<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895419-12-000011.txt : 20120127
<SEC-HEADER>0000895419-12-000011.hdr.sgml : 20120127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120127162758
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895419-12-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		5
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120127
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120127
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20120127

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				561572719
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0624

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-179217
		FILM NUMBER:		12552170

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9194075300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8475

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>forms-8.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM S-8 JAN 27 2012
<TEXT>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 27, 2012</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Registration No. 333-__________</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">UNITED STATES</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Washington, D.C.&#160;&#160;20549</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CREE, INC.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>

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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">North Carolina</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="38%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">56-1572719</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="41%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="38%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="41%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top" width="38%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="41%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4600 Silicon Drive</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Durham, North Carolina</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="38%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">27703</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="41%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(Zip Code)</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CREE, INC. 2005 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(AS AMENDED)</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Full title of the plan)</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">John T. Kurtzweil</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Executive Vice President &#8211; Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Cree, Inc.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4600 Silicon Drive</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Durham, North Carolina</font> 27703</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(919) 313-5300</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Copy to:</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Adam H. Broome, Esq.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Cree, Inc.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4600 Silicon Drive</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Durham, North Carolina</font> 27703</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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 the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer&#8221; and &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; in Rule&#160;12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Large accelerated filer&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">x</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Accelerated filer&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font>Non-accelerated filer&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font>(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 1pt">&#160;</font>Smaller reporting company&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: wingdings">o</font></font></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">
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<td colspan="5" valign="top" width="88%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="21%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Title of Securities</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">To Be Registered</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="13%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount To Be</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Registered</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed Maximum Offering</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Price Per Share</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="18%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Proposed Maximum</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Aggregate Offering Price</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="14%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amount of</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Registration Fee</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="21%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Common Stock,</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$0.00125 par value (1)</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 9pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="13%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1,000,000 (2)</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="21%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$26.45 (3)</font></div>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="18%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$26,450,000&#160;(3)</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="14%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$3,031.17&#160;(3)</font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" colspan="5" valign="top" width="88%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: -27pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(1) Each share of Common Stock issued by the Registrant includes one right to purchase a fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock.&#160; Prior to the occurrence of certain events, the preferred stock purchase rights will not&#160;be exercisable or evidenced separately from the Common&#160;Stock.&#160; Accordingly, no additional registration&#160;fee is required.</font></div>
</td>
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<td align="left" colspan="5" valign="top" width="88%" style="PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: -27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.15; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(2)&#160;Pursuant to Rule&#160;416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement also covers such additional shares&#160;of Common Stock as may be issued to prevent dilution of the shares of Common Stock covered hereby&#160;resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt; TEXT-INDENT: -27pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(3)&#160;Calculated solely for the purpose of this offering pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on January 20, 2012.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE 10(a) PROSPECTUS</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed by Cree, Inc. (&#8220;the Registrant&#8221;) to register 1,000,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Registrant, $0.00125 par value, issuable under the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;). As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;), this Registration Statement omits the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 and consists of only those items required by General Instruction E to Form S-8.&#160;&#160;The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plan as required by Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act.&#160;&#160;Such documents are not being filed with the Commission as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424.</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">PART II</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, the prior Registration Statements relating to the Plan, Registration No. 333-129174 filed with the Commission on October 21, 2005 and Registration No. 333-156980 filed with the Commission on January 27, 2009, remain effective, and the contents of such Registration Statements are incorporated in this Registration Statement by this reference.</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><br>
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<td width="30%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font size="2" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></font></font></td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The following documents filed with the Commission are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(a)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 26, 2011, filed with the Commission on August 17, 2011;</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(b)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 25, 2011, filed&#160;with the Commission on October 20, 2011, and for the quarter ended December 25, 2011, filed with the Commission on January 19, 2012;</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Registrant&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on August&#160;17, 2011 (amended on Form 8-K/A filed October 19, 2011), August&#160;19, 2011,&#160;October&#160;18, 2011 and&#160;October 27, 2011;</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(d)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The description of the Registrant&#8217;s Common Stock contained in the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on January 29, 1993, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and</font></div>

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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(e)</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 9pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The description of the rights attached to the Registrant&#8217;s Common Stock contained in the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on May 30, 2002, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.&#160;&#160;However, any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed &#8220;filed&#8221; with the Commission, including without limitation any information furnished <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">pursuant to Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.</font><br>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Any statement in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.&#160;&#160;Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</font></div>
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<td width="5%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font size="2" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Item 6.</font></font><font id="TAB2" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font></td>
<td width="30%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font size="2" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</font></font></font></td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Registrant currently has provisions for limitation on the personal liability of directors in its Articles of Incorporation, as restated (the &#8220;Articles of Incorporation&#8221;), and provisions for indemnification of directors and officers in its Bylaws, as amended and restated (the &#8220;Bylaws&#8221;).&#160;&#160;Additionally, sections of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the &#8220;NCBCA&#8221;) provide indemnification of the Registrant&#8217;s directors and officers in a variety of circumstances.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation provides that no director of the Registrant shall have personal liability arising out of an action whether by or in the right of the Registrant or otherwise for monetary damages for breach of his or her duty as a director.&#160;&#160;Consistent with the NCBCA, the Articles of Incorporation do not limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director with respect to (i) acts or omissions not made in good faith that such director at the time of such breach knew or believed were in conflict with the best interests of the Registrant, (ii) any liability under Section 55-8-33 of the NCBCA or any successor provision, (iii) any transaction from which such director derived an improper personal benefit, or (iv) acts or omissions occurring prior to the date of the effectiveness of Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation.&#160;&#160;In the event that the NCBCA is amended or legislation is enacted to permit further limitation or elimination of the personal liability of a director, Article VII provides that the personal liability of the Registrant&#8217;s directors shall be limited or eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Article IX, Section 3 of the Bylaws provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is made, or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or arbitrative action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therein (and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such action, suit or proceeding), whether or not brought by or on behalf of the Registrant, seeking to hold him liable by reason of the fact that he is or was acting in his capacity as a director or officer of the Registrant, or at the request of the Registrant is or was serving as a director or officer for any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, or as a trustee or administrator under any employee benefit plan of the Registrant or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant, against (i) reasonable expenses, including without limitation all attorneys&#8217; fees actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding; (ii) all reasonable payments made by him in satisfaction of any judgment, money decree, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), penalty or settlement for which he may have become liable in such action, suit or proceeding; and (iii) all reasonable expenses incurred in enforcing the indemnification rights provided in the Bylaws.&#160;&#160;Pursuant to the Bylaws, this indemnification may, at the discretion of the Registrant&#8217;s board of directors, also include advancement of expenses related to such action, suit or proceeding.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Sections&#160;55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the NCBCA permit a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents under either or both a statutory or nonstatutory scheme of indemnification.&#160;&#160;In general, the NCBCA provides directors and officers with a right to indemnification when the director or officer has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, unless limited by the Articles of Incorporation. The NCBCA also <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">permits a </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">corporation to indemnify directors and officers who met a certain standard of conduct. Directors and officers are also entitled to apply to a court for an order requiring the corporation to indemnify the director or officer in a particular case. The court may grant such an order if it determines the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all of the relevant circumstances.</font></font> </font>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In addition to, and notwithstanding the conditions of and limitations on, the indemnification described above under the statutory scheme, Section&#160;55-8-57 of the NCBCA permits a corporation to indemnify, or agree to indemnify, any of its directors, officers, employees or agents against liability and expenses (including attorneys&#8217; </font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">fees) in any proceeding (including proceedings brought by or on behalf of the corporation) arising out of their status as such or their activities in such capacities, except for any liabilities or expenses incurred on account of activities that were, at the time taken, known or believed by the person to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the corporation.&#160;&#160;Additionally, Section&#160;55-8-57 of the NCBCA authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against certain liabilities incurred by such a person, whether or not the corporation is otherwise authorized by the NCBCA to indemnify that person.&#160;&#160;The Registrant has purchased and maintains such insurance.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Registrant has also entered into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors and executive officers.&#160;&#160;The indemnification agreement requires the Registrant to indemnify the indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of North Carolina currently in effect or as such laws may be amended to increase the scope of permitted indemnification.&#160;&#160;The indemnification agreement further requires the Registrant to advance expenses incurred in connection with an action, demand, suit or proceeding and includes an undertaking by the indemnitee to reimburse the Registrant for any amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that indemnification is not proper.&#160;&#160;The rights provided in the indemnification agreement are in addition to rights provided in the Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation and the NCBCA.</font></div>

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<td width="30%"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;<font size="2" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Exhibits.</font></font></font></td>
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<td align="justify" valign="top" width="14%"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4.1</font></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="86%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2002, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company, including the form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, attached thereto as Exhibits B&#160;and C, respectively (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.01 to the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 30, 2002)</font></td>
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<td align="justify" valign="top" width="14%"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4.2</font></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="86%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2006, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.02 to the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the Commission on October 16, 2006)</font></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="86%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP</font></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="86%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent of Grant Thornton LLP</font></td>
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<td align="justify" valign="top" width="14%"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">24.1</font></font></td>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="86%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Power of <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Attorney (Contained on signature page</font>)</font></td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.15; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">2005 Employee&#160;Stock Purchase&#160;Plan, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated October 25, 2011, as filed with the Commission on October 27, 2011)&#160;</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 81pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(i)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 81pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(ii)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the </font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fee&#8221; table in the effective Registration Statement;</div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 81pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Provided, however, <font style="FONT-STYLE: normal">that</font></font> paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in&#160;reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act&#160;that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. </font>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering </font></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Durham, State of North Carolina, on this 24th day of January, 2012.</font></div>
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<div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">/s/&#160;Charles M. Swoboda</font></div>
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<td valign="top" width="54%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top" width="4%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top" width="2%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;</font></td>
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</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles M. Swoboda and John T. Kurtzweil, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.</font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="justify">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">/s/&#160; Charles M. Swoboda</font></div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Charles M. Swoboda</font></div>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="36%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and</font>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;President (Principal Executive Officer)</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>

&#160;</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">/s/ &#160;John T. Kurtzweil</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="left" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">John T. Kurtzweil</font></div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">&#160;(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/ &#160;Clyde R. Hosein</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Clyde R. Hosein</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="top" width="36%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">/s/&#160; <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Robert A. Ingram</font></font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Robert A. Ingram</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="top" width="36%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/ &#160;Franco Plastina</font></div>
</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">&#160;</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Franco Plastina</font></div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="top" width="36%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
<div><font size="2">&#160;</font></div>

<div>
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/&#160;&#160;Alan J. Ruud</font></div>
</div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">&#160;</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">&#160;</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font size="2">&#160;Alan J. Ruud</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">&#160;Director</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/&#160;&#160;Robert L. Tillman</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Robert L. Tillman</font></div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="top" width="36%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font size="2">/s/&#160; Harvey A. Wagner</font></div>
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</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">&#160;</td>
</tr><tr>
<td align="left" valign="top" width="28%">
<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Harvey A. Wagner</font></div>
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<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="top" width="36%">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="top" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">January&#160;24, 2012</font></font></div>
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</td>
</tr><tr>
<td valign="top" width="28%" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: black 2px solid">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">/s/&#160; Thomas H. Werner</font></div>
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</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td align="justify" valign="bottom" width="36%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
<td valign="bottom" width="19%">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;</div>
</td>
</tr><tr>
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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center">&#160;<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Thomas H. Werner</font></div>
</td>
<td width="1%">&#160;</td>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"><font size="3">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Director</font></font></div>
</td>
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<td align="justify" valign="top" width="14%"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4.1</font></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="86%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2002, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company, including the form of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, attached thereto as Exhibits B&#160;and C, respectively (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.01 to the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 30, 2002)</font></td>
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<td align="justify" valign="top" width="14%"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 27pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4.2</font></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="86%" style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2006, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.02 to the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the Commission on October 16, 2006)</font></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="86%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Consent of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP</font></td>
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<td align="left" valign="top" width="86%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Power of <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Attorney (Contained on signature page</font>)</font></td>
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<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SMITH, ANDERSON, BLOUNT, DORSETT,</font></div>

<div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MITCHELL &amp; JERNIGAN, L.L.P.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Wells Fargo Capitol Center</font></div>

<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2300</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">TELEPHONE: (919) 821-1220</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">4600 Silicon Drive</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 72pt; TEXT-INDENT: -45pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Re:</font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 0pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Cree, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8 </font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Ladies and </font>Gentlemen</font>:</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align="left">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We have acted as counsel for Cree, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), in connection with the registration on Form S-8 (the &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Act&#8221;), of 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the &#8220;Shares&#8221;), with a par value of $0.00125 per share, for issuance under the Company&#8217;s 2005 Employee Stock&#160;Purchase Plan, as amended (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;), and the associated rights to purchase Series A Preferred Stock (the &#8220;Rights&#8221;) issuable pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2002, between the Company and American Stock Transfer &amp; Trust Company, LLC, as amended October 16, 2006 (the &#8220;Rights Agreement&#8221;).</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We have examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, the Bylaws of the Company, as amended, the minutes of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to the approval of the Plan and the authorization and the issuance of the Shares, the 2011 Proxy Statement regarding the proposal of the amendment of the Plan for shareholder approval, the minutes of the 2011 annual shareholders&#8217; meeting evidencing approval of&#160;the amendment to the Plan, the Rights Agreement and the minutes of the Board of Directors of the Company evidencing&#160;approval of the Rights Agreement, and such other corporate documents, records, and matters of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion.&#160;&#160;In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conforming to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified copies or photocopies, and the authenticity of originals of such latter documents.&#160;&#160;We have also received a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated of even date herewith, relating to the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Plan.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Based upon the foregoing and the assumptions stated below, and in reliance thereon, it is our opinion that:</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(2)&#160;&#160;When issued in accordance with the Rights Agreement, the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, except as may be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors&#8217; rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), which may, among other things, deny rights of specific performance.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;In rendering the opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above, we (i) express no opinion as to the determination that a court may make regarding whether the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors would be required to redeem or terminate, or take other action with respect to, the Rights or the Rights Agreement in the future based on the facts and circumstances existing at the time, (ii) have assumed that the members of the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors have acted in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties as required under applicable law in approving and adopting the Rights Agreement, and (iii) have addressed the Rights and the Rights Agreement in their entirety, and we have not addressed whether the invalidity of any particular provision of the Rights Agreements or the Rights issued thereunder would result in invalidating the Rights in their entirety.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We express no opinion as to any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no opinion, other than the opinions given herein, may be inferred or implied herefrom.&#160;&#160;These opinions are limited to the laws of the State of North Carolina, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.&#160;&#160;The opinions expressed herein do not extend to compliance with federal and state securities laws relating to the sale of the Shares or the issuance of the Rights.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto.&#160;&#160;Such consent shall not be deemed to be an admission that our firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act.</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 216pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font size="2">/s/ Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell &amp;&#160;Jernigan, L.L.P.</font><br>
<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><br>
SMITH</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">, ANDERSON, BLOUNT, DORSETT,</font></div>

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<TYPE>EX-23.1
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit 23.1</font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">
<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase&#160;Plan (As Amended)&#160;of Cree, Inc.&#160;of our reports dated August 17, 2011, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Cree, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 26, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 405pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/s/ Ernst &amp; Young LLP</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Raleigh, North Carolina</font></div>

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<TYPE>EX-23.2
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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit 23.2</font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as amended) of Cree, Inc. of our report dated January 27, 2011, except for the last paragraph of Note 18, as to which the date is August 17, 2011, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet of Ruud Lighting, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of October 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders&#8217; equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, which report appears in the Form 8-K/A of Cree, Inc. dated October 19, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission</font></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">.</font></font></div>
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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 405pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/s/ CliftonLarsonAllen LLP</font></div>

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<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Exhibit 23.3</font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><br>
&#160;</font></font></font></font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 405pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">/s/ Grant Thornton LLP</font></div>

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<div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Milwaukee, Wisconsin</font></div>

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