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Broadcom

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FY2011 Annual Report · Broadcom
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2011  Annual Report

Your Imagination, Our Innovation

Sense  •  Illuminate  •  Connect

 
Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Results

$700

$600

$500

$400

$300

$200

$100

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Net revenue
Gross margin
Net income

Key Financial Data

(in millions, except per share data)

Net revenue
Gross margin
Income from operations
Net income (loss)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Cash and cash equivalents
Long-term debt
Total shareholders’ equity

Oct. 30,
2011

 $2,336 
49.1%
 584
 552 
 $2.19 
 829 
 -   
 2,006 

 Year Ended 
Oct. 31,
2010

 $2,093 
46.2%
 466 
415
 $1.69
 561 
 - 
 1,505 

Nov. 1,
2009

 $1,484 
37.7%
 48 
 (44) 
 $(0.20) 
 472 
 230
 1,040

 To Our Shareholders

The exuberant strength of the demand for semiconductor components during much 
of fi scal year 2010 had slowed by the start of fi scal year 2011.  For Avago, however, our 
results during fi scal year 2011 manifested from very divergent trends within the four 
target markets we served.

Our  Wireless  Communications  business  experienced  11%  year-on-year  revenue 
growth  due  to  adoption  of  our  proprietary  FBAR  fi lters  by  major  handset  OEMs 
and  an  increasing  trend  towards  higher  content  through  front-end  modules  in  3G 
smartphone platforms.  During fi scal year 2011, we also benefi ted from the initial launches of 4G LTE and 
WiMAX handset designs that enabled us to grow content and share.

In Wired  Infrastructure,  demand  for  bandwidth  spurred  increased  spending  for  enterprise  networking 
(data centers and storage) and for core routing in carriers.  Our proprietary parallel fi ber optic transceivers 
and  ASICs  for  routers  and  switches  gained  share  among  our  major  OEMs  and  benefi ted  from  healthy 
demand.  In  addition  our  innovative  embedded  parallel  optics  in  next-generation  supercomputers 
and “cloud-based”  datacenter  switching  drove  revenue  growth  of  nearly  30%  year-on-year  from  this
target market.

In  contrast,  the  strength  in  our  Industrial  and  Automotive  revenue  during  the  fi rst  half  of  the  year 
was  rapidly  followed  by  weakening  demand  in  the  second  half  of  the  year.    Curtailment  of  spending 
in  emerging  economies,  notably  China,  and  a  slow-down  in  the  renewable  energy  sector  was  further 
exacerbated by inventory correction across the entire supply chain.  However, we continued to experience 
favorable demand from niches such as smart power grids and high-end automobiles.  Despite the second 
half decline in demand, our year-on-year revenue from this target market grew 11%.

Finally, fl at demand for PCs during fi scal year 2011 resulted in reduced revenue (year-on-year decline of 
36%) from optical navigation sensors and printer encoders.  Our strategy of diff erentiated value added 
products – so persuasive in our other end markets – proved challenging in the PC/Consumer space. As a 
result, this end market has diminished to about 5% of our consolidated revenue in fi scal year 2011.

Overall, during fi scal year 2011, we posted record revenue of over $2.3 billion, despite the weakening of 
industrial and consumer markets in the latter half of the year.  This was a 12% increase over fi scal year 
2010 revenue, reaching the top end of our revenue model communicated at our 2010 analyst day and 
outperforming the 1.3% growth estimated by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics for the semiconductor 
industry  as  a  whole  for  calendar  year  2011.    We  continued  to  improve  gross  margin  during  the  year, 
growing 295 basis points over fi scal year 2010 gross margin. We continued to invest in developing our 
proprietary technologies, while managing operating expenses carefully, and were able to achieve record 
income  from  operations  and  net  income  during  fi scal  year  2011.    In  fact,  refl ecting  our  strong  results, 
the Global Semiconductor Alliance recognized Avago as the “Best Financially Managed Semiconductor 
Company” for 2011.

Fiscal  year  2011  also  saw  us  make  signifi cant  progress  in  our  evolution  as  a  public  company.    Private 
equity  ownership  of  Avago  declined  from  approximately  60  percent  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  to 
approximately 10 percent at the end of the year, as a result of fi ve public off erings of our shares by our 
private equity shareholders.  During the year we also initiated a quarterly cash dividend, increasing it each 
quarter in the year, and we also implemented a program to repurchase our ordinary shares. In November 
2011,  Avago  became  a  signatory  to  the  United  Nations  Global  Compact  and  agreed  to  uphold  the 
Compact’s principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.  In December 
2011, as a testament to our fi nancial strength and the increasing size and maturity of our business, Avago 
was added to the Nasdaq-100 index.

While  fi scal  year  2011  ended  with  challenging  global  economic  conditions,  we  maintain  a  positive 
outlook for Avago for fi scal year 2012.  We continue to expect that our proprietary product portfolio for 
our Wireless and Wired Communications end markets will drive growth for the company and enable us 
to outperform the semiconductor industry as a whole, and that our broad product portfolio has us well 
positioned to take advantage of future improvement in the Industrial and Automotive space.

We are thankful to our capable and committed employees for achieving another record year in 2011.

Sincerely,

Hock E. Tan
Hock E. Tan
President and Chief Executive Offi  cer
Avago Technologies Limited

 
Table of Contents

(MARK ONE)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011

OR

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: 001-34428
_____________________________________________________________

Avago Technologies Limited
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
_____________________________________________________________

Singapore
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
1 Yishun Avenue 7
Singapore 768923
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

N/A
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

N/A
(Zip Code)

(65) 6755-7888
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_____________________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Class
Ordinary Shares, no par value

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
The NASDAQ Global Select Market

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 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes 
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 

     No 

    No 

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 

     No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data 
File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes 

    No 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be 

contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K 
or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting 

company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 
(Check one):

Large accelerated filer 

       Accelerated filer 

Non-accelerated filer 

  Smaller reporting company 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes 
State the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s voting and non-voting ordinary shares held by non-affiliates as of the last business day of 
the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: As of May 1, 2011, the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal 
quarter, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s ordinary shares held by non-affiliates of the Registrant (based upon the closing sale price of 
such shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 29, 2011, the last trading day prior to our fiscal quarter end) was approximately 
$6,007,275,564.

    No 

As of December 9, 2011, the Registrant had 244,406,916 ordinary shares outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference
Information required in response to Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s 
definitive Proxy Statement for its 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Except as expressly incorporated by reference, the Registrant’s Proxy 
Statement shall not be deemed to be a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Registrant intends to file its definitive Proxy Statement within 
120 days after its fiscal year ended October 30, 2011.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
2011 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.

BUSINESS
RISK FACTORS
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
PROPERTIES
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

PART II.

MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER 
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

ITEM 1.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1B.

ITEM 2.
ITEM 3.

ITEM 5.

ITEM 6.
ITEM 7.

ITEM 7A.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 9.

ITEM 9A.

ITEM 9B.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
OTHER INFORMATION

PART III.

ITEM 10.

ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.

ITEM 13.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 
AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR 
INDEPENDENCE

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

PART IV.

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT INDEX

Page

3
10
28
28
28

30
32

35

52
54

94

94
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95

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97
98

 EX-10.13
 EX-10.20
 EX-10.40
 EX-21.1
 EX-23.1
 EX-24.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101

 EX-101

 EX-101

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 EX-101

INSTANCE DOCUMENT

SCHEMA DOCUMENT

CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

2

Table of Contents

PART I

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto 

included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking 
statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws and particularly in Item 1: “Business,” Item 1A:“Risk Factors,” 
Item 3: “Legal Proceedings” and Item 7: “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These statements are indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipate,” 
“expect,” “estimate,” “seek,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “intend,” “will,” and similar words or phrases. All statements other 
than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, but not limited to, any projections of financial 
information; any statements about historical results that may suggest trends for our business; any statements of the plans, 
strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements of expectation or belief regarding future events, 
technology developments, our products, product sales, expenses, liquidity, cash flow and growth rates, or enforceability of our 
intellectual property rights and related litigation expenses; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.  
All statements we make relating to estimated and projected product sales, earnings, margins, costs, expenditures, cash flows, 
growth rates and financial results are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current 
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections of our or industry performance based on management’s judgment, beliefs, 
current trends and market conditions and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from 
those contained in the forward-looking statements.  We derive most of our forward-looking statements from our operating 
budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, 
we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that 
could affect our actual results. Accordingly, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Some of the factors 
that could affect our future results and cause them to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed under “Risk Factors” 
in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These factors include global economic conditions and concerns; 
cyclicality in the semiconductor industry or in our target markets; quarterly and annual fluctuations in operating results; our 
competitive performance and ability to continue achieving design wins with our customers; our dependence on contract 
manufacturing and outsourced supply chain and our ability to improve our cost structure through our manufacturing 
outsourcing program; prolonged disruptions of our or our contract manufacturers' manufacturing facilities or other significant 
operations, for example due to natural disasters such as the recent flooding in Thailand; our increased dependence on 
outsourced service providers for certain key business services and their ability to execute to our requirements; loss of our 
significant customers; our ability to maintain gross margin; our ability to maintain tax concessions in certain jurisdictions; our 
ability to protect our intellectual property and any associated increases in litigation expenses; dependence on and risks 
associated with distributors of our products; any expenses associated with resolving customer product warranty and 
indemnification claims; currency fluctuations; our ability to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from our 
acquisitions; delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating acquired companies with our existing businesses; and 
other events and trends on a national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive 
and regulatory nature.  All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors listed 
above and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All forward-
looking statements are based on information currently available to us.  We caution you that the foregoing list of important 
factors may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, 
the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may not in fact occur. 
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future 
events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “Avago”, “the Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us” refer to Avago 
Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. 
Our fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to October 31. We refer to our fiscal years by the calendar year in which they end. 
For example, the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011 is referred to as “fiscal year 2011”.

ITEM 1. 

BUSINESS

Overview

We are a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of analog semiconductor devices with a focus 

on III-V based products. We differentiate ourselves through our high performance design and integration capabilities. III-V 
semiconductor materials have higher electrical conductivity, enabling faster speeds and tend to have better performance 
characteristics than conventional silicon in applications such as radio frequency, or RF, and optoelectronics. Our product 
portfolio is extensive and includes over 6,500 products that we sell into four primary target markets: wireless communications, 
wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. Applications for our 
products in these target markets include cellular phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications 
equipment, enterprise storage and servers, renewable energy and smart power grid applications, factory automation, displays, 

3

optical mice and printers.

We have a 50-year history of innovation dating back to our origins within Hewlett-Packard Company. Over the years, we 

have assembled a large team of analog design engineers, and we maintain design and product development engineering 
resources around the world. Our locations include two design centers in the United States, five in Asia and four in Europe. We 
have developed an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that currently includes approximately 4,900 U.S. and foreign 
patents and patent applications. Our history and market position enable us to strategically focus our research and development 
resources to address attractive target markets. We leverage our significant intellectual property portfolio to integrate multiple 
technologies and create component solutions that target growth opportunities. We design products that deliver high-
performance and provide mission-critical functionality. In particular, we were a pioneer in commercializing vertical-cavity 
surface emitting laser, or VCSEL, fiber optic products and our VCSEL-based products have been widely adopted throughout 
the wired infrastructure industry. In addition, we were among the first to deliver commercial film bulk acoustic resonator, or 
FBAR, filters for code division multiple access, or CDMA, technology and we believe we maintain a significant market share 
of personal communication service, or PCS, duplexers within the CDMA market. In addition, our FBAR filters offer 
technological advantages over competing filters in certain other radio bands, such as GPS and 3G. In optoelectronics, we are a 
market leader in submarkets such as optocouplers and parallel fiber optic transceivers.

We have a diversified and well-established customer base of approximately 40,000 end customers, located throughout the 

world, which we serve through our multi-channel sales and fulfillment system. We have established strong relationships with 
leading original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, customers across multiple target markets. Many of our major customer 
relationships have been in place multiple years and we have supplied multiple products during that time period. Our close 
customer relationships have often been built as a result of years of collaborative product development which has enabled us to 
build our intellectual property portfolio and develop critical expertise regarding our customer’s requirements, including 
substantial system level knowledge. This collaboration has provided us with key insights into our customers and has enabled us 
to be more efficient and productive and to better serve our target markets and customers. We distribute most of our products 
through our broad distribution network, and a significant portion of our sales are to two of the largest global electronic 
components distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. We also have a direct sales force focused on supporting large 
OEMs.

We focus on maintaining an efficient global supply chain and a variable, low-cost operating model. Accordingly, we have 

outsourced a majority of our manufacturing operations utilizing third-party foundry and assembly and test capabilities, as well 
as most of our corporate infrastructure functions. We aim to minimize capital expenditures by focusing our internal 
manufacturing capacity on products utilizing our innovative materials and processes to protect our intellectual property and to 
develop the technology for manufacturing, while outsourcing standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor, or CMOS, 
processes. We also have over 40 years of operating history in Asia, where approximately 59% of our employees are located and 
where we produce and source the majority of our products. Our presence in Asia places us in close proximity to many of our 
customers’ manufacturing facilities and at the center of worldwide electronics manufacturing.

Markets and Products

We focus on leveraging our design capabilities to develop products for target markets where we believe our innovation 
and reputation will allow us to earn attractive margins. In each of our target markets, we have multiple product families that 
primarily provide OEMs with component or subsystem products. Our product portfolio ranges from simple discrete devices to 
complex sub-systems that include multiple device types and incorporate firmware for interface between digital systems. In 
some cases, our products include mechanical hardware that interfaces with optoelectronic or capacitive sensors. We intend to 
expand our product offerings to address existing and adjacent market opportunities, and plan to selectively target attractive 
segments within large established markets. We target markets that require high quality and the integrated performance 
characteristics of our products. For the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, wireless communications contributed 38%, wired 
infrastructure contributed 28%, industrial and automotive electronics contributed 29% and consumer and computing 
peripherals contributed 5%, of our net revenue, respectively.

Wireless Communications.  We support the wireless industry with a broad variety of RF semiconductor devices, including 

monolithic microwave integrated circuit filters and duplexers using our proprietary FBAR technology, front end modules that 
incorporate multiple die into multi-function RF devices, diodes and discrete transistors. Our expertise in amplifier design, 
FBAR technology and module integration enables us to offer industry-leading efficiency in RF transmitter applications. Our 
proprietary gallium arsenide, or GaAs, processes are critical to the production of power amplifier, or PA, and low noise 
amplifier products. In addition to RF devices, we provide a variety of optoelectronic sensors for mobile handset applications. 
We also supply light emitting diodes, or LEDs, for camera-phone flashes and for backlighting applications in mobile handset 
keypads.

Wired Infrastructure.  In the storage and Ethernet networking markets, we supply transceivers that receive and transmit 
information along optical fibers. We provide a range of product bandwidth options for customers, including options ranging 

4

from 125 megabyte data, or MBd, Fast Ethernet transmitters and receivers to 16 Gigabit transceivers. We supply parallel optic 
transceivers with as many as 12 parallel channels for high performance computing, core routing and server applications. For 
enterprise networking and server input/output, or I/O, applications, we also supply high speed serializer/deserializer, or SerDes, 
products integrated into application specific integrated circuits, or ASICs.

Industrial and Automotive Electronics.  We provide a broad variety of products for the general industrial, automotive and 
consumer appliance markets. We offer optical isolators, or optocouplers, which provide electrical insulation and signal isolation 
for signaling systems that are susceptible to electrical noise or interference. Optocouplers are used in a diverse set of 
applications, including industrial motors, automotive systems including those used in hybrid engines, power generation and 
distribution systems, switching power supplies, motion sensors, telecommunications equipment, consumer appliances, 
computers and office equipment, plasma displays, and military electronics. For industrial motors and robotic motion control, 
we supply optical encoders, as well as integrated circuits, or ICs, for the controller and decoder functions. For electronic signs 
and signals, we supply LED assemblies that offer high brightness and stable light output over thousands of hours, enabling us 
to support traffic signals, large commercial signs and other displays. For industrial networking, we provide Fast Ethernet and 
faster optical transceivers using plastic optical fiber that enable quick and interoperable networking and factory automation.

Consumer and Computing Peripherals.  We manufacture motion control encoders that control the paper feed and print 

head movement in printers and other office automation products. We were an early developer of image sensors for optical 
mouse applications, using LEDs and CMOS image sensors to create a subsystem that can detect motion over an arbitrary 
desktop surface. We are a leading supplier of image sensors for optical mice today, and have launched a new line of laser-based 
mouse products with improved precision. 

The table below presents the major product families, major applications and major end customers in our four primary 

target markets.

Target Market

Major Product Families

Major Applications

Major End Customers

Wireless Communications

•   RF amplifiers

•   Voice and data communications

•   LG Electronics Inc.

•   RF filters

•   Camera phone

•   Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

•   RF front end modules (FEMs)

•   Keypad and display backlighting

•   Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

•   Ambient light sensors

•   LEDs

•   Low noise amplifiers

•   mm-wave mixers

•   Optical Finger Navigation (OFN)

•   Diodes

•   Backlighting control

•   Base stations

Wired Infrastructure

•   Fiber optic transceivers

•   Data communications

•   Brocade Communications

•   Serializer/deserializer (SerDes)

•   Storage area networking

ASICs

•   Servers

Systems, Inc.

•   Cisco Systems Inc.

•   Hewlett-Packard Company

•   International Business

Machines Corp.

•   Juniper Networks Inc.

Industrial and

•   Fiber optic transceivers

•   In-car infotainment

•   ABB Ltd.

Automotive Electronics

•   LEDs

•   Motion control encoders and

subsystems

•   Optocouplers

•   Schneider Electric

•   Siemens AG

•   Displays

•   Lighting

•   Factory automation

•   Motor controls

•   Power supplies

•   Renewable clean energy

Consumer and

•   Optical mouse sensors

•   Optical mice

Computing Peripherals

•   Motion control encoders and

•   Printers

•   Hewlett-Packard Company

•   Logitech International S.A.

subsystems

•   Optical disk drives

•   Primax Electronics Ltd.

Research and Development

We are committed to continuous investment in product development, with a focus on rapidly introducing new, proprietary 

products. Many of our products have grown out of our own research and development efforts, and have given us competitive 

5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
advantages in certain target markets due to performance differentiation. We focus our research and development efforts on the 
development of innovative, sustainable and higher value product platforms. We leverage our design capabilities in markets 
where we believe our innovation and reputation will allow us to earn attractive margins by developing high value-add products.

We intend to continue to build on our history of innovation, and our intellectual property portfolio, design expertise and 

system-level knowledge, to create more integrated solutions. We plan to continue investing in product development to drive 
growth in our business. We also invest in process development and maintain fabrication capabilities in order to optimize 
processes for devices that are manufactured internally. Our field application engineers, or FAEs, and design engineers are 
located near many of our customers around the world, enabling us to support our customers in each stage of their product 
development cycle, from early stages of production design through volume manufacturing and future growth. By collaborating 
with our customers, we have opportunities to develop high value added, customized products for them that leverage our 
existing technologies. Research and development expenses were $317 million, $280 million and $245 million for the years 
ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, respectively. We anticipate that we will continue to make 
significant research and development expenditures in order to maintain our competitive position with a continuous flow of 
innovative and sustainable product platforms. As of October 30, 2011, we had approximately 1,200 employees dedicated to 
research and development at multiple locations around the world.

Customers, Sales, Marketing and Distribution

We have a diversified and historically stable customer base. In the year ended October 30, 2011, no customer accounted 

for 10% or more of our net revenue, and our top 10 customers, which included three distributors, collectively accounted for 
54% of our net revenue. However, we believe that aggregate sales of our products to certain of our customers exceed the 
amount of our direct sales to them. For example, we believe our aggregate sales to Cisco Systems, Inc., when our direct sales to 
them are combined with indirect sales to Cisco through contract manufacturers that Cisco utilizes, may have exceeded 10% of 
our net revenues for fiscal year 2011.

We sell our products through a network of distributors and our direct sales force globally. Our customers require timely 

delivery often to multiple locations around the world. We have strategically developed distributor relationships to serve tens of 
thousands of customers. Our direct sales force is focused on supporting our large OEM customers. Additionally, our extensive 
network of FAEs enhances our customer reach and our visibility into new product opportunities. We also complement our 
direct sales force with a network of manufacturing sales representative companies to cover particular geographies and 
customers in emerging markets. Our main global distributors are Avnet, Inc., and Arrow Electronics, Inc., complemented by a 
number of specialty regional distributors with customer relationships based on their respective product ranges.

As of October 30, 2011, our sales and marketing organization consisted of approximately 500 employees, many of whom 

have responsibility for emerging accounts, for large, global accounts, or for our distributors. Our sales force has specialized 
product and service knowledge that enables us to sell specific offerings at key levels throughout a customer’s organization.

As part of our global reach, we have a number of sales offices located in various countries, with a significant presence in 

Asia, which is a key center of the worldwide electronics supply chain. Many of our customers design products in North 
America or Europe that are then manufactured in Asia. We maintain dedicated regional customer support call centers, where we 
address customer issues and handle logistics and other order fulfillment requirements. We are well-positioned to support our 
customers throughout the design, technology transfer and manufacturing stages across all geographies.

Operations

A majority of our manufacturing operations are outsourced and we utilize external foundries to fabricate our 

semiconductors, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd., or TSMC and WIN Semiconductors Corp. 
For certain of our product families, substantially all of our revenue is derived from semiconductors fabricated by external 
foundries, including our high speed SerDes ICs, LEDs, and LED-based displays. We also use third-party contract 
manufacturers for a significant majority of our assembly and test operations, including Amertron Incorporated, Hisense 
Multimedia Broadband Technologies (HK) Co., Ltd. (formerly SAE Magnetics), and the Hana Microelectronics Public 
Company Ltd. group of companies, or Hana. In some instances we may only qualify one contract manufacturer to manufacture 
certain of our products. For example, until recently, Hana was the only manufacturer of certain of sensors for our industrial 
market and certain multi-market transistor products. We maintain our internal fabrication facilities for products utilizing our 
innovative materials and processes to protect our intellectual property and to develop the technology for manufacturing, and we 
outsource standard CMOS processes. Examples of internally fabricated semiconductors include RF GaAs amplifiers for 
wireless communications and VCSEL-based lasers for fiber optic communications. The majority of our internal III-V 
semiconductor wafer fabrication is done in the United States and Singapore. As of October 30, 2011, approximately 1,500 
manufacturing employees were devoted to our internal fabrication operations as well as management of outsourced activities. 
For selected customers, we maintain finished goods inventory near or at customer manufacturing sites to support their just-in-
time production.

6

Materials and Suppliers

Our manufacturing operations employ a wide variety of semiconductors, electromechanical components and assemblies 

and raw materials. We purchase materials from hundreds of suppliers on a global basis. These supply relationships are 
generally conducted on a purchase order basis. While we have not experienced any significant difficulty in obtaining the 
materials used in the conduct of our business and we believe that no single supplier is material, some of the parts are not readily 
available from alternate suppliers due to their unique design or the length of time necessary for re-design or qualification. Our 
long-term relationships with our suppliers allow us to proactively manage our technology development and product 
discontinuance plans, and to monitor our suppliers' financial health. Some suppliers may nonetheless extend their lead times, 
limit supplies, increase prices or cease to produce necessary parts for our products. If these are unique components, we may not 
be able to find a substitute quickly, or at all. To address the potential disruption in our supply chain, we may use a number of 
techniques, including qualifying multiple sources of supply, redesign of products for alternative components and purchase of 
incremental inventory for supply buffer.

Competition

The global semiconductor market is highly competitive. While no company competes with us in all of our target markets, 
our competitors range from large, international companies offering a wide range of products to smaller companies specializing 
in narrow markets. We compete with integrated device manufacturers, or IDMs, and fabless semiconductor companies as well 
as the internal resources of large, integrated OEMs. The competitive landscape is changing as a result of a trend toward 
consolidation within the industry, as some of our competitors have merged with or been acquired by other competitors while 
others have begun collaborating with each other. We expect this consolidation trend to continue. We expect competition in the 
markets in which we participate to continue to increase as existing competitors improve or expand their product offerings and 
as new companies enter the market. Additionally, our ability to compete effectively depends on a number of factors, including: 
quality, technical performance, price, product features, product system compatibility, system-level design capability, 
engineering expertise, responsiveness to customers, new product innovation, product availability, delivery timing and 
reliability, and customer sales and technical support.

In the wireless communications target market, we provide RF amplifiers, filters, optical finger navigation sensors, 
modules and LEDs for mobile phones. Our primary competitors for this target market are Anadigics, Inc., Hittite Microwave 
Corporation, RF Micro Devices, Inc., Skyworks Solutions, Inc. and TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. We compete based on our 
expertise in amplifier design, FBAR technology and module integration. We also compete against a number of smaller, niche 
wireless players based on our proprietary design expertise, broad product portfolio, proprietary material processes and 
integration expertise.

In the wired infrastructure target market, we provide fiber optic transceivers and SerDes ASICs for high-speed data 
communications and server applications. Our primary competitors for this target market are Finisar Corporation, International 
Business Machines Corp. Microelectronics Division, LSI Corporation and ST Microelectronics N.V. We compete based on the 
strength of our high speed proprietary design expertise, our customer relationships, proprietary process technology and broad 
product portfolio.

In the industrial and automotive electronics target market, we provide fiber optic transceivers for communication 

networks, LEDs for displays, motion control encoders and subsystems and optocouplers for factory automation and motor 
controls. Our primary competitors for this target market are Analog Devices, Inc., Heidenhain Corporation, Renesas Electronics 
Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. We compete based on our design expertise, broad product portfolio, reputation for 
quality products and large customer base.

In the consumer and computing peripherals target market, we provide optical mouse image sensors for optical mice and 
motion control encoders and subsystems for printers. Our primary competitors for this target market are PixArt Imaging Inc. 
and Sharp Corporation. In these applications, we compete based on our long history of innovation and market leadership, along 
with our design expertise.

Intellectual Property

Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect our intellectual property. To accomplish this, we rely on a 
combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade secrets and similar 
intellectual property, as well as customary contractual protections with our customers, suppliers, employees and consultants, 
and through security measures to protect our trade secrets. We believe our current product expertise, key engineering talent and 
intellectual property portfolio provide us with a strong platform from which to develop application specific products in key 
target markets.

We are the successor to the Semiconductor Products Group of Agilent Technologies, Inc., or SPG, which we acquired on 

7

December 1, 2005 in a transaction that we refer to as the SPG Acquisition. We acquired ownership and license rights to a 
portfolio of patents and patent applications, as well as certain registered trademarks and service marks for discrete product 
offerings, from Agilent Technologies, Inc., or Agilent, in the SPG Acquisition. We have continued to have issued to us, and to 
file for, additional United States and foreign patents since the SPG Acquisition. As of October 30, 2011, we had approximately 
2,200 U.S. and 1,300 foreign patents and approximately 500 U.S. and 900 foreign pending patent applications. Our research 
and development efforts are presently resulting in approximately 110 new patent applications per year relating to a wide range 
of RF and optoelectronic components and associated applications. The expiration dates of our patents range from 2012 to 2031, 
with a small number of patents expiring in the near future, none of which are expected to be material to our intellectual 
property portfolio.

We do not know whether any of our pending patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or to the extent that 

the examination process will require us to narrow our claims. Since the SPG Acquisition, we have focused our patent 
application program to a greater extent on those inventions and improvements that we believe are likely to be incorporated into 
our products as contrasted with more basic research.

A meaningful portion of our intellectual property is the subject of cross-licenses to other companies that have been 

granted by Agilent, or if originally derived from Hewlett-Packard Company, by Hewlett-Packard Company. In addition, we 
license third-party technologies that are incorporated into some elements of our design activities, products and manufacturing 
processes. Historically, licenses of the third-party technologies used by us have been available to us on acceptable terms.

The semiconductor industry is characterized by the existence of a large number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and 

trade secrets and by the vigorous pursuit, protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Many of our customer 
agreements require us to indemnify our customers for third-party intellectual property infringement claims, which has in the 
past required and may in the future require that we defend those claims, and might also require that we pay damages in the case 
of adverse rulings. Claims of this sort could harm our relationships with our customers and might deter future customers from 
doing business with us. With respect to any intellectual property rights claims against us or our customers or distributors, we 
may be required to cease manufacture of the infringing product, pay damages, expend resources to develop non-infringing 
technology, seek a license which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or relinquish patents or other 
intellectual property rights.

Employees

As of October 30, 2011, we had approximately 3,500 employees worldwide. Approximately 1,200 were dedicated to 
research and development, 1,500 to manufacturing, 500 to sales and marketing and 300 to general and administrative functions. 
By geography, approximately 59% of our employees are located in Asia, 34% in North America and 7% in Europe. The 
substantial majority of our employees are not party to a collective bargaining agreement. However, approximately 400 of our 
1,000 employees in Singapore, none of whom are in management or supervisory positions, are subject to a collective 
bargaining agreement with United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries that expires on June 30, 2013. In addition, all 
of our employees in Italy and some employees in Japan are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. In Italy we are also 
subject to national collective agreements between unions and employer associations. Such Italian national collective 
agreements are compulsory for both the employees and the employer. In addition, in Germany we are subject to collective 
agreements with the works councils at our sites, which apply to German employees other than managing directors and 
managers with similar authority. We believe we have a good working relationship with our employees and we have never 
experienced an interruption of business as a result of labor disputes.

Environmental and Other Regulation

Our research and development and manufacturing operations involve the use of hazardous substances and are regulated 
under international, federal, state and local laws governing health and safety and the environment. These regulations include 
limitations on discharge of pollutants to air, water, and soil; remediation requirements; product chemical content limitations; 
manufacturing chemical use and handling restrictions; pollution control requirements; waste minimization considerations; and 
treatment, transport, storage and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes. We are also subject to regulation by the United States 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and similar health and safety laws in other jurisdictions.

We believe that our properties and operations at our facilities comply in all material respects with applicable 
environmental laws and worker health and safety laws; however, the risk of environmental liabilities cannot be completely 
eliminated and there can be no assurance that the application of environmental and health and safety laws to our business will 
not require us to incur significant expenditures.

We are also regulated under a number of international, federal, state and local laws regarding recycling, product 

packaging and product content requirements, including legislation enacted in the European Union and China, among a growing 
number of jurisdictions, which have placed greater restrictions on the use of lead, among other chemicals, in electronic 

8

products, which affects materials composition and semiconductor packaging. These laws are becoming more stringent and may 
in the future cause us to incur significant expenditures.

Backlog

Our sales are generally made pursuant to short-term purchase orders. These purchase orders are made without deposits 
and may be, and often are, rescheduled, canceled or modified on relatively short notice, and in most cases without substantial 
penalty. Therefore, we believe that purchase orders or backlog are not necessarily a reliable indicator of future sales.

Seasonality

We are affected by seasonal trends in the semiconductor and related industries. We typically experience sequentially 

lower revenues in the first fiscal half of the year. Our revenue in the second half of the fiscal year is typically higher than our 
revenue in the first half of the fiscal year due to seasonality in two of our target markets, wireless communications and 
consumer and computing peripherals. These target markets typically experience seasonality due to the “back to school” and 
calendar year end holiday selling seasons. 

Financial Information about Geographic Areas

For information on the geographic concentration of our net revenues and long-lived assets, please see Note 14. “Segment 

Information,” of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other Information

Avago Technologies Limited was incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore in August 2005. Our 

Singapore company registration number is 200510713C. The address of our registered office and our principal executive 
offices is 1 Yishun Avenue 7, Singapore 768923, and our telephone number is +65-6755-7888. We are the successor to the 
Semiconductor Products Group of Agilent Technologies Inc., which we acquired on December 1, 2005. Our ordinary shares are 
listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “AVGO”.

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or 
Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such 
periodic reports, proxy statements and other information is available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s Public Reference 
Room at 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549 or may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1–800–SEC–0330. In addition, 
the SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding 
issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We maintain a website at www.avagotech.com. You may access our annual reports 
on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other reports (and 
amendments thereto) filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at 
the “Investors — SEC Filings” section of our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically 
filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the 
information contained on or accessible through our website.

9

ITEM 1A. 

RISK FACTORS

Our business, operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described 
below, that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of 
our ordinary shares. The following important factors, among others, could cause our actual results to differ materially from 
those expressed in forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf in filings with the SEC, press releases, 
communications with investors and oral statements.

Risks Related to Our Business

Adverse global economic conditions could have a negative effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition 
and liquidity.

Adverse global economic conditions, including the global economic downturn and financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, have from 
time to time caused or exacerbated significant slowdowns in the semiconductor industry generally, as well as in our target markets.  
The global recession in 2008 and 2009 led to reduced customer spending in the semiconductor market and in our target markets,  
caused U.S. and foreign businesses to slow spending on our products and caused consumers to reduce spending on many products 
our customers make, such as personal computers, mobile phone and flat screen televisions. In recent months, market and business 
conditions in general have been adversely affected by investor and customer concerns and about the global economic outlook, 
including concerns about the economic recovery in the United States and the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe. A slowdown 
in the economic recovery or worsening global economic conditions as a result of these or other factors will likely cause our 
customers and consumers to reduce or delay spending, and could lead to the insolvency of key suppliers (resulting in product 
delays) and customers, all of which could negatively affect our business, financial condition and result of operations. 

We operate in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, which is subject to significant downturns.

The semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and is characterized by constant and rapid technological change and price erosion, 
evolving technical standards, short product life cycles (for semiconductors and for the end-user products in which they are used) 
and wide fluctuations in product supply and demand. From time to time, these and other factors, together with changes in general 
economic conditions, cause significant upturns and downturns in the industry in general and in our business in particular. Periods 
of industry downturns have been characterized by diminished demand for end-user products, high inventory levels and periods 
of inventory adjustment, under-utilization of manufacturing capacity, changes in revenue mix and accelerated erosion of average 
selling prices, resulting in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We expect our business 
to continue to be subject to cyclical downturns even when overall economic conditions are relatively stable. In addition, in any 
future economic downturn we may be unable to grow our revenues or reduce our costs quickly enough to maintain our operating 
profitability. 

Our operating results are subject to substantial quarterly and annual fluctuations.

Our revenues and operating results have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. These fluctuations may 
occur on a quarterly and annual basis and are due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors 
include, among others:

•  changes in end-user demand for the products manufactured and sold by our customers;

•  the timing of receipt, reduction or cancellation of significant orders by customers;

•  fluctuations in the levels of component inventories held by our customers;

•  the gain or loss of significant customers; 

•  market acceptance of our products and our customers' products; 

•  changes in our product mix or customer mix and their effect on our gross margin; 

•  our ability to develop, introduce and market new products and technologies on a timely basis;

•  the timing and extent of product development costs; 

•  new product announcements and introductions by us or our competitors;

•  incurrence of research and development and related new product expenditures;

•  seasonality or cyclical fluctuations in our markets; 

•  currency fluctuations; 

10

•  utilization of our internal manufacturing facilities; 

•  fluctuations in manufacturing yields; 

•  significant warranty claims, including those not covered by our suppliers or our insurers;

•  availability and cost of raw materials from our suppliers;

•  intellectual property disputes; 

•  loss of key personnel or the shortage of available skilled workers;

•  the effects of competitive pricing pressures, including decreases in average selling prices of our products; and

•  changes in our tax incentive arrangements or structure, which may adversely affect our net tax expense in any quarter in 

which such an event occurs.

The foregoing factors are difficult to forecast, and these, as well as other factors, could materially adversely affect our quarterly 
or annual operating results. In addition, a significant amount of our operating expenses are relatively fixed in nature due to our 
significant sales, research and development and internal manufacturing overhead costs. Any failure to adjust spending quickly 
enough to compensate for a revenue shortfall could magnify the adverse impact of such revenue shortfall on our results of operations. 
As a result, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our revenue and operating results may not be meaningful or a reliable 
indicator of our future performance. If our operating results in one or more future quarters fail to meet the expectations of securities 
analysts or investors, an immediate and significant decline in the trading price of our ordinary shares may occur.

If we do not adapt to technological changes in the semiconductor industry, we could lose customers or market share.

The semiconductor industry is subject to constant and rapid changes in technology, frequent new product introductions, short 
product life cycles, rapid product obsolescence and evolving technical standards. Technological developments may reduce the 
competitiveness of our products and require unbudgeted upgrades that could be expensive and time consuming to implement. Our 
products could become obsolete sooner than we expect because of faster than anticipated, or unanticipated, changes in one or 
more of the technologies related to our products. Furthermore, we continually evaluate expenditures for research and development 
and must choose among alternative technologies based on our expectations of future market growth and other factors. We may be 
unable to develop and introduce new or enhanced products that satisfy customer requirements and achieve market acceptance in 
a timely manner or at all, the technologies where we have focused our research and development expenditures may not become 
commercially successful, and we may be unable to anticipate new industry standards and technological changes. We also may not 
be able to respond successfully to new product announcements and introductions by competitors. If we fail to adapt successfully 
to technological changes or fail to obtain access to important new technologies, we may be unable to retain customers, attract new 
customers or sell new products to our existing customers.

Dependence on contract manufacturing and outsourcing other portions of our supply chain may adversely affect our ability 
to bring products to market and damage our reputation.

We operate a primarily outsourced manufacturing business model that principally utilizes third-party foundry and assembly 
and test capabilities. As a result, we are highly reliant on third-party foundry wafer fabrication capacity, including sole sourcing 
for many components or products. For certain of our product families, substantially all of our revenue from those products is 
derived from semiconductors fabricated by external foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. and 
WIN Semiconductor Corp. We also use third-party contract manufacturers for a significant majority of our assembly and test 
operations, including Amertron Incorporated, the Hana Microelectronics Public Company Ltd. group of companies and Hisense 
Multimedia  Broadband  Technologies (HK)  Co.,  Ltd  (formerly  SAE  Magnetics).  The  ability  and  willingness  of  our  contract 
manufacturers to perform is largely outside of our control. If one or more of our contract manufacturers or other outsourced 
providers fails to perform its obligations in a timely manner or at satisfactory quality levels, our ability to bring products to market 
and our reputation could suffer. If one of our suppliers, particularly a single-source supplier, ceases to, or is unable to, manufacture 
such a component or supply is otherwise constrained, we may be forced to re-engineer a product or we may fail to meet customer 
demand. In addition to discontinuing parts, suppliers may also extend lead times, limit supplies or increase prices due to capacity 
constraints or other factors. For example, in the event that manufacturing capacity is reduced or eliminated at one or more facilities, 
including as a response  to cycles in the semiconductor industry or as a result of unanticipated events such as natural disasters, 
manufacturing could be disrupted, we could have difficulties fulfilling our customer orders, which could result in the payment of 
significant damages by us to our customers, and our net revenue could decline. In addition, if these third parties on whom we are 
highly reliant fail to deliver quality products and components on time and at reasonable prices, we could have difficulties fulfilling 
our customer orders and our net revenue could decline. In such events, our business, financial condition and results of operations 
would be adversely affected.  

In October 2011, Hana shut down its Ayutthaya facility in Thailand due to the severe flooding there. Hana manufactured several 
components for us at that facility, and was our only supplier for certain products for our industrial and wireless target markets. 
11

We are working to transfer our equipment and have restarted production of these components at alternative locations with Hana 
and other contract manufacturers. However, we are uncertain as to when production will be back to pre-flood capacity. If we are 
unable to resume production at pre-flood levels, we may lose orders or customers. As a result of these events, we also expect to 
incur additional expenses  to make additional capital expenditures for replacement or additional equipment, most of which we 
expect to incur in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012. However, the actual timing of the incurrence of these charges and expenses 
is dependent on the time required to resolve these issues. While we maintain business interruption insurance and are working with 
our insurance carrier to determine the amounts that may be recoverable under this policy, our losses associated with the flooding 
will likely exceed the amounts available under the limits of the policy. As a result of the flooding in Thailand and the recent 
earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, we are reviewing our supply chain and may seek to qualify second sources manufacturers and 
suppliers for some components and products. Qualifying such second sources may be a lengthy and potentially costly process.

To the extent we rely on third-party manufacturing relationships, we face the following risks:

• 

• 

• 

inability of our manufacturers to develop manufacturing methods appropriate for our products, and manufacturers' lack 
of sufficient capacity, or their unwillingness to devote adequate capacity, to produce our products;

product and manufacturing costs that are higher than anticipated;

reduced control over product reliability and delivery schedules;

•  more complicated supply chains; and 

• 

time, expense and uncertainty in identifying and qualifying additional or replacement manufacturers.

Much  of  our  outsourcing  takes  place  in  developing  countries,  and  as  a  result  may  additionally  be  subject  to  geopolitical 
uncertainty. See “— Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and 
economic conditions of the countries in which we conduct business and other factors related to our international operations.”  

A prolonged disruption of our manufacturing facilities or other significant operations could have a material adverse effect 
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Although we operate using a primarily outsourced manufacturing business model, we do rely on the manufacturing facilities 
we own, in particular our fabrication facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado and Singapore. We maintain our internal fabrication 
facilities for products utilizing our innovative materials and processes, to protect our intellectual property and to develop the 
technology for manufacturing. A prolonged disruption or material malfunction of, interruption in or the loss of operations at one 
or more of our production facilities, especially our Fort Collins and Singapore facilities, or the failure to maintain our labor force 
at one or more of these facilities, would limit our capacity to meet customer demands and delay new product development until 
a replacement facility and equipment, if necessary, were found. The lease on our primary internal fabrication facility in Singapore 
expires in 2015. If we are unable to renew this lease on satisfactory terms, we would be required to locate suitable replacement 
premises, with the goal of ensuring a smooth transition between facilities on or prior to the expiration of our current lease. However, 
the replacement of this, or any other, manufacturing facility could take an extended amount of time and significant expenditures 
on our part before manufacturing operations could restart. While we would seek to minimize any disruption to our operations and 
supply chain associated with any such changes in manufacturing facilities, we may experience delays and significant costs resulting 
from these steps, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are also dependent on various information technology systems, including, but not limited to, networks, applications, and 
outsourced services. We continually enhance and implement new systems and processes throughout our global operations. For 
example, we are currently upgrading our primary enterprise resource planning, or ERP, to provide for greater depth and breadth 
of functionality. Problems with transitioning to the upgraded system, or the failure of the upgraded system to operate effectively, 
could disrupt our operations and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations by 
harming our ability to accurately forecast sales demand, manage our supply chain and production facilities, fulfill customer orders, 
and report financial and management information on a timely and accurate basis. In addition, due to the systemic internal control 
features within ERP systems, we may experience difficulties that could affect our internal control over financial reporting, which 
could create a significant deficiency or material weakness in our overall internal controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Failure to adjust our supply chain volume due to changing market or other conditions or failure to accurately estimate our 
customers' demand could adversely affect our results of operations.

We make significant decisions, including determining the levels of business that we will seek and accept, production schedules, 
levels of reliance on contract manufacturing and outsourcing, personnel needs and other resource requirements, based on our 
estimates of customer requirements. The short-term nature of commitments by many of our customers and the possibility of rapid 
changes in demand for their products reduces our ability to accurately estimate future customer requirements. Our results of 
operations could be harmed if we are unable to adjust our supply chain volume to address market fluctuations, including those 

12

caused by the seasonal or cyclical nature of the markets in which we operate, or by other unanticipated events such as the current 
flooding in Thailand and the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. The sale of our products is dependent, to a large degree, 
on customers whose industries are subject to seasonal or cyclical trends in the demand for their products. For example, the consumer 
electronics market is particularly volatile and is subject to seasonality related to the holiday selling season, making demand difficult 
to anticipate. 

We believe that a number of our customers have, or depend on component suppliers and contract manufacturers that have, 
manufacturing facilities located in those areas of Thailand affected by the severe flooding and have suspended their operations in 
these areas as a result.  Given the extensive disruption and supply constraints the flooding has caused, even if we are able to 
promptly  resume  production  of  our  affected  products  at  pre-flood  levels,  if  our  customers  cannot  timely  resume  their  own 
manufacturing operations or source other necessary components or materials as a result of the flooding, they may cancel or scale 
back their orders from us and this may in turn adversely affect our results of operations.  We are continuing to evaluate the impact 
of the flooding on our suppliers, contract manufacturers and customers. We believe the effects of the flooding on our industry are 
likely to be substantial and will extend over several months.   

On occasion, customers may require rapid increases in production, which can challenge our resources and reduce margins. 
During a market upturn, or, for example, as customers affected by the flooding in Thailand resume their manufacturing, we may 
not be able to purchase sufficient supplies or components or secure sufficient contract manufacturing capacity, to meet increasing 
product demand. This could harm our reputation, prevent us from taking advantage of opportunities and reduce revenue growth. 
In addition, some parts are not readily available from alternate suppliers due to their unique design or the length of time necessary 
for design work.

In order to secure components for the production of our products, we may continue to enter into non-cancelable purchase 
commitments with vendors or make advance payments to suppliers, which could reduce our ability to adjust our inventory or 
expense levels to declining market demands. Prior commitments of this type have resulted in an excess of parts when demand for 
our products has decreased. Downturns in the semiconductor industry have in the past caused, and may in the future cause, our 
customers to reduce significantly the amount of products ordered from us. If demand for our products is less than we expect, we 
may experience excess and obsolete inventories and be forced to incur additional charges. Conversely, if OEMs order more of our 
products in any particular quarter than are ultimately required to satisfy end customer demand, inventories at these OEMs may 
grow in such quarter, which could adversely affect our product revenues in a subsequent quarter as such OEMs would likely reduce 
future orders until their inventory levels realign with end customer demand. In addition, because certain of our sales, research and 
development and internal manufacturing overhead expenses are relatively fixed, a reduction in customer demand may decrease 
our gross margins and operating income.

Our operating results and financial condition could be harmed if the markets into which we sell our products decline.

Visibility into our markets is limited and any decline in our customers' markets would likely result in a reduction in demand 
for our products In such an environment, pricing pressures could intensify and, if we were unable to respond quickly, could 
significantly reduce our gross margins. To the extent we cannot offset recessionary periods or periods of reduced growth that may 
occur in these markets through increased market share or otherwise, our net revenue may decline and our business, financial 
condition and results of operations may suffer. For example, we experienced a larger than expected decline in demand from our 
industrial target market towards the end of fiscal year 2011, which adversely affected our net revenues and gross margin. Pricing 
pressures and competition are especially intense in semiconductor-related industries, which could prevent achievement of our 
long-term financial goals and could require us to implement additional cost-cutting measures. Furthermore, industry growth rates 
may not be as forecasted, which could result in us spending on process and product development well ahead of market requirements, 
which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unless we and our suppliers continuously improve manufacturing efficiency and quality, our financial performance could 
be adversely affected.

Manufacturing semiconductors involves highly complex processes that require advanced equipment. We and our suppliers, as 
well as our competitors, continuously modify these processes in an effort to improve yields and product performance. Defects or 
other difficulties in the manufacturing process can reduce yields and increase costs. Our manufacturing efficiency will be an 
important factor in our future financial performance, and we may be unable to maintain or increase our manufacturing efficiency 
to the same extent as our competitors. For products that we outsource manufacturing, our product yields and performance will be 
subject to the manufacturing efficiencies of our third-party suppliers.

From time to time, we and our suppliers have experienced difficulty in beginning production at new facilities, transferring 
production  to  other  facilities,  achieving  and  maintaining  a  high  level  of  process  quality  and  effecting  transitions  to  new 
manufacturing processes, all of which have caused us to suffer delays in product deliveries or reduced yields. We and our suppliers 
may experience manufacturing problems in achieving acceptable yields or experience product delivery delays in the future as a 
result of, among other things, capacity constraints, construction delays, transferring production to other facilities (as we may be 

13

required to do with our manufacturing facility in Singapore, in or prior to 2015), upgrading or expanding existing facilities or 
changing our process technologies, any of which could result in a loss of future revenues. Our results of operations could be 
adversely affected by any increase in costs related to increases in production capacity if revenues do not increase proportionately.

Winning business is subject to lengthy, competitive selection processes that require us to incur significant expense. Even if 
we begin a product design, a customer may decide to cancel or change its product plans, which could cause us to generate 
no revenues from a product and adversely affect our results of operations.

We are focused on winning competitive bid selection processes, known as “design wins,” to develop semiconductors for use 
in our customers' products. These selection processes are typically lengthy and can require us to incur significant design and 
development expenditures and dedicate scarce engineering resources in pursuit of a single customer opportunity. We may not win 
the  competitive  selection  process  and  may  never  generate  any  revenue  despite  incurring  significant  design  and  development 
expenditures. These risks are exacerbated by the fact that many of our products will likely have very short life cycles. Failure to 
obtain a design win sometimes prevents us from offering an entire generation of a product. This can result in lost revenues and 
could weaken our position in future competitive selection processes.

After winning a product design, we may experience delays in generating revenue from our products as a result of the lengthy 
development cycle typically required, or may not realize as much revenue as we had anticipated. In addition, a delay or cancellation 
of a customer's plans could materially and adversely affect our financial results, as we may have incurred significant expense in 
the design process and generated little or no revenue. Customers could choose at any time to stop using our products or may fail 
to successfully market and sell their products, which could reduce demand for our products and materially adversely affect our 
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Finally, the timing of design wins is unpredictable and implementing production for a major design win or multiple design wins 
occurring at or around the same time may strain our resources and those of our contract manufacturers. In such event we may be 
forced to dedicate significant additional resources and incur additional, unanticipated costs and expenses to fulfill such design 
wins, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

We may be subject to claims of infringement of third-party intellectual property rights or demands that we license third-party 
technology, which could result in significant expense and loss of our intellectual property rights.

The semiconductor industry is characterized by companies holding large numbers of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade 
secrets and by the vigorous pursuit, protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including actions by patent-holding 
companies that do not make or sell products. From time to time, third parties assert against us and our customers and distributors 
their patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to our 
business. For example, we are currently involved in a dispute with TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc., or TriQuint, in which, among 
other things, TriQuint is seeking a judgment that one of our patents relating to RF filter technology used in our wireless products 
is invalid and, if valid, that TriQuint's products do not infringe that patent, and is claiming that certain of our wireless products 
infringe three of its patents. See Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” below for additional information regarding this dispute.

Litigation or settlement of claims that our products or processes infringe or misappropriate these rights, regardless of their merit, 
are frequently costly and divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel. In addition, many of our 
customer agreements, and in some cases our asset sale agreements, require us to indemnify our customers or purchasers for third-
party intellectual property infringement claims, which have required and may in the future require that we defend those claims, 
and might require that we pay damages in the case of adverse rulings. Claims of this sort could also harm our relationships with 
our customers and might deter future customers from doing business with us. We do not know whether we will prevail in such 
proceedings given the complex technical issues and inherent uncertainties in intellectual property litigation. If any pending or 
future proceedings result in an adverse outcome, we could be required to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

cease the manufacture, use or sale of the infringing products, processes or technology;

pay substantial damages for past, present and future use of the infringing technology;

expend significant resources to develop non-infringing technology;

license technology from the third-party claiming infringement, which license may not be available on commercially 
reasonable terms, or at all;

enter into cross-licenses with our competitors, which could weaken our overall intellectual property portfolio and our 
ability to compete in particular product categories;

indemnify customers or distributors; 

pay substantial damages to our customers or end users to discontinue use or replace infringing technology with non-
infringing technology; or

14

• 

relinquish intellectual property rights associated with one or more of our patent claims, if such claims are held invalid or 
otherwise unenforceable.

Any of the foregoing results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We utilize a significant amount of intellectual property in our business. If we are unable or fail to protect our intellectual 
property, our business could be adversely affected.

Our success depends in part upon protecting our intellectual property. To accomplish this, we rely on a combination of intellectual 
property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and similar intellectual property, as well as customary 
contractual protections with our customers, suppliers, employees and consultants. We may be required to spend significant resources 
to monitor and protect our intellectual property rights, and  even with significant expenditures we may not be able to protect our 
intellectual property rights valuable to our business. We are unable to predict that:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

intellectual  property  rights  that  we  presently  employ  in  our  business  will  not  lapse  or  be  invalidated,  circumvented, 
challenged, or, in the case of third-party intellectual property rights, licensed or sub-licensed to us, be licensed to others;

our intellectual property rights will provide competitive advantages to us;

rights previously granted by third parties to intellectual property rights licensed or assigned to us, including portfolio 
cross-licenses, will not hamper our ability to assert our intellectual property rights against potential competitors or hinder 
the settlement of currently pending or future disputes;

any of our pending or future patent, trademark or copyright applications will be issued or have the coverage originally 
sought; or

our intellectual property rights will be enforced in certain jurisdictions where competition may be intense or where legal 
protection may be weak.

In addition, our competitors or others may develop products or technologies that are similar or superior to our products or 
technologies, duplicate our products or technologies or design around our protected technologies. Effective patent, trademark, 
copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable or more limited in one or more relevant jurisdictions, relative to those 
protections available in the United States, may not be applied for or may be abandoned in one or more relevant jurisdictions. We 
may elect to abandon or divest patents or otherwise not pursue prosecution of certain pending patent applications due to strategic 
concerns or other factors. From time to time we pursue litigation to assert our intellectual property rights, including, in some cases, 
against third parties with whom we have ongoing relationships, such as customers and suppliers, and third parties may pursue 
litigation against us. An adverse decision in such types of legal action could limit our ability to assert our intellectual property 
rights and limit the value of our technology, including the loss of opportunities to license our technology to others or to collect 
royalty payments based upon successful protection and assertion of our intellectual property against others. In addition, such legal 
actions or adverse decisions could otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time we may need to obtain additional intellectual property licenses or renew existing license agreements. We are 

unable to predict whether these license agreements can be obtained or renewed on acceptable terms or at all.

Competition in our industry could prevent us from growing our revenue and from raising prices to offset increases in costs.

The global semiconductor market is highly competitive. We compete in different target markets to various degrees on the basis 
of, among other things, quality, technical performance, price, product features, product system compatibility, system-level design 
capability, engineering expertise, responsiveness to customers, new product innovation, product availability, delivery timing and 
reliability, and customer sales and technical support. Current and prospective customers for our products evaluate our capabilities 
against the merits of our direct competitors. Some of our competitors are well established, have a more extensive product portfolio, 
have substantially greater market share and manufacturing, financial, research and development and marketing resources to pursue 
development, engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of their products. In addition, many of our competitors have 
longer independent operating histories, greater presence in key markets, more comprehensive patent protection and greater name 
recognition. We compete with integrated device manufacturers, or IDMs, and fabless semiconductor companies as well as the 
internal resources of large, integrated OEMs. Our competitors range from large, international companies offering a wide range of 
semiconductor products to smaller companies specializing in narrow markets. We expect competition in the markets in which we 
participate to continue to increase as existing competitors improve or expand their product offerings. In addition, companies not 
currently in direct competition with us may introduce competing products in the future. Because our products are often building 
block semiconductors providing functions that in some cases can be integrated into more complex integrated circuits, or ICs, we 
also face competition from manufacturers of ICs, as well as customers that develop their own IC products. 

Our ability to compete successfully depends on elements both within and outside of our control, including industry and general 
economic trends. During past periods of downturns in our industry, competition in the markets in which we operate intensified as 
manufacturers of semiconductors reduced prices in order to combat production overcapacity and high inventory levels. The actions 
15

of our competitors, particularly in the area of pricing, can have a substantial adverse impact on our revenues, and potentially on 
revenues  in  specific  industry  end  markets.  In  periods  where  the  semiconductor  industry  experiences  significant  declines, 
manufacturers in financial difficulties or in bankruptcy may implement pricing structures designed to ensure short-term market 
share and near-term survival, rather than securing long-term viability. In addition, many of our competitors have substantially 
greater financial and other resources than us with which to withstand adverse economic or market conditions and any associated 
pricing actions of other market participants in the future.

We make substantial investments in research and development to improve existing and develop new technologies to remain 
competitive in our business and unsuccessful investments could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition 
and results of operations.

The semiconductor industry requires substantial investment in research and development in order to develop and bring to market 
new and enhanced technologies and products. In order to remain competitive, we have made significant investments in research 
and development and anticipate that we will need to maintain or increase our levels of research and development expenditures. 
We expect research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future, due to the increasing 
complexity and number of products we plan to develop. The technologies where we have focused or may focus our research and 
development  expenditures  may  not  become  commercially  successful.  Significant  investments  in  unsuccessful  research  and 
development efforts could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, 
increased investments in research and development could cause our cost structure to fall out of alignment with demand for our 
products, which would have a negative impact on our financial results.

Our business would be adversely affected by the departure of existing members of our senior management team or if our 
senior management team is unable to effectively implement our strategy.

Our success depends, in large part, on the continued contributions of our senior management team, in particular, the services 
of Mr. Hock E. Tan, our President and Chief Executive Officer. None of our senior management is bound by written employment 
contracts to remain with us for a specified period. In addition, we do not currently maintain key person life insurance covering 
our senior management. The loss of any of our senior management could harm our ability to implement our business strategy and 
respond to the rapidly changing market conditions in which we operate.

If we are unable to attract, train and retain qualified personnel, especially our design and technical personnel, we may not 
be able to execute our business strategy effectively.

Our future success depends on our ability to retain, attract and motivate qualified personnel, including our management, sales 
and marketing, legal and finance, and especially our design and technical personnel. We do not know whether we will be able to 
retain all of these employees as we continue to pursue our business strategy. We have historically encountered difficulties in hiring 
and  retaining  qualified  engineers  because  there  is  a  limited  pool  of  engineers  with  expertise  in  analog  and  optoelectronic 
semiconductor design. Competition for such personnel is intense in the semiconductor industry, particularly in Southeast Asia 
where qualified engineers are currently in high demand. As the source of our technological and product innovations, our design 
and technical personnel represent a significant asset. The loss of the services of key employees, especially our key design and 
technical personnel, or our inability to retain, attract and motivate qualified design and technical personnel, could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to warranty claims, product recalls and product liability.

We are currently, and from time to time may be, subject to warranty or product liability claims that have lead, and may in the 
future lead, to significant expenses as we compensate affected customers for costs incurred related to product quality issues. 
Although we maintain reserves for reasonably estimable liabilities and purchase product liability insurance, our reserves may be 
inadequate to cover the uninsured portion of such claims. Conversely, in some cases, amounts we reserve may ultimately exceed 
our actual liability for particular claims and may need to be reversed. For example, in the second quarter of 2009 we identified a 
product quality issue with a particular component that we took steps to correct, including notifying our customers and offering to 
replace such components. We are continuing our discussions with affected customers regarding this issue, and have compensated 
or  otherwise  rectified  the  issue  with  many  of  those  customers. Through October  30,  2011, we  had  recorded  an  aggregate  of 
$11 million in charges (including a reversal of warranty accrual of $6 million in the year ended October 30, 2011) associated with 
this issue, and may incur additional charges as we continue to work with our customers to resolve the matter. 

Although we maintain product liability insurance, such insurance is subject to significant deductibles and there is no guarantee 
that such insurance will be available or adequate to protect against all such claims, or we may elect to self-insure with respect to 
certain matters. We may incur costs and expenses in the event of any recall of a customer's product containing one of our devices. 
The process of identifying a recalled product in devices that have been widely distributed may be lengthy and require significant 
resources, and we may incur significant replacement costs, contract damage claims from our customers and reputational harm. 
Our customer contracts typically contain warranty and indemnification provisions, and in certain cases may also contain liquidated 

16

damages provisions, relating to product quality issues. The potential liabilities associated with such provisions are significant, and 
in some cases are potentially unlimited, and may greatly exceed any revenues we receive from such products. Costs, payments or 
damages incurred or paid by us in connection with warranty and product liability claims and product recalls could materially and 
adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

The complexity of our products could result in unforeseen delays or expenses or undetected defects or bugs, which could 
adversely affect the market acceptance of new products, damage our reputation with current or prospective customers, and 
materially and adversely affect our operating costs.

Highly complex products such as the products that we offer, may contain defects and bugs when they are first introduced or as 
new versions are released, or their release may be delayed due to unforeseen difficulties during product development. We have in 
the past experienced, and may in the future experience, these defects, bugs and delays. If any of our products contain defects or 
bugs, or have reliability, quality or compatibility problems, we may not be able to successfully design workarounds. Consequently, 
our reputation may be damaged and customers may be reluctant to buy our products, which could materially and adversely affect 
our ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers, and our financial results. In addition, these defects or bugs could 
interrupt or delay sales to our customers. To resolve these problems, we may have to invest significant capital and other resources. 
Although our products are tested by our suppliers, our customers and ourselves, it is possible that our new products will contain 
defects or bugs. If any of these problems are not found until after we have commenced commercial production of a new product, 
we may be required to incur additional development costs and product recall, repair or replacement costs. These problems may 
also result in claims against us by our customers or others. For example, if a delay in the manufacture and delivery of our products 
causes the delay of a customer's product delivery, we may be required, under the terms of our agreement with that customer, to 
compensate the customer for the adverse effects of such delays. In addition, these problems may divert our technical and other 
resources from other development efforts, and we would likely lose, or experience a delay in, market acceptance of the affected 
product or products, and we could lose credibility with our current and prospective customers. As a result, our financial results 
could be materially and adversely affected.

We are subject to currency exchange risks that could adversely affect our operations.

Although  a  majority  of  our  revenue  and  operating  expenses  is  denominated  in  U.S. dollars,  and  we  prepare  our  financial 
statements in U.S. dollars in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, a portion 
of our revenue and operating expenses is in foreign currencies. As a result, we are subject to currency risks that could adversely 
affect our operations, including:

• 

• 

risks resulting from changes in currency exchange rates and the implementation of exchange controls; and

limitations on our ability to reinvest earnings from operations in one country to fund the capital needs of our operations 
in other countries.

Changes in exchange rates will result in increases or decreases in our costs and earnings, and will also affect the book value of 
our monetary assets denominated in foreign currencies and the amount of our total shareholders' equity. Although we seek to 
minimize our currency exposure by engaging in hedging transactions where we deem it appropriate, we do not know whether our 
efforts will be successful.

The demands or loss of one or more of our significant customers may adversely affect our business.

Some of our customers are material to our business and results of operations. During fiscal year 2011, no customer accounted 
for 10% or more of our net revenue, but our top 10 customers, which included three distributors, collectively accounted for 54% 
of our net revenue. During fiscal year 2010, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our net revenue and our top 10 customers, 
which included five distributors, collectively accounted for 55% of our net revenue. In addition, we believe that aggregate sales 
of our products to certain of our customers exceeds the amount of our direct sales to them. For example, we believe our aggregate 
sales to Cisco Systems, Inc., when direct sales are combined with indirect sales to Cisco through contract manufacturers that Cisco 
utilizes, may have exceeded 10% of our net revenues for fiscal year 2011. Our top customers' purchasing power has, in some 
cases, given them the ability to make greater demands on  us with regard to pricing and contractual terms in general. We expect 
this trend to continue, which may adversely affect our gross margins on certain products. In addition, we expect this will result in 
our results of operations becoming increasingly sensitive to deterioration in the financial condition of, or other adverse developments 
related to, one or more of our significant customers. Although we believe that our relationships with our major customers are good, 
we generally do not have long-term contracts with any of them, which is typical of our industry. As a result, although our customers 
provide indications of their product needs and purchases on an annual basis, they generally purchase our products on a weekly or 
daily basis and the relationship, as well as particular orders, can be terminated at any time. The loss of any of our major customers, 
or any substantial reduction in sales to any of these customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial 
condition and results of operations. 

17

We are subject to risks associated with our distributors' product inventories and product sell-through.

We sell many of our products to customers through distributors who maintain their own inventory of our products for sale to 
dealers and end users. We recognize revenues for sales to distributors upon delivery to the distributors. We limit distributor return 
rights and we allow limited price adjustments on sales to distributors. We provide reserves for distributor rights related to these 
limited stock returns and price adjustments. Sales to distributors accounted for 37% and 41% of our net revenue for fiscal year 
2011 and fiscal year 2010, respectively. 

If these distributors are unable to sell an adequate amount of their inventory of our products in a given quarter to dealers and 
end users or if they decide to decrease their inventories for any reason, such as due to adverse global economic conditions or due 
to any downturn in technology spending, our sales to these distributors and our revenues may decline. In addition, if distributors 
decide to purchase more inventory in any particular quarter, due to product availability or other reasons, than is required to satisfy 
end customer demand, inventory at our distributors may grow in such quarter, which could adversely affect our product revenues 
in a subsequent quarter as such distributors will likely reduce future orders until their inventory levels realign with end customer 
demand. 

We also face the risk that our distributors may for other reasons have inventory levels of our products in excess of future 
anticipated sales. If such sales do not occur in the time frame anticipated by these distributors for any reason, these distributors 
may substantially decrease the amount of product they order from us in subsequent periods, which would harm our business.

Our reserve estimates associated with products stocked by our distributors are based largely on reports that our distributors 
provide to us on a monthly basis. To date, we believe this data has been generally accurate. To the extent that this resale and channel 
inventory data is inaccurate or not received in a timely manner, we may not be able to make reserve estimates for future periods 
accurately or at all.

We generally do not have any long-term supply contracts with our contract manufacturers or materials suppliers and may 
not be able to obtain the products or raw materials required for our business, which could have a material adverse affect on 
our business.

We either obtain the products we need for our business from third-party contract manufacturers or we obtain the materials we 
need for our products from suppliers, some of which are our single source suppliers for these materials. We purchase a significant 
portion of our semiconductor materials and finished goods from a few suppliers and contract manufacturers. For fiscal year 2011, 
we purchased 55% of the materials for our manufacturing processes from seven suppliers. For fiscal year 2010, we purchased 
54% of the materials for our manufacturing processes from eight suppliers. Substantially all of our purchases are on a purchase 
order basis, and we have not generally entered into long-term contracts with our contract manufacturers or suppliers. In the event 
that these purchase orders or relationships with suppliers are terminated, we cannot obtain sufficient quantities of raw materials 
at reasonable prices, the quality of the material deteriorates, we fail to satisfy our customers' requirements or we are not able to 
pass on higher materials or energy costs to our customers, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be 
adversely impacted.

Our manufacturing processes rely on many materials, including silicon and GaAs wafers, copper lead frames, precious metals, 
mold compound, ceramic packages and various chemicals and gases. From time to time, suppliers may extend lead times, limit 
supplies or increase prices due to commodity price increases, capacity constraints or other factors. Although we believe that our 
current supplies of materials are adequate, shortages could occur in various essential materials due to interruption of supply or 
increased demand in the industry.  

We use third-party contractor manufacturers for most of our manufacturing activities, primarily for wafer fabrication and module 
assembly and test services. Our agreements with these manufacturers typically require us to forecast product needs, commit to 
purchase services consistent with these forecasts and may require other commitments in the early stages of the relationship. Our 
operations could be adversely affected in the event that these contractual relationships were disrupted or terminated, the cost of 
such services increased significantly, the quality of the services provided deteriorated, our forecasts proved to be materially incorrect 
or capacity were consumed by our competitors.

We rely on third parties to provide corporate infrastructure services necessary for the operation of our business. Any failure 
of one or more of our vendors to provide these services could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We rely  on  third-party  vendors  to  provide  critical  corporate  infrastructure  services,  including,  among  other  things,  certain 
services  related  to  accounting,  billing,  human  resources,  information  technology,  or  IT,  network  development  and  network 
monitoring. We depend on these vendors to ensure that our corporate infrastructure will consistently meet our business requirements. 
The ability of these third-party vendors to successfully provide reliable, high quality services is subject to technical and operational 
uncertainties that are beyond our control. While we may be entitled to damages if our vendors fail to perform under their agreements 
with us, our agreements with these vendors limit the amount of damages we may receive. In addition, we do not know whether 
we will be able to collect on any award of damages or that any such damages would be sufficient to cover the actual costs we 

18

would incur as a result of any vendor's failure to perform under its agreement with us. Any failure of our corporate infrastructure 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Upon expiration or termination 
of any of our agreements with third-party vendors, we may not be able to replace the services provided to us in a timely manner 
or on terms and conditions, including service levels and cost, that are favorable to us and a transition from one vendor to another 
vendor could subject us to operational delays and inefficiencies until the transition is complete.

Our gross margin is dependent on a number of factors, including our product mix, customer mix, commodity prices and level 
of capacity utilization.

Our gross margin is highly dependent on product mix, with proprietary products and products sold into our industrial and 
automotive target market typically providing higher gross margin than other products. A shift in sales mix away from our higher 
margin products could adversely affect our future gross margin percentages. In addition, OEMs are becoming increasingly price 
conscious when they design semiconductors from third party suppliers into their products. This sensitivity, combined with large 
OEMs' purchasing power, can lead to intense price competition among competing suppliers, which may require us to decrease 
our prices in order to win a design with an OEM customer. This can, in turn, adversely affect our gross margin. Our margin may 
also be affected by fluctuations in commodity prices, either directly in the price of the raw materials we buy, or as a result of prices 
increases passed on to us by our suppliers. Many commodities prices, including those of gold and fuel, have risen significantly in 
recent months. We do not hedge our exposure to commodity prices and continued increases in commodities prices may adversely 
affect our gross margin. 

In  addition,  semiconductor  manufacturing  requires  significant  capital  investment,  leading  to  high  fixed  costs,  including 
depreciation expense. Although we outsource a significant portion of our manufacturing activities, we do retain some semiconductor 
fabrication facilities. During fiscal year 2012, we intend to make substantial capital investment in our Fort Collins, Colorado 
facility to support anticipated growth in sales of our proprietary products and leverage our fixed costs. We may not realize the 
benefit we anticipate from this investment. If we are unable to utilize our owned fabrication facilities at a high level, the fixed 
costs associated with these facilities, such as depreciation expense, will not be fully absorbed, resulting in higher average unit 
costs and lower gross margins. In the past, we have experienced periods where our gross margins declined due to, among other 
things, reduced factory utilization resulting from reduced customer demand, reduced selling prices and a change in product mix 
towards  lower  margin  devices.  Increased  competition  and  the  existence  of  product  alternatives,  more  complex  engineering 
requirements, lower demand and other factors may lead to further price erosion, lower revenues and lower margins for us in the 
future.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected by the political and economic conditions 
of the countries in which we conduct business and other factors related to our international operations.

We sell our products throughout the world. In addition, as at October 30, 2011, approximately 66% of our employees are located 
outside of the United States. Multiple factors relating to our international operations and to particular countries in which we operate 
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These factors include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

changes in political, regulatory, legal or economic conditions;

restrictive governmental actions, such as restrictions on the transfer or repatriation of funds and foreign investments and 
trade protection measures, including export duties and quotas and customs duties and tariffs;

disruptions of capital and trading markets; 

changes in import or export licensing requirements; 

transportation delays; 

civil disturbances or political instability; 

geopolitical turmoil, including terrorism, war or political or military coups;

changes in labor standards; 

limitations on our ability under local laws to protect our intellectual property;

nationalization of businesses and expropriation of assets;

changes in tax laws; 

currency fluctuations, which may result in our products becoming too expensive for foreign customers or foreign-sourced 
materials and services becoming more expensive for us; and

• 

difficulty in obtaining distribution and support. 

A significant  legal  risk  associated  with  conducting  business  internationally  is  compliance  with  various  and  differing  anti-

19

corruption and anti-bribery laws and regulations of the countries in which we do business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act, the recent U.K. Bribery Act and similar laws in China.  In addition, the anti-corruption laws in various countries 
are constantly evolving and may, in some cases, conflict with each other.  Our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct prohibit us 
and our employees from offering or giving anything of value to a government official for the purpose of obtaining or retaining 
business and from engaging in unethical business practices.  However, there can be no assurance that all of our employees or 
agents will refrain from acting in violation of this and our related anti-corruption policies and procedures. Any such violation 
could have a material adverse effect on our business. 

A majority of our products are produced and sourced in Asia, including in China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South 
Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. Any conflict or uncertainty in these countries, including due to political or civil unrest, public health 
or safety concerns or natural disasters, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of 
operations. In addition, if the government of any country in which our products are manufactured or sold sets technical standards 
for products manufactured in or imported into their country that are not widely shared, it may lead certain of our customers to 
suspend imports of their products into that country, require manufacturers in that country to manufacture products with different 
technical standards and disrupt cross-border manufacturing relationships which, in each case, could have a material adverse effect 
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In  addition,  our  subsidiaries  may  require  future  equity-related  financing,  and  any  capital  contributions  to  certain  of  our 
subsidiaries may require the approval of the relevant authorities in the jurisdiction in which the subsidiary is incorporated. The 
approvals are required from the investment commissions or similar agency of the particular jurisdiction and relate to any initial 
or additional equity investment by foreign entities in local corporations. Our failure to obtain the required approvals and our 
resulting inability to provide such equity-related financing or capital contributions could have an adverse effect on our business, 
financial condition and results of operations.

If we or our contract manufacturers suffer loss or significant damage to our factories, facilities or distribution system due to 
catastrophe, our operations could be seriously harmed.

Our factories, facilities and distribution system, and those of our contract manufacturers, are subject to risk of catastrophic loss 
due to fire, flood, or other natural or man-made disasters, including the ongoing flooding in Thailand. The majority of our facilities 
and those of our contract manufacturers are located in the Pacific Rim region, a region with above average seismic and severe 
weather activity. In addition, our research and development personnel are concentrated in a few locations, primarily Malaysia, 
Singapore, South Korea, Fort Collins, Colorado and San Jose, California, with the expertise of the personnel at each such location 
tending to be focused on one or two specific areas. Any catastrophic natural disaster in those regions or catastrophic loss or 
significant damage to any of our facilities or those of our contract manufacturers in those regions would likely disrupt our operations, 
delay production, shipments and revenue. Such events could also result in significant expenses to repair or replace our affected 
facilities, and in some instances could significantly curtail our research and development efforts in a particular product area or 
target market. Any catastrophic loss at our Fort Collins, Colorado, San Jose, California, or Singapore facilities would materially 
and adversely affect our business. 

If the tax incentive or tax holiday arrangements we have negotiated in Singapore and other jurisdictions change or cease to 
be in effect or applicable, or if our assumptions and interpretations regarding tax laws and incentive or holiday arrangements 
prove to be incorrect, the amount of corporate income taxes we have to pay could significantly increase.

We have structured our operations to maximize the benefit from various tax incentives and tax holidays extended to us in various 
jurisdictions to encourage investment or employment. For example, we have obtained several tax incentives from the Singapore 
Economic Development Board, an agency of the Government of Singapore, which provide that certain classes of income we earn 
in Singapore are subject to tax holidays or reduced rates of Singapore income tax. Each such tax incentive is separate and distinct 
from the others, and may be granted, withheld, extended, modified, truncated, complied with or terminated independently without 
any effect on the other incentives. In order to retain these tax benefits in Singapore, we must meet certain operating conditions 
specific to each incentive relating to, among other things, maintenance of a treasury function, a corporate headquarters function, 
specified intellectual property activities and specified manufacturing activities in Singapore. Some of these operating conditions 
are subject to phase-in periods through 2015. The Singapore tax incentives are presently scheduled to expire at various dates 
generally between 2014 and 2025. Absent such tax incentives, the corporate income tax rate in Singapore that would otherwise 
apply to us would be 17%. For the fiscal years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, the effect of all 
these tax incentives, in the aggregate, was to reduce the overall provision for income taxes from what it otherwise would have 
been  in  such  year  by  approximately  $82  million,  $63 million  and  $17 million,  respectively. The  tax  incentives  that  we  have 
negotiated in other jurisdictions are also subject to our compliance with various operating and other conditions. If we cannot or 
elect not to comply with the operating conditions included in any particular tax incentive, we will lose the related tax benefits and 
could be required to refund material tax benefits previously realized by us with respect to that incentive and, depending on the 
incentive at issue, could likely be required to modify our operational structure and tax strategy. Any such modified structure or 
strategy may not be as beneficial to us from an income tax expense or operational perspective as the benefits provided under the 

20

present tax concession arrangements.

Our interpretations and conclusions regarding the tax incentives are not binding on any taxing authority, and if our assumptions 
about tax and other laws are incorrect or if these tax incentives are substantially modified or rescinded we could suffer material 
adverse tax and other financial consequences, which would increase our expenses, reduce our profitability and adversely affect 
our cash flows. In addition, taxable income in any jurisdiction is dependent upon acceptance of our operational practices and 
intercompany transfer pricing by local tax authorities as being on an arm's length basis. Due to inconsistencies in application of 
the arm's length standard among taxing authorities, as well as lack of adequate treaty-based protection, transfer pricing challenges 
by tax authorities could, if successful, substantially increase our income tax expense. We are subject to, and are under, audit in 
various jurisdictions, and such jurisdictions may assess additional income tax against us. Although we believe our tax positions 
are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits could be materially different from our recorded income tax provisions and 
accruals. The ultimate results of an audit could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or cash flows in the period 
or periods for which that determination is made.

The enactment of legislation implementing changes in U.S. taxation of international business activities or the adoption of 
other tax reform policies could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

Tax bills are introduced from time to time to reform U.S. taxation of international business activities. Depending on the final 
form of legislation enacted, if any, these consequences may be significant for us due to the large scale of our international business 
activities. If any of these proposals are enacted into legislation, they could have material adverse consequences on the amount of 
tax we pay and thereby on our financial position and results of operations.

We may not realize the full benefits of our research and development grants.  

We have accepted research and development grants, the receipt and amount of which are subject to our satisfaction of certain 

terms and conditions.  During fiscal year 2011, we recorded an aggregate of $1 million in credits to research and development 
expense and $1 million as a deferred credit for capital expenditure pursuant to these grants. If we cannot or elect not to satisfy 
the terms and conditions of any of these grants, expenses incurred in respect of the relevant research and development projects 
will not be approved for reimbursement, we may be required to return amounts previously paid to us under the grants and 
further grants may not be available to us in the future.

We may pursue acquisitions, dispositions, investments and joint ventures, which could affect our results of operations.

We have made and expect to continue to make acquisitions of, and investments in, businesses that offer complementary products, 
services and technologies, augment our market coverage, or enhance our technological capabilities. We may also enter into strategic 
alliances or joint ventures to achieve these goals. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition, 
investment, alliance, or joint venture opportunities or that we will be able to consummate any such transactions or relationships 
on terms and conditions acceptable to us, or that such transactions or relationships will be successful.

These transactions or any other acquisitions or dispositions involve risks and uncertainties. For example, the integration of 
acquired businesses may not be successful and could result in disruption to other parts of our business. In addition, the integration 
may require that we incur significant restructuring charges. To integrate acquired businesses, we must implement our management 
information systems, operating systems and internal controls, and assimilate and manage the personnel of the acquired operations. 
The difficulties of these integrations may be further complicated by such factors as the size of the business or entity acquired, 
geographic distances, lack of experience operating in the geographic market or industry sector of the acquired business, delays 
and challenges associated with integrating the business with our existing businesses, diversion of management's attention from 
daily operations of the business, potential loss of key employees and customers of the acquired business, the potential for deficiencies 
in internal controls at the acquired or combined business, performance problems with the acquired business' technology, difficulties 
in entering markets in which we have no or limited direct prior experience, exposure to unanticipated liabilities of the acquired 
business, insufficient revenues to offset increased expenses associated with the acquisition, and our potential inability to achieve 
the growth prospects and synergies expected from any such acquisition. Even when an acquired business has already developed 
and marketed products, there can be no assurance that product enhancements will be made in a timely fashion or that all pre-
acquisition due diligence will have identified all material issues that might arise with respect to such acquired business.

Any acquisition may also cause us to assume liabilities and ongoing lawsuits, acquire goodwill and non-amortizable intangible 
assets that will be subject to impairment testing and potential impairment charges, incur amortization expense related to certain 
intangible assets, increase our expenses and working capital requirements, and subject us to litigation, which would reduce our 
return on invested capital. In addition, if the businesses or products lines that we acquire have a different pricing or cost structure 
than  we  do,  such  acquisitions  may  adversely  affect  our  profitability  and  reduce  our  overall  margin.  Failure  to  manage  and 
successfully integrate the acquisitions we make or to improve margins of the acquired businesses and products could materially 
harm our business, operating results and margins.

Any future acquisitions may require additional debt or equity financing, which, in the case of debt financing, would increase 

21

our  leverage  and  potentially  affect  our  credit  ratings,  and  in  the  case  of  equity  financing,  would  be  dilutive  to  our  existing 
shareholders. Any downgrades in our credit ratings associated with an acquisition could adversely affect our ability to borrow by 
resulting in more restrictive borrowing terms. As a result of the foregoing, we also may not be able to complete acquisitions or 
strategic customer transactions in the future to the same extent as in the past, or at all. These and other factors could harm our 
ability to achieve anticipated levels of profitability at acquired operations or realize other anticipated benefits of an acquisition, 
and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business is subject to various governmental regulations, and compliance with these regulations may cause us to incur 
significant expenses. If we fail to maintain compliance with applicable regulations, we may be forced to recall products and 
cease their manufacture and distribution, and we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

Our business is subject to various significant international and U.S. laws and other legal requirements, including packaging, 
product content, labor and import/export regulations. These regulations are complex, change frequently and have generally become 
more stringent over time. We may be required to incur significant expenses to comply with these regulations or to remedy violations 
of these regulations. Any failure by us to comply with applicable government regulations could result in cessation of our operations 
or portions of our operations, product recalls or impositions of fines and restrictions on our ability to conduct our operations. In 
addition, because many of our products are regulated or sold into regulated industries, we must comply with additional regulations 
in marketing our products.

Our  products  and  operations  are  also  subject  to  the  rules  of  industrial  standards  bodies,  like  the  International  Standards 
Organization,  as  well  as  regulation  by  other  agencies,  such  as  the  U.S. Federal  Communications  Commission.  If  we  fail  to 
adequately address any of these rules or regulations, our business could be harmed.

We must conform the manufacture and distribution of our semiconductors to various laws and adapt to regulatory requirements 
in all countries as these requirements change. If we fail to comply with these requirements in the manufacture or distribution of 
our  products,  we  could  be  required  to  pay  civil  penalties,  face  criminal  prosecution  and,  in  some  cases,  be  prohibited  from 
distributing our products commercially until the products or component substances are brought into compliance.

We are subject to environmental, health and safety laws, which could increase our costs, restrict our operations and require 
expenditures that could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to a variety of international and U.S. laws and other legal requirements relating to the use, disposal, clean-up of 
and human exposure to, hazardous materials. Any failure by us to comply with environmental, health and safety requirements 
could result in the limitation or suspension of production or subject us to future liabilities in excess of our reserves. In addition, 
compliance with environmental, health and safety requirements could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or require us to 
acquire costly pollution control equipment, incur other significant expenses or modify our manufacturing processes. In the event 
of the discovery of new contamination, additional requirements with respect to existing contamination, or the imposition of other 
cleanup obligations for which we are responsible, we may be required to take remedial or other measures which could have a 
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We also face increasing complexity in our product design and procurement operations as we adjust to new requirements relating 
to the materials composition of our products, including the restrictions on lead and certain other substances in electronics that 
apply to specified electronics products sold in the European Union as of July 1, 2006 under the Restriction of Hazardous Substances 
in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. Other countries, such as the United States, China and Japan, have enacted or 
may enact laws or regulations similar to the EU legislation. Other environmental regulations may require us to re-engineer our 
products to utilize components that are more environmentally compatible. Such re-engineering and component substitution may 
result in excess inventory or other additional costs and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In addition to the costs of complying with environmental, health and safety requirements, we may in the future incur costs 
defending against environmental litigation brought by government agencies and private parties. We may be defendants in lawsuits 
brought by parties in the future alleging environmental damage, personal injury or property damage. A significant judgment against 
us could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In the last few years, there has been increased media scrutiny and associated reports focusing on a potential link between working 
in semiconductor manufacturing clean room environments and certain illnesses, primarily different types of cancers. Regulatory 
agencies and industry associations have begun to study the issue to see if any actual correlation exists. Because we utilize clean 
rooms,  we  may  become  subject  to  liability  claims.  In  addition,  these  reports  may  also  affect our  ability  to  recruit  and  retain 
employees.

We cannot predict: 

• 

• 

changes in environmental or health and safety laws or regulations;

the manner in which environmental or health and safety laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or interpreted;

22

• 

• 

our  ability  to  enforce  and  collect  under  indemnity  agreements  and  insurance  policies  relating  to  environmental 
liabilities; or

the cost of compliance with future environmental or health and safety laws or regulations or the costs associated with 
any future environmental claims, including the cost of clean-up of currently unknown environmental conditions.

We have taken significant restructuring charges in the past and may need to take material restructuring charges in the future.

During fiscal year 2009, we pursued a number of restructuring initiatives designed to reduce costs and increase revenue across 
our operations, in large part due to the global economic downturn and related decline in demand for our customers' products. These 
initiatives included significant workforce reductions in certain areas as we realigned our business, establishing certain operations 
closer in location to our global customers, evaluating functions more efficiently performed through partnerships or other outside 
relationships and steps to attempt to further reduce our overhead costs. 

We may be required to take additional charges in the future as we continue to evaluate our operations and cost structures relative 
to general economic conditions, market demands, our cost competitiveness, our geographic footprint as it relates to our customers' 
production requirements and our research and development focus. The timing or amount of any future restructuring charges is 
uncertain. If we are required to take additional restructuring charges in the future, our operating results, financial condition, and 
cash flows may be adversely impacted. Additionally, there are other potential risks associated with our restructurings that could 
adversely affect us, such as delays encountered with the finalization and implementation of the restructuring activities, work 
stoppages, and the failure to achieve targeted cost savings.

We rely on third-party distributors and manufacturers' representatives, as well as our employee sales representatives, and the 
failure of these distributors or representatives to perform as expected could reduce our future sales.

In addition to selling products through our employee sales representatives, we also rely on distributors and manufacturers' 
representatives to sell our products to our customers. This is particularly the case in markets where we do not have a significant 
physical presence and new markets that we are seeking to enter. We are unable to predict the extent to which our distributors 
and manufacturers' representatives will be successful in marketing and selling our products. Moreover, many of our distributors 
and manufacturers' representatives also market and sell competing products. Our relationships with our representatives and 
distributors may be terminated by either party at any time. In June 2011, we reduced the number of our global, full-line 
distributors, by changing one of them to a regional, full-line distributor. We continue to evaluate our sales and distribution 
strategies and may make further changes in the future. Our future performance will depend, in part, on our ability to attract 
additional distributors or manufacturers' representatives that will be able to market and support our products effectively, 
especially in markets where we have not previously distributed our products, and on our ability to effectively manage 
distribution efforts by our remaining global, full-line distributors. If we cannot retain our current distributors or manufacturers' 
representatives, recruit additional or replacement distributors or manufacturers' representatives, or effectively manage changes 
to our sales and distributions strategies, our sales and operating results will be harmed.  

The average selling prices of products in our markets have historically decreased rapidly and will likely do so in the future, 
which could harm our revenues and gross profits.

The products we develop and sell are used for high volume applications. As a result, the prices of those products have historically 
decreased rapidly. Gross profits on our products may be negatively affected by, among other things, pricing pressures from our 
customers, and the proportion of sales of our wireless and other products into consumer application markets, which are highly 
competitive and cost sensitive. In the past, we have reduced the average selling prices of our products in anticipation of future 
competitive pricing pressures, new product introductions by us or our competitors and other factors. In addition, some  of our 
customer agreements provide for volume-based pricing and product pricing roadmaps, which can also reduce the average selling 
prices of our products over time. Our gross profits and financial results will suffer if we are unable to offset any reductions in our 
average selling prices by increasing our sales volumes, reducing manufacturing costs, or developing new and higher value-added 
products on a timely basis.

We are required to assess our internal control over financial reporting on an annual basis and any adverse findings from 
such assessment could result in a loss of investor confidence in our financial reports, significant expenses to remediate any 
internal control deficiencies and ultimately have an adverse effect on our share price.

We are required to assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting annually, as required by Section 404 
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Even though, as at October 30, 2011, we concluded that our internal control over financial reporting 
was effective, we need to maintain our processes and systems and adapt them as our business grows and changes. This continuous 
process of maintaining and adapting our internal controls and complying with Section 404 is expensive, time-consuming and 
requires significant management attention. We cannot be certain that our internal control measures will continue to provide adequate 
control over our financial processes and reporting and ensure compliance with Section 404. Furthermore, as we grow our business 
or acquire other businesses, our internal controls may become more complex and we may require significantly more resources to 
23

ensure  they  remain  effective.  Failure  to  implement  required  new  or  improved  controls,  or  difficulties  encountered  in  their 
implementation, either in our existing business or in businesses that we may acquire, could harm our operating results or cause 
us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify material weaknesses 
in our internal controls, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, may cause investors to lose confidence in our financial 
statements and the trading price of our ordinary shares may decline.

Remediation of a material weakness could require us to incur significant expense and if we fail to remedy any material weakness, 
our financial statements may be inaccurate, our ability to report our financial results on a timely and accurate basis may be adversely 
affected, our access to the capital markets may be restricted, the trading price of our ordinary shares may decline, and we may be 
subject to sanctions or investigation by regulatory authorities, including the SEC or The Nasdaq Global Select Market. We may 
also be required to restate our financial statements from prior periods.

A breach of our security systems may have a material adverse effect on our business. 

Our security systems are designed to maintain the physical security of our facilities and protect our customers', suppliers' 
and employees' confidential information. Accidental or willful security breaches or other unauthorized access by third parties to 
our facilities or our information systems or the existence of computer viruses in our data or software could expose us to a risk 
of information loss and misappropriation of proprietary and confidential information.  Any theft or misuse of such information 
could result in, among other things, unfavorable publicity, damage to our reputation, difficulty in marketing our products, 
allegations by our customers that we have not performed our contractual obligations, litigation by affected parties and possible 
financial obligations for liabilities and damages related to the theft or misuse of such information, any of which could have a 
material adverse effect on our business, profitability and financial condition.  Since the techniques used to obtain unauthorized 
access or to sabotage systems change frequently and are often not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable 
to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures.

Risks Relating to Investments in Singapore Companies

It may be difficult to enforce a judgment of U.S. courts for civil liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws against us, our 
directors or officers in Singapore.

We are incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Singapore, and certain of our officers and directors are resident outside 
the  United  States.  Moreover,  a  majority  of  our  consolidated  assets  are  located  outside  the  United  States. Although  we  are 
incorporated outside the United States, we have agreed to accept service of process in the United States through our agent designated 
for that purpose. Nevertheless, since a majority of the consolidated assets owned by us are located outside the United States, any 
judgment obtained in the United States against us may not be collectible within the United States.

There is no treaty between the United States and Singapore providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments 
in civil and commercial matters and a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United 
States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the federal securities laws, would, therefore, not be automatically 
enforceable in Singapore. There is doubt whether a Singapore court may impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers 
who reside in Singapore in a suit brought in the Singapore courts against us or such persons with respect to a violation solely of 
the federal securities laws of the United States, unless the facts surrounding such a violation would constitute or give rise to a 
cause of action under Singapore law. Consequently, it may be difficult for investors to enforce against us, our directors or our 
officers in Singapore judgments obtained in the United States, which are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal 
securities laws of the United States.

We are incorporated in Singapore and our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interest than they would 
as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and by the laws governing corporations 
incorporated in Singapore. The rights of our shareholders and the responsibilities of the members of our board of directors under 
Singapore  law  are  different  from  those  applicable  to  a  corporation  incorporated  in  the  United  States.  Therefore,  our  public 
shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interest in connection with actions taken by our management or members 
of our board of directors  than they would as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in the United States. 

For a limited period of time, our directors have general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares on terms and conditions 
as may be determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion.

Under Singapore law, we may only allot and issue new ordinary shares with the prior approval of our shareholders in a general 
meeting. At our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders, our shareholders provided our directors with the general authority 
to allot and issue any number of new ordinary shares until the earlier of (i) the conclusion of our 2012 annual general meeting, 
(ii) the expiration of the period within which the next annual general meeting is required to be held (i.e., within 15 months from 
the conclusion of the last general meeting) or (iii) the subsequent revocation or modification of such general authority by our 

24

shareholders acting at a duly noticed and convened meeting. At our 2012 annual general meeting of shareholders, we plan to ask 
our shareholders to provide us with similar general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares until our 2013 annual general 
meeting of shareholders or the date by which it is required by law to be held, unless earlier revoked by our shareholders. Subject 
to the general authority to allot and issue new ordinary shares provided by our shareholders, the provisions of the Singapore 
Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors may allot and issue new ordinary shares 
on terms and conditions as they may think fit to impose. Any additional issuances of new ordinary shares by our directors may 
adversely impact the market price of our ordinary shares.

Risks Relating to Owning Our Ordinary Shares

  At times, our share price has been volatile and it may fluctuate substantially in the future, which could result in substantial 

losses for our investors.

The trading price of our ordinary shares has, at times, fluctuated significantly. The trading price of our ordinary shares could 
be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many risk factors listed in this “Risk Factors” section, and others, many of which 
are beyond our control, including:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our financial condition and operating results;

overall conditions in the semiconductor market and general economic and market conditions;

addition or loss of significant customers; 

changes in laws or regulations applicable to our products;

actual or anticipated changes in our growth rate relative to our competitors;

announcements of technological innovations or competitive products by us or our competitors;

announcements  by  us  or  our  competitors  of  significant  acquisitions,  strategic  partnerships,  joint  ventures  or  capital 
commitments;

additions or departures of key personnel; 

issuance of new or updated research or reports by securities analysts;

fluctuations in the valuation of companies perceived by investors to be comparable to us;

disputes or other developments related to proprietary rights, including patents, litigation matters and our ability to obtain 
intellectual property protection for our technologies;

announcement of, or expectation of additional financing efforts;

sales of our ordinary shares by us or our shareholders; 

share price and volume fluctuations attributable to inconsistent trading volume levels of our shares; and

changes in our dividend policy. 

Furthermore, the stock markets have recently experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue 
to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies, including ours. These fluctuations often have been unrelated 
or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations, as well as 
general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions, interest rate changes or international currency fluctuations, 
may negatively impact the market price of our ordinary shares. You may not realize any return on your investment in us and may 
lose some or all of your investment. In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have 
been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation 
against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management's attention from other business concerns, which could 
seriously harm our business.

Future sales of our ordinary shares in the public market could cause our share price to fall.

Sales of a substantial number of our ordinary shares in the public market, including by members of our management, or the 
perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our ordinary shares and could impair our ability to raise 
capital through the sale of additional equity securities.

As  of  December  9,  2011,  approximately  23.9  million  outstanding  ordinary  shares  are  subject  to  the  contractual  transfer 
restrictions  in  our  Second Amended  and  Restated  Shareholder Agreement. The  Company  and  the  shareholders  party  to  that 
agreement may decide to waive these transfer restrictions.

As of December 9, 2011, holders of approximately 23.9 million ordinary shares are entitled to rights with respect to registration 

25

of such shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement 
with us. These holders have exercised their registration rights several times since our since our initial public offering, or IPO, in 
August 2009 and if such holders, by exercising their registration rights or otherwise, continue to sell a large number of shares, 
they could adversely affect the market price for our ordinary shares. If we register the sale of additional shares to raise capital and 
are required to include shares held by these holders in such registration pursuant to the exercise of their registration rights, our 
ability to raise capital may be impaired.

In addition, shares issued pursuant to our equity incentive plans, including such shares issued to members of our management, 
may be freely sold in the public market upon vesting and issuance, subject to the restrictions provided under the terms of the plan 
and option agreement under which they were issued, applicable securities laws and our insider trading policy.

There can be no assurance that we will continue to declare cash dividends or repurchase shares.

Our Board of Directors adopted a dividend policy pursuant to which the Company will pay quarterly dividends on our ordinary 
shares and has also approved a program to repurchase up to 15 million of the company's ordinary shares, not to exceed $500 
million in the aggregate. However, the declaration and payment of any future dividend is subject to the approval of our board of 
directors and our dividend policy could change at any time. Similarly, our share repurchase program may be suspended or terminated 
at any time. There can be no assurance that we will declare cash dividends or repurchase shares in the future in any particular 
amounts, or at all. Furthermore, we may declare dividends as interim dividends, which are wholly provisional under Singapore 
law and may be revoked by our board of directors at any time prior to the payment thereof. The payment of cash dividends is 
restricted by applicable law and our corporate structure. Pursuant to Singapore law and our articles of association, no dividends 
may be paid except out of our profits. Also, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our ordinary 
shares and to repurchase our shares may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain sufficient funds through dividends from 
subsidiaries, including restrictions under the terms of our credit agreement. 

Future dividends and share repurchases, their timing and amount, as well as the relative allocation of cash between dividends 
and share repurchases, may be affected by, among other factors: our views on potential future capital requirements for strategic 
transactions, including acquisitions; earnings levels; contractual restrictions; cash position and overall financial condition; and 
changes to our business model. In addition, the amount we spend and the number of shares we are able to repurchase under our 
share repurchase program may further be affected by a number of other factors, including the share price and blackout periods in 
which we are restricted from repurchasing shares. A reduction in, or elimination of, our dividend payments and/or share repurchases 
could have a negative effect on our share price.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management's attention and affect our ability 
to attract and retain qualified board members.

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the 
Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, listing requirements of The Nasdaq Global Select Market and other applicable securities 
rules and regulations. Compliance with these rules and regulations increases our legal and financial compliance costs, places 
significant demands on our systems, resources and management. As a result, management's attention may be diverted from other 
business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We 
may also need to hire more employees in the future, which will increase our costs and expenses. 

In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, such as the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, are creating uncertainty for public companies, further increasing 
legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are 
subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may 
evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty 
regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend 
to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general 
and administrative expenses and a diversion of management's time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance 
activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or 
governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our 
business may be harmed.

Being a public company also makes it expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required 
to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult 
for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on committees of our board of directors, 
and qualified executive officers.

26

Singapore corporate law may impede a takeover of our company by a third-party, which could adversely affect the value of 
our ordinary shares.

The Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers contains provisions that may delay, deter or prevent a future takeover or change 
in control of our company for so long as we remain a public company with more than 50 shareholders and net tangible assets of 
S$5 million or more. Any person acquiring an interest, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, either on 
their own or together with parties acting in concert with such person, in 30% or more of our voting shares, or, if such person holds, 
either on their own or together with parties acting in concert with such person, between 30% and 50% (both inclusive) of our 
voting shares, and such person (or parties acting in concert with such person) acquires additional voting shares representing more 
than 1% of our voting shares in any six-month period, must, except with the consent of the Securities Industry Council in Singapore, 
extend a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining voting shares in accordance with the provisions of the Singapore Code on 
Take-overs and Mergers. While the Singapore Code on Take-overs and Mergers seeks to ensure equality of treatment among 
shareholders, its provisions may discourage or prevent certain types of transactions involving an actual or threatened change of 
control of our company. These legal requirements may impede or delay a takeover of our company by a third-party, which could 
adversely affect the value of our ordinary shares.

Our actual operating results may differ significantly from our guidance.

From time to time, we release guidance regarding our future performance that represents our management's estimates as of the 
date of release. This guidance, which consists of forward-looking statements, is prepared by our management and is qualified by, 
and subject to, the assumptions and the other information contained or referred to in the release. Our guidance is not prepared with 
a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and neither our 
independent registered public accounting firm nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines the guidance 
and, accordingly, no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

Guidance is based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, is inherently 
subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control 
and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change. We generally state 
possible outcomes as high and low ranges which are intended to provide a sensitivity analysis as variables are changed but are 
not intended to represent that actual results could not fall outside of the suggested ranges. The principal reason that we release 
this data is to provide a basis for our management to discuss our business outlook with analysts and investors. We do not accept 
any responsibility for any projections or reports published by any such persons.

Guidance is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of the guidance furnished 
by us will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, our guidance is only an estimate of what 
management believes is realizable as of the date of release. Actual results will vary from the guidance and the variations may be 
material. Investors should also recognize that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future 
that the data is forecast. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged to put the guidance in context and not to place undue reliance 
on it.

Any failure to successfully implement our operating strategy or the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances set forth 
in  this Annual Report  on  Form 10-K  could  result  in  the  actual  operating  results  being  different  than  the  guidance,  and  such 
differences may be adverse and material.

27

ITEM 1B. 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. 

PROPERTIES

Our principal executive offices are located in Yishun, Singapore, and the headquarters for our U.S. subsidiaries is located 

in San Jose, California. We conduct our administration, manufacturing, research and development and sales and marketing in 
both owned and leased facilities. We believe that our owned and leased facilities are adequate for our present operations. The 
following is a list of our principal facilities and their primary functions.

Major Activity

Owned/Leased

Square Footage

Lease Expiration

Site

Yishun, Singapore

Administration, Manufacturing, Research and
Development and Sales and Marketing

Depot Road, Singapore

Senoko, Singapore

Manufacturing

Manufacturing

Seoul, Korea

Research and Development and

Penang, Malaysia

Sales and Marketing

Manufacturing, Research and
Development, and Administration

San Jose, CA, United States

Administration, Research and Development and Sales
and Marketing

Fort Collins, CO, United States

Manufacturing and Research and Development

Boeblingen, Germany

Regensburg, Germany

Administration, Research and Development and Sales
and Marketing

Manufacturing, Research and Development and
Marketing

Munich, Germany

Research and Development

Samorin, Slovakia

Manufacturing

Turin, Italy

Manufacturing and Research and

Development

ITEM 3. 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Leased

Leased

Owned—Building
Leased—Land

Leased

Leased

Owned—Building
Leased—Land

Leased

Owned

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

Leased

116,500

November 2015

50,175

52,200
72,000

53,000

19,000

318,000

October 2015

September 2029

October 2015

October 2012

May 2051

139,000

November 2015

942,000

19,000

April 2012

9,100

5,900

31,000

10,500

22,000

June 2013

September 2013

March 2018

April 2012

June 2017

From time to time, we are involved in litigation that we believe is of the type common to companies engaged in our line 

of business, including commercial disputes and employment issues. As of the date of this filing, we are not involved in any 
pending legal proceedings that we believe would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of 
operations or cash flows. However, certain pending disputes involve claims by third parties that our activities infringe their 
patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights. These claims generally involve the demand by a third-party 
that we cease the manufacture, use or sale of the allegedly infringing products, processes or technologies and/or pay substantial 
damages or royalties for past, present and future use of the allegedly infringing intellectual property. For example, on July 23, 
2009, TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. filed a complaint against us and certain of our subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court, 
District of Arizona seeking declaratory judgment that four of our patents relating to RF filter technology used in our wireless 
products are invalid and, if valid, that TriQuint’s products do not infringe any of those patents. TriQuint has subsequently 
withdrew those claims with respect to three of those four patents. In addition, TriQuint claims that certain of our wireless 
products infringe three of its patents. TriQuint is seeking damages in an unspecified amount, treble damages for alleged willful 
infringement, attorneys fees and injunctive relief. We filed our answer and initial counterclaim on September 17, 2009, denying 
infringement, asserting the invalidity of TriQuint’s patents and asserting infringement by TriQuint of ten Avago patents and 
filed additional counterclaims on March 25, 2010 for the misappropriation of Avago trade secrets. On October 16, 2009, 
TriQuint filed its answer to our initial counterclaim, denying infringement and filed an antitrust counterclaim and counterclaims 
for declaratory judgment of non infringement and invalidity. While the court dismissed TriQuint’s antitrust counterclaims on 
procedural grounds on March 16, 2010, TriQuint has since filed a motion to file an amended pleading for its anti-trust claims, 
which was granted on August 3, 2010. We intend to defend this lawsuit vigorously, and future actions may include the assertion 
by us of additional claims or counterclaims against TriQuint related to our intellectual property portfolio. Summary judgment 
motions are scheduled for hearing on January 30, 2012 and the Court has set a trial date of July 10, 2012.

In addition, on February 8, 2010, PixArt Imaging Inc. filed an action against us in the U.S District Court, Northern 
District of California seeking a determination of whether PixArt was licensed to use our portfolio of patents for optical finger 

28

 
 
 
navigation products pursuant to an existing cross-license agreement between us and PixArt. We filed a counterclaim against 
PixArt on March 31, 2010, asserting that PixArt breached the terms of the cross-license agreement between the parties and 
seeking a determination that PixArt was not licensed to use our portfolio of patents for optical finger navigation products. On 
November 28, 2011, we entered into a settlement agreement with PixArt that resolves these outstanding actions, which were 
pending in the Northern District of California.  Under the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, the parties have cross-
licensed their respective patent portfolios for the remaining term of the patents for use in the field of optical mouse and optical 
finger navigation. The parties subsequently dismissed all claims in the pending litigation, with prejudice, on December 2, 2011.

On March 15, 2010 we filed a patent infringement action against ST Microelectronics NV in the Eastern District of Texas 
for infringement of four of our patents related to optical navigation devices. We amended the complaint on July 6, 2010 adding 
infringement of a fifth optical navigation related patent to the action. We sought injunctive relief, damages in an unspecified 
amount, treble damages for willful infringement and attorneys fees. In response, ST Microelectronics filed a patent 
infringement action against us in the Northern District of Texas alleging that our sales of certain optical navigation devices 
infringed two ST Microelectronics’ patents. ST Microelectronics sought injunctive relief and damages in an unspecified 
amount. ST Microelectronics filed a second suit against us on November 5, 2010 in the Northern District of California alleging 
certain anticompetitive actions by us in the optical navigation sensor market. On October 24, 2011, we and ST Microelectronics 
agreed to dismiss, without prejudice, all pending litigation between the parties. However, we and ST Microelectronics each 
reserved the right to re-file litigation in the event of any future disputes on the same issues, following the conclusion of 
executive discussions and non-binding mediation aimed at resolving those disputes.

On January 21, 2011, we filed a patent infringement action against Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, or Cypress, for 

infringement of three of our patents related to optical navigation devices. On May 23, 2011, Cypress filed its answer and 
counterclaim against us for a declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of the patents asserted by us. On August 
22, 2011, Cypress filed an amended answer and counterclaim alleging infringement by us of five of Cypress's patents.  The 
parties resolved all litigation on November 30, 2011 by filing a stipulation with the court  dismissing all claims with prejudice.

Claims that our products or processes infringe or misappropriate any third-party intellectual property rights (including 
claims arising through our contractual indemnification of our customers) often involve highly complex, technical issues, the 
outcome of which is inherently uncertain. Moreover, from time to time we pursue litigation to assert our intellectual property 
rights. Regardless of the merit or resolution of any such litigation, complex intellectual property litigation is generally costly 
and diverts the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel.

29

PART II

ITEM 5. 

MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS 
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

Our ordinary shares have been listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “AVGO” since our initial 

public offering, or IPO, on August 6, 2009. Prior to that date, there was no public market for our ordinary shares. The following 
table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of our ordinary shares as reported by The Nasdaq Global 
Select Market:

November 1, 2009

August 6, 2009
Fiscal Year ended October 31, 2010

First Quarter (ended January 31, 2010)

Second Quarter (ended May 2, 2010)
Third Quarter (ended August 1, 2010)

Fourth Quarter (ended October 31, 2010)
Fiscal Year ended October 30, 2011

First Quarter (ended January 30, 2011)

Second Quarter (ended May 1, 2011)

Third Quarter (ended July 31, 2011)

Fourth Quarter (ended October 30, 2011)

Holders

Market Prices

High

Low

$

$

$
$

$

$

$

$

$

19.00

19.55

22.88
23.69

24.95

29.44

34.60

39.45

37.99

$

$

$
$

$

$

$

$

$

14.72

14.33

16.50
18.38

18.41

23.77

27.95

31.48

26.42

As of December 9, 2011, there were 16 holders of record of our ordinary shares. A substantially greater number of 

shareholders are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial 
institutions.

Dividends

Our board of directors, or Board, has adopted a dividend policy authorizing us to pay a quarterly cash dividend. On 

December 8, 2011, our Board declared an interim cash dividend of $0.12 per share payable on December 30, 2011 to 
shareholders of record at the close of business (5:00 p.m.), Eastern Time, on December 19, 2011. Our Board declared quarterly 
cash dividends of $0.07, $0.08, $0.09 and $0.11 per ordinary share in the four respective quarters of fiscal year 2011, payable to 
holders of our ordinary shares. As a result, in fiscal year 2011 we paid an aggregate of $86 million in dividends to our 
shareholders

Our Board reviews our dividend policy regularly and the declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the 
discretion and approval of our Board and  subject to the Board’s continuing determination that they are in the Company's best 
interests. Future dividend payments will also depend upon such factors as our earnings level, capital requirements, contractual 
restrictions, cash position, overall financial condition and any other factors deemed relevant by our Board.

The payment of cash dividends on our ordinary shares is restricted under applicable law and our corporate structure. 
Pursuant to Singapore law and our articles of association, no dividends may be paid except out of our profits. Also, because we 
are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares may be limited by restrictions on our ability to 
obtain sufficient funds through dividends from subsidiaries.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Share Repurchase Program

On June 8, 2011, our Board authorized the repurchase of up to 15 million of our outstanding ordinary shares, not to 

exceed $500 million in the aggregate, in open market transactions prior to the date on which our 2012 Annual General Meeting 

30

 
 
 
 
 
 
is held or is required by law to be held. Share repurchases under the program will be made in the open market at such times and 
in such amounts as we deem appropriate. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of 
factors including price, market conditions and applicable legal requirements. The share repurchase program does not obligate 
us to repurchase any specific number of shares and may be suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. All 
repurchased shares are immediately retired.

The following table presents details of our share repurchases during the fiscal quarter ended October 30, 2011:

Period

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (1)

Approximate Dollar Value
of Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs

(in millions)

August 1, 2011 - August 28, 2011

August 29, 2011 - September 25, 2011

September 26, 2011 - October 30, 2011

Total

206,158

53,845

490,740

750,743

$

$

$

$

34.11

33.60

33.48

33.66

206,158

53,845

490,740

750,743

425

423

407

(1)  All share repurchases were made in open market transactions, pursuant to the share repurchase program discussed above, 

which was publicly announced on June 9, 2011. All repurchases were also made in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the 
Exchange Act.

Share Performance Graph

The following graph shows a comparison of cumulative total return for the Company’s ordinary shares, the Standard & 

Poor’s 500 Stock Index, or S&P 500 Index, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index. The graph covers the period from 
August 6, 2009 (the first trading day of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market) to October 28, 2011, the last 
trading day of our fiscal year 2011. While the initial public offering price of our ordinary shares was $15.00 per share, the 
graph assumes the initial value of our ordinary shares on August 6, 2009 was the closing sales price of $16.18 per share on that 
day. The graph and table assume that $100 was invested on August 6, 2009 in each of Avago Technologies Limited ordinary 
shares, the S&P 500 Index and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.

31

The comparisons in the graph below are based on historical data and are not indicative of, or intended to forecast, the 

possible future performance of our ordinary shares.

Avago Technologies
Limited
S&P 500 Index
Philadelphia
Semiconductor
Index

8/6/2009

10/30/2009

1/29/2010

4/30/2010

7/30/2010

10/29/2010

1/28/2011

4/29/2011

7/29/2011

10/28/2011

$

$ 100
100

93
104

$ 107
108

$ 127
119

$

$

134
110

153
119

$ 173
128

$ 207
137

$ 208
130

$

208
129

100

99

105

125

116

124

146

150

129

132

The graph and the table above shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange 
Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing made by 
us with the SEC, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The information required by this item regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is 
incorporated herein by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed 
with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011.

ITEM 6. 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

You should read the following selected consolidated financial data together with the information included under the 

headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and 
our historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected 
consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and  November 1, 2009 and 
the selected balance sheet data as of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010 have been derived from audited historical financial 
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected consolidated statements of 
operations data for the years ended November 2, 2008 and October 31, 2007 and the selected balance sheet data as of  
November 1, 2009, November 2, 2008 and October 31, 2007 have been derived from audited historical financial statements and 
related notes not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The historical financial data may not be indicative of our future 
performance. We adopted a 52-or 53-week fiscal year beginning with our fiscal year 2008. Our fiscal year ends on the Sunday 
closest to October 31.

32

Summary of Five Year Selected Financial Data

Statement of Operations Data:

Net revenue

Cost of products sold:

Cost of products sold

Amortization of intangible assets

Asset impairment charges(1)

Restructuring charges(2)

Total cost of products sold

Gross margin

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative

Amortization of intangible assets

Asset impairment charges(1)

Restructuring charges(2)

Advisory agreement termination fee(3)

Selling shareholder expenses(3)

Acquired in-process research and development

Total operating expenses

Income (loss) from operations(4)(5)

Interest expense(6)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Other income (expense), net

Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes(7)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Income from and gain on discontinued operations, net of
income taxes(8)
Net income (loss)

Net income (loss) per share:

Basic:

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Income from and gain on discontinued operations,
net of income taxes
Net income (loss)

Diluted:

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Income from and gain on discontinued operations,
net of income taxes
Net income (loss)

Weighted average shares :

Basic

Diluted
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations
Total shareholders’ equity
Other Financial Data:

Dividends declared and paid per share

_______________________________________

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

Year Ended

November 1,
2009

November 2,
2008

October 31,
2007

(In millions, except per share amounts)

$

2,336

$

2,093

$

1,484

$

1,699

$

1,527

1,133

1,068

56

—

—

1,189

1,147

317

220

22

—

4

—

—

—

563

584

(4)

(20)

1

561

9

552

—

58

—

1

1,127

966

280

196

21

—

3

—

—

—

500

466

(34)

(24)

(2)

406

(9)

415

—

855

58

—

11

924

560

245

165

21

—

23

54

4

—

512

48

(77)

(8)

1

(36)

8

(44)

—

552

$

415

$

(44)

$

981

57

—

6

1,044

655

265

196

28

—

6

—

—

—

495

160

(86)

(10)

(4)

60

3

57

26

83

$

936

60

140

29

1,165

362

205

193

28

18

22

—

—

1

467

(105)

(109)

(12)

14

(212)

8

(220)

61

(159)

2.25

$

1.74

$

(0.20)

$

0.27

$

(1.03)

—

2.25

2.19

—

$

$

—

1.74

1.69

—

$

$

—

(0.20)

$

(0.20)

$

—

2.19

$

1.69

$

(0.20)

$

245

252

238

246

219

219

$

$

$

0.12

0.39

0.26

0.12

0.38

214

219

829

$

561

$

472

$

213

$

2,446

4
2,006

2,157

4
1,505

1,970

233
1,040

1,871

708
780

0.29

(0.74)

(1.03)

0.29

(0.74)

214

214

309

1,951

907
693

0.35

$

—

$

—

$

—

$

—

(1)  During the year ended October 31, 2007, we recorded a $158 million write-down of certain long-lived assets 

following a review of the recoverability of the carrying value of certain manufacturing facilities, of which $18 million 
was recorded as part of operating expenses and the remainder was recorded as part of cost of products sold.

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2)  Our restructuring charges predominantly represent employee termination benefits. During year ended October 30, 

2011, we incurred restructuring charges of $4 million, all of which was recorded as part of operating expenses. During 
year ended October 31, 2010, we incurred restructuring charges of $4 million, of which $3 million was recorded as 
part of operating expenses and the remainder was recorded as part of cost of products sold. During year ended 
November 1, 2009, we incurred restructuring charges of $34 million, of which $23 million was recorded as part of 
operating expenses and the remainder was recorded as part of cost of products sold. During the year ended 
November 2, 2008, we incurred restructuring charges of $12 million, of which $6 million was recorded as part of 
operating expenses and the remainder was recorded as part of cost of products sold. During the year ended October 31, 
2007, we incurred restructuring charges of $51 million, of which $22 million was recorded as part of operating 
expenses and the remainder was recorded as part of cost of products sold.

(3)  The advisory agreement was terminated pursuant to its terms upon completion of our IPO, for a termination fee of 

$54 million, during the quarter ended November 1, 2009 and no further payments will be made thereunder. We also 
recorded $4 million in selling shareholder expenses, in connection with the IPO, on behalf of the  selling shareholders 
in the offering.

(4)  Includes share-based compensation expense of $38 million for the year ended October 30, 2011, $25 million for the 
year ended October 31, 2010, $12 million for the year ended November 1, 2009, $15 million for the year ended 
November 2, 2008 and $12 million for the year ended October 31, 2007.

(5)  Includes expense recorded in connection with the advisory agreement with investment funds affiliated with each of 

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co., and Silver Lake Partners, which we refer to together as our Sponsors, of $4 million 
for the year ended November 1, 2009, $6 million for the year ended November 2, 2008, and $5 million for the year 
ended October 31, 2007. The advisory agreement was terminated in connection with our IPO during the quarter ended 
November 1, 2009.

(6)  Interest expense for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010, November 1, 2009, November 2, 2008 and 
October 31, 2007 includes interest expense on our 10 1/8% Senior Notes due 2013, or our senior notes, and our 
Floating Rate Notes due 2013, or our floating rate notes, both of which were fully redeemed during the first quarter of 
fiscal year 2010, and our 11 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015, or senior subordinated notes, which were fully 
redeemed during the first quarter of fiscal year 2011.

(7)  Provision for income taxes for fiscal year 2011 included a $3 million tax benefit from the write-up of deferred tax 
assets from U.S. legislation retroactively reinstating the research and development tax credit and a $3 million tax 
benefit from a change in estimate related to research and development tax credits. In fiscal year 2010, we recorded an 
income tax benefit totaling $9 million. The income tax benefit is associated with the release of $29 million of deferred 
tax asset valuation allowances, mainly associated with the Company irrevocably calling our senior subordinated notes 
for redemption in October 2010, partially offset by the write-off of $6 million of deferred tax assets resulting from the 
grant of Malaysia tax incentive status, and an increase in overall tax provision due to an increase in worldwide taxable 
income. 

(8)  In February 2006, we sold our Printer ASICs Business to Marvell Technology Group Ltd., or Marvell, for 

$245 million in cash. Our agreement with Marvell also provides for up to $35 million in additional earn-out payments 
by Marvell to us based solely on the achievement by Marvell of certain revenue targets in respect of the acquired 
business subsequent to the acquisition. This transaction closed on May 1, 2006 and no gain or loss was recorded on the 
initial sale. In April 2007, we received $10 million of the earn-out payment from Marvell and recorded it as a gain on 
discontinued operations. In May 2008, we received $25 million of the earn-out payment from Marvell and recorded it 
as a gain on discontinued operations. In November 2006, we sold our Image Sensor operations to Micron Technology, 
Inc., or Micron, for $53 million. Our agreement with Micron also provides for up to $17 million in additional earn-out 
payments by Micron to us upon the achievement of certain milestones. This transaction closed on December 8, 2006, 
resulting in $57 million of net proceeds, including $4 million of earn-out payments during the year ended October 31, 
2007. During the year ended October 31, 2008, we received earn-out payments of $6 million from Micron. In addition 
to this transaction, we also sold intellectual property rights related to the Image Sensor operations to another party for 
$12 million. We recorded a gain on discontinued operations of approximately $50 million for both of these 
transactions.

In October 2007, we sold our Infra-red operations to Lite-On Technology Corporation for $19 million in cash and the 
right to receive guaranteed cost reductions or rebates based on our future purchases of non infra-red products from 
Lite-On. We recorded an overall loss from disposal of Infra-red operations of $5 million for fiscal year 2008.

34

ITEM 7. 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in 
conjunction with “Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which appear 
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current 
expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these 
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” or in other 
parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview 

We are a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of analog semiconductor devices with a focus 

on III-V based products. We differentiate ourselves through our high performance design and integration capabilities. III-V 
semiconductor materials have higher electrical conductivity, enabling faster speeds and tend to have better performance 
characteristics than conventional silicon in applications such as radio frequency, or RF, and optoelectronics. Our product 
portfolio is extensive and includes over 6,500 products that we sell into four primary target markets: wireless communications, 
wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. Applications for our 
products in these target markets include cellular phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications 
equipment, enterprise storage and servers, renewable energy and smart power grid applications, factory automation, displays, 
optical mice and printers.

We have a 50-year history of innovation dating back to our origins within Hewlett-Packard Company. Over the years, we 

have assembled a large team of analog design engineers, and we maintain design and product development engineering 
resources around the world. Our locations include two design centers in the United States, five in Asia and four in Europe. We 
have developed an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that currently includes approximately 4,900 U.S. and foreign 
patents and patent applications. Our history and market position enable us to strategically focus our research and development 
resources to address attractive target markets. We leverage our significant intellectual property portfolio to integrate multiple 
technologies and create component solutions that target growth opportunities. We design products that deliver high-
performance and provide mission-critical functionality. In particular, we were a pioneer in commercializing vertical-cavity 
surface emitting laser, or VCSEL, fiber optic products and our VCSEL-based products have been widely adopted throughout 
the wired infrastructure industry. In addition, we were among the first to deliver commercial film bulk acoustic resonator, or 
FBAR, filters for code division multiple access, or CDMA, technology and we believe we maintain a significant market share 
of personal communication service, or PCS, duplexers within the CDMA market. In addition, our FBAR filters offer 
technological advantages over competing filters in certain other radio bands, such as GPS and 3G. In optoelectronics, we are a 
market leader in submarkets such as optocouplers and parallel fiber optic transceivers.

We have a diversified and well-established customer base of approximately 40,000 end customers, located throughout the 

world, which we serve through our multi-channel sales and fulfillment system. We have established strong relationships with 
leading original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, customers across multiple target markets. Many of our major customer 
relationships have been in place multiple years and we have supplied multiple products during that time period. Our close 
customer relationships have often been built as a result of years of collaborative product development which has enabled us to 
build our intellectual property portfolio and develop critical expertise regarding our customer’s requirements, including 
substantial system level knowledge. This collaboration has provided us with key insights into our customers and has enabled us 
to be more efficient and productive and to better serve our target markets and customers. We distribute most of our products 
through our broad distribution network, and a significant portion of our sales are to two of the largest global electronic 
components distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc. We also have a direct sales force focused on supporting large 
OEMs.

We focus on maintaining an efficient global supply chain and a variable, low-cost operating model. Accordingly, we have 

outsourced a majority of our manufacturing operations utilizing third-party foundry and assembly and test capabilities, as well 
as most of our corporate infrastructure functions. We aim to minimize capital expenditures by focusing our internal 
manufacturing capacity on products utilizing our innovative materials and processes to protect our intellectual property and to 
develop the technology for manufacturing, while outsourcing standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor, or CMOS, 
processes. We also have over 40 years of operating history in Asia, where approximately 59% of our employees are located and 
where we produce and source the majority of our products. Our presence in Asia places us in close proximity to many of our 
customers’ manufacturing facilities and at the center of worldwide electronics manufacturing.

Our business is impacted by general conditions of the semiconductor industry and seasonal demand patterns in our target 
markets. We believe that our focus on multiple target markets and geographies helps mitigate our exposure to volatility in any 
single target market.

35

Erosion of average selling prices of established products is typical of the semiconductor industry. Consistent with trends 

in the industry, we anticipate that average selling prices will continue to decline in the future. However, as part of our normal 
course of business, we plan to offset declining average selling prices with efforts to reduce manufacturing costs of existing 
products and the introduction of new and higher value-added products.

Historically, a relatively small number of customers have accounted for a significant portion of our net revenue. Sales to 

distributors accounted for 37% and 41% of our net revenue for the years ended October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, 
respectively. During the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, our top 10 customers, which included three distributors, 
collectively accounted for 54% of our net revenue. No customer accounted for 10% or more of our net revenue during the fiscal 
year ended October 30, 2011. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, our top 10 customers, which included five 
distributors, collectively accounted for 55% of our net revenue. No customer accounted for 10% or more of our net revenue 
during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.  We expect to continue to experience significant customer concentration in 
future periods.

The demand for our products has been affected in the past, and is likely to continue to be affected in the future, by 

various factors, including the following:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

general economic and market conditions in the semiconductor industry and in our target markets;

our ability to specify, develop or acquire, complete, introduce and market new products and technologies in a cost-
effective and timely manner;

the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of expected customer orders and our ability to manage inventory;

the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt our products and technologies in our target 
markets; and

the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and 
pricing of our products.

Although the global economy improved during fiscal year 2010 and the first half of fiscal year 2011, current uncertainty 

in global economic conditions still poses significant risks to our business. For example, customers may defer purchases in 
response to tighter credit and negative financial news, which would in turn negatively affect product demand and our results of 
operations.

Net Revenue

Substantially all of our net revenue is derived from sales of semiconductor devices which our customers incorporate into 

electronic products. We serve four primary target markets: wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and 
automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. We sell our products primarily through our direct sales force, 
although we also use manufacturers representatives in particular geographic areas and may use them for new customers. We 
also use distributors for a portion of our business and recognize revenue upon delivery of product to the distributors. Such 
revenue is reduced for estimated returns and distributor allowances.

Costs and Expenses

Total cost of products sold.  Cost of products sold consists primarily of the cost of semiconductor wafers and other 

materials, and the cost of assembly and test. Cost of products sold also includes personnel costs and overhead related to our 
manufacturing operations, including share-based compensation, and related occupancy, computer services and equipment costs, 
manufacturing quality, order fulfillment, warranty and inventory adjustments, including write-downs for inventory 
obsolescence, energy costs and other manufacturing expenses. Total cost of products sold also includes amortization of 
intangible assets and restructuring charges.

Although we outsource a significant portion of our manufacturing activities, we do retain some semiconductor fabrication 

and assembly and test facilities. If we are unable to utilize our owned fabrication and assembly and test facilities at a desired 
level, the fixed costs associated with these facilities will not be fully absorbed, resulting in higher average unit costs and lower 
gross margins.

Research and development.  Research and development expense consists primarily of personnel costs for our engineers 

engaged in the design and development of our products and technologies, including share-based compensation expense. These 
expenses also include project material costs, third-party fees paid to consultants, prototype development expenses, allocated 
facilities costs and other corporate expenses and computer services costs related to supporting computer tools used in the 
engineering and design process.

Selling, general and administrative.  Selling expense consists primarily of compensation and associated costs for sales 

and marketing personnel, including share-based compensation expense, sales commissions paid to our independent sales 

36

representatives, costs of advertising, trade shows, corporate marketing, promotion, travel related to our sales and marketing 
operations, related occupancy and equipment costs and other marketing costs. General and administrative expense consists 
primarily of compensation and associated costs for executive management, finance, human resources and other administrative 
personnel, outside professional fees, allocated facilities costs and other corporate expenses. 

In connection with our IPO, during the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009, we expensed $54 million related to the termination 

of the advisory agreement with our Sponsors as well as approximately $4 million of offering costs incurred in our IPO that 
related to selling shareholders, which were absorbed by us. These expenses were not included in selling, general and 
administrative expenses for fiscal year 2009 but were presented as separate components of operating expenses in the 
consolidated statements of operations.

Amortization of intangible assets.  In connection with acquisitions, we recorded intangible assets that are being amortized 

over their estimated useful lives of six months to 25 years. In connection with these acquisitions, we also recorded goodwill 
which is not being amortized.

Interest expense.  Substantially all of our historical interest expense was associated with our borrowings incurred in 

connection with the SPG Acquisition. This debt has been eliminated as at December 1, 2010, principally through cash flows 
from operations and net proceeds from our IPO. In connection with the termination of our senior secured revolving credit 
facility, on March 31, 2011, Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd., or Avago Finance, and certain other subsidiaries of the 
Company entered into a new credit agreement which provides for a new $200 million unsecured revolving credit facility. 
Interest expense in fiscal year 2011 included commitment fees under our prior and current revolving credit facilities and 
amortization of debt issuance costs associated with these credit facilities. 

Loss on extinguishment of debt.  In connection with the repurchase or redemption of our outstanding indebtedness, we 

incurred a loss on the extinguishment of debt.

Other income (expense), net.  Other income (expense), net includes interest income, currency gains (losses) on balance 

sheet remeasurement and other miscellaneous items.

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes.  We have structured our operations to maximize the benefit from various tax 
incentives and tax holidays extended to us in various jurisdictions to encourage investment or employment. For example, we 
have obtained several tax incentives from the Singapore Economic Development Board, an agency of the Government of 
Singapore, which provide that certain classes of income we earn in Singapore are subject to tax holidays or reduced rates of 
Singapore income tax. Each such tax incentive is separate and distinct from the others, and may be granted, withheld, extended, 
modified, truncated, complied with or terminated independently without any effect on the other incentives. In order to retain 
these tax benefits in Singapore, we must meet certain operating conditions specific to each incentive relating to, among other 
things, maintenance of a treasury function, a corporate headquarters function, specified intellectual property activities and 
specified manufacturing activities in Singapore. Some of these operating conditions are subject to phase-in periods through 
2015. The Singapore tax incentives are presently scheduled to expire at various dates generally between 2014 and 2025, subject 
in certain cases to potential extensions. In February 2010, the Malaysian government granted us a tax holiday on our qualifying 
Malaysian income, which is effective for ten years beginning with our fiscal year 2009. Absent such tax incentives, the 
corporate income tax rate in Singapore that would otherwise apply to us would be 17%. For the fiscal years ended October 30, 
2011, October 31, 2010, and November 1, 2009, the effect of all these tax incentives, in the aggregate, was to reduce the overall 
provision for (benefit from) income taxes from what it otherwise would have been in such year by approximately $82 million, 
$63 million and $17 million, respectively. The tax incentives that we have negotiated in other jurisdictions are also subject to 
our compliance with various operating and other conditions. If we cannot or elect not to comply with the operating conditions 
included in any particular tax incentive, we will lose the related tax benefits and could be required to refund material tax 
benefits previously realized by us with respect to that incentive and, depending on the incentive at issue, could likely be 
required to modify our operational structure and tax strategy. Any such modified structure may not be as beneficial to us from 
an income tax expense or operational perspective as the benefits provided under the present tax concession arrangements. As a 
result of the tax incentives and tax holidays, if we continue to comply with the operating conditions, we expect the income from 
our operations to be subject to relatively lower income taxes than would otherwise be the case under ordinary income tax rules.

Our interpretations and conclusions regarding the tax incentives are not binding on any taxing authority, and if our 
assumptions about tax and other laws are incorrect or if these tax incentives are substantially modified or rescinded we could 
suffer material adverse tax and other financial consequences, which would increase our expenses, reduce our profitability and 
adversely affect our cash flows. In addition, taxable income in any jurisdiction is dependent upon acceptance of our operational 
practices and intercompany transfer pricing by local tax authorities as being on an arm’s length basis. Due to inconsistencies in 
application of the arm’s length standard among taxing authorities, as well as lack of adequate treaty-based protection, transfer 
pricing challenges by tax authorities could, if successful, substantially increase our income tax expense.

Going forward, our effective tax rate will vary based on a variety of factors, including overall profitability, the 
geographical mix of income before income taxes and the related tax rates in the jurisdictions where we operate, as well as 

37

discrete events, such as settlements of future audits. In particular, we may owe significant taxes in jurisdictions outside 
Singapore during periods when we are profitable in those jurisdictions even though we may be experiencing low operating 
profit or operating losses on a consolidated basis, potentially resulting in significant tax liabilities on a consolidated basis 
during those periods. Conversely, we expect to realize more favorable effective tax rates as our profitability increases. Our 
historical provision for (benefit from) income taxes are not necessarily reflective of our future results of operations.

History

SPG Acquisition

On December 1, 2005, we completed the acquisition of the Semiconductor Products Group of Agilent Technologies Inc., 

or SPG, for approximately $2.7 billion. The SPG Acquisition was accounted for by the purchase method of accounting for 
business combinations and, accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the net assets acquired based on their estimated fair 
values. Among other things, the purchase accounting adjustments increased the carrying value of our inventory and property, 
plant and equipment, and established intangible assets for our developed technology, customer and distributorship relationships, 
order backlog, and in-process research and development. 

Acquisitions

During fiscal years 2009 through 2011 we completed three acquisitions for aggregate cash consideration of $23 million. 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of the acquired companies and businesses 
commencing on their respective acquisition dates. See Note 3. “Acquisitions and Investments,” in the Consolidated Financial 
Statements for information related to these acquisitions.

Restructuring Charges

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we initiated a restructuring plan intended to realign our cost structure with the then 

prevailing macroeconomic business conditions. This plan eliminated approximately 230 positions or 6% of our global 
workforce and was substantially completed in fiscal year 2009. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, we announced a further 
reduction in our worldwide workforce of approximately 200 employees. This plan was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 
year 2009. During the year ended November 1, 2009, we recorded restructuring charges of $26 million in connection with both 
of these plans, predominantly representing employee termination costs.

In fiscal year 2009, we also committed to a plan to outsource certain of our manufacturing in Germany. During the year 
ended November 1, 2009, we recorded $5 million of employee termination costs, $1 million related to asset abandonment and 
other exit costs and approximately $1 million related to excess lease costs in connection with this plan.

During fiscal year 2009, we recorded and paid $1 million of employee termination costs and recognized $2 million as 
share-based compensation expense in connection with the departure of our former Chief Operating Officer in January 2009.

As part of our efforts to continue to realign our cost structure, we incurred approximately $4 million of employee 
termination costs during fiscal year 2011 and $3 million of employee termination costs and $1 million of excess lease costs 
during fiscal year 2010.

See Note 10. “Restructuring Charges” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that 

affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial 
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and 
assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the 
circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and 
the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by us may 
differ materially and adversely from our estimates. Our critical accounting policies are those that affect our historical financial 
statements materially and involve difficult, subjective or complex judgments by management. Those policies include revenue 
recognition, valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, inventory valuation and warranty reserves, 
accounting for income taxes, retirement and post-retirement benefit plan assumptions, and share-based compensation.

Revenue recognition.  We recognize revenue, net of sales returns and allowances, provided that (i) persuasive evidence of 

an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectibility is reasonably 
assured. Delivery is considered to have occurred when title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. We consider the 
price to be fixed or determinable when the price is not subject to refund or adjustments or when any such adjustments are 
accounted for. We evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers to determine that appropriate credit limits are established 

38

prior to the acceptance of an order. Revenue, including sales to resellers and distributors, is reduced for estimated returns and 
distributor allowances. We recognize revenue from sales of our products to distributors upon delivery of product to the 
distributors. An allowance for distributor credits covering price adjustments and scrap allowances is made based on our 
estimate of historical experience rates as well as considering economic conditions and contractual terms. To date, actual 
distributor claims activity has been materially consistent with the provisions we have made based on our historical estimates. 
However, because of the inherent nature of estimates, there is always a risk that there could be significant differences between 
actual amounts and our estimates. Different judgments or estimates could result in variances that might be significant to 
reported operating results.

Valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill.  We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, intangible 

assets and goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be 
recoverable. Factors we consider important, and which could trigger an impairment review of our long-lived and intangible 
assets, include significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in 
the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, and significant negative industry or 
economic trends. An impairment loss must be measured if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and before 
interest) from the use of the asset is less than the net book value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss will generally 
be measured as the difference between the net book value of the asset (or asset group) and its (their) estimated fair value.

We perform an annual impairment review of our goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, and more 
frequently if we believe indicators of impairment exist, and we follow the two-step approach in performing the impairment test 
in accordance with the accounting guidance on goodwill and other intangible assets. The first step of the goodwill impairment 
test compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit with the related carrying amount. If the fair value of the reporting 
unit exceeds its carrying amount, the reporting unit’s goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step of the 
impairment test is unnecessary. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its estimated fair value, the second step of the 
test must be performed to measure the amount of the goodwill impairment loss, if any. The second step of the test compares the 
implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill, determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a 
business combination, with the carrying amount of such goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill 
exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The process of evaluating 
the potential impairment of goodwill is highly subjective and requires significant judgment. We have one reporting unit for 
goodwill impairment testing purposes which is based on the manner in which we operate our business and the nature of those 
operations, including consideration of how the Chief Operating Decision Maker, as defined in the accounting guidance on 
segment reporting, manages the business as a whole. We operate as one semiconductor company with sales of semiconductors 
representing the only material source of revenue. Substantially all products offered incorporate analog functionality and are 
manufactured under similar manufacturing processes.

For fiscal year 2011, we used the quoted market price of our ordinary shares to determine the fair value of our reporting 

unit, which is the Company as a whole. No impairment of goodwill was identified based on the annual impairment review 
during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. A 10% decline in the quoted market prices of our ordinary shares would not 
impact the result of our goodwill impairment assessment.

The process of evaluating the potential impairment of long-lived assets under the accounting guidance on property, plant 

and equipment such as our property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets is also highly subjective and requires 
significant judgment. In order to estimate the fair value of long-lived assets, we typically make various assumptions about the 
future prospects about our business or the part of our business that the long-lived asset relates to, consider market factors 
specific to the business and estimate future cash flows to be generated by the business, which requires significant judgment as it 
is based on assumptions about market demand for our products over a number of future years. Based on these assumptions and 
estimates, we determine whether we need to take an impairment charge to reduce the value of the long-lived asset stated on our 
balance sheet to reflect its estimated fair value. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives are 
complex and often subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as the real estate 
market, industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. 
Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made in the past have been reasonable and appropriate, changes in 
assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported financial results.

Inventory valuation and warranty reserves.  We value our inventory at the lower of the actual cost of the inventory or the 

current estimated market value of the inventory, with cost being determined under the first-in, first-out method. We regularly 
review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess and obsolete inventory based primarily on our forecast of 
product demand and production requirements. Demand for our products can fluctuate significantly from period to period. A 
significant decrease in demand could result in an increase in the amount of excess inventory quantities on hand. In addition, our 
industry is characterized by rapid technological change, frequent new product development and rapid product obsolescence that 
could result in an increase in the amount of obsolete inventory quantities on hand. Additionally, our estimates of future product 
demand may prove to be inaccurate, which may cause us to understate or overstate both the provision required for excess and 

39

obsolete inventory and cost of products sold. Therefore, although we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our forecasts 
of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand or technological developments could have a 
significant impact on the value of our inventory and our results of operations. We establish reserves for estimated product 
warranty costs at the time revenue is recognized. Although we engage in extensive product quality control programs and 
processes, our warranty obligation has been and may in the future be affected by product failure rates, product recalls, repair or 
field replacement costs and additional development costs incurred in correcting any product failure, as well as possible claims 
for consequential costs. Should actual product failure rates, use of materials or service delivery costs differ from our estimates, 
additional warranty reserves could be required. In that event, our gross margins would be reduced.

Accounting for income taxes.  We account for income taxes in accordance with the accounting guidance on income taxes. 
The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities 
are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis 
of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured 
using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected 
to be realized or settled. We record a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more 
likely than not to be realized. Significant management judgment is required in developing our provision for income taxes, 
including the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances that might be required against the 
deferred tax assets. We have considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in 
assessing the need for valuation allowances. If we determine, in the future, a valuation allowance is required, such adjustment 
to the deferred tax assets would increase tax expense in the period in which such determination is made. Conversely, if we 
determine, in the future, a valuation allowance exceeds our requirement, such adjustment to the deferred tax assets would 
decrease tax expense in the period in which such determination is made. In evaluating the exposure associated with various tax 
filing positions, we accrue an income tax liability when such positions do not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold for 
recognition.

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax law and 
regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions. We recognize potential liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in Singapore and 
other tax jurisdictions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes and interest will be due. If our 
estimate of income tax liabilities proves to be less than the actual amount ultimately assessed, a further charge to expense 
would be required. If the payment of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would 
result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities no longer exist.

The gross unrecognized tax benefit increased by $3 million during fiscal year 2011 to $30 million as of October 30, 2011 

from $27 million as of October 31, 2010.  

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for (benefit from) income 

taxes line in the consolidated statement of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the other current 
liabilities and other long-term liabilities lines in the consolidated balance sheet. As of October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010, and 
November 1, 2009, the combined amount of cumulative accrued interest and penalties was approximately $6 million, $5 
million and $4 million, respectively.

Retirement and post-retirement benefit plan assumptions.    Retirement and post-retirement benefit plan costs are a 

significant cost of doing business. They represent obligations that will ultimately be settled sometime in the future and 
therefore are subject to estimation. Pension accounting is intended to reflect the recognition of future retirement and post-
retirement benefit plan costs over the employees' average expected future service to the Company, based on the terms of the 
plans and investment and funding decisions. To estimate the impact of these future payments and our decisions concerning 
funding of these obligations, we are required to make assumptions using actuarial concepts within the framework of GAAP. 
One critical assumption is the discount rate used to calculate the estimated costs. Other important assumptions include the 
expected long-term return on plan assets, the health care cost trend rate, expected future salary increases, expected future 
increases to benefit payments, expected retirement dates, employee turnover, retiree mortality rates, and portfolio composition. 
We evaluate these assumptions at least annually.

The discount rate is used to determine the present value of future benefit payments at the measurement date — 

October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010 for both U.S. and non-U.S. plans, in fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively. For fiscal 
year 2011 and 2010, the U.S. discount rates were based on the results of matching expected plan benefit payments with cash 
flows from a published pension discount curve. The discount rate for non-U.S. plans was generally based on published rates for 
high quality corporate bonds. Lower discount rates increase present values of pension liability and subsequent year pension 
expense; higher discount rates decrease present values of pension liability and subsequent year pension expense.

The expected long-term return on plan assets is estimated using current and expected asset allocations as well as historical 
and expected returns. Plan assets are valued at fair value. A one percent change in the estimated long-term return on plan assets 
for 2011 would result in a $0 million impact on non-U.S. pension expense.  We have no plan assets under our U.S. plans.

40

The net periodic retirement and post-retirement benefit costs recorded in consolidated statement of operations excluding 

curtailments and settlements were $6 million in fiscal year 2011, $4 million in fiscal year 2010, and $3 million in fiscal year 
2009.

Share-based compensation expense.  Share-based compensation expense consists of expense for stock options and 
restricted share units, or RSUs, granted to both employees and non-employees as well as expense associated with Avago 
Technologies Limited Employee Share Purchase Plan, or ESPP, which was implemented in September 2010. For stock options 
granted after November 1, 2006, we recognize compensation expense based on the estimated grant date fair value method 
required under the authoritative guidance using Black-Scholes valuation model with a straight-line amortization method. Since 
the authoritative guidance requires that share-based compensation expense be based on awards that are ultimately expected to 
vest, estimated share-based compensation expense for such awards has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Changes in the 
estimated forfeiture rates can have a significant effect on share-based compensation expense since the effect of adjusting the 
rate is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. For outstanding share-based awards granted before 
November 1, 2006 and not modified thereafter, we continue to account for any portion of such awards under the originally 
applied accounting principles. As a result, performance-based awards granted before November 1, 2006 were subject to 
variable accounting until such options are vested, forfeited, modified or cancelled. Variable accounting requires us to value the 
variable options at the end of each accounting period based upon the then current fair value of the underlying ordinary shares. 
Accordingly, our share-based compensation expense was subject to significant fluctuation based on changes in the fair value of 
our ordinary shares.

The weighted-average assumptions utilized for our Black-Scholes valuation model for options and employee share 

purchase rights granted during the fiscal years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 are as 
follows:

Risk-free interest rate

Dividend yield

Volatility

Expected term (in years)

Options

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

1.9%

—%

45%

5.0

October 30,
2011

2.0%

0.91%

45%

5.0

ESPP

Year Ended

November 1,
2009

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

2.3%

—%

52%

5.7

0.1%

0.58%

42.6%

0.5

0.2%

—%

42%

0.5

The dividend yield for the year ended October 30, 2011 is based on the historical and expected dividend payouts as of the 
respective option grant dates. For the years ended October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, the dividend yield of  zero is based 
on the fact that we did not intend to declare any cash dividends as of the respective option grant dates during those periods. 
Expected volatility is based on the combination of historical volatility of guideline publicly-traded companies over the period 
commensurate with the expected term of the options and the implied volatility of guideline publicly-traded companies from 
traded options with a term of 180 days or greater measured over the last three months. The risk-free interest rate is derived from 
the average U.S. Treasury Strips rate during the period, which approximates the rate in effect at the time of grant. For all 
options granted after August 2, 2009 and a portion of options granted before August 2, 2009, our computation of expected term 
was based on other data, such as the data of peer companies and company-specific attributes that we believe could affect 
employees’ exercise behavior. For the majority of options granted prior to August 2, 2009, we used the simplified method as 
specified in the accounting guidance to calculate the expected term.

In fiscal year 2010, we began to grant RSUs, which are equity awards that are granted with an exercise price equal to 

zero and  represent the right to receive one of our ordinary shares per RSU immediately upon vesting. We recognize 
compensation expense for RSUs using the straight-line amortization method based on the fair value of RSUs on the date of 
grant. The fair value of RSUs is the closing market price of our ordinary shares on the date of grant, which is equal to their 
intrinsic value on the date of grant.

We also record share-based compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of rights to purchase ordinary 

shares under the ESPP and recognize this share-based compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method.

Fiscal Year Presentation

We operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year which ends on the Sunday closest to October 31.

The financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are presented in accordance with GAAP and 

expressed in U.S. dollars.

41

 
Results from Operations

Year Ended October 30, 2011 Compared to Year Ended October 31, 2010

The following tables set forth our results of operations for the years ended October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010.

Statement of Operations Data:

Net revenue

Cost of products sold:

Cost of products sold

Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Total cost of products sold

Gross margin

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative

Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest expense

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Other income (expense), net

Income from operations before taxes

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

Net income

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

(In millions)

October 31,
October 30,
2010
2011
(As a percentage of net
revenue)

$

2,336

$

2,093

100%

100%

1,133

1,068

56

—

1,189

1,147

317

220

22

4

563

584
(4)
(20)
1

561

9

$

552

$

58

1

1,127

966

280

196

21

3

500

466
(34)
(24)
(2)
406
(9)
415

49

2

—

51

49

14

9

1

—

24

25

—
(1)
—

24

—

24%

51

3

—

54

46

14

9

1

—

24

22
(2)
(1)
—

19
(1)
20%

Net revenue.  Net revenue was $2,336 million for fiscal year 2011, compared to $2,093 million for fiscal year 2010, an 

increase of $243 million or 12%. Net revenue increased during fiscal year 2011 primarily due to strength in our wired 
infrastructure target market, as well as strength in our wireless communications and industrial and automotive electronics target 
markets. The year over year increase in net revenue was partially due to improved general economic conditions during the year, 
compared to fiscal year 2010 and also due to our introduction of a number of new, proprietary products, which helped us to 
grow net revenues substantially over the period. However, uncertainty with regard to the direction of the global economy has 
returned in recent months.

Our three largest target markets, by revenue, are wireless communications, industrial and automotive electronics and 

wired infrastructure, with computer and consumer computing peripherals typically representing a much smaller percentage of 
our overall net revenue.  The percentage of total net revenue generated by sales into each of our target markets varies from 
quarter to quarter, due largely to fluctuations in end-market demand, including the effects of seasonality. The first fiscal quarter 
is typically our lowest revenue and cash generating quarter due, in part, to holiday shut downs at many original equipment 
manufacturer, or OEM, customers and distributors, and the first half of the fiscal year tends to generate lower revenue than the 
second half. We saw a return to this typical seasonality during the first half of fiscal year 2011. However, typical seasonality 
and industry cyclicality may be being overshadowed by wider macroeconomic effects, such as the current worldwide volatility 
in the financial markets and slowing growth in China's economy.  In addition, the ongoing flooding in Thailand, a critical area 
for manufacturing many components important for the semiconductor supply chain, is having an impact on certain 
semiconductor and optical component supply chains, including our own. Certain of our optical sensors, wireless multimarket 
and industrial optocoupler products were being tested and assembled with a contract manufacturer based in the flood-zone, 
whose facilities there have been shut down as a result.  We are in the process of moving equipment and qualifying new contract 
manufacturers to bring the manufacturing of these products back to pre-flood levels.  We expect this work to be substantially 
completed during the course of the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Net revenue by target market data is derived from our understanding of our end customers’ primary markets, and was as 

42

 
 
 
 
 
 
follows:

% of Net Revenue
Wireless communications

Industrial and automotive electronics

Wired infrastructure

Consumer and computing peripherals

Total net revenue

Net Revenue

Wireless communications

Industrial and automotive electronics

Wired infrastructure

Consumer and computing peripherals

Total net revenue

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

Change

38%

29

28

5

38%

29

24

9

100%

100%

—%

—

4
(4)

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

(In millions)

$

$

$

887

672

659

118

$

796

605

509

183

2,336

$

2,093

$

Change

91

67

150
(65)
243

Net revenue from wireless communications products, increased in absolute dollars in fiscal year 2011, compared with 
fiscal year 2010, while remaining flat as a percentage of net revenue. The launch of next-generation smart phones at leading 
new and existing OEM customers, which incorporate many of our proprietary products such as 3G and 4G radio frequency 
filters and power amplifiers drove revenue growth during fiscal year 2011. 

Net revenue from our industrial and automotive electronics products increased in absolute dollars in fiscal year 2011, 

compared with fiscal year 2010, while remaining flat as a percentage of net revenue. The increase in the fiscal year 2011 was 
due to particular strength in sales of optocouplers, industrial fiber optic transceivers and industrial motion encoders.  We 
continued to benefit from strong demand in renewable energy, smart power grid installations and transportation applications, in 
both developed economies and emerging economies such as China. Demand in our industrial market slowed towards the end of 
fiscal year 2011 as a result of slower economic growth in China and a slow-down in the renewable energy sector. We believe 
this has caused some ongoing inventory corrections in the supply chain in this target market.  The effects of this were 
particularly noticeable in demand for servo drives and inverters for renewable energy applications in Europe and Asia-Pacific 
towards the end of fiscal year 2011 and we expect this contraction to continue into the early part of fiscal year 2012.

Net revenue from our wired infrastructure target market increased substantially, in absolute dollars and also increased as a 

percentage of net revenue, in fiscal year 2011, compared with fiscal year 2010.  Spending on enterprise networking data 
centers, storage systems and core routing grew during the year.  In addition, we introduced a number of new fiber optic 
transceivers and ASICs in fiscal year 2011, compared with fiscal year 2010, which contributed to the increase in revenue. The 
strong growth in sales of our ASIC products compared to fiscal year 2010 was due primarily to strength in next-generation data 
center switching. Increase in revenue recognized on development contracts for future ASIC products in fiscal year 2011, 
compared with fiscal year 2010, also contributed to the increase in revenue.

Net revenue from our consumer and computing peripheral target market decreased in absolute dollars and as a percentage 

of net revenue in fiscal year 2011, compared with fiscal year 2010. This reflected a decline in sales of optical sensors used in 
optical mice and sales of motion encoders used in applications such as optical disc drives and printers in fiscal year 2011. Net 
revenue from this target market during this period was also affected by ongoing softness in the personal computer and printer 
market.

Gross margin.  Gross margin was $1,147 million for fiscal year 2011 compared to $966 million for fiscal year 2010, an 

increase of $181 million or 19%. As a percentage of net revenue, gross margin increased to 49% for fiscal year 2011 from 46% 
for fiscal year 2010. The increase in gross margin percentage was primarily attributable to continuing improvements in product 
mix. During fiscal year 2011, compared fiscal year 2010, a higher proportion of our net revenues were from products sold into 
the wired infrastructure target market and from sales of our proprietary products, which generally earn higher gross margins 
than our other products, partially offset by continued strong sales of our wireless products and changes in the mix of our 
wireless products. Gross margin benefited from a reduction in depreciation expense of $3 million in fiscal year 2011 resulting 

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
from a change in the duration of the useful lives of certain of our assembly and test equipment. We also released charges of 
$7 million during fiscal year 2011 for warranty costs compared to charges of $12 million recorded in fiscal year 2010. See 
Note 16. “Commitments and Contingencies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Research and development.  Research and development expense was $317 million for fiscal year 2011, compared to $280 

million for fiscal year 2010, an increase of $37 million or 13%. As a percentage of net revenue, research and development 
expenses remained flat at 14% for fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2010. The increase in absolute dollars was primarily 
attributable to $13 million in additional research and development project materials and supplies, an $8 million increase in 
compensation expense resulting from annual salary adjustment, a $6 million increase in share-based compensation expense due 
to grants of share-based awards at higher fair market values, a $5 million increase in depreciation expense and a $2 million 
increase in hardware test services in fiscal year 2011 as compared to fiscal year 2010. These increases were partially offset by 
$1 million in accrued reimbursements pursuant to research and development grants. We expect research and development 
expenses to increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future, due to the increasing complexity and number of products we 
plan to develop.

Selling, general and administrative.  Selling, general and administrative expense was $220 million for the year ended 

October 30, 2011 compared to $196 million for the year ended October 31, 2010, an increase of $24 million or 12%. As a 
percentage of net revenue, selling, general and administrative expense remained flat at 9% for the year ended October 30, 2011 
compared to the year ended October 31, 2010. The increase in absolute dollars was attributable to an $8 million increase in 
legal expenses related to offensive litigation matters initiated in fiscal year 2010, a $7 million increase in compensation expense 
resulting from annual salary adjustments, a $6 million increase in share-based compensation expense due to grants of share-
based awards at higher fair market values, a $2 million increase in sales commissions expense paid to our sales employees, and 
a $2 million increase in third party IT fees, partially offset by a $5 million decrease in incentive compensation expense related 
to our employee bonus program, which is a variable expense related to our overall profitability in fiscal year 2011 as compared 
to fiscal year 2010. 

Amortization of intangible assets.  Total amortization of intangible assets incurred was $78 million and $79 million, 

respectively, for fiscal years 2011 and 2010.

Restructuring charges.  During fiscal year 2011, we incurred total restructuring charges of $4 million, compared to $4 

million for fiscal year 2010, both predominantly representing employee termination costs. See Note 10. “Restructuring 
Charges” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Interest expense.  Interest expense was $4 million for fiscal year 2011, compared to $34 million for fiscal year 2010, 
which represents a decrease of $30 million. The decrease is primarily due to the redemption of the remaining $230 million 
aggregate principal amount of our senior subordinated rate notes on December 1, 2010.

Loss on extinguishment of debt.  During fiscal year 2011, we redeemed $230 million aggregate principal amount of our 

senior subordinated notes. The redemption of the senior subordinated notes resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $19 
million. During fiscal year 2011, we also terminated our senior secured revolving credit facility. There were no outstanding 
loan borrowings under this  facility at the time of termination. This termination resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of 
$1 million, related to the write-off of debt amortization costs and other related expenses. During fiscal year 2010, we redeemed 
$318 million aggregate principal amount of our senior fixed rate notes and the remaining $46 million aggregate principal 
amount of our senior floating rate notes. The redemption of the senior fixed rate notes and senior floating rate notes in fiscal 
year 2010 resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $24 million.  See Note 7. “Borrowings” to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements.

Other income (expense), net.  Other income (expense), net includes interest income, foreign currency gain (loss), loss on 

other-than-temporary impairment of investment and other miscellaneous items. Other income, net was $1 million for fiscal year 
2011 compared to other expense, net was $2 million for fiscal year 2010. The increase to other income, net for fiscal year 2011, 
compared to other expense, net for fiscal year 2010 is primarily attributable to a decrease in foreign currency losses, and an 
increase in interest income due primarily to higher cash balances compared to the same period in prior year.

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes.  We recorded an income tax expense totaling $9 million for fiscal year 2011 
compared to an income tax benefit of $9 million for fiscal year 2010. The provision for income taxes in 2011 included a $3 
million tax benefit for the increase in deferred tax assets from U.S. legislation retroactively reinstating the research and 
development tax credit and a $3 million tax benefit from a change in estimate related to research and development tax credits.  
The benefit from income taxes in 2010 included a $29 million benefit from the release of deferred tax asset valuation 
allowances, mainly associated with irrevocably calling our senior subordinated notes for redemption in October 2010, partially 
offset by a write-off of $6 million of deferred tax assets resulting from the grant of a new tax incentive in Malaysia.

44

Year Ended October 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended November 1, 2009 

The following tables set forth our results of operations for the years ended October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009.

Statement of Operations Data:

Net revenue

Cost of products sold:

Cost of products sold

Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Total cost of products sold

Gross margin

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative
Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Advisory agreement termination fee

Selling shareholder expenses

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest expense

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Other income (expense), net

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

(In millions)

(As a percentage of net revenue)

$

2,093

$

1,484

100%

100 %

1,068

58

1

1,127

966

280

196
21

3

—

—

500

466
(34)
(24)
(2)
406
(9)
415

$

855

58

11

924

560

245

165
21

23

54

4

512

48
(77)
(8)
1
(36)
8
(44)

51

3

—

54

46

14

9
1

—

—

—

24

22
(2)
(1)
—

19
(1)
20%

58

4

1

63

37

17

11
1

1

4

—

34

3

(5)

(1)

—

(3)

—

(3)%

Income (loss) from operations before taxes

Provision for income taxes

Net income (loss)

$

During the year ended November 1, 2009, we recorded an accrual of $4 million for indirect taxes on certain prior years’ 

purchase and sale transactions. This accrual increased cost of products sold and research and development expenses for the year 
ended November 1, 2009 by $2 million each and increased net loss for the year by $4 million. We determined that the impact of 
the adjustment was not material to prior periods or to the results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, and as such the 
adjustment was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 under ASC 270 “Interim Reporting.” 

Net revenue.  Net revenue was $2,093 million for the year ended October 31, 2010, compared to $1,484 million for the 
year ended November 1, 2009, an increase of $609 million or 41%. This year over year increase was due, in large part, to the 
improvement in global economic conditions that occurred during this period, but also due to our introduction of a number of 
new, proprietary products over the year, which helped us to grow net revenues substantially over the period.

Net revenue by target market data is derived from our understanding of our end customers’ primary markets, and was as 

follows:

% of Net Revenue
Wireless communications

Industrial and automotive electronics

Wired infrastructure

Consumer and computing peripherals

Total net revenue

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

Change

38%

29

24

9

42%

22

26

10

(4)%

7

(2)

(1)

100%

100%

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Revenue

Wireless communications

Industrial and automotive electronics

Wired infrastructure

Consumer and computing peripherals

Total net revenue

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

Change

(In millions)
796

$

605

509

183

$

622

332

384

146

2,093

$

1,484

$

$

$

174

273

125

37

609

Net revenue from wireless communications products, in absolute dollars increased in fiscal year 2010 compared with 

fiscal year 2009. The growth of key platforms in next-generation smart phones at leading OEM customers, which incorporate 
many of our products such as FBAR filters, power amplifiers and PA-Duplexer front-end modules as well as optical finger 
navigation sensors, drove this revenue growth. Revenue from this target market decreased as a percentage of net revenue due to 
the disproportionate growth in revenues from the industrial and automotive electronics target market. 

Net revenue from industrial and automotive electronics products, both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of net 

revenue, substantially increased in fiscal year 2010 compared with fiscal year 2009. The increase was in large part due to the 
effects of a recovery in market conditions from fiscal year 2009. The growth in this target market was broad based, with 
particular strength in sales of optocouplers, industrial fiber optic transceivers and motion encoders. We benefitted from 
increased spending on and new uses for our devices in applications such as inverters, servo machine tools and programmable 
logic controller/fieldbus industrial data communications systems used in power production and distribution, including 
renewable energy and smart power grid installations, factory automation and transportation applications, as well as gains in 
market share for a number of these products. We believe a substantial amount of the demand for these products was driven by 
spending on infrastructure in emerging economies. 

Net revenue from wired infrastructure products, in absolute dollars, increased in fiscal year 2010 compared with fiscal 

year 2009, as spending on enterprise networking data centers and core routing improved and also due, in part, to gains in 
market share. Wired networking continued to benefit from increasing demand for data traffic, generating increased demand for 
fiber-optic based networking connections to replace copper-based connections and generating increased demand for higher 
speed SerDes communications links. 

Net revenue from consumer and computing peripheral products, in absolute dollars, increased in fiscal year 2010 
compared with fiscal year 2009, reflecting improved sales of optical sensors used in optical mice and improved sales of motion 
encoders used in applications such as optical disc drives and printers during fiscal year 2010. However, this target market 
continues to be adversely affected by ongoing weakness in consumer spending and we did not experience the usual seasonal 
benefits in our personal computer-related businesses in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010.

The categorization of revenue by target market is determined using a variety of data points including the technical 

characteristics of the product, the “sold to” customer information, the “ship to” customer information and the end customer 
product or application into which our product will be incorporated. As data systems for capturing and tracking this data evolve 
and improve, the categorization of products by target market can vary over time. When this occurs, we reclassify revenue by 
target market for prior periods. Such reclassifications typically do not materially change the sizing of, or the underlying trends 
of results within, each target market. 

Gross margin.  Gross margin was $966 million for the year ended October 31, 2010 compared to $560 million for the 

year ended November 1, 2009, an increase of $406 million or 73%. As a percentage of net revenue, gross margin increased to 
46% for the year ended October 31, 2010 from 37% for the year ended November 1, 2009. The increase in gross margin 
percentage was attributable to continuing improvements in product mix, as well as increased operating levels in our internal 
fabrication facilities. During the year ended October 31, 2010, compared to the year ended November 1, 2009, a higher 
proportion of our net revenues were from products sold into the industrial and automotive electronics target market and from 
sales of our proprietary products, which generally earn higher gross margins than our other products. During the year ended 
October 31, 2010, we recorded write-downs to inventories associated with reduced demand assumptions of $15 million 
compared to $23 million during the year ended November 1, 2009. We also recorded charges of $12 million during the year 
ended October 31, 2010 for warranty costs compared to $8 million in the year ended November 1, 2009. See Note 16. 
“Commitments and Contingencies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Research and development.  Research and development expense was $280 million for the year ended October 31, 2010, 

compared to $245 million for the year ended November 1, 2009, an increase of $35 million or 14%. As a percentage of net 
revenue, research and development expenses decreased to 14% for the year ended October 31, 2010 from 17% for the year 
ended November 1, 2009. The increase in absolute dollars was primarily attributable to $11 million increase in incentive 

46

 
 
 
 
compensation expense related to our employee bonus program, which is a variable expense related to our overall profitability, 
$6 million increase in compensation expense resulting from annual salary adjustment, $4 million increase in share-based 
compensation expense due to grants of share-based awards at higher fair market values and $11 million in additional research 
and development project materials and supplies in fiscal year 2010 as compared to the year ended November 1, 2009. The 
decrease as a percentage of net revenue is attributable to higher net revenue in fiscal year 2010. We expect research and 
development expenses to increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future, due to the increasing complexity and number of 
products we plan to develop. 

Selling, general and administrative.  Selling, general and administrative expense was $196 million for the year ended 
October 31, 2010 compared to $165 million for the year ended November 1, 2009, an increase of $31 million or 19%. As a 
percentage of net revenue, selling, general and administrative expense decreased to 9% for the year ended October 31, 2010 
compared to 11% for the year ended November 1, 2009. The increase in absolute dollars was attributable to $11 million 
increase in incentive compensation expense related to our employee bonus program which is a variable expense related to our 
overall profitability in fiscal year 2010 as compared to the year ended November 1, 2009, $2 million increase in sales 
commissions expense paid to our sales employees, $3 million increase in compensation expense resulting from annual salary 
adjustment, $8 million increase in share-based compensation expense due to grants of share-based awards at higher fair market 
values, $3 million increase in third party fees and $4 million increase in computer and related services. The decrease as a 
percentage of net revenue was attributable to higher net revenue in fiscal year 2010. Selling, general and administrative 
expenses for fiscal year 2009 does not include $54 million that we recorded related to the termination of the advisory 
agreement with our Sponsors pursuant to its terms, upon the closing of the IPO, as well as approximately $4 million of offering 
costs incurred in our IPO that relate to selling shareholders which were absorbed by us. The advisory agreement termination 
fees and the selling shareholder expenses are included as separate components of operating expenses in the consolidated 
statements of operations for fiscal year 2009. 

Amortization of intangible assets.  Total amortization of intangible assets incurred was $79 million each, for the years 

ended October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009.

Restructuring charges.  During the year ended October 31, 2010, we incurred total restructuring charges of $4 million, 
compared to $34 million for the year ended November 1, 2009, both predominantly representing employee termination costs. 
We undertook significant restructuring activities in fiscal year 2009 in response to the then macroeconomic business conditions 
and some incremental restructuring activities in fiscal year 2010, which resulted in significantly higher restructuring charges in 
fiscal year 2009 compared to fiscal year 2010. See Note 10. “Restructuring Charges” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Interest expense.  Interest expense was $34 million for the year ended October 31, 2010, compared to $77 million for the 

year ended November 1, 2009, which represents a decrease of $43 million or 56%. The decrease is primarily due to the 
redemption and repurchases of $364 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding notes made in fiscal year 2010. 
Interest expense is expected to be significantly lower during fiscal year 2011, compared to fiscal year 2010, due to the 
redemption of the remaining $230 million aggregate principal amount of our senior subordinated rate notes on December 1, 
2010. 

Loss on extinguishment of debt.  During the year ended October 31, 2010, we redeemed $318 million aggregate principal 

amount of our senior fixed rate notes and the remaining $46 million aggregate principal amount of our senior floating rate 
notes. The redemption of the senior fixed rate notes and senior floating rate notes in fiscal year 2010 resulted in a loss on 
extinguishment of debt of $24 million. During the year ended November 1, 2009, we repurchased an aggregate of $106 million 
of debt, consisting of $85 million in principal amount of senior fixed rate notes, $17 million in principal amount of senior 
subordinated notes and $4 million in principal amount of senior floating rate notes in a tender offer for all or a part of our 
outstanding notes, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt in fiscal year 2009 of $9 million. We also repurchased 
$3 million in principal amount of senior subordinated notes in the open market, resulting in a gain on extinguishment of debt of 
$1 million during the year ended November 1, 2009. See Note 7. “Borrowings” to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Other income (expense), net.  Other income (expense), net includes interest income, foreign currency gain (loss), loss 

other-than-temporary impairment of investment and other miscellaneous items. Other expense, net was $2 million for the year 
ended October 31, 2010 compared to other income, net was $1 million for the year ended November 1, 2009. The decrease is 
primarily attributable to a $2 million decrease in government grants received and a $1 million increase in currency losses 
during the year ended October 31, 2010 compared to the year ended November 1, 2009. 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes.  We recorded an income tax benefit totaling $9 million for the year ended 
October 31, 2010 compared to an income tax expense of $8 million for the year ended November 1, 2009. The decrease is 
primarily attributable to the release of $29 million of deferred tax asset valuation allowances, mainly associated with the 
Company irrevocably calling our senior subordinated notes for redemption in October 2010, partially offset by the write-off of 
$6 million of deferred tax assets resulting from the grant of a new tax incentive in Malaysia, and an increase in overall tax 
provision due to an increase in worldwide taxable income.

47

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following section discusses our principal liquidity and capital resources as well as our principal liquidity 
requirements and sources and uses of cash. Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained in highly liquid investments with 
remaining maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase. We believe our cash equivalents are liquid and accessible. 

Our primary sources of liquidity as at October 30, 2011 consisted of: (1) approximately $829 million in cash and cash 

equivalents, (2) cash we expect to generate from operations and (3) our $200 million revolving credit facility, which is 
committed until March 31, 2015, all of which is available to be drawn. Our short-term and long-term liquidity requirements 
primarily arise from: (i) working capital requirements,  (ii) research and development and capital expenditure needs, including 
acquisitions from time to time and (iii) quarterly dividend payment and any share repurchases we may choose to make under 
our share repurchase program. Our ability to fund these requirements will depend on our future cash flows, which are 
determined by future operating performance and are, therefore, subject to prevailing global macroeconomic conditions and 
financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.

In June 2011, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 15 million of the Company’s outstanding 
ordinary shares, not to exceed $500 million, in the aggregate, in open market transactions prior to the date on which the 2012 
Annual General Meeting of the Company is held or is required by law to be held. During the year ended October 30, 2011, we 
repurchased an aggregate of 2.6 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $93 million, pursuant to this authorization.

Our cash and cash equivalents increased by $268 million to $829 million at October 30, 2011 from $561 million at 
October 31, 2010 primarily as a result of $726 million in cash provided by operating activities and $70 million in cash received 
from the issuance of ordinary shares under our employee share option plans and employee share purchase plans. Partially 
offsetting this increase were $112 million cash paid for capital expenditures, $93 million of cash paid to repurchase 2.6 million 
of our ordinary shares, and $86 million in dividends paid to our shareholders.

We believe that our cash and cash equivalents on hand, and cash flows from operations, combined with availability under 

our revolving credit facility, will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our current obligations, projected working capital 
requirements, capital spending, quarterly dividends (if and when declared by our Board) and any share repurchases we may 
choose to make under our share repurchase program for at least the next 12 months. We anticipate that our capital expenditures 
for fiscal year 2012 will be higher than for fiscal year 2011, due to spending on capacity expansion in our Fort Collins internal 
fabrication facility and equipment to support various research and development projects.  If we do not have sufficient cash to 
fund our operations or finance growth opportunities, including acquisitions, or unanticipated capital expenditures, our business 
and financial condition could suffer. We could also reduce certain expenditures such as repurchases of our ordinary shares and 
payment of our quarterly dividend.  In such circumstances we may seek to obtain debt or equity financing in the future. 
However, we cannot assure that such additional financing will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. Our ability to 
service any indebtedness we may incur, including under our revolving credit facility, will depend on our ability to generate cash 
in the future.  In addition, even though we may not need additional funds, we may still elect to sell additional debt or equity 
securities or increase our current credit facility for other reasons.

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in millions):

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

October 30,
2011

Year Ended
October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

726
(122)
(336)
268

$

$

510
(86)
(335)
89

$

$

139
(63)
183

259

Cash Flows for the Years Ended October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010 

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended October 30, 2011 was $726 million. The net cash 
provided by operating activities was principally due to net income of $552 million and non-cash charges of $209 million, offset 
by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $35 million.

Accounts receivable increased to $328 million at the end of fiscal year 2011 from $285 million at the end of fiscal year 
2010. Accounts receivable days sales outstanding increased to 48 days at October 30, 2011 from 45 days at October 31, 2010 
primarily due to linearity of shipments in the last three months of fiscal year 2011 as compared to the last three months of fiscal 
year 2010. We use the current quarter revenue in our calculation of number of days sales outstanding.

48

 
Inventory increased to $194 million at October 30, 2011 from $189 million at October 31, 2010. The increase in 

inventory dollar amount is attributable to anticipated increased demand. Inventory days on hand decreased slightly from 
61 days at October 31, 2010 to 58 days at October 30, 2011. We use the current quarter cost of products sold in our calculation 
of days on hand of inventory.

Current liabilities decreased to $350 million at the end of fiscal year 2011 from $565 million at the end of fiscal year 

2010 mainly due to the redemption in December 2010 of $230 million of long-term debt that was classified as current at 
October 31, 2010 (as it had been irrevocably called for redemption before the fiscal year end) and decreases in accrued interest 
and other current liabilities, offset by increases in accounts payable and employee compensation and benefits accruals. Accrued 
interest decreased to less than $1 million at October 30, 2011 from $12 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 mainly due to the 
debt redemption and semi-annual interest payments made during fiscal year 2011. Other current liabilities decreased to $38 
million at the end of fiscal year 2011 from $41 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 primarily due to an $11 million decrease in 
accrued warranty related to settlement payments and reassessment of replacement parts exposure, partially offset by a $4 
million increase in current income tax payable and a $3 million increase in deferred revenue. Accounts payable increased to 
$221 million as at October 30, 2011 from $198 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 due to timing of disbursements and higher 
volume of purchases to support the increase in revenue over the year. Employee compensation and benefits increased to $89 
million at the end of fiscal year 2011 from $82 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 mainly due to salary increases and our 
employee bonus program related to our overall profitability.

Other long-term assets increased to $61 million at the end of fiscal year 2011 from $44 million at the end of fiscal year 

2010 mainly due to the increase in long-term deferred tax assets. Other long-term liabilities increased to $86 million at the end 
of fiscal year 2011 from $83 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 mainly due to the change in actuarial assumptions used in the 
valuation of our U.S. post-retirement benefit plan liabilities and the net periodic pension expenses recorded during the year for 
our U.S. post-retirement benefit plan.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended October 31, 2010 was $510 million. The net cash 
provided by operating activities was principally due to net income of $415 million and non-cash charges of $194 million, offset 
by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $99 million.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended October 30, 2011 was $122 million. The net cash used in investing 
activities principally related to purchases of property, plant and equipment of $112 million, in connection with the expansion of 
our internal manufacturing facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado, and in Singapore and $8 million related to a business acquisition 
completed in fiscal year 2011.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended October 31, 2010 was $86 million. The net cash used in investing 

activities principally related to purchases of property, plant and equipment of $79 million and acquisitions and investments of 
$9 million.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended October 30, 2011 was $336 million. The net cash used in 

financing activities was principally due to the redemption of the remaining $230 million in principal amount of our senior 
subordinated notes, an aggregate of $86 million in payments of cash dividends to shareholders and the payment of an aggregate 
of $93 million to repurchase and cancel 2.6 million shares of our ordinary shares under our share repurchase program. This was 
partially offset by $70 million in net proceeds provided by the exercises of options and purchases of our ordinary shares by 
employees under our ESPP.

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended October 31, 2010 was $335 million, comprised mainly of the 

redemption of $318 million in principal amount of senior fixed rate notes and $46 million principal amount of senior floating 
rate notes, offset by $28 million provided by the issuance of ordinary shares, upon the exercise of options.

Cash Flows for the Years Ended October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended October 31, 2010 was $510 million. The net cash 

provided by operating activities was principally due to net income of $415 million and non-cash charges of $194 million, offset 
by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $99 million. 

Accounts receivable increased to $285 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 from $186 million at the end of fiscal year 

2009. Accounts receivable days sales outstanding increased to 45 days at October 31, 2010 from 40 days at November 1, 2009 
primarily due to linearity of shipments in the last three months of fiscal year 2010 as compared to the last three months of fiscal 
year 2009. We use the current quarter revenue in our calculation of number of days sales outstanding.

Inventory increased to $189 million at October 31, 2010 from $162 million at November 1, 2009. The increase in inventory 

49

dollar  amount  is  attributable  to  anticipated  increased  demand.  Inventory  days  on  hand  decreased  slightly  from  62 days  at 
November 1, 2009 to 61 days at October 31, 2010. We use the current quarter cost of products sold in our calculation of days on 
hand of inventory.

Current liabilities decreased from $633 million at the end of fiscal year 2009 to $565 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 
mainly due to the net decrease in short-term debt of $134 million as a result of redemption of $364 million of long-term debt that 
was classified as a current liability as of November 1, 2009 (as it had been irrevocably called for redemption before the fiscal year 
end) and decreases in accrued interest and the $230 million of long-term debt (our senior subordinated notes) that was classified 
as a current liability as of October 31, 2010 (as it had been irrevocably called for redemption before the fiscal year end). This 
decrease was offset by an increase in accounts payable and employee compensation and benefits. Accrued interest decreased 
$13 million or 52% from fiscal year 2009 mainly due to the debt redemption and semi-annual interest payments made during fiscal 
year 2010. Accounts payable increased to $198 million from $154 million at the end of fiscal year 2009 mainly due to timing of 
disbursements and higher volume of purchases related to increase in revenue. Employee compensation and benefits increased to 
$82 million from $55 million at fiscal year 2009 mainly due to our employee bonus program related to our overall profitability.

Other long-term assets increased from $24 million at the end of fiscal year 2009 to $44 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 
mainly due to the $29 million release of valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets primarily associated with the irrevocable 
call for redemption of our senior subordinated notes prior to the end of fiscal year 2010. Other long-term liabilities increased from 
$64 million at the end of fiscal year 2009 to $83 million at the end of fiscal year 2010 mainly due to the change in actuarial 
assumptions used in the valuation of our U.S. post-retirement benefit plan and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plan liabilities.

Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended November 1, 2009 was $139 million. The net loss of 
$44 million was offset primarily by non-cash charges of $160 million for depreciation and amortization and $12 million in 
share-based compensation expense.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended October 31, 2010 was $86 million. The net cash used in investing 
activities principally related to purchases of property, plant and equipment of $79 million and acquisitions and investments of 
$9 million. 

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended November 1, 2009 was $63 million. The net cash used in investing 

activities was primarily due to purchases of property, plant and equipment of $57 million and $7 million related to a business 
acquisition. 

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended October 31, 2010 was $335 million, comprised mainly of the 

redemption of $318 million in principal amount of senior fixed rate notes and $46 million principal amount of senior floating 
rate notes, offset by $28 million provided by the issuance of ordinary shares, upon the exercise of options. 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended November 1, 2009 was $183 million. The net cash provided 

by financing activities was principally from proceeds of $304 million from the issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance 
costs, less $85 million associated with the purchase of senior fixed rate notes, $17 million associated with the purchase of 
senior subordinated notes and $4 million associated with the purchase of senior floating rate notes as part of an early tender 
offer.

Indebtedness

As of October 30, 2011, we had $6 million of capital lease obligations. At such date, we also had $200 million of 

borrowing capacity available under our revolving credit facility.

Revolving Credit Facility

During fiscal year 2011, we terminated our senior secured revolving credit facility. There were no outstanding loan 

borrowings under the existing revolving credit facility at the time of termination. This termination resulted in a loss on 
extinguishment of debt of $1 million, related to the write-off of debt amortization costs and other related expenses. 

In connection with the termination of our senior secured revolving credit facility, on March 31, 2011, Avago Technologies 

Finance Pte. Ltd., or Avago Finance, and certain other subsidiaries of the Company entered into a new credit agreement. The 
credit agreement provides for a $200 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility with a term of four years.  The revolving 
credit facility is available for cash borrowings and for the issuance of letters of credit up to a sub-limit of $40 million. The 
credit agreement contains (i) financial covenants requiring Avago Finance to maintain a maximum leverage ratio and a 
minimum interest coverage ratio; (ii) customary restrictive covenants that limit Avago Finance's  and certain of the Company's 

50

other subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, create liens, merge or consolidate with and into other persons, and sell assets; 
(iii) customary events of default, upon the occurrence of which, after any applicable grace period, the lenders will have the 
ability to accelerate all outstanding loans thereunder and terminate the commitments; and (iv) customary representations and 
warranties. In addition, Avago Finance has the ability, at any time, to increase the aggregate commitments under the credit 
agreement from $200 million to $300 million subject to certain conditions, and the receipt of sufficient commitments for such 
increase from the lenders. Certain subsidiaries of the Company guarantee the revolving credit facility. 

Borrowings under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility are subject to floating rates of interest and will bear 

interest at a rate per annum equal to:

Base Rate Advances: the highest of (x) Citibank’s publicly announced base rate from time to time, (y) the U.S. Federal 
funds rate plus 0.5% and (z) the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate, or BBA LIBOR Rate applicable to 
Dollars for a period of one month plus 1.00%; or 

Eurocurrency Advances: the rate per annum obtained by dividing (x) the BBA LIBOR Rate for deposits in Dollars for the 
applicable interest period by (y) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency liabilities reserve percentage 
specified by the U.S. Federal Reserve System for such interest period, 

plus, in each case, a margin based on the credit rating of Avago Finance’s long-term unsecured debt or Avago Finance’s 
corporate credit rating, as applicable, or the Avago Public Debt Rating.  Avago Finance is also required to pay the lenders a 
commitment fee at a rate per annum that varies based on the Public Debt Rating.

As of October 30, 2011, we had no borrowings outstanding under the new revolving credit facility and were in 
compliance with the financial covenants under our credit agreement. We did not draw on our revolving credit facility during 
fiscal year 2011.

Contractual Commitments

Our cash flows from operations are dependent on a number of factors, including fluctuations in our operating results, 

accounts receivable collections, inventory management, and timing of payments. As a result, the impact of contractual 
obligations on our liquidity and capital resources in future periods should be analyzed in conjunction with such factors.

The following table sets forth our contractual obligations and commitments as of October 30, 2011 for the fiscal periods 

noted (in millions):

Operating leases(1)

Capital leases(2)

Purchase Commitments (3)

Revolving credit facility commitments(4)

Other Contractual Commitments(5)

_______________________________________

Total

2012

2013 to
2014

2015 to
2016

Thereafter

$

$

39

5

57

2

49

$

9

2

57

1

22

$

17

2

—

1

26

$

9

1

—

—

1

4

—

—

—

—

(1)  Includes operating lease commitments for facilities and equipment that we have entered into with third parties.

(2)  Includes capital lease commitments for equipment that we have entered into with third parties.

(3)  We purchase components from a variety of suppliers and use several contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing 

services for our products. During the normal course of business, we issue purchase orders with estimates of our 
requirements several months ahead of the delivery dates. However, our agreements with these suppliers usually allow 
us the option to cancel, reschedule, and adjust our requirements based on our business needs prior to firm orders being 
placed. Typically purchase orders outstanding with delivery dates within 30 days are non-cancelable. In addition to the 
above non-cancelable purchase commitments, we record a liability for firm, non-cancelable, and unconditional 
purchase commitments for quantities in excess of our future demand forecasts in conjunction with our write-down of 
inventory. As of October 30, 2011, the liability for our firm, non-cancelable and unconditional purchase commitments 
was $4 million. These amounts are included in other liabilities in our balance sheets at October 30, 2011, and are 
excluded from the preceding table.

(4)  Represents commitment fees and letter of credit fees. 

(5)  Represents amounts payable pursuant to agreements related to outsourced IT, human resources, financial infrastructure 

outsourcing services and other services agreements. 

We adopted the provisions of the income tax accounting guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes on 
51

November 1, 2007. Due to the inherent uncertainty with respect to the timing of future cash outflows associated with our 
unrecognized tax benefits at October 30, 2011, we are unable to reliably estimate the timing of cash settlement with the 
respective taxing authority. Therefore, $29 million of unrecognized tax benefits classified as long-term income tax payable in 
the consolidated balance sheet as of October 30, 2011 have been excluded from the contractual obligations table above.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no material off-balance sheet arrangements at October 30, 2011 as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC 

Regulation S-K.

Indemnifications to Hewlett-Packard and Agilent

Agilent Technologies, Inc. has given multiple indemnities to Hewlett-Packard Company in connection with its activities 

prior to its spin-off from Hewlett-Packard Company in June 1999 for the businesses that constituted Agilent prior to the spin-
off. As the successor to the SPG business of Agilent, we may acquire responsibility for indemnifications related to assigned 
intellectual property agreements. Additionally, when we completed the SPG Acquisition in December 2005, we provided 
indemnities to Agilent with regard to Agilent’s conduct of the SPG business prior to the SPG Acquisition. In our opinion, the 
fair value of these indemnifications is not material.

Other Indemnifications

As is customary in our industry and as provided for in local law in the United States and other jurisdictions, many of our 

standard contracts provide remedies to our customers and others with whom we enter into contracts, such as defense, 
settlement, or payment of judgment for intellectual property claims related to the use of our products. From time to time, we 
indemnify customers, as well as our suppliers, contractors, lessors, lessees, companies that purchase our businesses or assets 
and others with whom we enter into contracts, against combinations of loss, expense, or liability arising from various triggering 
events related to the sale and the use of our products, the use of their goods and services, the use of facilities and state of our 
owned facilities, the state of the assets and businesses that we sell and other matters covered by such contracts, usually up to a 
specified maximum amount. In addition, from time to time we also provide protection to these parties against claims related to 
undiscovered liabilities, additional product liability or environmental obligations. In our experience, claims made under such 
indemnifications are rare and the associated estimated fair value of the liability is not material.

Accounting Changes and Recent Accounting Standards

For a description of accounting changes and recent accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and 

estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements, see Note 2. “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to 
Consolidated Financial Statements of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 7A. 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments

Although a majority of our revenue and operating expenses is denominated in U.S. dollars, and we prepare our financial 
statements in U.S. dollars in accordance with GAAP, a portion of our revenue and operating expenses is in foreign currencies. 
Our revenues, costs and expenses and monetary assets and liabilities are exposed to changes in currency exchange rates as a 
result of our global operating and financing activities. To mitigate the exposures resulting from the changes in the exchange 
rates of these currencies, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of these exposures. Contracts that 
meet accounting criteria are designated at inception as hedges of the related foreign currency exposures, which include 
committed and anticipated transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The criteria for 
designating a derivative as a hedge include the assessment of the instrument’s effectiveness in risk reduction, matching of the 
derivative instrument to its underlying transaction, and the assessment of the probability that the underlying transaction will 
occur. Our foreign exchange forward contracts generally mature within three to six months. We do not use derivative financial 
instruments for speculative or trading purposes. As of October 30, 2011, there were no foreign exchange forward contracts 
outstanding. Losses from foreign currency transactions, as well as derivative instruments, are included in our consolidated 
statements of operations in the amounts of $0 million, $4 million and $3 million for the years ended October 30, 2011, 
October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009.  

52

Interest Rate Risk

Borrowings under our revolving credit facility are subject to floating rates of interest.  Any significant changes in interest 

rates would increase our borrowing costs under our credit facility. However, a hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in 
short-term interest rates would not have a material impact on our revolving credit facility. We did not have any borrowings 
outstanding under this facility during fiscal year 2011 or as at October 30, 2011.

53

ITEM 8. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page
55

56

57

58

59

60

54

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Avago Technologies Limited:

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all 

material respects, the financial position of Avago Technologies Limited and its subsidiaries at October 30, 2011 and October 
31, 2010, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 30, 
2011 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our opinion, 
the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the 
information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.  Also in our opinion, 
the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 30, 2011, 
based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (COSO).  The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial 
statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness 
of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
appearing under Item 9A.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement 
schedule, and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits (which were integrated audits in 
2011 and 2010).  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial 
reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, 
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and 
significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our audit of internal 
control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the 
risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based 
on the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the 
circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

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

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  

Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become 
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
December 15, 2011

55

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade accounts receivable, net

Inventory

Other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net

Goodwill

Intangible assets, net

Other long-term assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

Employee compensation and benefits

Accrued interest

Capital lease obligations — current

Other current liabilities

Current portion of long-term debt

Total current liabilities

Long-term liabilities:

Capital lease obligations — non-current

Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)
Shareholders’ equity:

Ordinary shares, no par value; 245,962,320 shares and 239,888,231 shares issued and
outstanding on October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively

Retained earnings

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Total shareholders’ equity

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

(In millions, except share
amounts)

$

$

$

$

829

328

194

42

561

285

189

52

1,393

1,087

316

177

499

61

281

172

573

44

2,446

$

2,157

221

$

198

89

—

2

38

—

350

4

86

440

1,479

525

2

2,006

$

2,446

$

82

12

2

41

230

565

4

83

652

1,450

59
(4)
1,505

2,157

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

Net revenue

Cost of products sold:

Cost of products sold

Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Total cost of products sold

Gross margin

Research and development

Selling, general and administrative
Amortization of intangible assets

Restructuring charges

Advisory agreement termination fee

Selling shareholder expenses

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest expense

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Other income (expense), net

Income (loss) before income taxes

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

Net income (loss)

Net income (loss) per share:

Basic:

Net income (loss) per share

Diluted:

Net income (loss) per share

Weighted average shares :

Basic

Diluted

$

$

$

$

(In millions, except per share data)
2,336

2,093

$

$

1,133

1,068

56

—

1,189

1,147

317

220
22

4

—

—

563

584
(4)
(20)
1

561

9

552

$

$

$

2.25

2.19

245

252

58

1

1,127

966

280

196
21

3

—

—

500

466
(34)
(24)
(2)
406
(9)
415

1.74

1.69

238

246

$

$

$

Dividends declared and paid per share

$

0.35

$

—

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

57

1,484

855

58

11

924

560

245

165
21

23

54

4

512

48
(77)
(8)
1
(36)
8
(44)

(0.20)

(0.20)

219

219

—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Amortization of debt issuance costs

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Non-cash portion of restructuring charges

Impairment of investment

Share-based compensation

Tax benefits from share-based compensation

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

Trade accounts receivable, net

Inventory

Accounts payable

Employee compensation and benefits

Other current assets and current liabilities

Other long-term assets and long-term liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows used in investing activities:

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired

Purchase of intangible assets

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations

Loan receivable from cost method investee

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:

Debt repayments

Debt financing costs

Payment on capital lease obligation

Issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance costs

Repurchase of ordinary shares

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

Cash settlement of equity awards

Dividend payments to shareholders

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid for interest

Cash paid for income taxes

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

(In millions)

November 1,
2009

$

552

$

415

$

157

159

1

6

1

—

—

38

14

(8)

(42)

(5)

25

7

(13)

(7)

726

(112)

(9)

—

—

—

(1)

(122)

(230)

(2)

(3)

70

(93)

8

—

(86)

(336)

268

561

829

14

7

$

$

$

2

8

2

—

—

25

—

(2)

(96)

(26)

23

27

(16)

(11)

510

(79)

(9)

—

2

—

—

(86)

(364)

—

(2)

28

—

3

—

—

(335)

89

472

561

46

6

$

$

$

$

$

$

(44)

160

4

8

2

1

2

12

1

(1)

—

27

(16)

(19)

(39)

41

139

(57)

(7)

(1)

—

2

—

(63)

(114)

—

(1)

304

(6)

1

(1)

—

183

259

213

472

79

10

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

58

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

Ordinary Shares

Shares

Amount

Retained 
Earnings 
(Accumulated 
Deficit)

Accumulated 
Other 
Comprehensive 
Income (loss)

(In millions, except share amounts)

Total 
Shareholders’ 
Equity

Comprehensive 
Income (loss)

Balance as of November 2, 2008

213,517,292

Issuance of ordinary shares, net of issuance costs of $23 million

21,500,000

1,084

300

Issuance of ordinary shares in connection with equity incentive
plans

Repurchase of ordinary shares

Cash settlement of equity awards

Share-based compensation

Tax benefits from share-based compensation

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

Actuarial losses and prior service costs associated with post-
retirement benefit and defined benefit pension plans, net of
taxes

Unrealized net gain on derivative instruments

Net loss

1,183,405

(807,800)

—

—

—

—

—

—

3

(6)

(1)

12

1

—

—

—

Balance as of November 1, 2009

235,392,897

1,393

Issuance of ordinary shares in connection with equity incentive
plans

4,495,334

Share-based compensation

Tax benefits from share-based compensation

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

Actuarial losses and prior service costs associated with post-
retirement benefit and defined benefit pension plans, net of
taxes

Net income

—

—

—

—

28

25

4

—

—

Balance as of October 31, 2010

239,888,231

1,450

Issuance of ordinary shares in connection with equity incentive
plans

Repurchase of ordinary shares

Share-based compensation

Tax benefits from share-based compensation

Cash dividends paid to shareholders

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment

Actuarial gains and prior service costs associated with post-
retirement benefit and defined benefit pension plans, net of
taxes

Net income

Balance as of October 30, 2011

8,711,944

(2,637,855)

—

—

—

—

—

—

70

(93)

38

14

—

—

—

—

245,962,320

$

1,479

$

(312)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(44)

(356)

—

—

—

—

415

59

—

—

—

—

(86)

—

—

552

525

$

8

—

—

—

—

—

(6)

1

—

3

—

—

—

(7)

—

(4)

—

—

—

—

—

3

3

—

2

$

780

300

87

3

(6)

(1)

12

1

(6)

1

(44)

1,040

$

28

25

4

(7)

415

1,505

$

70

(93)

38

14

(86)

3

3

552

$

2,006

$

(6)

1

(44)

(49)

(7)

415

408

3

3

552

558

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. 

Overview and Basis of Presentation

Overview

Avago Technologies Limited was organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore in August 2005. References to 

the Company, we, our or Avago are to Avago Technologies Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated 
or the context otherwise requires. We are the successor to the Semiconductor Products Group, or SPG, of Agilent Technologies, 
Inc., or Agilent. On December 1, 2005, we acquired substantially all of the assets of SPG from Agilent for $2.7 billion, or the 
SPG Acquisition.

We are a designer, developer and global supplier of analog semiconductor devices with a focus on III-V based products. 

We offer products in four primary target markets: wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive 
electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. Applications for our products in these target markets include cellular 
phones, consumer appliances, data networking and telecommunications equipment, enterprise storage and servers, renewable 
energy and smart power grid applications, factory automation, displays, optical mice and printers.

Basis of Presentation

Fiscal Periods

We operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year which ends on the Sunday closest to October 31.

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Avago and our wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant 

intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

2. 

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make 
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. 
Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could affect the results of operations reported in future 
periods.

Out-of-period adjustment.  During the year ended November 1, 2009, we recorded an accrual of $4 million for indirect 
taxes on certain prior years’ purchases and sales transactions. This accrual increased cost of products sold by $2 million and 
research and development expenses by $2 million for fiscal year 2009 and increased net loss for the period by $4 million. We 
determined that the impact of the adjustment was not material to prior periods or to the results for the second quarter of fiscal 
year 2009, and the adjustment was therefore recorded in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 under the accounting guidance 
on interim reporting.

Cash and cash equivalents.  We consider all highly liquid investment securities with original or remaining maturities of 
three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. We determine the appropriate classification of our cash and 
cash equivalents at the time of purchase. As of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, $0 million and $2 million, respectively, 
of our cash and cash equivalents were restricted, primarily for collateral under certain of our letter of credit arrangements.

Trade accounts receivable, net.  Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. 

Such accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts, which is our best estimate of the amount of 
probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based on customer specific experience 
and the aging of such receivables, among other factors. Accounts receivable are also recorded net of sales returns and 
distributor allowances. These amounts are recorded when it is both probable and estimable that discounts will be granted or 
products will be returned. Aggregate accounts receivable allowances at October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010 were $23 
million and $16 million, respectively.

Concentrations of credit risk and significant customers.  Our cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable are 
potentially subject to concentration of credit risk. Cash and cash equivalents may be redeemable upon demand and are 
maintained with several financial institutions that management believes are of high credit quality and therefore bear minimal 
credit risk. The Company seeks to mitigate its credit risks by spreading such risks across multiple counterparties and 
monitoring the risk profile of these counterparties. Our accounts receivable are derived from revenue earned from customers 

60

located in the U.S. and internationally. Credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the large 
number of entities comprising our customer base and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. We 
perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial conditions, and require collateral, such as letters of credit and 
bank guarantees, in certain circumstances.

We sell our products through our direct sales force, manufacturers representatives and distributors. Two customers 
accounted for 15% and 10%, respectively, of our net accounts receivable balance at October 30, 2011. No customer accounted 
for 10% or more of our net accounts receivable balance at October 31, 2010.

For the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, no customer represented 10% or more of 

net revenue.

Concentration of other risks.  The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, competitive 

pricing pressures and cyclical market patterns. Our financial results are affected by a wide variety of factors, including general 
economic conditions worldwide, economic conditions specific to the semiconductor industry, timely implementation of new 
manufacturing technologies, ability to safeguard patents and other intellectual property in a rapidly evolving market and 
reliance on assembly and test subcontractors, third-party wafer fabricators and independent distributors. In addition, the 
semiconductor market has historically been cyclical and subject to significant economic downturns at various times. We are 
exposed to the risk of obsolescence of our inventory depending on the mix of future business.

Inventory.  We value our inventory at the lower of the actual cost of the inventory or the current estimated market value 
of the inventory, with cost being determined under the first-in, first-out method. We record a provision for excess and obsolete 
inventory based primarily on our forecast of product demand and production requirements. The excess balance determined by 
this analysis becomes the basis for our excess inventory charge and the written-down value of the inventory becomes its cost. 
Written-down inventory is not written up if market conditions improve.

Investments.  Our minority investments in privately held companies are accounted for using the cost method and 
evaluated for impairment quarterly. Such analysis requires significant judgment to identify events or circumstances that would 
likely have a significant other than temporary adverse effect on the carrying value of the investment.  We classify publicly-
traded equity securities held by us as available-for-sale investments. These investments are recorded in the consolidated balance 
sheets at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on these investments are included as a separate component of accumulated 
other comprehensive income (loss). We classify our investments as non-current based on the nature of the investments and 
whether they are available for use in current operations. At October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, we had $6 million and $3 
million of investments, respectively, included in other long-term assets. 

Deferred Compensation Plan.  Employee contributions under the deferred compensation plan (See Note 6. “Retirement 
Plans and Post-Retirement Benefits”) are maintained in a rabbi trust and are not readily available to us. Participants can direct 
the investment of their deferred compensation plan accounts in the same investments funds offered by the 401(k) plan. 
Although participants direct the investment of these funds, they are classified as trading securities and are included in other 
current assets. The corresponding liability related to the deferred compensation plan is recorded in other current liabilities. 
Unrealized gain (loss) in connection with these trading securities is recorded in other income (expense), net with an offset for 
the same amount recorded in compensation expense. We had deferred compensation plan assets of $5 million and $3 million at 
October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively, which are included in other current assets. Unrealized gain (loss) 
associated with these trading securities was not material for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Derivative instruments.  We are subject to foreign currency risks for transactions denominated in foreign currencies, 
primarily Singapore Dollar, Malaysian Ringgit, Euro and Japanese Yen. Therefore, we enter into foreign exchange forward 
contracts to manage financial exposures resulting from the changes in the exchange rates of these foreign currencies. These 
contracts are designated at inception as hedges of the related foreign currency exposures, which include committed and 
anticipated transactions that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the subsidiary which has the 
exposure. We exclude time value from the measurement of effectiveness. To achieve hedge accounting, contracts must reduce 
the foreign currency exchange rate risk otherwise inherent in the amount and duration of the hedged exposures and comply 
with established risk management policies; our hedging contracts generally mature within three to six months. We do not use 
derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

We designate our forward contracts as either cash flow or fair value hedges. All derivatives are recognized on the balance 
sheet at their fair values. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in value of the 
instruments are recognized in income in the current period. Such hedges are recorded in net income (loss) and are offset by the 
changes in fair value of the underlying assets or liabilities being hedged. For derivative instruments that are designated and 
qualify as a cash flow hedge, changes in the value of the effective portion of the derivative instrument are recognized in 
accumulated comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity. These amounts are then reclassified and 
recognized in income when either the forecasted transaction occurs or it becomes probable the forecasted transaction will not 
occur. Changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion of derivative instruments are recognized in earnings in the current 

61

period, which have not been significant to date. Separate disclosures required for derivative instruments and hedging were not 
presented because the impact of derivative instruments is immaterial to our results of operations and financial position.

Property, plant and equipment.  Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Additions, 

improvements and major renewals are capitalized, and maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are expensed as incurred. 
When assets are retired or disposed of, the assets and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from our 
records and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statement of operations. Buildings and leasehold 
improvements are generally depreciated over 15 to 40 years, or over the lease period, whichever is shorter, and machinery and 
equipment are generally depreciated over 3 to 10 years. We use the straight-line method of depreciation for all property, plant 
and equipment.

Capitalized software development costs.  We capitalize eligible costs related to the application development phase of 

software developed internally or obtained for internal use in accordance with the accounting guidance on goodwill and other 
intangible assets. The capitalization of software development costs during the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 
and November 1, 2009 was not material. We begin amortizing the costs associated with software developed for internal use at 
the time the software is ready for its intended use over its estimated useful life of 3 years.

Goodwill and purchased intangible assets.  Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price and related costs over the 
value assigned to the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of businesses acquired. Our accounting complies with the 
accounting guidance on goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed annually (or more 
frequently if impairment indicators arise) for impairment. Purchased intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated 
amortization. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the useful lives of the respective assets, generally 
six months to 25 years.

On a quarterly basis, we monitor factors and changes in circumstances that could indicate carrying amounts of long-lived 
assets, including goodwill and intangible assets, may not be recoverable. Factors we consider important which could trigger an 
impairment review include (i) significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, 
(ii) significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, and 
(iii) significant negative industry or economic trends. An impairment loss must be measured if the sum of the expected future 
cash flows (undiscounted and before interest) from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (or asset group) is less than the 
net book value of the asset (or asset group). The amount of the impairment loss will generally be measured as the difference 
between the net book value of the asset (or asset group) and their estimated fair value. We perform an annual impairment 
review of goodwill during the fourth fiscal quarter of each year, or more frequently if we believe indicators of impairment exist. 
No impairment of goodwill resulted from our most recent evaluation of goodwill for impairment, which occurred in the fourth 
quarter of fiscal year 2011. No impairment of goodwill resulted in any of the periods presented.

Warranty.  We accrue for the estimated costs of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized. Product warranty 
costs are estimated based upon our historical experience and specific identification of the products requirements, which may 
fluctuate based on product mix. Additionally, we accrue for warranty costs associated with occasional or unanticipated product 
quality issues if a loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated.

The following table summarizes the changes in accrued warranty (in millions):

Balance as of November 1, 2009 — included in other current liabilities

Charged to cost of products sold

Warranty accrual assumed during the period in connection with an acquisition

Utilized

Balance as of October 31, 2010 — included in other current liabilities

Adjustment to estimate - released to cost of products sold

Utilized

Balance as of October 30, 2011 — included in other current liabilities

$

$

$

7

12

1
(3)
17
(7)
(4)
6

During the year ended October 30, 2011, we released warranty related charges of $6 million and during the year ended 

October 31, 2010, we recorded warranty related charges of $11 million, respectively, based on one specific quality issue, which 
are included in the amounts presented in the table above. See Note 16. “Commitments and Contingencies” for further details.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes certain 

transactions that have generally been reported in the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive 
income (loss). The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and 
November 1, 2009 consisted of net unrecognized prior service credit and actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit pension plans 

62

and post-retirement medical benefit plans, unrealized gain on available-for-sale security investments and unrealized gain (loss) 
on derivative instruments.

Revenue recognition.  We recognize revenue, net of trade discounts and allowances, provided that (i) persuasive evidence 

of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectibility is reasonably 
assured. Delivery is considered to have occurred when title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. We consider the 
price to be fixed or determinable when the price is not subject to refund or adjustments or when any such adjustments are 
accounted for. We evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers to determine that appropriate credit limits are established 
prior to the acceptance of an order. Revenue, including sales to resellers and distributors, is reduced for estimated returns and 
distributor allowances. We recognize revenue from sales of our products to distributors upon delivery of products to the 
distributors. An allowance for distributor credits covering price adjustments and scrap allowances is made based on our 
estimate of historical experience rates as well as considering economic conditions and contractual terms. To date, actual 
distributor claim activity has been materially consistent with the provisions we have made based on our historical estimates.

We enter into development agreements with some of our customers and recognize revenue from these agreements upon 
completion and acceptance by the customer of contract deliverables or as services are provided, depending on the terms of the 
arrangement. Revenue is deferred for any amounts billed or received prior to completion or delivery of services. Costs related 
to these arrangements are included in research and development expense. These revenues, which are included in net revenue, 
totaled $52 million, $35 million and $31 million in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Research and development.  Costs related to research, design and development of our products are charged to research 

and development expense as they are incurred.

Government grants. Investment incentives related to government grants are recognized when a legal right to the grant 

exists, there is reasonable assurance that both the terms and conditions associated with the grant will be fulfilled and the grant 
proceeds will be received. For capital expenditure related government grants, the amount of the grants is recorded as a deferred 
credit and amortized over the useful life of the asset. All other government grants are recorded as a reduction of the qualifying 
cost being reimbursed. 

Share-based compensation expense.  For share-based awards granted after November 1, 2006, we recognize 

compensation expense based on the estimated grant date fair value method required under the authoritative guidance using the 
Black-Scholes valuation model with a straight-line amortization method. Since the authoritative guidance requires that share-
based compensation expense be based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest, estimated share-based compensation for 
such awards has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Authoritative guidance requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time 
of grant and revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from the estimate. For outstanding share-
based awards granted before November 1, 2006, we continue to account for any portion of such awards under the originally 
applied accounting principles, until such awards were modified subsequent to the adoption of the authoritative guidance.

For the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, we recorded $38 million, $25 million 

and $12 million, respectively, of compensation expense resulting from the application of the authoritative guidance. We 
recognize a benefit from share-based compensation in shareholders' equity if an incremental tax benefit is realized by following 
the ordering provisions of the tax law.

Shipping and handling costs.  Our shipping and handling costs charged to customers are included in net revenue and the 

associated expense is recorded in cost of products sold in the statements of operations for all periods presented.

Advertising.  Business specific advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included within selling, general and 
administrative expense amounted to $4 million, $4 million and $2 million for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 
2010 and November 1, 2009, respectively.

Foreign currency remeasurement.  We operate in a U.S. dollar functional currency environment. As such, foreign 
currency assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars at current exchange rates except for non-monetary items such as 
inventory and property, plant and equipment, which are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Net income (loss) for fiscal 
years 2011, 2010 and 2009 included net foreign currency losses of $0 million, $4 million and $3 million, respectively.

Taxes on income.  We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of 
deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial 
statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial 
statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are 
expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the 
period that includes the enactment date.

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making 

such determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax 

63

liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In the event we were to 
determine that we would be able to realize our deferred income tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, 
we would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance which would reduce the provision for income taxes. Likewise, if we 
determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets, an adjustment would be charged to 
earnings in the period such determination is made.

We account for uncertainty in income taxes in accordance with accounting guidance on income taxes. The guidance 

provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position 
will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical 
merits. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon 
the adoption of accounting guidance on income taxes and in subsequent periods. This guidance also addresses measurement, 
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. See Note 11. 
“Income Taxes” for additional information.

Net income (loss) per share.  Basic net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of 

ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average 
number of ordinary shares and potentially dilutive share equivalents outstanding during the period. Diluted shares outstanding 
includes the dilutive effect of in-the-money options, restricted share units, or RSUs, and employee share purchase rights under 
the Avago Technologies Limited Employee Share Purchase Plan, or ESPP. The dilutive effect of such equity awards is 
calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock 
method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options and to purchase shares under the ESPP, the amount of 
compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of tax benefits that would be 
recorded in additional paid-in capital when the award becomes deductible are collectively assumed to be used to repurchase 
shares.

Diluted net income per share for fiscal years 2011 and 2010 excluded the potentially dilutive effect of weighted average 

options to purchase 1 million and 5 million ordinary shares, respectively, as their effect was antidilutive.

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net income (loss) per share 

computations for the periods presented (in millions, except per share data):

Net income (loss) (Numerator):

Net income (loss)

Shares (Denominator):

Basic weighted average ordinary shares outstanding

Add: Incremental shares for:

Dilutive effect of share options, RSUs, and ESPP rights

Shares used in diluted computation

Net income (loss) per share:

Basic:

Net income (loss) per share

Diluted:

Net income (loss) per share

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

552

$

415

$

(44)

245

7

252

238

8

246

219

—

219

$

$

2.25

2.19

$

$

1.74

1.69

$

$

(0.20)

(0.20)

In fiscal year 2011, the guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, on the milestone method 

of revenue recognition became effective. The new guidance recognizes the milestone method as an acceptable revenue 
recognition method for substantive milestones in research or development transactions. A milestone is substantive when the 
consideration earned from achievement of the milestone is commensurate with either (a) the vendor's performance to achieve 
the milestone or (b) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the 
vendor's performance to achieve the milestone and the consideration earned from the achievement of a milestone relates solely 
to past performance and is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms (including other potential milestone 
considerations) within the arrangement. The guidance may be applied retrospectively to all arrangements or prospectively to 
milestones achieved after the effective date. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on our results of 

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
operations and financial position.

In fiscal year 2011, we adopted the FASB's updated guidance that amends the requirements for evaluating whether a 

decision maker or service provider has a variable interest to clarify that a quantitative approach should not be the sole 
consideration in assessing the criteria. It also clarifies that related parties should be considered in applying all of the decision 
maker and service provider criteria. This is in addition to the authoritative guidance the FASB issued in June 2009 that applies 
to determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity and requiring an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine 
whether the enterprise's variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. This new 
guidance eliminates the exceptions to consolidating qualifying special-purpose entities, contains new criteria for determining 
the primary beneficiary, and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether a company is the primary 
beneficiary of a variable interest entity. The guidance also contains a new requirement that any term, transaction, or 
arrangement that does not have a substantive effect on an entity's status as a variable interest entity, a company's power over a 
variable interest entity, or a company's obligation to absorb losses or its right to receive benefits of an entity must be 
disregarded in applying the existing provisions. The elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity concept and its 
consolidation exceptions means more entities will be subject to consolidation assessments and reassessments. The adoption of 
this guidance did not have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position. 

In fiscal year 2011, we adopted the guidance the FASB issued on revenue recognition that addresses how to determine 
whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting and how the arrangement 
consideration should be allocated among the separate units of accounting. The guidance may be applied retrospectively or 
prospectively for new or materially modified arrangements. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on 
our results of operations and financial position. 

In fiscal year 2011, we adopted the FASB guidance that modifies the scope of the software revenue recognition guidance 

to exclude (a) non-software components of tangible products and (b) software components of tangible products that are sold, 
licensed or leased with tangible products when the software components and non-software components of the tangible product 
function together to deliver the tangible product's essential functionality. The guidance may be applied retrospectively or 
prospectively for new or materially modified arrangements. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a significant 
impact on our results of operations and financial position.  

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

In September, 2011, the FASB issued an updated guidance on multiemployer pension plans. This guidance is intended to 

provide more information about an employer's financial obligations to a multiemployer pension plan and, therefore, help 
financial statement users better understand the financial health of all of the significant plans in which the employer participates. 
The updated guidance does not change the current recognition and measurement guidance for an employer's participation in a 
multiemployer plan. This guidance will be effective for our fiscal year ending October 28, 2012, or fiscal year 2012, with early 
adoption permitted. Other than requiring additional disclosures in our financial statements, we believe the adoption of this 
guidance will not have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position.

In August 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on goodwill impairment testing. This guidance is 
intended to reduce the cost and complexity of the goodwill impairment test by providing entities an option to perform a 
qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary. An entity will no longer be required to 
calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely 
than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The new guidance will be effective for the first quarter of our fiscal 
year ending November 3, 2013, or fiscal year 2013, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect this new guidance to have 
a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. The new guidance is intended to 

enhance comparability between entities that report under U.S. GAAP and those that report under International Financial 
Reporting Standards, or IFRS, and to provide a more consistent method of presenting non-owner transactions that affect an 
entity's equity. In accordance with the new guidance, an entity has the option to present the total comprehensive income either 
in a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements and eliminates the option to present the 
components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. This new guidance 
should be applied retrospectively and will be effective for our first quarter of our fiscal year 2013, with early adoption 
permitted. Other than its impact on the presentation of other comprehensive income, we believe the adoption of this guidance 
will not have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position.

In May 2011, the FASB issued an updated guidance on fair value measurement and related disclosure requirements in 
U.S. GAAP, and the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB, issued fair value measurement guidance (together, the 
new guidance). The new guidance amends U.S. GAAP and is a new standard under IFRS. The new guidance results in a 

65

consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. 
GAAP and IFRS. While many of the amendments to U.S. GAAP are not expected to have a significant effect on practice, the 
new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. The new guidance will be effective 
for the second quarter of our fiscal year 2012, with early adoption prohibited. Other than requiring additional disclosures in our 
financial statements, we do not expect this new guidance to have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial 
position.

 In January 2010, the FASB issued updated guidance related to fair value measurements and disclosures, which requires 
separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 fair value measurements (see Note 6. 
“Fair Value” for further discussion of fair value measurements). This guidance will be effective for our fiscal year 2012, and its 
interim periods. Other than requiring additional disclosures in our financial statements, we believe the adoption of this guidance 
will not have a significant impact on our results of operations and financial position.

3. 

Acquisitions and Investments

Acquisitions

During fiscal year 2011, we acquired a U.S.-based company engaged in the manufacturing of integrated circuits for 

approximately $8 million in cash. The purchase price was allocated to the acquired net assets based on estimates of fair values 
as follows: net assets of $8 million including intangible assets of $4 million and goodwill of $5 million. The intangible assets 
are being amortized over their useful lives ranging from 5 to 15 years.

During fiscal year 2010, we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of a China-based company engaged in 
the manufacturing of motion control encoder products for $8 million in cash. The purchase price was allocated to the acquired 
net assets based on estimates of fair values as follows: total assets of $11 million, including intangible assets of $5 million, 
goodwill of $1 million, and total liabilities of $3 million. The intangible assets are being amortized over their useful lives 
ranging from 9 to 25 years.

During fiscal year 2009, we completed the acquisition of a manufacturer of motion control encoders from a Japan-based 

company for $7 million in cash, net of cash acquired. The purchase price was allocated to the acquired net assets based on 
estimates of fair values as follows: total assets of $11 million, including intangible assets of $4 million, goodwill of $1 million 
and total liabilities of $4 million. The intangible assets are being amortized over their useful lives ranging from 17 to 25 years.

The consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of the acquired companies commencing on their 

respective acquisition dates. Pro forma results of operations for the acquisitions completed in the fiscal years ended October 30, 
2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 have not been presented because the effects of the acquisitions, individually or 
in the aggregate, were not material to our consolidated financial statements.

Investments

We record at cost non-marketable investments where we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence or 

control and periodically review them for impairment. 

In December 2010, we made an investment of $1 million in a privately-held company. The investment is accounted for 

under the cost method and is included on the balance sheet in other long-term assets. In September 2011, we also entered into a 
secured loan and warrant purchase agreement with this company pursuant to which we provided them with a secured loan of $1 
million for a term of one year. As part of the consideration for making the loan, we also received a warrant to purchase up to 
1,000,000 common shares of the company.  At our option the warrant can be exercised for cash, by applying all or part of the 
outstanding loan principal balance to the warrant purchase price, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, or for a combination of cash and 
outstanding loan principal. 

During fiscal year 2010, we made an equity investment of $1 million in another privately-held company. Until July 2011, 

our equity investment in this company was accounted for under the cost method and periodically reviewed for impairment. In 
July 2011, upon the completion of the investee’s initial public offering on a non-U.S. stock exchange, its common stock became 
publicly traded and we classified our investment as an available-for-sale security. The investment is included on the balance 
sheet in other long-term assets. See Note 8. "Fair Value."

66

4. 

Balance Sheet Components

Inventory

Inventory consists of the following (in millions):

Finished goods

Work-in-process

Raw materials

Total inventory

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

48

$

106

40

194

$

61

96

32

189

During the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011, we recorded write-downs to inventories of $20 million, associated with 

reduced demand assumptions, compared to $15 million recorded during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and $23 million 
recorded during the fiscal year ended November 1, 2009.

Other Current Assets

Other current assets consist of the following (in millions):

Prepayments

Deferred income tax assets

Non-U.S. transaction tax receivable

Other

Total other current assets

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following (in millions):

Land

Buildings and leasehold improvements

Machinery and equipment

Total property, plant and equipment

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

Total property, plant and equipment, net

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

7

18

3

14

42

$

$

13

18

5

16

52

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

11

$

133

593

737
(421)
316

$

11

130

499

640
(359)
281

$

$

$

$

Depreciation expense was $79 million, $80 million and $81 million, for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 

2010 and November 1, 2009, respectively.

Effective August 1, 2011, following a comprehensive study, we extended the estimated depreciable lives of certain 
equipment in our internal fabrication facilities, in order to more accurately reflect their expected useful lives. As a result of this 
change in our accounting estimate in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, depreciation expense was reduced by $3 million and 
gross margin, income from operations and net income increased by approximately the same amount.

At October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, machinery and equipment included $56 million and $50 million of software 

costs, respectively, and accumulated amortization included $41 million and $36 million, respectively.

At October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, we had $12 million and $14 million of gross carrying amount of assets under 

capital leases, respectively, and accumulated amortization of $6 million and $8 million, respectively.

At October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, we had $14 million and $7 million, respectively, of unpaid purchases of 
property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable. Amounts reported as unpaid purchases are recorded as cash 
outflows from investing activities for purchases of property, plant, and equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows in 

67

the period they are paid. 

Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities consist of the following (in millions):

Income and other taxes payable
Deferred revenue
Supplier liabilities
Restructuring charges
Warranty
Other

Total other current liabilities

5. 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The following table summarizes changes in goodwill (in millions):   

Balance as of November 1, 2009

2010 acquisitions (Note 3. “Acquisitions and Investments”)

Balance as of October 31, 2010

2011 acquisitions (Note 3. “Acquisitions and Investments”)

Balance as of October 30, 2011

Intangible Assets

Amortizable purchased intangibles consist of the following (in millions):

$

$

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

10
10
4
1
6
7
38

$

$

$

$

6
7
3
—
17
8
41

171

1

172

5

177

As of October 30, 2011
Purchased technology
Customer and distributor relationships
Other

Total

As of October 31, 2010
Purchased technology
Customer and distributor relationships
Other

Total

Gross Carrying
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization

Net Book Value

$

$

$

$

728
257
4
989

727
254
4
985

$

$

$

$

(346)
(142)
(2)
(490)

(290)
(120)
(2)
(412)

$

$

$

$

382
115
2
499

437
134
2
573

68

 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the amortization of purchased intangible assets (in millions):

Cost of products sold

Operating expenses

Total

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

56

22

78

$

$

58

21

79

$

$

58

21

79

During fiscal year 2011, we recorded $4 million in intangible assets with a weighted-average amortization period of 

14 years in conjunction with an acquisition. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, we recorded $5 million of 
intangible assets with weighted average amortization period of 11 years in conjunction with an acquisition completed during 
fiscal year 2010. See Note 3. “Acquisitions and Investments.”

Based on the amount of intangible assets subject to amortization at October 30, 2011, the expected amortization expense 

for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter is as follows (in millions):

Fiscal Year
2012

2013
2014

2015

2016

Thereafter

Amount

77

77
77

76

59

133

499

$

$

The weighted average amortization periods remaining by intangible asset category were as follows (in years): 

Amortizable intangible assets:

Purchased technology

Customer and distributor relationships

Other

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

8

7

22

9

8

22

6. 

Retirement Plans and Post-Retirement Benefits

Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans.  We have defined benefit plans in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy and France.

401(k) Defined Contribution Plan.  Our U.S. eligible employees participate in the Avago Technologies U.S. Inc. 401(k) 

Plan, or the 401(k) Plan. Enrollment in the 401(k) Plan is automatic for employees who meet eligibility requirements unless 
they decline participation. Under the 401(k) Plan, we provide matching contributions to employees up to a maximum of 6% of 
an employee’s annual eligible compensation. The matching contribution percentage was increased to 6% from 4% of eligible 
compensation effective January 1, 2011. The maximum contribution to the 401(k) Plan is 50% of an employee’s annual eligible 
compensation, subject to regulatory and plan limitations. The 401(k) Plan expense is included in the corporate employee 
overhead rate allocation.

U.S. Deferred Compensation Plan.  We also have a deferred compensation plan, which allows highly compensated 

employees (as defined by IRS regulations) to defer greater percentages of compensation than would otherwise be permitted 
under the salary deferral 401(k) plan and IRS regulations. The deferred compensation plan is a non-qualified plan of deferred 
compensation maintained in a rabbi trust. Participants can direct the investment of their deferred compensation plan accounts in 
the same investment funds offered by the 401(k) plan.

U.S. Post-Retirement Medical Benefit Plans.  Our U.S. employees who transferred to us from Agilent as part of the SPG 
Acquisition, who were age 49 or younger on January 1, 2005 and who meet the retirement eligibility requirements as of their 
termination dates, may receive post-retirement medical benefits under our retiree medical account program. Under our retiree 
medical account program, eligible retirees are allocated a spending account of either $40,000 or $55,000, depending on the 
retiree’s age at January 1, 2005, from which the retiree can receive reimbursement for premiums paid for medical coverage to 
age 65. U.S. employees who transferred to us from Agilent and who were age 50 or over on January 1, 2005 may be eligible for 

69

 
 
 
 
our traditional retiree medical plan upon meeting certain eligibility requirements and certain service criteria. Once participating 
in the traditional retiree medical plan, retirees are provided with access to both pre-65 medical coverage and supplemental 
Medicare coverage with medical premiums based on the type of coverage chosen and service criteria. Retirees in this group are 
also given the option to choose the $55,000 retiree medical account program instead of the traditional retiree medical plan.

Non-U.S Retirement Benefit Plans.  In addition to the defined benefit plan for certain employees in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, 

France, Italy and Germany, other eligible employees outside of the U.S. receive retirement benefits under various defined 
contribution retirement plans. Eligibility is generally determined based on the terms of our plans and local statutory 
requirements.

The net pension plan costs of our non-U.S defined benefit plans for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 
and November 1, 2009 were $5 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively. The net pension plan costs for the year ended 
November 1, 2009 is net of $1 million of curtailment gain, related to our restructuring activities. See Note 10. “Restructuring 
Charges.” The net pension plan costs of our U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans for the years ended October 30, 2011, 
October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 were $1 million each.

For the year ended October 30, 2011, we recognized $4 million of unrealized net actuarial gains in accumulated other 

comprehensive income (net of tax of $0 million), related to our non-U.S. defined benefit plans. Of the unrealized net actuarial 
losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income, related to our non U.S. defined benefit plans, we expect to 
recognize $0 million in fiscal year 2012. For the year ended October 31, 2010, we recognized $6 million of unrealized net 
actuarial losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax of $1 million), related to our non-U.S. defined benefit 
plans. 

During the year ended October 30, 2011, we recognized $1 million of unrealized net actuarial losses in accumulated other 
comprehensive income (net of tax of $1 million), related to our U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans, of which we expect 
to recognize immaterial amounts in fiscal year 2012. During the year ended October 31, 2010, we recognized $1 million of 
unrealized net actuarial losses in accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of tax of $1 million), related to our U.S. post-
retirement medical benefit plans. Of the unrealized prior service cost included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, related 
to our U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans, $0 million was recognized in fiscal year 2011.  During the year ended 
November 1, 2009, we recognized $6 million of unrealized net actuarial losses in accumulated other comprehensive income 
(net of tax of $1 million), related to our U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans.  Other long-term assets include deferred tax 
assets relating to pension liabilities and post-retirement medical benefit plan liabilities.

Funded Status.  The funded status of the U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans and non-U.S. defined benefit plans 

was as follows (in millions):

Change in plan assets:

Fair value — beginning of period

Employer contributions
Fair value of plan assets — end of period

Change in benefit obligation:

Benefit obligation — beginning of period

Service cost

Interest cost

Actuarial (gain) loss

Plan amendments

Benefit obligation — end of period

Plan assets less than benefit obligation

Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans

U.S. Post Retirement Medical
Benefit Plans

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

13

1
14

31

4

1
(5)
1

32

$

13

—
13

21

2

1

7

—

31

$

$

$

$

—

—
—

25

—

1

1

—

27

$

$

$

$

—

—
—

21

1

1

2

—

25

(18)

$

(18)

$

(27)

$

(25)

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in millions):

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans

U.S. Post Retirement Medical
Benefit Plans

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

Other current liabilities

Other long-term liabilities

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) net of taxes:

Prior service benefits (cost)

Net actuarial gains (losses)

Total amounts recognized in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) net of taxes

$

$

$

$

—

18

$

$

—

$

1

1

$

$

$

—

18

—
(3)

$

$

$

1

26

(1)
(1)

$

(3)

$

(2)

$

1

24

(1)
—

(1)

As of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, the amounts of the obligations for our non-U.S. defined benefit plans were 

as follows (in millions):

Aggregate projected benefit obligation (“PBO”)

Aggregate accumulated benefit obligation (“ABO”)

Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

32

28

$

$

31

25

We currently expect to make contributions of $0 million and $1 million, respectively, to our non-U.S. defined benefit 
plans and U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans in fiscal year 2012. It is expected that as of October 30, 2011 various 
benefit plans will make payments over the next ten fiscal years as follows (in millions):

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017-2021

Non-U.S.
Defined
Benefit Plans

$

U.S. Post
Retirement
Medical Benefit Plans
1
$

1

1

1

2

11

1

1

1

1

1

11

Our non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans weighted average asset allocations by category were:

Fixed income

Time deposits

Other

Total

Non-U.S. Defined Benefit Plans

October 30, 2011

October 31, 2010

Actual

Target

Actual

Target

85%

12

3

100%

85%

12

3

100%

96%

—

4

100%

96%

—

4

100%

Investment Policy.  Plan assets of the funded defined benefit pension plans are invested in funds held by third-party fund 
managers or are deposited into government-managed accounts in which we have no active involvement in and no control over 
investment strategy, other than establishing broad investment guidelines and parameters. The plan assets held by third-parties 
consist primarily of fixed income funds and cash. The fund managers monitor the fund’s asset allocation within the guidelines 
established by our plan’s Investment Committee. In line with plan investment objectives and consultation with our 
management, our Investment Committee set an allocation benchmark among equity, bond and other assets based on the relative 
weighting of overall international market indices. The overall investment objectives of the plan are 1) the acquisition of suitable 

71

 
 
 
 
assets of appropriate liquidity which will generate income and capital growth to meet current and future plan benefits, 2) to 
limit the risk of the assets failing to meet the long term liabilities of the plan, and 3) to minimize the long term costs of the plan 
by maximizing the return on the assets. Performance is regularly evaluated by the Investment Committee and is based on actual 
returns achieved by the fund manager relative to its benchmark.

Fair Value Measurement of Plan Assets  The following table presents the fair value of plan assets by major categories 

using the same three-level hierarchy described in Note 8. “Fair Value” (in millions):

Assets:

Fixed income

Time deposits

Other

Total assets

Fair Value Measurement as of October 30,
2011 Using

Quoted Prices in
Active Market for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

$

$

12

2

—

14

$

$

12

2

—

14

Fixed income assets consist primarily of funds that invest in Euro-denominated government bonds. These government 

bonds are valued at quoted prices reported in the active market.

Assumptions.  The assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations and expense for our non-U.S. defined benefit 

and U.S. post-retirement medical benefit plans are presented in the table below. The expected long-term return on assets shown 
in the table below represents an estimate of long-term returns on investment portfolios primarily consisting of fixed income 
investments. We consider long-term rates of return, which are weighted based on the asset classes (both historical and 
forecasted) in which we expect the pension and post-retirement funds to be invested. Discount rates reflect the current rate at 
which non-U.S. defined benefit and U.S post-retirement medical benefit obligations could be settled based on the measurement 
dates of the plans, which in each case is our fiscal year end. The range of assumptions that are used for non-U.S. defined 
benefit plans reflects the different economic environments within various countries.

Assumptions for Benefit Obligation
as of

Assumptions for Expense
Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

Non-U.S. defined benefit plans:

Discount rate

1.50%-5.75%

1.50%-5.00%

1.50%-5.00%

2.00%-6.50%

2.00%-6.50%

Average increase in compensation
levels

2.50%-3.50%

2.50%-5.00%

2.50%-5.00%

2.50%-5.00%

2.50%-5.00%

Expected long-term return on assets

2.00%-4.00%

1.50%-4.00%

1.50%-4.00%

1.50%-5.25%

3.00%-5.25%

Assumptions for Benefit 
Obligation
as of

Assumptions for Expense
Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

U.S. post-retirement medical benefits plan:

Discount rate

Current medical cost trend rate

Ultimate medical cost trend rate

Medical cost trend rate decreases to ultimate trend
rate in year

4.50%

9.00%

4.00%

5.00%

9.00%

4.50%

5.00%

9.00%

4.50%

5.50%

9.00%

5.00%

8.50%

9.00%

5.00%

2026

2025

2025

2019

2013

Changes in the assumed healthcare cost trend rates could have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the U.S. 
post-retirement medical benefit plans. A one percentage point change in the assumed healthcare cost trend rates for the year 
ended October 30, 2011 would have the following effects:

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect on U.S. post-retirement medical benefit obligation (in millions)

Percentage effect on U.S. post-retirement medical benefit obligation

1% Increase
3

$

1% Decrease
(2)
$

9%

(8)%

A one percentage point increase or decrease in our healthcare cost trend rates would have increased or decreased the 

service and interest cost components of the net periodic benefit cost by less than $1 million.

7. 

Borrowings

Our borrowings as of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010 consist of the following (in millions):

Notes:

117/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

Long-term debt

New Revolving Credit Facility

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

—

—

—

$

$

230

230

—

On March 31, 2011, Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd., or Avago Finance, and certain other subsidiaries of the 

Company entered into a new credit agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions. The credit agreement provides for a 
$200 million unsecured, revolving credit facility. The credit agreement has a term of four years. The credit agreement includes 
(i) financial covenants requiring Avago Finance to maintain a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio; 
(ii) customary restrictive covenants (subject, in each case, to certain exceptions and amounts) that limit Avago Finance’s ability 
to, among other things, create liens, merge or consolidate with and into other persons, and sell assets; (iii) customary events of 
default, upon the occurrence of which, after any applicable grace period, the lenders will have the ability to accelerate all 
outstanding loans thereunder and terminate the commitments; and (iv) customary representations and warranties. In addition, 
Avago Finance has the ability, at any time, to increase the aggregate commitments under the credit agreement from $200 
million to $300 million subject to the condition that no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing and 
other terms and conditions set forth in the credit agreement, and the receipt of sufficient commitments for such increase from 
the lenders. Certain subsidiaries of the Company guarantee the revolving credit facility. The credit agreement also provides for 
the issuance of letters of credit of up to $40 million in the aggregate, which reduces the available borrowing capacity under the 
revolving credit facility on a dollar for dollar basis. As of October 30, 2011, we had no borrowings outstanding under the new 
revolving credit facility and were in compliance with the financial covenants under our credit agreement. 

Borrowings under the unsecured, revolving credit facility are subject to floating rates of interest and bear interest at a rate 

per annum equal to:

Base Rate Advances: the highest of (x) Citibank’s publicly announced base rate from time to time, (y) the U.S. Federal 
funds rate plus 0.5% and (z) the British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate, or BBA LIBOR Rate applicable to 
Dollars for a period of one month plus 1.00%; or 

Eurocurrency Advances: the rate per annum obtained by dividing (x) the BBA LIBOR Rate for deposits in Dollars for 
the applicable interest period by (y) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency liabilities reserve percentage 
specified by the U.S. Federal Reserve System for such interest period, 

plus, in each case, a margin based on the credit rating of Avago Finance’s long-term unsecured debt or Avago Finance’s 
corporate credit rating, as applicable, referred to as the Avago Public Debt Rating.  Avago Finance is also required to pay the 
lenders a commitment fee at a rate per annum that varies based on the Public Debt Rating.

73

 
 
Senior Secured Credit Facility

In connection with the SPG Acquisition, we entered into a senior credit agreement with a syndicate of financial 
institutions, which provided for a $350 million senior secured revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes. As of 
October 31, 2010, no borrowings were outstanding under the senior secured revolving credit facility, although we had $11 
million of letters of credits outstanding under the facility. 

On March 31, 2011, we terminated the senior secured credit facility. There were no outstanding loan borrowings under 

this facility at the time of termination. This termination resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1 million, related to the 
write-off of debt amortization costs and other related expenses. 

Senior and Senior Subordinated Notes

In connection with the SPG Acquisition, we completed a private placement of $1,000 million principal amount of 
unsecured debt consisting of (i) $500 million principal amount of 10 1/8% Senior Notes due December 1, 2013, or senior fixed 
rate notes, (ii) $250 million principal amount of Senior Floating Rate Notes due June 1, 2013, or senior floating rate notes and, 
together with the senior fixed rate notes, the senior notes, and (iii) $250 million principal amount of 11 7/8% Senior 
Subordinated Notes due December 1, 2015, or senior subordinated notes. 

During fiscal year 2009, we repurchased $85 million in principal amount of senior fixed rate notes, $17 million in 
principal amount of senior subordinated notes and $4 million in principal amount of senior floating rate notes as part of an early 
tender offer, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9 million, consisting of $6 million in premium and a write-off of 
$3 million debt issuance costs and other related expenses. We also repurchased $3 million in principal amount of senior 
subordinated notes from the open market, resulting in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $1 million.

During fiscal year 2010, we redeemed $318 million in principal amount of senior fixed rate notes and $46 million in 

principal amount of the senior floating rate notes. We redeemed the senior fixed rate notes and senior floating rate notes at  a 
5.063% premium of the principal amount and no premium, respectively, plus accrued interest, resulting in a loss on 
extinguishment of debt of $24 million, which consisted of $16 million premium and an $8 million write-off of debt issuance 
costs and other related expenses.

During the fiscal year 2011, we redeemed the remaining $230 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 

senior subordinated notes. We redeemed the senior subordinated notes at a 5.938% premium of the principal amount plus 
accrued interest, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $19 million, which consisted of a $14 million premium and a 
$5 million write-off of debt issuance costs and other related expenses.

Debt Issuance Costs

Unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the new revolving credit facility were $2 million at October 30, 2011 

and unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the senior and senior subordinated notes and the secured senior credit 
facility were $6 million at October 31, 2010, and are included in other current assets and other long-term assets on the balance 
sheet.  Amortization of debt issuance costs is classified as interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations.

8. 

Fair Value

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly 
transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three level hierarchy is applied to prioritize the inputs to 
valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active 
markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 
measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the guidance for fair value measurements are described below:

Level 1 — Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the 

reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Our Level 1 assets include time deposits, money market 
funds, bank acceptances, investment funds-deferred compensation plan assets and available-for-sale securities investments. We 
measure money market funds, investment funds and available-for-sale securities investments at quoted market price as they are 
traded in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency of transactions.  Time deposits are highly liquid with maturities 
of ninety days or less. Due to their short-term maturities, we have determined that the fair value of time deposits should be at 
face value.  

In March 2010, we made a $1 million common stock investment in a privately-held non-U.S. company. Until 

74

July 2011, this equity investment was accounted for under the cost method and periodically reviewed for impairment. In 
July 2011, upon the completion of the investee’s initial public offering on a non-U.S. stock exchange, its common stock became 
publicly traded and we classified our investment as an available-for-sale security reported at fair value, with unrealized gains, 
net of taxes, presented as a separate component of shareholders’ equity under the caption “Accumulated other comprehensive 
income (loss)”. This available-for-sale securities investment was classified as a Level 1 asset as of October 30, 2011.

Level 2 — Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the 

asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, a Level 2 input must be 
observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. We did not have any Level 2 assets or liability activities during 
the year ended October 30, 2011.

Level 3 — Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability in which there is little, if any market 

activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. Level 3 assets and liabilities include cost method investments, 
goodwill, amortizable intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, which are measured at fair value using a discounted 
cash flow approach when they are impaired. We did not have any Level 3 asset or liability activities during the year ended 
October 30, 2011.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The table below sets forth by level our financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value as of 

October 30, 2011. The table does not include cash on hand and also does not include assets that are measured at historical cost 
or any basis other than fair value (in millions):

Assets:

Time deposits (1)

Money market funds (1)

Investment Funds - Deferred Compensation Plan Assets (2)

Bank acceptances (2)

Available-for-sale securities (3)

Total assets measured at fair value

Liabilities:

Deferred Compensation Plan Liabilities (4)

Total liabilities measured at fair value

_______________________________________

October 30, 2011

Portion of
Carrying
Value Measured at
Fair Value

Fair Value
Measurement
Using Quoted
Prices in Active
Market for
Identical Assets
(Level 1) as of

$

$

$

$

522

100

5

1

4

632

5

5

$

$

$

$

522

100

5

1

4

632

5

5

(1)  Included in cash and cash equivalents in our consolidated balance sheet

(2)  Included in other current assets in our consolidated balance sheet

(3)  Included in other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheet

(4)  Included in other current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet

During the year ended October 30, 2011, there were no material transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value 

instruments.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

There were no non-financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value as of October 30, 2011.

75

 
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments as of October 30, 2011 and 

October 31, 2010 (in millions):

Fixed rate debt

October 30, 2011

October 31, 2010

Carrying
Value

Fair
Value

Carrying
Value

Fair
Value

$

—

$

—

$

230

$

247

The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, to the 

extent the underlying liability will be settled in cash, approximate carrying values because of the short-term nature of these 
instruments. The fair value of the current portion of our long-term debt is based on quoted market rates. See Note 7. 
“Borrowings.”

9. 

Shareholders’ Equity

In August 2009, we completed the initial public offering, or IPO, of our ordinary shares in which we sold 

21,500,000 shares and our existing shareholders and certain employees sold 28,180,000 shares (including 6,480,000 shares sold 
in connection with the underwriters’ exercise of their over-allotment option in full) at a public offering price of $15.00 per 
share. The net proceeds of the IPO to us were $296 million after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commission and 
offering expenses. We used a portion of the net proceeds to pay to affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co., or KKR, and 
Silver Lake Partners, or Silver Lake, and together with KKR, the Sponsors, $54 million in connection with the termination of 
our advisory agreement pursuant to its terms (with one-half payable to each equity sponsor). During the fourth fiscal quarter of 
2009, we also used $106 million of the net proceeds from our IPO to repay a portion of our long-term indebtedness. During 
fiscal year 2009, we also repurchased 807,800 ordinary shares from terminated employees for $6 million cash.

On January 27, 2010, our registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the public offering and sale by 
certain shareholders of the Company of an aggregate of 25,000,000 of the Company’s ordinary shares, or the January Offering, 
was declared effective. The January Offering closed on February 2, 2010, and 25,000,000 shares were sold to the public at a 
price per share of $17.41 including a $0.41 per share discount to the underwriters. We did not receive any proceeds from the 
sale of shares sold in the January Offering other than proceeds from options exercised by certain shareholders in connection 
with the sale of shares by them in the January Offering. On February 23, 2010, the underwriters exercised their option in full to 
purchase from certain selling shareholders up to an additional 3,750,000 ordinary shares to cover over-allotments, which 
transaction closed on February 26, 2010.

On August 6, 2010, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, through which we may sell from 
time to time any combination of ordinary shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, purchase contracts and units, in one or more 
offerings. Since then, certain of our shareholders have sold our ordinary shares in a number of registered public offerings, as set 
forth in the table below.  We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares sold in these offerings other than, in some 
instances, proceeds from options exercised by a shareholder in connection with the sale of shares by the shareholder in such 
offerings.

Date of final prospectus (filed with
the SEC)

Date transaction closed

Number of shares sold by
shareholders in the transaction

August 13, 2010

December 6, 2010

January 18, 2011

February 28, 2011

May 31, 2011

September 28, 2011

Share Repurchase Program

August 18, 2010

December 10, 2010

January 21, 2011

March 4, 2011

June 3, 2011

October 3, 2011

14,905,000

25,000,000

25,000,000

25,000,000

25,000,000

17,250,000

On June 8, 2011, the Company's board of directors, or the Board, authorized the repurchase of up to 15 million of the 

Company's outstanding ordinary shares, not to exceed $500 million, in the aggregate, pursuant to the shareholder approval of 
the Company's 2011 share purchase mandate received at the Company's 2011 Annual General Meeting on March 30, 2011, or 
the 2011 Share Purchase Mandate. Pursuant to the 2011 Share Purchase Mandate, the Company, upon authorization of the 

76

 
Board, is authorized to repurchase up to approximately 24.6 million ordinary shares (representing 10% of the outstanding 
shares on the date of the 2011 Annual General Meeting), in open market transactions or pursuant to equal access schemes, prior 
to the date on which the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Company is held or is required by law to be held. The Company 
may not repurchase more than 15 million of ordinary shares, or more than $500 million, without further action by the Board. 
Share repurchases will be made in the open market at such times and in such amounts as the Company deems appropriate. The 
timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, market conditions and 
applicable legal requirements. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific number 
of shares and may be suspended or terminated at any time without prior notice. All repurchased shares are immediately retired.

The Company repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares for an aggregate purchase price of $93 million in cash, with 

a weighted average price per share of $35.35 during fiscal year 2011. As of October 30, 2011, $407 million or 12.4 million 
shares remained available for repurchase under this share repurchase program. 

Dividends

During fiscal year 2011, aggregate cash dividends of $0.35 per share were declared and paid on the Company's 

outstanding ordinary shares, resulting in payment to our shareholders of an aggregate of $86 million.

Equity Incentive Award Plans

Effective December 1, 2005, we adopted two equity-based compensation plans, the Equity Incentive Plan for Executive 
Employees of Avago Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries, or the Executive Plan, and the Equity Incentive Plan for Senior 
Management Employees of Avago Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries, or the Senior Management Plan and, together with 
the Executive Plan, the Pre-IPO Equity Incentive Plans, which authorized the grant of options and share purchase rights 
covering up to 30 million ordinary shares. With effect from our IPO in August 2009, we are no longer permitted to make any 
further grants under the Pre-IPO Equity Incentive Plans.

Options issued under the Executive Plan generally vest at a rate of 20% per year based on the passage of time, and the 
passage of time and attaining certain performance criteria, in each case subject to continued employment. Those options subject 
to vesting based on the passage of time may accelerate by one year upon certain terminations of employment. Options issued 
under the Senior Management Plan, generally vest at a rate of 20% per year based on the passage of time and continued 
employment.

Options issued under the Pre-IPO Equity Incentive Plans, generally expire ten years following the date of grant unless 

granted to a non-employee, in which case the awards generally expire five years following the date of grant. All options 
awarded under these plans were granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. 

In July 2009, our Board adopted, and our shareholders approved, the Avago Technologies Limited 2009 Equity Incentive 

Award Plan, or the 2009 Plan, to authorize the grant of options, share appreciation rights, restricted share units, dividend 
equivalents, performance awards, and other share-based awards. 20 million ordinary shares are initially reserved for issuance 
under the 2009 Plan, subject to annual increases starting in fiscal year 2012. The amount of the annual increase is equal to the 
least of (a) 6 million shares, (b) 3% of the ordinary shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year 
and (c) such smaller number of ordinary shares as determined by our Board. However, no more than 90 million ordinary shares 
may be issued upon the exercise of equity awards issued under the 2009 Plan. The 2009 Plan became effective upon closing of 
our IPO. Options issued to employees under the 2009 Plan prior to March 2011 generally expire ten years following the date of 
grant. With effect from March 2011, options issued to employees under the 2009 Plan will generally expire seven years after 
the date of grant.  Options awarded to non-employees under this plan generally expire after five years. Options issued under the 
2009 Plan generally vest over a four year period from the date of grant and are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair 
market value on the date of grant. Any share options cancelled or forfeited under the Pre-IPO Equity Incentive Plans after the 
date of our IPO become available for issuance under the 2009 Plan. Starting in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, we began 
to grant restricted share units, or RSUs, as part of our equity compensation programs under the 2009 Plan.  An RSU is an equity 
award that is granted with an exercise price equal to zero and which represents the right to receive one of our ordinary shares 
immediately upon vesting. RSU awards granted to employees are generally time-based and vest over four years. 

77

A summary of option activity under our equity incentive award plans follows (in millions, except years and per share 

amounts):

Awards Outstanding

Balance as of November 2, 2008

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Balance as of August 4, 2009

Shares authorized under 2009 Plan

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Balance as of November 1, 2009

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Balance as of October 31, 2010

Granted

Exercised

Cancelled

Balance as of October 30, 2011

Fully vested as of October 30, 2011
Fully vested and expected to vest as of October 30,
2011

Awards
Available for
Grant

5
(3)

1

3

20
(4)

1

17
(5)

2

14
(5)

1

10

Number
Outstanding
21

3
(1)
(1)
22

4
(1)
(1)
24

5
(4)
(2)
23

5
(8)
(1)
19

5

18

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
per Share

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual 
Life
(in years)

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

7.03

9.25

5.00

6.76

7.49

15.48

4.58

9.24

8.69

19.52

6.46

10.88

11.50

32.42

7.59

17.11

17.93

11.26

17.46

6.96

6.29

6.93

$

$

$

297

103

283

The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable option awards as of October 30, 2011 

(in millions, except years and per share amounts):

Exercise Prices
$0.00-5.00

5.01-10.00

10.01-15.00

15.01-20.00

20.01-25.00

25.01-30.00

30.01-35.00

35.01-40.00

Total

Awards Outstanding

Awards Exercisable

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in
years)

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share

4.24

7.11

6.64

8.10

8.75

7.44

6.42

6.60

6.96

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

4.96

9.21

11.99

17.61

20.53

29.33

32.56

37.33

17.93

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

4.94

8.82

11.27

17.73

20.44

—

31.91

—

11.26

Number
Exercisable
1

1

2

—

1

—

—

—

5

Number
Outstanding
2

2

6

2

3

—

4

—

19

RSU activity and the number of outstanding RSUs were not material for either of the fiscal years ended October 30, 2011 

and October 31, 2010.

78

 
 
 
 
 
Employee Share Purchase Plan

In September 2010, we implemented the Avago Employee Share Purchase Plan, as amended and restated in June 2010. 
The ESPP provides eligible employees with the opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company through periodic 
payroll deductions, based on a six-month look-back period, at a price equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of the 
ordinary shares at either the beginning or ending of the relevant offering period. The ESPP is structured as a qualified employee 
stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. However, the ESPP is not intended to be a 
qualified pension, profit sharing or stock bonus plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is not 
subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The ESPP will terminate on July 27, 2019 
unless sooner terminated. The first offering period started in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 and ended in the second 
quarter of fiscal year 2011, therefore, no shares had been issued under the ESPP as at October 31, 2010. All 8 million shares 
authorized to be issued under the ESPP remained available for issuance as of October 31, 2010.  During fiscal year 2011, 
employees purchased 0.3 million shares for aggregate consideration of $7 million. As at October 30, 2011, 7.7 million shares 
remained available for issuance under the ESPP.  

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense consists of expense for stock options and RSUs granted to both employees and non-

employees as well as expense associated with ESPP. 

For stock options granted after November 1, 2006, we recognize compensation expense based on the estimated grant date 

fair value method required under the authoritative guidance using Black-Scholes valuation model with a straight-line 
amortization method. Since the authoritative guidance requires that share-based compensation expense be based on awards that 
are ultimately expected to vest, estimated share-based compensation expense for such awards has been reduced for estimated 
forfeitures. Changes in the estimated forfeiture rates can have a significant effect on share-based compensation expense since 
the effect of adjusting the rate is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. For outstanding share-based 
awards granted before November 1, 2006 and not modified thereafter, we continue to account for any portion of such awards 
under the originally applied accounting principles. As a result, performance-based awards granted before November 1, 2006 
were subject to variable accounting until such options are vested, forfeited, modified or cancelled. Variable accounting requires 
us to value the variable options at the end of each accounting period based upon the then current fair value of the underlying 
ordinary shares. Accordingly, our share-based compensation expense was subject to significant fluctuation based on changes in 
the fair value of our ordinary shares.

On August 28, 2008, our Compensation Committee approved a change in the financial performance vesting targets 
applicable to options to purchase 3.8 million ordinary shares outstanding under our equity incentive plans, including 2.7 million 
options originally granted prior to the adoption of the authoritative guidance, impacting 43 employees. This change was 
accounted for as a modification under the authoritative guidance. As a result of this modification, all variable accounting on 
outstanding employee options ceased, and instead, pursuant to the authoritative guidance, we began recognizing unamortized 
intrinsic value of these modified options over the remaining service period.

On July 20, 2009, our Compensation Committee approved a change in the vesting schedules associated with 

performance-based options to purchase 2.3 million ordinary shares outstanding under our Pre-IPO Equity Incentive Plans. The 
Compensation Committee approved the amendment of performance-based options held by certain of our executive officers to 
provide that such options will no longer vest based on the attainment of performance targets but instead such options shall vest 
two years following the first date such portion could have vested had the performance goals for such portion been achieved, 
subject to the named executive officer’s continued service with us through such vesting date. The performance-based options 
held by other employees were amended to provide that any portion of such options that fail to vest based upon the attainment of 
a performance goal shall vest on the date two years following the first date such portion could have vested had such 
performance goal been attained, subject to the employee’s continued service with us through such vesting date. The 
Compensation Committee made these changes to performance-based options in light of our then current financial projections, 
which were lower than when the performance goals for such options were last determined, the uncertainty present in the then 
prevailing global economy and the importance of retaining key employees to continue in our employment following our IPO. 
This change has been accounted for as a modification under the authoritative guidance and as a result we expected to record 
approximately $19 million in additional share-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the remaining 
weighted average service period of 4 years.

We recognize compensation expense for RSUs using the straight-line amortization method based on the fair value of 
RSUs on the date of grant. The fair value of RSUs is the closing market price of our ordinary shares on the date of grant, which 
is equal to their intrinsic value on the date of grant. We recorded $2 million of compensation expense related to RSUs for the 
year ended October 30, 2011. Compensation expense associated with RSU awards was not material to fiscal year 2010 results.

We record share-based compensation expense based on an estimate of the fair value of rights to purchase ordinary shares 

79

under the ESPP, and recognize this share-based compensation expense using the straight-line amortization method. We 
recorded $3 million and $0 million of compensation expense related to the ESPP for the years ended October 30, 2011 and 
October 30, 2010, respectively.

The following table summarizes total share-based compensation expense for the years ended October 30, 2011, 

October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 (in millions):

Cost of products sold
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative

Total share-based compensation expense

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

4
14
20
38

$

$

3
8
14
25

$

$

—
4
8
12

The weighted-average assumptions utilized for our Black-Scholes valuation model for options and ESPP rights granted 

during the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 are as follows:

Risk-free interest rate

Dividend yield

Volatility

Expected term (in years)

Risk-free interest rate

Dividend yield

Volatility

Expected term (in years)

Options

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

1.9%

—%

45%

5.0

2.3%

—%

52%

5.7

October 30,
2011

2.0%

0.91%

45%

5.0

ESPP

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

0.1%

0.58%

42.6%

0.5

0.2%

—%

42.0%

0.5

The dividend yield for the year ended October 30, 2011 is based on the historical and expected dividend payouts as of the 

respective option grant dates. The dividend yield of zero for years ended October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 is based on 
the fact that we did not intend to declare any cash dividends as of the respective option grant dates during those periods.  
Expected volatility is based on the combination of historical volatility of guideline publicly-traded companies over the period 
commensurate with the expected life of the options and the implied volatility of guideline publicly-traded companies from 
traded options with a term of 180 days or greater measured over the last three months. The risk-free interest rate is derived from 
the average U.S. Treasury Strips rate during the period, which approximates the rate in effect at the time of grant. For all 
options granted after August 2, 2009 and a portion of options granted before August 2, 2009, our computation of expected term 
was based on other data, such as the data of peer companies and company-specific attributes that we believe could affect 
employees’ exercise behavior. For the majority of options granted prior to August 2, 2009, we used the simplified method 
specified by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 to determine the expected term of stock options.

Based on the above assumptions, the weighted-average fair values of the options granted under our equity incentive 
award plans for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 was $12.41, $8.17 and $5.34, 
respectively. The first six month purchase period under our ESPP began in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. The weighted-
average fair values of the rights to purchase shares in the ESPP for the year ended October 30, 2011 were $8.52. RSUs were 
first granted in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended November 1, 2010. The weighted-average fair value of RSUs granted 
under the 2009 Equity Incentive Award Plan for the year ended October 30, 2011 was $32.41 and 0.5 million shares of RSUs 
are outstanding as of October 30, 2011.

Based on our historical experience of pre-vesting option cancellations, for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, we have 

80

 
assumed an annualized forfeiture rate of 8%, 8% and 12%, respectively, for our options. We have assumed an annualized 
forfeiture rate of 8% for RSUs for fiscal year 2011 and 0% for fiscal year 2010 because the related share-based compensation 
expense was not material for fiscal year 2010. We have assumed an annualized forfeiture rate of 0% for ESPP purchase rights 
for fiscal years 2011 and 2010 because the related share-based compensation expense was not material for either period. We 
will record additional expense if actual forfeitures are lower than we estimated, and will record a recovery of prior expense if 
actual forfeitures are higher than we estimated.

Total compensation cost of options granted but not yet vested as of October 30, 2011 was $99 million, which is expected 
to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average service period of 3 years. Total unrecognized compensation cost related 
to the ESPP as of October 30, 2011 was $1 million, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining 4 months of the 
current offering period under the ESPP. Total compensation cost related to unvested RSUs as of October 30, 2011 was $13 
million, which is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average service period of 3 years. The income tax 
benefits for share-based compensation expense was $14 million, $4 million and $1 million for fiscal years ended October 30, 
2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, respectively. 

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, we recorded $2 million as share-based compensation expense in 

connection with the employee separation agreement entered into with our former Chief Operating Officer. See Note 10. 
“Restructuring Charges.”

10. 

Restructuring Charges

From time to time, the Company has initiated a series of restructuring activities intended to realign the Company’s global 

capacity and infrastructure with demand by its customers so as to optimize the operational efficiency, which activities include 
reducing excess workforce and capacity, and consolidating and relocating certain facilities to lower-cost regions.

The restructuring costs include employee severance, costs related to leased facilities and other costs associated with the 

early termination of certain contractual agreements due to facility closures.

In January 2009, we committed to a restructuring plan intended to realign our cost structure with the then prevailing 
macroeconomic business conditions. The plan eliminated approximately 230 positions or 6% of our global workforce and was 
substantially completed in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, we announced a 
further reduction in our worldwide workforce of up to 200 employees. This plan was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 
year 2009. These employment terminations occurred in various geographies and functions worldwide. In connection with these 
plans, we recorded $26 million in employee termination costs during the year ended November 1, 2009. As of October 31, 
2010, this charge had been paid in full.

In January 2009, we committed to a plan to outsource certain manufacturing facilities in Germany. During the year ended 

November 1, 2009, we recorded $5 million of employee termination costs and $1 million related to asset abandonment and 
other exit costs and approximately $1 million related to excess lease costs in connection with this plan. As of October 31, 2010, 
the employee termination costs and the excess lease costs had been paid in full.

During fiscal year 2009, we recorded and paid $1 million of employee termination costs and recognized $2 million as 
share-based compensation expense in connection with the departure of our former Chief Operating Officer in January 2009.

As part of our efforts to realign our cost structure, we incurred approximately $3 million of employee termination costs 

and $1 million of excess lease costs during fiscal year 2010 and $4 million of employee termination costs during fiscal year 
2011.

81

The significant activities within and components of the restructuring charges during the years ended October 30, 2011, 

October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009 are as follows (in millions):

Employee
Termination
Costs

Asset
Abandonment
Costs

Excess
Lease

Total

Accrued restructuring as of November 2, 2008 — included in
other current liabilities

$

Charges to cost of products sold

Charges to operating expenses

Non-cash portion

Cash payments

Accrued restructuring as of November 1, 2009 — included in
other current liabilities

Charges to cost of products sold

Charges to operating expenses

Cash payments

Accrued restructuring as of October 31, 2010 — included in
other current liabilities
Charges to operating expenses

Cash payments

$

1

10

22

—
(31)

2

1

2
(5)

—
4
(3)

$

—

1

—
(1)
—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

$

—

—

1

—

—

1

—

1
(2)

—
—

—

Accrued restructuring as of October 30, 2011 — included in
other current liabilities

$

1

$

—

$

—

$

1

11

23
(1)
(31)

3

1

3
(7)

—
4
(3)

1

11. 

Income Taxes

Consequent to the incorporation of Avago in Singapore, domestic operations reflect the results of operations based in 

Singapore.

Components of Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

For financial reporting purposes, “Income (loss) before income taxes” included the following components (in millions):

Domestic income (loss)
Foreign income

Income (loss) before income taxes:

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

500
61
561

$

$

323
83
406

$

$

(92)
56
(36)

Components of Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes

We have obtained several tax incentives from the Singapore Economic Development Board, an agency of the 
Government of Singapore, which provide that certain classes of income we earn in Singapore are subject to tax holidays or 
reduced rates of Singapore income tax. Each such tax incentive is separate and distinct from the others, and may be granted, 
withheld, extended, modified, truncated, complied with or terminated independently without any effect on the other incentives. 
In order to retain these tax benefits in Singapore, we must meet certain operating conditions specific to each incentive relating 
to, among other things, maintenance of a treasury function, a corporate headquarters function, specified intellectual property 
activities and specified manufacturing activities in Singapore. Some of these operating conditions are subject to phase-in 
periods through 2015. The Singapore tax incentives are presently scheduled to expire at various dates generally between 2014 
and 2025, subject in certain cases to potential extensions. In February 2010, the Malaysian government granted us a tax holiday 
on our qualifying Malaysian income, which is effective for ten years beginning with our fiscal year 2009. For the fiscal years 
ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, the effect of all these tax incentives, in the aggregate, was to 
reduce the overall provision for (benefit from) income taxes and reduce net loss or increase net income from what it otherwise 
would have been in such year by $82 million, $63 million  and $17 million, respectively, and increase diluted net income per 
share for the fiscal year ended October 30, 2011 by $0.32 per share, and increase diluted net income per share for the fiscal year 
ended October 31, 2010 by $0.26, and reduce diluted net loss per share for the fiscal year ended November 1, 2009 by $0.08, 

82

 
 
respectively. The tax incentives that we have negotiated in other jurisdictions are also subject to our compliance with various 
operating and other conditions.

Significant components of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes are as follows (in millions):

Current tax expense:

Domestic
Foreign

Deferred tax expense (benefit):

Domestic
Foreign

Total provision for (benefit from) income taxes

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

$

$

$

5
12
17

—
(8)
(8)

9

$

$

$

$

$

3
16
19

1
(29)
(28)

$

$

$

$

(9)

$

3
6
9

(1)
—
(1)

8

We recorded  a total provision for income taxes of $9 million for the year ended October 30, 2011 compared to a total 

benefit from income taxes of $9 million for the year ended October 31, 2010. The provision for income taxes in 2011 included 
a $3 million tax benefit for the increase in deferred tax assets from U.S. legislation retroactively reinstating the research and 
development tax credit and a $3 million tax benefit from a change in estimate related to research and development tax credits.  
The benefit from income taxes in 2010 included a $29 million benefit from the release of deferred tax asset valuation 
allowances, mainly associated with the Company irrevocably calling our senior subordinated notes for redemption in October 
2010, partially offset by a write-off of $6 million of deferred tax assets resulting from the grant of a new tax incentive in 
Malaysia. Our valuation allowance increased by $3 million in fiscal year 2011. 

Rate Reconciliation

A reconciliation of the expected statutory tax rate to the actual, effective tax rate on income (loss) before income taxes is 

as follows:

Expected statutory tax rate

Foreign income taxed at different rates

Advisory agreement termination fee & selling shareholder expenses
Tax Holidays and Concessions

Other, net

Valuation Allowance

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

17.0%

17.0 %

(17.0)%

—

—
(14.6)
(1.0)
0.1

0.8

—
(12.8)

—

(7.1)

(1.8)

27.2
9.3

(0.8)

6.7

Actual tax rate on income (loss) before income taxes

1.5%

(2.1)%

23.6 %

Summary of Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their basis for income tax purposes and the tax effects of net operating losses and 
tax credit carryforwards. 

83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The significant components of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities included on the balance sheets were as 

follows (in millions):

Deferred income tax assets:

Depreciation and amortization
Inventory
Trade accounts
Employee benefits
Share options
Net operating loss carryovers and credit carryovers
Other deferred income tax assets

Gross deferred income tax assets

Less valuation allowance
Deferred income tax assets
Deferred income tax liabilities:

Depreciation and amortization
Foreign earnings not permanently reinvested

Deferred income tax liabilities

Net deferred income tax assets

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

$

$

$

$

6
2
2
16
11
35
5
77
(7)
70

8
2
10

60

$

$

$

$

$

$

—
1
2
12
11
24
4
54
(4)
50

5
2
7

43

We regularly monitor the circumstances impacting the expected realization of our deferred tax assets. In the fourth 
quarter of the fiscal year of 2010, we adjusted our valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets in certain jurisdictions to 
properly reflect the net deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized in the future. As a result, the adjustment 
reduced our valuation allowance by $29 million. We reduced the valuation allowance after determining that certain deferred tax 
assets in those jurisdictions are more likely than not to be realizable due to expectations of future taxable income, carryforward 
periods, and other available evidence.

The above net deferred income tax asset has been reflected in the accompanying balance sheets as follows (in millions):

Other current assets
Other current liabilities

Net current income tax assets

Other long-term assets
Other long-term liabilities

Net long-term income tax assets

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

$

$

18
(2)
16

47
(3)
44

$

$

$

$

18
(2)
16

32
(5)
27

As of October 30, 2011, we had Singapore net operating loss carryforwards of $11 million, U.S. net operating loss 

carryforwards of $101 million, of which $72 million are related to excess tax deductions related to stock options, and other 
foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $4 million. The Singapore net operating losses have no limitation on utilization. 
U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards, if not utilized, will begin to expire in fiscal year 2027. The other foreign net 
operating losses expire in various fiscal years beginning 2017. As of October 30, 2011, we had $21 million of U.S. research and 
development tax credits which, if not utilized, will begin to expire in fiscal year 2026.

The U.S. Tax Reform Act of 1986 limits the use of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards in the case of an 
“ownership change” of a corporation or separate return loss year limitations. Any ownership changes, as defined, may restrict 
utilization of carryforwards. As of October 30, 2011, we had approximately $26 million and $16 million of federal net 
operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, respectively, in the U.S. subject to an annual limitation.  The annual limitation will 
not result in any permanent loss of our tax benefits.

As of October 30, 2011, we had unrecognized deferred tax assets of approximately $28 million attributable to excess tax 

84

 
 
 
 
deductions related to stock options, the benefit of which will be credited to equity when realized.

We consider all operating income of foreign subsidiaries not to be permanently reinvested outside Singapore. We have 

provided $2 million for foreign taxes that may result from future remittances of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries, 
the cumulative amount of which is estimated to be $107 million and $119 million as of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010, 
respectively.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The gross unrecognized tax benefits increased by $3 million during fiscal year 2011, resulting in gross unrecognized tax 

benefits of $30 million as of October 30, 2011.

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes line in the 
accompanying consolidated statement of operations. We recognized approximately $1 million of expense related to interest and 
penalties in each of the years presented. Accrued interest and penalties are included within the other long-term liabilities line in 
the consolidated balance sheet. As of October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009, the combined amount of 
cumulative accrued interest and penalties was approximately $6 million, $5 million and $4 million, respectively.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits is summarized as follows (in 

millions):

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

Beginning of period
Increases in balances related to tax positions taken during prior periods
Increases in balances related to tax positions taken during current period
End of period

$

$

27
1
2
30

$

$

24
1
2
27

$

$

18
2
4
24

A portion of our unrecognized tax benefits will affect our effective tax rate if they are recognized upon favorable 
resolution of the uncertain tax positions. As of October 30, 2011, approximately $29 million of the unrecognized tax benefits 
including accrued interest and penalties would affect our effective tax rate. As of October 31, 2010, approximately $27 million 
of the unrecognized tax benefits including accrued interest and penalties would affect our effective tax rate.

Although the timing of the resolution and/or closure on audits is highly uncertain, it is reasonably possible that the 

balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits could significantly change in the next 12 months. However, given the number of 
years remaining subject to examination, we are unable to estimate the range of possible adjustments to the balance of gross 
unrecognized tax  benefits.

We are subject to examination by the tax authorities with respect to the periods subsequent to December 2005. We are not 

under Singapore income tax examination at this time. The Company is subject to Singapore income tax examinations for all 
years from the year ended October 31, 2006. The Company is also subject to examinations in major foreign jurisdictions, 
including the United States, from the year ended October 31, 2006.

12. 

Interest Expense

Interest expense of $4 million, $34 million and $77 million for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and 

November 1, 2009, respectively, consisted primarily of (i) interest expense of $3 million, $32 million and $73 million, 
respectively, with respect to the previously outstanding senior notes, senior subordinated notes, and debt under the senior 
secured credit facilities, all issued or incurred in connection with the SPG Acquisition, as well as commitment fees related to 
our unsecured revolving credit facility; and (ii) amortization of debt issuance costs of $1 million, $2 million and $4 million, 
respectively.

85

13. 

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income (expense), net includes interest income, currency gains (losses) on balance sheet remeasurement and other 

miscellaneous items. The following table presents the detail of other income (expense), net (in millions):

Other income
Interest income
Other expense

Other income (expense), net

14. 

Segment Information

Year Ended

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

1
1
(1)
1

$

$

3
1
(6)
(2)

$

$

2
1
(2)
1

ASC 280 “Segment Reporting,” or ASC 280, establishes standards for the way public business enterprises report 
information about operating segments in annual consolidated financial statements and requires that those enterprises report 
selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports. ASC 280 also establishes standards for related 
disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. We have concluded that we have one reportable 
segment based on the following factors: sales of semiconductors represents our only material source of revenue; substantially 
all products offered incorporate analog functionality and are manufactured under similar manufacturing processes; we use an 
integrated approach in developing our products in that discrete technologies developed are frequently integrated across many of 
our products; we use a common order fulfillment process and similar distribution approach for our products; and broad 
distributor networks are typically utilized while large accounts are serviced by a direct sales force. The Chief Executive Officer 
has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker as defined by ASC 280.

The following table presents net revenue and long-lived asset information based on geographic region. Net revenue is 

based on the geographic location of the distributors or original equipment manufacturers who purchased the Company’s 
products, which may differ from the geographic location of the end customers. Long-lived assets include property, plant and 
equipment and are based on the physical location of the assets (in millions):

Net revenue:

China

United States

Korea

Singapore
Germany

Rest of the World

Long-lived assets:

United States

Singapore

Malaysia

Rest of the World

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

697

407

225

106
230

671

$

662

312

200

137
209

573

395

245

158

148
120

418

$

2,336

$

2,093

$

1,484

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

$

$

160

$

45

35

76

316

$

147

35

28

71

281

86

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. 

Related Party Transactions

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., or KKR, and Silver Lake Partners, or Silver Lake

As of October 30, 2011, KKR and Silver Lake each owned approximately 4% of our shares and no longer have the right 

to designate directors to our Board. Prior to March 18, 2011, KKR, Silver Lake, held our shares indirectly through their 
ownership of Bali Investments S.àr.l, or Bali. On March 18, 2011, in connection with the liquidation of Bali, Bali distributed 
our ordinary shares held by it to its shareholders, including KKR and Silver Lake. 

We previously entered into an advisory agreement with affiliates of the Sponsors, for ongoing consulting and 
management advisory services. Pursuant to the advisory agreement, we also recorded less than $1 million of advisory fees 
payable to each of KKR and Silver Lake during the year ended November 1, 2009 in connection with a qualifying acquisition. 
The advisory agreement was terminated in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, in connection with our IPO. As a result, in 
fiscal year 2009 we recorded $54 million related to the termination of the advisory agreement with the Sponsors. We also 
recorded $4 million in selling shareholder expenses, in connection with the IPO, on behalf of the Sponsors and other selling 
shareholders. 

Capstone Consulting

Capstone Consulting, or Capstone, an affiliate of KKR was granted options to purchase 800,000 ordinary shares with an 

exercise price of $5.00 per share on February 3, 2006. 700,000 of these option shares vested by the end of the first quarter of 
fiscal year 2010. The performance targets related to the remaining 100,000 option shares were not met and those 100,000 
options shares did not vest. In connection with our IPO in August 2009, and secondary public offerings of our shares in January 
2010 and August 2010, Capstone exercised and sold an aggregate of 222,949 option shares, in respect of which we received 
aggregate option exercise proceeds of $1 million. During the year ended October 30, 2011, Capstone exercised and sold an 
aggregate of 477,051 option shares in secondary public offerings of our shares, as a result we received aggregate option 
exercise proceeds of $2 million. 

Bali Investments S.àr.l, Seletar Investments Pte. Ltd. and Geyser Investment Pte. Ltd.

In connection with the public offering in January 2010 in which the Company's certain shareholders sold an aggregate of 

25,000,000 of the Company's ordinary shares, selling shareholders Bali Investments S.àr.l, Geyser Investments Pte. Ltd. and 
Seletar Investment Pte. Ltd. agreed to reimburse the Company for two-thirds of the expenses of the offering which amounted to 
$1 million.

Flextronics

Mr. James A. Davidson, a director of the Company until March 9, 2011, also serves as a director of Flextronics 

International Ltd., or Flextronics. In the ordinary course of business, on an arm's length basis, we sell certain of our products to 
Flextronics.

Hewlett-Packard Company

Mr. John R. Joyce, a director of the Company until March 26, 2010, also serves as a director of Hewlett-Packard 
Company, or Hewlett-Packard. In the ordinary course of business, on an arm's length basis, we sell certain of our products to 
Hewlett-Packard. We also use Hewlett-Packard as a service provider for information technology services.

PMC-Sierra, Inc.

Mr. James Diller, a director of the Company and the chairman of its board of directors, also serves on the board of 
directors of PMC Sierra, Inc., or PMC Sierra, as vice-chairman. In the ordinary course of business, on an arm's length basis, we 
sell certain of our products to PMC Sierra.

Unisteel Technology Limited

Funds affiliated with KKR own substantially all the outstanding shares of in Unisteel Technology Limited or Unisteel. 

We purchase certain materials from Unisteel, in the ordinary course of business on an arm's length basis.

WIN Semiconductor Corp.

Mr. John Min-Chih Hsuan, who became a director of the Company on February 14, 2011, was previously a director of 

WIN Semiconductor Corp., one of our third-party contract manufacturers with whom we do business in the ordinary course, on 
an arm's length basis. Mr. Hsuan resigned from WIN Semiconductor Corp. in June 2011.

87

Wistron Corporation

Mr. John Min-Chih Hsuan, a director of the Company, is also a director of Wistron Corporation, one of our customers. In 
the ordinary course of business, on an arm's length basis, we sell certain of our products to Wistron Corporation. In addition, in 
September 2011, we sold certain of our patents to Wistron for a purchase price of $1 million in an arm's length transaction, 
pursuant to a competitive bidding process. 

Transactions and balances with our related parties were as follows (in millions): 

October 30,
2011

Year Ended

October 31,
2010

November 1,
2009

$

$

Net revenue:
Flextronics1
Hewlett-Packard Company2
Wistron Corporation3
PMC Sierra

Operating expenses:

KKR & Silver Lake (Advisory fees)
KKR & Silver Lake (Termination of Advisory agreement)

KKR & Silver Lake (Selling shareholder expenses associated with
the IPO)

KKR & Silver Lake (Advisory fees in connection with the IPO)
Hewlett-Packard Company2
Capstone (Share-based compensation)

Unisteel Technology Limited
WIN Semiconductor Corp.4

Receivables:
Flextronics1
Seletar Investments Pte. Ltd. 
Wistron Corporation3

Payables:

KKR

Silver Lake

Unisteel Technology Limited

_______________________________________

* Represents amounts less than $0.5 million.

68

—

5

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

56

*

$

$

$

$

115

$

100

$

12

—

—

—
—

—

—

6

—

—

—

*

37

—

1

4
54

4

3

19

—

—

—

*

*

October 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

—

—

1

October 30,
2011

—

—

—

*

$

$

13

—

—

*

October 31,
2010

—

—

—

*

*

*

1 Amounts represent net revenue transactions with Flextronics through the quarter and six months ended May 1, 2011. 
Flextronics ceased to be a related party after the second quarter of fiscal year 2011.

2 Amounts represent net revenue and operating expense transactions with Hewlett-Packard through the quarter ended May 2, 
2010. Hewlett-Packard ceased to be a related party after the second quarter of fiscal year 2010.

3 Amounts represent net revenue transactions with Wistron Corporation for the year ended October 30, 2011, including a sale of 
certain patents to Wistron for a purchase price of $1 million. Wistron Corporation became a related party during the second 
quarter of fiscal year 2011.

88

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 Amounts represent transactions with WIN Semiconductor Corp. included in cost of products sold incurred during the period 
WIN Semiconductor Corp was a related party. WIN Semiconductor Corp. became a related party during the second quarter of 
fiscal year 2011 and ceased being a related party during the third quarter of fiscal year 2011.

16. 

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

The following table summarizes contractual obligations and commitments as at October 30, 2011: 

Total

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Thereafter

$

Operating Leases

Capital Leases

Purchase Commitments

Revolving Credit Facility
Commitments

Other Contractual Commitments

39

5

57

2

49

9

2

57

1

22

8

1

—

1

16

9

1

—

—

10

8

1

—

—

1

1

—

—

—

—

4

—

—

—

—

Operating Lease Commitments.  We lease certain real property and equipment from third parties under non-cancelable 

operating leases. Rent expense was $13 million, $12 million and $12 million for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 
2010 and November 1, 2009, respectively.

Capital Lease Commitments.  We lease a portion of our equipment from unrelated third parties under non-cancelable 

capital leases.

Purchase Commitments.  We have unconditional purchase obligations which include agreements to purchase goods or 

services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum 
quantities to be purchased, fixed, minimum or variable price provisions and the approximate timing of the transaction. Purchase 
obligations exclude agreements that are cancelable without penalty.

Revolving Credit Facility Commitments.  Estimated future interest expense payments related to our revolving credit 

facility consist of payments on our commitment fees. See Note 7. “Borrowings.”

Other Contractual Commitments.  We entered into several agreements related to IT, human resources and financial 

infrastructure outsourcing and other services agreements.

Contingencies

From time to time, we are involved in litigation that we believe is of the type common to companies engaged in our line 

of business, including commercial disputes and employment issues. As of the date of this filing, we are not involved in any 
pending legal proceedings that we believe would likely have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of 
operations or cash flows. However, certain pending disputes involve claims by third parties that our activities infringe their 
patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights. These claims generally involve the demand by a third-party 
that we cease the manufacture, use or sale of the allegedly infringing products, processes or technologies and/or pay substantial 
damages or royalties for past, present and future use of the allegedly infringing intellectual property. For example, on July 23, 
2009, TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. filed a complaint against us and certain of our subsidiaries in the U.S. District Court, 
District of Arizona seeking declaratory judgment that four of our patents relating to RF filter technology used in our wireless 
products are invalid and, if valid, that TriQuint’s products do not infringe any of those patents. TriQuint has subsequently 
withdrew those claims with respect to three of those four patents. In addition, TriQuint claims that certain of our wireless 
products infringe three of its patents. TriQuint is seeking damages in an unspecified amount, treble damages for alleged willful 
infringement, attorneys fees and injunctive relief. We filed our answer and initial counterclaim on September 17, 2009, denying 
infringement, asserting the invalidity of TriQuint’s patents and asserting infringement by TriQuint of ten Avago patents and 
filed additional counterclaims on March 25, 2010 for the misappropriation of Avago trade secrets. On October 16, 2009, 
TriQuint filed its answer to our initial counterclaim, denying infringement and filed an antitrust counterclaim and counterclaims 
for declaratory judgment of non infringement and invalidity. While the court dismissed TriQuint’s antitrust counterclaims on 
procedural grounds on March 16, 2010, TriQuint has since filed a motion to file an amended pleading for its anti-trust claims, 
which was granted on August 3, 2010. We intend to defend this lawsuit vigorously, and future actions may include the assertion 
by us of additional claims or counterclaims against TriQuint related to our intellectual property portfolio. Summary judgment 
motions are scheduled for hearing on January 30, 2012 and the Court has set a trial date of July 10, 2012.

In addition, on February 8, 2010, PixArt Imaging Inc. filed an action against us in the U.S District Court, Northern 

89

District of California seeking a determination of whether PixArt was licensed to use our portfolio of patents for optical finger 
navigation products pursuant to an existing cross-license agreement between us and PixArt. We filed a counterclaim against 
PixArt on March 31, 2010, asserting that PixArt breached the terms of the cross-license agreement between the parties and 
seeking a determination that PixArt was not licensed to use our portfolio of patents for optical finger navigation products. On 
November 28, 2011, we entered into a settlement agreement with PixArt that resolves these outstanding actions, which were 
pending in the Northern District of California.  Under the terms of the confidential settlement agreement, the parties have cross-
licensed certain of their respective patents for the remaining term of the patents for use in the field of optical mouse and optical 
finger navigation. The parties subsequently dismissed all claims in the pending litigation, with prejudice, on December 2, 2011. 

On March 15, 2010 we filed a patent infringement action against ST Microelectronics NV in the Eastern District of Texas 
for infringement of four of our patents related to optical navigation devices. We amended the complaint on July 6, 2010 adding 
infringement of a fifth optical navigation related patent to the action. We sought injunctive relief, damages in an unspecified 
amount, treble damages for willful infringement and attorneys fees. In response, ST Microelectronics filed a patent 
infringement action against us in the Northern District of Texas alleging that our sales of certain optical navigation devices 
infringed two ST Microelectronics’ patents. ST Microelectronics sought injunctive relief and damages in an unspecified 
amount. ST Microelectronics filed a second suit against us on November 5, 2010 in the Northern District of California alleging 
certain anticompetitive actions by us in the optical navigation sensor market. On October 24, 2011, we and ST Microelectronics 
agreed to dismiss, without prejudice, all pending litigation between the parties. However, we and ST Microelectronics each 
reserved the right to re-file litigation in the event of any future disputes on the same issues, following the conclusion of 
executive discussions and non-binding mediation aimed at resolving those disputes.

On January 21, 2011, we filed a patent infringement action against Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, or Cypress, for 

infringement of three of our patents related to optical navigation devices. On May 23, 2011, Cypress filed its answer and 
counterclaim against us for a declaratory judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of the patents asserted by us. On August 
22, 2011, Cypress filed an amended answer and counterclaim alleging infringement by us of five of Cypress's patents.  The 
parties resolved all litigation on November 30, 2011 by filing a stipulation with the court dismissing all claims with prejudice.

With respect to the legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, we have not yet been able to determine whether 
an unfavorable outcome is probable or reasonably possible and have not been able to reasonably estimate the amount or range 
of any possible loss. As a result, no amounts have been accrued or disclosed in the accompanying consolidated financial 
statements with respect to these legal proceedings.

Claims that our products or processes infringe or misappropriate any third-party intellectual property rights (including 
claims arising through our contractual indemnification of our customers) often involve highly complex, technical issues, the 
outcome of which is inherently uncertain. Moreover, from time to time we pursue litigation to assert our intellectual property 
rights. Regardless of the merit or resolution of any such litigation, complex intellectual property litigation is generally costly 
and diverts the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel.

Warranty

Commencing in fiscal year 2008, we notified certain customers of a product quality issue and began taking additional 

steps to correct the quality issue and work with affected customers to determine potential costs covered by our warranty 
obligations. We maintain insurance coverage for product liability and have been working with our insurance carriers to 
determine the extent of covered losses in this situation. Based on settlements with customers to date, the status of discussions 
with other affected customers and discussions with our insurance carriers, we recorded a charge of $2 million during fiscal year 
2009 to cover costs relating to this quality issue in excess of expected insurance coverage. We continue to have discussions 
with affected customers and presently believe that amounts we have recorded in our consolidated financial statements along 
with expected insurance coverage proceeds will be adequate to resolve these claims, although this assessment is subject to 
change based on the ultimate resolution of this matter with customers and the insurance carriers. In addition, if the timing of 
settlement of claims with customers and the timing of determination of insurance recoveries do not occur in the same reporting 
periods, there could be material increases in charges to statement of operations in a future period and decreases in a subsequent 
period once insurance recoveries are deemed probable of realization.

During fiscal year 2009 we identified another product quality issue with a particular component, took steps to correct the 

quality issue and notified our customers. Though the expected failure rate of the product was not 100%, based on our quality 
tests, we have offered to replace all such components used or still held by our customers. We recorded charges of $6 million 
during fiscal year 2009 related to this product quality issue, based on the progress of discussions with our customers and our 
evaluation of the best estimate of our exposure related to this matter, which covered costs to scrap inventory of such 
components held by us and costs associated with providing replacement parts to customers. During fiscal year 2010, we 
recorded additional charges of $11 million to cover customer claims for reimbursements of costs incurred by such customers 
related to this product quality issue. During fiscal year 2010, we reached final settlement agreements with certain customers on 
this product quality issue. The final settlement amounts approximate the estimated accrued warranty obligations for those 

90

customers. We made $2 million of cash settlement payments in connection with these agreements during fiscal year 2010, 
resulting in a $2 million decrease in the warranty accrual for this product quality issue during the same period. During fiscal 
year 2011, we reached additional final settlement agreements with certain customers, made $3 million of cash settlement 
payments and credits and shipped $1 million of replacement parts in connection with these agreements, resulting in a $4 
million decrease in the warranty accrual for this product quality issue during the period. In addition, following these additional 
settlements and based on all information available to the Company regarding remaining customer exposures including the 
progress made in resolving customer issues, we reassessed our overall exposure relating to this product quality issue, including 
our estimate of any remaining replacement parts exposure, and reduced the warranty accrual we previously recorded by $6 
million. We presently believe that amounts we have recorded in our consolidated financial statements will be adequate to 
resolve any warranty obligations related to this issue, although this assessment is subject to change based on the ultimate 
resolution of this matter with remaining customers. However, we continue to have discussions with affected customers on the 
matter and although we have made our best estimate of the expected warranty obligation based on available information, we 
could record further charges in future periods based on the ultimate resolution of this matter with such customers. 

Indemnifications to Hewlett-Packard and Agilent

Agilent Technologies, Inc. has given multiple indemnities to Hewlett-Packard Company in connection with its activities 

prior to its spin-off from Hewlett-Packard Company in June 1999 for the businesses that constituted Agilent prior to the spin-
off. As the successor to the SPG business of Agilent, we may acquire responsibility for indemnifications related to assigned 
intellectual property agreements. Additionally, when we completed the SPG Acquisition in December 2005, we provided 
indemnities to Agilent with regard to Agilent’s conduct of the SPG business prior the SPG Acquisition. In our opinion, the fair 
value of these indemnifications is not material.

Other Indemnifications

As is customary in our industry and as provided for in local law in the United States and other jurisdictions, many of our 

standard contracts provide remedies to our customers and others with whom we enter into contracts, such as defense, 
settlement, or payment of judgment for intellectual property claims related to the use of our products. From time to time, we 
indemnify customers, as well as our suppliers, contractors, lessors, lessees, companies that purchase our businesses or assets 
and others with whom we enter into contracts, against combinations of loss, expense, or liability arising from various triggering 
events related to the sale and the use of our products, the use of their goods and services, the use of facilities and state of our 
owned facilities, the state of the assets and businesses that we sell and other matters covered by such contracts, usually up to a 
specified maximum amount. In addition, from time to time we also provide protection to these parties against claims related to 
undiscovered liabilities, additional product liability or environmental obligations. In our experience, claims made under such 
indemnifications are rare and the associated estimated fair value of the liability is not material.

17. 

Subsequent Event

On December 8, 2011, the Board declared an interim cash dividend of $0.12 per ordinary share to holders of record at the 

close of business (5:00 p.m.), Eastern Time, on December 19, 2011 with such dividend to be paid on December 30, 2011.

91

Supplementary Financial Data — Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

October 30,
2011

July 31,
2011

May 1,
2011

January 30,
2011

October 31,
2010

August 1,
2010

May 2,
2010

January 31,
2010

(In millions, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

Net revenue

$

623

$

603

$

560

$

550

$

572

$

550

$

515

$

456

Cost of products sold:

Cost of products sold

Amortization of intangible
assets

Restructuring charges

Total cost of products sold

Gross margin

Research and development

Selling, general and
administrative

Amortization of intangible
assets

Restructuring charges

Total operating expenses

Income from operations

Interest expense

Loss on extinguishment of debt

Other income (expense), net

Income before income taxes

Provision for (benefit from)
income taxes

Net income

Net income per share:

Basic

Diluted

Shares used in per share
calculations:

Basic

Diluted

Dividends declared and paid per
share

305

14

—

319

304

83

55

6

1

145

159

—

—

—

159

5

154

0.63

0.61

246

252

$

$

$

292

14

—

306

297

85

60

5

2

152

145

—

—

—

145

1

144

0.59

0.57

246

253

$

$

$

271

14

—

285

275

76

55

5

1

137

138

(1)

(1)

1

137

2

135

0.55

0.54

245

252

$

$

$

265

14

—

279

271

73

50

6

—

129

142

(3)

(19)

—

120

1

119

0.49

0.48

242

250

$

$

$

282

14

—

296

276

75

51

5

—

131

145

(7)

—

—

138

(26)

164

0.69

0.66

239

248

$

$

$

271

15

1

287

263

71

51

5

1

128

135

(8)

—

—

127

4

123

0.51

0.50

239

247

$

$

$

268

14

—

282

233

70

48

6

1

125

108

(8)

—

(1)

99

9

90

0.38

0.37

238

246

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

0.11

$

0.09

$

0.08

$

0.07

$

—

$

—

$

—

$

247

15

—

262

194

64

46

5

1

116

78

(11)

(24)

(1)

42

4

38

0.16

0.16

236

244

—

92

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Accounts receivable allowances:
Distributor credit allowance(1)
Year ended October 30, 2011
Year ended October 31, 2010
Year ended November 1, 2009

Other accounts receivable allowances(2)

Year ended October 30, 2011

Year ended October 31, 2010

Year ended November 1, 2009

Income tax valuation allowance
Year ended October 30, 2011

Year ended October 31, 2010

Year ended November 1, 2009

_______________________________________

Balance at
Beginning
of Period

Charged/
Credited to
Net Income
(Loss)

Charges
Utilized/
Write-offs

Balance at
End of
Period

(In millions)

$

$

$

$

$

$

12
10
14

4

3

5

4

32

31

$

$

$

106
93
63

19

16

18

1
(29)
3

$

$

(101)
(91)
(67)

(17)
(15)
(20)

2

$

1
(2)

17
12
10

6

4

3

7

4

32

(1)  Distributor credit allowance relates to limited stock returns and price adjustments.

(2)  Other accounts receivable allowances include allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns.

93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITEM 9. 

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

ITEM 9A. 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the 

effectiveness of Avago’s disclosure controls and procedures as of October 30, 2011. The term “disclosure controls and 
procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a 
company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or 
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the 
SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to 
ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is 
accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial 
officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and 
procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and 
management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. 
Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of October 30, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable 
assurance level.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the 
Company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange 
Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and 
effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

• 

• 

• 

Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 
dispositions of the assets of the company;

Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are 
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition 
of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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

Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of October 30, 2011. In 

making this assessment, the company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, our management 
concluded that, as of October 30, 2011, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of October 30, 2011 has been audited by 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included in 
Part II, Item 8. of this Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting.

No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the 
Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended October 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to 
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. 

OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

94

PART III.

ITEM 10. 

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information regarding our directors, executive officers and compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, set 

forth in the sections entitled “Proposal 1 — Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, “Corporate Governance” and 
“Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance”, in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2012 Annual General 
Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the end of our 2011 fiscal year pursuant to General 
Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this section.

We have adopted a written Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to all of our employees and directors, 

including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, or persons performing 
similar functions and have posted it in the “Investors — Governance” section of our website, which is located at 
www.avagotech.com. We intend to satisfy any disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding any amendments 
to, or waivers from, our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct by posting such information on our website at the internet 
address and location above.

ITEM 11. 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information regarding executive compensation required by this Item 11 set forth in the sections entitled “Director 
Compensation”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Executive Compensation”, “Compensation Committee Report” 
and “Corporate Governance — Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in our definitive Proxy Statement 
for our 2012 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the end of our 2011 fiscal 
year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this section. However, the 
Compensation Committee Report included in such definitive Proxy Statement shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC for the 
purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed 
incorporated by reference in any filing made by us with the SEC, regardless of any general incorporation language in such 
filing.

ITEM 12. 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND 
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related shareholder 

matters required by this Item 12 set forth in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors 
and Executive Officers” and “Executive Compensation — Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our definitive Proxy 
Statement for our 2012 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of the end of our 
2011 fiscal year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this section.

ITEM 13. 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information regarding certain relationships, related transactions and director independence required by this Item 13 

set forth in the sections entitled “Corporate Governance” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in our 
definitive Proxy Statement for our 2012 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days of 
the end of our 2011 fiscal year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this 
section.

ITEM 14. 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information regarding principal accounting fees and services required by this Item 14 set forth in the proposal 
relating to the re-appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 
2012 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be filed with the Commission within 120 days of the end of our 2011 fiscal 
year pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K is hereby incorporated by reference in this section.

PART IV

ITEM 15. 

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) The following are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

1. Financial Statements

The following consolidated financial statements are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

95

— 

— 

— 

— 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 30, 2011 and October 31, 2010

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and
November 1, 2009

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and
November 1, 2009

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended
October 30, 2011, October 31, 2010 and November 1, 2009

2. Financial Statement Schedules

The financial statement schedule required by Item 15(a) (Schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts) is included in 

Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Schedules not filed have been omitted because they are not applicable, are not required or the information required to be 

set forth therein is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

3. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits are filed with or incorporated by reference in 

this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

96

 
 
 
 
         
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly 

caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED

By: 

/s/  Hock E. Tan

Name:
Title:

Hock E. Tan
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: December 15, 2011 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Hock E. Tan, Douglas R. 
Bettinger and Patricia H. McCall, and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act 
without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to 
execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all 
amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in 
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each 
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said 
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue 
thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed 

by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities indicated and on the dates indicated.

Signature

/s/  Hock E. Tan

Hock E. Tan

Title

Date

President and Chief Executive
Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

December 15, 2011

/s/  Douglas R. Bettinger

Douglas R. Bettinger

Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

December 15, 2011

/s/  James Diller

James Diller

/s/  Adam H. Clammer

Adam H. Clammer

/s/  Kenneth Y. Hao

Kenneth Y. Hao

/s/  John M. Hsuan

John M. Hsuan

/s/  Justine Lien

Justine Lien

/s/  Donald Macleod

Donald Macleod

Chairman of the Board of Directors

December 15, 2011

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

97

December 15, 2011

December 15, 2011

December 15, 2011

December 15, 2011

December 15, 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 
No.

Description

Form

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Filing Date

Filed 
Herewith

2.1#

2.2#

2.3#

2.4#

2.5#

2.6#

2.7#

2.8#

3.1

4.1

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 
14, 2005, between Agilent Technologies, 
Inc. and Argos Acquisition Pte. Ltd.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. Current Report
on Form 8-K (Commission File No.
001-15405)

August 15,
2005

Amendment No. 1 to the Asset Purchase
Agreement, dated November 30, 2005,
between Agilent Technologies, Inc. and
Avago Technologies Limited.

Amendment No. 2 to the Asset Purchase
Agreement, dated December 29, 2006,
between Agilent Technologies, Inc. and
Avago Technologies Limited.

Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated 
November 17, 2006, by and among 
Avago Technologies Limited, Avago 
Technologies Imaging Holding (Labuan) 
Corporation, Avago Technologies Sensor 
(U.S.A.) Inc., other sellers and Micron 
Technology, Inc. 
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated
October 31, 2007, by and among Avago
Technologies Limited, Avago
Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte.
Ltd., other sellers and Lite-On
Technology Corporation (“Lite-On Asset
Purchase Agreement”).

Amendment No. 1 to Lite-On Asset
Purchase Agreement and Non-
Competition Agreement, dated January 8,
2008.

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Amendment No. 2 to Lite-On Asset
Purchase Agreement, dated January 21,
2009.

Amendment No. 5 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 27,
2009

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June
25, 2008, by and among Avago
Technologies GmbH, Avago Technologies
International Sales Pte. Ltd., Avago
Technologies Wireless IP (Singapore) Pte.
Ltd., Avago Technologies Finance Pte.
Ltd. and Infineon Technologies AG.
Memorandum and Articles of
Association.

Form of Specimen Share Certificate for
Registrant’s Ordinary Shares.

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Avago Technologies Limited Current
Report on Form 8-K (File No.
001-34428).

August 14,
2009

Amendment No. 3 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 14,
2009

98

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Description

Form

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Avago Technologies Limited Current
Report on Form 8-K (Commission File
No. 001-34428).

Filed 
Herewith

Filing Date
August 14,
2009

Exhibit 
No.
4.2

4.3

4.4

10.1

10.2

10.3

Second Amended and Restated
Shareholder Agreement, dated August 11,
2009, among Avago Technologies
Limited, Silver Lake Partners II Cayman,
L.P., Silver Lake Technology Investors II
Cayman, L.P., Integral Capital Partners
VII, L.P., KKR Millennium Fund
(Overseas), Limited Partnership, KKR
European Fund, Limited Partnership,
KKR European Fund II, Limited
Partnership, KKR Partners
(International), Limited Partnership,
Capstone Equity Investors LLC, Avago
Investment Partners, Limited Partnership,
Bali Investments S.àr.l., Seletar
Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser Investment
Pte. Ltd. and certain other Persons

Registration Rights Agreement, dated
December 1, 2005, among Avago
Technologies Limited, Silver Lake
Partners II Cayman, L.P., Silver Lake
Technology Investors II Cayman, L.P.,
Integral Capital Partners VII, L.P., KKR
Millennium Fund (Overseas), Limited
Partnership, KKR European Fund,
Limited Partnership, KKR European
Fund II, Limited Partnership, KKR
Partners (International), Limited
Partnership, Capstone Equity Investors
LLC, Avago Investment Partners, Limited
Partnership, Bali Investments S.àr.l.,
Seletar Investments Pte Ltd, Geyser
Investment Pte. Ltd. and certain other
Persons (“Registration Rights
Agreement”).

Amendment to Registration Rights
Agreement, dated August 21, 2008.

Sublease Agreement, dated June 5, 2009,
between Agilent Technologies Singapore
Pte. Ltd. and Avago Technologies
Manufacturing (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.,
relating to Avago’s facility at 1 Yishun
Avenue 7, Singapore 768923.

Lease No. I/33183P issued by Singapore
Housing and Development Board to
Compaq Asia Pte Ltd in respect of the
land and structures comprised in Lot
1935X of Mukim 19, dated
September 26, 2000, and includes the
Variation of Lease I/49501Q registered
January 15, 2002, relating to Avago’s
facility at 1 Yishun Avenue 7, Singapore
768923.

Lease No. I/31607P issued by Singapore
Housing and Development Board to
Compaq Asia Pte Ltd in respect of the
land and structures comprised in Lot
1937C of Mukim 19, dated September 26,
2000, and includes the Variation of Lease
I/49499Q registered January 15, 2002,
relating to Avago’s facility at 1 Yishun
Avenue 7, Singapore 768923.

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

September
29, 2006

Avago Technologies Limited Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Commission File
No. 333-153127)

August 21,
2008

Avago Technologies Limited Registration
Annual Report on Form 10-K
(Commission File No. 001-33428)

December
15, 2010

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

November
15, 2006

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

November
15, 2006

99

 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
No.
10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

10.10

10.11

Description
Lease No. I/33182P issued by Singapore
Housing and Development Board to
Compaq Asia Pte Ltd in respect of the
land and structures comprised in Lot
2134N of Mukim 19, dated
September 26, 2000, and includes the
Variation of Lease I/49500Q registered
January 15, 2002, relating to Avago’s
facility at 1 Yishun Avenue 7, Singapore
768923.

Lease No. I/33160P issued by Singapore
Housing and Development Board to
Compaq Asia Pte Ltd in respect of the
land and structures comprised in Lot
1975P of Mukim 19, dated September 26,
2000, and includes the Variation of Lease
I/49502Q registered January 15, 2002,
relating to Avago’s facility at 1 Yishun
Avenue 7, Singapore 768923.

Tenancy Agreement, dated October 24,
2005, between Agilent Technologies
(Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and Avago
Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (f/k/a
Jumbo Portfolio Sdn. Bhd.), relating to
Avago’s facility at Bayan Lepas Free
Industrial Zone, 11900 Penang, Malaysia.

Supplemental Agreement to Tenancy
Agreement, dated December 1, 2005,
between Agilent Technologies (Malaysia)
Sdn. Bhd. and Avago Technologies
(Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (f/k/a Jumbo
Portfolio Sdn. Bhd.), relating to Avago’s
facility at Bayan Lepas Free Industrial
Zone, 11900 Penang, Malaysia.

Subdivision and Use Agreement, dated
December 1, 2005, between Agilent
Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and
Avago Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn.
Bhd. (f/k/a Jumbo Portfolio Sdn. Bhd.),
relating to Avago’s facility at Bayan
Lepas Free Industrial Zone, 11900
Penang, Malaysia.

Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated
December 1, 2005, between Agilent
Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. and
Avago Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn.
Bhd. (f/k/a Jumbo Portfolio Sdn. Bhd.),
relating to Avago’s facility at Bayan
Lepas Free Industrial Zone, 11900
Penang, Malaysia.

Lease Agreement, dated December 1,
2005, between Agilent Technologies, Inc.
and Avago Technologies U.S. Inc.,
relating to Avago’s facility at 350 West
Trimble Road, San Jose, California
95131.

First Amendment to Lease Agreement
(Building 90) and Service
Level Agreement, dated January 10,
2007, between Avago Technologies U.S.
Inc. and Lumileds Lighting B.V. relating
to Avago’s facilities at 350 West Trimble
Road, San Jose, California 95131.

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Form

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

Filed 
Herewith

Filing Date
November
15, 2006

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

November
15, 2006

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

100

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
No.
10.12

10.13

10.14

10.15^

10.16

Description
Credit Agreement, dated March 31, 2011, 
among Avago Technologies Finance Pte. 
Ltd., as Borrower, Avago Technologies 
Holding Pte. Ltd., Avago Technologies 
International Sales Pte. Limited, Avago 
Technologies US. Inc. and Avago 
Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. 
Ltd., as Guarantors and the Initial 
Lenders named herein as Initial Lenders 
and Citicorp International Limited as 
Administrative Agent and Barclays 
Capital as Syndication Agent and 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and 
Barclays Capital as Joint Lead Arrangers 
and Joint Bookrunners.

Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, 
dated July 28, 2011, among Avago 
Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd., the 
Lenders constituting the Required 
Lenders and Citicorp International 
Limited as Administrative Agent for the 
Lenders.
Ft. Collins Supply Agreement, dated
October 28, 2005 between Avago
Technologies Wireless (U.S.A.)
Manufacturing, Inc. and Palau
Acquisition Corporation.

Distribution Agreement, dated March 26,
2008, between Avago Technologies
International Sales Pte. Limited and
Arrow Electronics, Inc.

Collective Agreement, dated October 28,
2010, between Avago Manufacturing
(Singapore) Pte Ltd (and its Singapore
affiliates) and United Workers of
Electronic & Electrical Industries.

10.17+

2009 Equity Incentive Award Plan.

10.18+

10.19+

10.20+

10.21+

10.21+

Equity Incentive Plan for Executive
Employees of Avago Technologies
Limited and Subsidiaries (Amended and
Restated Effective as of February 25,
2008).

Equity Incentive Plan for Senior
Management Employees of Avago
Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries
(Amended and Restated Effective as of
February 25, 2008).

Amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan 
for Senior Management Employees of 
Avago Technologies Limited and its 
Subsidiaries, dated July 27, 2009

Amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan 
for Senior Management Employees of 
Avago Technologies Limited and its 
Subsidiaries, dated March 9, 2011
Form of Nonqualified Share Option
Agreement Under the Amended and
Restated Equity Incentive Plan for
Executive Employees of Avago
Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries
for U.S. employees.

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Form

Avago Technologies Limited Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File
No. 001-34428)

Filed 
Herewith

Filing Date
June 9,
2011

X

X

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

June 16,
2009

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Avago Technologies Limited Annual
Report on Form 10-K (Commission File
No. 001-33428)

December
15, 2010

Amendment No. 5 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 27,
2009

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

February
27, 2008

February
27, 2008

Avago Technologies Limited Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File
No. 001-34428)
Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

June 9,
2011

October 1,
2008

101

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
No.
10.23+

10.24+

10.25+

10.26+

10.27+

10.28+

10.29+

10.32+

10.33+

10.34+

10.35+

10.36+

10.37+

Description

Form of Nonqualified Share Option
Agreement Under the Equity Incentive
Plan for Executive Employees of Avago
Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries
for employees in Singapore.

Form of Nonqualified Share Option
Agreement Under the Amended and
Restated Equity Incentive Plan for Senior
Management Employees of Avago
Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries
for U.S. non-employee directors.

Form of Nonqualified Share Option
Agreement Under the Amended and
Restated Equity Incentive Plan for Senior
Management Employees of Avago
Technologies Limited and Subsidiaries
for non-employee directors in Singapore.

Amended and Restated Offer Letter
Agreement, dated July 17, 2009, between
Avago Technologies Limited and Hock E.
Tan.

Amended and Restated Employment 
Agreement, dated July 17, 2009, between 
Avago Technologies U.S. Inc. and Bryan 
T. Ingram. 

Offer Letter Agreement, dated March 20,
2007, between Avago Technologies and
Patricia H. McCall.

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Form
Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

Filing Date
October 1,
2008

Filed 
Herewith

Amendment No. 1 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

October 1,
2008

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Registration Statement on Form F-4
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

September
29, 2006

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Amendment No. 4 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 21,
2009

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on
Form 20-F/A (Commission File No.
333-137664)

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Current Report on Form 6-K
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

February
27, 2008

July 16,
2008

February
27, 2008

February
27, 2008

March 5,
2009

March 5,
2009

Offer Letter Agreement, dated July 4,
2008, between Avago Technologies and
Douglas R. Bettinger.

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Current Report on Form 6-K
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

10.30+

Form of indemnification agreement
between Avago and each of its directors.

10.31+

Form of indemnification agreement
between Avago and each of its officers.

Severance Benefits Agreement, dated
December 3, 2008, between Avago
Technologies Limited and Patricia H.
McCall.

Offer Letter Agreement, dated December
5, 2008, between Avago Technologies
Limited and B.C. Ooi.

Avago Technologies Finance Pte. Ltd.
Current Report on Form 6-K
(Commission File No. 333-137664)

Severance Benefits Agreement, dated 
March 9, 2011, between Avago 
Technologies US. Inc. and Bryan Ingram.
Deferred Compensation Plan.

Avago Technologies Limited Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File
No. 001-34428)
Amendment No. 2 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

June 9,
2011

July 2,
2009

Form of Option Agreement Under Avago
Technologies Limited 2009 Equity
Incentive Award Plan.

Amendment No. 5 to Avago Technologies
Limited Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Commission File No. 333-153127)

July 27,
2009

Form of Notice and Restricted Share Unit
Agreement Under Avago Technologies
Limited 2009 Equity Incentive Award
Plan.

Avago Technologies Limited Annual
Report on Form 10-K (Commission File
No. 001-33428)

December
15, 2010

102

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
No.
10.38+

10.39+

10.40+

21.1

23.1

24.1

31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

Description
Employee Share Purchase Plan (amended
and restated effective as of June 2, 2010).

Avago FY 2011 Performance Bonus Plan 
for Executive Employees, effective 
November 1, 2010.
Avago FY 2012 Performance Bonus Plan 
for Executive Employees, effective 
October 31, 2011.

List of Subsidiaries.

Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent registered public accounting
firm.

Power of Attorney (see signature page to
this Form 10-K).

Certification of Principal Executive
Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, As
Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of Principal Financial
Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, As
Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Certification of Principal Executive
Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.

Certification of Principal Financial
Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.

101.INS*

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH*

XBRL Schema Document

101.CAL*

XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF*

XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB*

XBRL Labels Linkbase Document

101.PRE*

XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

Notes:

Incorporated by Referenced Herein

Form

Avago Technologies Limited Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File
No. 001-34428)

Avago Technologies Limited Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q (Commission File
No. 001-34428)

Filing Date
June 3,
2010

March 10,
2011

Filed 
Herewith

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

+

#

^

*

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Avago Technologies hereby undertakes to
furnish supplementally copies of any omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.

Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. Omitted information has been filed
separately with the SEC.
XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is deemed not filed or part of a 
registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act, is deemed not filed for 
purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Wireless Communications serving the 
smartphone/handset and Base Station 
infrastructure markets with over 250 patents 
and leading-edge products that include: 
•  Power Amplifi ers
•  Front End Modules 
•  Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator (FBAR) Filters
•  GPS LNAs
•  Optical Finger Navigation
•  LED Backlighting, Screen Illumination
•  Ambient Light and Proximity Sensors

Consumer and Computing  peripherals 
for Optical/Laser mice, printers, white goods, 
DVD players, netbooks, Tablet PCs and 
laptops with over 100 patents and products 
that include:
•  Optical and Laser Mouse Sensors
•  Motion Control Optical Encoders
•  Paper Level/Edge Proximity Sensors
•  Display LEDs
•  Status Indicator and Backlighting LEDs
•  Ambient Light Photo Sensors
•  Auto Focus Auxiliary Flash LEDs

Wired Infrastructure for switches/routers, 
data centers, supercomputers and storage/
servers with over 200 patents in parallel 
optics alone and products that include:
•  120Gb Parallel Optic Arrays
•  25Gb SerDes ASICs in 28nm
•  Storage Fibre Channel Transceivers
•  QSFP/SFP Sonet Transceivers

Industrial and Automotive Electronics 
for alternative energy power generation, 
electronic signs and signals, automated 
manufacturing, automotive lighting, GPS 
navigation, motor inverter systems, battery 
charging and management, infotainment 
systems and vehicle safety systems with 
products that include:
• 
• 
•  Optical Encoders
•  Polymer Optical Fiber
•  PLCC-2/4 LEDs, 0.5W LEDs

Inverters 
Isolation and Digital Optocouplers

Corporate Headquarters

Avago Technologies
1 Yishun Ave 7
Singapore, 768923

U.S. Headquarters
Avago Technologies
350 West Trimble Road
San Jose, CA 95131

Independent Auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
488 Almaden Boulevard, Suite 1800
San Jose, CA 95110

Registrar and Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
250 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
www.computershare.com

www.avagotech.com 

Avago, Avago Technologies, the A logo, Moonstone and CoolPam are trademarks of Avago Technologies in the United States and other countries.  Copyright © 2012 Avago Technologies. All rights reserved.