71.8 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (24.1 | ) |  | $ | 47.7 |
LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities |  | $ | 229.6 |  |  | $ | 404.2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 633.8 |
Deferred income on shipments to distributors |  | $ | 333.8 |  |  | $ | (333.8 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Long-term deferred tax liability |  | $ | 205.8 |  |  | $ | 16.8 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1.1 | ) |  | $ | 221.5 |
Other long-term liabilities |  | $ | 240.9 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1.7 | ) |  | $ | 239.2 |
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | $ | (17.6 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1.7 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (19.3 | )
Retained earnings |  | $ | 1,397.3 |  |  | $ | 241.9 |  |  | $ | 1.7 |  |  | $ | 1,558.1 |  |  | $ | 3,199.0 |
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12-Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The update expands an entity's ability to apply hedge accounting for nonfinancial and financial risk components and allows for a simplified approach for fair value hedging of interest rate risk. The update eliminates the need to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and generally requires the entire change in fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. Additionally, the update simplifies the hedge documentation and effectiveness assessment requirements under the previous guidance. The effective date of this standard is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. Adoption will be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment for cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption and prospectively for presentation and disclosure. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04-Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The amendment is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect this standard to have an impact on its consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13-Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This standard requires entities to use a current lifetime expected credit loss methodology to measure impairments of certain financial assets. Using this methodology will result in earlier recognition of losses than under the current incurred loss approach, which required waiting to recognize a loss until it is probable of having been incurred. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimate for assets measured either collectively or individually and can include forecasted information. There are other provisions within the standard affecting how impairments of other financial assets may be recorded and presented, as well as expanded disclosures. ASU 2016-13 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and permits early adoption, but not before December 15, 2018. The standard is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02-Leases. This standard requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset on the balance sheet and aligns many of the underlying principles of the new lessor model with those in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt Topic 842 using the retrospective cumulative effect adjustment transition method and record a cumulative effect adjustment as of the adoption date. The Company currently plans to apply the package of practical expedients to leases that commenced before the effective date whereby the Company will elect to not reassess the following: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases; (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases; and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company is continuing to assess the potential impacts of the new leasing standard. The Company expects the adoption of this standard will result in the inclusion of a significant component of the Company’s future minimum lease commitments, as disclosed in Note 17 on its consolidated balance sheets, as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities with no material impact to its consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

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