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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries in which it has a controlling interest. The Company reports noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates - The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Change in Accounting Estimate

Change in Accounting Estimate - The Company regularly reviews inventory quantities and inventory purchase commitments and writes down excess and obsolete inventory to its net realizable value, and records a loss for expected purchase order cancellation charges and for excess inventory purchase commitments that cannot be cancelled. The write-down is primarily based on historical inventory usage adjusted for expected changes in product demand and production requirements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition – We review product and service sales contracts with multiple deliverables to determine if separate units of accounting are present in the arrangements. Where separate units of accounting exist, revenue is allocated to delivered items equal to the total sales price less the greater of (1) the relative fair value of the undelivered items, and (2) all contingent portions of the sales arrangement.

We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; the product has been delivered and title has transferred, or services have been rendered; the seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. For us, this policy generally results in revenue recognition at the following points:

(1)

For our equipment business, transactions where legal title passes to the customer upon shipment, we recognize revenue upon shipment for those products where the customer’s defined specifications have been met with at least two similarly configured systems and processes for a comparably situated customer. However, a portion of the revenue associated with certain installation-related tasks, equal to the greater of the relative fair value of those tasks or the portion of the contract price contingent upon their completion, generally 10%-20% of the system’s selling price (the “holdback”), and directly related costs, if any, are deferred and recognized into income when the tasks are completed. Since we defer only those costs directly related to installation or other unit of accounting not yet delivered and the portion of the contract price is often considerably greater than the fair market value of those items, our policy at times will result in deferral of profit that is disproportionate in relation to the deferred revenue. When this is the case, the gross margin recognized in one period will be lower and the gross margin reported in a subsequent period will improve.

(2)

For products where the customer’s defined specifications have not been met with at least two similarly configured systems and processes, the revenue and directly related costs are deferred at the time of shipment and later recognized at the time of customer acceptance or when this criterion has been met. We have, on occasion, experienced longer than expected delays in receiving cash from certain customers pending final installation or system acceptance. If some of our customers refuse to pay the final payment, or otherwise delay final acceptance or installation, the deferred revenue would not be recognized, adversely affecting our future cash flows and operating results.


(3)	Sales of polishing supplies generally do not include process guarantees, acceptance criteria or holdbacks; therefore, the related revenue is generally recorded upon transfer of title which is generally at the time of shipment.


(4)	Sales of spare parts and consumables are recognized upon shipment, as there are no post shipment obligations other than standard warranties.


(5)	Service revenue is recognized upon performance of the services requested by the customer. Revenue related to service contracts is recognized ratably over the period of the contract or in accordance with the terms of the contract, which generally coincides with the performance of the services requested by the customer.

Deferred Profit

Deferred Profit – Revenue deferred pursuant to our revenue policy, net of the related deferred costs, if any, is recorded as deferred profit in current liabilities.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents – Cash equivalents in the United States consist of money market mutual funds invested in securities issued by the U.S. Government and its agencies and time deposits. In Europe, cash equivalents consist of money market mutual funds and time deposits. The fair value of the cash equivalents is based on Level One inputs in the fair value hierarchy as defined by ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash – Restricted cash of $5.1 million and $4.6 million as of September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, includes collateral for bank guarantees required by certain customers from whom deposits have been received in advance of shipment and cash received from research and development grants related to our ion implant technology to be used for research and development projects.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – Accounts receivable are recorded at the gross sales price of products sold to customers on trade credit terms. Accounts receivable are considered past due when payment has not been received from the customer within the normal credit terms extended to that customer. A valuation allowance is established for accounts when collection is no longer probable. Accounts are written off against the allowance when the probability of collection is remote.

Accounts Receivable - Unbilled and Other

Accounts Receivable - Unbilled and Other – Unbilled and other accounts receivable consist mainly of the contingent portion of the sales price that is not collectible until successful installation of the product. These amounts are generally billed upon final customer acceptance.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk – Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts receivable. The Company’s customers consist of manufacturers of solar cells, semiconductors, semiconductor wafers, LEDs and MEMS located throughout the world. Credit risk is managed by performing ongoing credit evaluations of the customers’ financial condition, by requiring significant deposits where appropriate, and by actively monitoring collections. Letters of credit are required of certain customers depending on the size of the order, type of customer or its creditworthiness, and its country of domicile. Reserves for potentially uncollectible receivables are maintained based on an assessment of collectability.

The Company maintains its cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in multiple financial institutions. Balances in the United States (approximately 60% of total cash balances) are primarily invested in US Treasuries or are in financial institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The remainder of the Company’s cash is maintained in banks in The Netherlands, France and China that are uninsured.

Inventories

Inventories – We value our inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs for approximately 80% of inventory are determined on an average cost basis with the remainder determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment - Property plant, and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. The cost of property retired or sold and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the applicable accounts when disposition occurs and any gain or loss is recognized. Depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method.

Goodwill

Goodwill - Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not subject to amortization, but are tested for impairment when it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or the indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, typically at the end of the fiscal year, or more frequently if circumstances dictate.

Intangibles

Intangibles - Intangible assets are capitalized and amortized over their useful life if the life is determinable. If the life is not determinable, amortization is not recorded.

Long-lived assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Warranty

Warranty – A limited warranty is provided free of charge, generally for periods of 12 to 24 months to all purchasers of the Company’s new products and systems. Accruals are recorded for estimated warranty costs at the time revenue is recognized.

Research and development expense

Research and Development Expenses - Research and development expenses consist of the cost of employees, consultants and contractors who design, engineer and develop new products and processes as well as materials, supplies and facilities used in producing prototypes. Payments received for research and development grants prior to the meeting of milestones are recorded as unearned research and development grant liabilities and included in other accrued liabilities on the balance sheet. When certain contract requirements are met, governmental research and development grants are netted against research and development expenses.

Shipping expenses

Shipping Expense – Shipping expenses of $0.8 million, $1.7 million and $5.9 million for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation – The functional currency of the Company’s European operations is the Euro.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes - The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States for all subsidiaries except those in the Netherlands, France, Hong Kong and China, where separate returns are filed. The Netherlands operations file separate returns in that country and, prior to fiscal 2012, were included in the United States consolidated return. The Company computes deferred income tax assets and liabilities based upon cumulative temporary differences between financial reporting and taxable income, carryforwards available and enacted tax laws. The Company also accrues a liability for uncertain tax positions when it is more likely than not that such tax will be incurred.

Deferred tax assets reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management and based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that a portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Each quarter the valuation allowance is re-evaluated.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation - The Company measures compensation costs relating to share-based payment transactions based upon the grant-date fair value of the award. Those costs are recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost are reported as cash flow from financing activities rather than as cash flow from operating activities.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - The carrying amount of these assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates their fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments.

Receivables and Payables—The recorded amounts of financial instruments, including Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, approximate their fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments.

Pensions

Pensions—The Company has retirement plans covering substantially all employees. The principal plans are the multiemployer defined benefit pension plans of the Company’s operations in the Netherlands and France and the plan for hourly union employees in Pennsylvania and the Company's defined contribution plan that covers substantially all of the employees in the United States. The multiemployer plans in the United States and France are insignificant.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11 "Income Taxes (Topic 740)." An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. We expect to adopt the amendment effective October 1, 2014. We do not expect that that the adoption will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05 "Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830)." The objective of the amendments in this Update is to resolve the diversity in practice about which codification subtopic applies to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity.

The amendments in this Update are effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company will evaluate the impact of the Update as future transactions occur.

In February 2013, The FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04 "Liabilities (Topic 405)," The guidance in this Update requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation within the scope of this guidance is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of the following:

a. The amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors.

b. Any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors.

The guidance in this Update also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company does not expect this Update to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.