mti10k-fy2007.htm


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

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

For the fiscal year ended August 30, 2007

OR

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

For the transition period from                                                                to

Commission file number 1-10658

Micron Technology, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
75-1618004
(State or other jurisdiction of
(IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
   
8000 S. Federal Way, Boise, Idaho
83716-9632
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
   
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(208) 368-4000
   
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
   
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share
New York Stock Exchange

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

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

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

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

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

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

Large Accelerated Filer x
Accelerated Filer o
Non-Accelerated Filer o

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing price of such stock on March 1, 2007, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $6.0 billion.  Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates.  This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of October 19, 2007, was 760,412,921.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for registrant’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on December 4, 2007, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


 


PART I

Item 1.  Business

The following discussion contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as those made in “Overview” regarding growth in production output for NAND Flash memory products; in “Products” regarding new product offerings in 2008 and continued growth in the NAND Flash and CMOS image sensor markets; and in “Manufacturing” regarding the transition to smaller line-width process technologies, the conversion of wafer fabrication at the TECH joint venture to 300mm, overall increases in 300mm wafer fabrication in 2008, and the ramp of IM Flash’s Singapore wafer fabrication facility in 2009.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the Company’s historical results and those discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those identified in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.


Corporate Information

Micron Technology, Inc., and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1978.  The Company’s executive offices are located at 8000 South Federal Way, Boise, Idaho 83716-9632 and its telephone number is (208) 368-4000.  Information about the Company is available on the internet at www.micron.com.  Copies of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to these reports, are available through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Materials filed by the Company with the SEC are also available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.  Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room is available by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.  Also available on the Company’s website are its:  Corporate Governance Guidelines, Governance Committee Charter, Compensation Committee Charter, Audit Committee Charter and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.  Any amendments or waivers of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will also be posted on the Company’s website at www.micron.com within four business days of the amendment or waiver.  Copies of these documents are available to shareholders upon request.  Information contained or referenced on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference and does not form a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  In January 2007, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer certified to the New York Stock Exchange that he was not aware of any violation by the Company of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards.


Overview

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

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

In recent years, the Company has taken several steps towards establishing a significant presence in the NAND Flash market.  The Company has partnered with Intel Corporation (“Intel”) to form two NAND Flash manufacturing joint ventures (collectively “IM Flash”) that are consolidated subsidiaries of the Company.  In 2007, IM Flash ramped production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities which greatly increased the Company’s output of NAND Flash.  The Company expects its NAND Flash output will continue to increase significantly in 2008 at these facilities.  IM Flash began construction of a third 300mm wafer fabrication facility in 2007, which is expected to ramp production in late 2009.  In June 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”), a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of NAND Flash memory products, which broadened the Company’s NAND Flash product offering, enhanced the Company’s retail presence and strengthened its intellectual property portfolio.

1


Imaging:  The Imaging segment’s primary products are CMOS image sensors, which are key components used in a broad array of electronic applications, including mobile phones, digital still cameras, webcams and other consumer, security and automotive applications.  The Company’s primary customers are camera module integrators located around the world.  The Company is exploring business model alternatives for its Imaging business including partnering arrangements.  Under any of the alternatives being considered, the Company expects that it will continue to manufacture CMOS image sensors.


Products

Memory:  The Company’s Memory segment has two primary product types:  DRAM and NAND Flash.  Sales of Memory products were 88%, 86% and 94% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Dynamic Random Access Memory (“DRAM”):  DRAM products are high-density, low-cost-per-bit, random access memory devices that provide high-speed data storage and retrieval.  DRAM products were 65%, 76% and 87% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The Company offers DRAM products with a variety of performance, pricing and other characteristics.

DDR and DDR2:  DDR and DDR2 are standardized, high-density, high-volume, DRAM products that are sold primarily for use as main system memory in computers and servers.  DDR and DDR2 products offer high speed and high bandwidth at a relatively low cost compared to other DRAM products.  DDR and DDR2 products were the highest volume parts in the DRAM market in 2007.  DDR products were 15%, 26% and 44% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  DDR2 products were 32%, 25% and 14% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

In response to changes in the DRAM market, the Company has broadened its DDR and DDR2 product offerings in recent years.  The Company offers DDR products in 128 megabit (“Mb”), 256 Mb, 512 Mb and 1 gigabit (“Gb”) densities.  The Company offers DDR2 products in 256 Mb, 512 Mb, 1 Gb and 2 Gb densities.  The Company expects that these densities will be necessary to meet future customer demands for a broad array of products.  The Company also offers its DDR and DDR2 products in multiple configurations, speeds and package types.  The Company has begun sampling next-generation DDR3 products.

Synchronous DRAM (“SDRAM”):  In 2007, 2006 and 2005, SDRAM was primarily used in networking devices, servers, consumer electronics, communications equipment and computer peripherals as well as memory upgrades to legacy computers.  Sales of SDRAM products were 11%, 16% and 20% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  SDRAM sales have declined as personal computer manufacturers have transitioned to DDR and DDR2 products.  The decline has been partially offset by increased usage of SDRAM products in other applications.  The Company offers 64 Mb, 128 Mb, 256 Mb and 512 Mb SDRAM products.

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


2


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

NAND and DRAM share common manufacturing processes, enabling the Company to leverage its product and process technologies and manufacturing infrastructure.  The Company’s NAND designs feature a small cell structure that allows for higher densities for demanding applications.  The Company offers Single-Level Cell (“SLC”) products and Multi-Level Cell (“MLC”) NAND products, which have double the bit density of SLC products.  In 2007, the Company offered SLC NAND products in 1 Gb, 2 Gb, and 4 Gb densities.  In 2007, the Company offered 8 Gb MLC NAND products and began sampling 16 Gb MLC NAND products.  The Company expects to introduce 32 Gb MLC NAND products in 2008.

As a result of its acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company began selling high-performance digital media products and other flash-based storage products through retail and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) channels.  The Company’s digital media products include a variety of Flash memory cards with a range of speeds, capacities and value-added features.  The Company’s digital media products also include its JumpDrive™ products, which are high-speed, portable USB flash drives for consumer applications that serve a variety of uses, including floppy disk replacement and digital media accessories such as card readers and image rescue software.

The Company offers Flash memory cards in all major media formats currently used by digital cameras and other electronic host devices, including:  CompactFlash, Memory Stick, Secure Digital Card and the xD Picture Card.  Many of CompactFlash, Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO products sold by the Company incorporate its patented controller technology.  Other products, including Secure Digital Card Flash memory cards and some JumpDrive products, incorporate third party controllers.  The Company also resells Flash memory products that are purchased from suppliers.  The Company offers Flash memory cards in a variety of speeds and capacities.  The Company sells products under its Lexar™ brand and also manufactures products that are sold under other brand names.  The Company has a multi-year agreement with Eastman Kodak to sell digital media products under the Kodak brand name.

Imaging:  Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensors are the primary product of the Company’s Imaging segment.  CMOS image sensors are semiconductor devices that capture and process images into pictures or video for a variety of consumer and industrial applications.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are used in products such as cellular phone cameras, digital still cameras, pill cameras for medical use, and in automotive and other emerging applications.  The Company offers image sensors in a range of pixel resolutions from its VGA (video graphics array) products to its higher resolution 8-megapixel products.  The Company manufactures a number of CMOS image sensors featuring a leading-edge pixel size of 1.75 square microns that enable a smaller form factor product.  Image sensors are sold either as individual components or combined with integrated circuitry to create complete camera system-on-a-chip (“SOC”) solutions.

The Company’s CMOS image sensors incorporating its DigitalClarity™ technology offered many advantages over other CMOS image sensors and charge-coupled device (“CCD”) sensors, which enabled the Company to maintain its leadership position.  The Company’s DigitalClarity™ technology features “active pixels” enabling better sensor performance that produces higher-quality images at faster frame rates.  The Company’s low-leakage DRAM processes are particularly well-suited for the manufacture of CMOS image sensors.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors consume substantially less power than CCD devices, providing an advantage in battery-dependent portable device applications where most image sensors are used.  By combining all camera functions on a single chip, from the capture of photons to the output of digital bits, CMOS image sensors reduce the part-count of a digital camera system, which in turn increases reliability, eases miniaturization, and enables on-chip programming of frame size, windowing, exposure and other camera parameters.  The Company’s CMOS image sensors are also capable of producing high-quality images in low-light conditions.  In 2007, the Company’s CMOS image sensors’ active-pixel design architecture enabled the Company to achieve CMOS imager performance that was comparable to high-end CCD sensors.

Sales of Imaging products were 12%, 14% and 6% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The overall market for image sensors is expected to increase over the next several years due to the growth forecasted for applications such as phone cameras and digital still cameras and CMOS image sensors are expected to capture an increasing percentage of the overall image sensor market.

3


Manufacturing

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

The Company’s process for manufacturing semiconductor products is complex, involving a number of precise steps, including wafer fabrication, assembly and test.  Efficient production of semiconductor products requires utilization of advanced semiconductor manufacturing techniques and effective deployment of these techniques across multiple facilities.  The primary determinants of manufacturing cost are die size, number of mask layers, number of fabrication steps and number of good die produced on each wafer.  Other factors that contribute to manufacturing costs are wafer size, cost and sophistication of manufacturing equipment, equipment utilization, process complexity, cost of raw materials, labor productivity, package type and cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.  The Company is continuously enhancing production processes, reducing die sizes and transitioning to higher density products.  In 2007, the Company manufactured most of its DRAM products using its 95 nanometer (“nm”) and 78nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects to continue to transfer more of its DRAM production to 78nm and 68nm line-width process technology in 2008.  In 2007, the Company manufactured most of its NAND Flash memory products using its 72nm line-width process technology and began transferring its NAND production to 50nm line-width process technology.  The Company expects that in 2008 most of its NAND Flash memory products will be manufactured using its 50nm line-width process technology.

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

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

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

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

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

In 2007, the Company significantly increased its 300mm wafer production as IM Flash ramped production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities and the Company’s TECH joint venture began to convert its DRAM production to 300mm wafers.  The Company expects that its 300mm wafer production in 2008 will continue to increase significantly at these facilities.


4


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

NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel Corporation (“IM Flash”):  The Company has formed two joint ventures with Intel to manufacture NAND Flash memory products for the exclusive benefit of the partners:  IM Flash Technologies, LLC and IM Flash Singapore LLP (collectively, “IM Flash”).  IM Flash manufactures NAND Flash memory products pursuant to NAND Flash designs developed by the Company and Intel and licensed to the Company.  The parties share the output of IM Flash generally in proportion to their investment in IM Flash.  The Company owned a 51% interest in IM Flash at August 30, 2007.  IM Flash’s financial results are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  In 2007, IM Flash began construction of a new 300mm wafer fabrication facility in Singapore, which is expected to ramp in late 2009.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)

TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”):  TECH is a memory manufacturing joint venture in Singapore among Micron Technology, Inc., Canon Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company.  The Company owned an approximate 73% interest in TECH at August 30, 2007.  TECH’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities use the Company’s product and process technology.  Subject to specific terms and conditions, the Company has agreed to purchase all of the products manufactured by TECH.  TECH supplied approximately 15% of the total megabits of memory produced by the Company in 2007 (reflecting approximately 40% of total DRAM megabits).  In 2007, TECH began converting its manufacturing production from 200mm to 300mm wafers.  The conversion is expected to be completed in 2008.  TECH’s financial results were included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company beginning in the third quarter of 2006.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

MP Mask Technology Center, LLC (“MP Mask”):  The Company produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors through MP Mask, a joint venture with Photronics, Inc. (“Photronics”).  The Company and Photronics have 50.01% and 49.99% interest, respectively, in MP Mask.  The Company and Photronics also have supply arrangements wherein the Company purchases a substantial majority of the reticles produced by MP Mask.  The financial results of MP Mask are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company.


Availability of Raw Materials

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


Marketing and Customers

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


5


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

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


Backlog

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


Product Warranty

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


Competition

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

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



6


Research and Development

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

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

The Company’s process technology R&D efforts are focused primarily on development of successively smaller line-width process technologies which are designed to facilitate the Company’s transition to next generation memory products and CMOS image sensors.  Additional process technology R&D efforts focus on advanced computing and mobile memory architectures and new manufacturing materials.  Product design and development efforts are concentrated on the Company’s 1 Gb and 2 Gb DDR2 and DDR3 products as well as high density and mobile NAND Flash memory (including MLC technology), CMOS image sensors and specialty memory products.  The Company’s R&D expenses were $805 million, $656 million and $604 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.


Geographic Information

Sales to customers outside the United States totaled $4.0 billion for 2007 and included $1.1 billion in sales to China, $666 million in sales to Europe, $477 million in sales to Japan and $1.5 billion in sales to the rest of the Asia Pacific region, excluding China and Japan.  International sales totaled $3.6 billion for 2006 and $3.2 billion for 2005.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company had net property, plant and equipment of $6.5 billion in the United States, $1.2 billion in Singapore, $268 million in Italy, $226 million in Japan and $28 million in other countries.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Geographic Information” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”)


Patents and Licenses

In recent years, the Company has been recognized as a leader in volume and quality of patents issued.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company owned approximately 16,400 U.S. patents and 2,000 foreign patents.  In addition, the Company has numerous U.S. and foreign patent applications pending.  The Company’s patents have terms expiring through 2026.

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

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



7


Employees

As of August 30, 2007, the Company had approximately 23,500 employees, including approximately 13,700 in the United States, 5,700 in Singapore, 2,000 in Italy, 1,500 in Japan and 300 in the United Kingdom.  The Company’s employees include 2,500 employees in its TECH joint venture that are located in Singapore and 1,400 employees in its IM Flash joint ventures that are primarily located in the United States.  Approximately 400 of the Company’s employees in Italy are represented by labor organizations that have entered into national and local labor contracts with the Company.  The Company’s employment levels can vary depending on market conditions and the level of the Company’s production, research and product and process development.  Many of the Company’s employees are highly skilled, and the Company’s continued success depends in part upon its ability to attract and retain such employees.  The loss of key Company personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.


Environmental Compliance

Government regulations impose various environmental controls on raw materials and discharges, emissions and solid wastes from the Company’s manufacturing processes.  In 2007, the Company’s wafer wholly-owned fabrication facilities continued to conform to the requirements of ISO 14001 certification.  To continue certification, the Company met annual requirements in environmental policy, compliance, planning, management, structure and responsibility, training, communication, document control, operational control, emergency preparedness and response, record keeping and management review.  While the Company has not experienced any materially adverse effects on its operations from environmental regulations, changes in the regulations could necessitate additional capital expenditures, modification of operations or other compliance actions.


Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

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

As of August 30, 2007, the following executive officers and directors of the Company were subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Name
Age
Position
 
Mark W. Adams
43
Vice President of Digital Media Products
Steven R. Appleton
47
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Kipp A. Bedard
48
Vice President of Investor Relations
D. Mark Durcan
46
President and Chief Operating Officer
Robert J. Gove
54
Vice President of Imaging Group
Jay L. Hawkins
47
Vice President of Operations
Roderic W. Lewis
52
Vice President of Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Patrick T. Otte
45
Vice President of Human Resources
Michael W. Sadler
50
Vice President of Worldwide Sales
Brian J. Shields
46
Vice President of Worldwide Wafer Fabrication
Brian M. Shirley
38
Vice President of Memory
Wilbur G. Stover, Jr
54
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Teruaki Aoki
66
Director
James W. Bagley
68
Director
Mercedes Johnson
53
Director
Lawrence N. Mondry
47
Director
Robert E. Switz
61
Director

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

8


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

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

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

Robert J. Gove joined the Company in March 1999 as Senior Director of Engineering and has served in various positions with the Company.  In March 2002, he was appointed Vice President of Imaging.  Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Gove served as Vice President, Engineering, of Equator Technologies, Inc.  Dr. Gove holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

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

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

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

Michael W. Sadler joined the Company in September 1992 as a Regional Sales Manager and has held various sales and marketing positions since that time.  Mr. Sadler became an officer of the Company in July 1997 and has served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales since November 2001.  Mr. Sadler holds a BS in Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Santa Clara.

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

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

Wilbur G. Stover, Jr. joined the Company in June 1989 and has served in various financial positions with the Company and its subsidiaries.  Since September 1994, Mr. Stover has served as the Company’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.  Mr. Stover holds a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University.  In July 2007, Mr. Stover informed the Company that he will retire after the completion of the Company’s fiscal 2007.


9


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

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

Mercedes Johnson has served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Avago Technologies Limited, a semiconductor company, since December 2005.  Prior to that, she served as the Senior Vice President, Finance, of Lam from June 2004 to January 2005 and as Lam’s Chief Financial Officer from May 1997 to May 2004.  Before joining Lam, Ms. Johnson spent 10 years with Applied Materials, Inc., where she served in various senior financial management positions, including vice president and worldwide operations controller.  Ms. Johnson holds a degree in accounting from the University of Buenos Aires and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Intersil Corporation.  Ms. Johnson is the Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee.

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

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

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

10


Item 1A.  Risk Factors

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

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

In 2007, average selling prices for DRAM products and NAND Flash products decreased 23% and 56%, respectively, as compared to 2006.  In recent years, we have also experienced annual decreases in per megabit average selling prices for our memory products including: 34% in 2006, 24% in 2005, 17% in 2003, 53% in 2002 and 60% in 2001.  At times, average selling prices for our memory products have been below our costs.  If average selling prices for our memory products decrease faster than we can decrease per megabit costs, as they recently have, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The semiconductor memory industry is highly competitive.

We face intense competition in the semiconductor memory market from a number of companies, including Elpida Memory, Inc.; Hynix Semiconductor Inc.; Qimonda AG ADS; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; SanDisk Corporation; Toshiba Corporation and from emerging companies in Taiwan and China, who have significantly expanded the scale of their operations.  Some of our competitors are large corporations or conglomerates that may have greater resources to withstand downturns in the semiconductor markets in which we compete, invest in technology and capitalize on growth opportunities.

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

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

Our gross margins are dependent upon continuing decreases in per unit manufacturing costs achieved through improvements in our manufacturing processes, including reducing the die size of our existing products.  In future periods, we may be unable to reduce our per unit manufacturing costs at sufficient levels to increase gross margins due to strategic product diversification decisions affecting product mix, the increasing complexity of manufacturing processes, changes in process technologies or products which inherently may require relatively larger die sizes.  Per unit manufacturing costs may also be affected by the relatively smaller production quantities and shorter product lifecycles of Imaging and certain specialty memory products.

Depressed pricing for semiconductor memory products may lead to future losses and inventory write-downs.

We recorded an inventory write-down of $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 as a result of the significant decreases in average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products.  If average selling prices are below our costs in future periods, we expect to incur losses on product sales and our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.  If the estimated market values of products held in finished goods and work in process inventories at a quarter end date are below the manufacturing cost of these products, we recognize charges to cost of goods sold to write down the carrying value of our inventories to market value.  Future charges for inventory write-downs could be significantly larger than the $20 million recorded in 2007.


11


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

We plan to significantly increase our NAND Flash production and sales in future periods.  As part of this plan, we have formed several manufacturing joint ventures with Intel and made substantial investments in capital expenditures for equipment, new facilities and research and development.  Our plans also require significant investments in capital expenditures and research and development.  We currently expect our capital spending for 2008 to approximate $2.5 billion, with a majority of the expenditures being made to support our NAND operations.  These investments involve numerous risks.  In addition, we are required to devote a significant portion of our existing semiconductor manufacturing capacity to the production of NAND Flash instead of the Company's other products.  We are party to a contract with Apple Inc. to provide NAND Flash products for an extended period of time at contractually determined prices.  We currently have a relatively small share of the world-wide market for NAND Flash.

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

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

·  
difficulties in establishing new production operations at multiple locations;

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

·  
raising funds or increasing debt to finance future investments;

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

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

·  
hiring and retaining key employees.

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

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

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

Our Imaging net sales and gross margins decreased in 2007 and we faced increased competition.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to grow or maintain our market share or gross margins for Imaging products in the future.  The success of our Imaging business will depend on a number of factors, including:

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

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

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

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

12


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

The Company is exploring business model alternatives for its Imaging business including partnering arrangements.  To the extent we form a partnering arrangement; the resulting business model may not be successful and the Imaging operations revenues and margins could be adversely affected.  We may incur significant costs to convert Imaging operations to a new business structure and operations could be disrupted.  If our efforts to restructure the Imaging business are unsuccessful, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

We may be unable to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations and make adequate capital investments.

Our cash flows from operations depend primarily on the volume of semiconductor memory and CMOS image sensors sold, average selling prices and per unit manufacturing costs.  To develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, we must make significant capital investments in manufacturing technology, facilities and capital equipment, research and development, and product and process technology.  We expect capital spending for 2008 to approximate $2.5 billion.  Cash and investments of IM Flash and TECH are generally not available to finance our other operations.  In addition to cash provided by operations, we have from time to time utilized external sources of financing.  Access to capital markets has historically been very important to us.  Depending on market conditions, we may issue registered or unregistered securities to raise capital to fund a portion of our operations.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows to fund our operations, make adequate capital investments or access capital markets on acceptable terms, and an inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

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

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

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

·  
increasing capital expenditures to upgrade and maintain facilities,

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

·  
diverting management’s attention from normal daily operations,

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

·  
hiring and retaining key employees.

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

We may not realize the expected benefits of new initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue across our operations.

We are pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue across our operations. These initiatives include workforce reductions in certain areas as we realign our business.  Additional initiatives include establishing certain operations closer in location to our global customers, evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside relationships and reducing our overhead costs to meet or exceed industry benchmarks.  We are also exploring opportunities to leverage our technology and diversified product portfolio to increase revenue and shareholder value.  In the fourth quarter of 2007, we incurred a restructure charge of $19 million consisting primarily of employee severance and related costs resulting from a reduction in our workforce.  We anticipate that we will incur some level of restructure charges through the end of 2008 as we continue to implement these initiatives.  We may not realize the expected benefits of these new initiatives.  As a result of these initiatives, we expect to incur restructuring or other infrequent charges and we may experience disruptions in our operations, loss of key personnel and difficulties in delivering products timely.


13


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

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

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

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are reported in U.S. dollars.  Across our multi-national operations, there are transactions and balances denominated in other currencies, primarily the euro, yen and Singapore dollar.  We estimate that, based on our assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of August 30, 2007, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately U.S. $3 million for the Singapore dollar, U.S. $2 million for the euro and U.S. $1 million for the yen.  In the event that the U.S. dollar weakens significantly compared to the Singapore dollar, euro or yen, our results of operations or financial condition will be adversely affected.

New product development may be unsuccessful.

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

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

As is typical in the semiconductor and other high technology industries, from time to time, others have asserted, and may in the future assert, that our products or manufacturing processes infringe their intellectual property rights.  In this regard, we are engaged in litigation with Rambus, Inc. ("Rambus") relating to certain of Rambus' patents and certain of our claims and defenses.  On August 28, 2000, we filed a complaint (subsequently amended) against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware seeking monetary damages and declaratory and injunctive relief.  Among other things, our amended complaint alleges violation of federal antitrust laws, breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation.  The complaint also seeks a declaratory judgment (a) that certain Rambus patents are not infringed by us, are invalid, and/or are unenforceable, (b) that we have an implied license to those patents, and (c) that Rambus is estopped from enforcing those patents against us.  On February 15, 2001, Rambus filed an answer and counterclaim in Delaware denying that we are entitled to relief, alleging infringement of the eight Rambus patents named in our declaratory judgment claim, and seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  A number of other suits are pending in Europe alleging that certain of our SDRAM and DDR SDRAM products infringe various of Rambus' country counterparts to its European patent 525 068, including: on September 1, 2000, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany; on September 22, 2000, Rambus filed a complaint against us and Reptronic (a distributor of our products) in the Court of First Instance of Paris, France; and on September 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Milan, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement.  In addition, on December 29, 2000, we filed suit against Rambus in the Civil Court of Avezzano, Italy, alleging invalidity and non-infringement of the Italian counterpart to European patent 1 004 956.  Additionally, other suits are pending alleging that certain of our DDR SDRAM products infringe Rambus' country counterparts to its European patent 1 022 642, including: on August 10, 2001, Rambus filed suit against us and Assitec (an electronics retailer) in the Civil Court of Pavia, Italy; and on August 14, 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron Semiconductor (Deutschland) GmbH in the District Court of Mannheim, Germany.  In the European suits against us, Rambus is seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.  Subsequent to the filing of the various European suits, the European Patent Office declared Rambus' 525 068 and 1 004 956 European patents invalid and revoked the patents.  On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed a lawsuit against us in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of eighteen Rambus patents.  We are also engaged in litigation with Mosaid Technologies, Inc. ("Mosaid").  On July 24, 2006, we
 
14

filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 25, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against us and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed our declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.  We have appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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

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

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

Allegations of anticompetitive conduct.

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

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against us and other DRAM suppliers.  Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys' fees.  In addition, at least sixty-four cases have been filed in various state and federal courts (five of which have been dismissed) asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from April 1999 through at least June 2002.  The complaints allege violations of various jurisdictions' antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys' fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.  On June 1, 2007, the Court granted in part and denied in part our motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint.  Plaintiffs subsequently have filed an amended complaint.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts: Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.


15


In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against us and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, and on September 8, 2006 in an amended complaint, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The amended complaint alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states' consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.  Three states, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Texas, subsequently have withdrawn from the complaint.

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

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

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

In September 2007, a number of memory suppliers confirmed that they had received grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the "Flash" industry.  We have not received a subpoena and believe that we are not a target of the investigation.

At least thirty-four purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other suppliers of Flash memory products in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and other federal district courts.  These cases assert claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased Flash memory directly or indirectly from various Flash memory suppliers during the period from January 1, 1999 through the date the various cases were filed.  The complaints generally allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest, and attorneys' fees.

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

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


16


Allegations of violations of securities laws.

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

In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for our benefit, against certain of our current and former officers and directors.  We were also named as a nominal defendant.  An amended complaint was filed on August 23, 2006.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from us.  However, we may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.  On May 29, 2007, the Court granted our motion to dismiss the complaint but provided plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint.  On September 6, 2007, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.

In March 2006, following our announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. ("Lexar") in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name us as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and us.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys' fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  An amended consolidated complaint was filed on October 10, 2006.  On June 14, 2007, the Court granted Lexar's and our motions to dismiss the amended complaint but allowed plaintiffs leave to file a further amended complaint.  On July 16, 2007, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.

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

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

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

·  
currency exchange rate fluctuations,

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

·  
political and economic instability,

·  
problems with the transportation or delivery of our products,

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

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

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

17


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

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

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

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

Our operations require raw materials that meet exacting standards.  We generally have multiple sources of supply for our raw materials.  However, only a limited number of suppliers are capable of delivering certain raw materials that meet our standards.  Various factors could reduce the availability of raw materials such as silicon wafers, photomasks, chemicals, gases, lead frames and molding compound.

Shortages may occur from time to time in the future.  In addition, disruptions in transportation lines could delay our receipt of raw materials.  Lead times for the supply of raw materials have been extended in the past.  If our supply of raw materials is disrupted or our lead times extended, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

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

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

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

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

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

Economic and political conditions may harm our business.

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

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.


18


Item 2.  Properties

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

Location
Principal Operations
   
Boise, Idaho
Wafer fabrication, test and assembly, research and development
Lehi, Utah
Wafer fabrication
Manassas, Virginia
Wafer fabrication, research and development
Singapore
Wafer fabrication facility and a test, assembly and module assembly facility
Nishiwaki City, Japan
Wafer fabrication
Avezzano, Italy
Wafer fabrication
Nampa, Idaho
Test
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Module assembly, test
Xi’an, China
Test

The Company also owns and leases a number of other facilities in locations throughout the world that are used for design, research and development, and sales and marketing activities.

The Company’s facility in Lehi is owned and operated by its IM Flash joint venture with Intel (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – IM NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)  The Company’s wafer fabrication facility in Singapore is owned by its TECH joint venture (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

The Company believes that its existing facilities are suitable and adequate for its present purposes and that the productive capacity in such facilities is substantially being utilized or the Company has plans to utilize it.  The Company does not identify or allocate assets by operating segment.  For additional information on net property, plant and equipment by country, (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Geographic Information.”)

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

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


19


On July 24, 2006, the Company filed a declaratory judgment action against Mosaid Technologies, Inc. (“Mosaid”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking, among other things, a court determination that fourteen Mosaid patents are invalid, not enforceable, and/or not infringed.  On July 25, 2006, Mosaid filed a lawsuit against the Company and others in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas alleging infringement of nine Mosaid patents.  On August 31, 2006, Mosaid filed an amended complaint adding two additional Mosaid patents.  On October 23, 2006, the California Court dismissed the Company’s declaratory judgment suit based on lack of jurisdiction.  The Company has appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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

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

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

Subsequent to the commencement of the DOJ investigation, a number of purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other DRAM suppliers.  Four cases have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM from various DRAM suppliers during the time period from April 1, 1999 through at least June 30, 2002.  The complaints allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  In addition, at least sixty-four cases have been filed in various state courts asserting claims on behalf of a purported class of indirect purchasers of DRAM.  Cases have been filed in the following states:  Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, and also in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The complaints purport to be on behalf of a class of individuals and entities that indirectly purchased DRAM and/or products containing DRAM in the respective jurisdictions during various time periods ranging from April 1999 through at least June 2002.  The complaints allege violations of the various jurisdictions’ antitrust, consumer protection and/or unfair competition laws relating to the sale and pricing of DRAM products and seek treble monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest and attorneys’ fees.  A number of these cases have been removed to federal court and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) for consolidated proceedings.   On June 1, 2007, the Court granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint.  Plaintiffs subsequently have filed an amended complaint.

Additionally, three cases have been filed in the following Canadian courts:  Superior Court, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec; Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Ontario; and Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Registry, British Columbia.  The substantive allegations in these cases are similar to those asserted in the cases filed in the United States.

In addition, various states, through their Attorneys General, have filed suit against the Company and other DRAM manufacturers.  On July 14, 2006, and on September 8, 2006 in an amended complaint, the following states filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:  Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  The amended complaint alleges, among other things, violations of the Sherman Act, Cartwright Act, and certain other states’ consumer protection and antitrust laws and seeks damages, and injunctive and other relief.  Additionally, on July 13, 2006, the State of New York filed a similar suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  That case was subsequently transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California for pre-trial purposes.  Three states, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Texas, subsequently have withdrawn from the complaint.


20


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

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

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

In September 2007, a number of memory suppliers confirmed that they had received grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California seeking information regarding an investigation by the DOJ into possible antitrust violations in the "Flash" industry.  The Company has not received a subpoena and believes that is not a target of the investigation.

At least thirty-four purported class action lawsuits have been filed against the Company and other suppliers of Flash memory products in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and other federal district courts.  These cases assert claims on behalf of a purported class of individuals and entities that purchased Flash memory directly or indirectly from various Flash memory suppliers during the period from January 1, 1999 through the date the various cases were filed.  The complaints generally allege price fixing in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust and unfair competition laws and seek monetary damages, restitution, costs, interest, and attorneys’ fees.

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

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

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


21


In addition, on March 23, 2006 a shareholder derivative action was filed in the Fourth District Court for the State of Idaho (Ada County), allegedly on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors.  The Company also was named as a nominal defendant.  An amended complaint was filed on August 23, 2006.  The complaint is based on the same allegations of fact as in the securities class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho and alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets, unjust enrichment, and insider trading.  The complaint seeks unspecified damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, equitable and injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses.  The complaint is derivative in nature and does not seek monetary damages from the Company.  However, the Company may be required, throughout the pendency of the action, to advance payment of legal fees and costs incurred by the defendants.  On May 29, 2007, the Court granted the Company's motion to dismiss the complaint but provided plaintiffs leave to file an amended complaint.  On June 29, 2007, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint.

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

In March 2006, following the Company’s announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire Lexar Media, Inc. (“Lexar”) in a stock-for-stock merger, four purported class action complaints were filed in the Superior Court for the State of California (Alameda County) on behalf of shareholders of Lexar against Lexar and its directors.  Two of the complaints also name the Company as a defendant.  The complaints allege that the defendants breached, or aided and abetted the breach of, fiduciary duties owed to Lexar shareholders by, among other things, engaging in self-dealing, failing to engage in efforts to obtain the highest price reasonably available, and failing to properly value Lexar in connection with a merger transaction between Lexar and the Company.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, injunctive relief preventing, or an order of rescission reversing, the merger, compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.  On May 19, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to block the merger.  On May 31, 2006, the Court denied the motion.  An amended consolidated complaint was filed on October 10, 2006.  On June 14, 2007, the Court granted Lexar's and the Company's motions to dismiss the amended complaint but allowed plaintiffs leave to file a further amended complaint.  The Company is unable to predict the outcome of these suits.  A court determination against the Company could result in significant liability and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.  (See “Acquisitions – Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Lexar Media, Inc.”)

(See “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”)

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

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of 2007.



22


PART II

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

Market for Common Stock

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the symbol “MU.”  The following table represents the high and low closing sales prices for the Company’s common stock for each quarter of 2007 and 2006, as reported by Bloomberg L.P.


   
High
   
Low
 
             
2007:
           
4th quarter
  $
13.98
    $
10.60
 
3rd quarter
   
12.36
     
10.95
 
2nd quarter
   
14.93
     
11.86
 
1st quarter
   
18.57
     
13.57
 
2006:
               
4th quarter
  $
17.52
    $
14.15
 
3rd quarter
   
17.40
     
14.43
 
2nd quarter
   
16.99
     
13.13
 
1st quarter
   
14.67
     
11.67
 

Holders of Record

As of October 19, 2007, there were 3,378 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

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

Equity Compensation Plan Information

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company acquired, as payment of withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards, an aggregate of 44,797 shares of its common stock as follow:

Period
 
(a) Total number of shares purchased
   
(b) Average price paid per share
 
(c) Total number of shares (or units) purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs
(d) Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
                 
June 1 – July 5
   
5,362
    $
12.45
 
N/A
N/A
July 6 –  August 2
   
--
     
--
 
N/A
N/A
August 3 – August 30
   
39,435
    $
11.31
 
N/A
N/A
Total
   
44,797
    $
11.45
     

The Company acquired 44,797 shares of its common stock in the fourth quarter of 2007, retired 9,357 in the fourth quarter of 2007 and retired the remaining 35,440 shares in the first quarter of 2008.
23

Performance Graph

The following graph illustrates a five-year comparison of cumulative total returns for the Company’s Common Stock, the S&P 500 Composite Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) from August 31, 2002, through August 31, 2007.

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


The Company operates on a 52/53 week fiscal year which ends on the Thursday closest to August 31.  Accordingly, the last day of the Company’s fiscal year varies.  For consistent presentation and comparison to the industry indices shown herein, the Company has calculated its stock performance graph assuming an August 31 year-end.  The performance graph assumes $100 invested on August 31, 2002, in Common Stock of Micron Technology, Inc., the S&P 500 Composite Index, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX).  Any dividends paid during the period presented are assumed to be reinvested.  The performance was plotted using the following data:
 
Performance Graph Data

   
2002
   
2003
   
2004
   
2005
   
2006
   
2007
 
                                     
Micron Technology, Inc.
  $
100
    $
83
    $
67
    $
69
    $
100
    $
66
 
S&P 500 Composite Index
   
100
     
112
     
125
     
141
     
153
     
176
 
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)
   
100
     
132
     
130
     
152
     
151
     
187
 


24


Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004
   
2003
 
   
(in millions except per share amounts)
 
                               
Net sales
  $
5,688
    $
5,272
    $
4,880
    $
4,404
    $
3,091
 
Gross margin
   
1,078
     
1,200
     
1,146
     
1,314
      (21 )
Operating income (loss)
    (280 )    
350
     
217
     
250
      (1,186 )
Net income (loss)
    (320 )    
408
     
188
     
157
      (1,273 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
    (0.42 )    
0.57
     
0.29
     
0.24
      (2.11 )
                                         
Cash and short-term investments
   
2,616
     
3,079
     
1,290
     
1,231
     
922
 
Total current assets
   
5,234
     
5,101
     
2,926
     
2,639
     
2,037
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
8,279
     
5,888
     
4,684
     
4,713
     
4,510
 
Total assets
   
14,818
     
12,221
     
8,006
     
7,760
     
7,158
 
Total current liabilities
   
2,026
     
1,661
     
979
     
972
     
993
 
Long-term debt
   
1,987
     
405
     
1,020
     
1,028
     
997
 
Redeemable common stock
   
--
     
--
     
--
     
--
     
67
 
Total shareholders’ equity
   
7,752
     
8,114
     
5,847
     
5,615
     
4,971
 

In the third quarter of 2006, the Company entered into an agreement with the Singapore Economic Development Board (“EDB”), a partner in its TECH Semiconductor joint venture, and on March 30, 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of TECH common stock held by EDB, which increased the Company’s ownership interest in TECH from 43% to 73%.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company acquired Lexar Media, Inc., a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of Flash memory products, in a stock-for-stock merger.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Acquisitions – Lexar Media, Inc.”)

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

25


Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion contains trend information and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements such as those made in “Overview” regarding production growth for NAND Flash memory products, contributions to IM Flash and anticipated restructure initiatives; in “Net Sales” regarding increases in NAND Flash memory production and  revenue; in “Selling, General and Administrative” regarding SG&A expenses for the first quarter of 2008; in “Research and Development” regarding R&D expenses for the first quarter of 2008; in “Stock-Based Compensation” regarding increases in future stock-based compensation costs; in “Restructure” regarding future charges; in “Recently Issued Accounting Standards” regarding the adoption of new accounting standards; and in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” regarding capital spending in 2008; and future capital contributions to IM Flash.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the Company’s historical results and those discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those identified in “Item 1A.  Risk Factors.” This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes for the year ended August 30, 2007.  All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.  All tabular dollar amounts are in millions.  All production data reflects production of the Company and its consolidated joint ventures.


Overview

The Company is a global manufacturer of semiconductor devices, principally semiconductor memory products (including DRAM and NAND Flash) and CMOS image sensors.  The Company operates in two segments:  Memory and Imaging.  Its products are used in a broad range of electronic applications including personal computers, workstations, network servers, mobile phones and other consumer applications including Flash memory cards, USB storage devices, digital still cameras, MP3/4 players and in automotive applications.  The Company markets its products through its internal sales force, independent sales representatives and distributors primarily to original equipment manufacturers and retailers located around the world.  The Company’s success is largely dependent on the market acceptance of a diversified portfolio of semiconductor memory products, efficient utilization of the Company’s manufacturing infrastructure, successful ongoing development of advanced process technologies and generation of sufficient return on research and development investments.

The Company is focused on improving its competitiveness by increasing manufacturing scale, improving its cost competitiveness and expanding its product portfolio within the semiconductor memory market.  The Company has increased its manufacturing scale in 2007 by ramping NAND Flash production at two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities and beginning the conversion of another facility to 300mm DRAM wafer fabrication.  The Company continues to explore other options to increase its manufacturing scale.  To reduce costs, the Company is implementing restructure initiatives aimed at reducing manufacturing and overhead costs through outsourcing, relocation of operations and workforce reductions.  In recent years the Company has strategically entered into the NAND Flash memory and specialty DRAM markets and has experienced significant revenue growth from these products.  The Company is able to leverage its existing product and process technology and semiconductor memory manufacturing expertise in these markets.

To improve its focus on the semiconductor memory market, the Company is exploring business model alternatives for its Imaging business including partnering arrangements.  Under any of the alternatives being considered, the Company expects that it will continue to manufacture CMOS image sensors.

The Company has partnered with Intel to form two NAND Flash manufacturing joint ventures:  IM Flash Technologies, LLC and IM Flash Singapore LLP (collectively “IM Flash”).  IM Flash operations include two 300mm wafer fabrication facilities that are expected to greatly increase the Company’s production of NAND Flash in 2008.  IM Flash Singapore LLP began construction of a new 300mm wafer fabrication facility in Singapore in 2007.  The Company expects to contribute approximately $1.7 billion in cash to IM Flash over the next three years, with similar contributions to be made by Intel.  Completion of the facility in Singapore is subject to the mutual agreement of the joint venture partners.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company owned 51% and Intel owned 49% of IM Flash.  The parties share output of IM Flash generally in proportion to their ownership in IM Flash.


26


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

In order to maximize returns from investments in research and development (“R&D”), the Company develops process technology that effectively reduces production costs and leverages the Company’s capital expenditures.  To be successfully incorporated in customers’ end products, the Company must offer qualified semiconductor solutions at a time when customers are developing their design specifications for their end products.  In addition, DRAM and NAND Flash products necessarily incorporate highly advanced design and process technologies.  The Company must make significant investments in R&D to expand its product offering and develop its leading-edge product and process technologies.  To leverage its R&D investments, the Company has formed strategic joint ventures under which the costs of developing NAND Flash memory product and process technologies are shared with its joint venture partner.  In addition, from time to time, the Company has also sold and/or licensed technology to third parties.  The Company is pursuing further opportunities to recover its investment in intellectual property through partnering and other arrangements.

Restructure:  The Company is pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue across its operations.  These initiatives include workforce reductions in certain areas of the Company as the Company’s business is realigned.  Additional initiatives include establishing certain operations closer in location to the Company’s global customers, evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside relationships and reducing the Company’s overhead costs to meet or exceed industry benchmarks.  The Company is also exploring opportunities to leverage the Company’s technology and diversified product portfolio to increase revenue and shareholder value.  It is anticipated that these initiatives will be implemented over several quarters.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company incurred a restructure charge of $19 million in connection with the implementation of these cost reduction initiatives.  The fourth quarter charge was comprised primarily of employee severance and related costs resulting from a reduction in the Company’s workforce.  The Company anticipates that it will incur some level of restructure charges through the end of 2008 as it continues to implement these initiatives, but is currently unable to estimate the aggregate amount of such charges.


Results of Operations

   
2007
     
2006
     
2005   
   
   
(in millions and as a percent of net sales)   
   
                                           
Net sales:
                                         
Memory
  $
5,001
      88   %   $
4,523
      86   %   $
4,577
      94   %
Imaging
   
687
      12   %    
749
      14   %    
303
      6   %
    $
5,688
      100   %   $
5,272
      100   %   $
4,880
      100   %
                                                       
Gross margin
                                                     
Memory
  $
845
      17   %   $
878
      19   %   $
1,020
      22   %
Imaging
   
233
      34   %    
322
      43   %    
126
      42   %
    $
1,078
      19   %   $
1,200
      23   %   $
1,146
      23   %
                                                       
Selling, general and administrative
  $
610
      11   %   $
460
      9   %   $
348
      7   %
Research and development
   
805
      14   %    
656
      12   %    
604
      12   %
Restructure
   
19
      0   %    
--
     
--
        (1 )     (0  ) %
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (76 )     (1  ) %     (266 )     (5  ) %     (22 )     (0  ) %
Net income
    (320 )     (6  ) %    
408
      8   %    
188
      4   %

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


27


Net Sales

Total net sales for 2007 increased 8% as compared to 2006 primarily due to an 11% increase in Memory sales partially offset by an 8% decline in Imaging sales.  Memory sales for 2007 reflect a 204% increase in megabits sold partially offset by a 64% decline in per megabit average selling prices from 2006.  Memory sales were 88% of total net sales in 2007 compared to 86% in 2006 and 94% in 2005.  Imaging sales for 2007 decreased 8% from 2006 reflecting industry softness in mobile handset sales and pricing pressure.  Total net sales for 2006 increased 8% as compared to 2005 primarily reflecting a 147% increase in Imaging sales as Memory sales declined 1%.

Memory:  Memory sales for 2007 increased 11% from 2006 primarily due to a 287% increase in sales of NAND Flash products offset by an 11% decrease in sales of DRAM products.

Sales of NAND Flash products for 2007 increased from 2006 primarily due to significant increases in megabits manufactured and the Company’s acquisition of Lexar Media, Inc. (which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2006), partially offset by a 56% decline in average selling prices per megabit.  Megabit production of NAND Flash products increased over 800% for 2007 as compared to 2006, primarily due to the ramp of NAND Flash products at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities and transitions to higher density, advanced geometry devices.  Sales of NAND Flash products represented 23% of the Company’s total net sales for 2007 as compared to 6% for 2006.  The Company expects that sales of NAND Flash products will continue to increase in 2008 as it continues to ramp production capacity at its 300mm wafer fabrication facilities.

Sales of DRAM products for 2007 decreased from 2006 primarily due to a 23% decline in average selling prices (which includes the effects of a $50 million charge to revenue in the first quarter of 2007 as a result of a settlement agreement with a class of direct purchasers of certain DRAM products), which was partially mitigated by a 16% increase in megabits sold.  Megabit production of DRAM products increased 23% for 2007, primarily due to transitions to higher density, advanced geometry devices.  Sales of DDR and DDR2 DRAM products were 47% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007 as compared to 51% for 2006 and 59% for 2005.

Memory sales for 2006 declined 1% from 2005 as a 287% increase in sales of NAND Flash products was offset by a 5% decrease in sales of DRAM products.  Sales of NAND Flash products for 2006 increased from 2005 primarily due to a significant increase in megabits sold partially offset by an approximate 35% decline in average selling prices.  Sales of NAND Flash products increased significantly for 2006 as compared to 2005, primarily due to significant increases in manufacturing resources allocated to their production.  The decrease in sales of DRAM products in 2006 from 2005 was the result of a 22% decline in average selling prices mitigated by a 22% increase in megabits sold.  Megabit production of DRAM products increased 14% for 2006 as compared to 2005, primarily due to production efficiencies including improvements in product and process technologies partially offset by a reduction in wafer starts.

Imaging:  Imaging sales for 2007 decreased 8% from 2006 primarily due to declines in average selling prices as a result of industry softness in mobile handset sales and pricing pressure.  Declines in average selling prices were partially mitigated by increased sales of higher resolution products.  Imaging sales were 12% of the Company’s total net sales in 2007 as compared to 14% for 2006 and 6% for 2005.  Imaging sales for 2006 increased by 147% from 2005 as unit sales tripled, partially offset by a 19% decrease in average selling price per unit.  The decrease in average selling price per unit was due primarily to a significant increase of lower priced VGA products sold in 2006 as compared to 2005.  The growth in Imaging unit sales for 2006 reflected strong demand for the Company’s products and increased production.

Gross Margin

The Company’s overall gross margin percentage for 2007 declined to 19% from 23% for 2006 due to a decrease in both the gross margin percentages for Memory and Imaging products.  The Company’s overall gross margin percentage of 23% for 2006 was unchanged from 2005 as a decrease in the gross margin percentage for Memory in 2006 to 19% from 22% for 2005 was offset by a slight increase in the gross margin percentage for Imaging products and a shift in product mix to higher margin Imaging products.

Memory:  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products of 17% for 2007 declined from 19% for 2006 primarily due to the shift in product mix to NAND Flash products, which had a significantly lower gross margin than DRAM products in 2007.  This decline in gross margin percentage was mitigated by improvements in the gross margin for 2007 on sales of both DRAM and NAND Flash products as compared to 2006.


28


The gross margin for DRAM products for 2007 improved from 2006, primarily due to a 27% reduction in costs per megabit, partially offset by a decline in average selling prices of 23%.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products through transitions to production of devices utilizing the Company’s advanced 78nm process technologies.

The Company’s gross margin on NAND Flash products for 2007 improved slightly from 2006 primarily due to a 57% reduction in costs per megabit, partially offset by a 56% decline in average selling prices.  Cost reductions in 2007 reflect lower manufacturing costs, lower costs of NAND Flash products purchased for sale under the Company’s Lexar brand and shifts in product mix.  The Company achieved manufacturing cost reductions for NAND Flash products primarily through increased production of higher-density, advanced-geometry devices at the Company’s 300mm fabrication facilities.  Sales of NAND Flash products include sales from IM Flash to Intel at long-term negotiated prices approximating cost.  IM Flash sales to Intel were $255 million and $111 million in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company’s gross margin for memory in 2007 was adversely impacted by an inventory write-down of $20 million in the fourth quarter as a result of the significant decreases in average selling prices for our semiconductor memory products.  The Company may record additional write-downs in future periods if estimated average selling prices of products held in finished goods and work in process inventories at a quarter end date are below the manufacturing cost of these products.

The Company’s gross margin percentage for Memory products declined to 19% for 2006 from 22% for 2005 primarily due to declining margins for NAND Flash products as a result of the 33% decrease in the average selling price per megabit and costs associated with the ramp in production at two facilities.  The gross margin percentage for DRAM products in 2006 was approximately the same as for 2005 as a 22% decrease in the average selling price per megabit was offset by cost reductions.  The Company achieved cost reductions for DRAM products in 2006 through improved product yields and an increase in production utilizing the Company’s 110nm and 95nm process technologies.  The cost per megabit for products manufactured on 300mm wafers decreased significantly in 2006 compared to 2005 as the Company continued to increase 300mm wafer production.

In 2007, the Company’s TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“TECH”) joint venture supplied approximately 15% of the total megabits of memory produced by the Company (reflecting approximately 40% of total DRAM megabits).  TECH primarily produced DDR and DDR2 products in 2007 and 2006.  Since the beginning of the third quarter of 2006, TECH’s results have been included in the Company’s consolidated results.  Through the second quarter of 2006, the Company’s results reflected memory products purchased from TECH at prices generally based on a discount from average selling prices realized by the Company for the preceding quarter.  In the first six months of 2006, the Company realized higher gross margin percentages on sales of TECH products than on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  Since TECH utilizes the Company’s product designs and process technology and has a similar manufacturing cost structure, the gross margin on sales of TECH products since the third quarter of 2006 approximated those on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  In 2005, the Company’s gross margin percentages on sales of TECH products were approximately the same as on sales of similar products manufactured by the Company’s wholly-owned operations.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures – TECH Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd.”)

Imaging:  The Company’s gross margin for Imaging declined to 34% for 2007 from 43% for of 2006 primarily due to declines in average selling prices that were mitigated by cost reductions and shifts in product mix to higher resolution products.  The Company’s gross margin percentage for Imaging products for 2006 increased to 43% from 42% for 2005, primarily due to reductions in costs partially offset by decreases in average selling prices.


29


Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2007 increased 33% from 2006 primarily due to higher personnel costs and higher legal costs including a $31 million charge to SG&A as a result of the settlement of certain antitrust class action (direct purchaser) lawsuits.  Personnel costs in 2007 increased from 2006 primarily due to increased headcount resulting from the acquisition of Lexar in the fourth quarter of 2006, the formation of IM Flash in the second quarter of 2006 and subsequent ramp of its operations, and the consolidation of TECH in the third quarter of 2006.  SG&A expenses for 2006 increased 32% from 2005 primarily due to higher compensation costs and increased costs associated with outstanding legal matters.  Payroll costs in 2006 increased from 2005 primarily due to increased headcount resulting in part from the acquisition of Lexar, the ramp of IM Flash and the consolidation of TECH.  The Company expects SG&A expenses to approximate $125 million to $135 million for the first quarter of 2008.  Future SG&A expense is expected to vary, potentially significantly, depending on the number of legal matters that are resolved relatively early in their life-cycle and the number of matters that progress to trial.  The Company is involved in a number of significant cases which are scheduled for trial in 2008.  Additionally, the timing and final resolution of legal matters may cause SG&A expense to vary significantly.  For the Company’s Memory segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales were 11% in 2007, 8% in 2006 and 7% in 2005.  For the Imaging segment, SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales were 11% in 2007, 12% in 2006 and 11% in 2005.

Research and Development

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

R&D expenses for 2007 increased 23% from 2006 principally due to NAND pre-production wafer processing mitigated by reimbursements received from Intel under a NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement.  R&D expenses were reduced by $240 million in 2007 and $86 million in 2006 for amounts reimbursable from Intel under the NAND Flash R&D cost-sharing arrangement.  R&D expenses for 2006 increased 9% from 2005, principally due to increases in development wafers processed, higher compensation costs and increases in R&D equipment depreciation partially mitigated by reimbursements under the NAND Flash R&D cost sharing arrangement.  The Company expects that its R&D expenses, net of amounts reimbursable from Intel, will approximate $165 million to $175 million for the first quarter of 2008.  For the Memory segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of sales were 13% for 2007, 13% for 2006 and 12% for 2005.  For the Imaging segment, R&D expenses as a percentage of sales were 23% for 2007, 11% for 2006 and 23% for 2005.

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

Restructure

The Company is pursuing a number of initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue across its operations.  These initiatives include workforce reductions in certain areas of the Company as the Company’s business is realigned.  Additional initiatives include establishing certain operations closer in location to the Company’s global customers, evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside relationships and reducing the Company’s overhead costs to meet or exceed industry benchmarks.  The Company is also exploring opportunities to leverage the Company’s technology and diversified product portfolio to increase revenue and shareholder value.  It is anticipated that these initiatives will be implemented over several quarters.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company incurred a restructure charge of $19 million in connection with the implementation of these cost reduction initiatives.  The fourth quarter charge was comprised primarily of employee severance and related costs resulting from a reduction in the Company’s workforce.  The Company anticipates that it will incur some level of restructure charges through the end of 2008 as it continues to implement these initiatives, but is currently unable to estimate the aggregate amount of such charges.  As of August 30, 2007, $5 million of the restructure costs remained unpaid and were included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.

30


Other Operating (Income) Expense, Net

Other operating income for 2007 includes $43 million from gains on disposals of semiconductor equipment, a gain of $30 million from the sale of certain intellectual property rights and $7 million in grants received in connection with the Company’s operations in China.  Other operating expense for 2007 includes losses of $14 million from changes in currency exchange rates.  Other operating income for 2006 includes $230 million of net proceeds for the sale of the Company’s existing NAND Flash memory designs and certain related technology to Intel net of amounts paid by the Company for a perpetual, paid-up license to use and modify such designs.  Other operating income for 2006 also includes $23 million in additional amounts expected to be reimbursed resulting from the extension of an economic development agreement, which allows the Company to recover amounts relating to certain investments in the IM Flash’s Utah facility.  Other operating income for 2005 includes gains net of losses on disposals of semiconductor equipment of $13 million and $12 million in receipts from the U.S. Government in connection with anti-dumping tariffs.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for 2007 and 2006 primarily reflect taxes on the Company’s non-U.S. operations and U.S. alternative minimum tax.  The Company has a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax asset associated with its U.S. operations.  The benefit in 2007 and provision in 2006 for taxes on U.S. operations was substantially offset by changes in the valuation allowance.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company had aggregate U.S. tax net operating loss carryforwards of $2.2 billion and unused U.S. tax credit carryforwards of $202 million.  The Company also had unused state tax net operating loss carryforwards of $1.5 billion and unused state tax credits of $169 million as of August 30, 2007.  Substantially all of the net operating loss carryforwards expire in 2022 to 2027 and substantially all of the tax credit carryforwards expire in 2013 to 2027.

Noncontrolling Interests in Net (Income) Loss

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

Stock-Based Compensation

Through 2005, the Company accounted for its stock plans using the intrinsic value method.  Effective the beginning of 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires the Company to use a fair-value based method to account for stock-based compensation.  Total compensation cost for the Company’s equity plans in 2007 and 2006 was $44 million and $26 million, respectively, of which $3 million and $1 million were capitalized and remained in inventory at the end of 2007 and 2006, respectively.  As of August 30, 2007, there was $113 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to equity plans, which is expected to be recognized through the fourth quarter of 2011.  In 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of substantially all of its unvested stock options then outstanding under the Company’s stock plans to reduce compensation costs recognized subsequent to the adoption in 2006 of SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.”  Because the Company’s stock-based compensation costs were reduced by the effect of the acceleration of vesting in 2005, the Company expects that stock-based compensation costs will continue to grow in future periods.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s liquidity is highly dependent on average selling prices for its products and the timing of capital expenditures, both of which can vary significantly from period to period.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company had cash and equivalents and short-term investments totaling $2.6 billion compared to $3.1 billion as of August 31, 2006.  The balance as of August 30, 2007, included an aggregate of $610 million held at, and anticipated to be used in the near term by, IM Flash and TECH.

Operating Activities:  The Company generated $937 million of cash from operating activities in 2007, which principally reflects the Company’s $320 million of net loss adjusted by $1.7 billion for non-cash depreciation and amortization expense.  Net cash provided by operating activities was net of the effects of an increase of $591 million in inventories primarily due to increases in production, growth in output that exceeded growth in demand for the Company’s Memory products and, with respect to Imaging, industry softness in the mobile handset market.

31


Investing Activities:  Net cash used by investing activities was $2.4 billion in 2007, which included cash expenditures for property, plant and equipment of $3.6 billion partially offset by the net effect of purchases, sales and maturities of investment securities of $1.2 billion.  A significant portion of the capital expenditures relate to the ramp of IM Flash facilities and 300mm conversion of manufacturing operations at TECH.  The Company believes that to develop new product and process technologies, support future growth, achieve operating efficiencies and maintain product quality, it must continue to invest in manufacturing technologies, facilities and capital equipment and research and development.  The Company expects 2008 capital spending to approximate $2.5 billion, primarily for expenditures on 300mm fabrication facilities.  The Company expects that approximately $750 million of the capital expenditure requirement will come from joint venture partners through new investment and payment for product purchases.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company had commitments of approximately $1.2 billion for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, nearly all of which are expected to be paid within one year.

On December 11, 2006, the Company acquired the CMOS image sensor business of Avago Technologies Limited.  The Company made payments of $55 million in 2007 in connection with this acquisition and is obligated to make additional contingent payments up to $15 million if certain milestones are met through 2008.

On March 30, 2007, the Company acquired all of the shares of TECH common stock held by the Singapore Economic Development Board for approximately $290 million payable over nine months, increasing the Company’s ownership interest in TECH from 43% to 73%.  As of August 30, 2007, $216 million of this amount remained in notes payable.

Financing Activities:  Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.2 billion in 2007.  In May 2007, the Company issued $1.3 billion of 1.875% Convertible Senior Notes due June 1, 2014 (the “Senior Notes”).  The issuance costs associated with the Senior Notes totaled $26 million.  In connection with the offering of the Senior Notes, the Company also entered into capped call transactions (“Capped Calls”) with the intent to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Senior Notes.  Micron paid approximately $151 million from the net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the Senior Notes to purchase the Capped Calls.  (See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Debt” and “Supplemental Balance Sheet Information – Capped Call Transactions.”)

In 2007, the Company received $1.2 billion in capital contributions from joint venture partners and $454 million in proceeds from equipment financing arrangements, payable in periodic installments through July 2011.  The Company made an aggregate of $680 million in scheduled debt payments and payments on equipment purchase contracts in 2007.

The Company’s TECH joint venture has a credit facility that enabled it to borrow up to $360 million as of August 30, 2007.  The amount available under the credit facility decreased to $320 million as of September 27, 2007, and will decline by approximately $40 million every calendar quarter thereafter until the facility expires in September 2009.  As of August 30, 2007, TECH had not borrowed any amounts against the credit facility.

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

Joint Ventures:  As of August 30, 2007, IM Flash had $407 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  IM Flash’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.  Subject to certain conditions, the Company expects to make additional contributions to IM Flash of approximately $1.7 billion over the next three years, with similar contributions to be made by Intel.  The Company anticipates additional investments as appropriate to support the growth of IM Flash’s operations.

As of August 30, 2007, TECH had $203 million of cash and marketable investment securities.  TECH’s cash and marketable investment securities are not anticipated to be made available to finance the Company’s other operations.

(See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Joint Ventures.”)

Contractual Obligations:  The following table summarizes the Company’s significant contractual obligations at August 30, 2007, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on the Company’s liquidity and cash flows in future periods.

32



   
Total
   
Less than
1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than
5 years
 
   
(in millions)
 
                               
Notes payable (including interest)
  $
1,940
    $
318
    $
220
    $
53
    $
1,349
 
Capital lease obligations
   
794
     
185
     
284
     
240
     
85
 
Operating leases
   
117
     
31
     
29
     
22
     
35
 
Purchase obligations
   
1,659
     
1,334
     
279
     
13
     
33
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
421
     
--
     
287
     
37
     
97
 
Total
  $
4,931
    $
1,868
    $
1,099
    $
365
    $
1,599
 

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

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


Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

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

As of August 30, 2007, the Company had stock warrants outstanding that may be considered off-balance sheet arrangements.  In 2001, the Company received $480 million from the issuance of warrants to purchase 29.1 million shares of the Company’s common stock.  The warrants entitle the holders to exercise their warrants and purchase shares of the Company’s common stock for $56.00 per share (the “Exercise Price”) at any time through May 15, 2008 (the “Expiration Date”).  Warrants exercised prior to the Expiration Date will be settled on a “net share” basis, wherein investors receive common stock equal to the difference between $56.00 and the average closing sale price for the common shares over the 30 trading days immediately preceding the Exercise Date.  At expiration, the Company may elect to settle the warrants on a net share basis or for cash, provided certain conditions are satisfied.  As of August 30, 2007, there had been no exercises of warrants and all warrants issued remained outstanding.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.”  Under SFAS No. 159, the Company may elect to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value on an instrument by instrument basis, subject to certain restrictions.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 159 effective at the beginning of 2009.  The impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will depend on the extent to which the Company elects to measure eligible items at fair value.


33


In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.”  In SAB No. 108, the SEC staff established an approach that requires quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of the misstatements on each of a company’s financial statements and the related financial statement disclosures.  SAB No. 108 permits companies to initially apply its provisions either by (i) restating prior financial statements or (ii) recording the cumulative effect as adjustments to the carrying values of assets and liabilities with an offsetting adjustment recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings.  The Company adopted SAB No. 108 as of August 30, 2007.  The adoption of SAB No. 108 did not impact the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).”  SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income.  SFAS No. 158 also requires an employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end statement of financial position, with limited exceptions.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 158 as of August 30, 2007.  The adoption of SFAS No. 158 did not have a material impact the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

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

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

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments.”  SFAS No. 155 permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation.  As of August 30, 2007, the Company did not have any hybrid financial instruments subject to the fair value election under SFAS No. 155.  The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 155 effective at the beginning of 2008.

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


Critical Accounting Estimates

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


34


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

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

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

Income taxes:  The Company is required to estimate its provision for income taxes and amounts ultimately payable or recoverable in numerous tax jurisdictions around the world.  Estimates involve interpretations of regulations and are inherently complex.  Resolution of income tax treatments in individual jurisdictions may not be known for many years after completion of any fiscal year.  The Company is also required to evaluate the realizability of its deferred tax assets on an ongoing basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires the assessment of the Company’s performance and other relevant factors when determining the need for a valuation allowance with respect to these deferred tax assets.  Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate future taxable income.  The Company is required to adopt FIN 48 effective at the beginning of 2008.

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs, including product and process technology costs.  Determining market value of inventories involves numerous judgments, including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for future periods and costs to complete products in work in process inventories.  To project average selling prices and sales volumes, the Company reviews recent sales volumes, existing customer orders, current contract prices, industry analysis of supply and demand, seasonal factors, general economic trends and other information.  When these analyses reflect estimated market values below the Company’s manufacturing costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  Differences in forecasted average selling prices used in calculating lower of cost or market adjustments can result in significant changes in the estimated net realizable value of product inventories and accordingly the amount of write-down recorded.  For example, a 5% variance in the estimated selling prices would have changed the estimated fair value of the Company’s semiconductor memory inventory by approximately $85 million at August 30, 2007.  Due to the volatile nature of the semiconductor memory industry, actual selling prices and volumes often vary significantly from projected prices and volumes and, as a result, the timing of when product costs are charged to operations can vary significantly.

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

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


35


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

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

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

36


Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

As of August 30, 2007, $2,335 million of the Company’s $2,410 million in total debt was at fixed interest rates.  As a result, the fair value of the debt fluctuates based on changes in market interest rates.  The estimated fair market value of the Company’s debt was $2,411 million as of August 30, 2007.  The Company estimates that as of August 30, 2007, a 1% change in market interest rates would change the fair value of the fixed-rate debt by approximately $100 million.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

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

The functional currency for substantially all of the Company’s operations is the U.S. dollar.  The Company held aggregate cash and other assets in foreign currencies valued at U.S. $448 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $425 million as of August 31, 2006 (including cash and equivalents denominated in yen valued at U.S. $180 million as of August 30, 2007 and U.S. $222 million as of August 31, 2006; cash and equivalents denominated in Singapore dollars valued at U.S. $58 million as of August 30, 2007 and U.S. $42 million as of August 31, 2006; and deferred income tax assets denominated in yen valued at U.S. $76 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $64 million as of August 31, 2006).  The Company also held aggregate foreign currency liabilities valued at U.S. $979 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $615 million as of August 31, 2006 (including debt denominated in Singapore dollars valued at U.S. $258 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $38 million as of August 31, 2006; debt denominated in yen valued at U.S. $165 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $228 million as of August 31, 2006; accounts payable and accrued expenses denominated in yen valued at U.S. $168 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $124 million as of August 31, 2006; accounts payable and accrued expenses denominated in euros valued at U.S. $137 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $68 million as of August 31, 2006; and accounts payable and accrued expenses denominated in Singapore dollars valued at U.S. $116 million as of August 30, 2007, and U.S. $48 million as of August 31, 2006).  Foreign currency receivables and payables as of August 30, 2007, were comprised primarily of yen, euros and Singapore dollars.  The Company estimates that, based on its assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar as of August 30, 2007, a 1% change in the exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar would result in foreign currency gains or losses of approximately U.S. $3 million for the Singapore dollar, U.S. $2 million for the euro and U.S. $1 million for the yen.

37


Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 
Page
   
Consolidated Financial Statements as of August 30, 2007, and August 31, 2006, and for the fiscal years ended August 30, 2007, August 31, 2006, and September 1, 2005:
 
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations
39
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets
40
   
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
41
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
42
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
43
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
64
   
Financial Statement Schedule:
 
   
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
70


38


MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

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

 
For the year ended
 
August 30,
2007
   
August 31,
2006
   
September 1,
2005
 
                   
Net sales
  $
5,688
    $
5,272
    $
4,880
 
Cost of goods sold
   
4,610
     
4,072
     
3,734
 
Gross margin
   
1,078
     
1,200
     
1,146
 
                         
Selling, general and administrative
   
610
     
460
     
348
 
Research and development
   
805
     
656
     
604
 
Restructure
   
19
     
--
      (1 )
Other operating (income) expense, net
    (76 )     (266 )     (22 )
Operating income (loss)
    (280 )    
350
     
217
 
                         
Interest income
   
143
     
101
     
32
 
Interest expense
    (40 )     (25 )     (47 )
Other non-operating income (expense), net
   
9
     
7
      (3 )
Income (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests in net income
    (168 )    
433
     
199
 
                         
Income tax (provision)
    (30 )     (18 )     (11 )
Noncontrolling interests in net income
    (122 )     (7 )    
--
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (320 )   $
408
    $
188
 
                         
Earnings (loss) per share:
                       
Basic
  $ (0.42 )   $
0.59
    $
0.29
 
Diluted
    (0.42 )    
0.57
     
0.29
 
                         
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
                       
Basic
   
769.1
     
691.7
     
647.7
 
Diluted
   
769.1
     
725.1
     
702.0
 






















See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

39


MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions except par value amounts)

 
As of
 
August 30,
2007
   
August 31,
2006
 
             
Assets
           
Cash and equivalents
  $
2,192
    $
1,431
 
Short-term investments
   
424
     
1,648
 
Receivables
   
994
     
956
 
Inventories
   
1,532
     
963
 
Prepaid expenses
   
67
     
77
 
Deferred income taxes
   
25
     
26
 
Total current assets
   
5,234
     
5,101
 
Intangible assets, net
   
401
     
388
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
8,279
     
5,888
 
Deferred income taxes
   
65
     
49
 
Goodwill
   
515
     
502
 
Other assets
   
324
     
293
 
Total assets
  $
14,818
    $
12,221
 
                 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $
1,385
    $
1,319
 
Deferred income
   
84
     
53
 
Equipment purchase contracts
   
134
     
123
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
423
     
166
 
Total current liabilities
   
2,026
     
1,661
 
Long-term debt
   
1,987
     
405
 
Deferred income taxes
   
25
     
28
 
Other liabilities
   
421
     
445
 
Total liabilities
   
4,459
     
2,539
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries
   
2,607
     
1,568
 
                 
Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized 3 billion shares, issued and outstanding 757.9 million and 749.4 million shares, respectively
   
76
     
75
 
Additional capital
   
6,519
     
6,555
 
Retained earnings
   
1,164
     
1,486
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7 )     (2 )
Total shareholders’ equity
   
7,752
     
8,114
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $
14,818
    $
12,221
 












See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

40


MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)

   
Common Stock
               
Accumulated
Other
   
Total
 
   
Number
of Shares
   
Amount
   
Additional Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Shareholders’ Equity
 
                                     
Balance at September 2, 2004
   
611.5
    $
61
    $
4,664
    $
890
    $
--
    $
5,615
 
                                                 
Net income
                           
188
             
188
 
Stock issued under stock plans
   
4.7
     
1
     
43
                     
44
 
Balance at September 1, 2005
   
616.2
    $
62
    $
4,707
    $
1,078
    $
--
    $
5,847
 
                                                 
Comprehensive income:
                                               
Net income
                           
408
             
408
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                                               
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax
                                    (2 )     (2 )
Total comprehensive income
                                           
406
 
                                                 
Stock issued under stock plans
   
11.9
     
1
     
114
                     
115
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                   
26
                     
26
 
Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance costs
   
53.7
     
5
     
618
                     
623
 
Stock and stock options issued in connection with the acquisition of Lexar
   
50.7
     
5
     
878
                     
883
 
Premium recognized on convertible debt assumed in Lexar acquisition
                   
43
                     
43
 
Settlement of capped calls
                   
171
                     
171
 
Stock issued in connection with Intel stock rights
   
16.9
     
2
      (2 )                    
--
 
Balance at August 31, 2006
   
749.4
    $
75
    $
6,555
    $
1,486
    $ (2 )   $
8,114
 
                                                 
Net loss
                            (320 )             (320 )
Stock issued under stock plans
   
8.7
     
1
     
73
                     
74
 
Stock-based compensation expense
                   
44
                     
44
 
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
    (0.2 )             (2 )     (2 )             (4 )
Adjustment to initially apply SFAS No. 158, net of tax benefit of $3
                                    (5 )     (5 )
Purchase of capped calls
                    (151 )                     (151 )
Balance at August 30, 2007
   
757.9
    $
76
    $
6,519
    $
1,164
    $ (7 )   $
7,752
 
















See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

41


MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)

 
For the year ended
 
August 30,
2007
   
August 31,
2006
   
September 1,
2005
 
                   
Cash flows from operating activities
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ (320 )   $
408
    $
188
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
   
1,718
     
1,281
     
1,265
 
Noncash restructure charges (benefits)
   
5
     
--
      (2 )
Provision to write-down inventories to estimated fair market values
   
20
     
--
     
--
 
Gain from write-down or disposition of equipment
    (43 )     (2 )     (13 )
Gain from sale of product and process technology
    (30 )    
--
     
--
 
Stock-based compensation
   
44
     
26
     
2
 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
(Increase) decrease in receivables
   
5
      (62 )     (22 )
Increase in inventories
    (591 )     (12 )     (193 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (1 )    
130
     
11
 
Increase (decrease) in customer prepayments
    (4 )    
249
      (2 )
Deferred income taxes
    (11 )     (24 )     (10 )
Other
   
145
     
25
     
13
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
937
     
2,019
     
1,237
 
                         
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment
    (3,603 )     (1,365 )     (1,065 )
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (1,466 )     (3,080 )     (1,849 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in TECH
    (73 )    
--
     
--
 
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities
   
2,156
     
2,189
     
1,826
 
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale securities
   
540
     
33
     
10
 
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
   
94
     
55
     
47
 
Proceeds from sale of product and process technology
   
30
     
--
     
--
 
Consolidation of TECH
   
--
     
319
     
--
 
Cash acquired from acquisition of Lexar
   
--
     
97
     
--
 
Other
    (69 )     (4 )     (53 )
Net cash used for investing activities
    (2,391 )     (1,756 )     (1,084 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities
                       
Proceeds from issuance of debt
   
1,300
     
--
     
221
 
Cash received from noncontrolling interests
   
1,249
     
984
     
--
 
Proceeds from equipment sale-leaseback transactions
   
454
     
--
     
161
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
69
     
113
     
41
 
Payments on equipment purchase contracts
    (487 )     (209 )     (236 )
Repayments of debt
    (193 )     (415 )     (300 )
Cash received (paid) for capped call transactions
    (151 )    
171
     
--
 
Other
    (26 )    
--
      (2 )
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
   
2,215
     
644
      (115 )
                         
Net increase in cash and equivalents
   
761
     
907
     
38
 
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year
   
1,431
     
524
     
486
 
Cash and equivalents at end of year
  $
2,192
    $
1,431
    $
524
 
                         
Supplemental disclosures
                       
Income taxes paid, net
  $ (41 )   $ (52 )   $ (21 )
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
    (22 )     (28 )     (58 )
Noncash investing and financing activities:
                       
Equipment acquisitions on contracts payable and capital leases
   
1,010
     
326
     
372
 
Stock and stock options issued in acquisition of Lexar
   
--
     
883
     
--
 
Conversion of notes to stock, net of unamortized issuance cost
   
--
     
623
     
--
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

42


MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

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

Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation:  Micron Technology, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”) manufacture and market DRAM, NAND Flash memory, CMOS image sensors and other semiconductor components.  The Company’s reportable segments are Memory and Imaging.  The Memory segment’s primary products are DRAM and NAND Flash and the Imaging segment’s primary product is CMOS image sensors.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the Thursday closest to August 31.  The Company’s fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005 each contained 52 weeks. All period references are to the Company’s fiscal periods unless otherwise indicated.

Use of estimates:  The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and related disclosures.  Estimates and judgments are based on historical experience, forecasted future events and various other assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Estimates and judgments may differ under different assumptions or conditions.  The Company evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.  Actual results could differ from estimates.

Certain concentrations:  Approximately 50% of the Company’s net sales for 2007 were to the computing market, including desktop PCs, servers, notebooks and workstations.  Sales to Hewlett-Packard Company (“HP”) were 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2007 and were included in the Memory segment.  Sales of DRAM, NAND Flash and CMOS image sensor products constituted 65%, 23% and 12%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales for 2007.  Certain components used by the Company in manufacturing semiconductor products are available from a limited number of suppliers.

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

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

Revenue recognition: The Company recognizes product or license revenue when persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.  Because of frequent changes in market prices for the Company’s products, sales made under agreements allowing pricing protection or rights of return (other than for product warranty) are deferred until customers have sold the product.

Research and development:  Costs related to the conceptual formulation and design of products and processes are expensed as research and development as incurred.  Determining when product development is complete requires judgment by the Company.  The Company deems development of a product complete once the product has been thoroughly reviewed and tested for performance and reliability.  Subsequent to product qualification, product costs are valued in inventory.  Product design and other research and development costs for NAND Flash are shared equally among the Company and Intel Corporation (“Intel”).  These charges to Intel are reflected as a reduction of research and development expense.  (See “Joint Ventures – NAND Flash Joint Ventures with Intel.”)

43


Stock-based compensation:  Effective the beginning of 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” and elected to adopt the modified prospective application method.  Accordingly, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.  For stock awards granted after the beginning of 2006, expenses are amortized under the straight-line attribution method.  (See “Equity Plans.”)

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

Earnings per share:  Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares and stock rights outstanding.  Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares and stock rights outstanding plus the dilutive effects of stock options, warrants and convertible notes.  Potential common shares that would increase earnings per share amounts or decrease loss per share amounts are antidilutive and are, therefore, excluded from diluted earnings per share calculations.

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

Amounts reported as cash and equivalents, short-term investments, receivables, other assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and equipment purchase contracts approximate their fair values.  The estimated fair value of the Company’s debt was $2,411 million and $627 million as of August 30, 2007, and August 31, 2006, respectively.  The estimated fair values presented herein were based on market interest rates and other market information available to management as of each balance sheet date presented.  The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values.  The estimated fair values do not take into consideration expenses that could be incurred in an actual settlement.

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or market value.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs, including product and process technology costs.  Determining fair market values of inventories involves numerous judgments, including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for future periods and costs to complete products in work in process inventories.  As a result of these analyses, when fair market values are below the Company’s costs, the Company records a charge to cost of goods sold in advance of when the inventory is actually sold.  The Company’s inventories have been categorized as Memory products or Imaging products for purposes of determining average cost and fair market value.  The major characteristics the Company considers in determining categories are product type and markets.

Product and process technology:  Costs incurred to acquire product and process technology or to patent technology developed by the Company are capitalized a