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Cohu

cohu · NASDAQ Technology
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Industry Semiconductors
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2013 Annual Report · Cohu
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Annual Report
2 0 1 3

12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, CA 92064-6817    

Cohu, inc.

Phone: 858.848.8100

www.cohu.com

COMPANY PROFILE
Cohu is a supplier of test handling, burn-in, thermal subsystems and MEMS test solutions used by the global 

semiconductor industry as well as a supplier of microwave communications and video equipment.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(in thousands, except per share data)

 OPERATIONS 
Orders 
Net sales 
Net loss  
Loss per share:
     Basic  
     Diluted 

 BALANCE SHEET 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments 
Working capital 
Total assets 
Stockholders’ equity 

$350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

$350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

  2013 (1) 
$276,354 
$247,300 
$(33,418) 

$(1.34) 
$(1.34) 

  2013 (1) 
$52,868 
$125,837 
$345,423 
$253,160 

2012
$214,950
$221,162
$(12,243)

$(0.50)
$(0.50)

2012
$110,229
$184,703
$334,873
$280,899

$30

20

10

0

-10

-20

-30

-40

$350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

09  10  11  12  13 (1)

09  10  11  12  13 (1)

ORDERS
(in Millions)

SALES
(in Millions)

09  10  11  12  13 (1)
NET INCOME (LOSS)
(in Millions)

09  10  11  12  13 (1)

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in Millions)

(1) Includes Ismeca Semiconductor Holding SA acquired on December 31, 2012.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND NON-GAAP AMOUNTS
This  Cohu,  Inc.  2013  Annual  Report  contains  forward-looking  statements  including  expectations  of  market  conditions, 
challenges and plans, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is subject 
to the Safe Harbor provisions created by that statute. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current 
expectations  and  beliefs,  including  estimates  and  projections  about  our  industries.  These  statements  are  not  guarantees 
of  future  performance  and  are  subject  to  certain  risks,  uncertainties,  and  assumptions,  including  but  not  limited  to,  those 
discussed under the caption “1A. Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this Annual Report that could cause actual results to 
differ materially from those projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements 
which speak only as of the time they are made. 

Certain  amounts  referred  to  in  this  Annual  Report  are  “Non-GAAP”  as  contrasted  with  amounts  prepared  under  generally 
accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP fi nancial measures adjust the Company’s actual results prepared 
under GAAP to exclude charges and the related income tax effect for share-based compensation, the amortization of acquired 
intangible  assets,  manufacturing  transition  costs,  employee  severance  costs,  other  acquisition  costs  and  the  purchase 
accounting inventory step-up included in cost of goods sold. These Non-GAAP amounts are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, 
but are included solely for informational and comparative purposes. Cohu’s management believes that this information can 
assist investors in evaluating the Company’s operational trends, fi nancial performance and cash generating capacity and allows 
investors  to  evaluate  Cohu’s  fi nancial  performance  in  the  same  manner  as  management.  However,  the  non-GAAP  fi nancial 
amounts should not be regarded as a replacement for (or superior to) corresponding, similarly captioned, GAAP amounts.

Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

12367 Crosthwaite Circle
Poway, CA  92064

Dear Fellow Stockholder,

In last year’s letter I commented that improvement in macroeconomic conditions was needed to
stimulate capacity expansion for mainstream semiconductor production. As it turned out, new
orders for back-end semiconductor equipment remained flat until March and then increased for
the next four months.  This uptick seemed to validate the views of many industry analysts that
business conditions would improve in the second half of the year. A slight decline in bookings
during July was not enough to raise a red flag, but lower orders over the following months
confirmed that the mid-year improvement was a false start.  The year ended with industry
bookings at about the same level as the beginning of the year.  Throughout 2013, equipment
utilization hovered near 80%, as customers were reluctant to add capacity in the uncertain
economic environment.

At the beginning of the year, we completed the acquisition of Ismeca, the leading supplier of
turret-based semiconductor and LED test handling and back-end finishing equipment.  Through
this acquisition we significantly expanded our product line and became the only company to
offer a full suite of pick and place, gravity, test in strip and turret handling solutions.  While we
have already realized significant benefits from Ismeca, the down market conditions of last year
did not provide an opportunity to fully capitalize on the acquisition.

For the year ended December 28, 2013 sales were $247.3 million, an increase of 12%
compared to $221.2 in 2012. The Non-GAAP loss in 2013 was $18.5 million or $0.75 per share
compared to a loss of $3.1 million or $0.13 per share in 2012.  On a GAAP basis, the 2013 loss
was $33.4 million or $1.34 per share compared to a loss of $12.2 million or $0.50 cents per
share in 2012.  Despite the difficult business environment, cash flow from operations was $3.4
million and Cohu’s balance sheet remained strong, with cash at $52.9 million at the end of 2013
and no bank debt.  For the 37th consecutive year, Cohu paid its shareholders a quarterly cash
dividend, in 2013 of $0.06 per share.

2013 Market Conditions and Activities

By the end of the first quarter, there were indications that conditions were improving in the back-
end semiconductor equipment industry.  After a flat start to the year, equipment utilization
reached 80% in March, the highest level in two years.  Our semiconductor equipment orders
increased to $52.5 million for the quarter, including $17.7 million for Ismeca, compared to $33.7
million in the year earlier period.  Customer activity strengthened at each of our three handler
companies as the quarter progressed.  We were in the midst of the launch and production ramp
of seven new handler products that would continue throughout the year.  Q1 marked our first
volume orders for automation equipment for semiconductor assembly, as we capitalized on one
of our core technical capabilities in the IC assembly area of a major semiconductor IDM.  We
also shipped the first T-Core thermal subsystems for use in automated, batch testing of
application processors used in mobile computing.  T-Core utilizes the same proprietary thermal
technology as in our Pyramid production handler, and represents a successful extension of this
core capability into the fast growing mobile device market. At Ismeca, the LED market was
strong as we received multi-unit orders from two large customers for NX32 turret handlers for

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Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

testing next generation LEDs for general lighting applications.  Ismeca also logged orders for its
wafer version of the NX32, which has unique capability for handling small, thin bare die,
commonly used in small form factor consumer mobility products such as smart phones and
tablets.

In Q2, we were optimistic that business conditions were improving, based on the 27%
sequential increase in back-end equipment orders in March and increasing customer forecasts.
Cohu’s semiconductor equipment orders were up 44% sequentially to $75.4 million, including
$12.6 million for T-Core thermal subsystems, the first production order following successful
qualification in the first quarter.  Even without the T-Core business, our handler orders increased
52% compared to the first quarter.  As it would throughout the rest of the year, automotive
applications were a key driver and we benefitted from our solid position as the leader in cold test
handling capability, a requirement for auto IC test. We received the first order for Jupiter, our
new gravity handler for large IC packages.  This system, along with its sister product, Saturn,
designed for smaller size ICs, are the first major new gravity handlers to be introduced in the
industry in nearly ten years.

Demonstrating how rapidly change can occur in this industry, SEMI reported that orders for
back-end semiconductor equipment declined 43% in the third quarter.  Most device segments
slowed down, as customers became more cautious about adding capacity in uncertain market
conditions.  Cohu’s semiconductor equipment orders decreased 36% to $48.5 million with a
number of customers moving forecasted business out 1-2 quarters.  Still, handler utilization
remained near 80%, a positive sign despite the lower order rates.  The automotive market
remained strong and the industrial power segment was improving.  We booked the first order for
our new ambient-hot pick and place handler, the Eclipse, which is targeted at OSATs and other
value-sensitive applications.  The Jupiter handler recorded a major win at a large European
automotive supplier, displacing a competitor after a successful evaluation.

In the fourth quarter, our semiconductor equipment orders were up 41% sequentially and
included a large, follow-on order for thermal subsystems.  Orders for gravity and turret handlers
were at the highest level all year, driven by automotive, industrial and mobile applications.  After
several quarters of reduced demand, the LED segment showed signs of improvement, with
multi-unit orders for turret handlers received as the quarter ended and additional systems
forecasted for Q1 2014.  Like the automotive segment, Cohu is a leader in the industrial power
market, with a broad portfolio of handling solutions, spanning pick and place, gravity, test in strip
and turret, and also with a new line of high power contactors that enables us to provide
complete handler/contactor solutions for power management applications.

Positioned for Profitable Growth as Business Conditions Improve

It’s been just over a year since we acquired Ismeca.  With this acquisition, we expanded our
customer base for test handling solutions to include LEDs, wafer level packages and discrete
semiconductors.  We now field the broadest range of products in the test handler industry.  This
breadth of handling technologies enables us to address every major market segment, including
consumer mobility, automotive, industrial, computing, MEMS and LED.  Ismeca products and
vision technology expanded our SAM to include solutions for package and die inspection.  Key
enabling technologies such as thermal, vision and high performance contactors differentiate our
products and provide customers with solutions that improve yield and optimize ASPs. Since the
acquisition, we’ve consolidated activities and reduced expenses by about $14 million annually,
with $10 million in operating expenses and $4 million in manufacturing.

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Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

Capitalizing on sales synergies was a key strategic objective and in 2013 we captured
significant cross selling opportunities including sales of turret handlers to one of Cohu’s major
analog IC customers, penetrated back-end package inspection at several consumer mobile
accounts and increased our market share at OSATs.  Even more importantly, we laid the
foundation for many more sales that we expect to realize in the future.

Earlier this year, we began the transition of our volume pick and place handler manufacturing
from Poway, California to Melaka, Malaysia, where Ismeca has an established production
facility and supply chain.  We are leveraging the proven capabilities of this operation and will be
shipping pick and place handlers from Malaysia starting in the second quarter of 2014.  In
addition to the benefits of a lower cost geography, we will also realize savings through tax
holidays and incentives.

Outlook

While the early optimism of 2013 faded as the year progressed and the anticipated recovery in
the second half of the year did not materialize, there are indications that the industry has turned
the corner.  The order momentum that built throughout the fourth quarter has continued into
2014 and more customers are firming up or increasing forecasts.  Gartner expects the ATE
industry to resume growth in 2014, consistent with our internal view and with comments from
many customers and peer companies.

For Cohu, 2013 was a year of setting the stage for profitable growth when industry conditions
improve, as is expected in 2014.  We’ve integrated our global sales and customer support and
reduced operating expenses; cross selling opportunities have been realized and many others
are being nurtured; seven new products have been launched or ramped; through Ismeca our
served market has expanded to include LEDs and back-end inspection; and with the transition
of pick and place handler manufacturing to Malaysia we will significantly lower our product
costs.

We’re optimistic about the prospects for improved results in 2014 and want to thank our
employees, customers, shareholders and suppliers for your continuing support.

Sincerely,

James A. Donahue
Chairman of the Board
President and Chief Executive Officer
March 6, 2014

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Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

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(iv)

Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D. C.  20549 
FORM 10-K 

(Mark One) 

[(cid:165)] 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 
OR 

[  ] 

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

Commission file number 1-4298 

COHU, INC. 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) 

Delaware   
(State or other jurisdiction of 
Incorporation or Organization) 

12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, California    
(Address of principal executive offices) 

 95-1934119 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 

92064-6817 
 (Zip Code) 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 848-8100 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Title of Each Class 
Common Stock, $1.00 par value 
Preferred Share Purchase Rights, $1.00 par value 

Name of Exchange on Which Registered 
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 
None 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:134) No (cid:59)  

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 (cid:134) No (cid:59) 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange 

Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been 
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes (cid:59) No (cid:134) 

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  (§232.405  of  this  chapter)  during  the  preceding 
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes (cid:59) No (cid:134) 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained 
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference 
in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  (cid:59) 

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

Large accelerated filer    (cid:134)           Accelerated filer    (cid:59)           Non-accelerated filer    (cid:134)           Smaller reporting company    (cid:134) 

(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 Act). Yes (cid:134) No (cid:59) 

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant was approximately $116,000,000 based on the closing stock 
price as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC as of June 28, 2013. Shares of common stock held by each officer and director and by each 
person or group who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons or groups may be deemed to be 
affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. 

As of February 18, 2014 the Registrant had 25,101,663 shares of its $1.00 par value common stock outstanding. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE 
Portions of the Proxy Statement for Cohu, Inc.’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 14, 2014, and to be filed pursuant to 
Regulation 14A within 120 days after registrant’s fiscal year ended December 28, 2013, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report. 

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(This Page Intentionally Left Blank) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COHU, INC. 

FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 2013 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PART I 

Page 

Item 1.  Business ................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors ............................................................................................................................................. 9 

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments ................................................................................................................. 15 

Item 2. 

Properties ............................................................................................................................................... 16 

Item 3. 

Legal Proceedings ................................................................................................................................. 16 

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures ....................................................................................................................... 16 

PART II 

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

Purchases of Equity Securities ............................................................................................................. 17 

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data ........................................................................................................................ 19 

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ............. 19 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ............................................................ 27 

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data .................................................................................... 27 

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure............. 27 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 28 

Item 9B.  Other Information ................................................................................................................................. 30 

PART III 

Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance .................................................................. 30 

Item 11.   Executive Compensation ...................................................................................................................... 30 

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related  

  Stockholder Matters .............................................................................................................................. 30 

Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence .................................... 30 

Item 14.   Principal Accounting Fees and Services .............................................................................................. 30 

PART IV 

Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.............................................................................................. 31 

Signatures  ............................................................................................................................................................... 60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
(This Page Intentionally Left Blank) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 
certain forward-looking statements including expectations of market conditions, challenges and plans, within the 
meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is subject 
to the Safe Harbor provisions created by that statute.  These forward-looking statements are based on 
management’s current expectations and beliefs, including estimates and projections about our industries. 
Statements concerning financial position, business strategy, and plans or objectives for future operations are 
forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to 
certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and may cause actual results to differ 
materially from management’s current expectations.  Such risks and uncertainties include those set forth in this 
Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.  The forward-looking statements in 
this report speak only as of the time they are made and do not necessarily reflect management’s outlook at any 
other point in time.  We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a 
result of new information, future events, or for any other reason.  However, readers should carefully review the 
risk factors set forth in other reports or documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (“SEC”) after the date of this Annual Report. 

Item 1.  Business.  

PART I 

Cohu, Inc. (“Cohu”, “we”, “our” and “us”) was incorporated under the laws of California in 1947, as Kalbfell 
Lab, Inc. and commenced active operations in the same year.  Our name was changed to Kay Lab in 1954.  In 
1957, Cohu was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware as Cohu Electronics, Inc. and in 1972, 
our name was changed to Cohu, Inc. 

We have three reportable segments: semiconductor equipment, mobile microwave communication systems and 
video cameras. Our semiconductor equipment segment, Cohu’s Semiconductor Equipment Group (“SEG”), 
encompasses Cohu’s wholly owned subsidiaries Delta Design, Inc. (“Delta”), Rasco GmbH (“Rasco”) and 
Ismeca Semiconductor Holding SA (“Ismeca”). Delta develops, manufactures and sells pick-and-place 
semiconductor test handling equipment and thermal sub-systems to semiconductor manufacturers and test 
subcontractors throughout the world.  Rasco develops, manufactures and sells gravity-feed and test-in-strip 
semiconductor test handling equipment and micro-electro-mechanical systems (“MEMS”) test modules used in 
final test operations by semiconductor manufacturers and test subcontractors.  Ismeca, acquired by Cohu on 
December 31, 2012, designs, manufactures and sells turret-based test handling and back-end finishing equipment 
for integrated circuits, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and discrete components used by semiconductor 
manufacturers and test subcontractors throughout the world in assembly and packaging of devices.   

Our microwave communication systems segment is comprised of our wholly owned subsidiary Broadcast 
Microwave Services, Inc. (“BMS”). BMS develops, manufactures and sells mobile  microwave communications 
equipment to government agencies, law enforcement and public safety organizations, unmanned air vehicle 
program contractors, television broadcasters, entertainment companies, professional sports teams and other 
commercial entities.  Our video camera segment (“Electronics Division”) develops, manufactures and sells video 
cameras and related products, specializing in video solutions for security, surveillance and traffic monitoring. 
Customers for these products are distributed among security, surveillance, traffic control/management, military, 
scientific imaging and machine vision. 

Sales by reportable segment, expressed as a percentage of total consolidated net sales, for the last three years 
were as follows: 

   Semiconductor equipment 
   Microwave communications 
   Video cameras 

2013  
 87 % 
 7 % 
 6 % 
 100 % 

2012  
 81 % 
 12 % 
 7 % 
 100 % 

2011  
 84 % 
 10 % 
 6 % 
 100 % 

Additional financial information on our reportable segments for each of the last three years is included in Note 6, 
“Segment and Related Information” in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K.   

1 

 
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
Semiconductor Equipment 

We are a worldwide supplier of semiconductor test handling and back-end finishing systems, MEMS test 
modules, and thermal sub-systems. Our semiconductor equipment companies develop, manufacture, sell and 
service a broad line of equipment capable of handling a wide range of integrated circuit and LED packages.  Test 
handlers are electromechanical systems used to automate testing of the packaged integrated circuit in the “back-
end” of the semiconductor manufacturing process.  Testing determines the quality and performance of the 
integrated circuit prior to shipment to customers.  Testers are designed to verify the performance of the integrated 
circuit, such as microprocessors, logic, analog, memory or mixed signal devices.  Handlers are automated systems 
engineered to thermally condition and present for testing the packaged semiconductor devices.  The majority of 
test handlers use either pick-and-place, gravity-feed, turret or test-in-strip technologies.  The type of packaged 
device, test parallelism, thermal requirements and signal interface requirements normally determines the 
appropriate handling approach.  Gravity-feed handling is the predominant solution for temperature testing of high 
performance small outline leaded and non-leaded packages, as well as for large packages with leads on only one 
or two sides as is common in high power devices.  In gravity-feed handlers, integrated circuits are unloaded from 
plastic tubes, metal magazines or a bowl at the top of the machine and flow through the system, from top to 
bottom, propelled by the force of gravity.  After testing, the integrated circuits are sorted and reloaded into tubes, 
magazines, bulk or tape for additional process steps or final shipment.  

Integrated circuits with leads on all four sides, such as the quad flat pack, or with balls or pads on the bottom or 
top of the package, such as ball grid array packages, and quad flat no-lead packages as well as certain low profile 
integrated circuits with leads on two sides, such as the thin small outline package, and wafer-level packages are 
predominately handled in pick-and-place systems.  Pick-and-place handlers use robotic mechanisms to move 
integrated circuits from Jedec trays and place them in precision transport boats or carriers for processing through 
the system.  After testing, integrated circuits are sorted and reloaded into designated trays, based on test results.   

Test-in-strip handlers accommodate integrated circuits in strips or panels prior to the final singulation step in the 
semiconductor manufacturing process flow and are typically used for high-parallel testing applications.  Turret-
based handlers use a rotating “turret” mechanism that provides very high device throughput and efficient 
integration of multiple back-end finishing operations. Turret handlers are ideally suited for high-volume and low-
mix testing of smaller integrated circuits, discrete and LED devices.  MEMS test modules are independent physical 
stimuli units for testing sensor integrated circuits typically used in the automotive and consumer electronics 
industries.  These MEMS test modules can be integrated to our gravity-feed, pick & place, turret or test-in-strip 
handlers for testing a variety of sensors, including pressure, acoustic, magnetic field hall effect, optical and others.  

To ensure quality, semiconductors are typically tested at hot and/or cold temperatures, which can simulate the 
final operating environment.  Our test handler products are designed to provide a precisely controlled test 
environment, often over the range of -60 degrees Celsius to +175 degrees Celsius.  As the speed and power of 
certain integrated circuits, such as microprocessors and mobile processors, has increased so has the need to 
actively manage the self-generated heat during the test process to maximize yield.  This heat is capable of 
damaging or destroying the integrated circuit and can result in speed downgrading, when devices self-heat and 
fail to successfully test at their maximum possible speed.  Device yields are extremely important and speed 
grading directly affects the selling price of the integrated circuit and the profitability of the semiconductor 
manufacturer.  In addition to temperature capability, other key factors in the design of test handlers are handling 
speed, flexibility, parallel test capability, alignment to the test contactors, system size, reliability and cost. 

Delta provides thermal sub-systems for use in advanced burn-in and system-level test applications.  These 
thermal sub-systems maintain and control the temperature of the integrated circuit during the testing process.  
Burn-in stresses devices for detection of early failures (infant mortality) prior to distribution.  The burn-in process 
is also used by semiconductor manufacturers to develop reliability models of newly introduced devices.  The 
objective of reliability testing is to determine a device’s fault-free operation and estimated useful life by exposing 
the device to various electrical and thermal conditions that impact its performance. System-level testing is 
required for functional testing of high-end microprocessors as well as mobile processors combined with memory 
integrated circuits. This is typically the last test operation of complex, expensive integrated circuits prior to the 
final electronic integration process.   

Our products are complex electromechanical systems that are used in high-volume production environments and 
many are in service twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week.  Customers continuously strive to increase the 
utilization of their production test equipment and expect high reliability from test handling, MEMS test modules 
and thermal subsystems used in burn-in and system-level test. The availability of trained technical support 

2 

 
personnel is an important competitive factor in the marketplace.  Our semiconductor equipment companies 
deploy service engineers worldwide, often within customers’ production facilities, who work with customer 
personnel to maintain, repair and continuously improve the performance of our equipment.  

Our Semiconductor Equipment Products 

We offer products for the pick-and-place, gravity-feed, test-in-strip and turret handling, MEMS and system-level 
test markets. We currently sell the following products in the semiconductor equipment market: 

Pick-and-place 
The Delta EDGE is a pick-and-place handler that combines an economical design with a small footprint and fast 
index time (processing speed of the contactor placement mechanism).  The EDGE handler is designed to meet the 
needs of integrated circuit manufacturers and subcontractors who test at ambient and hot temperatures.  

The Delta MATRiX is a high performance pick-and-place handler capable of thermally conditioning devices 
from -60 degrees Celsius to +175 degrees Celsius. It provides increased productivity in several dimensions of 
performance: high throughput and test parallelism, scalability and active thermal control per test site.  With an 
adjustable test site configuration, customers can reuse existing load-boards, including those made for competitor 
equipment and gravity handlers.  The system also provides flexibility with field upgradeable options including a 
chamberless tri-temperature test site and auto contactor cleaning. 

The Delta Castle is a pick-and-place test handler capable of thermally conditioning devices from -60 degrees 
Celsius to +160 degrees Celsius.  The Castle can position from one to nine devices for testing.  Its large thermal 
soak chamber provides a continuous flow of thermally conditioned devices to the test site allowing the handler to 
process parts at high speed when running at temperature.  The Castle incorporates an innovative vertical tray 
storage system that saves space on the test floor by minimizing the handler’s footprint. 

The Delta Pyramid is a high performance thermal handler providing high throughput, high parallel test capability 
for microprocessors and graphics processors.  The Pyramid incorporates Delta’s proprietary thermal control 
technology.  The system is highly configurable and is capable of adapting to various customer requirements 
ranging from small tablet microprocessor testing to high-end server product testing.  

Delta’s Summit series of pick-and-place thermal handlers are designed to meet the requirements of manufacturers 
of microprocessors, graphic processors and other high speed, high power integrated circuits.  The Summit handlers 
incorporate Delta’s proprietary thermal control technology.  The Summit PTC, or Passive Thermal Control, and 
ATC, or Active Thermal Control, models dissipate the heat generated during test enabling the integrated circuit to 
be tested successfully at its maximum speed and performance. 

Delta’s LinX Series is our new platform serving assembly automation. Back-end semiconductor assembly is the 
major process step prior to device testing and validation. The new LinX product line offers advanced Jedec 
handing automation that efficiently links various assembly test processes.  

Gravity-Feed  
Rasco’s SO1x00 is a high throughput gravity-feed platform that provides an economical solution for testing up to 
8 devices in parallel.  These handlers can be configured for tube-to-tube or metal magazine input and output, 
ambient-hot or tri-temperature testing and are easily kit-able for a wide range of integrated circuit packages. 

Rasco’s SO2x00 is a modular platform that offers a reliable solution for testing small integrated circuit packages 
and up to 8 devices in parallel.  The base platform can be configured with various input and output modules: tube, 
metal magazine, bowl, bulk, tape and reel, and an optional laser marking unit.  These handlers can be configured 
for ambient-hot or tri-temperature testing.   

Rasco’s Saturn and Jupiter are our next generation gravity handlers delivering a fast index time capability with 
up to 8 devices tested in parallel at cold and/or hot temperature. Saturn has a configuration that covers testing of 
very small to medium size packaged integrated circuits, and Jupiter is a version that enables testing of medium to 
very large packaged integrated circuits typically serving the power management device market. 

3 

 
Test-in-strip 
Rasco’s SO3000, test-in-strip handler, can process an entire strip at once or index the strip for single/multiple 
device testing.  The system has tri-temperature capability, accommodates either stacked or slotted input/output 
media and can be configured with optional, automated vision alignment. The SO3000 is also a solution for in-
process testing of next generation 3D packages that integrate multiple substrate layers stacked and connected 
through silicon.  This is a new process for advanced semiconductor package manufacturing that requires several 
test insertions along the manufacturing process flow. 

Turret 
Ismeca’s NX16 is a high-speed, 16-position turret handler commonly used for testing and inspection of integrated 
circuits, LEDs and discrete devices. The product is highly configurable with bowl or tube feeding, tape and bulk 
output modules along with many processing options including laser marking, inspection and test. The NX16 is 
capable of testing devices at ambient and hot temperature. 

Ismeca’s NX32 is a scalable, 32-position turret handler used for testing and inspection of integrated circuits, 
LEDs, and discrete devices. There are many configurations of the NX32 turret handler: handling wafers in film-
frame for input and/or output that is common for LEDs and wafer level package (WLP) devices; tray and tube 
input and/or output used for integrated circuits and discretes; and bowl feeding, tape and de-taping, alignment, 
laser marking, inspection and test modules. The NX32 is capable of testing devices at ambient and hot 
temperature. 

Ismeca’s NY20 is our next generation turret handler platform that delivers higher throughput combined with fast 
device change-over time for both high-volume and high-mix testing and inspection of integrated circuits, LEDs 
and discrete devices. The new 20-position turret offers many of the functional modules and capabilities available 
on the NX16 and NX32 platforms in a smaller footprint, higher throughput handler.  

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”) 
Rasco’s MEMS series are modules that generate a physical stimuli for testing of sensor integrated circuits 
typically used in the automotive (e.g. tire pressure, airbag sensors) and consumer electronics (e.g. tilt, motion, 
microphone and light sensors) industries. The MEMS modules are stand-alone units that can be integrated into 
Delta, Ismeca or Rasco pick-and-place, turret, test-in-strip, or gravity-feed handlers. 

Thermal Sub-Systems 
Delta adapted its proprietary thermal control technology for use by integrated circuit manufacturers in high 
performance burn-in and system level test. The T-Core thermal sub-systems provide fast and accurate thermal 
control of the integrated circuit during the testing process using the same technology available in the Pyramid 
handler.  T-Core is also used in engineering and device characterization applications.   

Delta’s Fusion HD is the next generation tri-temperature thermal sub-system leveraging our advanced T-Core 
technology for testing advanced mobile processors. The Fusion HD thermal sub-system offers the unique 
ability to test greater than 450 devices in parallel while thermally conditioning and accurately controlling each 
device temperature through stringent, power dissipative test scripts. Compared to conventional test 
methodologies, Fusion HD offers a significant device yield improvement while maintaining a cost effective 
tool throughput.  

Contactors 
It is becoming increasingly important to supply an integrated solution for power semiconductor testing in 
automotive, industrial and LED markets and Delta, Rasco and Ismeca design, manufacture, sell and support 
various lines of test contactor solutions. These are consumable, electro-mechanical assemblies that connect the 
device under test, inside our test handlers, and the automated test equipment.  

Spares 
Delta, Rasco and Ismeca provide consumable and non-consumable items that are used to maintain, sustain or 
otherwise enable their equipment to meet its performance, availability and production requirements. 

Tooling (kits) 
Delta, Rasco and Ismeca design and manufacture a wide range of device dedication kits that enable handlers to 
process different semiconductor packages. Our Philippines and China operations design and manufacture the 
majority of our handler kits and provide applications support to customers in the southeast Asia region. 

4 

 
Sales by Product Line 
During the last three years, sales of our semiconductor equipment products were distributed as follows:  

   Semiconductor test handler systems 
   Thermal sub-systems and burn-in equipment 
   Spares, tooling (kits) and service 

Mobile Microwave Communications 

2013  
 40 % 
 8 % 
 52 % 

2012  
 56 % 
 5 % 
 39 % 

2011  
 57 % 
 3 % 
 40 % 

BMS develops, manufactures and sells mobile microwave communications equipment, antenna systems and 
associated equipment.  These products are used in the transmission of video, audio and telemetry data.  
Applications for these microwave data-links include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), law enforcement, 
security and surveillance, electronic news gathering and live broadcast communications.  Customers include 
government agencies, law enforcement and public safety organizations, unmanned air vehicle program 
contractors, television broadcasters, entertainment companies, professional sports teams and other commercial 
entities. 

Video Cameras 

The Electronics Division develops, manufactures and sells video cameras and related products, specializing in IP 
video solutions for security, surveillance and traffic monitoring applications.  The customer base for these 
products is distributed among traffic control and management, security/surveillance, military, scientific imaging 
and machine vision.  The Electronics Division’s products are high-performance, high-resolution cameras that 
meet the most demanding performance requirements and are resistant to harsh operating environments.  The 
Electronics Division also offers customized products and accessories including cables, camera mounts and data 
storage devices. 

Customers 

Semiconductor Equipment 
Our customers include semiconductor integrated device manufacturers and test subcontractors.  Repeat sales to 
existing customers represent a significant portion of our sales.  During the last three years, customers from our 
semiconductor equipment segment that have comprised 10% or greater of our consolidated net sales are as follows:  

Intel 
Texas Instruments 

* Less than 10% of net sales 

2013  

2012  

 16 %  
*  

 39 %   
*    

2011   
 36 %  
 11 %  

The loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders by these or other significant customers, including reductions due to 
market, economic or competitive conditions or the outsourcing of final integrated circuit test to subcontractors that 
are not our customers would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and as a result, we 
believe that our customer concentration is a significant business risk.  

Additional financial information on revenues from external customers by geographic area for each of the last 
three years is included in Note 6, “Segment and Related Information” in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K.   

Mobile Microwave Communications  
Our customer base for microwave communications equipment is diverse and includes government agencies, law 
enforcement and public safety organizations, unmanned air vehicle program contractors, television broadcasters, 
entertainment companies, professional sports teams and other commercial entities throughout the world.  No single 
customer of this segment accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated net sales in 2013, 2012 or 2011.   

Video Cameras  
Our customer base in the video camera industry segment is also diverse and includes corporate end-users, state and 
federal government agencies, original equipment manufacturers, system integrators and value-added resellers.  No 
single customer of this segment accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated net sales in 2013, 2012 or 2011. 

Sales and Marketing 

We market our products worldwide through a combination of a direct sales force and independent sales 
representatives.  In geographic areas where we believe there is sufficient sales potential, we generally employ our 

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own personnel.  The U.S. sales office for our semiconductor equipment businesses is located in Poway, California.  
The Europe sales office is located in Kolbermoor, Germany. We operate in Asia with headquarters in Singapore and 
branch offices in Taiwan, China, Thailand, Korea and Malaysia.  Sales in Japan are made primarily through 
independent sales representatives.   

Competition 

Semiconductor Equipment 
The semiconductor equipment industry is intensely competitive and is characterized by rapid technological 
change and demanding worldwide service requirements.  Significant competitive factors include product 
performance, price, reliability, customer support and installed base of products.  While we are a leading 
worldwide supplier of semiconductor test handling equipment, we face substantial competition.  The Japanese 
and Korean markets for test handling equipment are large and represent a significant percentage of the worldwide 
market.  During each of the last three years our sales to Japanese and Korean customers, who have historically 
purchased test handling equipment from Asian suppliers, have represented less than 10% of our total sales.  Some 
of our current and potential competitors are part of larger corporations that have substantially greater financial, 
engineering, manufacturing and customer support capabilities and offer more extensive product offerings than 
Cohu.  To remain competitive we believe we will require significant financial resources to offer a broad range of 
products, maintain customer support and service centers worldwide and to invest in research and development of 
new products.  Failure to introduce new products in a timely manner or the introduction by competitors of 
products with actual or perceived advantages could result in a loss of competitive position and reduced sales of 
existing products.  No assurance can be given that we will continue to compete successfully throughout the 
world. 

Mobile Microwave Communications and Video Cameras 
Our products in the microwave communications and video camera segments are sold in highly competitive 
markets throughout the world, where we compete on the basis of product performance and integration with 
customer requirements, service, product quality, reliability and price.  Many of our competitors are divisions or 
segments of large, diversified companies with substantially greater financial, engineering, marketing, 
manufacturing and customer support capabilities than Cohu.  No assurance can be given that we will continue to 
compete successfully in these market segments. 

Backlog 
Our backlog of unfilled orders for products, by segment, at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, was as 
follows: 

(in millions) 
  Semiconductor equipment * 
  Microwave communications 
  Video cameras 
     Total consolidated backlog   

2013  

2012  

$ 

$ 

 75.4    $ 
 10.1   
 2.9   

 88.4    $ 

 30.6   
 10.0   
 4.1   
 44.7   

*   Reported backlog for our semiconductor equipment segment as of December 28, 2013, includes Ismeca which was 

acquired on December 31, 2012.  

Backlog is generally expected to be shipped within the next twelve months.  Our backlog at any point in time may 
not be representative of actual sales in any future period due to the possibility of customer changes in delivery 
schedules, cancellation of orders, potential delays in product shipments, difficulties in obtaining parts from 
suppliers, failure to satisfy customer acceptance requirements and the inability to recognize revenue under 
accounting requirements.  Furthermore, many orders are subject to cancellation or rescheduling by the customer 
with limited or no penalty.  A reduction in backlog during any particular period could have a material adverse 
effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  There is no significant seasonal aspect to our 
business.  

Manufacturing and Raw Materials 
Our manufacturing operations are currently located in Poway, California (Delta, BMS and Electronics Division); 
Laguna, the Philippines (Delta); Kolbermoor, Germany (Rasco); Malacca, Malaysia (Delta and Ismeca); Suzhou, 
China (Ismeca); La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (Ismeca) and Kemel, Germany (BMS).   

Many of the components and subassemblies we utilize are standard products, although some items are made to our 

6 

 
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
specifications.  Certain components, particularly in our semiconductor equipment businesses, are obtained or are 
available from a limited number of suppliers.  We seek to reduce our dependence on sole and limited source 
suppliers, however in some cases the complete or partial loss of certain of these sources could have a material 
adverse effect on our operations while we attempt to locate and qualify replacement suppliers. 

Patents and Trademarks 
Our proprietary technology is protected by various intellectual property laws including patents, licenses, 
trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.  In addition, we believe that, due to the rapid pace of technological 
change in the semiconductor equipment industry and our other business segments, the successful manufacture 
and sale of our products also depends upon our experience, technological know-how, manufacturing and 
marketing skills and speed of response to sales opportunities.  In the absence of patent protection, we would be 
vulnerable to competitors who attempt to copy or imitate our products or processes.  We believe our intellectual 
property has value and we have in the past and will in the future take actions we deem appropriate to protect such 
property from misappropriation.  However, there can be no assurance such actions will provide meaningful 
protection from competition.  Protecting our intellectual property rights or defending against claims brought by 
other holders of such rights, either directly against us or against customers we have agreed to indemnify, would 
likely be expensive and time consuming and could have a material adverse effect on our operations. 

Research and Development 
Certain of the markets in which we compete, particularly the semiconductor equipment industry, are 
characterized by rapid technological change.  Research and development activities are carried on in our various 
subsidiaries and division and are directed toward development of new products and equipment, as well as 
enhancements to existing products and equipment.  Our total research and development expense was 
$48.6 million in 2013  (including Ismeca, acquired December 31, 2012) and $36.2 million, for both 2012 and 
2011.  

We work closely with our customers to make improvements to our existing products and in the development of 
new products.  We expect to continue to invest heavily in research and development and must manage product 
transitions successfully as introductions of new products could adversely impact sales of existing products. 

Environmental Laws 

Our business is subject to numerous federal, state, local and international environmental laws.  On occasion, we 
have been notified by local authorities of instances of noncompliance with local and/or state environmental laws.  
We believe we are in compliance with applicable federal, state, local and international regulations.  Compliance 
with foreign, federal, state and local laws that have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials 
into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment and the prevention of climate 
change have not had a material effect and is not expected to have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, 
results of operations or our competitive position.  However, future changes in regulations may require expenditures 
that could adversely impact earnings in future years.  

Executive Officers of the Registrant 

The following sets forth the names, ages, positions and offices held by all executive officers of Cohu as of 
February 18, 2014.  Executive Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors, until their successors are 
appointed. 

Name
Cohu: 
  James A. Donahue 
  Jeffrey D. Jones   
  John H. Allen 
Cohu wholly owned subsidiaries: 
  Luis A. Müller 
  Hock W. Chiang 
  Peter Portmann 
  Samer Kabbani 
  James G. McFarlane 

   Age 

   Position 

65     
52     
62     

44     
56     
56     
39     
63     

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer 
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer 
Vice President, Administration 

President – Cohu SEG 
Vice President Global Sales & Service – Cohu SEG 
Vice President Global Operations – Cohu SEG 
President - Delta Design Systems 
President - Delta Design Kit Operations 

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Mr. Donahue has been employed by Delta since 1978 and was President of Delta from May, 1983 until 
December, 2010.  In October, 1999, Mr. Donahue was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Cohu and 
was appointed to Cohu’s Board of Directors.  In June, 2000, Mr. Donahue was promoted to Chief Executive 
Officer and was appointed Chairman of the Board in March, 2010.  

Mr. Jones joined Delta in 2005 as Vice President Finance.  In November 2007, Mr. Jones was named Vice 
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Cohu. Prior to joining Delta, Mr. Jones, was a consultant 
from 2004 to 2005 and Vice President and General Manager of the Systems Group at SBS Technologies, Inc., 
a designer and manufacturer of embedded computer products, from 1998 to 2003. 

Mr. Allen has been employed by Cohu since June, 1995. He was Director of Finance until September, 1995, 
became Vice President, Finance in September, 1995, and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in October, 
1995.  In November 2007, Mr. Allen was made Vice President, Administration.  Prior to joining Cohu, Mr. Allen 
held various positions with Ernst & Young LLP from 1976 until June, 1995 and had been a partner with that firm 
since 1987. 

Mr. Müller joined Delta in 2005 as Director of Engineering.  In July 2008, Mr. Müller was promoted to the 
position of Vice President of the High Speed Handling Group for Delta and in January 2009 he was named 
Managing Director of Rasco.  In January 2011, Mr. Müller was appointed President of Cohu’s Semiconductor 
Equipment Group, which encompasses Cohu subsidiaries Delta Design, Inc., Rasco GmbH and Ismeca 
Semiconductor.  

Mr. Chiang has been employed by Cohu since October 2012 as Vice President, Global Sales & Service for 
Cohu’s Semiconductor Equipment Group.  Prior to joining Cohu, Mr. Chiang served as a Director for AXElite 
Technology Corporation.  Additionally, from 1995 through 2011, Mr. Chiang held a variety of positions at 
Teradyne, Inc. (“Teradyne”) including Director – Asia SOC Marketing & New Business Development, 
Managing Director of Teradyne’s Singapore and China operations and Director of Worldwide Field Total Quality 
Management.  

Mr. Portmann began his employment with Cohu with the acquisition of Ismeca on December 31, 2012 and was 
named Vice President Global Operations of Cohu’s Semiconductor Equipment Group in January 
2013. Immediately prior to joining Cohu, Mr. Portman served as the Vice President and Global Operations 
Manager of Ismeca for seven years. Additionally, from 1994 through 2001, Mr. Portmann held a variety of 
leadership positions at Ismeca including General Manager of Ismeca Malaysia and Vice President of the 
Semiconductor Division. 

Mr. Kabbani joined Delta in 2003 holding several leadership positions in engineering. In 2007, Mr. Kabbani was 
promoted to the position of Vice President of the High Performance Logic Group and in 2011 he became Vice 
President of Engineering for Delta. Mr. Kabbani was named President of Delta Design Systems in February 
2013. 

Mr. McFarlane has been employed by Delta since 1989.  He was Director of Engineering from 1992 to 1998 and 
was promoted to Vice President of Engineering in 1998.  In 2000, Mr. McFarlane was promoted to Senior Vice 
President and in February 2013 was named President of Delta Design Kit Operations. 

Employees 

At December 28, 2013, we had approximately 1,400 employees.  Our employee headcount has fluctuated in the 
last five years primarily due to the volatile business conditions in the semiconductor equipment industry and the 
acquisitions of Rasco and Ismeca.  Our employees in the United States and most locations in Asia are not covered 
by collective bargaining agreements, however, certain employees at Rasco’s facility in Kolbermoor, Germany, 
are represented by a works council, certain employees at Ismeca’s facility La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland are 
members of the micro-technology and Swiss watch trade union and certain employees in Ismeca’s China 
operation belong to local trade unions.  We have not experienced any work stoppages and consider our relations 
with our employees to be good.  We believe that a great part of our future success will depend on our continued 
ability to attract and retain qualified employees.  Competition for the services of certain personnel, particularly 
those with technical skills, is intense.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract, hire, assimilate 
and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees. 

Available Information 

Our web site address is www.cohu.com.  We make available free of charge, on or through our web site, our 

8 

 
annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments 
to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission.  Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other documents related to our 
corporate governance is also posted on our web site at www.cohu.com/investors/corporategovernance.  
Information contained on our web site is not deemed part of this report.  

Item 1A. Risk Factors.  
Set forth below and elsewhere in this report on Form 10-K and in other documents we file with the SEC, are risks 
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the 
forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report. Before deciding to purchase, hold or sell our 
common stock, you should carefully consider the risks described below in addition to the other cautionary 
statements and risks described elsewhere, and the other information contained, in this Annual Report on Form 10-
K. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties 
not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. If any of these known 
or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occurs with material adverse effects on Cohu, our business, financial 
condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed. The trading price of our common stock could 
decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.  

We are exposed to risks associated with acquisitions, investments and divestitures. 
We have made, and may in the future make, acquisitions of, or significant investments in, businesses with 
complementary products, services and/or technologies such as our acquisition of Ismeca, which was completed 
on December 31, 2012. Acquisitions and investments involve numerous risks, including, but not limited to:  

•  difficulties and increased costs in connection with integration of the personnel, operations, technologies 

and products of acquired businesses;  

•  increasing the scope, geographic diversity and complexity of our business;  
•  diversion of management’s attention from other operational matters;  
•  the potential loss of key employees or customers of Cohu or acquired businesses; 
•  lack of synergy, or the inability to realize expected synergies, resulting from the acquisition;  
•  failure to commercialize purchased technology; and  
•  the impairment of acquired intangible assets and goodwill that could result in significant charges to 

operating results in future periods.    

We may be required to finance future acquisitions and investments through a combination of borrowings, 
proceeds from equity or debt offerings and the use of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.   

With respect to divestitures, we may divest businesses that do not meet our strategic objectives, or do not meet 
our growth or profitability targets and may not be able to complete proposed divestitures on terms commercially 
favorable to us.  

Mergers, acquisitions and investments are inherently risky and the inability to effectively manage these risks 
could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  At December 
28, 2013 we had goodwill and net purchased intangible assets balances of $71.3 million and $45.3 million, 
respectively.  

We are exposed to the risks of operating a global business. 
We are a global corporation with offices and subsidiaries in certain foreign locations to support our sales and 
services to the global semiconductor industry and, as such, we face risks in doing business abroad that we do not 
face domestically.  Certain aspects inherent in transacting business internationally could negatively impact our 
operating results, including:  

•  costs and difficulties in staffing and managing international operations; 
•  unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; 
•  difficulties in enforcing contractual and intellectual property rights; 
•  longer payment cycles; 
•  local political and economic conditions; 
•  potentially adverse tax consequences, including restrictions on repatriating earnings and the threat of 

“double taxation”; and 

•  fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which can affect demand and increase our costs. 

9 

 
Additionally, managing geographically dispersed operations presents difficult challenges associated with 
organizational alignment and infrastructure, communications and information technology, inventory control, 
customer relationship management, terrorist threats and related security matters and cultural diversities.  If we are 
unsuccessful in managing such operations effectively, our business and results of operations will be adversely 
affected. 

The implementation of our Enterprise Resource Planning software could disrupt our business which could 
decrease our sales, earnings and liquidity. 
We are in the process of finalizing the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software 
system which may not result in improvements that outweigh its costs and may disrupt our operations. Our 
inability to mitigate existing and future disruptions could decrease our sales, earnings and liquidity. The ERP 
system implementation subjects us to substantial costs and inherent risks associated with migrating from our 
legacy systems. These costs and risks could include, but are not limited to: 

significant operating expenditures; 

inability to fill customer orders accurately and on a timely basis, or at all; 
inability to process payments to suppliers, vendors and associates accurately and in a timely manner; 

• 
•  disruptions to our domestic and international supply chains; 
• 
• 
•  disruptions to or the ineffectiveness of our internal control environment; 
• 
• 
• 

inability to fulfill our SEC or other governmental reporting requirements in a timely or accurate manner; 
inability to fulfill federal, state and local tax filing requirements in a timely or accurate manner; and 
increased demands on management and staff time to the detriment of other corporate initiatives. 

The semiconductor industry we serve is highly volatile and unpredictable.  
Visibility into our markets is limited. Our operating results are substantially dependent on our semiconductor 
equipment business.  This capital equipment business is in turn highly dependent on the overall strength of the 
semiconductor industry.  Historically, the semiconductor industry has been highly cyclical with recurring periods 
of oversupply and excess capacity, which often have had a significant effect on the semiconductor industry’s 
demand for capital equipment, including equipment of the type we manufacture and market.  We anticipate that 
the markets for newer generations of semiconductors and semiconductor equipment may also be subject to 
similar cycles and severe downturns.  Any significant reductions in capital equipment investment by 
semiconductor integrated device manufacturers and test subcontractors will materially and adversely affect our 
business, financial position and results of operations.  In addition, the volatile and unpredictable nature of 
semiconductor equipment demand has in the past and may in the future expose us to significant excess and 
obsolete and lower of cost or market inventory write-offs and reserve requirements.  In 2013, 2012 and 2011, we 
recorded pre-tax inventory-related charges of approximately $8.1 million, $8.9 million, and $5.8 million, 
respectively, primarily as a result of changes in customer forecasts. 

The semiconductor equipment industry in general and the test handler market in particular, is highly 
competitive. 
The semiconductor test handler industry is intensely competitive and we face substantial competition from 
numerous companies throughout the world.  The test handler industry, while relatively small in terms of 
worldwide market size compared to other segments of the semiconductor equipment industry, has several 
participants resulting in intense competitive pricing pressures.  Future competition may include companies that do 
not currently supply test handlers.  Some of our competitors are part of larger corporations that have substantially 
greater financial, engineering, manufacturing and customer support capabilities and provide more extensive 
product offerings.  In addition, there are emerging semiconductor equipment companies that provide or may 
provide innovative technology incorporated in products that may compete successfully against our products.  We 
expect our competitors to continue to improve the design and performance of their current products and introduce 
new products with improved performance capabilities.  Our failure to introduce new products in a timely manner, 
the introduction by our competitors of products with perceived or actual advantages, or disputes over rights to use 
certain intellectual property or technology could result in a loss of our competitive position and reduced sales of, 
or margins on our existing products.  We believe that competitive conditions in the semiconductor test handler 
market have intensified over the last several years.  This intense competition has adversely impacted our product 
average selling prices and gross margins on certain products.  If we are unable to reduce the cost of our existing 
products and successfully introduce new lower cost products we expect these competitive conditions to 
negatively impact our gross margin and operating results in the foreseeable future.  

10 

 
Semiconductor equipment is subject to rapid technological change, product introductions and transitions may 
result in inventory write-offs and our new product development involves numerous risks and uncertainties.  
Semiconductor equipment and processes are subject to rapid technological change.  We believe that our future 
success will depend in part on our ability to enhance existing products and develop new products with improved 
performance capabilities.  We expect to continue to invest heavily in research and development and must manage 
product transitions successfully, as introductions of new products, including the products obtained in our 
acquisitions, may adversely impact sales and/or margins of existing products.  In addition, the introduction of 
new products by us or by our competitors, the concentration of our revenues in a limited number of large 
customers, the migration to new semiconductor testing methodologies and the custom nature of our inventory 
parts increases the risk that our established products and related inventory may become obsolete, resulting in 
significant excess and obsolete inventory exposure.  This increased exposure resulted in significant charges to 
operations during each of the years in the three-year period ended December 28, 2013.  Future inventory write-
offs and increased inventory reserve requirements could have a material adverse impact on our results of 
operations and financial condition.   

The design, development, commercial introduction and manufacture of new semiconductor equipment is an 
inherently complex process that involves a number of risks and uncertainties.  These risks include potential 
problems in meeting customer acceptance and performance requirements, integration of the equipment with other 
suppliers’ equipment and the customers’ manufacturing processes, transitioning from product development to 
volume manufacturing and the ability of the equipment to satisfy the semiconductor industry’s constantly 
evolving needs and achieve commercial acceptance at prices that produce satisfactory profit margins.  The design 
and development of new semiconductor equipment is heavily influenced by changes in integrated circuit 
assembly, test and final manufacturing processes and integrated circuit package design changes.  We believe that 
the rate of change in such processes and integrated circuit packages is accelerating.  As a result of these changes 
and other factors, assessing the market potential and commercial viability of handling, MEMS, system-level and 
burn-in test equipment is extremely difficult and subject to a great deal of risk.  In addition, not all integrated 
circuit manufacturers employ the same manufacturing processes. Differences in such processes make it difficult 
to design standard test products that are capable of achieving broad market acceptance.  As a result, we might not 
accurately assess the semiconductor industry’s future equipment requirements and fail to design and develop 
products that meet such requirements and achieve market acceptance.  Failure to accurately assess customer 
requirements and market trends for new semiconductor test products may have a material adverse impact on our 
operations, financial condition and results of operations. 

The transition from product development to the manufacture of new semiconductor equipment is a difficult 
process and delays in product introductions and problems in manufacturing such equipment are common.  We 
have in the past and may in the future experience difficulties in manufacturing and volume production of our 
new equipment.  In addition, as is common with semiconductor equipment, our after sale support and warranty 
costs have typically been significantly higher with new products than with our established products.  Future 
technologies, processes and product developments may render our current or future product offerings obsolete 
and we might not be able to develop, introduce and successfully manufacture new products or make 
enhancements to our existing products in a timely manner to satisfy customer requirements or achieve market 
acceptance.  Furthermore, we might not realize acceptable profit margins on such products.  

Global economic conditions may have an impact on our business and financial condition in ways that we 
currently cannot predict. 
Our operations and financial results depend on worldwide economic conditions and their impact on levels of 
business spending, which have deteriorated significantly in many countries and regions and may remain 
depressed for the foreseeable future.  Continued uncertainties may reduce future sales of our products and 
services.  While we believe we have a strong customer base and have experienced strong collections in the past, if 
the current market conditions deteriorate, we may experience increased collection times and greater write-offs, 
either of which could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow. 

In addition, the tightening of credit markets and concerns regarding the availability of credit may make it more 
difficult for our customers to raise capital, whether debt or equity, to finance their purchases of capital equipment, 
including the products we sell.  Delays in our customers’ ability to obtain such financing, or the unavailability of 
such financing would adversely affect our product sales and revenues and therefore harm our business and 
operating results.  We cannot predict the timing, duration of or effect on our business of the economic slowdown 
or the timing or strength of a subsequent recovery. 

11 

 
A limited number of customers account for a substantial percentage of our net sales.  
A small number of customers of our semiconductor equipment segment have been responsible for a significant 
portion of our net sales. During the past five years, the percentage of our sales derived from these significant 
customers has varied greatly.  Such variations are due to changes in the customers’ business and their purchase of 
products from our competitors.  It is common in the semiconductor test handler industry for customers to 
purchase equipment from more than one equipment supplier, increasing the risk that our competitive position 
with a specific customer may deteriorate.  No assurance can be given that we will continue to maintain our 
competitive position with these or other significant customers.  Furthermore, we expect the percentage of our 
revenues derived from significant customers will vary greatly in future periods.  The loss of, or a significant 
reduction in, orders by these or other significant customers as a result of competitive products, market conditions 
including end market demand for our customers’ products, outsourcing final semiconductor test to test 
subcontractors that are not our customers or other factors, would have a material adverse impact on our business, 
financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the concentration of our revenues in a limited number 
of large customers is likely to cause significant fluctuations in our future annual and quarterly operating results. 

We do not currently participate in the memory test handler market.  
Pick-and-place handlers used in memory test applications account for a significant portion of the worldwide test 
handler market.  We do not currently participate in the mainstream memory market segment; therefore our total 
available sales market is limited. 

If we cannot continue to develop, manufacture and market products and services that meet customer 
requirements for innovation and quality, our revenue and gross margin may suffer.  
The process of developing new high technology products and services and enhancing existing products and 
services is complex, costly and uncertain, and any failure by us to anticipate customers’ changing needs and 
emerging technological trends accurately could significantly harm our market share and results of operations.  In 
addition, in the course of conducting our business, we must adequately address quality issues associated with our 
products and services, including defects in our engineering, design and manufacturing processes, as well as defects 
in third-party components included in our products.  In order to address quality issues, we work extensively with 
our customers and suppliers and engage in product testing to determine the cause of quality problems and to 
determine appropriate solutions.  Finding solutions to quality issues can be expensive and may result in additional 
warranty, replacement and other costs, adversely affecting our profits.  In addition, quality issues can impair our 
relationships with new or existing customers and adversely affect our reputation, which could lead to a material 
adverse effect on our operating results.  

The cyclical nature of the semiconductor equipment industry places enormous demands on our employees, 
operations and infrastructure.  
The semiconductor equipment industry is characterized by dramatic and sometimes volatile changes in demand 
for its products.  Changes in product demand result from a number of factors including the semiconductor 
industry’s continually changing and unpredictable capacity requirements and changes in integrated circuit 
design and packaging.  Sudden changes in demand for semiconductor equipment have a significant impact on 
our operations.  Typically, we reduce and increase our workforce, particularly in manufacturing, based on 
customer demand for our products.  These changes in workforce levels place enormous demands on our 
employees, operations and infrastructure since newly hired personnel rarely possess the expertise and level of 
experience of current employees. Additionally, these transitions divert management time and attention from 
other activities and adversely impact employee morale.  We have in the past and may in the future experience 
difficulties, particularly in manufacturing, in training and recruiting the large number of additions to our 
workforce.  The volatility in headcount and business levels, combined with the cyclical nature of the 
semiconductor industry, may require that we invest substantial amounts in new operational and financial 
systems, procedures and controls.  We may not be able to successfully adjust our systems, facilities and 
production capacity to meet our customers’ changing requirements.  The inability to meet such requirements 
will have an adverse impact on our business, financial position and results of operations.  

We utilize contract manufacturers and changes to those relationships, expected or unexpected, may result in 
delays or disruptions that could cause us to lose revenue and damage our customer relationships.  
Our reliance on contract manufacturers gives us less control over the manufacturing process and exposes us to 
significant risks, including limited control over capacity, late delivery, quality and costs. In addition, it is time 
consuming and costly to qualify and implement additional contract manufacturer relationships. Therefore, if we 
should fail to effectively manage our contract manufacturer relationships or if one or more of them should 

12 

 
experience delays, disruptions or quality control problems, or if we had to change or add additional contract 
manufacturers or contract manufacturing sites, our ability to ship products to our customers could be delayed. 
Also, the addition of manufacturing locations or contract manufacturers may increase the complexity of our supply 
chain management. We cannot be certain that existing or future contract manufacturers will be able to manufacture 
our products on a timely and cost-effective basis, or to our quality and performance specifications. If our contract 
manufacturers are unable to meet our manufacturing requirements in a timely manner, our ability to ship products 
and to realize the related revenues when anticipated could be materially affected.  

The loss of key personnel could adversely impact our business. 
Certain key personnel are critical to our business.  Our future operating results depend substantially upon the 
continued service of our key personnel, many of whom are not bound by employment or non-competition 
agreements.  Our future operating results also depend in significant part upon our ability to attract and retain 
qualified management, manufacturing, technical, engineering, marketing, sales and support personnel.  
Competition for qualified personnel, particularly those with technical skills, is intense, and we cannot ensure 
success in attracting or retaining qualified personnel. In addition, the cost of living in the San Diego, California, 
Kolbermoor, Germany and La Chaux-de Fonds, Switzerland areas, where the majority of our development 
personnel are located, is high and we have had difficulty in recruiting prospective employees from other 
locations. There may be only a limited number of persons with the requisite skills and relevant industry 
experience to serve in these positions and it may become increasingly difficult for us to hire personnel over time.  
Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by the loss of 
any of our key employees, by the failure of any key employee to perform in his or her current position, or by our 
inability to attract and retain skilled employees.  

Failure of critical suppliers to deliver sufficient quantities of parts in a timely and cost-effective manner could 
adversely impact our operations. 
We use numerous vendors to supply parts, components and subassemblies for the manufacture of our products.  It 
is not always possible to maintain multiple qualified suppliers for all of our parts, components and subassemblies. 
As a result, certain key parts may be available only from a single supplier or a limited number of suppliers.  In 
addition, suppliers may cease manufacturing certain components that are difficult to replace without significant 
reengineering of our products.  On occasion, we have experienced problems in obtaining adequate and reliable 
quantities of various parts and components from certain key suppliers.  Our results of operations may be 
materially and adversely impacted if we do not receive sufficient parts to meet our requirements in a timely and 
cost effective manner. 

Third parties may violate our proprietary rights or accuse us of infringing upon their proprietary rights. 
We rely on patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws to establish and maintain proprietary rights in our 
technology and products.  Any of our proprietary rights may expire due to patent life, or be challenged, invalidated 
or circumvented.  In addition, from time to time, we receive notices from third parties regarding patent or 
copyright claims.  Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming to defend, result in costly 
litigation, divert management’s attention and resources and cause us to incur significant expenses.  In the event of 
a successful claim of infringement against us and our failure or inability to license the infringed technology or to 
substitute similar non-infringing technology, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be 
adversely affected. 

A majority of our revenues are generated from exports to foreign countries, primarily in Asia, that are subject 
to economic and political instability and we compete against a number of Asian test handling equipment 
suppliers. 
The majority of our export sales are made to destinations in Asia.  Political or economic instability, particularly in 
Asia, may adversely impact the demand for capital equipment, including equipment of the type we manufacture 
and market.  In addition, we face intense competition from a number of Asian suppliers that have certain 
advantages over U.S. suppliers, including us.  These advantages include, among other things, proximity to 
customers, favorable tariffs and affiliation with significantly larger organizations.  In addition, changes in the 
amount or price of semiconductors produced in Asia could impact the profitability or capital equipment spending 
programs of our foreign and domestic customers. 

The occurrence of natural disasters and geopolitical instability caused by terrorist attacks and other threats 
may adversely impact our operations and sales. 
Our Asian sales and service headquarters is located in Singapore and the majority of our sales are made to 
destinations in Asia.  In addition, we have manufacturing plants in the Philippines, Malaysia and China.  These 

13 

 
regions are known for being vulnerable to natural disasters and other risks, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, 
and floods, which at times have disrupted the local economies.  A significant earthquake or tsunami could 
materially affect operating results.  We are not insured for most losses and business interruptions of this kind, and 
do not presently have redundant, multiple site capacity in the event of a natural disaster.  In the event of such 
disaster, our business would suffer.  Furthermore, we have customers throughout the Middle East and terrorist 
attacks, protests or other threats in this region may cause geopolitical instability, which may have an adverse 
impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. 

Unanticipated changes in our tax provisions or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could affect our 
profitability.  
We are subject to income and other taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Our tax liabilities are 
affected by, among other things, the amounts our affiliated entities charge each other for intercompany 
transactions. We may be subject to ongoing tax examinations in various jurisdictions. Tax authorities may 
disagree with our intercompany charges or other matters and assess additional taxes. While we regularly assess 
the likely outcomes of these examinations in order to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision, tax 
audits are inherently uncertain and an unfavorable outcome could occur. An unanticipated, unfavorable outcome 
in any specific period could harm our operating results for that period or future periods. The financial cost and 
management attention and time devoted to defending income tax positions may divert resources from our 
business operations, which could harm our business and profitability. Tax examinations may also impact the 
timing and/or amount of our refund claims. In addition, our effective tax rate in the future could be adversely 
affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation 
of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax laws and the discovery of new information in the course 
of our tax return preparation process.  In particular, the carrying value of our deferred tax assets and the 
utilization of our net operating loss and credit carryforwards are dependent on our ability to generate future 
taxable income in the U.S and other countries.  Furthermore, these carryforwards may be subject to annual 
limitations as a result of changes in Cohu’s ownership. 

Compliance with regulations may impact sales to foreign customers and impose costs. 
Certain products and services that we offer require compliance with United States and other foreign country 
export and other regulations.  Compliance with complex U.S. and other foreign country laws and regulations that 
apply to our international sales activities increases our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions and 
could expose us or our employees to fines and penalties. These laws and regulations include import and export 
requirements, the U.S. State Department International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and U.S. and other 
foreign country laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and local laws prohibiting corrupt 
payments to governmental officials.  Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal 
sanctions against us, our officers or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business and damage to 
our reputation.  Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with 
these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate our policies, or 
that our policies will be effective in preventing all potential violations. Any such violations could include 
prohibitions on our ability to offer our products and services to one or more countries, and could also materially 
damage our reputation, our brand, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, 
our business and our operating results.  Further, defending against claims of violations of these laws and 
regulations, even if we are successful, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, divert 
management’s attention and resources and cause us to incur significant expenses. 

In addition to government regulations regarding sale and export, we are subject to other regulations regarding 
our products.  For example, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has recently adopted disclosure 
rules for companies that use conflict minerals in their products, with substantial supply chain verification 
requirements in the event that the materials come from, or could have come from, the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo or adjoining countries. These new rules and verification requirements will impose additional costs 
on us and on our suppliers, and may limit the sources or increase the prices of materials used in our products. 
Further, if we are unable to certify that our products are conflict free, we may face challenges with our 
customers, which could place us at a competitive disadvantage, and our reputation may be harmed. 

Our microwave communication equipment and video camera segments depend on government spending for a 
significant portion of their sales, creating uncertainty in the timing of and funding for projected contracts. 
A significant portion of the sales of BMS, Inc. and Cohu Electronics are made to federal, state, local and 
foreign government agencies as a prime or sub-contractor. Government spending has historically been cyclical. 
A decrease in government spending or changes in spending allocation could result in one or more of the 

14 

 
programs being reduced, delayed or terminated. Reductions or delays in the funding process or changes in 
funding caused by automatic budget cuts ("sequestration") or unforeseen world events can impact the timing of 
available funds or can lead to changes in program content or termination. The loss of anticipated funding or the 
termination of multiple or large programs could have an adverse effect on our future sales and earnings. 

Our business and operations could suffer in the event of security breaches.  
Attempts by others to gain unauthorized access to information technology systems are becoming more 
sophisticated and are sometimes successful. These attempts, which might be related to industrial or other 
espionage, include covertly introducing malware to our computers and networks and impersonating authorized 
users, among others. We seek to detect and investigate all security incidents and to prevent their recurrence, but in 
some cases, we might be unaware of an incident or its magnitude and effects. The theft, unauthorized use or 
publication of our intellectual property and/or confidential business information could harm our competitive 
position, reduce the value of our investment in research and development and other strategic initiatives or 
otherwise adversely affect our business. To the extent that any security breach results in inappropriate disclosure 
of our customers' or licensees' confidential information, we may incur liability as a result. In addition, we may be 
required to devote additional resources to the security of our information technology systems.  

Our financial and operating results may vary and may fall below analysts’ estimates, which may cause the 
price of our common stock to decline.  
Our operating results may fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors including, but not limited 
to:  
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

cyclical nature of the semiconductor equipment industry; 
timing and amount of orders from customers and shipments to customers;  
inability to recognize revenue due to accounting requirements;  
inventory writedowns; 
inability to deliver solutions as expected by our customers; and 
intangible and deferred tax asset writedowns. 

Due to these factors or other unanticipated events, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results may 
not be reliable indicators of our future performance.  In addition, from time to time our quarterly financial results 
may fall below the expectations of the securities and industry analysts who publish reports on our company or of 
investors in general.  This could cause the market price of our stock to decline, perhaps significantly.  

We have experienced significant volatility in our stock price. 
A variety of factors may cause the price of our stock to be volatile.  In recent years, the stock market in general, 
and the market for shares of high-technology companies in particular, including ours, have experienced extreme 
price fluctuations, which have often been unrelated to the operating performance of affected companies.  During 
the last three years the price of our common stock has ranged from $7.96 to $17.18.  The price of our stock may 
be more volatile than the stock of other companies due to, among other factors, the unpredictable and cyclical 
nature of the semiconductor industry, our significant customer concentration, intense competition in the test 
handler industry, our limited backlog and our relatively low daily stock trading volume.  The market price of our 
common stock is likely to continue to fluctuate significantly in the future, including fluctuations related and 
unrelated to our performance.  

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments. 

None. 

15 

 
 
Item 2.  Properties. 

Certain information concerning our principal properties at December 28, 2013, identified by business segment is 
set forth below: 

Location 
Poway, California (1) (2) (3) (4) 
Kolbermoor, Germany (1) 
Malacca, Malaysia (1) 
Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines (1) 
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (1) 
Singapore (1) 
Suzhou, China (1) 
Heidenrod – Kemel, Germany (3) 

(1)  Semiconductor equipment 
(2)  Video cameras 
(3)  Microwave Communications 
(4)  Cohu Corporate offices 

Approximate  
Sq. Footage 
338,000 
40,000 
50,000   
51,000   
34,000   
24,000   
6,000   
5,000 

Ownership 
Owned  
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 

In addition to the locations listed above, we lease other properties primarily for sales and service offices in 
various locations.  We believe our facilities are suitable for their respective uses and are adequate for our present 
needs.   

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings.  

From time-to-time we are involved in various legal proceedings, examinations by various tax authorities and 
claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our businesses.  

During the period from February through May 2013, Cohu’s subsidiary Delta Design, Inc. (“Delta”) made several 
inquiries of Essai, Inc. (“Essai”) asking it to confirm that it had not incorporated any of the technology covered by 
Delta’s patents in its current product offerings. On May 23, 2013 Essai filed a complaint against Delta in the U.S. 
District Court for the Northern District of California (the “Court”) seeking a declaratory judgment of non-
infringement and invalidity of one Delta U. S. patent that issued in 1998. On July 19, 2013 Delta filed a motion 
with the Court to dismiss Essai’s complaint and Essai filed its opposition to Delta’s motion to dismiss on 
August 2, 2013. On December 2, 2013 the Court granted Delta’s motion to dismiss the case and judgment was 
entered in favor of Delta and against Essai on February 5, 2014. Delta intends to vigorously defend its intellectual 
property rights.  

The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain. While there can be no assurance, we do not believe at the 
present time that the resolution of the matters described above will have a material adverse effect on our assets, 
financial position or results of operations.  

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures 

Not applicable. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
PART II 

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

Equity Securities. 

(a)  Market Information 

Cohu, Inc. stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "COHU".  The following table 
sets forth the high and low sales prices as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the last two 
years. 

Fiscal 2013 

Fiscal 2012 

High 

Low 

High 

Low 

First Quarter 
   $ 
Second Quarter      $ 
   $ 
Third Quarter 
   $ 
Fourth Quarter  

 11.49    $ 
 12.93    $ 
 13.40    $ 
 11.19    $ 

 9.13    $ 
 8.63    $ 
 9.82    $ 
 9.01    $ 

 14.16     $ 
 11.72     $ 
 10.80     $ 
 11.50     $ 

 10.39 
 8.69 
 8.23 
 7.96 

Holders 

At February 18, 2014, Cohu had 523 stockholders of record. 

Dividends 

We have paid consecutive quarterly dividends since 1977 and, as discussed below, expect to continue doing so.  
Cash dividends, per share, declared in 2013 and 2012 were as follows: 

First Quarter 
Second Quarter  
Third Quarter 
Fourth Quarter  
Total 

   Fiscal 2013 
   $ 
   $ 
   $ 
   $ 
   $ 

 0.06    $ 
 0.06    $ 
 0.06    $ 
 0.06    $ 
 0.24    $ 

   Fiscal 2012 
 0.06  
 0.06  
 0.06  
 0.06  
 0.24  

We intend to continue to pay quarterly dividends subject to capital availability and periodic determinations by our 
Board of Directors that cash dividends are in the best interests of our stockholders.  Our dividend policy may be 
affected by, among other items, our views on potential future capital requirements, including those related to 
research and development, investments and acquisitions, legal risks and stock repurchases.  

Equity Compensation Plan Information  

The following table summarizes information with respect to equity awards under Cohu’s equity compensation 
plans at December 28, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts): 

      Weighted average 
      exercise price of 

Number of securities  
to be issued upon 
exercise of outstanding        outstanding options, 
      warrants and rights 
options, warrants and 
      (b) (2) 
rights (a) (1) 

   Number of securities  
   available for future issuance   
   under equity compensation   
   plans (excluding securities  
   reflected in column (a))(c) (3) 

Plan category  
Equity compensation plans              
   approved by security holders 

Equity compensation plans not      
   approved by security holders 

 4,211 

   $ 

 11.93 

 1,521    

 - 
 4,211 

 - 
 11.93 

   $ 

 -    
1,521    

(1)  Includes options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance stock units (PSUs) outstanding under Cohu’s equity 

incentive plans, as no stock warrants or other rights were outstanding as of December 28, 2013. 

(2)  The weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights does not take RSUs and PSUs into account 

as RSUs and PSUs have a de minimus purchase price. 

(3)  Includes 322,422 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Cohu 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. 

For further details regarding Cohu’s equity compensation plans, see Note 4, “Employee Benefit Plans”, included 
in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K. 

17 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
  
        
  
     
   
  
     
  
   
     
  
     
  
Comparative Stock Performance Graph 

The information contained in this Stock Performance Graph section shall not be deemed to be “soliciting 
material” or “filed” with the SEC or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act except to the 
extent that Cohu specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act or the 
Exchange Act.  

The graph below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the common stock of Cohu for the last five 
fiscal years with the cumulative total return on a Peer Group Index and a NASDAQ Market Index over the same 
period (assuming the investment of $100 in Cohu’s common stock, Peer Group Index and NASDAQ Market 
Index on December 28, 2008 and reinvestment of all dividends).  The Peer Group Index set forth on the 
Performance Graph is the Morningstar Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Index.  The Morningstar 
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Index is comprised of approximately 40 publicly-held semiconductor 
equipment and other related companies.  Historical stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future 
stock price performance.  

COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG COHU INC., 
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX, SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS INDEX 

2008  

   2009  

   2010  

   2011  

   2012  

   2013  
 94 
 288 
 268 

 94    $ 
 202    $ 
 187    $ 

Cohu, Inc. 
NASDAQ Index 
Peer Group 

$ 
$ 
$ 

 100    $ 
 100    $ 
 100    $ 

 119    $ 
 151    $ 
 177    $ 

 139    $ 
 177    $ 
 194    $ 

 101    $ 
 175    $ 
 166    $ 

18 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data.   

The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Cohu’s consolidated financial statements 
and notes thereto included in Part IV, Item 15(a) and with management’s discussion and analysis of financial 
condition and results of operations, included in Part II, Item 7.  On December 31, 2012, we purchased Ismeca and 
the results of its operations have been included in our consolidated financial statements since that date.  

Years Ended, 
(in thousands, except per share data) 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: 
  Net sales   
  Net income (loss)  
  Net income (loss) per common share – basic  
  Net income (loss) per common share – diluted 
Cash dividends per share, paid quarterly 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: 
  Total consolidated assets 
  Working Capital 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

Dec. 28 
2013  

  Dec. 29 
2012  

  Dec. 31  
2011 (1) 

  Dec. 25 
2010  

  Dec. 26  
2009 (2) 

 247,300   $ 
 (33,418)  $ 
 (1.34)  $ 
 (1.34)  $ 
 0.24   $ 

 221,162   $ 
 (12,243)  $ 
 (0.50)  $ 
 (0.50)  $ 
 0.24   $ 

 308,968    $ 
 15,719    $ 
 0.65    $ 
 0.64    $ 
 0.24    $ 

 322,667   $ 
 24,644   $ 
 1.04   $ 
 1.02   $ 
 0.24   $ 

 171,261 

 (28,168)

 (1.20)

 (1.20)
 0.24 

 345,423   $ 
 125,837   $ 

 334,873   $ 
 184,703   $ 

 361,608    $ 
 191,945    $ 

 366,043   $ 
 168,683   $ 

 330,118 
 139,597 

(1)  The year ended December 31, 2011 consists of 53 weeks.  All other years are comprised of 52 weeks. 
(2)   The year ended December 26, 2009 includes a charge of $19.6 million for an increase in the valuation allowance against our 

deferred tax assets.   

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

OVERVIEW  

Cohu operates in three business segments. Our primary business is the development, manufacture, sale and 
servicing of test handling, burn-in, thermal sub-systems and MEMS test solutions for the global semiconductor 
industry through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Delta Design, Inc., Rasco GmbH and Ismeca Semiconductor 
Holding SA, which was acquired on December 31, 2012.  Ismeca designs, manufactures and sells turret-based 
test handling and back-end finishing equipment for integrated circuits, LEDs and discrete components.  With the 
acquisition of Ismeca we expanded our served market, increased our market share in the semiconductor test 
handling market and broadened our portfolio of test handling solutions providing us with an entry into the LED 
equipment market, which is forecasted to grow as LED technology is adopted for general lighting.  Our primary 
business is significantly dependent on capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers and test 
subcontractors, which in turn is dependent on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors that 
is subject to cyclical trends.  We expect that the semiconductor equipment industry will continue to be cyclical 
and volatile in part because consumer electronics, the principal end market for integrated circuits, is a highly 
dynamic industry and demand is difficult to accurately predict. 

The last 12 months have been another challenging year for the backend semiconductor equipment industry.  
Orders for back-end semiconductor equipment, as reported by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials 
International (SEMI), increased steadily for the first half of the year; however the increase proved to be a false 
start and the anticipated recovery in the second half of the year did not materialize with orders decreasing in the 
third quarter and then increasing again in the fourth quarter.  Throughout 2013 handler utilization on test floors 
remained around 80% and customers were hesitant to purchase additional capacity as a result of an uncertain 
economic outlook.  The automotive market was an exception and toward the end of 2013 we saw signs of 
improvement in the industrial power segment as well.  We continue to be optimistic about the long-term 
prospects for the semiconductor equipment industry due to expanding applications, growing integrated circuit 
content in automotive, consumer and industrial applications, and the projected adoption of high brightness LEDs 
for the general lighting market. 

Our non-semiconductor equipment businesses comprised approximately 16% of our consolidated revenues 
during the three-year period ended December 28, 2013 and were approximately 13% for the year ended 
December 28, 2013.  Our microwave communications equipment segment develops, manufactures and sells 
mobile microwave communications equipment, antenna systems and associated equipment.  These products are 
used in the transmission of video, audio and telemetry data.  Applications for these microwave data-links include 

19 

 
  
 
  
 
    
       
        
       
        
  
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAVs”), public safety, security, surveillance, electronic news gathering and live 
broadcast television.  Customers for these products are government agencies, public safety organizations, UAV 
program contractors, television broadcasters and other commercial entities.   

Our video camera segment develops, manufactures and sells video cameras and related products, specializing in 
IP video solutions for security, surveillance and traffic monitoring applications.  The customer base for these 
products is distributed among traffic control and management, security/surveillance, military, scientific imaging 
and machine vision.   

Application of Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated 
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the United States of America.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and 
judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of 
contingent assets and liabilities.  We base our estimates on historical experience, forecasts and on various other 
assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, however actual results may differ from 
those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  The methods, estimates and judgments we use in 
applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. 
Some of our accounting policies require us to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the 
need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain.  Our critical accounting estimates that we believe 
are the most important to an investor’s understanding of our financial results and condition and require complex 
management judgment include: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

revenue recognition, including the deferral of revenue on sales to customers, which impacts our results of 
operations; 
estimation of valuation allowances and accrued liabilities, specifically product warranty, inventory reserves 
and allowance for bad debts, which impact gross margin or operating expenses; 
the recognition and measurement of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, unrecognized tax 
benefits and the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, which impact our tax provision; 
the assessment of recoverability of long-lived assets including goodwill and other intangible assets, which 
primarily impacts gross margin or operating expenses if we are required to record impairments of assets or 
accelerate their depreciation; and 
the valuation and recognition of share-based compensation, which impacts gross margin, research and 
development expense, and selling, general and administrative expense. 

Below, we discuss these policies further, as well as the estimates and judgments involved. We also have other 
policies that we consider key accounting policies; however, these policies typically do not require us to make 
estimates or judgments that are difficult or subjective. 

Revenue Recognition: We generally recognize revenue upon shipment and title passage for established 
products (i.e., those that have previously satisfied customer acceptance requirements) that provide for full 
payment tied to shipment.  Revenue for products that have not previously satisfied customer acceptance 
requirements or from sales where customer payment dates are not determinable is recognized upon customer 
acceptance.  For arrangements containing multiple elements the revenue relating to the undelivered elements is 
deferred using the relative selling price method utilizing estimated sales prices until delivery of the deferred 
elements. We limit the amount of revenue recognition for delivered elements to the amount that is not 
contingent on the future delivery of products or services, future performance obligations or subject to 
customer-specified return or adjustment. 

Accounts Receivable: We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the 
inability of our customers to make required payments.  If the financial condition of our customers deteriorates, 
resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.   

Warranty: We provide for the estimated costs of product warranties in the period sales are recognized.  Our 
warranty obligation estimates are affected by historical product shipment levels, product performance, and 
material and labor costs incurred in correcting product performance problems.  Should product performance, 
material usage or labor repair costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would 
be required.  

20 

 
Inventory: The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate obsolete or excess inventory as well as inventory 
that is not of saleable quality. The determination of obsolete or excess inventory requires us to estimate the future 
demand for our products. The demand forecast is a direct input in the development of our short-term 
manufacturing plans. We record valuation reserves on our inventory for estimated excess and obsolete inventory 
and lower of cost or market concerns equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated 
market value based upon assumptions about future product demand, market conditions and product selling prices. 
If future product demand, market conditions or product selling prices are less than those projected by 
management or if continued modifications to products are required to meet specifications or other customer 
requirements, increases to inventory reserves may be required, which would have a negative impact on our gross 
margin.   

Income Taxes: We estimate our liability for income taxes based on the various jurisdictions where we conduct 
business.  This requires us to estimate our (i) current taxes; (ii) temporary differences that result from differing 
treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes and (iii) unrecognized tax benefits.  Temporary 
differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities that are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet.  The 
deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based upon all available evidence, it is more likely 
than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.  Establishing, reducing or increasing a 
valuation allowance in an accounting period generally results in an increase or decrease in tax expense in the 
statement of operations.  We must make significant judgments to determine the provision for income taxes, 
deferred tax assets and liabilities, unrecognized tax benefits and any valuation allowance to be recorded against 
deferred tax assets.  Our gross deferred tax asset balance as of December 28, 2013 was approximately 
$45.2 million, with a valuation allowance of approximately $36.1 million. Our deferred tax assets consist 
primarily of reserves and accruals that are not yet deductible for tax and tax credit and net operating loss 
carryforwards. 

Goodwill, Purchased Intangible Assets and Other Long-lived Assets: We evaluate goodwill for impairment 
annually and when an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the carrying value may not be 
recoverable.  We test goodwill for impairment by first comparing the book value of net assets to the fair value of 
the reporting units.  If the fair value is determined to be less than the book value, a second step is performed to 
compute the amount of impairment as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and the 
carrying value.  We estimated the fair values of our reporting units primarily using the income approach valuation 
methodology that includes the discounted cash flow method, taking into consideration the market approach and 
certain market multiples as a validation of the values derived using the discounted cash flow methodology.  
Forecasts of future cash flows are based on our best estimate of future net sales and operating expenses, based 
primarily on customer forecasts, industry trade organization data and general economic conditions.   
We conduct our annual impairment test as of October 1st of each year, and have determined there is no 
impairment as of October 1, 2013. Other events and changes in circumstances may also require goodwill to be 
tested for impairment between annual measurement dates.  While a decline in stock price and market 
capitalization is not specifically cited as a goodwill impairment indicator, a company’s stock price and market 
capitalization should be considered in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a 
reporting unit is less than its carrying value.  Additionally, a significant decline in a company’s stock price may 
suggest that an adverse change in the business climate may have caused the fair value of one or more reporting 
units to fall below their carrying value.  The financial and credit market volatility directly impacts our fair value 
measurement through our stock price that we use to determine our market capitalization.  During times of 
volatility, significant judgment must be applied to determine whether credit or stock price changes are a short-
term swing or a longer-term trend.  As of December 28, 2013 we do not believe there have been any events or 
circumstances that would require us to perform an interim goodwill impairment review, however, a sustained 
decline in Cohu’s market capitalization below its book value could lead us to determine, in a future period, that 
an interim goodwill impairment review is required and may result in an impairment charge, which would have a 
negative impact on our results of operations.  

Long-lived assets, other than goodwill, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recoverable.  Conditions that would 
necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant decline in the observable market value of an asset, a 
significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or any other significant adverse change that 
would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable.  For long-lived 
assets, impairment losses are only recorded if the asset’s carrying amount is not recoverable through its 

21 

 
undiscounted, probability-weighted future cash flows.  We measure the impairment loss based on the difference 
between the carrying amount and estimated fair value. 

Contingencies: We are subject to certain contingencies that arise in the ordinary course of our businesses which 
require us to assess the likelihood that future events will confirm the existence of a loss or an impairment of an 
asset.  If a loss or asset impairment is probable and the amount of the loss or impairment is reasonably estimable, 
we accrue a charge to operations in the period such conditions become known.   

Share-based Compensation:  Share-based compensation expense related to stock options is recorded based on 
the fair value of the award on its grant date, which we estimate using the Black-Scholes valuation model.  Share-
based compensation expense related to restricted stock unit awards is calculated based on the market price of our 
common stock on the grant date, reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid on our common 
stock prior to vesting of the restricted stock unit.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements 

For a description of accounting changes and recent accounting pronouncements, including the expected dates of 
adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements, see Note 1, "Recent Accounting 
Pronouncements" in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K. 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

The following table summarizes certain operating data from continuing operations as a percentage of net sales in 
each of the last three years.   

   Net sales 
   Cost of sales 
   Gross margin 
   Research and development 
   Selling, general and administrative 
   Income (loss) from operations 

2013 * 
 100.0 %    
 (71.5)%    
 28.5 %    
 (19.7)%    
 (23.3)%    
 (14.5)%    

2012  
 100.0 %   
 (69.3)%   
 30.7 %   
 (16.4)%   
 (20.7)%   
 (6.4)%   

2011  
 100.0 %
 (67.6)%
 32.4 %
 (11.7)%
 (15.1)%
 5.6 %

*  On December 31, 2012, we purchased Ismeca and the results of its operations have been included in our consolidated 

financial statements since that date.  

2013 Compared to 2012 

Net Sales 

Cohu’s consolidated net sales increased 11.8% from $221.2 million in 2012 to $247.3 million in 2013.  Our 
semiconductor equipment segment generated sales totaling $214.5 million and increased 19.5% from 2012.  
Semiconductor equipment sales represented 86.7% of consolidated net sales during 2013 versus 81.1% in the 
prior year.  Sales recorded by our semiconductor equipment segment during 2013 include twelve months of 
sales activity for Ismeca which were approximately $64.4 million.  Semiconductor equipment sales in 2013 
also benefitted from increased demand for gravity-feed equipment and MEMs modules which were offset by a 
decrease in customer orders for pick-and-place test handler systems.   

Sales of microwave communications equipment were $17.1 million, which represents 6.9% of consolidated net 
sales in 2013 and decreased 36.5% compared to 2012.  The decreased business volume within our microwave 
equipment segment during 2013 was a result of U.S. Government sequestration and budget uncertainties which 
led to customer order delays and push outs for equipment to be used in security and surveillance infrastructure 
projects that rely on federal funding. 

Sales of video cameras accounted for 6.4% of consolidated net sales in 2013 and increased $0.9 million or 5.9% 
compared to 2012.  Higher sales within our video camera segment during 2013 resulted from additional demand 
for cameras utilized in traffic incident management and public infrastructure projects. 

Gross Margin 

Gross margin consists of net sales less cost of sales. Cost of sales consists primarily of the cost of materials, 
assembly and test labor and overhead from operations. Our gross margin can fluctuate due to a number of factors, 
including, but not limited to, the mix of products sold, product support costs, inventory reserve adjustments and 

22 

 
     
  
  
utilization of manufacturing capacity.  Our gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 28.5% in 2013 
from 30.7% in 2012.  Current year gross margin was negatively impacted by $0.3 million of manufacturing 
transition and severance costs incurred as a result of moving certain manufacturing activities to Asia as part of 
our efforts to reduce costs and streamline our operations.  The acquisition of Ismeca also reduced current year 
gross margin due to $1.0 million of inventory step-up costs recorded during the year and a one-time impact that 
resulted from the adoption of Cohu’s revenue recognition policy.  

Our gross margin has been impacted by charges to cost of sales related to excess, obsolete and lower of cost or 
market inventory issues. We compute the majority of our excess and obsolete inventory reserve requirements 
using a one-year inventory usage forecast. During 2013 and 2012, we recorded net charges to cost of sales of 
approximately $8.1 million and $8.9 million, respectively, for excess and obsolete inventory.  While we believe 
our reserves for excess and obsolete inventory and lower of cost or market concerns are adequate to cover known 
exposures at December 28, 2013, reductions in customer forecasts or continued modifications to products, as a 
result of our failure to meet specifications or other customer requirements, may result in additional charges to 
operations that could negatively impact our gross margin in future periods.  

Research and Development Expense (“R&D Expense”) 

R&D expense consists primarily of salaries and related costs of employees engaged in ongoing research, 
product design and development activities, costs of engineering materials and supplies and professional 
consulting expenses.  R&D expense in 2013 includes twelve months of costs for Ismeca. R&D expense in 
2013 was $48.6 million or 19.7% of net sales increasing from $36.2 million or 16.4% of net sales in 2012.  The 
increase in 2013 was a result of $11.6 million in incremental R&D expense generated by Ismeca, as well as 
product development expense incurred by our semiconductor equipment segment and $0.4 million of 
manufacturing transition and severance costs incurred by our semiconductor equipment and microwave 
communication equipment businesses.  

Selling, General and Administrative Expense (“SG&A Expense) 

SG&A expense consists primarily of salaries and benefit costs of employees, commission expense for 
independent sales representatives, product promotion and costs of professional services. SG&A expense in 2013 
includes twelve months of costs for Ismeca.  SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales increased to 23.3% in 
2013, from 20.7% in 2012, increasing from $45.9 million in 2012 to $57.7 million in 2013.  Current year SG&A 
expense included $12.6 million in incremental SG&A expense generated by Ismeca and $1.7 million of 
manufacturing transition and severance costs.  Also included in SG&A are transaction costs totaling $0.4 million 
and $2.3 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively, incurred in connection with our acquisition of Ismeca.   

Interest and other, net 

Interest and other, net was approximately $0.1 million and $1.0 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively.  In 2012 
our interest and other income included a gain on the sale of a facility totaling $0.7 million related to our metal 
detection equipment segment, which was divested in 2006.  

Income Taxes  

The credit for income taxes expressed as a percentage of pre-tax loss was 6.5% in 2013 and 6.7% in 2012.  The 
credit for income taxes for the years ended December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 differs from the U.S. 
federal statutory rate primarily due to tax credits, changes in the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets, 
foreign income taxed at different rates and other factors.  

Companies are required to assess whether a valuation allowance should be recorded against their deferred tax 
assets (“DTAs”) based on the consideration of all available evidence, using a “more likely than not” realization 
standard. The four sources of taxable income that must be considered in determining whether DTAs will be 
realized are, (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (i.e. offset of gross deferred tax assets 
against gross deferred tax liabilities); (2) taxable income in prior carryback years, if carryback is permitted under 
the tax law; (3) tax planning strategies and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences 
and carryforwards. 

In assessing whether a valuation allowance is required, significant weight is to be given to evidence that can be 
objectively verified.  We have evaluated our DTAs each reporting period, including an assessment of our 
cumulative income or loss over the prior three-year period and future periods, to determine if a valuation 
allowance was required. A significant negative factor in our assessment was Cohu's three-year cumulative U.S. 
loss history at the end of various fiscal periods including 2013. 

23 

 
As a result of our cumulative, three-year GAAP domestic pretax loss of approximately $29.9 million at the end of 
2013, and our loss in 2013, we were unable to conclude at December 28, 2013 that it was “more likely than not” 
that our U.S. DTAs would be realized. We will evaluate the realizability of our DTAs at the end of each quarterly 
reporting period in 2014 and should circumstances change it is possible the remaining valuation allowance, or a 
portion thereof, will be reversed in a future period. 

Our valuation allowance on DTAs at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 was approximately 
$36.1 million and $24.9 million, respectively.  The remaining gross DTAs for which a valuation allowance was 
not recorded are realizable primarily through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences.  As the 
realization of DTAs is determined by tax jurisdiction, the significant deferred tax liabilities recorded as part of the 
2008 acquisition of Rasco, a German corporation, and the fiscal 2013 acquisition of Ismeca, a Swiss Corporation, 
were not a source of taxable income in assessing the realization of our DTAs in the U.S. 

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which reinstated the United States federal research and development 
tax credit retroactively from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013, was not enacted into law until the first 
quarter of 2013. Therefore, the tax benefit from the credits for 2012 and 2013 are reflected in our 2013 income 
tax provision. 

For a full reconciliation of our effective tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory rate and further explanation of our 
provision for income taxes, see Note 5, “Income Taxes”, included in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K, 
which is incorporated herein by reference. 

As a result of the factors set forth above, our net loss was $33.4 million in 2013, compared to $12.2 million in 
2012. 

2012 Compared to 2011 

Net Sales 

During 2012, our consolidated net sales were approximately $221.2 million, a decrease of 28.4% from the prior 
year.  Sales of semiconductor equipment decreased 31.2% from $260.6 million to $179.4 million and accounted 
for 81.1% of consolidated net sales in 2012 versus 84.4% in 2011.  Sales of our semiconductor equipment 
segment decreased in 2012 compared to the corresponding prior year period due to continued global macro-
economic weakness and political uncertainty which resulted in reduced demand for semiconductors.  This, in 
turn, resulted in higher inventory of integrated circuits leading many customers to operate at equipment utilization 
levels that do not require purchases of new systems. 

Sales of microwave communications equipment accounted for approximately $26.9 million or 12.2% of 
consolidated net sales in 2012 and decreased 10.4% when compared to 2011.  The decrease in business volume 
within our microwave equipment segment during 2012 resulted from customer order delays for equipment to be 
used in government agency related security and surveillance infrastructure projects. 

Sales of video cameras accounted for 6.7% of consolidated net sales in 2012 and decreased $3.5 million or 19.1% 
when compared to 2011.  The decrease in business volume within our video camera segment during 2012 
resulted primarily from delays in obtaining customer orders for equipment to be used in traffic related public 
infrastructure projects. 

Gross Margin 

Our gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, decreased to 30.7% in 2012 from 32.4% in 2011, due to 
unfavorable product mix, increased inventory reserve charges and lower sales volume.  During 2012 and 2011, 
we recorded net charges to cost of sales of approximately $8.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively, for excess 
and obsolete inventory.   

R&D Expense 

During both 2012 and 2011 R&D expense was $36.2 million and represented 16.4% of net sales in 2012 
compared to 11.7% in 2011.   

SG&A Expense 

SG&A expense as a percentage of net sales increased to 20.7% in 2012, from 15.1% in 2011, decreasing in 
absolute dollars from $46.6 million in 2011 to $45.9 million in 2012 due to a decrease in variable selling 

24 

 
expenses as a result of lower business volume across our business segments.  Additionally, during 2012 we 
incurred approximately $2.3 million in costs associated with the acquisition of Ismeca. 

Interest and other, net 

Interest and other, net was approximately $1.0 million and $0.4 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Interest 
and other income in 2012 includes a gain on the sale of a facility totaling $0.7 million related to our metal 
detection equipment segment, which was divested in 2006.  

Income Taxes  

The provision (credit) for income taxes expressed as a percentage of pre-tax income or loss was (6.7%) in 2012 
and 11.6% in 2011.  The provision (credit) for income taxes for the years ended December 29, 2012 and 
December 31, 2011 differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to changes in the valuation 
allowance on our deferred tax assets, foreign income taxed at different rates and other factors.  

Our valuation allowance on DTAs at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was approximately $24.9 
million and $22.4 million, respectively.   

As a result of the factors set forth above, our net loss was $12.2 million in 2012, compared to net income of 
$15.7 million in 2011. 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 

Our business is dependent on capital expenditures by semiconductor manufacturers and test subcontractors that 
are, in turn, dependent on the current and anticipated market demand for semiconductors.  The cyclical and 
volatile nature of demand for semiconductor equipment, our primary industry, makes estimates of future 
revenues, results of operations and net cash flows difficult.  

Our primary historical source of liquidity and capital resources has been cash flow generated by our operations 
and we manage our businesses to maximize operating cash flows as our primary source of liquidity.  We use 
cash to fund growth in our operating assets and to fund new products and product enhancements primarily 
through research and development.  As of December 28, 2013, $36.6 million of our cash and cash equivalents 
was held by our foreign subsidiaries. If these funds are needed for our operations in the U.S., we may be 
required to accrue and pay U.S. taxes or foreign withholding taxes if we repatriate these funds. Our intent is to 
indefinitely reinvest these funds in our foreign operations and we have no current plans that would require us 
to repatriate these funds to the U.S.  

Liquidity 

Working Capital: The following summarizes our cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and working 
capital at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012: 

   (in thousands) 
   Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments 
   Working capital 

2013  
$ 
 52,868   
$  125,837   

2012  
$  110,229   
$  184,703   

   Decrease 
 (57,361)
 (58,866)

$ 
$ 

Percentage 
Change 

 (52)%
 (32)%

The decrease in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and working capital for the year ended 
December 28, 2013 are primarily a result of the acquisition of Ismeca which occurred on December 31, 2012. 

Cash Flows 

Operating Activities: Cash generated from operating activities consists of net income or loss, adjusted for non-
cash expenses and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Non-cash items include depreciation and 
amortization, share-based compensation expense and deferred income taxes.  Our net cash flows provided from 
operating activities in 2013 totaled $3.4 million compared to $13.2 million in 2012.  The decrease in cash 
provided by operating activities was a result of the increase in our net loss.  Cash provided by operating activities 
was impacted by changes in current assets and liabilities and, excluding the impact of the acquisition of Ismeca, 
included decreases in inventory of $13.1 million and accrued compensation; warranty and other liabilities of 
$1.2 million; and increases in accounts payable of $6.7 million; deferred profit of $3.8 million, and accounts 
receivable of $2.5 million.  The decrease in inventory resulted from inventory write-downs and strict inventory 
controls within our semiconductor equipment segment.  The reduction in accrued compensation and warranty 
resulted from current year operating results and product mix.  Deferred profit increased as a result of deferrals of 

25 

 
 
     
  
     
  
  
  
        
  
  
  
  
  
semiconductor equipment made in accordance with our revenue recognition policy.  The increases in accounts 
receivable and accounts payable were due to fourth quarter business activity and the timing of cash payments and 
receipts.   

Investing Activities: Investing cash flows consist primarily of cash used for capital expenditures in support of our 
businesses, proceeds from investment maturities and cash used for purchases of investments and business 
acquisitions. Our net cash used for investing activities in 2013 totaled $51.3 million and was primarily the result 
of the purchase of Ismeca for $53.5 million, net of cash received.  The acquisition of Ismeca was a strategic 
transaction to expand our semiconductor total available market, extend our market leadership, expand our 
customer base, and broaden our product and technology offerings.  Other expenditures in 2013 included 
purchases of property, plant and equipment of $3.9 million.  The purchases of property, plant and equipment were 
primarily made to support activities in our semiconductor equipment and microwave communications equipment 
businesses.   

Financing Activities:  Cash provided by financing activities consisted of net proceeds from the issuance of 
common stock under our equity incentive and employee stock purchase plans, which totaled $1.3 million during 
2013. We issue stock options and maintain an employee stock purchase plan as components of our overall 
employee compensation.  Cash used in financing activities consisted of amounts distributed to our stockholders in 
the form of cash dividends.  We paid dividends totaling $4.5 million, or $0.18 per common share, during 2013.  
On February 11, 2014 we announced a cash dividend of $0.06 per share on our common stock, payable on, 
April 18, 2014 to stockholders of record as of March 4, 2014.  We intend to continue to pay quarterly dividends 
subject to capital availability and periodic determinations by our Board of Directors that cash dividends are in the 
best interests of our stockholders.  

Capital Resources 

We have a secured letter of credit facility (the “Secured Facility”) under which Bank of America, N.A., has 
agreed to administer the issuance of letters of credit on behalf of Cohu and our subsidiaries.  The Secured Facility 
requires us to maintain deposits of cash or other approved investments, which serve as collateral, in amounts that 
approximate our outstanding standby letters of credit.  As of December 28, 2013, we had approximately 
$0.8 million of standby letters of credit outstanding.  As a result of the acquisition of Ismeca, we have an 
agreement with Credit Suisse (the “Ismeca Facility”) under which it administers a line of credit on behalf of 
Ismeca.  Total borrowings available under the Ismeca Facility is 0.5 million Swiss Francs and at December 28, 
2013 no amounts were outstanding. 

We expect that we will continue to make capital expenditures to support our business and we anticipate that 
present working capital will be sufficient to meet our operating requirements for at least the next twelve months. 

Contractual Obligations 

The following table summarizes our significant contractual obligations at December 28, 2013, and the effect such 
obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods. This table excludes amounts 
already recorded on our balance sheet as current liabilities at December 28, 2013.  Amounts excluded include our 
liability for unrecognized tax benefits that totaled approximately $10.5 million at December 28, 2013.  We are 
currently unable to provide a reasonably reliable estimate of the amount or period(s) the cash settlement of this 
liability may occur.   

(in thousands)     
Non-cancelable 
 operating leases    $   1,114   $ 

   2014  

   2015  

   2016  

   2017  

   2018  

  Thereafter     Total 

 565   $ 

 430   $ 

 377   $ 

 377   $ 

 1,508   $   4,371  

The table above does not include pension, post-retirement benefit and warranty obligations because it is not 
certain when these liabilities will be funded.  For additional information regarding our pension and post-
retirement benefits obligations see Note 4, “Employee Benefit Plans” and for more information on our 
contractual obligations, see Note 9, “Guarantees” in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Form 10-K.   

Commitments to contract manufacturers and suppliers.  From time to time, we enter into commitments with our 
suppliers to purchase inventory and contract manufacturers to provide manufacturing services for our products at 
fixed prices or in guaranteed quantities.  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 reschedule or adjust our requirements based on our business needs.  

26 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Typically purchase orders outstanding with delivery dates within 30 days are non-cancelable. We are not able to 
determine the aggregate amount of such purchase orders that represent contractual obligations, as purchase orders 
may represent authorizations to purchase rather than binding agreements.  We typically do not have significant 
agreements for the purchase of raw materials or other goods specifying minimum quantities or set prices that 
exceed our expected requirements for the next six to twelve months. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. During the ordinary course of business, we provide standby letters of credit 
instruments to certain parties as required. As of December 28, 2013, the maximum potential amount of future 
payments that we could be required to make under these standby letters of credit was approximately $0.8 million. 
No liability has been recorded in connection with these arrangements beyond those required to appropriately 
account for the underlying transaction being guaranteed.  Based on historical experience and information 
currently available, we do not believe it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these 
arrangements. 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. 

Investment and Interest Rate Risk. 
At December 28, 2013, our investment portfolio included short-term, fixed-income investment securities with 
a fair value of approximately $1.2 million.  These securities are subject to interest rate risk and will likely 
decline in value if interest rates increase.  Our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to 
changes in interest rates or we may suffer losses in principal if we are forced to sell securities that decline in 
market value due to changes in interest rates.  As we classify our short-term securities as available-for-sale, no 
gains or losses are recognized due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity 
or declines in fair value are determined to be other-than-temporary. Due to the relatively short duration of our 
investment portfolio, an immediate ten percent change in interest rates would have no material impact on our 
financial condition or results of operations. 

We evaluate our investments periodically for possible other-than-temporary impairment by reviewing factors 
such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of 
the issuer and our ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient for anticipated 
recovery of market value. As of December 28, 2013, we had no investments with loss positions. 

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk. 
We conduct business on a global basis in a number of major international currencies. As such, we are exposed to 
adverse as well as beneficial movements in foreign currency exchange rates.  The majority of our sales are 
denominated in U.S. dollars except for certain of our revenues that are denominated in Euros and Swiss Francs.  
Certain expenses incurred by our non-U.S. operations, such as employee payroll and benefits as well as some raw 
materials purchases and other expenses are denominated and paid in local currency.  

We considered a hypothetical ten percent adverse movement in foreign exchange rates to the underlying 
exposures described above and believe that these hypothetical market movements would not have a material 
effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

The information required by this Item is included in Part IV, Item 15(a). 

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. 

None. 

27 

 
Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures. 

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures - Under the supervision and 
with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, 
we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rules 13a-
15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  
Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our 
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 28, 2013, the end of the period covered by this 
annual report.  

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - Our management is 
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is 
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f).  Under the supervision and with the participation of our 
management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation 
of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - 
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 
(1992 framework).  Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, 
our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 28, 
2013.  

Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial 
statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has also audited the effectiveness of our internal control 
over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, as stated in their report which is included herein.  

28 

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

The Board of Directors and Stockholders 

Cohu, Inc. 

We have audited Cohu, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of 
the Treadway Commission (1992 framework) (the COSO criteria). Cohu, Inc.’s management is responsible for 
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of 
internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal 
Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control 
over financial reporting based on our audit. 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit 
included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material 
weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the 
assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe 
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, 
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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. 

In our opinion, Cohu, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting 
as of December 28, 2013, based on the COSO criteria. 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Cohu, Inc. as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, 
and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and 
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013 of Cohu, Inc. and our report dated 
March 4, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. 

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP 

San Diego, California 
March 4, 2014 

29 

 
 
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, our 
wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Design, Inc. customized its recently implemented integrated 
finance/accounting and manufacturing software system. The customization involved changes to our system of 
internal controls. We reviewed the system as it was being implemented and the controls affected by the 
customization. We believe that the controls as modified are appropriate and functioning effectively. 

Item 9B.  Other Information. 

None. 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. 

PART III 

The information under the heading “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K is 
incorporated by reference in this section.  The other information required by this item is hereby incorporated by 
reference  to  the  Company’s  definitive  proxy  statement,  which  will  be  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission ("SEC") within 120 days after the close of fiscal 2013. 

Code of Business Conduct and Code of Ethics 
Cohu has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees. The code is 
available on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.cohu.com. We intend to make all required 
disclosures concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of ethics on our website. 

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Certain Committee Charters 
Cohu has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines as well as charters for its Audit, Compensation and 
Nominating and Governance Committees. These documents are available on the Investor Relations section of our 
website at www.cohu.com. 

The  information  on  our  website  is  not  incorporated  by  reference  in  or  considered  to  be  a  part  of  this  Annual 
Report on Form 10-K. 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation. 

Information regarding Executive Compensation is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive 
proxy statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of fiscal 2013. 

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder 

Matters. 

Information regarding Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related 
Stockholder Matters is hereby incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement, which 
will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of fiscal 2013. 

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. 

Information regarding Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence is hereby 
incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 
120 days after the close of fiscal 2013. 

Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services. 

Information regarding the Principal Accounting Fees and Services is hereby incorporated by reference to the 
Company’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the close of fiscal 
2013. 

30 

 
 
 
Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. 

PART IV 

(a)  The following documents are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 

10-K. 

(1)  Financial Statements 

The following Consolidated Financial Statements of Cohu, Inc., including the report thereon of 

Ernst & Young LLP, are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page 32: 

Description 

Form 10-K 

Page Number 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at 
   December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 ......................................................................... 32 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three  
   years in the period ended December 28, 2013 ........................................................................ 33 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for each of the three  
   years in the period ended December 28, 2013 ........................................................................ 34 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of 
   the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013 ........................................................ 35 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three  
   years in the period ended December 28, 2013 ........................................................................ 36 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ............................................................................. 37 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ..................................................... 57 

(2)  Financial Statement Schedule 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts .................................................................... 61 

All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because the required information is not 

applicable or not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the 
information required is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto. 

(3)  Exhibits 

The exhibits listed under Item 15(b) hereof are filed with, or incorporated by reference into, this 

Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

31 

 
 
   COHU, INC. 
   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
   (in thousands, except par value) 

   ASSETS
   Current assets: 
      Cash and cash equivalents 
      Short-term investments 
      Accounts receivable, net  
      Inventories: 
         Raw materials and purchased parts 
         Work in process 
         Finished goods 

      Deferred income taxes 
      Other current assets 
         Total current assets 
   Property, plant and equipment, at cost: 
      Land and land improvements 
      Buildings and building improvements 
      Machinery and equipment 

      Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 
         Net property, plant and equipment 
   Goodwill
   Intangible assets, net  
   Other assets 

   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 
   Current liabilities: 
      Accounts payable 
      Accrued compensation and benefits 
      Accrued warranty 
      Deferred profit 
      Income taxes payable 
      Other accrued liabilities 
         Total current liabilities 
   Accrued retirement benefits 
   Noncurrent income tax liabilities 
   Deferred income taxes 
   Commitments and contingencies 
      Stockholders' equity: 
      Preferred stock, $1 par value; 1,000 shares authorized, none issued  
      Common stock, $1 par value; 60,000 shares authorized, 25,080 
          shares issued and outstanding in 2013 and 24,632 shares in 2012 
      Paid-in capital 
      Retained earnings 
      Accumulated other comprehensive income 
         Total stockholders' equity 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. 

32 

  December 28, 
2013  

   December 29, 
2012  

$ 

$ 

 51,668 
 1,200 
 60,760   

 102,808 
 7,421 
 36,986 

 29,430   
 18,065   
 11,482   
 58,977   
 5,516 
 8,727 
 186,848   

 12,285   
 32,211 
 44,532   
 89,028 
 (52,802)  
 36,226   
 71,313   
 45,315   
 5,721   
 345,423   

 26,023 
 15,050   
 5,252   
 6,066   
 805   
 7,815   
 61,011   
 10,841   
 7,463   
 12,948   

$ 

$ 

 37,140 
 14,958 
 10,234 
 62,332 
 4,746 
 6,790 
 221,083 

 12,106 
 31,209 
 40,108 
 83,423 
 (47,959)
 35,464 
 58,756 
 18,977 
 593 
 334,873 

 13,217 
 10,271 
 4,692 
 2,139 
 1,109 
 4,952 
 36,380 
 3,729 
 2,118 
 11,747 

   $ 

$ 

 -   

 - 

 25,080   
 89,883   
 131,546   
 6,651   
 253,160   
 345,423   

$ 

 24,632 
 83,547 
 170,937 
 1,783 
 280,899 
 334,873 

   $ 

 
 
              
              
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
              
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
              
(cid:3)  COHU, INC.(cid:3)
(cid:3)  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (in thousands, except per share amounts)(cid:3)

   Net sales 
   Cost and expenses: 
      Cost of sales 
      Research and development 
      Selling, general and administrative 

   Income (loss) from operations 
   Interest and other income 
   Income (loss) before income taxes  
   Income tax provision (benefit) 
   Net income (loss) 

   Income (loss) per share: 
      Basic 
      Diluted 

   Weighted average shares used in computing  
     income (loss) per share: 
      Basic 
      Diluted 

December 28, 
2013  

Years ended 
   December 29, 

   December 31, 

2012  

2011  

$ 

 247,300 

   $ 

 221,162 

   $ 

 308,968   

 176,774 
 48,596 
 57,730 
 283,100 
 (35,800)
 54 
 (35,746)
 (2,328)
 (33,418)

   $ 

 153,184 
 36,171 
 45,891 
 235,246 
 (14,084)
 967 
 (13,117)
 (874)
 (12,243)

   $ 

 208,839   
 36,230   
 46,563   
 291,632   
 17,336   
 442   
 17,778   
 2,059   
 15,719   

 (1.34)
 (1.34)

   $ 
   $ 

 (0.50)
 (0.50)

   $ 
   $ 

 0.65   
 0.64   

$ 

$ 
$ 

 24,859 
 24,859 

 24,459 
 24,459 

 24,134   
 24,501   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. 

33 

 
 
  
  
  
              
  
  
              
  
  
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(cid:3)  COHU, INC.(cid:3)
(cid:3)  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (in thousands)(cid:3)

   Net income (loss) 
   Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: 
      Foreign currency translation adjustments 
      Adjustments related to postretirement benefits 
      Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments 
   Other comprehensive income, net of tax 
   Comprehensive income (loss) 

December 28, 
2013  

Years ended 
   December 29, 

   December 31, 

2012  

2011  

$ 

 (33,418)

   $ 

 (12,243)

   $ 

 15,719   

 3,270 
 1,604 
 (6)
 4,868 
 (28,550)

   $ 

 1,689 
 122 
 (16)
 1,795 
 (10,448)

   $ 

 (1,076)  
 1,267   
 (6)  
 185   
 15,904   

$ 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. 

34 

 
 
  
  
  
              
  
  
              
  
  
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
     
  
  
     
     
  
(cid:3)  COHU, INC.(cid:3)
(cid:3)  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (in thousands, except par value and per share amounts)(cid:3)

   Balance at December 25, 2010 
      Net income 
      Changes in cumulative translation adjustment 
      Adjustments related to postretirement  
         benefits, net of income taxes 
      Changes in unrealized gains and losses on  
         investments, net of income taxes 
      Cash dividends - $0.24 per share 
      Exercise of stock options 
      Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan 
      Shares issued for restricted stock units vested  
      Repurchase and retirement of stock 
      Share-based compensation expense 
      Tax benefit from equity awards 
   Balance at December 31, 2011 
      Net loss 
      Changes in cumulative translation adjustment 
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Adjustments related to postretirement (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)  (cid:3) benefits, net of income taxes 
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Changes in unrealized gains and losses on (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)  (cid:3) investments, net of income taxes 
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Cash dividends - $0.24 per share(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Exercise of stock options(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Shares issued for restricted stock units vested (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Repurchase and retirement of stock(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Share-based compensation expense(cid:3)
(cid:3)  Balance at December 29, 2012(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Net loss
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Changes in cumulative translation adjustment(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Adjustments related to postretirement (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)  (cid:3) benefits, net of income taxes 
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Changes in unrealized gains and losses on (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)  (cid:3) investments, net of income taxes 
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Cash dividends - $0.24 per share(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Exercise of stock options(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan(cid:3)   
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Shares issued for restricted stock units vested (cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Repurchase and retirement of stock(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3) Share-based compensation expense(cid:3)
(cid:3)  Balance at December 28, 2013(cid:3)

$ 

Common 
stock 
$1 par value 
$ 

 23,989    $ 

Paid-in 
capital 

   Retained 
earnings 

Accumulated 
other 
comprehensive 
income (loss) 

 71,799    $ 

 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   
 -   
 988   
 1,142   
 (139)  
 (421)  
 4,287      
 2   
 77,658   
 -   
 -   

 179,134    $ 
 15,719       
 -       

 (197)   $ 
 -   
 (1,076)  

Total 
 274,725 
 15,719 
 (1,076)

 -       

 1,267   

 1,267 

 -       
 (5,798)      
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -      
 -       
 189,055       
 (12,243)      
 -       

 (6)  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -      
 -   
 (12)  
 -   
 1,689   

 (6)
 (5,798)
 1,111 
 1,262 
 - 
 (462)
 4,287 
 2 
 291,031 
 (12,243)
 1,689 

 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   
 -   
 123   
 120   
 139   
 (41)  

 -      
 -   
 24,330   
 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   

 -       

 122   

 122 

 -   
 -   
 73   
 152   
 108   
 (31)  
 -   
 24,632   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 536   
 1,100   
 (108)  
 (260)  
 4,621   
 83,547   
 -   
 -   

 -       
 (5,875)      
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -       
 170,937       
 (33,418)      
 -       

 (16)  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 1,783   
 -   
 3,270   

 (16)
 (5,875)
 609 
 1,252 
 - 
 (291)
 4,621 
 280,899 
 (33,418)
 3,270 

 -   

 -   

 -       

 1,604   

 1,604 

 -   
 -   
 117   
 163   
 249   
 (81)  
 -   

 25,080    $ 

 -   
 -   
 769   
 1,088   
 (249)  
 (740)  
 5,468   
 89,883    $ 

 -       
 (5,973)      
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -       
 -       
 131,546 (cid:3)  $(cid:3)

 (6)  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 6,651    $ 

 (6)
 (5,973)
 886 
 1,251 
 - 
 (821)
 5,468 
 253,160 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. 

35 

 
 
                                                                                 
     
     
     
  
  
              
  
     
  
  
     
              
     
     
     
              
  
     
              
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   COHU, INC. 
   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
   (in thousands) 

   Cash flows from operating activities: 
      Net income (loss) 
      Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash  
         provided from operating activities: 
         Depreciation and amortization 
         Share-based compensation expense 
         Gain on sale of facility 
         Deferred income taxes 
         Accrued retiree benefits 
         Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised   

Changes in current assets and liabilities, excluding effects from 
acquisitions: 

            Accounts receivable 
            Inventories 
            Accounts payable 
            Other current assets 
            Income taxes payable, including excess stock option exercise benefits      
            Deferred profit 
            Accrued compensation, warranty and other liabilities 
            Net cash provided from operating activities 
   Cash flows from investing activities, excluding effects from acquisitions:        
      Payment for purchase of Ismeca, net of cash received 
      Sales and maturities of short-term investments 
      Purchases of short-term investments 
      Purchases of property, plant and equipment  
      Cash received from facility sale 
      Cash paid for Duma Video, Inc. 
      Other assets 
            Net cash provided from (used for) investing activities 
   Cash flows from financing activities: 
      Cash dividends paid 
      Issuance of stock, net 
      Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised   
            Net cash used for financing activities 
   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 
   Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
   Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

   $ 

   December 28, 

2013  

Years ended 
   December 29, 
2012  

   December 31, 
2011  

   $ 

 (33,418)    $ 

 (12,243)   $ 

 15,719 

 13,469       
 5,468       
 -       
 (1,657)      
 130       
 -       

 (2,502)      
 13,052       
 6,658       
 (542)      
 156       
 3,833       
 (1,230)      
 3,417       

 (53,463)      
 6,221       
 -       
 (3,908)      
 -       
 -       
 (176)      
 (51,326)      

 (4,468)      
 1,316       
 -       
 (3,152)      
 (79)      
 (51,140)      
 102,808       
 51,668     $ 

 9,403      
 4,621      
 (677)     
 581      
 (91)     
 -      

 4,979      
 19,897      
 (5,458)     
 978      
 (1,667)     
 (682)     
 (6,472)     
 13,169      

 -      
 84,780      
 (40,461)     
 (3,267)     
 1,080      
 (900)     
 (66)     
 41,166      

 (7,333)     
 1,570      
 -      
 (5,763)     
 974      
 49,546      
 53,262      
 102,808    $ 

 10,067 
 4,287 
 - 
 (1,676)
 381 
 (2)

 24,877 
 (20,865)
 427 
 (1,549)
 (6,462)
 (12,013)
 (953)
 12,238 

 - 
 75,657 
 (75,128)
 (1,413)
 - 
 - 
 78 
 (806)

 (5,777)
 1,911 
 2 
 (3,864)
 (227)
 7,341 
 45,921 
 53,262 

   Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: 
      Cash paid (refunded) during the year for: 
         Income taxes 
      Inventory capitalized as capital assets 
      Dividends declared but not yet paid 

$ 
$ 
$ 

 (900)    $ 
 657     $ 
 1,504     $ 

 711  $ 
 567  $ 
 -  $ 

 10,203 
 1,380 
 1,455 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements. 

36 

 
 
              
  
              
              
  
  
  
     
      
     
     
      
     
     
      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
        
     
   
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  
     
     
      
     
     
     
  
     
     
     
     
  
              
     
      
     
              
     
      
     
              
     
      
     
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

Basis of Presentation – Cohu, Inc. (“Cohu”, “we”, “our” and “us”), through our wholly owned subsidiaries, is a 
provider of semiconductor test equipment, microwave communication systems and video cameras.  Our 
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cohu and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant 
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The preparation of financial 
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 
(“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the 
financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. 

Our fiscal years are based on a 52- or 53-week period ending on the last Saturday in December. Our fiscal years 
ended on December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 each consisted of 52 weeks and our fiscal year ended 
December 31, 2011 consisted of 53 weeks. 

Risks and Uncertainties – We are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may significantly impact 
our future operating results.  These risks and uncertainties are discussed under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” 
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Understanding these risks and uncertainties is integral to the 
review of our consolidated financial statements. 

Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by 
the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted income per 
share includes the dilutive effect of common shares potentially issuable upon the exercise of stock options, 
vesting of outstanding restricted stock units and issuance of stock under our employee stock purchase plan using 
the treasury stock method.  In loss periods, potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the per share 
computations due to their anti-dilutive effect.  For purposes of computing diluted income per share, stock options 
with exercise prices that exceed the average fair market value of our common stock for the period are excluded. 
For the year ended December 31, 2011 approximately 1,956,000 shares of our common stock were excluded 
from the computation. 

The following table reconciles the denominators used in computing basic and diluted income (loss) per share: 

(in thousands) 
Weighted average common shares outstanding 
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units 

2013   
24,859   
-   
24,859   

2012   
24,459   
-   
24,459   

2011 
24,134 
367 
24,501 

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments – Highly liquid investments with insignificant interest 
rate risk and original maturities of three months or less are classified as cash and cash equivalents.  Investments 
with maturities greater than three months are classified as short-term investments.  All of our short-term 
investments are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value, with any unrealized gains and 
losses, net of tax, recorded in the statement of comprehensive income (loss).  We manage our cash equivalents 
and short-term investments as a single portfolio of highly marketable securities.  We have the ability and intent, if 
necessary, to liquidate any of our investments in order to meet the liquidity needs of our current operations during 
the next 12 months.  Accordingly, investments with contractual maturities greater than one year from December 
28, 2013 have been classified as current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including cash and 
cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, 
approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these financial instruments. 

Concentration of Credit Risk – Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant credit risk consist 
principally of cash equivalents, short-term investments and trade accounts receivable.  We invest in a variety of 
financial instruments and, by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure with any one issuer.   

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.6 million at December 28, 
2013 and $0.3 million at December 29, 2012. Our customers include semiconductor manufacturers and 
semiconductor test subcontractors and other customers located throughout many areas of the world.  While we 
believe that our allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate and represents our best estimate of potential loss 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

exposure at December 28, 2013, we will continue to monitor customer liquidity and other economic conditions, 
which may result in changes to our estimates regarding collectability.  

Inventories – Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on a current average or first-in, first-out 
basis, or market.  Cost includes labor, material and overhead costs.  Determining market value of inventories 
involves numerous estimates and judgments including projecting average selling prices and sales volumes for 
future periods and costs to complete and dispose of inventory.  As a result of these analyses, we record a charge 
to cost of sales in advance of the period when the inventory is sold when market values are below our costs.  
Charges to cost of sales for excess and obsolete inventories aggregated $8.1 million, $8.9 million, and 
$5.8 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. 

Property, Plant and Equipment – Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment is calculated 
principally on the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives of thirty to forty years for buildings, five to 
fifteen years for building improvements and three to ten years for machinery, equipment and software.  

Goodwill, Purchased Intangible Assets and Other Long-lived Assets – We evaluate goodwill for impairment 
annually and when an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the carrying value may not be 
recoverable.  We test goodwill for impairment by first comparing the book value of net assets to the fair value of 
the reporting units.  If the fair value is determined to be less than the book value, a second step is performed to 
compute the amount of impairment as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and the 
carrying value.  We estimated the fair values of our reporting units primarily using the income approach valuation 
methodology that includes the discounted cash flow method, taking into consideration the market approach and 
certain market multiples as a validation of the values derived using the discounted cash flow methodology.  
Forecasts of future cash flows are based on our best estimate of future net sales and operating expenses, based 
primarily on customer forecasts, industry trade organization data and general economic conditions.   
We conduct our annual impairment test as of October 1st of each year, and have determined there is no 
impairment as of October 1, 2013 as we determined that the estimated fair values of our semiconductor 
equipment and microwave communications reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately 31% 
and 11%, respectively, on that date.   Other events and changes in circumstances may also require goodwill to be 
tested for impairment between annual measurement dates.  While a decline in stock price and market 
capitalization is not specifically cited as a goodwill impairment indicator, a company’s stock price and market 
capitalization should be considered in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a 
reporting unit is less than its carrying value.  Additionally, a significant decline in a company’s stock price may 
suggest that an adverse change in the business climate may have caused the fair value of one or more reporting 
units to fall below their carrying value.  The financial and credit market volatility directly impacts our fair value 
measurement through our stock price that we use to determine our market capitalization.  During times of 
volatility, significant judgment must be applied to determine whether credit or stock price changes are a short-
term swing or a longer-term trend.  As of December 28, 2013 we do not believe there have been any events or 
circumstances that would require us to perform an interim goodwill impairment review, however, a sustained 
decline in Cohu’s market capitalization below its book value could lead us to determine, in a future period, that 
an interim goodwill impairment review is required and may result in an impairment charge, which would have a 
negative impact on our results of operations.  

Long-lived assets, other than goodwill, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recoverable.  Conditions that would 
necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant decline in the observable market value of an asset, a 
significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or any other significant adverse change that 
would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable.  For long-lived 
assets, impairment losses are only recorded if the asset’s carrying amount is not recoverable through its 
undiscounted, probability-weighted future cash flows.  We measure the impairment loss based on the difference 
between the carrying amount and estimated fair value. 

Product Warranty – Product warranty costs are accrued in the period sales are recognized.  Our products are 
generally sold with standard warranty periods, which differ by product, ranging from 12- to 36-months. Parts and 
labor are typically covered under the terms of the warranty agreement.  Our warranty expense accruals are based 

38 

 
 
 
 
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

on historical and estimated costs by product and configuration.  From time-to-time we offer customers extended 
warranties beyond the standard warranty period.  In those situations the revenue relating to the extended warranty 
is deferred at its estimated fair value and recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period.  Costs 
associated with our extended warranty contracts are expensed as incurred. 

Income Taxes – We assess our income tax positions and record tax benefits for all years subject to examination 
based upon management’s evaluation of the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting dates. 
For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, we have recorded the 
largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement 
with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where 
it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the 
financial statements.  Where applicable, associated interest and penalties have also been recognized and recorded, 
net of federal and state tax benefits, in income tax expense.  

Contingencies and Litigation – We assess the probability of adverse judgments in connection with current and 
threatened litigation.  We would accrue the cost of an adverse judgment if, in our estimation, the adverse outcome 
is probable and we can reasonably estimate the ultimate cost.  

Revenue Recognition – Our net sales are derived from the sale of products and services and are adjusted for 
estimated returns and allowances, which historically have been insignificant. We recognize revenue when there is 
persuasive evidence of an arrangement, title and risk of loss have passed, delivery has occurred or the services 
have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection of the related receivable is reasonably 
assured.  Title and risk of loss generally pass to our customers upon shipment.  In circumstances where either title 
or risk of loss pass upon destination or acceptance, we defer revenue recognition until such events occur.   

Revenue for established products that have previously satisfied a customer’s acceptance requirements and 
provide for full payment tied to shipment is generally recognized upon shipment and passage of title.  In certain 
instances, customer payment terms may provide that a minority portion (e.g. 20%) of the equipment purchase 
price be paid only upon customer acceptance.  In those situations, the majority portion (e.g. 80%) of revenue 
where payment is tied to shipment and the entire product cost of sale are recognized upon shipment and passage 
of title and the minority portion of the purchase price related to customer acceptance is deferred and recognized 
upon receipt of customer acceptance. In cases where a prior history of customer acceptance cannot be 
demonstrated or from sales where customer payment dates are not determinable and in the case of new products, 
revenue is deferred until customer acceptance has been received.  Our post-shipment obligations typically include 
installation and standard warranties.  The estimated fair value of installation related revenue is recognized in the 
period the installation is performed.  Service revenue is recognized ratably over the period of the related contract.  
Spares and kit revenue is generally recognized upon shipment.  

Certain of our equipment sales are accounted for as multiple-element arrangements.  A multiple-element 
arrangement is a transaction which may involve the delivery or performance of multiple products, services, or 
rights to use assets, and performance may occur at different points in time or over different periods of time.  For 
arrangements containing multiple elements, the revenue relating to the undelivered elements is deferred using the 
relative selling price method utilizing estimated sales prices until delivery of the deferred elements. We limit the 
amount of revenue recognition for delivered elements to the amount that is not contingent on the future delivery 
of products or services, future performance obligations or subject to customer-specified return or adjustment. 

On shipments where sales are not recognized, gross profit is generally recorded as deferred profit in our 
consolidated balance sheet representing the difference between the receivable recorded and the inventory shipped.  
In certain instances where customer payments are received prior to product shipment, the customer’s payments 
are recorded as customer advances in our consolidated balance sheet.  At December 28, 2013, we had total 
deferred revenue of approximately $7.4 million and deferred profit of $6.1 million.  At December 29, 2012, we 
had total deferred revenue of approximately $3.6 million and deferred profit of $2.1 million.  

Advertising Costs – Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were not material for all periods presented. 

Share-based Compensation – We measure and recognize all share-based compensation under the fair value 
method.  Our estimate of share-based compensation expense requires a number of complex and subjective 

39 

 
 
 
 
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

assumptions including our stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns (expected life of the options), future 
forfeitures and related tax effects. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of share-based awards 
represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management 
judgment. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made are reasonable and appropriate, 
changes in assumptions could materially impact our reported financial results. 

Foreign Currency Translation – Assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries that use the U.S. dollar as their 
functional currency are translated using exchange rates in effect at the end of the period, except for nonmonetary 
assets, such as inventories and property, plant and equipment, which are translated using historical exchange 
rates.  Revenues and costs are translated using average exchange rates for the period, except for costs related to 
those balance sheet items that are translated using historical exchange rates.  Gains and losses on foreign currency 
transactions are recognized as incurred.  Certain of our foreign subsidiaries have designated the local currency as 
their functional currency and, as a result, their assets and liabilities are translated at the rate of exchange at the 
balance sheet date, while revenue and expenses are translated using the average exchange rate for the period. 
Cumulative translation adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements are included as a 
separate component of stockholders’ equity.  Foreign currency gains and losses were not significant in any period 
and are included in the consolidated statements of operations. 

Comprehensive Income  – Our accumulated other comprehensive income totaled approximately $6.7 million 
and $1.8 million at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively, and was attributed to, net of 
income taxes where applicable, foreign currency adjustments resulting from the translation of certain accounts 
into U.S. dollars, unrealized losses and gains on investments and adjustments to accumulated postretirement 
benefit obligations.  Additional information related to accumulated other comprehensive income, on an after-
tax basis is included in Note 11. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements  
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements – In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board 
(“FASB”) issued guidance to simplify the testing for a drop in value of intangible assets such as trademarks, 
patents, and distribution rights. The amended standard reduces the cost of accounting for indefinite-lived 
intangible assets, especially in cases where the likelihood of impairment is low. The changes permit businesses 
and other organizations to first use subjective criteria to determine if an intangible asset has lost value.  The 
adoption of this new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 did not have a material impact on our 
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  

In February 2013, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that will require a public entity to present in its 
annual and interim financial statements information about reclassification adjustments from accumulated other 
comprehensive income in a single note or on the face of the financial statements. The adoption of this new 
guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial 
position, results of operations or cash flows.  

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements – In July 2013, the FASB issued guidance on the presentation 
of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit 
carryforward exists.  This amendment to previous income tax guidance clarifies that an unrecognized tax 
benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a 
reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit 
carryforward if such settlement is required or expected in the event the uncertain tax benefit is disallowed. In 
situations where a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not 
available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction or the tax law of the jurisdiction 
does not require, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the 
unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be netted 
with the deferred tax asset. These amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those 
years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied 
prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is 
permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this new guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated 
financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 

40 

 
 
 
 
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

In March 2013, the FASB issued guidance on a parent company’s accounting for the cumulative translation 
adjustment upon derecognition of a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity.  This new guidance 
requires that the parent release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income only if the sale or 
transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the 
subsidiary or group of assets had resided.  The amendments will be effective for fiscal years and interim 
periods starting after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted.  We do not believe our adoption of the 
new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 will have an impact on our consolidated financial position, 
results of operations or cash flows. 

2.  Strategic Technology Transactions, Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets  

On December 31, 2012, we acquired all of the outstanding share capital of Ismeca Semiconductor Holding SA 
(“Ismeca”). Ismeca, headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and with major operations in Malacca, 
Malaysia and Suzhou, China, designs, manufactures and sells turret-based test handling and back-end finishing 
equipment for integrated circuits, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and discrete components. The acquisition of 
Ismeca was a strategic transaction to expand our semiconductor total available market, extend our market 
leadership, expand our customer base, and broaden our product and technology offerings.(cid:3)(cid:3) 

The acquisition has been accounted for in conformity with FASB Accounting Standards Codification 805, 
Business Combinations.  The purchase price of this acquisition was approximately $90.8 million, and was 
funded primarily by cash reserves ($57.1 million) and certain liabilities assumed ($33.7 million). Total 
consideration has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated 
respective fair values as of the completion of the acquisition.  Amounts allocated to intangible assets are being 
amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives as noted below. The acquisition was nontaxable and 
certain of the assets acquired, including goodwill and intangibles, will generally not be deductible for tax 
purposes. Goodwill associated with the acquisition was primarily attributable to the opportunities from the 
addition of Ismeca’s products and it has been assigned to our semiconductor equipment segment. 

The total purchase price has been allocated to Ismeca’s net tangible and intangible assets based on their 
estimated fair values as of December 31, 2012, the effective date of the acquisition.  The allocation of purchase 
price to the acquired assets and assumed liabilities was as follows (in thousands): 

Current assets 
Fixed assets 
Other assets 
Intangible assets 
Goodwill 
Total assets acquired 
Liabilities assumed 
Net assets acquired 

$      38,058 
 1,314 
 7,395 
 33,138 
 10,930 
 90,835 
 (33,692)
$      57,143 

The allocation of the intangible assets is as follows (in thousands): 
     Estimated  
    Fair Value 

Complete technology 
Customer relationships 
Covenants not-to-compete 
Trade name 

$     21,399 
 7,475 
 325 
 3,939 
$     33,138 

Average 
    Useful Life 
8 years 
8 years 
3 years 
Indefinite 

The value assigned to Ismeca’s complete technology was determined by discounting the estimated future cash 
flows associated with the existing developed and core technologies to their present value. Developed and core 
technology, which comprise products that have reached technological feasibility, includes the products in 
Ismeca’s product line. The revenue estimates used to value the complete technology were based on estimates 
of relevant market sizes and growth factors, expected trends in technology and the nature and expected timing 
of new product introductions by Ismeca and its competitors. The rates utilized to discount the net cash flows of 

41 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

complete technology to their present value are based on the risks associated with the respective cash flows 
taking into consideration the weighted average cost of capital of Cohu’s semiconductor equipment segment.  

The value assigned to Ismeca’s customer relationships was determined by discounting the estimated cash flows 
associated with the existing customers as of the acquisition date taking into consideration expected attrition of 
the existing customer base. The estimated cash flows were based on revenues for those existing customers net 
of operating expenses and net contributory asset charges associated with servicing those customers. The 
estimated revenues were based on revenue growth rates for the back-end semiconductor equipment industry. 
Operating expenses were estimated based on the supporting infrastructure expected to sustain the assumed 
revenue growth rates. Net contributory asset charges were based on the estimated fair value of those assets that 
contribute to the generation of the estimated cash flows. 

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information 

The unaudited financial information in the table below summarizes the combined results of operations of Cohu 
and Ismeca on a pro forma basis, as though the companies had been combined as of the beginning of each of 
the periods presented. The pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is 
not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition had taken place at 
the beginning of each of the periods presented. The pro forma financial information for all periods presented 
also includes adjustments to, amortization charges for acquired intangible assets, adjustments to interest 
income, and related tax effects. 

The pro forma financial information for the twelve months ended December 28, 2013 combines our results for 
that period, which include the results of Ismeca subsequent to December 31, 2012, the date of acquisition. The 
pro forma financial information for the twelve months ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 
combines our historical results for that period with the historical results of Ismeca.  

The following table summarizes the unaudited pro forma financial information (in thousands, except per share 
data): 

December 28,  
2013   

Twelve Months Ended  
December 29, 
2012  

December 31,  
2011 (1) 

   Net sales 
   Net income (loss)  
   Net income (loss) per share:  

   Basic 
   Diluted 

$ 
$ 

$ 
$ 

Reported 

  Pro Forma      Reported 

  Pro Forma     Reported 

 247,300  $ 
 (33,418) $ 

 247,300  $ 
 (33,418) $ 

 221,162  $ 
 (12,243) $ 

 306,043  $ 
 (12,296) $ 

 308,968  $ 
 15,719  $ 

  Pro Forma  
 410,063 
 21,027 

 (1.34) $ 
 (1.34) $ 

 (1.34) $ 
 (1.34) $ 

 (0.50) $ 
 (0.50) $ 

 (0.50) $ 
 (0.50) $ 

 0.65  $ 
 0.64  $ 

 0.87 
 0.86 

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable segment during the years ended December 28, 2013 and 
December 29, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):  

Balance, December 31, 2011 
   Impact of currency exchange 
Balance, December 29, 2012 
   Additions net of adjustments 
   Impact of currency exchange 
Balance, December 28, 2013 

Semiconductor 
Equipment 

Microwave 
Communications    

Total 
Goodwill 

   $ 

   $ 

 54,872    $ 
 648   
 55,520   
 10,930   
 1,533   
 67,983    $ 

 3,188    $ 
 48   
 3,236   
 -   
 94   
 3,330    $ 

 58,060 
 696 
 58,756 
 10,930 
 1,627 
 71,313 

In August 2012, our microwave communication equipment segment acquired the intellectual property and certain 
other assets of Duma Video, Inc. (“Duma”), a distributor of low latency compression video encoding and 
decoding devices. The purchase price of these assets was approximately $1.0 million and the amount allocated to 
intangible assets is being amortized on a straight-line basis over three years.  

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COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Our purchased intangible assets, subject to amortization, were as follows (in thousands): 

December 28, 2013 
Gross Carrying     Accumulated  
   Amortization 

Amount 

December 29, 2012 

  Remaining     Gross Carrying     Accumulated  
   Amortization 
  Useful Life    

Amount 

Rasco technology 
Ismeca technology 
Duma technology 

$ 

$ 

 33,689     $ 
 29,915       
 864       
 64,468     $ 

 21,319    3.0 years     $ 
 3,809    7.0 years       
 408    1.6 years       
   $ 

 25,536      

 32,399    $ 
 -      
 864      
 33,263    $ 

 16,452  
 -  
 120  
 16,572  

The amounts included in the table above at December 28, 2013 exclude approximately $2.4 million and 
$4.0 million, related to the trade names of Rasco and Ismeca, respectively, and at December 29, 2012 exclude 
approximately $2.3 million related to Rasco trade name which have an indefinite life and are not being amortized. 
Changes in the carrying values of purchased intangible assets are a result of the impact of fluctuation in currency 
exchange rates. 

Amortization expense related to purchased intangible assets was approximately $8.1 million, $4.1 million and 
$4.6 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of December 28, 2013, we expect amortization expense in 
future periods to be as follows: 2014 - $8.3 million; 2015 - $8.2 million; 2016 - $7.6 million; 2017 - $3.7 million 
2018 - $3.7 million; and thereafter $7.4 million. 

3.  Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments 

Our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments consisted primarily of cash and other investment grade 
securities. We do not hold investment securities for trading purposes. All short-term investments are classified as 
available-for-sale and recorded at fair value. Investment securities are exposed to market risk due to changes in 
interest rates and credit risk and we monitor credit risk and attempt to mitigate exposure by making high-quality 
investments and through investment diversification. 

Gains and losses on investments are calculated using the specific-identification method and are recognized during 
the period in which the investment is sold or when an investment experiences an other-than-temporary decline in 
value. Factors that could indicate an impairment exists include, but are not limited to: earnings performance, 
changes in credit rating or adverse changes in the regulatory or economic environment of the asset. Gross realized 
gains and losses on sales of short-term investments are included in interest income. Realized gains and losses for 
the periods presented were not significant.  

Investments that we have classified as short-term, by security type, are as follows (in thousands):  

Municipal securities  

Municipal securities  
Government-sponsored  
   enterprise securities  

$ 

$ 

$ 

At December 28, 2013 
Gross  
Gross 
   Unrealized     

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses   

Amortized 
Cost 

Estimated 
Fair 
Value 

 1,200    $ 

 -    $ 

 -    $ 

 1,200 

At December 29, 2012 
Gross  
Gross 
   Unrealized     

   Unrealized 

Gains 

Losses   

Amortized 
Cost 

Estimated 
Fair 
Value 

 1,470    $ 

 - 

  $ 

 5,937   
 7,407    $ 

 14 
 14    $ 

 - 

   $ 

 - 
 -    $ 

 1,470 

 5,951 
 7,421 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Effective maturities of short-term investments at December 28, 2013, were as follows: 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

 (cid:3)
(in thousands)(cid:3)
Due in one year or less(cid:3)

   Amortized 

Cost 

   $ 

 1,200    $ 

   Estimated 
   Fair Value 
 1,200 

Our municipal securities include variable rate demand notes which can be put (sold at par) typically on a daily 
basis with settlement periods ranging from the same day to one week and have varying contractual maturities 
through 2037.  These securities can be used for short-term liquidity needs and are held for limited periods of time.  
At December 28, 2013 these securities had amortized cost and fair value of $1.2 million and are included in “Due 
in one year or less” in the table above. 

Accounting standards pertaining to fair value measurements establish a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which 
prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.  These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such 
as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are 
either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market 
data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.  When available, we use quoted market 
prices to determine the fair value of our investments, and they are included in Level 1.  When quoted market 
prices are unobservable, we use quotes from independent pricing vendors based on recent trading activity and 
other relevant information.  

The following table summarizes, by major security type, our assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring 
basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy (in thousands): 

Fair value measurements at December 28, 2013 using: 

Level 1 

Level 2 

Level 3 

Cash 
Municipal securities 
Money market funds 

   $ 

   $ 

 44,165  
 -  
 -  
 44,165  

   $ 

   $ 

 -  
 1,200  
 7,503  
 8,703  

   $ 

   $ 

   Total estimated 

fair value  

 -  
 -  
 -  
 -  

   $ 

   $ 

 44,165  
 1,200  
 7,503  
 52,868  

Cash 
Municipal securities 
Government-sponsored 
   enterprise securities 
Money market funds 

Fair value measurements at December 29, 2012 using: 

   $ 

Level 1 
 101,054  
 -  

   $ 

 -  
 -  
 101,054  

   $ 

   $ 

Level 2 

Level 3 

 -  
 1,470  

 5,951  
 1,754  
 9,175  

   $ 

   $ 

   Total estimated 

fair value  

 -  
 -  

 -  
 -  
 -  

   $ 

   $ 

 101,054  
 1,470  

 5,951  
 1,754  
 110,229  

In connection with our purchase of Ismeca on December 31, 2012, we assumed forward exchange contracts and 
currency option contracts which were used to hedge forecasted foreign currency balances and to mitigate the 
effect of exchange rate fluctuations of the Swiss Franc.  These contracts expired in August 2013.  A net loss of 
approximately $0.3 million was recognized in the statement of operations for the year ended December 28, 2013.  

 4.  Employee Benefit Plans 

Defined Contribution Retirement Plans – We have a voluntary defined contribution retirement 401(k) plan 
whereby we match employee contributions.  In 2013, 2012 and 2011 we provided a matching contribution at 
1.5% of eligible employee compensation and made contributions to the plan of approximately $0.5 million in all 
periods.  

Defined Benefit Retirement Plans – We maintain defined benefit plans in certain foreign locations for which 
the obligations and the net periodic pension costs were determined to be immaterial at December 28, 2013. As a 

44 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

result of the acquisition of Ismeca effective December 31, 2012, we took over the Ismeca Europe Semiconductor 
BVG Pension Plan in Switzerland (“the Swiss Plan”) and the following discussion relates to the Swiss Plan for 
the year ended December 28, 2013.  

Net periodic benefit cost of the Swiss Plan was as follows: 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Service cost(cid:3)
Interest cost(cid:3)
Expected return on assets(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Net periodic costs(cid:3)

2013  

 841 
 398 
 (267)
 972 

$ 

$ 

The following table sets forth the projected benefit obligation, the fair value of plan assets, the funded status and 
the liability we have recorded in our consolidated balance sheet related to the Swiss Plan: 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Change in projected benefit obligation:(cid:3)

Benefit obligation at December 31, 2012(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Service cost(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Interest cost(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Actuarial gain(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Participant contributions(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Benefits paid(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Foreign currency exchange adjustment(cid:3)
Benefit obligation at end of year(cid:3)

Change in plan assets:(cid:3)

Fair value of plan assets at December 31, 2012(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Return on assets, net of actuarial loss(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Employer contributions(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Participant contributions(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Benefits paid(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Foreign currency exchange adjustment(cid:3)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year(cid:3)

2013  

$  (23,541)
 (841)
 (398)
 1,538 
 (751)
 704 
 (561)
 (23,850)

 15,236 
 (338)
 751 
 751 
 (704)
 387 
 16,083 

Net liability at December 28, 2013(cid:3)

$

 (7,767)

At December 28, 2013, the Swiss Plan was underfunded and the related net liability is included in noncurrent 
accrued retirement benefits.  Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 28, 
2013 related to the Swiss Plan consisted of an unrecognized net actuarial gain totaling $1.0 million. 

Weighted-average actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation under the Swiss Plan are as 
follows: 
 (cid:3)
 (cid:3) Discount rate 
 (cid:3) Compensation increase 
 (cid:3)  

2.3%(cid:3) 
2.0%(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost of the Swiss Plan are as follows: 

2013  

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3) Discount rate 
 (cid:3) Rate of return on Assets 
 (cid:3) Compensation increase 

2013  

1.8%(cid:3) 
1.8%(cid:3) 
2.0%(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

45 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

During 2014 employer and employee respective contributions to the Swiss Plan are expected to total $0.7 million.  
Estimated benefit payments are expected to be as follows: 2014 - $0.8 million; 2015 - $0.7 million; 2016 - 
$0.8 million; 2017 - $0.8 million; 2018 - $0.8 million; and $6.0 million thereafter through 2023. 

As is customary with Swiss pension plans, the assets of the plan are invested in a collective fund with multiple 
employers.  We have no investment authority over the assets of the plan that are held and invested by a Swiss 
insurance company.  Investment holdings are made with respect to Swiss laws and target allocations for plan 
assets are 54% debt securities, 25% real estate investments, 15% equity securities, 1% cash, and 5% alternative 
investments.  All assets of the plan fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  See Note 3 for a description of 
the levels of inputs used to determine fair value measurement. 

Retiree Medical Benefits – We provide post-retirement health benefits to certain executives and directors under 
a noncontributory plan.  The net periodic benefit cost was $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million in 2013, 
2012 and 2011, respectively.  We fund benefits as costs are incurred and as a result there are no plan assets.   

The weighted average discount rate used in determining the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation was 
4.6% in 2013, 3.7% in 2012 and 4.2% in 2011.  Annual rates of increase of the cost of health benefits were 
assumed to be 8.5% in 2014.  These rates were then assumed to decrease 0.5% per year to 5.0% in 2021 and 
remain level thereafter.  A one percent increase (decrease) in health care cost trend rates would increase 
(decrease) the 2013 net periodic benefit cost by approximately $13,000 ($13,000) and the accumulated post-
retirement benefit obligation as of December 28, 2013, by approximately $252,000 ($212,000).  

The following table sets forth the post-retirement benefit obligation, funded status and the liability we have 
recorded in our consolidated balance sheets: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Accumulated benefit obligation at beginning of year(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Service cost(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Interest cost(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Actuarial gain(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Benefits paid(cid:3)
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year(cid:3)
Plan assets at end of year(cid:3)
Funded status(cid:3)

2013  

2012  

$

$

 2,366   
 15   
 86   
 (386)  
 (60)  
 2,021   
 -   
 (2,021)  

$ 

$ 

 2,909 
 16 
 120 
 (617)
 (62)
 2,366 
 - 
 (2,366)

Deferred Compensation – The Cohu, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan allows certain of our officers to defer 
a portion of their current compensation.  We have purchased life insurance policies on the participants with 
Cohu as the named beneficiary.  Participant contributions, distributions and investment earnings and losses are 
accumulated in a separate account for each participant.  At December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, the 
payroll liability to participants, included in accrued compensation and benefits in the consolidated balance 
sheet, was approximately $2.4 million and $2.1 million and the cash surrender value of the related life 
insurance policies included in other current assets was approximately $2.1 million and $1.7 million, 
respectively. 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan – The Cohu, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“the Plan”) provides 
for the issuance of a maximum of 1,900,000 shares of our common stock.  Under the Plan, eligible employees 
may purchase shares of common stock through payroll deductions.  The price paid for the common stock is 
equal to 85% of the fair market value of our common stock on specified dates.  In 2013, 2012, and 2011, 
163,120, 151,812 and 120,240 shares, respectively, were issued under the Plan.  At December 28, 2013, there 
were 322,422 shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.   

Stock Options – Under our equity incentive plans, stock options may be granted to employees, consultants and 
outside directors to purchase a fixed number of shares of our common stock at prices not less than 100% of the 
fair market value at the date of grant.  Options generally vest and become exercisable after one year or in four 
annual increments beginning one year after the grant date and expire ten years from the grant date.  At 
December 28, 2013, 1,199,077 shares were available for future equity grants under the Cohu, Inc. 2005 Equity 

46 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Incentive Plan. We have historically issued new shares of Cohu common stock upon share option exercise. 

Stock option activity under our share-based compensation plans was as follows: 

2013  

2012  

2011  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Outstanding, beginning of year  
Granted  
Exercised 
Canceled 
Outstanding, end of year  

   Shares 

  Wt. Avg. 
  Ex. Price 
 12.62 
 9.83 
 7.55 
 16.37 
 11.93 

 3,113  $ 
 470  $ 
 (117) $ 
 (380) $ 
 3,086  $ 

  Wt. Avg. 
   Ex. Price 
   Shares 
 13.01 
 $ 
 3,112 
 10.50 
 437 
 $ 
 8.26 
 (73)  $ 
 14.29 
 (363)  $ 
 12.62 
 $ 
 3,113 

   Shares 

  Wt. Avg. 
  Ex. Price 
 12.89 
 13.33 
 9.03 
 14.24 
 13.01 

 3,210  $ 
 157  $ 
 (123) $ 
 (132) $ 
 3,112  $ 

Options exercisable at year end  

 2,195  $ 

 12.46 

 2,209 

 $ 

 13.52 

 2,112  $ 

 14.44 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $0.4 million, 
$0.2 million, and $0.6 million, respectively.  At December 28, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value of options 
outstanding, vested and expected to vest were each approximately $2.4 million and the aggregate intrinsic value 
of options exercisable was approximately $2.1 million.   

Information about stock options outstanding at December 28, 2013 is as follows (options in thousands): 

Options Outstanding 
Approximate       

Options Exercisable 

Range of 
Exercise Prices 

$ 
$ 
$ 
$ 

 7.32  - $  10.98      
 10.99  - $  16.49      
 16.50  - $  24.74      
 24.75  - $  37.13      

Wt. Avg. 
   Number  Remaining 
   Wt. Avg. 
   Outstanding  Life (Years)     Ex. Price 
 8.82 
 14.96 
 17.37 
 25.70 
 11.93 

 7.1     $ 
 4.2     $ 
 1.2     $ 
 1.6     $ 
 5.4     $ 

 1,666 
 1,081 
 334 
 5 
 3,086 

   Number 
   Wt. Avg. 
   Exercisable      Ex. Price 
 7.73 
$
 889 
$  15.05 
 967 
$  17.37 
 334 
$  25.70 
 5 
$  12.46 
 2,195 

Restricted Stock Units – Under our equity incentive plans, restricted stock units may be granted to employees, 
consultants and outside directors. Restricted stock units vest over either a one-year or a four-year period from 
the date of grant.  Prior to vesting, restricted stock units do not have dividend equivalent rights, do not have 
voting rights and the shares underlying the restricted stock units are not considered issued and outstanding. 
Shares of our common stock will be issued on the date the restricted stock units vest.  

Restricted stock unit activity under our share-based compensation plans was as follows: 

2013  

2012  

2011  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Outstanding, beginning of year  
Granted  
Released 
Canceled 
Outstanding, end of year  

Units 

   Wt. Avg.  
  Fair Value 
 10.54   
 8.80   
 10.86   
 9.86   
 9.46   

 615     $ 
 531     $ 
 (223)    $ 
 (36)    $ 
 887     $ 

   Units 

   Wt. Avg.  
  Fair Value 
 12.98 
 9.57 
 13.27 
 13.92 
 10.54 

 299    $ 
 462    $ 
 (108)   $ 
 (38)   $ 
 615    $ 

Wt. Avg.  
   Units  Fair Value 
 13.35 
 13.00 
 13.91 
 13.41 
 12.98 

 373     $ 
 75     $ 
 (139)    $ 
 (10)    $ 
 299     $ 

Equity-Based Performance Stock Units – In March 2012, we began granting equity-based performance units 
covering shares of our common stock to certain employees. The number of shares of stock ultimately issued will 
depend upon the extent to which certain financial performance goals set by our Board of Directors are met during 
the one-year award measurement period.  Based upon the level of achievement of performance goals the number 
of shares we ultimately issue can range from 0% up to 150% of the number of shares under each grant which vest 
over 3 years from the date of initial grant. We record a provision for equity-based performance units outstanding 
based on our current assessment of achievement of the performance goals. New shares of our common stock will 

47 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
        
     
  
  
     
        
     
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
     
        
     
  
     
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
     
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

be issued on the date the equity-based performance units vest.  

Performance based stock unit activity under our share-based compensation plans was as follows: 

2013  

2012  

(in thousands, except per share data) 
Outstanding, beginning of year  
Granted  
Released 
Canceled 
Outstanding, end of year  

Units 

   Wt. Avg.  
  Fair Value 
 9.89   
 9.03   
 9.89   
 9.89   
 9.32   

 122     $ 
 158     $ 
 (26)    $ 
 (16)    $ 
 238     $ 

   Units 

   Wt. Avg.  
  Fair Value 
 - 
 9.89 
 - 
 9.89 
 9.89 

 -      
 129    $ 
 -      
 (7)   $ 
 122    $ 

Share-based Compensation – We estimate the fair value of each share-based award on the grant date using 
the Black-Scholes valuation model.  Option valuation models, including Black-Scholes, require the input of 
highly subjective assumptions, and changes in the assumptions used can materially affect the grant date fair 
value of an award.  These assumptions include the risk-free rate of interest, expected dividend yield, expected 
volatility, and the expected life of the award.  The risk-free rate of interest is based on the U.S. Treasury rates 
appropriate for the expected term of the award as of the grant date.  Expected dividends are based, primarily, 
on historical factors related to our common stock.  Expected volatility is based on historic, weekly stock price 
observations of our common stock during the period immediately preceding the share-based award grant that is 
equal in length to the award’s expected term.  We believe that historical volatility is the best estimate of future 
volatility.  Expected life of the award is based on historical option exercise data.  Estimated forfeitures are 
required to be included as a part of the grant date expense estimate.  We used historical data to estimate 
expected employee behaviors related to option exercises and forfeitures.   

Share-based compensation expense related to restricted stock unit awards is calculated based on the market 
price of our common stock on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of dividends expected to be paid 
on our common stock prior to vesting of the restricted stock unit.  

The following weighted average assumptions were used to value share-based awards granted: 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
Dividend yield 
Expected volatility 
Risk-free interest rate 
Expected term of options 
Weighted-average grant date fair 
   value per share 

Employee Stock Options 
Dividend yield 
Expected volatility 
Risk-free interest rate 
Expected term of options 
Weighted-average grant date fair 
   value per share 

Restricted Stock Units 
Dividend yield 
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
Performance Stock Units(cid:3)
Dividend yield(cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 

2013  

 2.6 % 
 38.4 % 
 0.1 % 

   0.5 years 

2012  
 2.4 % 
 43.6 %    
 0.1 % 
   0.5 years   

2011  
 1.9 % 
 42.4 % 
 0.1 % 
0.5 years 

$ 

 2.32    $ 

 2.78    $ 

 3.77   

2013  
2.6 % 
   44.9 % 
1.1 % 

   6.4 years 

2012  
 2.1 % 
 46.3 %    
 1.2 % 
   6.25 years   

2011  
 2.0 % 
 45.8 % 
 1.9 % 
6.0 years 

$ 

 3.37    $ 

 3.87    $ 

 5.06   

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)

2013  
2.5 % 

2013  
2.5 % 

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)

2012  
2.3 % 

2012  
2.3 % 

2011  
1.8 % 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)

48 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
    
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
    
      
      
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Reported share-based compensation is classified in the consolidated financial statements as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Cost of sales 
Research and development 
Selling, general and administrative 
Total share-based compensation 
Income tax benefit 
Total share-based compensation, net of tax 

2013  

   2012  

   2011  

$ 

$ 

 390    $ 
 1,698      
 3,380      
 5,468      
 -      
 5,468    $ 

 417    $ 
 1,364      
 2,840      
 4,621      
 -      
 4,621    $ 

 420 
 1,356 
 2,511 
 4,287 
 - 
 4,287 

At December 28, 2013, excluding a reduction for forfeitures, we had approximately $2.8 million of pre-tax 
unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options which is expected to be recognized over a 
weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years.  

At December 28, 2013, excluding a reduction for forfeitures, we had approximately $7.2 million of pre-tax 
unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock units and performance stock units which is 
expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years.  

5.  Income Taxes 

Significant components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Current:(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) U.S. Federal (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) U.S. State(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Foreign(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   Total current 
Deferred:(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) U.S. Federal (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) U.S. State(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Foreign(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   Total deferred 
 (cid:3)  

2013  

2012  

2011  

$ 

$(cid:3)

 (1,538)   $ 
 42   
 825   
 (671)  

 (1,898)   $ 
 (388)  
 831   
 (1,455)  

 (90)
 (250)
 4,075 
 3,735 

 761   
 26   
 (2,444)  
 (1,657)  
 (2,328)   $ 

 1,890   
 186   
 (1,495)  
 581   
 (874)   $ 

 (977)
 (4)
 (695)
 (1,676)
 2,059 

Income (loss) before income taxes consisted of the following: 

(cid:3)(cid:3) (in thousands)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) U.S. (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Foreign(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Total(cid:3)

2013  
 (27,902)   $ 
 (7,844)  
 (35,746)   $ 

2012  
 (10,189)   $ 
 (2,928)  
 (13,117)   $ 

$ 

$ 

2011  

 8,154 
 9,624 
 17,778 

49 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
     
     
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes.  Significant components of our deferred tax assets 
and liabilities were as follows: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Deferred tax assets:(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Inventory, receivable and warranty reserves(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Net operating loss carryforwards(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Tax credit carryforwards(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Accrued employee benefits(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Deferred profit (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Stock-based compensation(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Acquisition basis differences(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Depreciation and fixed asset related(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Other(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)      Gross deferred tax assets 
(cid:3)(cid:3) Less valuation allowance(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)      Total deferred tax assets 
Deferred tax liabilities:(cid:3)
 (cid:3) Depreciation and fixed asset related 
(cid:3)(cid:3) Acquisition basis differences(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Other (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)      Total deferred tax liabilities 
(cid:3)(cid:3)      Net deferred tax liabilities 

2013  

   2012  

$

$

 13,290   
 9,070   
 11,258   
 3,709   
 839   
 3,972   
 2,105   
 831   
 121   
 45,195   
 (36,064)  
 9,131   

 2,909   
 13,193   
 461   
 16,563   
 (7,432)  

$

$

 11,434 
 2,299 
 7,764 
 2,167 
 502 
 3,409 
 2,226 
 318 
 243 
 30,362 
 (24,948)
 5,414 

 2,792 
 9,340 
 283 
 12,415 
 (7,001)

Companies are required to assess whether a valuation allowance should be recorded against their deferred tax 
assets (“DTAs”) based on the consideration of all available evidence, using a “more likely than not” realization 
standard. The four sources of taxable income that must be considered in determining whether DTAs will be 
realized are, (1) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences (i.e. offset of gross deferred tax 
assets against gross deferred tax liabilities); (2) taxable income in prior carryback years, if carryback is 
permitted under the tax law; (3) tax planning strategies and (4) future taxable income exclusive of reversing 
temporary differences and carryforwards. 

In assessing whether a valuation allowance is required, significant weight is to be given to evidence that can be 
objectively verified.  We have evaluated our DTAs each reporting period, including an assessment of our 
cumulative income or loss over the prior three-year period and future periods, to determine if a valuation 
allowance was required. A significant negative factor in our assessment was Cohu's three-year cumulative U.S. 
loss history at the end of various fiscal periods including 2013. 

As a result of our cumulative, three-year GAAP domestic pretax loss of approximately $29.9 million at the end 
of 2013, and our loss in 2013, we were unable to conclude at December 28, 2013 that it was “more likely than 
not” that our U.S. DTAs would be realized. We will evaluate the realizability of our DTAs at the end of each 
quarterly reporting period in 2014 and should circumstances change it is possible the remaining valuation 
allowance, or a portion thereof, will be reversed in a future period. 

Our valuation allowance on our DTAs at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 was approximately 
$36.1 million and $24.9 million, respectively.  The remaining gross DTAs for which a valuation allowance 
was not recorded are realizable primarily through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences.  
As the realization of DTAs is determined by tax jurisdiction, the significant deferred tax liabilities recorded as 
part of the 2008 acquisition of Rasco, a German corporation, and the fiscal 2013 acquisition of Ismeca, a Swiss 
Corporation, were not a source of taxable income in assessing the realization of our DTAs in the U.S. 

50 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

The reconciliation of income tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to the provision (benefit) for 
income taxes is as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Tax provision (benefit) at U.S. 35% statutory rate 
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 
Settlements, adjustments and releases from statute expirations 
Change in effective tax rate for deferred balances 
Federal tax credits 
Stock-based compensation on which no tax benefit provided 
Change in valuation allowance 
Foreign income taxed at different rates 
Non-deductible transaction costs 
Other, net 

2013  
$  (12,511)   $
 (1,098)  
 (846)  
 -   
 (1,340)  
 168   
 11,283   
 1,526   
 -   
 490   
 (2,328) $

$

2012  
 (4,591)   $
 (645)  
 367   
 346   
 -   
 177   
 2,614   
 (227)  
 700   
 385   
 (874) $

2011  
 6,223 
 (941)
 (791)
 - 
 (707)
 202 
 (483)
 (726)
 - 
 (718)
 2,059 

State income taxes, net of federal benefit, have been reduced by research tax credits totaling approximately 
$0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011. 

At December 28, 2013, we had federal, state and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of approximately 
$16.3 million, $29.1 million and $19.1 million, respectively, that expire in various tax years through 2033 or 
have no expiration date.  We also have federal and state tax credit carryforwards at December 28, 2013 of 
approximately $6.3 million and $12.5 million, respectively, some of which expire in various tax years 
beginning in 2014 through 2033 or have no expiration date.  The federal and state loss and credit carryforwards 
are subject to annual limitations under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable state 
tax law.  Approximately $5.1 million of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards acquired in the Ismeca 
acquisition are expected to expire unutilized as a result of the annual limitations imposed by Section 382.  As a 
result we have has reduced our deferred tax assets and valuation allowance related to these net operating loss 
carryforwards. 

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which reinstated the United States federal research and 
development tax credit retroactively from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013, was not enacted into 
law until the first quarter of 2013. Therefore, the tax benefit from the credits for 2012 and 2013 are reflected in 
our 2013 income tax provision. 

U.S. income taxes have not been provided on approximately $17.0 million of accumulated undistributed 
earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries, as we currently intend to indefinitely reinvest these earnings in 
operations outside the U.S.  It is not practicable to estimate the amount of tax that might be payable if some or 
all of such earnings were to be remitted. We have certain tax holidays or incentives with respect to our 
operations in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. These holidays or incentives require compliance with 
certain conditions and expire at various dates through 2023.  The impact of these holidays or incentives on net 
income was not significant for fiscal years ended December 2013, 2012 and 2011. 

A reconciliation of our gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding accrued interest and penalties, is as follows: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Balance at beginning of year(cid:3)
Gross additions for tax positions of current year (cid:3)
Gross additions for tax positions of prior years(cid:3)
Reductions due to lapse of the statute of limitations(cid:3)
Balance at end of year(cid:3)

(cid:3) 
$ 

2013 (cid:3)
 6,080  
 933  
 3,470  
 -  
$   10,483  

(cid:3) 
   $ 

   $ 

2012 (cid:3)
 5,381  
 776  
 195  
 (272) 
 6,080  

(cid:3) 
   $ 

   $ 

2011 (cid:3)
 5,069  
 1,455  
 126  
 (1,269) 
 5,381  

The 2013 gross additions for tax positions of prior years are primarily composed of additions from the Ismeca 
acquisition. 

51 

 
 
 
  
  
    
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
       
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

If the unrecognized tax benefits at December 28, 2013 are ultimately recognized, approximately $6.2 million 
($2.5 million at December 29, 2012) would result in a reduction in our income tax expense and effective tax 
rate. 

We are unable to estimate the range of any reasonably possible increase or decrease in our gross  
unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months.  However, we do not expect any such outcome will result 
in a material change to our financial condition or results of operations.   

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Cohu had 
approximately $1.5 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at December 28, 2013 and $0.4 
million at December 29, 2012. The increase in accrued interest and penalties is due to the Ismeca acquisition.  
Interest expense, net of accrued interest reversed, in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was approximately $(0.1) million, 
$0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.   

Our U.S. federal and state income tax returns for years after 2009 and 2008, respectively, remain open to 
examination, subject to the statute of limitations.  Net operating loss and credit carryforwards arising prior to 
these years are also open to examination if and when utilized.  The statute of limitations for the assessment and 
collection of income taxes related to our foreign tax returns varies by country.  In the foreign countries where 
we have significant operations these time periods generally range from four to ten years after the year for 
which the tax return is due or the tax is assessed. 

6.  Segment and Related Information 

Our reportable segments are business units that offer different products and are managed separately because 
each business requires different technology and marketing strategies.  Our three segments are: semiconductor 
equipment, microwave communications and video cameras.   

The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of 
significant accounting policies.  We allocate resources and evaluate the performance of segments based on 
profit or loss from operations, excluding interest, corporate expenses and unusual gains or losses.  
Intersegment sales were not significant for any period. 

Financial information by industry segment is presented below: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) reportable segments (cid:3)

(in thousands) (cid:3)
Net sales by segment:(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Semiconductor equipment (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Microwave communications (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Video cameras (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3) Total consolidated net sales and net sales for  (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
Segment profit (loss): (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Semiconductor equipment (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Microwave communications (cid:3)
 (cid:3) Video cameras  
 (cid:3)   Profit (loss) for reportable segments  
Other unallocated amounts: (cid:3)
 (cid:3) Corporate expenses (1) 
 (cid:3) Interest and other income  
 (cid:3) Income (loss) from operations before   
 (cid:3)   income taxes  

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
$ 

$ 

$ 

2013  

2012  

2011  

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
 214,511    $ 
 17,063   
 15,726   

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
 179,449    $ 
 26,863   
 14,850   

 260,648 
 29,967 
 18,353 

 247,300    $ 

 221,162    $ 

 308,968 

 (24,998)   $ 
 (6,142)  
 1,317   
 (29,823)  

 (5,331)   $ 
 (847)  
 (121)  
 (6,299)  

 (5,977)  
 54   

 (7,785)  
 967   

 20,040 
 1,510 
 807 
 22,357 

 (5,021)
 442 

$ 

 (35,746)   $ 

 (13,117)   $ 

 17,778 

 (cid:3)   (1) Increase in corporate expense in 2012 was primarily a result of $2.3 million in Ismeca acquisition related costs.  

52 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
 
 
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)  (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
(in thousands)(cid:3)
Depreciation and amortization by segment deducted (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) in arriving at profit (loss):(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Semiconductor equipment(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Microwave communications(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Video cameras(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Intangible amortization(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3) Total depreciation and amortization for (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
Capital expenditures by segment:(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Semiconductor equipment(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Microwave communications(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Video cameras(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3) Total consolidated capital expenditures(cid:3)

(cid:3) reportable segments(cid:3)

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Total assets by segment:(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Semiconductor equipment(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Microwave communications(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Video cameras(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)
(cid:3) Total assets for reportable segments(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) Corporate, principally cash and investments (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3) and deferred taxes(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)

(cid:3) Total consolidated assets(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

2013  

2012  

2011  

 4,723    $ 
 523   
 141   
 5,387   
 8,082   

 4,506    $ 
 652   
 188   
 5,346   
 4,057   

 4,313 
 893 
 216 
 5,422 
 4,645 

 13,469    $ 

 9,403    $ 

 10,067 

 3,607    $ 
 267   
 34   
 3,908    $ 

 2,759    $ 
 481   
 27   
 3,267    $ 

 991 
 313 
 109 
 1,413 

2013  

2012  

2011  

 297,175    $ 
 22,156   
 8,870   
 328,201   

 281,173    $ 
 22,635   
 9,424   
 313,232   

 255,189 
 21,968 
 11,598 
 288,755 

 17,222   
 345,423    $ 

 21,641   
 334,873    $ 

 72,853 
 361,608 

$ 

Customers from the semiconductor equipment segment comprising 10% or greater of our consolidated net sales 
are summarized as follows: 

Intel 
Texas Instruments 

* Less than 10% of net sales 

2013  

2012  

 16 %  
*  

 39 %   
*    

2011   
 36 %  
 11 %  

Net sales to customers, attributed to countries based on product shipment destination, were as follows: 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
United States(cid:3)
Malaysia(cid:3)
China(cid:3)
Philippines(cid:3)
Costa Rica(cid:3)
Rest of the World(cid:3)
     Total(cid:3)

2013  

2012  

$ 

$ 

 58,856    $ 
 51,661   
 37,623   
 26,563   
 5,127   
 67,470   
 247,300    $ 

 57,193    $ 
 40,326   
 31,973   
 22,507   
 22,934   
 46,229   

 221,162    $ 

2011  

 77,563 
 48,624 
 37,824 
 40,368 
 14,152 
 90,437 
 308,968 

53 

 
 
 
 
  
     
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Geographic location of our property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets was as follows: 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(in thousands)(cid:3)
Property, plant and equipment:(cid:3)
United States(cid:3)
Germany(cid:3)
Philippines(cid:3)
Rest of the World(cid:3)
     Total, net(cid:3)

Goodwill and other intangible assets:(cid:3)
Germany(cid:3)
Switzerland(cid:3)
United States(cid:3)
Malaysia(cid:3)
Singapore(cid:3)
Rest of the World(cid:3)
     Total, net(cid:3)

7.  Stockholder Rights Plan  

2013  

2012  

$ 

$ 

$ 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
$ 

 21,894   
 8,973   
 3,278   
 2,081   
 36,226   

 51,032   
 32,513   
 17,698   
 7,738 (cid:3) 
 6,558 (cid:3) 
 1,089 (cid:3) 
 116,628   

$ 

$ 

$ 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
$ 

 22,621 
 8,802 
 3,851 
 190 
 35,464 

 53,190 
 - 
 17,985 
 - 
 6,558 
 - 
 77,733 

In November, 1996, we adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan (“Rights Plan”) and declared a dividend 
distribution of one Preferred Stock Purchase Right (“Right”) for each share of common stock, payable to 
holders of record on December 3, 1996.  Under the Rights Plan, each stockholder received one Right for each 
share of common stock owned.  Each Right entitled the holder to buy one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of 
Cohu’s Series A Preferred Stock for $90.  As a result of the two-for-one stock split in September, 1999, each 
share of common stock was associated with one-half of a Right entitling the holder to purchase one two-
hundredth (1/200) of a share of Series A Preferred Stock for $45.  In November, 2006, we amended and 
restated our existing Rights Plan to extend its term to November 9, 2016 and make certain other changes. 
Pursuant to the amendment, to reflect the increase in the price of our common stock since the adoption of the 
Rights Plan, the exercise price of each Right was increased to $190.  Consequently, each one-half of a Right 
entitles the holder to purchase one two-hundredth (1/200) of a share of Series A Preferred Stock for $95.  The 
Rights are not presently exercisable and will only become exercisable following the occurrence of certain 
specified events.  If these specified events occur, each Right will be adjusted to entitle its holder to receive, 
upon exercise, common stock having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right, or each Right 
will be adjusted to entitle its holder to receive common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to 
two times the exercise price of the Right, depending on the circumstances.  The Rights expire on November 9, 
2016, and we may redeem them for $0.001 per Right.  The Rights do not have voting or dividend rights and, 
until they become exercisable, have no dilutive effect on our earnings per share.  

8.  Commitments and Contingencies 

  We lease certain of our facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases. Rental expense was 

$1.8 million in 2013 and $1.1 million, in both 2012 and 2011. Future minimum lease payments at December 28, 
2013 are as follows:  

(in thousands)     
Non-cancelable 
 operating leases    $   1,114   $ 

   2014  

   2015  

   2016  

   2017  

   2018  

  Thereafter     Total 

 565   $ 

 430   $ 

 377   $ 

 377   $ 

 1,508   $   4,371  

From time-to-time we are involved in various legal proceedings, examinations by various tax authorities and 
claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of our businesses. 

54 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

During the period from February through May 2013, Cohu’s subsidiary Delta Design, Inc. (“Delta”) made 
several inquiries of Essai, Inc. (“Essai”) asking it to confirm that it had not incorporated any of the technology 
covered by Delta’s patents in its current product offerings. On May 23, 2013 Essai filed a complaint against 
Delta in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (the “Court”) seeking a declaratory 
judgment of non-infringement and invalidity of one Delta U. S. patent that issued in 1998. On July 19, 2013 
Delta filed a motion with the Court to dismiss Essai’s complaint and Essai filed its opposition to Delta’s 
motion to dismiss on August 2, 2013. On December 2, 2013 the Court granted Delta’s motion to dismiss the 
case and judgment was entered in favor of Delta and against Essai on February 5, 2014. Delta intends to 
vigorously defend its intellectual property rights.  

The outcome of any litigation is inherently uncertain. While there can be no assurance, we do not believe at the 
present time that the resolution of the matters described above will have a material adverse effect on our assets, 
financial position or results of operations. 

9.  Guarantees 

Changes in accrued warranty during the three-year period ended December 28, 2013 were as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Beginning balance 
   Warranty accruals 
   Warranty payments 
   Warranty liability assumed 
Ending balance 

2013  

2012  

   $ 

   $ 

 4,692    $ 
 5,410   
 (6,667)  
 1,817   
 5,252    $ 

 6,801    $ 
 4,214   
 (6,323)   
 -   
 4,692    $ 

2011  

 5,016 
 10,987 
 (9,202)
 - 
 6,801 

During the ordinary course of business, we provide standby letters of credit instruments to certain parties as 
required.  At December 28, 2013, the maximum potential amount of future payments that we could be required 
to make under these standby letters of credit was approximately $0.8 million.  We have not recorded any 
liability in connection with these arrangements beyond that required to appropriately account for the 
underlying transaction being guaranteed.  We do not believe, based on historical experience and information 
currently available, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid under these arrangements. 

10.  Related Party Transactions 

William E. Bendush, a member of the Cohu Board of Directors since December 8, 2011, is a member of the 
Board of Directors of Microsemi Corporation (“MSC”), a customer of our semiconductor equipment segment. 
During 2013, 2012 and 2011, total sales to MSC were approximately $1.8 million, $1.1 million and $1.7 
million, respectively.  

55 

 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
COHU, INC. 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

11.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 

Components of other comprehensive income (loss), on an after-tax basis, were as follows: 

(in thousands) 
Year Ended December 31, 2011 
   Foreign currency translation adjustments 
   Adjustments related to postretirement benefits 
   Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments 
     Other comprehensive income 
Year Ended December 29, 2012 
   Foreign currency translation adjustments 
   Adjustments related to postretirement benefits 
   Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments 
     Other comprehensive income 
Year Ended December 28, 2013 
   Foreign currency translation adjustments 
   Adjustments related to postretirement benefits 
   Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments 
     Other comprehensive income 

   Before Tax 
amount  

Tax 
(Expense) 
Benefit 

Net-of-Tax 
Amount 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 (1,076)   $ 
 1,267   
 (6)  
 185    $ 

 1,689    $ 
 362   
 (16)  
 2,035    $ 

 3,270    $ 
 1,889   
 (14)  
 5,145    $ 

 -    $ 
 -   
 -   
 -    $ 

 (1,076)  
 1,267 
 (6)  
 185   

 -    $ 

 (240)  
 -   
 (240)   $ 

 -    $ 

 (285)  
 8   
 (277)   $ 

 1,689   
 122   
 (16)  
 1,795   

 3,270   
 1,604   
 (6)  
 4,868   

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, at the end of each period are as 
follows: 

(in thousands) 
Accumulated net currency translation adjustments 
Accumulated net adjustments related to postretirement benefits 
Accumulated net unrealized gain/loss on investments 
   Total accumulated other comprehensive income 

$ 

$ 

2013  

2012  

 5,780    $ 
 871   
 -   
 6,651    $ 

 2,510 
 (733)  
 6   
 1,783   

12.  Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)  

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

Quarter(cid:3)
(in thousands, except per share data)(cid:3)

   First (a) 

   Second (a)     Third (a) 

   Fourth (a) 

   Year 

Net sales:(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   

Gross profit:(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   

Net loss:(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   

Net loss per share (b):(cid:3)
 (cid:3) Basic 
 (cid:3)   

(cid:3)(cid:3) Diluted(cid:3)
 (cid:3)   

2013     $ 
2012     $ 

 56,016  $ 
 53,296  $ 

 66,652  $ 
 59,404  $ 

2013     $ 
2012     $ 

 15,584  $ 
 15,539  $ 

 21,473  $ 
 17,664  $ 

 59,962 
 57,748 

 14,521 
 18,126 

 $ 
 $ 

 $ 
 $ 

 64,670  $ 
 50,714  $ 

 247,300 
 221,162 

 18,948  $ 
 16,649  $ 

 70,526 
 67,978 

2013     $ 
2012     $ 

 (12,103) $ 
 (3,224) $ 

 (4,045) $ 
 (2,109) $ 

 (10,820)  $ 
 (1,749)  $ 

 (6,450) $ 
 (5,161) $ 

 (33,418)
 (12,243)

2013     $ 
2012     $ 

2013     $ 
2012     $ 

 (0.49) $ 
 (0.13) $ 

 (0.49) $ 
 (0.13) $ 

 (0.16) $ 
 (0.09) $ 

 (0.16) $ 
 (0.09) $ 

 (0.43)  $ 
 (0.07)  $ 

 (0.43)  $ 
 (0.07)  $ 

 (0.26) $ 
 (0.21) $ 

 (0.26) $ 
 (0.21) $ 

 (1.34)
 (0.50)

 (1.34)
 (0.50)

(a)   All quarters presented above were comprised of 13 weeks.  
(b)   The sum of the four quarters may not agree to the year total due to rounding within a quarter and the inclusion  or exclusion of 

common stock equivalents. 

56 

 
 
 
  
     
     
  
  
     
        
        
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
    
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
        
        
        
        
     
  
  
   
  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

The Board of Directors and Stockholders 

Cohu, Inc.  

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cohu, Inc. as of December 28, 2013 and 
December 29, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), 
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013. Our audits 
also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and 
schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these 
financial statements and schedule based on our audits.  

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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, 
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the 
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial 
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.  

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated 
financial position of Cohu, Inc. at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, and the consolidated results of its 
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013, in conformity with 
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when 
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects the 
information set forth therein.  

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States), Cohu, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission (1992 framework) and our report dated March 4, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.  

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP 

San Diego, California 
March 4, 2014 

57 

  
 
 
Index to Exhibits 

15. (b)(cid:3)

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated into, the 2013 Cohu, Inc. Annual Report on 
Form 10-K: 

(cid:3) 

Exhibit No.(cid:3) Description 

3.1 (cid:3)

3.1(a) (cid:3)

3.2 (cid:3)

4.1 (cid:3)

10.1 (cid:3)

10.2 (cid:3)

10.3 (cid:3)

10.4 (cid:3)

10.5 (cid:3)

10.6 (cid:3)

10.7 (cid:3)

10.8 (cid:3)

10.9 (cid:3)

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cohu, Inc. incorporated herein by reference to 
Exhibit 3.1(a) from the Cohu, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1999 

Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cohu, Inc. 
incorporated herein by reference from the Cohu, Inc. Form S-8 filed June 30, 2000, Exhibit 4.1(a) 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cohu, Inc. incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 from 
the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
December 12, 1996 

Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated November 10, 2006, between Cohu, Inc. and 
Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent, incorporated herein by reference from the Cohu, 
Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 
13, 2006, Exhibit 99.1 

Amended Cohu, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 
from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on May 9, 2012 * 

Amended Cohu, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, incorporated herein by reference from 
the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
May 13, 2011, Exhibit 10.1*  

Cohu, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated) incorporated herein by reference 
from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on December 29, 2008, Exhibit 10.1* 

Form of stock option agreement for use with stock options granted pursuant to the Cohu, Inc. 2005 
Equity Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 7, 2006* 

Restricted stock unit agreement for use with restricted stock units granted pursuant to the Cohu, Inc. 
2005 Equity Incentive Plan incorporated herein by reference from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2013* 

Intel Corporation Purchase Agreement Capital Equipment, Goods and Services, dated April 30, 
2012, by and between Delta Design, Inc. and Intel Corporation incorporated herein by reference to 
Exhibit 99.1 from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed August 1, 2012 

Form of Indemnity Agreement, incorporated by reference from the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed July 28, 2008, Exhibit 10.1* 

Cohu, Inc. Retiree Health Benefits Agreement (as amended) incorporated herein by reference from 
the Cohu, Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
December 29, 2008, Exhibit 10.2* 

Cohu, Inc. Change in Control Agreement incorporated herein by reference from the Cohu, Inc. 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 
2008, Exhibit 10.3* 

58 

  
 
     
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(cid:3)  21 (cid:3)

(cid:3)  23 (cid:3)

31.1        
    (cid:3)
31.2        
    (cid:3)
32.1 (cid:3)

32.2 (cid:3)

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 

   Subsidiaries of Cohu, Inc. 

   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Certification pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for James A. Donahue 

Certification pursuant to Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Jeffrey D. Jones 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for James A. Donahue 

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for Jeffrey D. Jones 

(cid:3)  101.INS    XBRL Instance Document 

(cid:3)  101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 

(cid:3)  101.CAL(cid:3)   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 

 (cid:3) 101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document 

(cid:3)(cid:3) 101.LAB(cid:3)   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document 

(cid:3)  101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document 
(cid:3)   (cid:3)
(cid:3)   (cid:3)

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement 

59 

  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
(cid:3) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

SIGNATURES 
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

  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.(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
Date:  (cid:3) March 5, 2014 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) COHU, INC.(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
By:/s/ James A. Donahue 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
James A. Donahue (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) President and Chief Executive Officer(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by 
the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 (cid:3)
Signature  (cid:3)

 /s/ James A. Donahue      (cid:3)(cid:3)  President and Chief Executive Officer, Director (cid:3)
James A. Donahue 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(Principal Executive Officer)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)  Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer(cid:3)(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)(cid:3)   
 (cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

 (cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  Title (cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 /s/ Jeffrey D. Jones         
Jeffrey D. Jones 

 /s/ William E. Bendush     (cid:3)  Director(cid:3)
William E. Bendush 
(cid:3) 
 /s/ Steven J. Bilodeau 
Steven J. Bilodeau 

 (cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 /s/ Harry L. Casari       
Harry L. Casari 

 /s/ Robert L. Ciardella            Director 
Robert L. Ciardella 

 /s/ Harold Harrigian                Director 
Harold Harrigian 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3) 

(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)
      Director 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
   Director 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3) 

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  Date(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3) 
(cid:3) 
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  March 5, 2014(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

 (cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3)

60 

  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)

COHU, INC. 
SCHEDULE II(cid:3)
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS(cid:3)
(in thousands)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)
 (cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)  (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

Description 

Balance at    
Beginning    
of Year 

Additions 
Not 
Charged 
to Expense 

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
   Additions 
   (Reductions) 

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3) (cid:3)(cid:3)

Charged 
(Credited) 
to Expense 

   Balance 
   Deductions/     at End 
   of Year 
   Write-offs 

Allowance for doubtful accounts:       

Year ended December 31, 2011  $ 

 556    $ 

 (2)   (1)     $ 

 (25)     

Year ended December 29, 2012  $ 

 463    $ 

 1    (1)     $ 

 (57)     

Year ended December 28, 2013  $ 

 308    $ 

 354    (3)     $ 

 134      

Reserve for excess and obsolete inventories: 

Year ended December 31, 2011  $ 

 23,783    $ 

 88    (1)     $ 

 5,796      

Year ended December 29, 2012  $ 

 25,575    $ 

 611    (2)     $ 

 8,884      

Year ended December 28, 2013  $ 

 28,062    $ 

 7,423    (4)     $ 

 8,129      

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

   $ 

 66    $ 

 99    $ 

 233    $ 

 463 

 308 

 563 

 4,092    $ 

 25,575 

 7,008    $ 

 28,062 

 4,786    $ 

 38,828 

(1)  Changes in reserve balances resulting from foreign currency impact. 
(2)  Changes in reserve balances resulting from foreign currency impact and reclass from other reserves. 
(3)  Includes $0.4 million resulting from Ismeca Acquisition on December 31, 2012 and foreign currency impact. 
(4)  Includes $6.5 million resulting from Ismeca Acquisition on December 31, 2012 and foreign currency impact. 

61 

  
 
     
     
  
  
  
     
  
     
  
  
     
  
     
  
     
  
  
  
     
  
  
  
  
  
        
     
        
     
        
        
  
     
        
     
        
     
        
        
  
     
        
     
        
     
        
        
        
     
        
     
        
        
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C O H U,   I N C.

C O M P A N Y   I N F O R M A T I O N

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
James A. Donahue 

 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Offi cer, 
Cohu, Inc.

William E. Bendush (1)(2) 

 Retired Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial Offi cer, 
Applied Micro Circuits Corporation

Steven J. Bilodeau (1)(2)(3) 

 Retired Non-Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Offi cer, 
Standard Microsystems Corporation

Harry L. Casari (1)(2) 

Robert L. Ciardella (1)(3)(4) 

 Retired Partner, 
Ernst & Young LLP

 Retired President, 
Asymtek

Harold Harrigian (1)(3) 

 Retired Partner and Director of Corporate Finance,
Crowell, Weedon & Co.

(1) Member Audit Committee (2) Member Compensation Committee (3) Member Nominating and Governance Committee (4) Lead Independent Director

CORPORATE  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
James A. Donahue 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Offi cer

Jeffrey D. Jones 

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Offi cer, Secretary

John H. Allen 

Vice President, Administration

STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION
Corporate Headquarters
12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, CA 92064-6817
(858) 848-8100
www.cohu.com

Legal Counsel
DLA Piper LLP (US), San Diego, CA

Independent Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP, San Diego, CA

Transfer Agent and Registrar
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021
(866) 272-6728 U.S.
www.computershare.com/investor

Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on 
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 8:00 am Pacifi c Time
at Cohu’s corporate headquarters.

SEC Filings
Copies of documents fi led by Cohu with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission, including our Annual 
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 
2013 and other information about Cohu are available 
without charge by contacting Cohu Investor Relations 
at (858) 848-8106 or by accessing our web site 
www.cohu.com or the SEC’s Edgar web site 
www.sec.gov.

Current Press Releases
Cohu distributes press releases via Business Wire. 
Releases can be accessed via Cohu’s web site or 
through fi nancial wires.

Share Information
Cohu, Inc. stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global 
Select Market under the symbol “COHU”.

Cohu, Inc. 2013 Annual Report

Cohu, inc.
12367 Crosthwaite Circle, Poway, CA 92064-6817    

Phone: 858.848.8100

www.cohu.com