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Cypress Semiconductor Corporation

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FY2010 Annual Report · Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
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  A N N U A L

R

E

P O R

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“Barring a double-dip recession, we expect a strong 2010 with significant
revenue growth and solid profitability.” 
T.J. Rodgers, 2009 Annual Report

AT THE HEART OF THE WORLD’S BEST PRODUCTS

    CHILEAN RESCUE

     ARIES CCV CAMERA

     Cypress’s PSoC chip is used inside this tiny

        camera that assisted in the dramatic 2010

         rescue of 33 men trapped in a Chilean mine.

“PSoC is in 75% of our cameras.

    PSoC saved the camera design in

        many ways because it is small.”

          Yungky Tan

           Senior Design Engineer

          CCV/Aries Industries

MICROSOFT ARC TOUCH MOUSE 

BMW 5-SERIES SEDANS

                       Cypress’s CapSense

Cypress’s CapSense touch-sensing

                       solution powers the

                               controllers are used in

                   touch scroll strip on this

                                    the radio interface 

                unique foldable mouse.

                                    on most late-model

                                    BMW automobiles.

EPSON STYLUS PX720WD

                       Cypress’s CapSense

                         controls the LED-based

                         user interface on many

                         Epson Stylus all-in-one

                      photo printers.

     ACER ICONIA NOTEBOOK PC

      Cypress’s TrueTouch solution drives the 

    dual touchscreens on this notebook PC,

    named one of the year’s hottest products 

               at the Consumer Electronics Show.

  “The TrueTouch solution delivered

the low power and outstanding

 performance we demanded, along

        with the flexibility to implement

           our vision for this product.” 

        David Lee       

      Assoc. VP, Mobile Computing, Acer   

   SAMSUNG WAVE 2 PHONE

  The Samsung Wave 2 phone

 features a highly accurate

 touchscreen using Cypress’s 

TrueTouch solution. 

BARNES & NOBLE COLOR 

NOOK E-READER

The Barnes & Noble Color 

Nook e-reader, features 

an interactive large 

touchscreen powered 

by TrueTouch.

HTC 7 MOZART PHONE

Cypress’s TrueTouch solution 

drives the touchscreen display

on this cutting-edge smartphone.

           ZTE ETHERNET SWITCHES

      Cypress’s 65-nm QDR™II (Quad Data Rate™) 

              SRAM devices enable high-speed data 

                        access in the ZXCME 9500 series 

                                                 of Ethernet switches. 

“The excellent speed and low latency

     of Cypress’s SRAMs are instrumental 

     in the outstanding performance that the 

    ZXCME 9500 series offers our customers.” 

   Li Hongqi

Product Development Manager, ZTE

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Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 198 Champion Court, San Jose, CA 95134-1709

(408) 943-2600  www.cypress.com

© 2011 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  

Printed in the U.S.A.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PSoC® 3: RECORD DESIGN WINS

PSoC: 500 UNIVERSITY CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE & GROWING

With an industry-standard, 8-bit processor, and high-precision, 20-bit analog, Cypress’s PSoC 3 solution addresses the upper-end 
of the market for 8-bit products and one-half of the 16-bit market, adding $5.5 billion in addressable markets (below left). PSoC 5 
integrates the 32-bit ARM®  Cortex™-M3 processor, opening another $5.6 billion in markets. The served market for all PSoC  
products now totals $12.7 billion – nearly 8x the original PSoC 1 market. Consequently, five quarters after its introduction—at a  
similar point in its development as a family—PSoC 3 is generating design wins 3x faster than PSoC 1 did (below right).

PSoC SERVED AVAILABLE MARKET
Includes Analog, Logic, MCUs, Touch

PERFORMANCE/FEATURES

PSoC 3 RAMPING 3x FASTER THAN PSoC 1

TAM

WSTS Jan 2010

8-bit + Analog/PLD*
$7.9 B

16-bit + Analog/PLD*
$6.1 B

32-bit + Analog/PLD*
$7.6 B

TOTAL
$21.6 B

3x

SAM

2010

PSoC 3

+

$5.5 B

PSoC 1

$1.6 B

$1.6 B
$1.6 B

PSoC 5

+

$5.6 B

TOTAL
$12.7 B

$12.7 B
$12.7 B

  * Portion of Standard Analog/Logic market accessible to PSoC.

  * Portion of Standard Analog/Logic market accessible to PSoC.

ROUTER SYSTEM DESIGN

Q2’01 for PSoC 1
Q3’09 for PSoC 3

This is a screen shot from PSoC Creator, the Integrated Development System (IDE) design software for PSoC 5. The IDE 
has captured a complete thermal and power management system design for a router, in which three temperature sensors 
control five fans by monitoring fan tachometers, and all power supplies are monitored and switched on and off in the 
proper sequence.

Prior to PSoC, the system might have been designed using seven discrete chips, whose part numbers are annotated 
in red: an ARM-based, 32-bit microcontroller from ST Microelectronics (ST32F103), a voltage sequencer in a 
programmable logic chip from Xilinx (XC2C128), a fan controller chip from SMSC (EMC2305), a digital-to-analog 
converter (DAC0804) and programmable gain amplifier (LMC71Z) from National Semiconductor, a voltage reference 
from Linear Technology (LT1790B), and a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (AD73360) from Analog Devices. However, 

ROUTER: THERMAL AND POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

*

in this PSoC Creator  
design, all of the 
system blocks have 
been implemented by 
programming the analog 
and digital resources on a 
single PSoC 5 chip. If those 
blocks were purchased 
separately as seven discrete 
integrated circuits, their 
cost in volume would be 
approximately $11.85, 
well above the price of the 
PSoC 5 chip alone.

More importantly, the 
capability to design the 
system in a single software 
environment and to debug 
it on a single chip—rather 
than seven chips from six 
vendors—dramatically 
improves our customers’ 
time-to-market.

Cypress’s PSoC platform is now part of the embedded design engineering curriculum at more than 500 universities around 

the world – laying the groundwork for a new generation of PSoC users and future Cypress employees.

UNIVERSITIES TEACHING WITH PSoC

JAPAN

ROA

EMEA

CHINA/TW

INDIA

S.AMERICA

N.AMERICA

Q406

Q207

Q407

Q208

Q408

Q209

Q409

Q210

Q410

600

500

400

300

200

100

0 

DR. ANDRZEJ RUCINSKI, 

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

•  Director of UNH 

Critical Infrastructure 

Dependability Lab

• 

27 years specializing 

in computer 

programming and 

VLSI design

“Cypress PSoC technology enables students to bridge 

the gap between theoretical consideration and what 

you can do in the lab – and to actually demonstrate 

things that we talk about theoretically.”

DR. RAJESH GUPTA, 

UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

•  Head of UCSD 

Embedded Systems 

Group

•  Chair of UCSD 

Computer Science & 

Engineering Dept.

“PSoC enables students to learn things they wouldn’t 

have learned before, like what is the role of capacitive 

touch sensing or how sampling can be more efficient. 

You become a better engineer with PSoC.”

OPERA-SINGING ROBOTS – PSoC controls the eye movements of 

these robots, built by students at Shanghai Jiaotong University and 

showcased at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

HIGH-TECH WINERY – Cypress CEO T.J. Rodgers, also a commercial 

winemaker, has worked with the world-leading enology and viticulture 

school at UC Davis to donate 152 high-tech fermentors that collect 

winemaking data and transmit it wirelessly to a workstation. The 

fermentors rely on Cypress PSoC and WirelessUSB™ technologies. 

FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:*

INTRODUCTION

In the last sentence of Cypress’s 2009 Annual Report,
I wrote that “barring a double-dip recession, we expect
a strong 2010 with significant revenue growth and solid
profitability.”  There  was  no  second  dip,  and  Cypress
performed  well  in  2010  with  32%  revenue  growth  to
$884 million. That growth, combined with our diligent,
continuous cost reduction efforts, yielded a 2010 profit
before  tax  (PBT)  of  22.9%,  up  from  2.9%  in  the
recession year of 2009. Our 2010 EPS of $0.94 also
eclipsed  the  $0.10  we  reported  in  2009.  These  profit
trends  demonstrate  excellent  leverage:  relative  to
2009,  84.5%  of  our  incremental  revenue  in  2010  fell
through to PBT.

The  products  driving  our  revenue  growth  were  our
Static  Random  Access  Memories  (SRAMs)—both
general-purpose  SRAMs  for  consumer  devices  and
high-performance  SRAMs  for  the  latest  round  of
Internet  construction—and  PSoC,  which  shipped  its
828 millionth unit at year-end, driven by a surge in cell
phone  touchscreens.  We  expect  PSoC  to  sell  its
billionth  unit  in  mid-2011.  PSoC  also  produced  $208
million in revenue in 2010, a record we expect to beat
in 2011 by 50% or more.

In 2009, our share price set a record of $11.27. In 2010,
our  share  price  set  another  record  of  $18.58.  As  a
veteran of numerous semiconductor business cycles, I
am enjoying our current success, but remain wary of
unknowns.  Consequently,  we  are  constraining  the
growth rate of our operating expenses to well below the
anticipated  growth  rate  of  our  revenue.  Thus,  if
revenue growth does not materialize, our margins will
remain in line. 

Constraining  costs  to  grow  much  more  slowly  than
revenue  creates  a  continuous  stream  of  “must-have”
hiring  demands.  We  handle  these  requests  with  a
business process known as the “Hiring Auction,” which
I run weekly. In this process, we do not automatically
replace people that leave the corporation. We instead
use  the  openings  created  by  attrition  to  allow  the
managers  with  the  most  pressing  business  needs  to
hire  without  adding  incremental  employees.  In  2010,
we hired just 10 net new employees, but actually trans-

formed  the  workforce  by  hiring  458  new  employees,
while  losing  448  employees  through  attrition,  dives-
titure  and  reductions  in  force.  This  is  the  primary
reason  why  I  described  our  cost-reduction  effort  as
“diligent.”

FINANCIALS

Our  revenue  and  PBT  for  the  last  three  years  are
shown in Figure 1. 

REVENUE AND PROFIT BEFORE TAX (PBT)

$ MILLIONS

223 

210 

168 

232 

223 

227 

REVENUE

202 

194 

179 

165 

156 

139 

822

23% 

26% 

23%*

16% 

19% 

11% 

PROFIT 
BEFORE TAX

11% 

9% 

1% 

-2%

-6%

-21%

240

210

180

150

120

90

60

30

0

-30

Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 Q109 Q209 Q309 Q409 Q110 Q210 Q310 Q410

* Labels are profit before tax as a percentage of sales.

Figure 1. Cypress's revenue dropped to only $139 million in Q1'09
due  to  a  sharp  recession,  but  recovered  quickly  due  to  a  rapid
ramp in PSoC sales. This momentum continued into 2010, when
we  reported  revenue  of  $884  million,  up  32%  from  2009.  The
revenue  ramp,  along  with  our  ongoing  cost  controls,  drove
Cypress's 2010 pretax profit (PBT) to 22.9%. Note that in Q2'10,
we reported $223 million in revenue with 23% PBT, while in Q3’08,
we  reported  $223  million  in  revenue  with  11%  PBT,  a  12
percentage  point  improvement  in  profitability  with  the  same
revenue.

Starting with the 2009 plan, Cypress chose to use PBT
as  its  lynchpin  financial  index.  We  created  a  “PBT
factor”  that  multiplied  the  bonuses  of  every  Cypress
employee.  The  2010  PBT  factor  was  linear,  paying
100%  (full  bonus,  as  determined  by  various  plans)
when Cypress reported 20% PBT, and 0% (no bonus)
when Cypress reported 10% PBT or less. Based on our
2010  performance,  we  raised  the  bar.  For  the  2011
plan,  the  PBT  factor  is  100%  when  Cypress  reports
25% pretax profit and 0% when Cypress reports 15%
pretax profit or less. 

Our  financial  model  for  operating  expenses—R&D,
G&A,  and  Sales  and  Marketing—is  30%  of  revenue.

* This report is written so that shareholders can read the introduction, the figures and captions, and the conclusion—and get 80% of the information.

1

Over the past few years, we have driven our operating
expenses  down  from  45%  of  revenue  to  36%  of
revenue, and have a plan to gain another percentage
point or two in 2011. The primary controllable compo-
nents of operating expense are the number of sites and
buildings we maintain, the items we purchase, and the
people we employ. 

Sites:  In  a  deal  that  was  consummated  in  2010  and
closed in early 2011, we sold our Mechelen, Belgium-
based  Image  Sensor  Business  Unit  (ISBU)  to  ON
Semiconductor  for  $31  million.  We  acquired  ISBU  to
enter  the  cell  phone  image  sensor  market.  I  worked
directly on its chip projects and became convinced that
ISBU's  core  competency—designing  high-perfor-
mance image sensors for special applications such as
satellites  and  machine  vision—was  not  sufficient  to
achieve  profitable  entry  into  the  cell  phone  image-
sensor  market,  which  itself  became  highly  commod-
itized  after  we  acquired  ISBU  in  2004.  ISBU  also
contributed  a  disproportionate  level  of  operating
expenses relative to its revenue.

As a global company with geographical distribution of
not only sales and marketing, but also manufacturing,
R&D and G&A, Cypress maintained 69 sites worldwide
at  year-end  2010,  many  of  them  one-person  sales
offices. We've already driven that number down to 64
and plan to drive it down to 50 during 2011.

fabrication  plant  and 

Buildings: The tax and regulatory environment makes
manufacturing in California economically unattractive.
Over the years, we have shut down Cypress’s original
wafer 
its  California-based
assembly and test operations, and sold the buildings.
In 2010, we announced the donation of one of our San
Jose  buildings  to  the  Second  Harvest  Food  Bank  to
consolidate  our  headquarters  site 
two
buildings  with  531  people,  down  from  a  peak  of  six
buildings  and  1,111  people  in  2002.  Turning  a  once-
productive Silicon Valley R&D building into a food bank
for 
for
California's  current  economy.  Our  primary  R&D  sites
in  San  Jose;  Lynnwood,
are  now  consolidated 
Washington; and Bangalore, India. 

is  a  near-perfect  metaphor 

the  hungry 

into 

just 

People:  At  year-end  2010,  despite  32%  revenue
growth, we added only 10 net new employees to bring
us  to  3,560  employees.  By  comparison,  Cypress
employed  4,056  people  at  year-end  2005,  when  our
revenue was smaller than it is today. Our employment

2

will grow modestly in 2011, but at a rate well below that
of  revenue.  In  2009,  we  went  through  a  delayering
exercise and reduced the number of VPs at Cypress
from 80 to 55, a number that will grow modestly, partly
due to the management teams needed to run our four
internal startups.

The losses of these startups subtract directly from our
reported  P&L  statement.  Our  quarterly  investment  in
these companies averages $0.03 per share, or about
$6.2  million,  almost  all  of  which  is  attributable  to
operating expense. We believe that these investments
will  pay  off  for  Cypress  shareholders  in  the  future.
Indeed, a startup is an excellent way to invest in a new
business, because the management team is fanatical
about controlling operating expenses to minimize the
share-count  dilution  inherent  in  raising  funds  from  its
primary venture capitalist—Cypress. 

The  cumulative  result  of  our  cost-reduction  efforts  is
shown in Figure 2.

OPERATING EXPENSES

$ MILLIONS

*
45%

42%

400

380

360

340

320

300

280

260

240

220

200

45%

40%

36%

45%

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

* Labels are operating expenses as a percentage of sales.

Figure 2. Cypress’s operating expenses have dropped 2.3% per
year in absolute dollars over the last five years. The $18 million
increase in operating expenses in 2010 vs. 2009 was due to the
reinstatement of our bonus and profit-sharing programs, increased
sales commissions, and the elimination of our temporary holiday
shutdown. These are mostly rebound expenses, not new structural
expenses. The 2010 operating expense of $320 million represents
36% of sales—improved, but not yet at our financial model of 30%. 

With our top line growing, our expenses under control,
and  our  capital  expenditures  greatly  reduced  by  our
“Flex  Fab”  strategy,  which  utilizes  both  internal  and
external wafer fabrication plants, Cypress has become
consistently  cash  flow  positive,  and  generated  over
$250  million  in  cash  in  2010.  Consequently,  our  net
cash has increased by $871 million over the past five
years, as shown in Figure 3.

NET CASH (CASH - DEBT)

$ MILLIONS

458 

333 

37 

22 

2007
2007*

2008
2008*

2009

2010

2006

2006

(201)

2005

20052005
2005

(413)

600 

500 

400 

300 

200 

100 

0 

(100)

(200)

(300)

(400)

(500)

* Excludes temporary deposits of sales of SunPower stock used for buybacks just

after year-end 2007 and year-end 2008.

Figure  3.  With  convertible  debt  of  $600  million  and  only  $187
million in cash, Cypress had a net debt of $413 million in 2005, the
year before we adopted our programmable products mission and
stopped investing in Moore’s Law. Since then, our net cash position
has increased by $871 million, finishing 2010 at $458 million. In
addition, Cypress has established a positive operating cash flow
of over $200 million per year, which gives us the flexibility to buy
back  shares,  acquire  companies  with  no  share  count  dilution,
and/or pay a dividend to our shareholders. 

During the 2008-2010 period, we used our cash flow to
buy  back  54.8  million  Cypress  shares—and  we
currently have board authorization to buy back another
$567 million in shares in the future. It is also likely that
we will begin to pay a dividend to our shareholders in
either 2011 or 2012.

PSoC

In 2010, PSoC revenue passed the $200 million mark,
as  we  shipped  our  828  millionth  unit  by  year-end.  In
2011, we expect PSoC revenue to increase by at least
50% and PSoC shipments to cross the billion-unit mark
by mid-year. With revenue of more than $100 million
per quarter, the Consumer and Computation Division
(CCD),  which  controls  two  of  our  four  PSoC-based
business units (BUs) and accounts for the bulk of our
PSoC revenue, has now surpassed our newly named
(sans image sensor) Memory Products Division (MPD)
as the largest of our four divisions. 

TrueTouch™,  the  trade  name  for  our  PSoC-based
touchscreen  chip  family,  is  currently  driving  CCD’s
revenue  growth,  as  did  our  CapSense®  (capacitive
touch sensing) products a few years ago. The touch-
screen trend started with the introduction of the Apple
iPhone in 2007. The iPhone touchscreen was designed

with  chips  proprietary  to  Apple,  and  caused  a  “land
rush” to find touchscreen chips in the general market.
Less than six months after the iPhone introduction, we
developed the firmware algorithms to make a compet-
itive touchscreen product out of a 2004-vintage PSoC
chip code-named Radon, featured on the cover of the
2009  Annual  Report.  In  my  keynote  address  at  that
year’s  Embedded  Systems  Conference,  I  charac-
terized  this  forward-looking  aspect  of  PSoC  as:
“Solving  problems  you  did  not  know  existed  for
customers you have never met—the ultimate in time to
market.” Our overall PSoC revenue trend is shown in
Figure 4.

PSoC REVENUE

$ MILLIONS

312 

208 

149 

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

2009

2010

2011E

Figure 4. PSoC revenue grew 40% to $208 million in 2010, with
an expectation to grow 50% to $312 million or more in 2011. That
revenue includes all PSoC families: PSoC 1, PSoC 3, PSoC 5,
CapSense (capacitive touch sensing), TrueTouch (touchscreen),
automotive,  PowerPSoC,  and  our  Optical  Navigation  System
(ONS)—a PSoC with an image sensor used for finger navigation,
a  function  made  familiar  by  BlackBerry  cell  phones.  Cypress
entered these attractive but very diverse markets quickly, taking
advantage of the fact that PSoC needs only software—not new
chips—to  rapidly  create  highly  differentiated  customer  system
solutions.

The  popularity  of  touchscreens  in  cell  phones  has
already led to a second wave of Cypress touchscreen
design wins in other high-volume consumer products,
such as digital cameras, automotive dashboards, GPS
devices,  printers,  IP  phones,  E-books  and  tablet
computers.  We  are  particularly  proud  of  our  design
wins in Garmin and TomTom GPS systems, Cisco IP
phones,  HP  printers,  and  a  Sony  state-of-the-art
camera,  which  is  controlled  by  a  touchscreen  that
works not just in rainy or humid environments—but also
under water. 

3

Apple shook up the market again in 2009 with the intro-
duction  of  the  iPad  tablet computer,  which  was  again
designed with chips proprietary to Apple. While a typical
cell phone touchscreen has approximately 135 “nodes,”
the  unique  row-column  intersections  analogous  to
pixels  in  a  display,  the  larger  tablet-computer  format
contains  750  or  more  nodes,  beyond  the  capacity  of
current cell phone touchscreen chips. Cypress’s initial
solution to this problem, now in production in several
Tier-1 tablet computers, was to combine several 256-
node standard touchscreen chips with a PSoC 3 chip
acting as a “traffic cop” to create a high-performance,
multichip  solution.  Our  competitors  face  the  same
multichip cost problem. In January 2011, we introduced
the TMA884, which, with its 884 nodes, is the market's
first  single-chip  solution  for  tablet  computers.  In  the
same manner as we had solved earlier problems, we
achieved quick time-to-market because we solved the
884-node  problem  by  adding  a  proprietary  Digital
Signal  Processing  (DSP)  technology  to  one  of  our
existing PSoC chips. 

The  original  PSoC  1  family  produces  the  bulk  of  our
current revenue. For example, our touchscreen chips
are  members  of  the  PSoC  1  family.  In  last  year's
Annual Report, I described in detail two second-gener-
ation  PSoC  product  families,  PSoC  3  and  PSoC  5,
which  have  the  following  advantages  over  PSoC  1:
faster computational performance by 7.5 to 25 times,
10  times  the  number  of  programmable  logic  gates,
analog circuitry that is 256 times more accurate and 10-
to  30-times  faster,  and  three-  to  eight-times  lower
power consumption. Simply said, PSoC 3 and PSoC 5
are exactly what our PSoC 1 customers asked for in the
next generation. 

to  an  additional  $5.5  billion 

Cypress’s PSoC 3 solution addresses the upper end of
the market for 8-bit products and one-half of the 16-bit
market—equal 
in
addressable  markets.  PSoC  5  opens  another  $5.6
billion in markets, bringing the total served market for
all PSoC products to $12.7 billion—nearly eight times
as large as the original PSoC 1 market. Consequently,
five quarters after its introduction—at a similar point in
its  development  as  a  family—PSoC  3  is  generating
design  wins  at  three  times  the  rate  of  PSoC  1  (see
graphic inside front cover).

PSoC 3 is winning designs faster than PSoC 1 not only
because of hardware improvements, but more signifi-

4

cantly  because  of  our  second-generation  PSoC
Creator  software,  an  Integrated  Design  Environment
(IDE) that allows our customers’ engineers to design a
complete system in a single software environment on
a single silicon chip. We have dubbed this attribute as
“Design  the  Way  You  Think”  in  our  advertising.  The
alternative,  as  shown  in  the  example  router  system
design  on  the  inside  front  cover,  is  to  buy  seven
discrete chips from six different vendors, solder them
on  a  printed  circuit  board,  and  perform  several  time-
killing engineering iterations. 

than 

PowerPSoC  consists  of  nothing  more 
the
ubiquitous  Radon  chip,  this  time  with  added  high-
performance transistors capable of handling more than
30 watts of power. The PowerPSoC chip was designed
to  be  a  sophisticated,  four-channel  Light  Emitting
Diode (LED) driver capable of driving very bright LEDs
in  tandem  or  controlling  four  channels  of  color  LEDs
precisely. We expect the revenue of the PowerPSoC
BU to be in the $8 million-to-$10 million range in 2011.
In the long term, we expect the PowerPSoC business
to be slowly growing, highly stable, very profitable and
broadly  distributed,  because  it  is  used  to  drive  the
lights, motors, latches, solenoids, and other real-world
devices  that  are  used  by  thousands  of  companies
around the world.

OUR BEST NEW PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Although I have written a lot about how our new PSoC
products are used to create compelling new consumer
products, there are two important new product families
coming from the MPD and DCD divisions in 2011.

Our  synchronous  SRAM  BU  has  finished  introducing
its  89-member,  65-nanometer,  high-performance
SRAM family for routers with memory densities up to
144 megabits (one billion transistors per chip). These
memories  perform  at  frequencies  up  to  550  MHz,
allowing data to be stored and retrieved at a rate of up
to 79.2 gigabits per second (equivalent to moving the
contents  of  10,000  400-page  books  per  second).
These advanced SRAMs are all in production, but the
conversion  of  our  business  from  the  equivalent
products  in  our  older  technologies  to  our  new  65-nm
products is only about 44% complete, giving us room
for future gross margin improvement (or to hold on to
our gross margins better in a downturn).

Finally, we have our first USB 3.0 chip working. USB
3.0 transfers data at five gigabits per second, 10 times
faster  than the USB 2.0 chip  in  your laptop. Like our
current USB families of products, which generate over
$100  million  per  year  in  revenue,  our  USB  3.0  chip
contains  a  microprocessor  and  is  also  customer-
programmable. We will have sampled our first USB 3.0
chip before you read this report.

We believe that Cypress has the strongest new product
portfolio in its history. These new products are driving
up  our  average  selling  price  (ASP)  as  shown  in
Figure 5. 

RISING ASP

AVERAGE SELLING PRICE

$1.50

$1.37

$1.34

$1.26

$1.13

$1.10

$1.55

$1.50

$1.45

$1.40

$1.35

$1.30

$1.25

$1.20

$1.15

$1.10

$1.05

$1.00

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Figure  5.  Cypress’s  average  selling  price  (ASP)  has  increased
6.4%  per  year  over  the  last  five  years.  There  are  three  driving
factors behind this: selling a higher mix of proprietary products;
convincing  our  customers  to  pay  the  full  value  for  our  PSoC
products, with their ability to replace numerous discrete chips; and
finally, selling more of our very-highest-performance synchronous
SRAMs into advanced routers.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY DIVISION

There are four startup BUs in the Emerging Technology
Division  (ETD).  These  businesses  plan  to  enter  new
markets, 
leveraging  Cypress’s  existing  products,
technologies,  business  processes  and  infrastructure.
We have launched 12 internal startups since 1992, and
hope that one of our four current startups can be the
next  SunPower  or  the  next  Cypress  Microsystems,
which invented PSoC. 

Cypress  Envirosystems  makes  several  product
families,  the  most  notable  of  which  is  the  Wireless
Pneumatic  Thermostat  (WPT),  a  device  that  uses
Cypress  WirelessUSB  and  PSoC  chips  to  establish
Internet  control  of  legacy  pneumatic  (air-powered)
thermostats.  America  has  60  million  dumb,  uncon-

nected  pneumatic  thermostats  that  waste  a  huge
amount of energy by heating or air conditioning empty
buildings at night and on weekends. Cypress Enviro-
systems can retrofit its RF-connected WPTs in minutes
to  convert  an  existing  building  to  centralized  energy
control in days. The $600 retail cost of the thermostat
is paid back by energy savings in 1.5 years. 

AgigA  Tech  makes  very  large  nonvolatile  memories
with up to 64 gigabits of storage—16,000 times more
bits than the largest nonvolatile SRAM chips made by
our  MPD  division.  These  large  nonvolatile  memories
are used to store (cache) data in front of disk drives, so
that in the event of a power loss, the data waiting in the
cache  to  be  stored  on  the  disk  drive  is  saved.  The
competing  technology  is  known  as  “battery-backed
RAM,”  a  technique  which  uses  normal  DRAMs  with
batteries  to  preserve  data  in  the  case  of  a  power
outage. AgigA Tech’s approach is more cost-effective
and  much  more  reliable  than  battery-backed  RAMs,
which represent a $200 million market opportunity.

Our  Optical  Navigation  System  (ONS)  BU  sells  a
specialized  PSoC  chip  with  an  optical  sensor  to
perform the “finger navigation” function made familiar
by  BlackBerry  cell  phones.  Finger  navigation  is  also
starting to take hold in the high-volume remote control
market,  where  the  confluence  of  television  and
computers  has  created  the  need  for  remote  controls
with  the  ability  to  control  a  cursor.  We  estimate  the
market  for  cell  phone  and  remote  control  finger
navigation is about $180 million. 

Our China Business Unit (CBU), located in Shanghai,
is  chartered  to  define  and  design  chips  in  China  for
local customers. CBU’s chips are sold into high-volume
consumer  markets  such  as  eBikes  and  white  goods
(refrigerators,  washing  machines,  etc.).  CBU  also
attaches its chips to small modules to serve the laptop
computer trackpad market with high-end products that
allow trackpads to sense complex multifinger gestures,
like  the  ones  used  on  touchscreen  cell  phones.  The
combined size of the Chinese eBike and white goods
markets is $100 million, while the size of the worldwide
laptop trackpad market is $450 million.

Last year, I predicted that each of our four startup BUs
would  produce  its  first  $1  million  quarter.  Two  BUs
achieved 
two  created  significant
revenue,  but  missed  it.  However,  the  four  startups
together posted a peak revenue quarter of $6 million.

that  goal,  and 

5

Overall ETD revenue for 2010 was $18 million, more
than double the $8 million posted in 2009. We expect
ETD revenue to double again to $36 million in 2011, as
shown in Figure 6. At that point, the ETD division alone
will  be  big  enough  to  add  three  percentage  points  to
Cypress’s growth rate—fully half of the semiconductor
industry’s current growth rate. 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (ETD) REVENUE

$ MILLIONS

36

18

8

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

2009

2010

2011E

Figure 6. The revenue of the Emerging Technology Division (ETD)
was $18 million in 2010, more than double our ETD revenue in
2009.  We  expect  another  doubling  of  revenue  to  $36  million  in
2011, at which time ETD revenue will be big enough to become a
material source of growth for Cypress. The business units in ETD
are  as  follows:  Cypress  Envirosystems,  which  makes  energy-
saving  devices;  AgigA  Tech,  which  makes  large  nonvolatile
memories; the ONS BU, which makes Optical (finger) Navigation
Systems; and the China BU, which makes chips for eBikes and
white goods, as well as advanced trackpads for laptop computers
and remote controls. 

MANUFACTURING

Cypress  decided  to  stop  investing  in  Moore’s  Law  in
our internal wafer fabs in 2005 and switch to a “flex fab”
strategy, meaning that we would continue to run and
improve  our  Fab  4  wafer  fabrication  plant  in  Bloom-
ington, Minnesota, but expand our fab capacity exter-
nally with foundry partners. The new strategy dramati-
cally  reduced  our  capital  expenditures,  saving  us
approximately $290 million over the 2007-2010 period,
as shown in Figure 7.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

$ MILLIONS

200

$112 MILLION PER YEAR

$39 MILLION PER YEAR

159

150

100

50

0

126

121

78

77

37

42

26

51

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Figure  7.  Cypress’s  capital  equipment  expenditures  averaged
$112 million per year for the five years before we stopped investing
in  Moore's  Law.  Since  then,  we  have  spent  an  average  of  $39
million per year on capital equipment, conserving approximately
$290 million in cash. If that cash had been invested in wafer fabri-
cation  equipment  with  a  seven-year  depreciation  schedule,  it
would have generated an annual pretax loss of $42 million, equiv-
alent to about $0.21 in EPS.

The  reduction  in  our  capital  expenditures  cut  our
quarterly depreciation from an average of $27 million
per quarter in 2005 to $12 million per quarter in 2010.
This has helped to increase our gross margin from the
40%-45%  range  in  2005  to  the  55%-60%  range  in
2010, as shown in Figure 8.

GROSS MARGIN

70
70%

60%
60

50%
50

40

40%
40

30
30%

49 49

48 48

47

48

47

44 44 44

45

50 50 51

60

59

59

56

54

52

44

43

35

Q105 Q305 Q106 Q306 Q107 Q307 Q108 Q308 Q109 Q309 Q110 Q310

Figure 8. Cypress’s gross margin has increased from the 40%-
45%  range  in  2005  to  the  55%-60%  range  in  2010,  at  times
reaching our new financial model of 60%. The improvement comes
from both price increases and cost reductions. 

6

The  rapid  rise  in  demand  for  PSoC  has  filled  our
capacity to manufacture wafers in S8, our 0.13-micron,
nonvolatile  PSoC  wafer  fabrication  process.  In  2011,
we will triple our S8 capacity relative to Q4'10 by adding
both internal and external capacity. The capacity added
to our Fab 4 plant in Minnesota will keep the internal-
external mix at approximately 50-50 in order to keep a
significant  portion  of  wafer  manufacturing  under  our
direct control. The added Fab 4 capacity will cost signif-
icantly less than zero-based capacity because we will
add only limited incremental equipment. In addition, we
are bringing on a second foundry in China, which has
already fabricated its first PSoC wafers and will go into
production in Q4’11.

We are restructuring our assembly and test operation
in Cypress Manila Ltd. (CML). Our goal over the next
two years is to continuously reduce our unit cost, to cut
our manufacturing cycle time by a factor of three, and
to cut our headcount by a factor of two. We expect that
we  can  make  these  improvements  without  reducing
output. 

The key to this transformation is the “Autoline,” a highly
line,  developed  and
automated  manufacturing 
patented by Cypress, which takes in silicon wafers and
completely  assembles  and  tests  them  in  hours  with
significant  cost  and  quality  advantages.  In  our  CML
conventional assembly and test plant, which Cypress
is  phasing  out  in  2011,  wafers  pass  through  three
different  manufacturing  areas  on  the  way  to  the
customer: a cleanroom where die attach and wire bond
are performed, a mold room where the units are encap-
sulated  in  plastic  and  their  leads  are  formed  into  the
final shape, and a test area where the assembled units
are laser-marked and given their final electrical tests.
Three  different  manufacturing  areas  mandate  three
sets  of  managers,  supervisors  and  QA  people—and
more  importantly,  the  need  for  inventory  storerooms
before and after each of the manufacturing areas that
in turn require additional employees: inventory super-
visors, managers and clerks. The inventory storerooms
not only slow manufacturing down, but also inevitably

lead to the collection of excess and impaired inventory
that is eventually written off.

This  common  but  archaic  method  of  manufacturing
does not belong in the semiconductor industry in 2011.
Could  we  imagine  an  automotive  assembly  line,  for
example, that allowed excess engines or doors to pile
up in inventory points, or needed three manufacturing
areas  to  assemble  one  automobile?  The  Autoline  is
just  like  an  automobile  assembly  line,  a  straight-
through,  wafer-to-finished  product  assembly  line  that
performs its job in eight hours, much less than the time
than most semiconductors spend lying around in store-
rooms.  A  photograph  and  description  of  one  of  our
Autolines is provided in Figure 9.

CYPRESS AUTOLINE

tested,  QA 

Figure 9. The Autoline in the picture above accepts wafers at the
loading table on the left and moves them through die attach and
wire bond to the large plastic molding machine at the far end of
the  line.  On  the  return  trip,  the  molded  units  are  baked,  laser-
marked,  sawed  apart,  electrically 
tested  and
packaged—in  the  case  of  this  Autoline,  onto  the  tape-and-reel
system on the right hand side. The Autoline also prints shipping
labels, allowing the reels to be shipped directly. Each of our nine
Autolines produces 3,600 to 10,000 units per hour, but requires
only four technicians to operate. Since the wafers are assembled
and tested without human intervention, the quality defect level on
an  Autoline  is  factors  better  than  on  a  manual  assembly  line.
During  2011,  our  assembly  and  test  plant,  Cypress  Manila  Ltd.
(CML) will become an Autoline-only factory. 

7

CYPRESS LIFETIME SHARE PRICE*
MAY 29, 1986 IPO ($0.71) TO DECEMBER 31, 2010 CLOSE ($18.58)

$ STOCK PRICE

2010 CLOSE $18.58 

*

DOT.COM BOOM
$9.18
$9 18

*

2009 CLOSE $10.56

*

PSOC

IPO
$
$0.71 

*

PC BOOM
$4.35 

*

SUNPOWER

*
*

DOT.COM BUST
$2.21 

*

DOT.COM BUST2 $0.61 

SUNPOWER PEAK $6.26 

*

"NEW” CYPRESS
$5.22 

*

*

GREAT RECESSION $2.72

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

8

7

6
6

5

4

3

2
2

1

0

1986

1988

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

*Adjusted for splits in 1995 and 2008 (SunPower spinout).

YEAR ENDING

Source: Bloomberg

Figure 10. Cypress became a public company on May 29, 1986 at a share price of $0.71, adjusted for splits and the SunPower spinout.
The 2010 closing share price on December 31, 2010 was a record $18.58, more than double the $9.18 share price achieved during the
dot.com boom of 2000. The lifetime CAGR of Cypress’s share price is 14.6% per year over 24 years. 

SHAREHOLDER VALUE

CYPRESS 20

10

 SHARE

 PRICE % GAIN

The market rewarded our performance again in 2010,
raising our share price to an all-time record of $18.58
per share, beating the 2009 record of $11.27 and the
2000 dot.com boom record of $9.18. Figure 10 shows
Cypress’s lifetime share price, which has maintained a
14.6% CAGR during our 24 years as a public company.
Figure 11 shows that our share price appreciated 76%
in 2010, beating all relevant indices.

Cypress’s  fully  diluted  share  count  crept  up  to  198
million shares in 2010, due to a rising share price and
the dilutive impact of the SunPower spinout. Cypress
spun out SunPower in September 2008. In that spinout,
which was performed according to standard methods,
Cypress employees holding stock options or RSUs did
not  receive  the  SunPower  stock  dividend  valued  at
$16.42 per Cypress share. To keep the intrinsic value
of their options and RSUs whole, Cypress employees
were granted 4.12 post-spin stock options or RSUs to
replace  each  pre-spin  option  or  RSU  they  held.
Cypress bought back 54.8 million shares in the 2008-
2010 timeframe to offset the SunPower spinout dilution.
Our share count is shown in Figure 12.

8

% GAIN VS. 2009

80%
80

60%
60

40%
40

20%
20

0%
0

76% 

CYPRESS

BERKSHIRE
HATHAWAY (A)

NASDAQ

DJIA

SOX

-20%
-20

Q409

Q110

Q210

Q310

Q410

Figure 11. In 2010, Cypress’s share price appreciated 76% relative
to its 2009 year-end price. The major stock indices appreciated
between 11.0% (Dow Jones) and 16.9% (Nasdaq), while the Phila-
delphia  Semiconductor  Index  (SOX)  rose  14.4%.  Berkshire
Hathaway (A) beat the indices with 21.4% performance. Cypress
also beat the indices over the past six years, as shown on the front
cover.

CYPRESS SHARE COUNT

MILLIONS

2010 BUYBACK AND YIELD ENHANCEMENT PLAN
(YEP) TRANSACTIONS

174

180

174

183

166

198

FULLY DILUTED 
NON GAAP SHARE
NON-GAAP SHARE
COUNT 

BASIC SHARE 
COUNT 

220

200

180
180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20
20

0

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Figure 12. Cypress’s fully diluted share count reached 198 million
shares in 2010, rising despite the retirement of 11.9 million shares
during  the  year.  Prior  to  2010, Cypress bought  back  5.8  million
shares in 2009 and 37.1 million shares in 2008—bringing the total
to  54.8  million  shares  retired  for  the  three-year  period.  The
buybacks were used to offset the dilutive effect of the SunPower
spinout. Cypress currently has $567 million authorized for future
buybacks.

In  2010,  Cypress’s  board  authorized  another  $600
million  stock  buyback,  against  which  we  purchased
11.9  million  shares  at  an  average  price  of  $12.43,
leaving  $567  million  still  available  for  buybacks.  We
used both direct market purchases and options to retire
the  stock  at  below-market  prices,  as  outlined  in
Figure 13.

CONCLUSION

We made great progress this year toward achieving our
Mission  Statement  “to  transform  Cypress  into  the
leading supplier of programmable solutions in systems
everywhere.”  Our  PSoC  technology  is  the  transfor-
mative force. We now have the best product portfolio
ever. We are designed into world-leading products to
the greatest extent in our history. We are growing at the
same time we are cutting costs. Our innovative startup

$0.0

$0.0

$9.6

$9.6

TYPE

NO. SHARES

BUYBACKS (13)

1,901,187

COST/ 
SHARE

$17.40

COST
(MILLIONS)

RETURN 
(MILLIONS)

$33.1

YEP (EXERCISED)

10,000,000

$11.49

$114.9

YEP (NOT 
EXERCISED)

0

N/A

$0.0

11,901,187

$12.43*

$148.0

* The average buyback price is $11.63 if the $9.6 million YEP cash return is

applied to the buyback program.

Figure 13. Cypress buys back stock using two mechanisms, direct
market  purchases  and  “yield  enhancement  plans”  (YEPs).  In
effect, a YEP uses put options with a typical 30-60 day term issued
by  the  company  to  buy  back  shares  at  an  option  price  that  is
typically set at a 0%-10% discount to market. Cypress receives
$0.53-$1.23 per share for issuing each of the put options. When
the contract is settled, if Cypress’s share price is above the option
price,  we  buy  no  shares,  but  receive  cash  for  issuing  the  put
options. If Cypress’s share price is below the option price, we buy
back the shares at a price discounted by both the option discount
and the value received for the put option. In 2010, using buybacks
and YEPs, Cypress received $9.6 million in cash and bought back
11.9 million shares for $148 million, at an average buyback price
of only $12.43. 

strategy produced PSoC, which is driving our current
growth,  and,  in  turn,  funding  a  new  wave  of  internal
startups that will drive our future.

The market has recognized our accomplishments and
rewarded us with a series of record share prices. The
good news is, we have already done—market willing—
everything that is required in R&D and manufacturing
to produce $1 billion in revenue and $1.00-plus in EPS
in 2011.

T.J. Rodgers
President and CEO

This is the 25th Annual Report I've written for our public shareholders. I thank the Cypress employees who helped to create the report, often
after-hours and over the weekends. We tell our own story without the use of ad agencies or PR firms. TJR

All financial comments relate to our non-GAAP financial reporting unless otherwise noted.

The preceding letter contains several forward-looking statements made subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things,
new product designs and releases, the strength of our product portfolio, our expected product features and performance, our market share, the possibility of paying a dividend, our financial
performance in the current economy, the lowering of our operating expenses (especially as compared to our revenue), our plans to add manufacturing capacity in Minnesota and bring on a
second foundry in China, our plans for our CML facility, our goal of reducing our unit cost, the future financial performance of the internal start-ups in our Emerging Technology Division and
other  future  events  as  well  as  the  expected  revenue  and  sales  for  certain  of  our  products  in  2011  and  beyond  (including  especially  for  PSoC  and  PowerPSoC)  and  other  financial
performance projections for Cypress and certain of its business units and operating divisions. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees and may
differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors, including but not limited to: the possibility of a further decline in the general economy, the economic conditions
and growth trends in the semiconductor industry and the markets served by Cypress and its Emerging Technology Division and whether our investment in such start-ups will pay off, the
future number of our sites and employees, the impact of increased competition, market acceptance of new product offerings, industry wide shifts in supply and demand, the ability of our
sales  and  marketing  group  to  execute  on  our  PSoC  initiatives  and  other  new  product  launches,  the  cost  efficient  utilization  of  our  manufacturing  capacity,  our  ability  to  meet  our
manufacturing goals, our ability to continue to drive down our operating expenses and other risks identified in Cypress's most recent reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, including in this Annual
Report. We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “forecast,” “future,” “intends,” “look forward,” “plans,” “should,” and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking
statements. All forward-looking statements included in the preceding letter are based upon information available to, and the expectations of, Cypress management as of the date of the
letter, which may change. We assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.

9

CONTENTS

To supplement its consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Cypress uses non-GAAP
financial measures which are adjusted from the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to exclude
certain  items,  as  described  in  the  following  reconciliation  tables.  Management  believes  that  these  non-GAAP
financial measures reflect an additional and useful way of viewing aspects of Cypress’s operations that, when
viewed in conjunction with Cypress’s GAAP results, provide a more comprehensive understanding of the various
factors and trends affecting Cypress’s business and operations. 

Cypress uses each of these non-GAAP financial measures for internal managerial purposes, when providing its
financial results and business outlook to the public, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Management
believes  that  these  non-GAAP  measures  provide  meaningful  supplemental  information  regarding  Cypress’s
operational  and  financial  performance  of  current  and  historical  results.  Management  uses  these  non-GAAP
measures  for  strategic  and  business  decision  making,  internal  budgeting,  forecasting  and  resource  allocation
processes.  In  addition,  these  non-GAAP  financial  measures  facilitate  management’s  internal  comparisons  to
Cypress’s historical operating results and comparisons to competitors’ operating results.

Cypress believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the GAAP financial results,
are useful to investors because they allow investors to see Cypress’s results “through the eyes” of management
as these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Cypress’s internal measurement processes. Management believes
that  these  non-GAAP  financial  measures  enable  investors  to  better  assess  changes  in  each  key  element  of
Cypress’s operating results across different reporting periods on a consistent basis. Thus, management believes
that each of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with another method for assessing Cypress’s
operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of its ongoing operations. 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Annual) ......................................................................................... 11

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Annual) .......................................................... 12

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Quarterly) ..................................................................................... 13

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Quarterly) ...................................................... 14

Consolidated Balance Sheets.......................................................................................................................... 15

10

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Annual)
(In millions, except per-share data)

Revenues
Costs and expenses (credits):
Cost of revenues
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
Impairment of goodwill
Restructuring charges
Gain on divestitures
Total costs and expenses, net
Operating income (loss)
Gain on sale of SunPower common stock
Interest and other income (expense), net [1]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax provision
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress [2]
Income from discontinued operations-noncontrolling interest, net of taxes [2]
Noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes
Net income (loss)
Less net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share - basic:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress 

Net income (loss) per share - basic:

Net income (loss) per share - diluted:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share - diluted:

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

              Year Ended
Jan. 3,
2010

Jan. 2,
2011

Dec. 28,
2008

$       

878

$       

668

$       

766

$         

$      

$      

388
177
219
3
-
3
-
790
88
-
7
95
(19)
76
-
-
(1)
75
1
76

397
181
220
4
-
15
-
817
(149)
-
5
(144)
(6)
(150)
-
-
(1)
(151)
1
(150)

426
193
249
6
351
22
(10)
1,237
(471)
192
(32)
(311)
(8)
(319)
34
34
-
(251)
(34)
(285)

$         

$      

$      

$      

$     

0.47
-
0.47

(1.03)
-
(1.03)

$     

$     

(2.12)
0.23
(1.89)

$      

$     

$      

$      

0.40
-
0.40

$     

$     

(1.03)
-
(1.03)

$     

$     

(2.12)
0.23
(1.89)

161
191

146
146

150
150

[1] The fiscal year ended December 28, 2008 includes the retrospective application of adopting new accounting 

guidance relating to debt.  

[2] Our financial statements have been recast to account for our spin-off of SunPower as discontinued operations in 

fiscal 2008.

11

         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
           
           
             
              
              
         
             
           
           
            
            
          
       
       
      
           
        
        
              
              
         
             
             
          
           
        
        
        
          
            
              
              
           
              
              
           
            
            
              
           
        
        
             
             
          
              
              
        
              
              
        
         
         
         
         
         
         
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Annual)
(In millions)

GAAP revenues
SRAM legal settlement
Non-GAAP revenues

GAAP gross margin
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Write down of final build inventory
Other
Non-GAAP gross margin

GAAP research and development expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Other
Gain on sale of long-term asset
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
Non-GAAP research and development expenses

GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Other
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses

GAAP operating income (loss) 
Stock-based compensation expense
Acquisition-related expense:
Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other 

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges
Non-GAAP operating income 

GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Cypress
Stock-based compensation expense
Acquisition-related expense:
 Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other 

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges
Investment-related gains/losses
Gain on sale of Sunpower shares
Tax effects
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cypress

GAAP net income (loss) per share attributable to Cypress - diluted
Stock-based compensation expense
Acquisition-related expense:
 Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other 

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges
Investment-related gains/losses
Gain on sale of Sunpower shares
Tax effects
Non-GAAP share count adjustment
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Non-GAAP net income per share attributable to Cypress - diluted

12

Year Ended
Jan. 3,
2010

Dec. 28,
2008

Jan. 2,
2011

 $      878 
6

 $      668 
-
$      884  $      668 

 $      766 
-
 $      766 

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

271
40
-
-
-
4
315

181
(37)
-
2
-
146

220
(64)
-
-
-
156

340
27
-
2
2
2
373

193
(39)
(2)
-
1
153

249
(55)
(2)
-
-
192

489
23
6
-
-
-
518

177
(21)
-
-
-
156

219
(48)
-
(1)
(5)
165

$       

$       

$       

$         

88
92

$      

(149)
141

$      

(471)
121

-
-
3
-
-
-
7
5
-
3
198

$       

-
3
5
(2)
-
-
-
-
-
15
13

$         

351
6
5
-
3
(1)
-
2
(10)
22
28

$         

$         

76
92

$      

(150)
141

$      

(285)
121

-
-
3
-
-
-
7
5
-
3
(3)
-
3
-
186

$       

-
3
5
(2)
-
-
-
-
-
15
3
-
3
-
18

$         

351
6
5
-
3
(1)
-
2
(10)
22
39
(192)
6
(34)
33

$         

$      

0.40
0.45

$     

(1.03)
0.97

$     

(1.89)
0.74

-
-
0.01
-
-
-
0.04
0.03
-
0.01
(0.02)
-
0.02
-
-
0.94

$      

-
0.03
0.02
(0.02)
-
-
-
-
-
0.10
0.02
-
0.02
(0.01)
-
0.10

$      

2.11
0.04
0.03
-
0.02
(0.01)
-
0.01
(0.06)
0.13
0.23
(1.16)
0.04
0.17
(0.20)
0.20

$      

        
              
        
              
              
       
        
        
        
       
        
        
              
              
       
        
        
        
              
       
        
              
              
       
             
              
              
           
           
           
             
              
              
              
              
             
              
              
             
              
             
             
          
          
          
              
              
            
              
             
              
              
              
             
          
          
          
              
              
            
            
              
              
            
              
              
           
         
         
              
              
         
              
             
             
             
             
             
              
            
              
              
              
             
              
              
            
             
              
              
             
              
             
              
              
          
             
           
           
           
         
         
              
              
         
              
             
             
             
             
             
              
            
              
              
              
             
              
              
            
             
              
              
             
              
             
              
              
          
             
           
           
            
             
           
              
              
        
             
             
             
              
              
          
        
        
        
              
              
        
              
        
        
        
        
        
              
       
              
              
              
        
              
              
       
        
              
              
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Quarterly)
(In millions, except per-share data)

GAAP revenues
Costs and expenses (credits):
Cost of revenues 
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
Restructuring charges
Total costs and expenses, net
Operating income (loss)
Interest and other income (expense), net 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax provision
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Loss from  Noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes 
Net income (loss)
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

Jan. 2,
2011
$       

221

Oct. 3,
2010
$       

232

Jul. 4,
2010

Quarter Ended

Apr. 4,
2010

Jan. 3,
2010

$       

223

$       

202

$       

194

Sep. 27,
2009
$       

179

Jun. 28, Mar. 29,

2009

2009

$       

156

$       

139

97
48
59
1
-
205
16
2
18
(9)
9
$           
(1)
8
1
$           
9

97
46
54
1
3
201
31
5
36
(2)
34
-
34
-
34

98
43
55
-
(1)
195
28
(1)
27
(6)
21
-
21
-
21

96
40
51
1
1
189
13
1
14
(2)
12
-
12
-
12

99
40
51
1
1
192
2
3
5
(2)
3
$           
(1)
2
1
$           
3

94
43
55
1
7
200
(21)
2
(19)
(1)
(20)
-
(20)
-
(20)

99
48
53
1
1
202
(46)
1
(45)
-
(45)
-
(45)
-
(45)

105
50
61
1
6
223
(84)
(1)
(85)
(3)
(88)
-
(88)
-
(88)

$         

$         

$         

$        

$        

$        

$         

$         

$         

$        

$        

$        

Net income (loss) per share - basic:

$      

0.05

$      

0.22

$      

0.13

$      

0.08

$      

0.02

$     

(0.13)

$     

(0.32)

$     

(0.67)

Net income (loss) per share - diluted:

$      

0.05

$      

0.18

$      

0.11

$      

0.07

$      

0.02

$     

(0.13)

$     

(0.32)

$     

(0.67)

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

166
198

159
187

161
190

159
191

155
184

152
152

141
141

135
135

13

           
           
           
           
           
           
           
         
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
            
           
            
             
            
           
              
             
            
             
             
             
             
             
       
       
       
       
        
         
        
       
           
           
           
           
             
          
          
          
             
             
            
             
             
             
             
            
           
           
           
           
             
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
           
            
         
          
            
              
              
              
            
              
              
              
             
           
           
           
             
          
          
          
             
              
              
              
             
          
          
          
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Quarterly)
(In millions)

Jan. 2,
2011

Oct. 3,
2010

Jul. 4,
2010

Apr. 4,
2010

Jan. 3,
2010

Sep. 27,
2009

Jun. 28, Mar. 29,

2009

2009

Quarter Ended

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$       

$         

$         

$         

$         

$      

$      

$      

$      

$      

$         

$        

$        

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

221
6
227

124
5
6
-
135

48
(6)
-
42

59
(12)
(1)
(5)
41

16
23
7
5
-
-
51

9
23
7
5
1
-
-
6
51

232
-
232

135
5
-
-
140

46
(6)
-
40

54
(11)
-
-
43

31
22
-
-
1
3
57

34
22
-
-
(4)
1
3
(3)
53

223
-
223

125
7
-
-
132

43
(6)
-
37

54
(13)
-
-
41

28
26
-
-
1
(1)
54

21
26
-
-
-
1
(1)
1
48

202
-
202

105
6
-
-
111

40
(4)
1
37

51
(11)
-
-
40

13
20
-
-
1
2
36

12
20
-
-
-
1
2
(1)
34

194
-
194

95
7
-
3
105

40
(6)
2
36

51
(11)
-
-
40

2
$           
24
-
-
4
1
31

$         

3
$           
24
-
-
-
3
1
1
32

$         

179
-
179

85
8
-
-
93

43
(8)
-
35

55
(15)
-
-
40

(21)
31
-
-
-
7
17

(20)
31
-
-
3
-
7
(1)
20

156
-
156

57
11
-
1
69

48
(11)
-
37

53
(16)
-
-
37

(46)
38
-
-
1
1
(6)

(45)
38
-
-
-
-
1
2
(4)

139
-
139

34
14
-
-
48

50
(12)
-
38

61
(22)
-
-
39

(84)
48
-
-
1
6
(29)

(88)
48
-
-
1
-
6
3
(30)

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$        

$        

$        

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$          

$        

$           

$         

$         

$         

$        

$        

$        

$         

$         

$         

$         

$         

$          

$        

GAAP revenues
SRAM legal settlement
Non-GAAP revenues

GAAP gross margin
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Other 
Non-GAAP gross margin

GAAP research and development expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Other
Non-GAAP research and development

GAAP selling, general and administrative
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative

GAAP operating income (loss)
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Other
Restructuring charges
Non-GAAP operating income (loss)

GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Cypress
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Investment-related gains/losses
Other
Restructuring charges
Tax/other expense effects on non-GAAP adjustments 
Non-GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

14

             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             
             
             
             
             
             
           
           
           
            
            
            
             
              
             
            
              
              
              
              
             
              
             
              
          
          
          
          
           
            
         
        
            
            
            
           
            
              
             
            
        
        
        
        
         
          
         
        
          
            
            
            
             
              
             
            
            
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
         
         
         
         
          
           
          
         
             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             
             
             
             
              
             
             
              
             
            
             
             
             
             
             
         
         
         
         
          
           
          
         
           
            
            
            
             
              
             
            
             
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
             
            
              
              
              
             
              
             
              
             
             
             
             
              
              
              
              
             
            
             
             
             
             
             
             
            
             
            
             
            
             
             
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions)

ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments 
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Other assets [2]
Total assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable
Deferred income
Income tax liabilities
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Total Cypress stockholders' equity
Non-controlling interest
Total equity [1]
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

As of

Jan. 2,
2011

Jan. 3,
2010

$          

$          

$       

$          

$            

$            

434
118
102
260
44
115
1,073

60
132
65
113
370
705
(2)
703
1,073

300
87
91
273
47
115
913

62
76
46
98
282
632
(1)
631
913

$       

$          

[1]  Common stock: 650 and 650 shares authorized; 259 and 235 shares issued; 171 and 159 shares
      outstanding as of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, respectively.
[2]  Includes auction rate securities of $24 and $33 classified as long term investments as of 

January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, respectively.

15

            
              
            
              
            
            
              
              
            
            
            
              
              
              
            
              
            
            
            
            
               
               
            
            
CORPORATE INFORMATION

BOARD OF 
DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE
MANAGEMENT

W. Steve Albrecht(1) 

Eric A. Benhamou(1,2) 
Lloyd Carney(1,2)
James R. Long(2,3) 
J. Daniel McCranie(3,4)
T. J. Rodgers 
J.D. Sherman(1)
Evert P. van de Ven(3,4)

Andersen Alumni Professor of Accounting, Marriott School of Management, 
Brigham Young University
Chairman of our Board; Former Chairman of the Board of 3Com Corp.
CEO, Xsigo Systems
Consultant, Former Executive Vice President of Nortel Networks
Chairman of the Board of ON Semiconductor; Former Chairman of Virage Logic
Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cypress
Chief Financial Officer, Akamai Technologies
Former Executive Vice President and CTO, Novellus Systems

T. J. Rodgers 
Brad W. Buss 
Sabbas Daniel
Paul Keswick
Badri Kothandaraman

Dana Nazarian
Cathal Phelan
Dinesh Ramanathan 
Christopher Seams 
Shahin Sharifzadeh 
Thomas Surrette
Norman Taffe 
Harry Sim
Ron Sartore

Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President, Quality
Executive Vice President, New Product Development, Engineering, IT
Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Cypress Semiconductor 
Technology India Private Limited
Executive Vice President, Memory Products Division
Executive Vice President and CTO
Executive Vice President, Data Communications Division
Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing 
Executive Vice President, Manufacturing and Operations; President, China Ops
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Executive Vice President, Consumer and Computation Division
CEO, Cypress Envirosystems (subsidiary)
CEO, AgigA Tech (subsidiary)

ANNUAL MEETING

LEGAL MATTERS

Questions regarding legal matters should be directed to:
Victoria Tidwell

General Counsel and Vice President, Legal

LEGAL COUNSEL

Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
(650) 493-9300

INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS

CORPORATE 
HEADQUARTERS

REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
10 Almaden Blvd., Suite 1600
San Jose, California 95113
(408) 817-3700

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
198 Champion Court
San Jose, California 95134-1709

Computershare Trust Company, NA
PO Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
(781) 575-2879

(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
(3) Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee
(4) Member of the Operations Committee

Telephone:
Facsimile:
Internet: http://www.cypress.com

(408) 943-2600
(408) 943-4730

The annual meeting of stockholders 
for Cypress Semiconductor 
Corporation will be held on Friday, 
May 13, 2011, 10:00 a.m., local 
time, at Cypress’s offices at 
198 Champion Court, San Jose, 
California 95134-1709.

COMMON STOCK

Cypress Semiconductor 
Corporation’s common stock is 
traded on the NASDAQ Global 
Select Market under the symbol 
“CY.”

FORM 10-K

A copy of Cypress's Annual Report 
on Form 10-K, as filed with the 
Securities and Exchange 
Commission on February 25, 2011, 
will be made available without 
charge to all stockholders upon 
written request to Cypress. Direct 
requests may be made to the 
Attention of the Chief Financial 
Officer at 198 Champion Court, 
San Jose, Calif. 95134-1709.

The letter to Stockholders and “Management Discussion and Analysis” contain a number of forward-looking statements about the prospects for Cypress and its subsidiaries as well as the 
semiconductor industry more generally, which are based on our current information and expectations and could be affected by uncertainties and risk factors, including but not limited to 
those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 25, 2011. Our actual results may differ materially. We use words such as, “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “future”, 
“planning”, “intends” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements which include statements related to our prices, growth, supply, operations, shipments, our current and 
future products, profit and revenue.

PSoC, PowerPSoC, West Bridge, CapSense, and Cypress are registered trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. Programmable System-on-Chip, WirelessUSB, TrueTouch, and 
PSoC Creator are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. SunPower is a registered trademark of SunPower Corp. AGIGARAM is a trademark of AgigA Tech. Inc. ARM is a registered 
trademark and Cortex is a trademark of ARM Limited. HP is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Development Company LP. Samsung and Wave are registered trademarks of 
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Corp. Aries is a registered trademark of Aries Industries. Epson and Stylus are registered trademarks of Seiko Epson Corp. Microsoft is a registered 
trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Acer and Iconia are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. BMW is a registered trademark of BMW AG. Barnes & Noble and Nook are registered 
trademarks of Barnes & Noble Incorporated. HTC is a registered trademark of HTC Corporation. Garmin is a registered trademark of Garmin Ltd. TomTom is a registered trademark of 
TomTom International. Cisco is a registered trademark of Cisco Systems Inc. Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective 
owners.

16

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

Form 10-K

(Mark One)
È

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

‘

For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2011
Or

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

For the transition period from

to

.

Commission file number: 1-10079

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

94-2885898
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 943-2600

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

Title of Each Class

Common Stock, $.01 par value

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

The NASDAQ Stock Market

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

Indicate by check mark if

Act. ‘ Yes È No

the registrant

is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of

the Securities

Indicate by check mark if the registrant

Act. ‘ Yes È No

is not required to file reports pursuant

to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the

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. È Yes ‘ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months ( or for
such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). È Yes ‘ No

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of “larger accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer È

Accelerated filer ‘

Non-accelerated filer ‘

Smaller reporting company ‘

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ‘ Yes È No
The market value of voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing sale price of
the common stock on July 4, 2010 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, was approximately $1.3 billion. Shares of common
stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have been
excluded from the foregoing calculation in that such persons may be deemed affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not
necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

As of February 17, 2011, 173,649,124 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Definitive Proxy Statement for registrant’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for

the year ended January 3, 2010 are incorporated by reference in Items 10 - 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
[Reserved]

PART II

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
Selected Financial Data
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosures
Controls and Procedures
Other Information

PART III

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence
Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Item 1
Item 1A
Item 1B
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4

Item 5

Item 6
Item 7
Item 7A
Item 8
Item 9

Item 9A
Item 9B

Item 10
Item 11
Item 12

Item 13
Item 14

Item 15
Signatures and Power of Attorney

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule

PART IV

Page

4
18
28
28
28
29

30
33
35
57
60

108
108
109

110
110

112
112
112

113
118

2

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-Looking Statements

The discussion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains statements that are not historical in nature, but
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, statements related to our programmability strategy; the markets we intend to pursue;
our increased reliance on third party manufacturing; our strategy regarding non-aligned, underperforming
businesses, including the expected closing of the divestiture of our image sensor business; the number and impact
of future personnel terminations, our expectations regarding our patent portfolio; our expectations, including the
timing, related to our restructuring activities which includes the closure of our Texas manufacturing facility; the
critical nature of our software development efforts, our expectations regarding our active litigation matters and
our intent to defend ourselves in those matters; the assumptions and calculations of our unrecognized tax
benefits; our expected tax rate on foreign earnings, the adequacy of our cash and working capital positions; our
expected return on our yield-enhancement program; our intended use of our line of credit; the value and liquidity
of our investments in auction rate securities, and other debt investments, our expectations regarding our
outstanding warranty liability, our plans to repurchase stock, whether or not we expect to pay dividends, our
interest rate risk, the volatility of our stock price and the impact of new FASB accounting standards on our
financial statements. We use words such as “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “intend” and
similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the
date hereof and are based on our current expectations, beliefs and intentions regarding future events or our
financial performance and the information available to management as of the date hereof. Except as required by
law, we assume no responsibility to update any such forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ
materially from those expected, discussed or projected in the forward-looking statements contained in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K for any number of reasons, including, but not limited to, the state and future of the
general economy and its impact on the markets we serve and our investments; the current credit conditions; our
ability to expand our customer base, our ability to transform our business with a leading portfolio of
programmable products; the number and nature of our competitors; the changing environment and/or cycles of
the semiconductor industry; our ability to efficiently manage our manufacturing facilities and achieve our cost
goals emanating from our flexible manufacturing strategy; our success in our pending litigation matters, our
ability to manage our investments and interest rate and exchange rate exposure; our ability to achieve liquidity in
our investments, our ability to develop successful software products, our ability to properly file for patent
protection of our inventions and technology, our ability to execute on the key strategies identified in the Business
Strategies section of this 10-K and/or the materialization of one or more of the risks set forth above or in Item 1A
(Risk Factors) in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

3

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

PART I

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (“Cypress”) is a leading supplier of proprietary and programmable
solutions in systems everywhere. Groundbreaking products and solutions based on its unique PSoC
programmable system-on-chip platform – including TrueTouch™, CapSense®, PowerPSoC®, OvationONS™,
PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5—have achieved robust design wins and increasing market penetration with a rich blend of
design flexibility, high performance, component integration, cost-savings, and ease-of-use. In addition to its
PSoC-based programmable solutions, Cypress also offers West Bridge® peripheral controllers, Universal Serial
Bus (USB) controllers, general-purpose programmable clocks, and a wide portfolio of static random access
memories (SRAMs).

As a result, Cypress programmable products can be found in a wide array of the world’s leading end
products, including cell phones, GPS systems, PCs and PC peripherals, audio and gaming devices, washing
machines, and communications devices. Cypress serves numerous markets, including consumer electronics,
computation, handsets, data communications, automotive, medical, industrial and white goods.

Cypress was incorporated in California in December 1982. The initial public offering of our common stock
took place in May 1986, at which time our common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ National Market.
In February 1987, we were reincorporated in Delaware and in October 1988, we began listing our common stock
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CY.” On November 12, 2009, we voluntarily moved our
stock listing back to the NASDAQ Global Select Market, maintaining the “CY” ticker symbol.

Our corporate headquarters are located at 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134, and our main
telephone number is (408) 943-2600. We maintain a website at www.cypress.com. The contents of our website
are not incorporated into, or otherwise to be regarded as part of, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our fiscal 2010 ended on January 2, 2011, fiscal 2009 ended on January 3, 2010 and fiscal 2008 ended on

December 28, 2008. Our fiscal 2010 and 2008 contained 52 weeks and fiscal 2009 contained 53 weeks.

Business Segments

As of the end of fiscal 2010, our organization included the following business segments:

Business Segments

Description

Consumer and Computation Division A product division focusing on PSoC, touch-sensing and touchscreen

solutions, USB and timing solutions.

Data Communications Division

A product division focusing on data communication devices for wireless
handset and professional video systems.

Memory and Imaging Division

A product division focusing on static random access memories,
nonvolatile memories and image sensor products.

Emerging Technologies and Other

Includes Cypress Envirosystems and AgigA Tech, Inc., both majority-
owned subsidiaries of Cypress, the Optical Navigation Systems (“ONS”)
business unit, China business unit, foundry-related services, other
development stage companies and certain corporate expenses.

For additional information on our segments, see Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

under Item 8.

4

Business Strategies

Cypress is focused on managing expenses and maintaining a strong balance sheet. We have successfully
transitioned many of our business operations to lower-cost centers, including India, the Philippines and China. In
addition we are utilizing foundry partners for more of our manufacturing. About half of our manufacturing is
now done outside of Cypress.

In 2009, Cypress introduced two new architectures for its PSoC platform, PSoC 3 and PSoC 5, that extend
Cypress’s reach into many new and fast-growing markets and increased its total addressable market (“TAM”) by
10x from $1.5 billion to $15 billion. Combining the PSoC family of devices with an intuitive new integrated
software development environment called PSoC Creator™, Cypress is positioned to claim new business in the
microcontroller, programmable analog and programmable logic markets. Over the past five years, Cypress has
grown from the 18th largest 8-bit microcontroller vendor to No. 8 in 2010.

In 2010, Cypress also continued to focus sales, marketing, and product development on its “touch” business,
which includes touchscreens and button-replacement technologies. As a result, we realized significant revenue
growth for our PSoC-based TrueTouch™ touchscreen controllers and CapSense® capacitive-touch-sensing
products, particularly in the handset market. We also realized our first design win from our ONS business unit,
which provides unique touch sensors for mobile phones. As a result, Cypress’s handset revenue increased by
more than 30 percent, year over year.

In fiscal 2011, Cypress will continue to pursue the following key strategies:

‰ Drive profitability. Driving profitability and a high return on investment for our stockholders is our first
priority. Toward that end, Cypress has implemented a tight, corporate wide focus on gross margin and
operating expenses. Over the past several years, Cypress has continued to move its operations to
low-cost centers in India, the Philippines and China, implemented a flexible manufacturing model (see
below), As a result of these efforts, Cypress achieved substantial cash flow leverage, with a cash and
investment balance totaling $458 million at the end of 2010. In Q4 2010, Cypress announced another
$600 million plan to repurchase Cypress stock.

‰ Drive programmability. We believe our proprietary programmable technology and programmable
product leadership, led by our flagship PSoC family of devices, represents an important competitive
advantage for us, and has enabled us to maintain strong average selling prices (“ASPs”) across our
product lines. Driven by current and anticipated demand, we continue to define, design and develop new
programmable products and solutions that offer our customers increased flexibility and efficiency,
higher performance, and higher levels of integration.

‰

‰

Extend technology leadership and drive PSoC proliferation. The most
important step of our
programmability initiative is to drive PSoC adoption in large market segments. PSoC devices can be
used in applications ranging from cell phones, MP3 player, appliances, cars, etc. The product’s
easy-to-use programming software and development kits can facilitate rapid adoption across many
different platforms.

Focus on large and growing markets. We will continue to pursue business opportunities in markets,
including handheld and human interface/consumer devices, portable medical devices, industrial sensing
and control, mobile accessories, automotive, and system management.

‰ Collaborate with customers to build system-level solutions. We work closely with customers from initial
product design through manufacturing and delivery. Our sales, customer and technical support, product
marketing and development efforts are organized to optimize our customers’ design efforts, helping
them to achieve product differentiation and speed time-to-market. Our engineering expertise is focused
on developing whole product solutions, including silicon, software and reference designs.

5

‰

‰

‰

Leverage flexible manufacturing. Our manufacturing strategy combines capacity from leading foundries
with output from our internal manufacturing facilities. This initiative allows us to meet rapid swings in
customer demand while lessening the burden of high fixed costs, a capability that is particularly
important in high-volume consumer markets that we serve with our leading programmable product
portfolio.

Identify and exit legacy or non-strategic, underperforming businesses. A focused business will allow us
to better achieve our current objectives. Over the past four years, we have divested certain business units
that were inconsistent with our future business initiatives and long-term plans. Exiting these businesses
has allowed us to focus our current resources and efforts on our core programmable and proprietary
business model. As part of our growth strategy, we will continue to review our business units to ensure
alignment with our short and long-term goals.

Pursue complementary strategic relationships. Complementary acquisitions can expand our markets and
strengthen our competitive position. As part of our growth strategy, we continue to selectively assess
opportunities
investments and joint
development projects with key partners and other businesses.

to develop strategic relationships,

including acquisitions,

As we continue to implement our strategies, there are many internal and external factors that could impact

our ability to meet any or all of our objectives. Some of these factors are discussed under Item 1A.

Product/Service Overview

Consumer and Computation Division:

The Consumer and Computation Division designs and develops solutions for many of the world’s leading
end-product manufacturers. Its programmable product offerings are the linchpin of our programmable solutions
strategy. This division’s products include PSoC devices, CapSense and TrueTouch touch-sensing/touchscreen
products and the industry’s broadest selection of USB controllers and WirelessUSB™ products, and general-
purpose programmable clocks. PSoC products are used in various consumer applications such as MP3 players,
mass storage, household appliances, laptop computers and toys. USB is used primarily in PC and peripheral
applications and is finding increased adoption rates in consumer devices such as MP3 players, mobile handsets
and set-top boxes.

6

The following table summarizes the markets and applications related to our products in this segment:

Products

Markets

Applications

PSoC 1, PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 Consumer, handsets,

TrueTouch

CapSense

industrial, medical,
communications,
automotive

Consumer, computation,
handsets, communication,
gaming, automotive

Consumer, industrial,
computation, white goods,
communication, automotive

USB controllers

PC peripherals, consumer
electronics

WirelessUSB

PC peripherals

Programmable clocks

Consumer, computation

RoboClock™ buffers

Communications

still

Digital
appliances,
and video cameras,
handheld devices, notebook computers, LCD
monitors, medical
keyboards,
industrial, toys, mobile accessories and e-Bikes.

devices, mice,

Mobile handsets, portable media players, video
other
games, GPS systems,
applications.

keyboards

and

Notebook computers and PCs, appliances, handheld
devices, automotive control pads/media centers,
digital cameras, toys, consumer products and many
other applications.

Mice, keyboards, handheld devices, gamepads and
joysticks, VoIP phones, headsets, presenter tool,
dongles, point of sale devices and bar code
scanners.

Mice, keyboards, wireless headsets, consumer
electronics, gamepads, remote controllers, toys and
presenter tools.

Set-top boxes, copiers, printers, HDTV, industrial
automation, printers, single-board computers, IP
phones, storage devices, servers and routers.

Basestations,
(switches, routers), servers and storage.

high-end

telecom equipment

PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip products. Our PSoC products are highly integrated, high-
performance mixed-signal devices with an on-board microcontroller, programmable digital and analog blocks,
SRAM and flash memory. They provide a low-cost, single-chip solution for a variety of consumer, industrial,
medical, and system management applications. A single PSoC device can integrate as many as 100 peripheral
functions saving customers design time, board space, power consumption, and system costs. Because of its
programmability, PSoC allows customers to make modifications at any point during the design cycle, providing
unmatched flexibility.

Cypress’s PSoC 1 device delivers performance, programmability and flexibility with a cost-optimized 8-bit
M8 CPU subsystem. PSoC 3 uses an 8-bit, Intel® 8051-based microcontroller with 7.5 times more computing
power than PSoC 1. The 32-bit, ARM®-Cortex™-based PSoC 5 has 25 times more computing power than PSoC
1. The analog-to-digital converters on PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 are 256 times more accurate and 10- to 30-times faster
than PSoC 1, and there are 10 times more programmable logic gates available. PSoC Creator™ is a unique
design tool that allows engineers to use intuitive schematic-based capture and dozens of certified, firmware-
defined, pre-packaged peripherals. Cypress shipped its 750 millionth PSoC device in 2010, and launched an
online community for developers of PSoC and other products (www.cypress.com/go/community) featuring
technical forums, blogs and videos. The site registered more than 20,000 users by the end of the year. Also, PSoC
3, PSoC 5 and PSoC Creator were named finalists in EDN magazine’s annual Innovation Awards.

TrueTouch Touchscreen Solutions. TrueTouch is a single-chip touchscreen solution that can interpret the
inputs of more than 10 fingers from all areas of the screen simultaneously. This enables designers to create new
usage models for products such as mobile handsets, portable media players (“PMPs”), global positioning systems
(“GPS”) and other products. The TrueTouch family also includes devices that perform traditional touchscreen
functions including interpreting single touches, and gestures such as tap, double-tap, pan, pinch, scroll, and

7

rotate. In 2010, Cypress demonstrated a tablet-sized capacitive touchscreen technology with 10-finger tracking,
ideal for laptops, netbooks and tablet PCs and introduced 1mm stylus support and hover detection for TrueTouch
capacitive touchscreens. Cypress’s True Touch solutions work with all major handset, tablet an PC operating
systems including Android, Windows, Apple, Linux, Wen OS and QNX. The company announced multiple
design wins including Samsung, Fujutsu, HTC phones and HP printers. Cypress’s combined portfolio of
touchscreen solutions is the industry’s broadest. Cypress secured its first major tablet and large-screen notebook
PC touchscreen design wins in 2010 and is working with all major tablet manufacturers on future designs.

CapSense . Our PSoC-based CapSense capacitive touch-sensing solutions replace mechanical switches and
controls with simple, touch-sensitive controls by detecting the presence or absence of a conductive object (such
as a finger) and measuring changes in capacitance. This technology lends itself equally well to buttons, sliders,
touchpads, touchscreens and proximity sensors, taking industrial design possibilities to a much higher level. The
CapSense family includes CapSense, CapSense Express™ and CapSense Plus™—each supporting different
ranges of general purpose inputs/outputs, buttons and slider devices. Cypress’s CapSense devices feature
SmartSense™ technology, an automatic tuning solution for its CapSense devices that dynamically detects and
adjusts a system’s capacitive-sensing parameters, eliminating the need for manual tuning. Cypress has replaced
more than 3.5 billion buttons with CapSense technology and is the worldwide capacitive sensing market share
leader in handsets. The company announced several CapSense design wins in 2010, including LG televisions,
Microsoft mice, Epson printers and Pioneer cordless phones.

USB Controllers. Cypress is the market leader in USB with more than one billion devices shipped. USB
provides the primary connection between a PC and peripherals, including keyboards, mice, printers, joysticks,
scanners and modems. It is also used to connect various non-PC systems, such as handheld games, digital still
cameras and MP3 players. The USB standard facilitates a “plug-and-play” architecture that enables instant
recognition and interoperability when a USB-compatible peripheral is connected to a system. We offer a full
range of USB solutions, including low-speed (1.5 Mbps), full-speed (12 Mbps) and high-speed (480 Mbps) USB
products. We also offer a variety of USB hubs, transceivers, serial interface engines and embedded-host products
for a broad range of applications. Cypress is currently working on its next-generation USB 3.0 products, which
are set to begin sampling in 2011.

WirelessUSB™. Designed for short-range wireless connectivity, WirelessUSB enables personal computer
peripherals, gaming controllers,
toys, and other point-to-point or multipoint-to-point
applications to “cut the cord” with a low-cost, 2.4-GHz wireless solution. The WirelessUSB system acts as a
USB human interface device, so the connectivity is transparent to the designer at the operating system level.
WirelessUSB also operates as a simple, cost-effective wireless link in a host of other applications including
industrial, consumer, and medical markets.

remote controls,

Programmable Clocks. Programmable timing solutions such as our InstaClock device combine high
performance with the flexibility and fast time to market of field-programmable devices at a cost that is
competitive against custom clocks at equivalent volumes. Working with our easy-to-use CyberClocks software,
designers can optimize device parameters such as drive strength, phased-lock loop bandwidth and crystal input
capacitive loading. Our programmable clocks are ideal for devices requiring multiple frequencies including
Ethernet, PCI, USB, HDTV, and audio applications. In 2009, Cypress introduced the FleXO™ family of high-
performance clock generators that can be instantly programmed in the factory or field to any frequency up to 650
MHz, accelerating time to market and improving manufacturing quality.

RoboClock Clock Buffers. Our RoboClock family of clock buffers feature programmable output skew,
programmable multiply/divide factor, and user-selectable redundant reference clocks that provide fault tolerance.
Designers can control output skew and multiply and divide factors to help accommodate last-minute design
changes. RoboClock offers a high-performance timing solution for designers of communications, computation
and storage networking applications.

8

Data Communications Division:

The Data Communications Division focuses on West Bridge communication products, peripheral
interconnects, programmable logic devices and PowerPSoC® which includes our
controllers, dual-port
EZ-Color™ LED lighting solutions. Our communication products are primarily used in the networking and
telecommunications market. This division also makes a line of legacy switches, cable drivers and equalizers for
the professional video market. Our specialty memory products consist of first-in, first-out and dual port
memories. First-in, first-out memories are used for applications such as switches and routers, and dual port
memories are used in switching applications and handsets, including networking switches and routers, cellular
base stations, mass storage devices, mobile handsets, and telecommunication equipment.

The following table summarizes the markets and applications related to our products in this segment:

Products

Markets

Applications

Peripheral bridge
controllers

Consumer, mobile
handsets

Cellular phones, portable media players, personal digital assistants,
digital cameras and printers.

Dual-port
memories

Networking,
telecommunication

Medical and instrumentation, storage, wireless infrastructure, military
communications, image processors and base stations.

First-in, first-out
(“FIFO”)
memories

Physical layer
devices

Programmable
logic devices
PowerPSoC®
controllers

EZ-Color LED
controllers

Video, data
communications,
telecommunications,
networking

Data
communications,
consumer

Video, data communications,
switching/routing.

telecommunications, and network

Converters, professional video cameras, production switchers and
video routers and servers, encoders and decoders.

Storage, military

Storage and military.

Industrial, lighting

LEDs, motors and other power applications.

Architecture,
entertainment

Flashlights, architectural lighting, general signage and entertainment
lighting.

West Bridge® Peripheral Bridge Controllers. Our West Bridge products enable direct connection between
peripherals, creating ultra-fast transfers while offloading the main processor from data-intensive operations. The
West Bridge family complements the main processor by adding support for next generation and latest standards
and allowing simultaneous transfers between peripherals and processing elements. The inaugural product in the
West Bridge family is Antioch. Antioch is a three-ported device designed specifically for handsets to provide a
direct path from PC to handset mass storage, freeing baseband/applications processor resources by limiting its
involvement in these high-density transfers. Additionally, Antioch creates simultaneous usage models by adding
dedicated paths between the three ports to literally create multiple usage models such as using the handset as a
modem, while downloading multimedia files, and playing music. The most recent addition to the West Bridge
family is Astoria which features Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND Flash support that enables designers to use
lowest-cost, highest-density flash storage. In 2009, Cypress also introduced Turbo-MTP™, a faster media
transfer protocol module for West Bridge controllers. Users can transfer a movie from a PC to their handheld
device in less than 45 seconds—four times faster than the next-best alternative.

Dual-Port Memories. Dual ports, which can be accessed by two different processors or buses
simultaneously, target shared-memory and switching applications, including networking switches and routers,
cellular base stations, mass-storage devices and telecommunications equipment. We offer a portfolio of more
than 160 synchronous and asynchronous dual-port interconnects ranging in densities from 8 Kbits to 36 Mbits
with speeds of up to 250 MHz. Our dual ports are the compelling solutions for interprocessor communication in a
broad range of applications. For high-volume multiprocessor applications (wireless handsets, PDAs, consumer)

9

we offer the MoBL dual port, providing a low cost, quick time-to-market interconnect solution with the
industry’s lowest power-consumption.

FIFO Memories. FIFOs are used as a buffer between systems operating at different frequencies. Our high-
performance FIFO products provide the ideal solution to interconnect problems such as flow control, rate
matching, and bus matching. Our FIFO portfolio is comprised of more than 100 synchronous and asynchronous
memories in a variety of speeds, bus widths, densities and packages. Using industry-standard pinouts, these
products are easily integrated into new and existing designs. Unidirectional, bidirectional, tri-bus and double
sync configurations are available with built-in expansion logic and message-passing capabilities for various
markets including video, data communications, telecommunications and network switching/routing.

Physical Layer Devices. Our portfolio includes HOTLink, HOTLinkDX and HOTLinkII. These transceiver
families cover data transmission rates of 50 Mbps up to 1.5 Gbps. These flexible devices are ideal for proprietary
serial backplane applications. They also comply with many industry standards such as 10 Gbps Ethernet, gigabit
Ethernet, Fibre Channel, Enterprise System Connection, Digital Video Broadcast, and high-definition television. In
addition, we supply a chipset for the transmission of digital video signals. This chipset is based on our HOTLink
family and is widely used in professional digital video equipment such as editing, routing, recording and storage.

Programmable Logic Devices. System logic performs non-memory functions such as floating-point
mathematics or the organization and routing of signals throughout a computer system. We manufacture several
types of programmable logic devices that facilitate the replacement of multiple standard logic devices with a
single programmable device,
increasing flexibility and reducing time to market. Our wide range of
programmable logic devices includes products ranging from 32 to more than 3,000 macrocells.

PowerPSoC®. Cypress’s PowerPSoC family of embedded power controllers is the industry’s first fully
integrated single-chip solution for both controlling and driving high-power LEDs and other power applications
such as small motors. The PowerPSoC family integrates four constant-current regulators and four 32V
MOSFETs with Cypress’s PSoC® programmable system-on-chip, which includes a microcontroller,
programmable analog and digital blocks and memory. This uniquely high level of integration provides customers
with a single-chip solution for high-quality LED-based lighting products and extends into other embedded
applications such as white goods and industrial control.

Powerline Communications Solutions. In 2010, Cypress introduced a PSoC-based programmable Powerline
Communication (PLC) solution that enables the reliable transmission of command and control data over high-and
low-voltage power lines. The hardware platform combines a modem, network protocol and application code with
PSoC’s programmable analog and digital circuitry, providing an integrated solution that speeds time-to-market.
Key applications include smart metering, LED lighting, energy management and solar markets. Cypress’s PLC
solution was named a 2010 Editor’s Choice award recipient by Industrial Embedded Systems Magazine.

EZ-Color Controllers. Our EZ-Color family of devices offers the ideal control solution for high brightness
light-emitting diode (“LED”) applications requiring intelligent dimming control. EZ-Color devices combine the
power and flexibility of PSoC with Cypress’s precise illumination signal modulation drive technology providing
lighting designers a fully customizable and integrated lighting solution platform.

Memory and Imaging Division:

Cypress signed a definitive agreement to sell its high-performance custom and standard CMOS image sensor
business to ON Semiconductor Corporation and it is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011. Our memory
business designs and manufactures SRAM products and nonvolatile SRAMs (nvSRAMs) which are used to store
and retrieve data in networking, wireless infrastructure and handsets, computation, consumer, automotive, industrial
and other electronic systems. Cypress is the world’s No.1 supplier of SRAMs. It maintained its market leadership in
2010, as its portfolio of high-performance, synchronous SRAMs benefitted from strength in the communications
and industrial markets and additional share gains with strategic global customers. Our memory products target a
variety of markets including networking, telecommunications, wireless communications and consumer applications.
Our image sensor products are used in high-end industrial, medical and aeronautic applications.

10

The following table summarizes the markets and applications related to our products in this segment:

Products

Markets

Applications

Asynchronous SRAMs Consumer,
networking

Consumer electronics, switches and routers, automotive, peripheral and
industrial electronics.

Synchronous SRAMs

nvSRAMs

Base station,
networking

Servers,
industrial

Wireline
applications and industrial electronics.

networking, wireless

base

stations,

high

bandwidth

Redundant array of independent disk servers, point of sale terminals,
industrial automation, printers, single-board
set-top boxes, copiers,
computers and gaming.

Asynchronous SRAMs. We manufacture a wide selection of fast asynchronous and micropower SRAMs with
densities ranging from 16 Kbits to 64 Mbits. These memories are available in many combinations of bus widths,
packages and temperature ranges including automotive. They are ideal for use in point-of-sale terminals, gaming
machines, network switches and routers, IP phones, IC testers, DSLAM Cards and various automotive
applications. In 2010, Cypress introduced the market’s first 32-bit and 64-bit fast asynchronous SRAMs targeting
storage servers, switches, routers, test and military equipment.

Synchronous SRAMs. Our high-speed synchronous SRAMs include standard synchronous pipelined, No Bus
Latency (NoBL), Quad Data Rate, and Double Data Rate SRAMs, and are typically used in networking
applications. NoBL synchronous SRAMs are optimized for high-speed applications that require maximum bus
bandwidth up to 250 MHz, including those in the networking, instrumentation, video and simulation businesses.
Double Data Rate (DDR) SRAMs target network applications and servers that operate at data rates up to 550
MHz. Quad Data Rate™ (QDR®) products are targeted toward next-generation networking applications,
particularly switches and routers that operate at data rates beyond 550 MHz and offer twice the bus bandwidth of
DDR SRAMs. In 2009, Cypress introduced the industry’s first 65-nm QDR and DDR SRAMs. The 144-Mbit and
72-Mbit devices, developed with foundry partner UMC, feature the industry’s fastest clock speeds and operate at
half the power of their 90-nm predecessors. They are ideal for networking, medical imaging and military signal
processing.

nvSRAMs. nvSRAMs are products that operate similar to standard asynchronous SRAM and reliably store
data into an internal nonvolatile array during unanticipated power downs. The competitive advantage of an
nvSRAM is infinite endurance and much faster read/write speed than a serial flash or EEPROM. Additionally,
these high-speed nonvolatile SRAM devices can store data for more than 20 years without battery backup. These
memories are ideal for redundant array of independent disks (“RAID”) storage arrays, metering applications,
multifunction printers and other industrial applications, such as PLCs. In 2009, Cypress introduced a 1-Mbit
serial nonvolatile SRAM family and new 4-Mbit and 8-Mbit parallel nvSRAMs with an integrated real-time
clock, providing failsafe battery-free data backup in mission-critical applications.

Emerging Technologies:

Cypress’s Emerging Technology Division consists of businesses outside our core semiconductor business. It
includes majority-owned subsidiaries Cypress Envirosystems and AgigA Tech Inc., foundry services, other
development stage companies and certain corporate expenses. In 2010, two of Cypress’s Emerging Technologies
businesses: The Optical Navigation System (ONS) business unit and the China Business Unit, achieved their first
$1 million revenue quarters, as projected in the 2009 Annual Report.

Cypress Envirosystems, Inc.

, a majority owned Cypress subsidiary formed in fiscal 2007, Cypress
Envirosystems (formerly Cypress Systems Corporation) develops and markets new technologies for older
commercial and industrial plants and buildings to reduce cost, improve productivity, extend asset life, and
improve safety and compliance. It combines a broad portfolio of unique Cypress technologies with its deep
domain and applications experience in Industrial Automation and HVAC to create a range of unique solutions. Its
products include a wireless pneumatic thermostat that enables remote temperature sensing and control, a wireless

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gauge reader that clips onto the face of existing gauges to capture and transmit data, a wireless steam trap monitor
that detects leaks and failures, and a wireless transducer reader that provides energy-use characterization and
baseline data for audits. It has formed a strategic partnership with Honeywell to sell a custom version of its Wireless
Gauge Reader under the Honeywell brand label. In 2010, Cypress Envirosystems was named one of the top
innovative “green” companies by the California Public Utilities Commission. Its Wireless Gauge Reader was
awarded the 2010 Golden Gas Award from Gases & Instrumentation International Magazine for technical
innovation.

AgigA Tech, Inc. AgigA Tech, a majority owned Cypress subsidiary,

is in industry pioneer in the
development of high-speed, high-density, battery-free non-volatile memory solutions. Its flagship product,
AGIGARAM™, merges NAND Flash, DRAM and an ultracapacitor power source into a highly reliable
non-volatile memory subsystem, delivering unlimited read/write performance at RAM speeds, while also safely
backing up all data when power is interrupted. The patent pending approach couples innovations in power
management, high-speed data movement and systems knowledge, while leveraging high volume readily available
memory technologies to provide a unique non-volatile solution scalable to very high densities. In 2010, AgigA
Tech’s AGIGARAM was recognized as the Most Innovative New Product by in the Hardware and General
Technology category at the 23rd CONNECT Awards. AgigA Tech also introduced the industry’s highest-density,
non-volatile DDR3 memories with densities up to 8 Gbytes.

Optical Navigation Sensors. (“ONS”) Our OvationONS™ laser-based optical navigation sensor replaces
mechanical trackball types of user interfaces in Smartphones, Tablet PCs, Remote Controls, e-book readers,
wired and wireless mice and industrial applications. The sensor delivers fast and precise tracking on more
surfaces than other sensors on the market, using our patented OptiCheck™ technology, which offers outstanding
accuracy and variable resolution ranging from 800 to 2,400 counts per inch. Based on Cypress’s PSoC
programmable system-on-chip platform, the OvationONS™ II “mouse-on-a-chip” solution is the first product
combining a precision laser navigation sensor with an optical signal processor and microcontroller on a single
chip.

China Business Unit. Centered in Shanghai, Cypress’s China Business Unit designs and produces
semiconductor solutions for the China marketplace. Early product successes include PSoC-based solutions for
electric bicycles, consumer electronics, and white goods. The China Business Unit is also licensing Cypress
technology to foundries throughout Asia. The unit reported its first $2 million quarter in Q2 2010.

Acquisitions and Divestitures

We are committed to the ongoing evaluation of strategic opportunities and, where appropriate, to the
acquisition of additional products, technologies or businesses that are complementary to, or broaden the markets
for, our products. At the same time, we continuously evaluate our businesses to make sure that they are well-
aligned with our programmable and proprietary products strategy. Businesses that do not align with our strategy
are considered for divestment.

On January 27, 2011, we signed a definitive agreement for ON Semiconductor Corporation to acquire our
Image Sensor business in an all cash transaction for approximately $31.4 million. The transaction is expected to
close by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

Manufacturing

During fiscal 2010, we manufactured approximately 57% of our semiconductor products at our wafer
manufacturing facility in Bloomington, Minnesota. External wafer foundries, mainly in Asia, manufactured the
balance of our products.

We have a strategic foundry partnership with Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (“Grace”),
located in Shanghai, China. Under the terms of the agreement, we have transferred certain proprietary process

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technologies to Grace and provided additional production capacity to augment output from our manufacturing
facilities. During fiscal 2006 and 2007, we completed the transfer of our 0.35-micron SONOS, 0.13-micron
SRAM and LOGIC processes and began purchasing products from Grace that were manufactured using these
processes.

In conjunction with the agreement, we have entered into a series of guarantees with a financing company for
the benefit of Grace. As of January 2, 2011, Grace had no outstanding rental payments and the outstanding
irrevocable letters of credit totaled $2.6 million.

We conduct assembly and test operations at our highly automated assembly and test facility in the
Philippines. This facility accounted for approximately 59% of the total assembly output and 73% of the total test
output in fiscal 2010. Various subcontractors in Asia performed the balance of the assembly and test operations.

Our facility in the Philippines performs assembly and test operations manufacturing volume products and
packages where our ability to leverage manufacturing costs is high. This facility has nine fully integrated,
automated manufacturing lines enabling complete assembly and test operations with minimal human
intervention. These autolines have shorter manufacturing cycle times than conventional assembly/test operations,
which enable us to respond more rapidly to changes in demand.

Research and Development

Research and development efforts are focused on the development and design of new semiconductor
products, as well as the continued development of advanced software platforms primarily for our programmable
solutions. Our goal is to increase efficiency in order to maintain our competitive advantage. Our research and
development organization works closely with our manufacturing facilities, suppliers and customers to improve
our semiconductor designs and lower our manufacturing costs. During fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, research and
development expenses totaled $176.8 million, $181.2 million and $193.5 million, respectively.

We have both central and division-specific design groups that focus on new product creation and
improvement of design methodologies. These groups conduct ongoing efforts to reduce design cycle time and
increase first pass yield through structured re-use of intellectual property blocks from a controlled intellectual
property library, development of computer-aided design tools and improved design business processes. Design
and related software development work primarily occurs at design centers located in the United States, Europe,
India and China.

Customers, Sales and Marketing

We sell our semiconductor products through several channels: sales through global domestically-based
distributors; sales through international distributors, trading companies and manufacturing representative firms;
and sales by our sales force to direct original equipment manufacturers. Our marketing and sales efforts are
organized around four regions: North America, Europe, Japan and Asia/Pacific. We also have a strategic-account
group and a contract-manufacturing group which are responsible for specific customers with worldwide
operations. We augment our sales effort with field application engineers, specialists in our products, technologies
and services who work with customers to design our products into their systems. Field application engineers also
help us to identify emerging markets and new products.

One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 17% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 2,
2011. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 16% and one contract manufacturer of an OEM,
Flextronics International Ltd., accounted for 11% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 3, 2010. One
global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 13% of consolidated accounts receivable as of December 28, 2008.

Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 15% and 10%, respectively,
of our total revenues for fiscal 2010. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 14% of our total revenues

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for fiscal 2009. Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 13% and 11%,
respectively, of our total revenues for fiscal 2008. There was no single end customer in fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008
that accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.

Backlog

Our sales typically rely upon standard purchase orders for delivery of products with relatively short delivery
lead times. Customer relationships are generally not subject to long-term contracts. However, we have entered
into long-term supply agreements with certain customers. These long-term supply agreements generally do not
contain minimum purchase commitments. Products to be delivered and the related delivery schedules under these
long-term contracts are frequently revised to reflect changes in customer needs. Accordingly, our backlog at any
particular date is not necessarily representative of actual sales for any succeeding period and we believe that our
backlog is not a meaningful indicator of future revenues.

Competition

The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive and continually evolving. This intense competition
results in a challenging operating environment for most companies in these industries. This environment is
characterized by potential erosion of product sale prices over the life of each product, rapid technological change,
limited product life cycles, greater brand recognition and strong domestic and foreign competition in many
markets. Our ability to compete successfully depends on many factors, including:

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our success in developing new products and manufacturing technologies;
delivery, performance, quality and price of our products;
diversity of our products and timeliness of new product introductions;
cost effectiveness of our design, development, manufacturing and marketing efforts;
quality of our customer service, relationships and reputation;
pace at which customers incorporate our products into their systems; and
number and nature of our competitors and general economic conditions.

We face competition from domestic and foreign semiconductor manufacturers, many of which have
advanced technological capabilities and have increased their participation in the markets in which we operate.
We compete with a large number of companies primarily in the telecommunications, networking, data
communications, computation and consumer markets. Companies who compete directly with our semiconductor
businesses include, but are not limited to, Altera, Analog Devices, Applied Micro Circuits, Atmel, Integrated
Device Technology, Integrated Silicon Solution, Lattice Semiconductor, Linear Technology, Maxim Integrated
Products, Inc., Microchip Technology, National Semiconductor, Pericom Semiconductor, PMC-Sierra, Renesas,
Samsung, Silicon Laboratories, Standard Microsystems, Synaptics, Texas Instruments and Xilinx.

Environmental Regulations

We use, generate and discharge hazardous chemicals and waste in our research and development and
manufacturing activities. United States federal, state and local regulations, in addition to those of other foreign
countries in which we operate, impose various environmental rules and obligations, which are becoming
increasingly stringent over time, intended to protect the environment and in particular regulate the management
and disposal of hazardous substances. We also face increasing complexity in our product design as we adjust to
new and future requirements relating to the materials composition of our products, including the restrictions on
lead and other hazardous substances that apply to specified electronic products put on the market in the European
Union (Restriction on the Use of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC, also known as the “RoHS
Directive”) and similar legislation in China and California. We are committed to the continual improvement of
our environmental systems and controls. However, we cannot provide assurance that we have been, or will at all
times be, in complete compliance with all environmental laws and regulations. Other laws impose liability on
owners and operators of real property for any contamination of the property even if they did not cause or know of

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the contamination. While to date we have not experienced any material adverse impact on our business from
environmental regulations, we cannot provide assurance that environmental regulations will not
impose
expensive obligations on us in the future, or otherwise result in the incurrence of liability such as the following:

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a requirement to increase capital or other costs to comply with such regulations or to restrict discharges;
liabilities to our employees and/or third parties;
business interruptions as a consequence of permit suspensions or revocations or as a consequence of the
granting of injunctions requested by governmental agencies or private parties; and

For example, we are currently working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in connection
with the shutdown activities related to our Texas manufacturing facility, and will take all reasonable steps to
ensure the Texas facility closure complies with all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws.

Intellectual Property

We have an active program to obtain patent and other intellectual property protection for our proprietary
technologies, products and other inventions that are aligned with our strategic initiatives. We rely on a
combination of patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks and proprietary information to maintain and
enhance our competitive position in the domestic and international markets we serve. As of the end of fiscal
2010, we had approximately 1800 issued patents and approximately 1,100 additional patent applications on file
domestically and internationally. In addition, in fiscal 2011, we are preparing to file up to 120 new patent
applications in the United States and 30 foreign applications in countries such as China, Taiwan, Korea and
India. The average remaining life of our patent portfolio is approximately 10 years.

In addition to factors such as innovation, technological expertise and experienced personnel, we believe that
patents are increasingly important to remain competitive in our industry and to facilitate the entry of our
proprietary products, such as PSoC, into new markets. As our technologies are deployed in new applications and
we face new competitors, we will likely subject ourselves to new potential infringement claims. Patent litigation,
if and when instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention
and resources, however, we are committed to vigorously defending and protecting our investment in our
intellectual property. Therefore, the strength of our intellectual property program, including the breadth and
depth of our portfolio, will be critical to our success in the new markets we intend to pursue.

In connection with our divestiture of unaligned and non-strategic businesses, we performed an analysis of
our intellectual property portfolio to ensure we were deriving the full value of our assets. As a result, we are
evaluating the sale of certain unaligned patents as well as other monetization models for our patent portfolio.

Financial Information about Geographic Areas

Financial information about geographic area is incorporated herein by reference to Note 20 of Notes to

Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8.

International revenues have historically accounted for a significant portion of our total revenues. Our
manufacturing and certain finance operations in the Philippines, as well as our sales and support offices and
design centers in other parts of the world, face risks frequently associated with foreign operations, including, but
not limited to:

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currency exchange fluctuations, including the weakening of the U.S. dollar;
the devaluation of local currencies;
political instability;
labor issues;
changes in local economic conditions;
import and export controls;
potential shortage of electric power supply; and
changes in tax laws, tariffs and freight rates.

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To the extent any such risks materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be

seriously harmed.

Employees

As of January 2, 2011, we had approximately 3,500 employees worldwide, down from approximately 4,400
employees in the third quarter of 2008, as we implemented a broad based restructuring effort and closed our
manufacturing facility in Texas. Geographically, approximately 1,200 employees were located in the Philippines,
1,400 employees were located in the United States and 900 employees were located in other countries. Of the
total employees, approximately 1,900 employees were associated with manufacturing, 700 employees were
associated with research and development, and 900 employees were associated with selling, general and
administrative functions.

None of our employees are represented by a collective bargaining agreement, nor have we ever experienced

organized work stoppages.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Certain information regarding each of our executive officers is set forth below:

Name

Age

Position

T. J. Rodgers
Brad W. Buss
Sabbas A. Daniel
Paul D. Keswick
Dana C. Nazarian
Cathal Phelan
Dinesh Ramanathan
Ronald Sartore
Christopher A. Seams
Shahin Sharifzadeh

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

62
47 Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
48 Executive Vice President, Quality
53 Executive Vice President, New Product Development, Engineering, IT
44 Executive Vice President, Memory and Imaging Division
47 Executive Vice President, Chief Technical Officer
41 Executive Vice President, Data Communications Division
61 Chief Executive Officer, AgigA Tech Inc.
48 Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
46 Executive Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing and Operations; President,

China Operations

Harry Sim
Thomas Surrette
Norman P. Taffe

48 Chief Executive Officer, Cypress Envirosystems
48 Executive Vice President, Human Resources
44 Executive Vice President, Consumer and Computation Division

T.J. Rodgers is founder of Cypress and has been a Director and its President and Chief Executive Officer
since 1982. Mr. Rodgers serves as a director of certain internal subsidiaries, Bloom Energy and SunPower.
Mr. Rodgers is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College.

Brad W. Buss joined Cypress in 2005 as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief
Financial Officer. Prior to joining Cypress, Mr. Buss served as Vice President of Finance at Altera Corporation.
Mr. Buss spent seven years as a finance executive with Wyle Electronics, culminating as Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary of the Atlas Services division. Mr. Buss was also a member of Cisco Systems’ worldwide sales
finance team. In addition, Mr. Buss served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary at Zaffire. Mr. Buss currently serves as a board member of certain internal subsidiaries and
CafePress.com, a private company, as well as Tesla Motors.

Sabbas A. Daniel was appointed Executive Vice President of Quality in 2006. Prior to his current position,
Mr. Daniel has held various management positions responsible for Cypress’s reliability and field quality
organizations. Mr. Daniel joined Cypress in 1998.

Paul D. Keswick is Executive Vice President of New Product Development since 1996. Prior to his current
position, Mr. Keswick has held various management positions, including Vice President and General Manager
for various business divisions. Mr. Keswick has been with Cypress since 1986.

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Dana C. Nazarian was named Executive Vice President of Memory and Imaging Division in February
2009. Mr. Nazarian started his career with Cypress in 1988. Prior to his current position, Mr. Nazarian held
various management positions, which included oversight of significant operations in our Round Rock, Texas
facility and Vice President of our Synchronous SRAM business unit.

Cathal Phelan re-joined Cypress in late 2008 as Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer,
having left Cypress in early 2006. In 2006, Mr. Phelan left to become Chief Executive Officer/President at
Ubicom Inc., a venture capital backed company delivering multi-threaded CPUs. Prior to 2006, Mr. Phelan held a
number of engineering and management roles at Cypress, predominantly in design and architecture and then as
Executive Vice President for the Data Communications Division. Mr. Phelan originally joined Cypress in 1991,
has 37 granted U.S. patents.

Dinesh Ramanathan was named Executive Vice President of Data Communications Division in 2005.
Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Ramanathan was a Business Unit Director for the specialty memory and
communications business units. Prior to joining Cypress in 2004, Dr. Ramanathan held senior marketing and
engineering positions at Raza Microelectronics, Raza Foundries and Forte Design Systems.

Ron Sartore was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AgigA Tech, Inc. in 2007. AgigA Tech, Inc. was
originally a subsidiary of Simtek Corporation, a public company Cypress acquired in 2008. Mr. Sartore has over
30 years of experience in the computer and semiconductor fields. Prior to his current role, Mr. Sartore served as
an Executive Vice President and director of Simtek Corporation. Prior to tenure at Simtek, Mr. Sartore served as
a Vice President of several business units at Cypress, which he joined as a result of Cypress’s 1999 acquisition of
Anchor Chips, a company Mr. Sartore founded in 1995. Prior to Anchor Chips, Mr. Sartore held various
engineering and management roles, and was a founder of Cheetah International, in 1985.

Christopher A. Seams was named Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2005. Prior to his
current appointment, Mr. Seams was Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Research and
Development. Mr. Seams joined Cypress in 1990 and has held a variety of positions in technical and operational
management in manufacturing, development and foundry.

Shahin Sharifzadeh is Executive Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing and Operations, responsible
for directing Cypress’s process technology R&D, wafer manufacturing, test, assembly and operations worldwide.
He is also President of Cypress’s China operations, a position he has held since 2008. Prior to his current
position, Mr. Sharifzadeh served as Cypress’s Vice President of R&D and Wafer Manufacturing.
Mr. Sharifzadeh joined Cypress in 1989.

Harry Sim was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Cypress Envirosystems in 2006. Prior to Cypress
Envirosystems, Mr. Sim was with Honeywell from 1991 to 2006, where he was most recently the Global Vice-
President of Marketing for Honeywell’s Industrial Process Control division. During his 15 years with Honeywell,
Mr. Sim has held executive positions in general management, strategy, mergers and acquisitions. Prior to
Honeywell, Mr. Sim worked at GE, where he was a Payload Director at NASA’s Mission Control Center in
Houston.

Tom Surrette was named Executive Vice President of Human Resources in September 2008. After working
at Philips/Signetics in software, test and product engineering roles, Mr. Surrette joined Cypress in July 1990 and
has held a series of engineering, manufacturing and technical management, marketing and product development
roles. Mr. Surrette has served as the Business Unit Director for Micropower SRAM and Synchronous SRAM, the
Vice President for Non-Volatile Memory and the Sr. Vice President of Worldwide Operations.

Norman P. Taffe was named Executive Vice President of Consumer and Computation Division in 2005.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Taffe has held numerous positions, including Marketing Director of the
programmable logic and interface products divisions, Managing Director of our mergers and acquisitions and

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venture funds, Managing Director of the wireless business unit and most recently, Vice President of the Personal
Communications Division. Mr. Taffe joined Cypress in 1989 and currently serves as a board member of the
Second Harvest Food Bank.

Available Information

We make available our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports
on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, free of charge on our website at www.cypress.com, as soon as
reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). Additionally, copies of materials filed by us with the SEC may be accessed at the SEC’s
Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or at www.sec.gov. For information about
the SEC’s Public Reference Room, contact 1-800-SEC-0330.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Current unfavorable economic and market conditions, domestically and internationally, may adversely affect
our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We have significant customer sales both in the U.S. and internationally. We are also reliant upon U.S. and
international suppliers, manufacturing partners and distributors. We are therefore susceptible to adverse U.S. and
international economic and market conditions, including the challenging economic conditions that have prevailed
and continue to prevail in the U.S. and worldwide. The recent turmoil in the financial markets has resulted in
dramatically higher borrowing costs which have made it more difficult (in some cases, prohibitively so) for many
companies to obtain credit and fund their working capital obligations. If any of our manufacturing partners,
customers, distributors or suppliers experiences serious financial difficulties or ceases operations, our business
will be adversely affected. In addition, the adverse impact of the credit crisis on consumers, including higher
unemployment rates, is expected to adversely impact consumer spending, which will adversely impact demand
for consumer products such as certain end products in which our chips are embedded. In addition, prices of
certain commodities, including oil, metals, grains and other food products, are volatile and are subject to
fluctuations arising from changes in domestic and international supply and demand, labor costs, competition,
market speculation, government regulations and periodic delays in delivery. High or volatile commodity prices
increase the cost of doing business and adversely affect consumers’ discretionary spending. As a result of the
difficulty that businesses (including our customers) may have in obtaining credit, the increasing and/or volatile
costs of commodities and the decreased consumer spending that is the likely result of the credit market crisis,
unemployment and commodities’ price volatility, continued global economic and market turmoil are likely to
have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The trading price of our common stock has been and will likely continue to be volatile due to various factors,
some of which are beyond our control, and each of which could adversely affect our stockholders’ value.

The trading price of our common stock has been and will likely continue to be volatile due to various

factors, some of which are beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

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quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors;
announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, new products, significant contracts, design
wins, commercial relationships or capital commitments;
the perceptions of general market conditions in the semiconductor industry and global market
conditions;
our ability to develop and market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;
any major change in our board or management;
changes in governmental regulations or in the status of our regulatory compliance;

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recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates concerning us or our customers
or competitors;
announcements about our earnings or the earnings of our competitors that are not in line with analyst
expectations;
the volume of short sales, hedging and other derivative transactions on shares of our common stock;
economic conditions and growth expectations in the markets we serve; and
general economic and credit conditions.

Further,

the stock market

in general, and the market for technology companies in particular, have
experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These broad market and industry factors may seriously harm
the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In the past, following
periods of volatility in the overall market and the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action
litigation has often been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in
substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

We face significant volatility in supply and demand conditions for our products, and this volatility, as well as
any failure by us to accurately forecast future supply and demand conditions, could materially and negatively
impact our business.

The semiconductor industry has historically been characterized by wide fluctuations in the demand for, and
supply of, semiconductors. Demand for our products depends in large part on the continued growth of various
electronics industries that use our products, including, but not limited to:

computers and computer-related peripherals;

‰ wireless telecommunications equipment;
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‰ memory and image sensors;
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networking equipment and
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consumer electronics including mobile handsets, automotive electronics and industrial controls.

Any downturn or reduction in the growth of these industries could seriously harm our business, financial

condition and results of operations.

We order materials and build our products based primarily on our internal forecasts, customer and
distributor forecasts and secondarily on existing orders, which may be cancelled under many circumstances.
Because our markets are volatile and subject to rapid technological and price changes, our forecasts may be
wrongly causing us to make too many or too few of certain products.

Also, our customers frequently place orders requesting product delivery almost immediately after the order
is made, which makes forecasting customer demand even more difficult, particularly when supply is abundant. If
we experience inadequate demand or a significant shift in the mix of product orders that makes our existing
capacity and capability inadequate, our fixed costs per semiconductor produced will increase, which will harm
our financial condition and results of operations. Alternatively, if we should experience a sudden increase in
demand, we will need to quickly ramp our inventory and/or manufacturing capacity to adequately respond to our
customers. If we or our manufacturing partners are unable to ramp our inventory or manufacturing capacity in a
timely manner or at all, we risk losing our customers’ business, which could have a negative impact on our
financial performance and reputation.

In connection with our exit from our Texas facility, we completed a final build of a substantial volume of
inventory for certain products previously manufactured at this facility totaling approximately $10.6 million net of
sales through fiscal 2010. This inventory now represents our sole source of supply for certain products and is
intended to meet forecasted demand for these products for periods ranging from 6 months to 15 years. To the
extent that our forecasts of demand for any of these products prove to be inaccurate, we could be unable to meet
customer demand and/or write-off significant quantities of obsolete inventory, either of which could adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2010 based

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upon current economic conditions, we re-evaluated the demand forecast related to these long term builds and
determined that an additional excess and obsolete write-down was required. As of January 2, 2011, the total
excess and obsolete write-down recorded for this inventory was approximately $5.9 million.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations will be seriously harmed if we fail to compete
successfully in our highly competitive industry and markets.

The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive. This intense competition results in a difficult operating
environment that is marked by erosion of average selling prices over the life of each product and rapid
technological change resulting in limited product life cycles. In order to offset selling price decreases, we attempt
to decrease the manufacturing costs of our products and to introduce new, higher priced products that incorporate
advanced features. If these efforts are not successful or do not occur in a timely manner, or if our newly
introduced products do not gain market acceptance, our business, financial condition and results of operations
could be seriously harmed.

Our ability to compete successfully in the rapidly evolving semiconductor technology industry depends on

many factors, including:

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our success in developing and marketing new products, software platforms and manufacturing
technologies and bringing them to market on a timely basis;
the quality and price of our products;
the diversity of our product lines;
the cost effectiveness of our design, development, manufacturing, support and marketing efforts,
especially as compared to our competitors;
our customer service and customer satisfaction;
our ability to successfully execute our flexible manufacturing initiative;
the pace at which customers incorporate our products into their systems, as is sometimes evidenced by
design wins;
the number, strength and nature of our competitors, the markets they target and the rate of their
technological advances;
the success of certain of our development activity which is a part of our Emerging Technologies
business segment;
general economic conditions; and
our access to and the availability of working capital.

Although we believe we currently compete effectively in the above areas to the extent they are within our
control, given the pace of change in the industry, our current abilities are not guarantees of future success. If we
are unable to compete successfully in this environment, our business, financial condition and results of
operations will be seriously harmed.

Our financial results could be adversely impacted if we fail to develop, introduce and sell new products or fail
to develop and implement new technologies.

Like many semiconductor companies, which operate in a highly competitive, quickly changing environment
marked by rapid obsolescence of existing products, our future success depends on our ability to develop and
introduce new products that customers choose to buy. Our new products, for example PSoC3 and 5 and
TrueTouch® are an important strategic focus for us and therefore, they tend to consume a significant amount of
resources. The new products the market requires tend to be increasingly complex, incorporating more functions
and operating at faster speeds than old products. Increasing complexity generally requires smaller features on a
chip. This makes manufacturing new generation of products substantially more difficult than prior generations.

Despite the significant amount of resources we commit to new products, there can be no guarantee that such
products will perform as expected or at all, be introduced on time to meet customer schedules or gain market
acceptance. If we fail to introduce new product designs in a timely manner or are unable to manufacture products

20

according to the requirements of these designs, or if our customers do not successfully introduce new systems or
products incorporating our products, or market demand for our new products does not materialize as anticipated,
our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.

The complex nature of our manufacturing activities, our broad product portfolio, and our increasing reliance
on third party manufacturers makes us highly susceptible to manufacturing problems and these problems can
have a substantial negative impact on us if they occur.

Making semiconductors is a highly complex and precise process, requiring production in a tightly
controlled, clean environment. Even very small impurities in our manufacturing materials, defects in the masks
used to print circuits on a wafer or other problems in the wafer fabrication process can cause a substantial
percentage of wafers to be rejected or numerous chips on each wafer to be non-functional. We and, similarly, our
third party foundry partners, may experience problems in achieving an acceptable success rate in the manufacture
of wafers and the likelihood of facing such difficulties is higher in connection with the transition to new
manufacturing methods. The interruption of wafer fabrication or the failure to achieve acceptable manufacturing
yields at any of our facilities, or the facilities of our third-party foundry partners, would seriously harm our
business, financial condition and results of operations. We may also experience manufacturing problems in our
assembly and test operations and in the introduction of new packaging materials.

We are increasingly dependent upon third-parties to manufacture, distribute, generate a significant portion of
our sales, fulfill our customer orders and transport our products and problems in the performance or
availability of these companies could seriously harm our financial performance.

Although a majority of our products were fabricated in our manufacturing facilities located in Minnesota
and the Philippines, we rely to a significant extent on independent contractors to manufacture our products. We
expect to increase this reliance on third party manufacturing in the future. For example, in December 2008, we
substantially completed the exit of our manufacturing facility in Texas and transferred certain production to our
more cost-competitive facility in Minnesota and outside foundries. In addition, if market demand for our
products exceeds our internal manufacturing capacity and available capacity from our foundry partners, we may
seek additional foundry manufacturing arrangements.

A shortage in foundry manufacturing capacity, which is more likely to occur at times of increasing demand,
could hinder our ability to meet demand for our products and therefore adversely affect our operating results. In
addition, greater demand for wafers produced by any such foundries without an offsetting increase in foundry
capacity raises the likelihood of potential wafer price increases. Our operations would be disrupted if any of our
foundry partners terminates its relationship with us or has financial issues and we are unable to arrange a
satisfactory alternative to fulfill customer orders on a timely basis and in a cost-effective manner. However, there
are only a few foundry vendors that have the capabilities to manufacture our most advanced products. If we
engage alternative sources of supply, we may encounter start-up difficulties and incur additional costs. Also,
shipments could be delayed significantly while these sources are qualified for volume production.

While a high percentage of our products are assembled, packaged and tested at our manufacturing facility located
in the Philippines, we rely on independent subcontractors to assemble, package and test the balance of our products.
We cannot be certain that these subcontractors will continue to assemble, package and test products for us on
acceptable economic and quality terms or at all and it might be difficult for us to find alternatives if they do not do so.

Our channel partners include distributors and resellers. We continue to expand and change our relationships
with our distributors and see an increase in the proportion of our revenues generated from our distributor channel
in the future. Worldwide sales through our distributors accounted for approximately 65% of our net sales during
2010. We rely on many distributors to assist us in creating customer demand, providing technical support and
other value-added services to our customers, filling customer orders and stocking our products. We face ongoing
business risks due to our reliance on our channel partners to create and maintain customer relationships where we
have a limited or no direct relationship. Should our relationships with our channel partners or their effectiveness

21

decline, we face the risk of declining demand which could affect our results of operations. Our contracts with our
distributor may be terminated by either party upon notice. In addition, our distributors are located all over the
world and are of various sizes and financial conditions. Any disruptions to our distributors’ operations such as
lower sales, lower earnings, debt downgrades, the inability to access capital markets and higher interest rates
could have an adverse impact on our business.

We also rely on independent carriers and freight haulers to move our products between manufacturing plants
and our customers’ facilities. Transport or delivery problems due to their error or because of unforeseen
interruptions in their business due to factors such as strikes, political instability, terrorism, natural disasters or
accidents could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations and ultimately impact
our relationship with our customers.

If our products contain defects, it could result in loss of future revenue, decreased market acceptance, injury
to our reputation and product liability claims.

The programmability of our products, including PSoC products requires use of our proprietary software
products. Our future success increasingly depends on our ability to develop and introduce new software products
to enhance our programmable portfolio of products. Further, software products occasionally contain errors or
defects, especially when they are first introduced or when new versions are released. Our semiconductor products
also may contain defects which affect their performance. We cannot be certain that our products are currently or
will be completely free of defects and errors. We could lose revenue as a result of product defects or errors. In
addition, the discovery of a defect or error in a new version or product may result in the following consequences,
among others:

delayed shipping of the products;
delay in or failure to achieve market acceptance;
diversion of development resources;
damage to our reputation;

‰
‰
‰
‰
‰ material product liability claims; and
‰
increased service and warranty costs.

As we gain market acceptance of our proprietary design software, we expect our software products to
become more critical to our customers. Thus, a defect or error in our products could result in a significant
disruption to our customers’ businesses. If we are unable to develop products that are free of defects or errors,
our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights adequately and may face significant expenses as a
result of ongoing or future litigation.

The protection of our intellectual property rights, as well as those of our subsidiaries, is essential to keeping
others from copying the innovations that are central to our existing and future products. It may be possible for an
unauthorized third party to reverse-engineer or decompile our software products. The process of seeking patent
protection can be long and expensive and we cannot be certain that any currently pending or future applications
will actually result in issued patents, or that, even if patents are issued, they will be of sufficient scope or strength
to provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage to us. Furthermore, our flexible fab initiative
requires us to enter into technology transfer agreements with external partners, providing third party access to our
intellectual property and resulting in additional risk. In some cases, these technology transfer and/or license
agreements are with foreign companies and subject our intellectual property to foreign countries which may
afford less protection and/or result in increased costs to enforce such agreements. We anticipate that we will
continue to enter into these kinds of licensing arrangements in the future. Consequently, we may become
involved in litigation, in the United States or abroad, to enforce our patents or other intellectual property rights,
to protect our trade secrets and know-how, to determine the validity or scope of the proprietary rights of others or
to defend against claims of invalidity. We are also from time to time involved in litigation relating to alleged

22

infringement by us of others’ patents or other intellectual property rights. Moreover, a key element of our
strategy is to enter new markets with our products. If we are successful in entering these new markets, we will
likely be subject to additional risks of potential infringement claims against us as our technologies are deployed
in new applications and face new competitors. We may be unable to detect the unauthorized use of, or take
appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights, particularly in certain international markets, making
misappropriation of our intellectual property more likely. Patent litigation, if necessary or if and when instituted
against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

Intellectual property litigation is frequently expensive to both the winning party and the losing party and
could take up significant amounts of management’s time and attention. In addition, if we lose such a lawsuit, a
court could find that our intellectual property rights are invalid, enabling our competitors to use our technology,
or require us to pay substantial damages and/or royalties or prohibit us from using essential technologies. For
these and other reasons, this type of litigation could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results
of operations. Also, although in certain instances we may seek to obtain a license under a third party’s
intellectual property rights in order to bring an end to certain claims or actions asserted against us, we may not be
able to obtain such a license on reasonable terms or at all.

We also rely on trade secret protection for our technology, in part through confidentiality agreements with
our employees, consultants and third parties. However, these parties may breach these agreements and we may
not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, the laws of certain countries in which we develop,
manufacture or sell our products may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of
the United States.

If credit market conditions do not continue to improve or if they worsen, it could have a material adverse
impact on our investment portfolio.

Recent U.S. sub-prime mortgage defaults and other financial, economic and credit issues have had a
significant impact across various sectors of the financial markets, causing global credit and liquidity issues. If the
global credit market does not continue to improve or if it deteriorates, our investment portfolio may be impacted
and we could determine that some of our investments are impaired. This could materially adversely impact our
results of operations and financial condition.

Our investment portfolio includes $23.7 million of auction rate securities which are investments with
contractual maturities generally between 20 and 30 years. They are usually found in the form of municipal bonds,
preferred stock, a pool of student loans or collateralized debt obligations with interest rates resetting every seven
to 49 days through an auction process. At the end of each reset period, investors can sell or continue to hold the
securities at par. The auction rate securities held by us are backed by student loans originated under the Federal
Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which are guaranteed by the United States Federal Department of
Education.

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities held by us were rated as either AAA or Aaa by the
major independent rating agencies and all of our auction rate securities have experienced failed auctions due to
sell orders exceeding buy orders. These failures are not believed to be a credit issue with the underlying
investments, but rather caused by a lack of liquidity. Under the contractual terms, the issuer is obligated to pay
penalty rates should an auction fail. In the event we need to access these funds associated with failed auctions,
they are not expected to be accessible until one of the following occurs: a successful auction occurs, the issuer
redeems the issue, a buyer is found outside of the auction process or the underlying securities have matured.
Given these circumstances and the lack of liquidity, our auction rate securities totaling approximately $23.7
million are classified as long-term investments as of January 2, 2011.

We performed analyses to assess the fair value of the auction rate securities and determined that a decline in
value had occurred. Based on certain assumptions, we estimated that the auction rate securities would be valued
at approximately 90% of their stated par value as of January 2, 2011, representing a decline in value of

23

approximately $2.6 million. If the financial market continues to deteriorate, future downgrades could potentially
impact the rating of our auction rate securities.

Unfavorable outcome of litigation pending against us could materially impact our business.

We are currently a party to various legal proceedings, claims, disputes and litigation. For example, we are a
defendant in certain alleged patent infringement cases filed by third parties. Our financial results could be
materially and adversely impacted by unfavorable outcomes to any of these or other pending or future litigation.
There can be no assurances as to the outcome of any litigation. Although we believe we have meritorious
defenses to each of these matters and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves, such litigation and other claims
are subject to inherent uncertainties and our view of these matters may change in the future. There exists the
possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position and the results of operations for the period in
which the effect of an unfavorable final outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable.

We face additional problems and uncertainties associated with international operations that could seriously
harm us.

International

revenues historically accounted for a significant portion of our

revenues. Our
manufacturing, assembly, test operations and certain finance operations located in the Philippines, as well as our
international sales offices and design centers, face risks frequently associated with foreign operations including
but not limited to:

total

‰
‰
‰
‰
‰
‰
‰
‰
‰

currency exchange fluctuations;
the devaluation of local currencies;
political instability;
labor issues;
the impact of natural disasters on local infrastructures;
changes in local economic conditions;
import and export controls;
potential shortage of electric power supply; and
changes in tax laws, tariffs and freight rates.

To the extent any such risks materialize, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be

seriously harmed.

We compete with others to attract and retain key personnel, and any loss of, or inability to attract, such
personnel would harm us.

To a greater degree than most non-technology companies, we depend on the efforts and abilities of certain
key members of management and other technical personnel. Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability
to retain such personnel and to attract and retain other highly qualified personnel, particularly product and
process engineers. We compete for these individuals with other companies, academic institutions, government
entities and other organizations. Competition for such personnel is intense and we may not be successful in hiring
or retaining new or existing qualified personnel. From time to time we have effected restructurings which
eliminate a number of positions. Even if such key personnel are not directly affected by the restructuring effort,
such terminations can have a negative impact on morale and our ability to attract and hire new qualified
personnel in the future. If we lose existing qualified personnel or are unable to hire new qualified personnel, as
needed, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed.

Our financial results could be adversely impacted if our Emerging Technologies businesses fail to develop and
successfully bring to market new and proprietary products.

We have made a financial and personnel commitment to our Emerging Technologies businesses. Despite the
significant amount of resources we commit to our Emerging Technologies businesses, there can be no guarantee

24

that such Emerging Technologies businesses will perform as expected or at all, launch new products and
solutions as expected or gain market acceptance. If our Emerging Technologies businesses’ fail to introduce new
product and solutions or successfully develop new technologies, or if our customers do not successfully introduce
new systems or products incorporating the products or solutions offered by our Emerging Technologies
businesses or market demand for the products or solutions offered by our Emerging Technologies businesses do
not materialize as anticipated, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially
harmed.

Any guidance that we may provide about our business or expected future results may differ significantly from
actual results.

From time to time we have shared our views in press releases or SEC filings, on public conference calls and
in other contexts about current business conditions and our expectations as to potential future results. Correctly
identifying the key factors affecting business conditions and predicting future events is inherently an uncertain
process especially in these very uncertain economic times. Our analyses and forecasts have in the past and, given
the complexity and volatility of our business, will likely in the future, prove to be incorrect and could be
materially incorrect. We offer no assurance that such predictions or analyses will ultimately be accurate, and
investors should treat any such predictions or analyses with appropriate caution. Any analysis or forecast that we
make which ultimately proves to be inaccurate may adversely affect our stock price.

We are subject to many different environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and directives, and
compliance with them may be costly.

We are subject to many different international, federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations
related to, among other things, the storage, use, discharge and disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous
chemicals used in our manufacturing process and the health and safety of our employees. Compliance with these
regulations can be costly. We cannot assure you that we have been, or will be at all times in complete compliance
with such laws and regulations. If we violate or fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be fined
or otherwise sanctioned by the regulators. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held responsible,
without regard to fault, for all of the costs relating to any contamination at our or our predecessors’ past or
present facilities and at third party waste disposal sites. We could also be held liable for any and all consequences
arising out of human exposure to such substances or other environmental damage. For example, certain liabilities
could also arise in connection with the shutdown activities related to our Texas manufacturing facility. While we
are taking reasonable steps to ensure the Texas facility closure complies with all applicable federal, state and
local environmental laws, the shutdown process is complicated, and if issues were to arise, they could delay the
sale of certain of the facilities and manufacturing equipment.

Over the last several years,

there has been increased public awareness of the potentially negative
environmental impact of semiconductor manufacturing operations. This attention and other factors may lead to
changes in environmental regulations that could force us to purchase additional equipment or comply with other
potentially costly requirements. If we fail to control the use of, or to adequately restrict the discharge of,
hazardous substances under present or future regulations, we could face substantial liability or suspension of our
manufacturing operations, which could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We face increasing complexity in our product design as we adjust to new and future requirements relating to
the material composition of our products, including the restrictions on lead and other hazardous substances that
apply to specified electronic products put on the market in the European Union (Restriction on the Use of
Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC, also known as the “RoHS Directive”) and similar legislation in
China and California. Other countries, including at the federal and state levels in the United States, are also
considering laws and regulations similar to the RoHS Directive. Certain electronic products that we maintain in
inventory may be rendered obsolete if they are not in compliance with the RoHS Directive or similar laws and
regulations, which could negatively impact our ability to generate revenue from those products. Our customers
and other companies in the supply chain may require us to certify that our products are RoHS compliant.

25

Although we cannot predict the ultimate impact of any such new laws and regulations, they will likely result in
additional costs or decreased revenue, and could require that we redesign or change how we manufacture our
products.

Our operations and financial results could be severely harmed by certain natural disasters.

Our headquarters in California, manufacturing facilities in the Philippines and some of our major vendors’,
subcontractors’ and strategic partners’ facilities are located near major earthquake faults or are subject to
seasonal typhoons or other extreme weather conditions. We have not been able to maintain insurance coverage at
reasonable costs to address the risks posed by potential natural disasters. Instead, we rely on self-insurance and
preventative/safety measures. If a major earthquake or other natural disaster occurs, we may need to spend
significant amounts to repair or replace our facilities and equipment, or make alternative arrangements in the
event a vendor, subcontractor or partner’s facility or equipment was damaged, and we could suffer damages that
could seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We maintain self-insurance for certain indemnities we have made to our officers and directors.

Our certificate of incorporation, by-laws and indemnification agreements require us to indemnify our
officers and directors for certain liabilities that may arise in the course of their service to us. We self-insure with
respect to these indemnifiable claims. If we were required to pay a significant amount on account of these
liabilities for which we self-insure, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be seriously
harmed.

We may utilize debt financing and such indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition,
results of operations, earnings per share and our ability to meet our payment obligations.

We routinely incur indebtedness to finance our operations and at times we have had significant amounts of
outstanding indebtedness and substantial debt service requirements. Our ability to meet our payment and other
obligations under our indebtedness depends on our ability to generate significant cash flow. This, to some extent,
is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors
that are beyond our control. There is no assurance that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or
that future borrowings will be available to us under our existing or any amended credit facilities or otherwise, in
an amount sufficient to enable us to meet payment obligations under indebtedness we may under take from time
to time. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may need to
refinance or restructure our debt, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional
capital. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment
obligations under any indebtedness we owe. As of January 2, 2011, we had no debt outstanding.

We have implemented and will implement future new Oracle-based applications to manage our worldwide
financial, accounting and operations reporting, and disruptions in such tools could adversely affect the
integrity of our financial data and our business generally.

We have implemented various Oracle-based tools, including but not limited to, a trade management system.
We have taken what we believe are appropriate measures and performed testing to ensure the successful and
timely implementation. However, implementations of this scope have inherent risks that in the extreme could
lead to a disruption in our financial, accounting and operations reporting as well as the inability to obtain access
to key financial data, any of which would materially and adversely affect our business.

Changes in U.S. tax legislation regarding our foreign earnings could materially impact our business.

A majority of our revenue is generated from customers located outside the U.S. and a substantial portion of
our assets, including employees, are located outside the U.S. U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes
have not been provided on undistributed earnings for certain non-U.S. subsidiaries, because such earnings are

26

intended to be indefinitely reinvested in the operations of those subsidiaries. In the past, the administration has
considered initiatives which could substantially reduce our ability to defer U.S. taxes including: limitations on
deferral of U.S. taxation of foreign earnings, eliminate utilization or substantially reduce our ability to claim
foreign tax credits, and eliminate various tax deductions until foreign earnings are repatriated to the U.S. If any
of these proposals are constituted into law, they could have a negative impact on our financial position and
results of operations.

We are subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and from time to time we are
subject to income tax audits or similar proceedings in other jurisdictions in which we do business, and as a
result we may incur additional costs and expenses or owe additional taxes, interest and penalties which will
negatively impact our operating result.

We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions, and our determination of our tax
liability is subject to review by applicable domestic and foreign tax authorities. For example, we are under
examination for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006 by the IRS. The results of these audits are subject to significant
uncertainty and could result in our having to pay additional amounts to the applicable tax authority. This would
result in a decrease of our current estimate of unrecognized tax benefits or increase of actual tax liabilities which
could negatively impact our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In addition, we received a private letter ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), that the spin-off of
SunPower was eligible for tax-free treatment under Internal Revenue Code Section 355. We also obtained an opinion
of counsel on certain aspects of the spin-off assumed in the ruling. Both the IRS ruling and the opinion rely on certain
representations, assumptions and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of SunPower’s
and our business. The SunPower spin-off transaction remains subject to audit, and despite the private letter ruling, the
IRS could determine that the distribution should be treated as a taxable transaction. If the distribution fails to qualify
for tax-free treatment, it will be treated as a material taxable distribution to our stockholders in an amount equal to the
fair market value of SunPower’s equity securities (i.e., SunPower’s common stock issued to our stockholders) received
by them. In addition, we would be required to recognize a material gain in an amount up to the fair market value of the
SunPower equity securities that we distributed on the distribution date.

The accumulation of changes in our shares by “5-percent stockholders” could trigger an ownership change
for U.S. income tax purposes, in which case our ability to utilize our net operating losses would be limited and
therefore impact our future tax benefits.

Cypress is a publicly traded company whose stockholders can change on a daily basis. These changes are
beyond our control. The U.S. Internal Revenue Code (Section 382) restricts a company’s ability to benefit from
net operating loses if a “Section 382 Ownership Change” occurs. An ownership change for purposes of U.S. tax
law Section 382 may result from ownership changes that increase the aggregate ownership of “5-percent
stockholders,” by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period, generally three years (“Section 382
Ownership Change”). To our knowledge, we have not experienced a Section 382 Ownership Change. We cannot
give any assurance that we will not experience a Section 382 Ownership Change in future years.

Our ability to add or replace distributors is limited.

Our distributors are contracted by us to perform two primary, yet distinct, functions that are difficult to

replace:

‰

‰

distributors provide logistics support, such as order entry, credit, forecasting, inventory management,
and shipment of product, to end customers. The process of integrating systems to allow for electronic
data interchange is complex and can be time consuming.
distributors create demand for our products at the engineering level. This mandates the training of an
extended distributor sales force, as well as hiring and training specialized applications engineers skilled
in promoting and servicing products at the engineering level.

27

In addition, our distributors’ expertise in the determination and stocking of acceptable inventory levels may
not be easily transferable to a new distributor. Also, end customers may be hesitant to accept the addition or
replacement of a distributor.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our executive offices are located in San Jose, California. The following tables summarize our primary

properties as of the end of fiscal 2010:

Location

Square Footage

Primary Use

Owned:

United States:
San Jose, California
Bloomington, Minnesota
Round Rock, Texas
Lynnwood, Washington
Asia:
Cavite, Philippines

Leased:

Asia:
Bangalore, India
Shanghai, China
Europe:
Mechelen, Belgium

310,000
337,000
100,000
67,000

Administrative offices, research and development
Manufacturing, research and development
Property held for sale
Administrative offices, research and development

221,000

Manufacturing, research and development

170,000
29,000

Research and development
Research and development

23,000

Administrative offices, research and development

During fiscal 2008 as part of a restructuring plan, we exited our manufacturing facility in Round Rock,
Texas. We expect to complete the sale of the manufacturing equipment and the facility within the next twelve
months. The property was classified as held for sale as of January 2, 2011. See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements under Item 8 for further discussion.

We have additional leases for sales offices and design centers located in the United States, Asia and Europe.
We believe that our current properties are suitable and adequate for our foreseeable needs. We may need to exit
facilities as we continue to evaluate our business model and cost structure.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In October 2006, we received a subpoena related to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
(“DOJ”)’s investigation into the SRAM market. In December 2008, the DOJ closed its two year investigation
without any charge or allegation brought against us. As a result of the DOJ’s investigation, in October 2006, we,
along with a majority of the other SRAM manufacturers, were named in numerous consumer class action suits
that are now consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The direct and
indirect purchaser classes were certified. We aggressively defended ourselves in this matter, and as a result, we
were able to reach favorable resolutions with both the direct and indirect purchaser classes and expect the court
to dismiss the case by the end of our first quarter in fiscal 2011. We are also named in purported consumer
antitrust class action suits in three provinces of Canada; however, those cases have not been materially active
over the last three years.

On August 21, 2009, X-Point Technologies filed a single patent infringement case against us and 29 other
defendants in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The patent at issue covers X-Point’s technology for data

28

transfer between storage devices and network devices without the use of a CPU or memory. The parties are
currently engaged in discovery. X-Point has made no specific demand for relief in this matter. We believe we
have meritorious defenses to the allegations set forth in the complaint and will vigorously defend ourselves in
this matter.

On January 21, 2011, Avago Technologies filed a patent infringement case against us in the U.S. District
Court in Delaware. The three patents at issue cover Avago’s touch technology, including finger navigation.
Avago has made no specific demand for relief in this matter. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the
allegations set forth in the complaint and will vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.

We are currently a party to various other legal proceedings, claims, disputes and litigation arising in the
ordinary course of business. Based on the our own investigations, we believe the ultimate outcome of our current
legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial
position, results of operation or cash flows. However, because of the nature and inherent uncertainties of the
litigation, should the outcome of these actions be unfavorable, our business, financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

ITEM 4.

[RESERVED]

29

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information, Holders of Common Equity, Dividends and Performance Graph

Effective November 12, 2009, our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the
trading symbol “CY.” Prior to November 12, 2009, our common stock was listed on the New York Stock
Exchange. The following table sets forth the high and low per share prices for our common stock:

Fiscal 2010:

Fourth quarter
Third quarter
Second quarter
First quarter

Fiscal 2009:

Fourth quarter
Third quarter
Second quarter
First quarter

Low

High

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

12.39
9.94
10.03
10.05

8.43
8.61
6.74
3.87

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

18.58
13.14
13.62
12.43

10.79
11.27
9.33
6.94

As of February 17, 2011, there were approximately 1,587 holders of record of our common stock.

We have not paid cash dividends historically and may do so in the future.

30

The following line graph compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return
on our common stock against the cumulative total return of the Standard and Poor (“S&P”) 500 Index and the
S&P Semiconductors Index for the last five fiscal years:

$900

$800

$700

$600

$500

$400

$300

$200

$100

$0

January 1, 2006

December 31, 2006

December 30, 2007

December 28, 2008

January 3, 2010

January 2, 2011

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 

S&P 500

S&P Semiconductors

January 1,
2006

December 31,
2006

December 30,
2007

December 28,
2008

January 3,
2010

January 2,
2011

Cypress*

S&P 500 Index

S&P Semiconductors Index

$

$

$

100

100

100

$

$

$

118

116

91

$

$

$

258

122

102

$

$

$

176

77

55

$

$

$

466

97

89

$

$

$

819

112

99

*

All closing prices underlying this table have been adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends including the
SunPower spin.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

Equity Compensation Plan Information:

The following table summarizes certain information with respect to our common stock that may be issued

under the existing equity compensation plans as of January 2, 2011:

Plan Category

Equity compensation plans approved by

shareholders

Equity compensation plans not approved by

shareholders

Total

Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon Exercise
of Outstanding Options
(a)

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
(b)

Number of Securities Remaining
Available for Future Issuance
Under Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column (a))
(c)

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

39,500 (1)

11,500

51,000

$

$

$

5.36 (3)

5.85

5.51 (3)

13,500 (2)

—

13,500

(1)
(2)

Includes 15.0 million shares of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards granted.
Includes 10.1 million shares available for future issuance under Cypress’s 1994 Amended Stock Option Plan
and 3.4 million shares available for future issuance under Cypress’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

(3) Excludes impact of 15.0 million shares of restricted stock units and restricted stock which have no exercise

price.

31

See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 for further discussion of Cypress’s stock
plans.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Stock Repurchase Program:

In fiscal 2008, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved up to a total of $600.0 million that may be
used for stock purchases under the stock repurchase program. During fiscal 2008, we used $375.6 million in cash
to repurchase a total of approximately 37.1 million shares at an average share price of $10.13. During fiscal
2009, we used $46.3 million to repurchase approximately 5.8 million shares at an average share price of $8.00. In
light of certain tax constraints placed on us in connection with the Spin-off, we had no intentions of repurchasing
additional stock under this program. Accordingly, on October 28, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board voted
to rescind the remaining $178.1 million available under the program for additional repurchases.

On October 21, 2010, our Board authorized a $600.0 million stock buyback program. The program allows
us to purchase our common stock or enter into equity derivative transactions related to our common stock. The
timing and actual amount expended with the new authorized funds will depend on a variety of factors including
the market price of our common stock, regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements, and other market factors.
The program does not obligate us to repurchase any particular amount of common stock and may be modified or
suspended at any time at our discretion.

The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of our common stock made during the

fourth quarter of fiscal 2010:

Periods

Total Number
of Shares
Purchased

Average Price
Paid per Share

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced
Programs

Total Dollar
Value of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs

October 4, 2010—October 31, 2010
November 1, 2010—November 28, 2010
November 29, 2010—January 2, 2011

As of January 2, 2011

—
455
1,056

1,511

$
$
$

$

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
$
$
$

—
455
1,056

—
14.95
18.09

17.15

1,511

600,000
593,197
574,089

In January 2011, we used $25.9 million to repurchase approximately 1.4 million shares at an average price

of $18.55.

Yield Enhancement Program:

On October 28, 2009, the Audit Committee approved a yield enhancement strategy intended to improve the
yield on our available cash. As part of this program, the Audit Committee authorized us to enter into short-term
yield enhanced structured agreements, typically with maturities of 90 days or less, correlated to our stock price.
Under the agreements we entered into to date, we pay a fixed sum of cash upon execution of an agreement in
exchange for the financial institution’s obligations to pay either a pre-determined amount of cash or shares of our
common stock depending on the closing market price of our common stock on the expiration date of the
agreement. Upon expiration of each agreement, if the closing market price of our common stock is above the
pre-determined price, we will have our cash investment returned plus a yield substantially above the yield
currently available for short-term cash investments. If the closing market price is at or below the pre-determined

32

price, we will receive the number of shares specified at the agreement’s inception. As the outcome of these
arrangements is based entirely on our stock price and does not require us to deliver either shares or cash, other
than the original investment, the entire transaction is recorded in equity.

We entered into a yield enhanced structured agreement based upon a comparison of the yields available in
the financial markets for similar maturities against the expected yield to be realized per the structured agreement
and the related risks associated with this type of arrangement. We believe the risk associated with these types of
agreements is no different than alternative investments available to us with equivalent counterparty credit ratings.
All counterparties to a yield enhancement program have a credit rating of at least Aa2 or A as rated by major
independent rating agencies. For all such agreements that matured to date, the yields of the structured agreements
were far superior to the yields available in the financial markets primarily due to the volatility of our stock price
and the pre-payment aspect of the agreements. The counterparty is willing to pay a premium over the yields
available in the financial markets due to the structure of the agreement.

The following table summarizes the activity of our settled yield enhanced structured agreements:

Periods

Fiscal 2009
Fiscal 2010

Total

Aggregate Price
Paid

$

$

68,017
207,882

275,899

Total Proceeds
Received Upon
Maturity

Total Number of
Shares
Received
Upon Maturity

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

$

$

69,065
217,489

286,554

—
10,000

10,000

Average Price Paid
per Share

$ —
11.49

$

11.49

In December 2010, we entered into a short-term yield enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of 45
days or less. The agreement remained unsettled at January 2, 2011. In January 2011, we settled this agreement
and received approximately $47.0 million in cash. On February 9, 2011 we entered into a short-term yield
enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of less than 45 days at an aggregate price of approximately $52.5
million.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Our historical consolidated financial statements have been recast to account for SunPower as discontinued
operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, we have reflected the results of operations of SunPower prior
to the Spin-Off as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations Data. The assets,
liabilities and noncontrolling interest related to SunPower were reclassified and reflected as discontinued
operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheet Data.

During the third quarter of 2009, we identified historically immaterial errors related to the value of our raw
material inventory balances located in the Philippines. We assessed the materiality of these errors on prior period
financial statements and concluded that the errors were not material to any prior annual or interim periods but the
cumulative error would be material in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, if the entire correction was recorded in the
third quarter. Accordingly, we have revised certain prior year amounts and balances to allow for the correct
recording of these transactions. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 for a
detailed discussion.

In addition, certain prior year balances have been restated to conform to current year presentation including
the retrospective application of adopting new accounting guidance for convertible debt instruments with cash
settlement features and the presentation for noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements. We
have retrospectively applied these changes for all periods presented.

33

The following selected consolidated financial data is not necessarily indicative of results of future operations, and
should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations under Item 7, and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
under Item 8:

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

December 30,
2007

December 31,
2006 (1)(2)

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues
Cost of revenues
Operating income (loss)
Gain on sale of SunPower common stock
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Income from discontinued operations—noncontrolling interest,

net of taxes

Noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes

Net income (loss)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share—basic:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share—basic

Net income (loss) per share—diluted:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share—diluted

Shares used in per-share calculation:

Basic
Diluted

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
Working capital
Total assets
Debt
Stockholders’ equity
Total assets of discontinued operations
Total liabilities of discontinued operations

$
$

$ 877,532 $ 667,786
$ 388,359 $ 397,204
$
$
$
$

765,716
426,284
87,864 $ (149,255) $ (471,433)
192,048
75,742 $ (150,424) $ (319,262)
34,386

— $

— $

— $

— $

$
$

$
$

$

$

$

$

$

— $
(866) $

— $
(946) $

34,154
(311)

74,876 $ (151,370) $ (251,033)
(33,843)
946

866 $

$

75,742 $ (150,424) $ (284,876)

0.47 $
—

0.47 $

(1.03) $

—

(1.03) $

0.40 $
—

0.40 $

(1.03) $

—

(1.03) $

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

$
$
$
$
$
$

$
$

$
$

$

$

$

$

$

821,597
448,847
6,433
373,173
366,862
16,057

$
$
$
$
$
$

12,681

$
(19) $

395,581
$
(12,662) $

382,919

$

2.36
0.10

2.46

2.13
0.10

2.23

$

$

$

$

855,043
451,195
6,285
—
(7,396)
20,466

6,373
(4)

19,439
(6,369)

13,070

(0.05)
0.14

0.09

(0.05)
0.14

0.09

161,114
191,377

145,611
145,611

150,447
150,447

155,559
171,836

140,809
146,223

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

As of
December 28,
2008

December 30,
2007 (1)(2)

December 31,
2006 (1)(2)

(In thousands)

$ 434,261 $ 299,642
$ 383,369 $ 279,643
$ 1,072,801 $ 912,508
$
— $
$ 702,893 $ 630,384
— $
$
— $
$

$
$
$
— $
$
— $
— $

237,792
241,370
928,732
27,023
638,427

$ 1,035,738
$
618,012
$ 3,744,352
$
549,517
$ 1,817,274
— $ 1,666,339
721,155
— $

$
$
$
$
$
$
$

398,082
674,304
2,120,507
557,072
1,084,998
573,927
85,181

(1) The year ended December 31, 2007 includes an adjustment that results in a decrease to our inventory balances of $5.5 million and an
adjustment to accumulated deficit of the same amount. The year ended December 31, 2006 includes a $1.2 million increase to cost of
revenues, a decrease in the amount of $2.5 million to inventories and an increase to accumulated deficit by the same amount. The year
ended January 1, 2006 includes a $1.3 million increase to cost of revenues, a decrease in the amount of $1.3 million to inventories and
an increase to accumulated deficit by the same amount. Refer to Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2) The year ended December 31, 2007 includes retrospective application of the new accounting guidance relating to debt to decrease total
assets by $6.4 million and convertible notes by $50.5 million and increase stockholders’ equity by $46.0 million. The year ended
December 31, 2006 includes additional interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs) of $19.7 million, increase to
interest income and other income (expense), net of $5.5 million, decrease to basic net income per share of $0.19, decrease to diluted net
income per share of $0.17, increase to additional paid in capital of $80.8 million and an increase to accumulated deficit of $80.8
million. The year ended January 1, 2006 includes additional interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs) of $23.5
million, decrease to basic and diluted net income per share of $0.18, increase to additional paid in capital of $55.6 million and an
increase to accumulated deficit of $55.6 million. Refer to Note 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

34

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve risks and uncertainties, which are
discussed under Item 1A.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

General

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (“Cypress”) delivers high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable
solutions that provide customers with rapid time-to-market and exceptional system value. Our offerings include
the flagship Programmable System-on-Chip (“PSoC®”) families and derivatives such as PowerPSoC® solutions
for high-voltage and LED lighting applications, CapSense® touch sensing and TrueTouch™ solutions for
touchscreens. We are the world leader in universal serial bus (“USB”) controllers,
including the high-
performance West Bridge® solution that enhances connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. We are
also a leader in high-performance memories and programmable timing devices. We serve numerous markets
including consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military.

As of the end of fiscal 2010, our organization included the following business segments:

Business Segments

Description

Consumer and Computation Division

Data Communications Division

Memory and Imaging Division

Emerging Technologies and Other

A product division focusing on PSoC, touch-sensing and touchscreen
solutions, USB and timing solutions.

A product division focusing on data communication devices for
wireless handset and professional video systems.

A product division focusing on static random access memories,
nonvolatile memories and image sensor products.

Inc., both
Includes Cypress Envirosystems and AgigA Tech,
majority-owned subsidiaries of Cypress,
the Optical Navigation
Systems (“ONS”) business unit, China business unit, foundry-related
services, other development stage companies and certain corporate
expenses.

SunPower

In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, a committee of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the
distribution of the SunPower Class B common stock held by us to our stockholders. On September 29, 2008, we
completed the distribution of all of 42.0 million shares of SunPower Class B common stock to our stockholders
(the “Spin-Off”).

See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the adjustments approved by
our Board to our stock plans as a result of the Spin-Off and Note 18 for a discussion of the amended tax sharing
agreement between SunPower and us as a result of the Spin-Off.

Unless otherwise indicated, the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results

of Operations in this Annual Report on Form 10-K relate solely to the discussion of our continuing operations.

35

Manufacturing Strategy

Our core manufacturing strategy—“flexible manufacturing”—combines capacity from foundries with
output from our internal manufacturing facilities. This initiative is intended to allow us to meet rapid swings in
customer demand while lessening the burden of high fixed costs, a capability that is particularly important in
high-volume consumer markets that we serve with our leading programmable product portfolio.

Consistent with this strategy, our Board approved a plan in December 2007 to exit our manufacturing
facility in Texas and transfer production to our more cost-competitive facility in Minnesota and outside
foundries. We substantially completed our exit plan by the end of fiscal 2008. We continued to hold the property
for sale as of January 2, 2011.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenues

Consumer and Computation Division
Data Communications Division
Memory and Imaging Division
Emerging Technologies and Other

January 2,
2011

$

343,226
110,647
405,844
17,815

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
274,861
$
96,568
288,246
8,111

December 28,
2008

$

315,718
129,930
312,410
7,658

Total revenues

$

877,532

$

667,786

$

765,716

Consumer and Computation Division:

Revenues from the Consumer and Computation Division increased by $68.4 million in fiscal 2010, or
approximately 24.9%, compared to fiscal 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of
approximately $52 million in sales of our PSoC® product families mainly due to higher demand, continued gains
in new design wins, expansion of our customer base and increased market penetration in our capacitive and
touchscreen applications in consumer devices. The increase was also attributable to the economic recovery
experienced in fiscal 2010 compared to the market downturn in fiscal 2009.

Revenues from the Consumer and Computation Division decreased by $40.9 million in fiscal 2009, or
approximately 13%, compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of
approximately $27.4 million in sales of our USB products mainly due to the economic slowdown impacting
demand in PC applications and consumer devices and increased competition in the consumer market. The
decrease was also attributable to a decrease of $16.8 million in sales of our general purpose timing solutions
resulting from reduced demand from certain large consumer and personal computer customers. The decrease was
partly offset by an increase in our PSoC® product families.

Data Communications Division:

Revenues from the Data Communications Division increased by $14.1 million in fiscal 2010, or
approximately 14.6%, compared to fiscal 2009. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of
approximately $22.7 million in sales of our communications products due to higher market demand, increased
military shipments and the economic recovery experienced in fiscal 2010 compared to the market downturn in
fiscal 2009. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $10.4 million in sales of our West Bridge
controllers and other products resulting from lowered demand and shipments to a major cell phone manufacturer.

Revenues from the Data Communications Division decreased by $33.4 million in fiscal 2009, or
approximately 26%, compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $29.7

36

million in sales of our specialty memory products due to the continued slow down in demand in the base-station
market and our programmable logic devices primarily due to the decline in military and certain end of life
shipments.

Memory and Imaging Division:

Revenues from the Memory and Imaging Division increased by $117.6 million in fiscal 2010, or
approximately 40.8%, compared to fiscal 2009. The revenue increase was primarily attributable to increases of
approximately $97.4 million in sales of our SRAM products driven by increased market share, higher demand
from wireless and wireline end customers and the economic recovery experienced in fiscal 2010 compared to the
market downturn in fiscal 2009. This increase was reduced by a one time revenue offset of $6.3 million for the
settlement of our SRAM anti-trust lawsuit.

Revenues from the Memory and Imaging Division decreased by $24.2 million in fiscal 2009, or
approximately 8%, compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to the economic slowdown
impacting us by reducing sales by $17.7 million of our SRAM products in networking, consumer and
communications applications.

Emerging Technologies and Other:

Revenues from Emerging Technologies and Other

increased by $9.7 million in fiscal 2010, or
approximately 119.6%, compared to fiscal 2009. The revenue increase was primarily attributable to an overall
increase in demand as certain of our Emerging Technologies divisions are beginning initial production ramps.

Revenues from Emerging Technologies and Other

increased by $0.5 million in fiscal 2009, or
approximately 6%, compared to fiscal 2008. The increased in revenues was primarily attributable to an increase
in demand as these business are new and growing.

Cost of Revenues/Gross Margin

Cost of revenues
Gross margin percentage

January 2,
2011

$

388,359

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
397,204
$

December 28,
2008

$

426,284

55.7%

40.5%

44.3%

The increase in the gross margin in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009 was primarily due to favorable
product mix,
increased factory utilization and higher absorption of fixed costs, resulting from increased
production and a 24.0% increase in sales. In addition, stock-based compensation expense allocated to cost of
revenues decreased by $18.1 million mainly due to lower amortization of the remaining modification charge
recorded in connection with the Spin-Off in fiscal 2008.

Cost of revenue decreased from $426.3 million in fiscal 2008 to $397.2 million in fiscal 2009 and gross
margin percentage decreased from 44.3% in fiscal 2008 to 40.5% in fiscal 2009. The gross margin decrease is
primarily attributable to higher stock compensation of $12.8 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008 due
to SunPower Spin-Off in fiscal 2008. The increase in stock-based compensation was mainly related to certain
performance based awards. Additionally,
the gross margin percentage was also unfavorably impacted by
inventory write-downs, under absorbed costs and reduced revenue in 2009 as a result of the challenging
economic conditions as we proactively reduced wafer starts in early 2009 to match supply with demand.

37

Research and Development (“R&D”)

R&D expenses
As a percentage of revenues

January 2,
2011

$

176,816

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
181,189
$

December 28,
2008

$

193,522

20.1%

27.1%

25.3%

R&D expenditures decreased by $4.4 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. The decrease was
primarily attributable to a $15.1 million reduction in stock-based compensation expense mainly due to lower
amortization of the remaining modification charge recorded in connection with the Spin-Off which occurred in
fiscal 2008. This decrease was offset by an increase of $5.9 million in certain bonus programs which paid out at
higher levels as profitability increased in fiscal 2010 and a $4.0 million increase in labor costs due to a
combination of a mandatory three week shutdown and a temporary salary reduction in fiscal 2009.

R&D expenditures decreased by $12.3 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was
primarily attributable to a $9.4 million reduction in employee related labor and other costs associated with the
implementation of our Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan. In addition the decrease was also due to lower stock-
based compensation expense of $1.6 million.

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

SG&A expenses
As a percentage of revenues

January 2,
2011

$

218,490

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
219,602
$

December 28,
2008

$

248,579

24.9%

32.9%

32.5%

SG&A expenses decreased by $1.1 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. The decrease was
primarily attributable to a $16.3 million reduction in stock-based compensation expense mainly due to lower
amortization of the remaining modification charge recorded in connection with the Spin-Off which occurred in
fiscal 2008 This decrease was offset by an increase of $5.3 million in sales commissions due to higher revenues,
a $4.9 million charge taken to write down a building to fair value that was vacated in the fourth quarter of fiscal
2010, a $3.1 million increase in legal expense primarily related to the SRAM litigation and $2.9 million increase
for certain bonus programs which paid out at higher levels in 2010 due to increased profitability.

SG&A expenses decreased by $29.0 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was
primarily attributable to a reduction of $22.0 million in outside services and advertising expense coupled with a
decrease in other costs associated with the implementation of our Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan as well as
other cost reduction efforts. This amount was partially offset by an $8.2 million increase in stock-based
compensation expense related to certain performance based awards.

Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

December 28,
2008

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible

assets

As a percentage of revenues

$

3,028

$

3,804

$

5,830

0.3%

0.6%

0.8%

Amortization expense decreased by $0.8 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009 and $2.0 million in
fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease in amortization expense was primarily due to certain
intangible assets that had been fully amortized in fiscal 2009.

38

Impairment of Goodwill

We performed our annual assessment of the carrying value of our goodwill balance during the fourth quarter
of our fiscal year. Based on our annual assessment, no impairment was recorded in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009.
Because of the significant negative industry and economic trends affecting our operations and expected future
growth during fiscal 2008, as well as the general decline of industry valuations impacting our valuation, we
determined that our goodwill was impaired in fiscal 2008 and recorded an impairment loss of $351.3 million.

The following table indicates the number of reporting units tested for goodwill and the amount of goodwill

impairment recorded in each reportable segment during fiscal year 2008:

Reportable Segments

Consumer and Computation Division
Data Communications Division
Memory and Imaging Division

Restructuring

Number of
Reporting
Units

Three
Two
Two

Goodwill
Impairment

$ 97.9 million
$ 138.4 million
$ 115.0 million

We recorded restructuring charges of $3.0 million, $15.2 million and $21.6 million during fiscal 2010, 2009
and 2008, respectively. The determination of when we accrue for severance costs, and which accounting standard
applies, depends on whether the termination benefits are provided under a one-time benefit arrangement or under
an on-going benefit arrangement.

The following table summarizes the restructuring charges recorded in the Consolidated Statements of

Operations:

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan
Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan
Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan

Total restructuring charges

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$

2,243
995
(263)

(In thousands)
$

— $

15,028
214

—
11,783
9,860

$

2,975

$

15,242

$

21,643

During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, we implemented a restructuring plan to exit certain of our back-end
manufacturing operations located in the Philippines (“Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan”). These actions were
intended to reduce the cost of our back-end manufacturing by selling our labor intensive assembly production to
a lower cost third-party subcontractor in China and by the continued shifting of production to our fully automated
back-end processes.

To date, we recorded total restructuring charges of $2.2 million under the Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan,
which was all related to personnel costs. As of January 2, 2011, our restructuring provision of $2.2 million was
related to severance and benefits of our employees. We expect to eliminate approximately 300 manufacturing
employees and 200 contractors or approximately 34% of our Philippines plant workforce by the end of fiscal
2011. Upon completion of all of our actions, we anticipate our annual savings impacting cost of goods sold after
fiscal 2011 to be approximately $1.0 million, although there can be no assurance of this.

Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan:

In fiscal 2008, we initiated a restructuring plan as part of a companywide cost saving initiative, which
continued into 2010, that was aimed to reduce operating costs in response to the economic downturn (“Fiscal

39

2008/9 Restructuring Plan”). To date, we recorded a total of $27.8 million under the Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring
Plan, of which $24.2 million was related to personnel costs and $3.6 million was related to other exit costs.

Restructuring activities related to personnel costs are summarized as follows:

(In thousands)

Initial provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of December 28, 2008
Provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of January 3, 2010
Provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of January 2, 2011

$

11,611
(162)
(4,075)

7,374
11,516
(1,352)
(14,271)

3,267
1,104
(698)
(2,567)

$

1,106

We eliminated approximately 835 positions. In the fourth quarter of 2010, we completed the majority of the

remaining employee terminations. The following table summarizes certain information related to the positions:

Locations

Manufacturing facility in the Philippines
Manufacturing facility in Minnesota
Corporate and other

Total

Number
of Employees

250
160
425

835

During fiscal 2010, our annual savings from our actions taken was approximately $70.0 million and
proportionately impacted cost of goods sold by 50%, research and development expense by 25% and sales,
general and administrative expense by 25%.

Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan:

During fiscal 2007, we implemented a restructuring plan to exit our manufacturing facility located in Round
Rock, Texas (“Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan”). Under the Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan, we transitioned
production from the Texas facility to our more cost-effective facility in Bloomington, Minnesota as well as
outside third-party foundries. The Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan included the termination of employees and the
planned disposal of assets, primarily consisting of land, building and manufacturing equipment, located in the
Texas facility.

To date, we recorded total restructuring charges of $10.4 million related to the Fiscal 2007 Restructuring
Plan. Of the total restructuring charges, $8.0 million was related to personnel costs and $2.4 million was related
to property, plant and equipment and other exit costs. In the second quarter of fiscal 2010, we recorded a $2.4
million gain on the sale of certain equipment in our Texas facility.

We completed the termination of the remaining employees in the first quarter of fiscal 2009; all balances

related to benefits were paid by the third quarter of fiscal 2009.

40

Assets Held for Sale:

The Texas facility ceased operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. As management has committed to a
plan to sell the assets associated with the facility, we have classified the assets as held for sale and recorded the
assets at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell. Fair value was determined by
an analysis of market prices for similar assets. In fiscal 2008, we recorded a write-down of $1.9 million related to
the assets and $1.2 million of related disposal and other facility costs. In fiscal 2010, we recorded a $1.5 million
write-down related to the assets.

The net book value of the remaining restructured assets that were classified as held for sale and included in
“Other current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet was $6.9 million and $7.7 million as of January 2, 2011
and January 3, 2010, respectively.

We had expected to complete the disposal of the restructured assets by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009;
however, due to the downturn and uncertainty in the commercial real estate market, we were unable to secure a
buyer for the Texas facility. In response, we have revised the asking price for the property and expect to sell the
facility within the next twelve months; however, there can be no assurance of this and our ability to complete the
sale of any restructured assets may be impacted by the current economic condition.

Gain on Divestitures

We did not complete any divestitures during fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009. We recorded a gain on divestitures

totaling $10.0 million during fiscal 2008.

Fiscal 2008:

In fiscal 2008, we completed the sale of certain product lines of our subsidiary, Silicon Light Machines
(“SLM”), to Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Japan for $11.0 million in cash. SLM was a part of our
“Emerging Technologies and Other” reportable segment. The divestiture included SLM’s micro-electro-
mechanical system solutions for commercial printing and other imaging applications. We retained SLM’s laser
optical navigation sensor product family. The following table summarizes the components of the gain recorded in
fiscal 2008:

(In thousands)

Cash proceeds
Assets sold and liabilities assumed:

Accounts receivable and inventories
Other
Transaction costs

Gain on divestiture

Interest Income

$

11,000

(1,700)
816
(150)

$

9,966

Interest income increased by $0.4 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009. The increase was

primarily driven by higher average cash and investment balances.

Interest income decreased by $19.8 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease was

primarily driven by the impact of lower market interest rates.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $1.2 million in fiscal 2010 compared fiscal 2009. The decrease was primarily

attributable to the 1.00% Notes which matured and were settled in September 2009.

Interest expense was $1.2 million in fiscal 2009 compared to $26.8 million in fiscal 2008. The decrease was
primarily attributable to the conversion element of the outstanding 1.00% Notes which resulted in the recording

41

of $22.2 million non-cash interest expense in fiscal 2008 as a result of our retrospective application of the new
guidance on convertible debt and lower outstanding debt balances in fiscal year 2009 due to the Note Tender
Offer discussed below.

Note Tender Offer

In September 2008, we completed a tender offer to purchase for cash up to $531.3 million aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding 1.00% Notes. In total $582.4 million aggregate principal of the 1.00% Notes
were tendered. We accepted $531.3 million of the tendered 1.00% Notes at a purchase price of $1,321.22 per
$1,000 principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Because more than $531.3 million principal amount
was tendered, we purchased the 1.00% Notes on a pro rata basis. The pro-ration was based on the ratio of the
principal amount of the 1.00% Notes tendered by a holder to the total principal amount of the 1.00% Notes
tendered by all the holders. As a result of the Note Tender Offer, we paid $701.9 million in cash.

Gain on Sale of SunPower Common Stock

In fiscal 2008, we sold 2.5 million shares of SunPower Class A common stock (which were converted from
Class B) in a private sale and received net proceeds of $222.5 million. The transaction resulted in a gain of
$192.0 million in fiscal 2008.

Other Income (Expense), Net

The following table summarizes the components of other income (expense), net:

Amortization of debt issuance costs
Write-off of debt issuance costs (see Note 15)
Gain on investments (see Note 7)
Gain on debt extinguishment
Impairment of investments (see Note 8)
Changes in fair value of investments under the deferred compensation plan

(see Note 17)

Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net
Other

Total other income (expense), net

Impairment of Investments:

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$ — $ (114)

(In thousands)
$

—
3,906
—
—

2,653
(2,452)
565

—
822
—
(2,549)

5,150
(22)
487

(3,051)
(4,800)
—
2,193
(13,355)

(10,643)
2,925
(335)

$ 4,672

$ 3,774

$

(27,066)

The following table summarizes the impairment loss related to our investments:

Debt securities:

Commercial paper
Auction rate securities
Corporate bonds

Equity securities:

Marketable equity securities
Non-marketable equity securities

Total impairment loss

42

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

$ —
—
—

—
—

$

$

197
1,393
140

—
819

253
3,860
562

86
8,594

$ —

$

2,549

$

13,355

Auction Rate Securities:

Auction rate securities are investments with contractual maturities generally between 20 and 30 years and
are usually found in the form of municipal bonds, preferred stock, a pool of student loans or collateralized debt
obligations with interest rates resetting every seven to 49 days through an auction process. At the end of each
reset period, investors can sell or continue to hold the securities at par. The auction rate securities held by us are
backed by student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which are
guaranteed by the United States Federal Department of Education.

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities held by us were rated as either AAA or Aaa by the
major independent rating agencies and all of our auction rate securities have experienced failed auctions due to
sell orders exceeding buy orders. These failures are not believed to be a credit issue with the underlying
investments, but rather caused by a lack of liquidity. Under the contractual terms, the issuer is obligated to pay
penalty rates should an auction fail. The funds associated with failed auctions are not expected to be accessible
until one of the following occurs: a successful auction occurs, the issuer redeems the issue, a buyer is found
outside of the auction process or the underlying securities have matured. Given these circumstances and the lack
of liquidity, our auction rate securities totaling $23.7 million are classified as long-term investments as of
January 2, 2011. If the financial market does not continue to improve, future downgrades could potentially
impact the rating of our auction rate securities.

During fiscal 2010, we performed analyses to assess the fair value of the auction rate securities. In the
absence of a liquid market to value these securities, we prepared a valuation model based on discounted cash
flows. The assumptions used at January 2, 2011 were as follows:

‰
‰
‰

7 years to liquidity;
continued receipt of contractual interest which provides a premium spread for failed auctions; and
discount rates of 1.57%—5.32%, which incorporates a spread for both credit and liquidity risk.

Based on these assumptions, we estimated that the auction rate securities would be valued at approximately
90% of their stated par value as of January 2, 2011, representing a decline in value of approximately $2.6
million.

As a result of our adoption of the amended other-than-temporary impairment guidance on debt securities in
the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we reclassified the non-credit portion of the previously recognized other-than-
temporary impairment losses related to our auction rate securities of $5.3 million from accumulated deficit to
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Equity Securities:

We have equity investments in both public and privately held companies. We recognize an impairment
charge when the carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is deemed other-
than-temporary. We consider various factors in determining whether we should recognize an impairment charge
on an investment in a public company, including the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been
less than our cost basis, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee, and our intent and ability
to hold the investment for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in market value. Our
impairment assessment on investments in privately held companies includes the review of each investee’s
financial condition, the business outlook for its products and technology, its projected results and discounted cash
flows, the likelihood of obtaining subsequent rounds of financing and the impact of any relevant contractual
equity preferences held by us or others. If an investee obtains additional funding at a valuation lower than our
carrying amount, we presume that the investment is impaired, unless specific facts and circumstances indicate
otherwise. We recorded impairment charges of $0.8 million and $8.7 million in fiscal 2009 and 2008,
respectively, as we determined that the decline in value of our equity investments in certain public and privately
held companies was other-than-temporary. No impairment charge was recorded in fiscal 2010.

43

Employee Deferred Compensation Plan:

We have a deferred compensation plan, which provides certain key employees, including our executive
management, with the ability to defer the receipt of compensation in order to accumulate funds for retirement on
a tax-free basis. We do not make contributions to the deferred compensation plan and we do not guarantee
returns on the investments. Participant deferrals and investment gains and losses remain our assets and are
subject to claims of general creditors.

We account for the deferred compensation plan in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance, under
which, the plan assets, which consist of trading securities, are recorded at fair value in each reporting period with
the offset being recorded in “Other income (expense), net.” The liabilities are recorded at fair value in each
reporting period with the offset being recorded as an operating expense or income.

All non-cash expense and income recorded under the deferred compensation plan were included in the

following line items in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

Changes in fair value of assets recorded in:

Other income (expense), net

Changes in fair value of liabilities recorded in:

Cost of revenues
R&D expenses
SG&A expenses

Total income (expense), net

Income Taxes

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

(In thousands)

$

2,653

$

5,150

$

(10,643)

(370)
(959)
(1,726)

(516)
(1,454)
(3,168)

$

(402) $

12

$

2,129
3,560
5,437

483

Our income tax expense was $19.3 million, $5.9 million and $7.9 million in fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and
fiscal 2008, respectively. The tax expense in fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009 was primarily attributable to income
taxes associated with our non-U.S. operations. The tax expense in fiscal 2008 was attributable to non-deductible
goodwill impairment and debt extinguishment losses, utilization of foreign tax credits and the amortization of
deferred tax liabilities associated with purchased intangible assets, partially offset by non-U.S. taxes on income
earned in certain countries that was not offset by current year net operating losses in other countries and U.S.
federal alternative minimum tax and state taxes.

Our effective tax rate varies from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to earnings of foreign subsidiaries
taxed at different rates and a full valuation allowance on net operating losses incurred in the U.S. The calculation
of tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex global tax regulations. We
regularly assess our tax positions in light of legislative, bilateral tax treaty, regulatory and judicial developments
in the many countries in which we and our affiliates do business.

The IRS is currently conducting audits of our federal income tax returns for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006. As
of January 2, 2011, no material adjustments to the tax liabilities have been proposed by the IRS. However, the
IRS has not completed their examination and there can be no assurance that there will be no material adjustments
upon completion of their review. In addition, non-U.S. tax authorities have completed their examination of our
subsidiary in India for fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005. As of January 2, 2011, the proposed adjustments have
been appealed. We believe the ultimate outcome of this appeal will not result in a material adjustment to the tax
liability. While years prior to 2006 for the U.S. corporate tax return are not open for assessment, the IRS can
adjust net operating loss and research and development credit carryovers that were generated in prior years and
carried forward to 2006 and subsequent years.

44

Discontinued Operations Attributable to Cypress:

Our historical consolidated financial statements have been recast to account for SunPower as discontinued
operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, we have reflected the results of operations of SunPower prior
to the Spin-Off as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows. The assets,
liabilities and noncontrolling interest related to SunPower were
reclassified and reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes the results of operations related to the discontinued operations through the

date of the Spin-off:

Revenues
Costs and expenses, net

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
Income tax benefit (provision)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress, net of income

taxes

As of
December 28,
2008

(In thousands)
1,033,952
$
967,716

66,236
(31,850)

$

34,386

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following table summarizes our consolidated cash and investments and working capital :

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
Working capital

Key Components of Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing

operations

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing

operations

Fiscal 2010:

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$
$

434,261
383,369

$
$

299,642
279,643

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$

262,746 $

(In thousands)
89,303 $

110,717

$ (150,734) $ (43,126) $

337,376

$

(92,387) $

(7,368) $

(1,051,787)

Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $173.4 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal
2009. Operating cash flows in fiscal 2010 were primarily driven by net income of $74.9 million from continuing
operations adjusted for certain non-cash items
stock-based
compensation expense, restructuring charges and changes in operating assets and liabilities. The changes in our
working capital as of January 2, 2011 compared to January 2, 2010 were as follows:

including depreciation and amortization,

‰ Accounts receivable increased by $30.8 million due to higher distributor shipments.
‰ Deferred revenues less cost of revenues increased by $55.9 million due to higher distributor shipments.
‰

Inventories increased by $10.6 million to support higher levels of sales in 2010 and a profile build out of
certain products.

45

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $107.6 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009.
During fiscal 2010, our investing activities primarily included the $50.8 million of property and equipment
expenditures offset by the purchase of investments of $103.1 million, net of proceeds from sales or maturities.

Net cash used in financing activities increased by $85.0 million in fiscal 2010 compared to fiscal 2009.
During fiscal 2010, our financing activities primarily included a net of $149.2 million used on the yield
enhancement structured agreements, $25.9 million used to repurchase our common shares and partially offset by
net proceeds of $82.8 million from the issuance of common shares under our employee stock plans.

Fiscal 2009:

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $21.4 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008.
Operating cash flows in fiscal 2009 were primarily driven by a net loss of $150.4 million from continuing
stock-based
operations adjusted for certain non-cash items
compensation expense, loss on property and equipment, impairment losses, restructuring charges and changes in
operating assets and liabilities. The decrease in inventories was primarily attributable to increased demand as
well as a decrease in stock-based compensation capitalized into inventory.

including depreciation and amortization,

Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $380.5 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008.
The decrease was primarily due to proceeds of $222.5 million from sale of SunPower stock during fiscal 2008.
During fiscal 2009, our investing activities primarily included: (1) purchase of investments of $46.8 million, net
of sales or maturities of our investments of $24.4 million, and (2) proceeds of $5.7 million from the sale of
property. This cash inflow was offset by $25.8 million of property and equipment expenditures.

Net cash used in financing activities decreased $1.0 billion in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The
decrease was primarily due to the redemption of our convertible debt for $743.0 million and repurchase of our
common stock of $375.6 million during fiscal 2008. During fiscal 2009, our financing activities primarily
included: (1) redemption of our 1.00% Notes which used $51.6 million, and (2) $46.3 million used to repurchase
our common shares. These cash outflows were partially offset by: (1) proceeds of $101.6 million from the
issuance of common shares under our employee stock plans, and (2) proceeds of $3.3 million from the
termination of a portion of the convertible note hedge and warrants related to our 1.00% Notes.

Fiscal 2008:

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $18.4 million in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007.
Operating cash flows in fiscal 2008 were primarily driven by a net loss of $319.3 million from continuing
operations which is primarily due to a $351.3 million impairment of goodwill. The net loss is also adjusted for
certain non-cash items including depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and
associated excess tax benefits, interest and expenses on adoption of ASC 470, a gain on sale of SunPower
common stock, impairment losses, gain on divestitures, restructuring charges and changes in operating assets and
liabilities. The decrease in accounts receivable was primarily driven by lower sales. The increase in inventories
was primarily attributable to a last-time build program on certain products manufactured in our Texas facility, as
well as an increase in stock-based compensation capitalized into inventory.

Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $65.6 million in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007.
During fiscal 2008, our investing activities primarily included: (1) our sale of SunPower common stock, which
generated net proceeds of $222.5 million, (2) proceeds of $185.8 million from sales or maturities of our
investments, net of purchases, and (3) proceeds of $11.0 million from a divestiture. These cash inflows were
partially offset by: (1) $42.1 million of property and equipment expenditures, and (2) $41.6 million used in
acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired.

Net cash used in financing activities increased $1.1 billion in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. During
fiscal 2008, our financing activities primarily included: (1) redemption of our 1.00% Notes which used $742.6
million and (2) $375.6 million used to repurchase our common shares. These cash outflows were partially offset

46

by: (1) proceeds of $55.6 million from the issuance of common shares under our employee stock plans, and
(2) proceeds of $7.8 million from the termination of a portion of the convertible note hedge and warrants related
to our 1.00% Notes.

Liquidity

Convertible Debt:

In September 2008, we completed a tender offer to purchase for cash up to $531.3 million aggregate
principal amount of the 1.00% Notes. As a result of the tender offer, we paid $701.9 million in cash in the third
quarter of fiscal 2008 at a purchase price of $1,321.22 per $1,000 principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid
interest.

In November 2008, we made open market purchases of approximately $12.1 million of the outstanding

1.00% Notes at a slight discount to par, plus accrued interest.

Pursuant to the applicable Indenture, the Spin-Off of SunPower constituted both a fundamental change and a
make-whole fundamental change to the 1.00% Notes. Consequently, the remaining holders were permitted to
require us to purchase their 1.00% Notes on December 17, 2008, in cash at a price equal to $1,000 principal
amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change purchase date.
On December 17, 2008, we repurchased the principal amount of $28.7 million of the 1.00% Notes.

On September 15, 2009, our outstanding 1.00% Notes of approximately $28.0 million in principal matured
and were settled. Holders received cash for the principal amount of the 1.00% Notes and the entire premium. The
final conversion price per 1.00% Notes as calculated under the Indenture was $1,841.76 including principal and
premium. Consistent with the terms of the Indenture, on September 15, 2009, we paid approximately $51.6
million for the principal amount of 1.00% Notes, premium and accrued and unpaid interest.

Auction Rate Securities:

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities have experienced failed auctions due to sell orders
exceeding buy orders. Currently, these failures are not believed to be a credit issue with the underlying
investments, but rather caused by a lack of liquidity. We have classified our auction rate securities totaling $23.7
million as long-term investments as of January 2, 2011.

During fiscal 2010, we performed analyses to assess the fair value of the auction rate securities. In the
absence of a liquid market to value these securities, we prepared a valuation model based on discounted cash
flows. Based on the discounted cash flows, we estimated that the auction rate securities would be valued at
approximately 90% of their stated par value as of January 2, 2011.

Stock Repurchase Program:

On October 21, 2010, our Board authorized a $600.0 million stock buyback program. The program allows
us to purchase our common stock or enter into equity derivative transactions related to our common stock. The
timing and actual amount expended with the new authorized funds will depend on a variety of factors including
the market price of our common stock, regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements, and other market factors.
The program does not obligate us to repurchase any particular amount of common stock and may be modified or
suspended at any time at our discretion.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we used $25.9 million in cash to repurchase a total of
approximately 1.5 million shares at an average share price of $17.15. As of January 2, 2011, the remaining
balance available for future purchases was $574.1 million under the stock repurchase program.

In January 2011, we used $25.9 million in cash to repurchase a total of approximately 1.4 million shares at
an average price of $18.55. In February 2011, we used $11.8 million in cash to repurchase 0.6 million shares at
an average price of $20.87.

47

Yield Enhancement Program:

In December 2010, we entered into a short-term yield enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of less
than 45 days at an aggregate price of approximately $44.0 million. The agreement remained unsettled at
January 2, 2011. On January 19, 2011, we settled this agreement and received approximately $47.0 million in
cash.

On February 9, 2011 we entered into a short-term yield enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of

less than 45 days at an aggregate price of approximately $52.5 million.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of January 2, 2011:

Operating lease commitments
Purchase obligations (1)

Total contractual obligations

Payments Due by Years

Total

2011

2012 and 2013

2014 and 2015 After 2015

24,499 $
91,276

8,094
90,229

(In thousands)
$ 11,193
1,047

$ 4,583

—

115,725

$

98,328

$ 12,240

$ 4,583

$

$

$ 629
—

$ 629

(1) Purchase obligations primarily include non-cancelable purchase orders

services,
manufacturing equipment, building improvements and supplies in the ordinary course of business. Purchase
obligations are defined as enforceable agreements that are legally binding on us and that specify all
significant terms, including quantity, price and timing.

for materials,

As of January 2, 2011, our unrecognized tax benefits were $46.8 million, which were classified as long-term
liabilities. We believe it is possible that we may recognize approximately $21 to $23 million of our existing
unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months as a result of the lapse of statutes of limitations and the
resolution of agreements with domestic and various foreign tax authorities.

Capital Resources and Financial Condition

Our long-term strategy is to maintain a minimum amount of cash for operational purposes and to invest the
remaining amount of our cash in interest-bearing and highly liquid cash equivalents and debt securities and the
purchase of our stock through our stock buyback program. As of January 2, 2011, in addition to $263.2 million in
cash and cash equivalents, we had $171.1 million invested in short-term investments for a total cash and short-
term investment position of $434.3 million that is available for use in current operations. In addition, we had
$23.7 million of long-term investments primarily consisting of auction rate securities.

As of January 2, 2011, approximately 27% our cash and cash equivalents are offshore funds. While these
amounts are primarily invested in U.S. dollars, a portion is held in foreign currencies. All offshore balances are
exposed to local political, banking, currency control and other risks. In addition, these amounts, if repatriated
may be subject to tax and other transfer restrictions.

We believe that liquidity provided by existing cash, cash equivalents and investments and our borrowing
arrangements will provide sufficient capital to meet our requirements for at least the next twelve months.
However, should prevailing economic conditions and/or financial, business and other factors beyond our control
adversely affect our estimates of our future cash requirements, we could be required to fund our cash
requirements by alternative financing. There can be no assurance that additional financing, if needed, would be
available on terms acceptable to us or at all. We may choose at any time to raise additional capital or debt to
strengthen our financial position, facilitate growth, enter into strategic initiatives including the acquisition of
other companies and provide us with additional flexibility to take advantage of other business opportunities that
arise.

48

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement

During fiscal 2005, we entered into a strategic foundry partnership with Grace Semiconductor
Manufacturing Corporation (“Grace”), pursuant to which we have transferred certain of our proprietary process
technologies to Grace’s Shanghai, China facility. In accordance with a foundry agreement executed in fiscal
2006, we purchase wafers from Grace that are produced using these process technologies.

Pursuant to a master lease agreement, Grace has leased certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment
from a financing company. In conjunction with the master lease agreement, we have entered into a series of
guarantees with the financing company for the benefit of Grace. As of January 2, 2011, we updated our
assessment of the likelihood that we would have to settle the outstanding lease payments under the guarantees
and we determined that it was not probable. As a result, we have not recorded any liability relating to outstanding
lease payments under the guarantees.

Pursuant to the guarantees, we issued irrevocable letters of credit to secure the rental payments under the
guarantees in the event a demand is made by the financing company on us. The amount available under the
letters of credit will decline according to schedules mutually agreed upon by us and the financing company. If we
default, the financing company will be entitled to draw on the letters of credit. In connection with the guarantees,
we were granted options to purchase 40.3 million ordinary shares of Grace. As of January 2, 2011, we
determined that the fair value of the guarantees and the options was not material to our consolidated financial
statements.

As of January 2, 2011, under the guarantees, Grace had no outstanding rental payments and the outstanding
irrevocable letters of credit totaled $2.6 million. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we advanced $2.5
million in pre-payments to Grace to secure a certain supply of wafers. In February 2011, we advanced an
additional $1.0 million in pre-payments.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

conditions

Regulation G,

for use of Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

(“Non-
GAAP”) financial measures, and other SEC regulations define and prescribe the conditions for use of certain
Non-GAAP financial information. To supplement our consolidated financial results presented in accordance with
GAAP, we use Non-GAAP financial measures which are adjusted from the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measures to exclude certain items, as described below. Management believes that these Non-GAAP
financial measures reflect an additional and useful way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed in
conjunction with our GAAP results, provide a more comprehensive understanding of the various factors and
trends affecting our business and operations. Non-GAAP financial measures used by us include gross margin,
research and development expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses, operating income or loss, net
income or loss and basic and diluted net income or loss per share.

Our Non-GAAP measures primarily exclude stock-based compensation, acquisition-related charges,
impairments to goodwill, gain or losses on divestiture,
investment-related gains and losses, discontinued
operations, restructuring costs and other special charges and credits. Management believes these Non-GAAP
financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our strategic and business decision
making, internal budgeting, forecasting and resource allocation processes. In addition, these non-GAAP financial
measures facilitate management’s internal comparisons to our historical operating results and comparisons to
competitors’ operating results.

We use each of these non-GAAP financial measures for internal managerial purposes, when providing our
financial results and business outlook to the public, to facilitate period-to-period comparisons and are used to
formulate our formula driven cash bonus plan and any milestone based stock awards. Management believes that
these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our operational and financial
performance of current and historical results. Management uses these non-GAAP measures for strategic and

49

business decision making, internal budgeting, forecasting and resource allocation processes. In addition, these
non-GAAP financial measures facilitate management’s internal comparisons to our historical operating results
and comparisons to competitors’ operating results.

The table below shows our Non-GAAP financial measures:

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

Non-GAAP gross margin
Non-GAAP research and development expenses
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses
Non-GAAP operating income attributable to Cypress
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cypress
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Cypress

$

$

$

(In thousands, except per shares amounts)
518,352
155,059
164,958
198,334
186,159
0.94

314,558
145,879
156,027
12,649
17,743
0.10

373,075
153,416
191,953
27,706
32,647
0.20

We believe that providing these Non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the GAAP financial results,
are useful to investors because they allow investors to see our results “through the eyes” of management as these
Non-GAAP financial measures reflect our internal measurement processes. Management believes that these
Non-GAAP financial measures enable investors to better assess changes in each key element of our operating
results across different reporting periods on a consistent basis and provides investors with another method for
assessing our operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of our ongoing operations.

50

The following is a reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures:

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per-share data)
(Unaudited)

GAAP gross margin (a)
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
Impairment of assets
Write down of final build inventory
Other acquisition-related expense
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
License royalty

Non-GAAP gross margin

GAAP research and development expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Other acquisition-related expense
Gain on sale of long-term asset
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan

Non-GAAP research and development expenses

GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses
Stock-based compensation expense
Impairment of assets
SRAM legal settlement
Other acquisition-related expense
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
Release of allowance for uncollectible employee loans

Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses

GAAP operating income (loss)
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
License royalty
Acquisition-related expense:
Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other acquisition-related expense

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
Release of allowance for uncollectible employee loans
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

Twelve Months Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$

$

$

$

$

489,173
22,716
6,250
213
—
—
—
—

518,352

176,816
(21,541)
(2)

—
(214)

155,059

218,490
(47,202)
(5,293)
(1,000)
—
(37)
—

$

$

$

$

$

270,582
40,798
—
—
—
559
5
2,614

314,558

181,189
(37,537)
(75)
2,437
(135)

145,879

219,602
(63,477)
—
—
(52)
(46)
—

339,432
27,950
—
1,734
2,475
1,616
(132)
—

373,075

193,522
(39,089)
(1,601)
—
584

153,416

248,579
(55,306)
—
—
(1,665)
147
198

164,958

$

156,027

$

191,953

87,864
91,459
7,250
—

—
3,028
—
—
—
252
—
5,506
—
2,975

$ (149,255) $ (471,433)
122,345

141,812

—
2,614

—
3,804
686
(2,440)
—
186
—
—
—
15,242

—
—

351,257
5,830
4,882
—
2,475
(863)
(198)
1,734
(9,966)
21,643

Non-GAAP operating income

$

198,334

$

12,649

$

27,706

51

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES-(Continued)
(In thousands, except per-share data)
(Unaudited)

GAAP net income (loss) attributable to Cypress
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
License royalty
Acquisition-related expense:
Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other acquisition-related expense

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
Release of allowance for uncollectible employee loans
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges
Investment-related gains/losses
Gain on sale of Sunpower shares
Tax effects
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Cypress

GAAP net income (loss) per share attributable to Cypress—diluted
Stock-based compensation expense
SRAM legal settlement
License royalty
Acquisition-related expense:
Impairment of goodwill
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles
Other acquisition-related expense

Gain on sale of long-term asset
Write down of final build inventory
Changes in value of deferred compensation plan
Impairment of assets
Gains on divestitures
Restructuring charges
Investment-related gains/losses
Gain on sale of Sunpower shares
Tax effects
Non-GAAP share count adjustment
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$

$

$

75,742
91,459
7,250
—

—
3,028
—
—
—
252
—
5,506
—
2,975
(3,158)
—
3,105
—

186,159

0.40
0.45
0.04
—

—
0.01
—
—
—
—
0.03
—
0.01
(0.02)
—
0.02
—
—

$ (150,424) $ (284,876)
122,345

141,812

$

$

—
2,614

—
3,804
686
(2,440)
—
186
—
—
—
15,242
3,257
—
3,006
—

—
—

351,257
5,830
4,882
—
2,475
(863)
(198)
1,734
(9,966)
21,643
38,536
(192,048)
6,282
(34,386)

17,743

$

32,647

(1.03) $
0.97
—
0.02

—
0.03
—
(0.02)
—
—
—
—
0.10
0.02
—
0.02
(0.01)
—

(1.89)
0.74
—
—

2.11
0.04
0.03
—
0.01
(0.01)
0.01
(0.06)
0.13
0.23
(1.16)
0.04
0.18
(0.20)

Non-GAAP net income per share attributable to Cypress—diluted

$

0.94

$

0.10

$

0.20

52

(a) During the third quarter of 2009, we identified historically immaterial errors related to the value of our raw
material inventory balances located in the Philippines. We have determined that these errors were not
material to any of the individual prior periods presented and accordingly, the financial statements for the
twelve months ended December 28, 2008 have been recast to correct for the immaterial errors.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new standards which amend the
consolidation rules related to variable interest entities. The new standards eliminate a mandatory quantitative
approach to determine whether a variable interest gives the entity a controlling financial interest in a variable
interest entity in favor of a qualitatively focused analysis and require an ongoing reassessment of whether an
entity is the primary beneficiary. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The adoption did
not impact our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued new standards for revenue recognition with multiple deliverables. These
new standards impact the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element
arrangement may be treated as separate units for accounting purposes. Additionally, these new standards modify
the manner in which the arrangement consideration is allocated across the separately identified deliverables by
no longer permitting the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration. These new standards are
required to be adopted in the first quarter of 2011. We do not expect these new standards to significantly impact
our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued new standards for the accounting for certain revenue arrangements that
include software. These new standards amend the scope of pre-existing software revenue guidance by removing
from the guidance tangible products and certain software. These new standards are required to be adopted in the
first quarter of 2011. We do not expect these new standards to significantly impact our consolidated financial
statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued updated standards related to fair value measurements and disclosures,
which requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1
in the
and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition,
reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3, a reporting entity
should disclose separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (that is, on a gross basis
rather than one net number). These updated standards also require that an entity should provide fair value
measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities and disclosures about the valuation techniques
and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements for Level 2
and Level 3 fair value measurements. Theses updated standards are effective for interim or annual financial
reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances
and settlements in the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Except for the Level 3
activity disclosure, these updated standards were adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The adoption did not
impact our consolidated financial statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our
consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the data used to prepare
them. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States and we are required to make estimates, judgments and assumptions in the
course of such preparation. Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 describes the
significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. On
an ongoing basis, we re-evaluate our judgments and estimates including those related to revenue recognition,
allowances for doubtful accounts receivable, inventory valuation, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and

53

financial instruments, stock-based compensation, litigation and settlement costs, and income taxes. We base our
estimates and judgments on historical experience, knowledge of current conditions and our beliefs of what could
occur in the future considering available information. Actual results may differ from these estimates under
different assumptions or conditions. Our critical accounting policies that are affected by significant estimates,
assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are as follows:

Revenue Recognition:

We generate revenues by selling products to distributors, various types of manufacturers including original
equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and electronic manufacturing service providers (“EMSs”). We recognize
revenue on sales to OEMs and EMSs provided that persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is
fixed or determinable, title has transferred, collection of resulting receivables is reasonably assured, there are no
customer acceptance requirements, and there are no remaining significant obligations.

Sales to certain distributors are made under agreements which provide the distributors with price protection,
other allowances and stock rotation under certain circumstances. Given the uncertainties associated with the
rights given to these distributors, revenues and costs related to distributor sales are deferred until products are
sold by the distributors to the end customers. Revenues are recognized from those distributors when the products
have been sold to the end customers. Reported information includes product resale price, quantity and end
customer shipment information as well as remaining inventory on hand. At the time of shipment to those
distributors, we record a trade receivable for the selling price since there is a legally enforceable right to receive
payment, relieve inventory for the value of goods shipped since legal title has passed to the distributors, and defer
the related margin as deferred revenue less cost of revenue on sales to distributors in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets. The effects of distributor price adjustments are recorded as a reduction to deferred revenue at the time the
distributors sell the products to the end customers.

We record as a reduction to revenues reserves for sales returns, price protection and allowances, based upon
historical experience rates and for any specific known customer amounts. We also provide certain distributors
and EMSs with volume-pricing discounts, such as rebates and incentives, which are recorded as a reduction to
revenues at the time of sale. Historically these volume discounts have not been significant.

Our revenue reporting is highly dependent on receiving pertinent, accurate and timely data from our
distributors. Distributors provide us periodic data regarding the product, price, quantity, and end customer when
products are resold as well as the quantities of our products they still have in stock. Because the data set is large
and complex and because there may be errors in the reported data, we must use estimates and apply judgments to
reconcile distributors’ reported inventories to their activities. Actual results could vary materially from those
estimates.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts Receivable:

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for losses that we estimate will arise from our customers’
inability to make required payments. We make estimates of the collectibility of our accounts receivable by
considering factors such as historical bad debt experience, specific customer creditworthiness, the age of the
accounts receivable balances and current economic trends that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. If the data
we use to calculate the allowance for doubtful accounts does not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding
receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be needed and our results of operations could be
materially affected.

Valuation of Inventories:

Management periodically reviews the adequacy of our inventory reserves. We record a write-down for our
inventories which have become obsolete or are in excess of anticipated demand or net realizable value. We
perform a detailed review of inventories each quarter that considers multiple factors including demand forecasts,
product life cycle status, product development plans and current sales levels. As of January 2, 2011, we had total

54

raw materials of $7.4 million, work-in-process of $72.1 million and finished goods of $22.3 million. Inventory
reserves are not relieved until the related inventory has been sold or scrapped. Our inventories may be subject to
rapid technological obsolescence and are sold in a highly competitive industry. If there were a sudden and
significant decrease in demand for our products, or if there were a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence
because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, we could be required to record additional
write-downs, and our gross margin could be adversely affected.

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets:

Our business requires heavy investment in manufacturing facilities and equipment that are technologically
advanced but can quickly become significantly under-utilized or rendered obsolete by rapid changes in demand.
In addition, we have recorded intangible assets with finite lives related to our acquisitions.

We evaluate our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and purchased intangible assets
with finite lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of
such assets may not be recoverable. Factors considered important that could result in an impairment review
include significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results,
significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or the strategy for our business, significant negative
industry or economic trends, and a significant decline in our stock price for a sustained period of time.
Impairments are recognized based on the difference between the fair value of the asset and its carrying value, and
fair value is generally measured based on discounted cash flow analysis. If there is a significant adverse change
in our business in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges on our long-lived assets. During
the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we performed an impairment analysis for our long-lived assets and determined
that there was no impairment.

Valuation of Goodwill:

We tested our goodwill on the reporting unit level. We have one reporting unit in our Consumer and

Computation Division that has goodwill.

Management determines the fair value of our reporting unit using a combination of the income approach,
which is based on a discounted cash flow analysis of the reporting unit, and the market approach, which is based
on a competitor multiple assessment, if available. For our reporting unit, we weight the income approach 75%
and the market approach 25%. The assumptions supporting the estimated future cash flows, including the
discount rates, estimated terminal values and five-year annual growth rates, reflect management’s best estimates.
The discount rates were based upon our weighted average cost of capital as adjusted for the risks associated with
our operations.

We review goodwill for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the
carrying value of goodwill may not be recoverable. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental
in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include
revenue growth rates and operating margins used to calculate projected future cash flows, risk-adjusted discount
rates, future economic and market conditions and determination of appropriate market comparables. We base our
fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable. Actual future results may differ from those
estimates. In addition, we make certain judgments and assumptions in allocating shared assets and liabilities to
determine the carrying values for our reporting unit. We performed our annual assessment of the carrying value
of our goodwill balance during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Our annual assessment did not result in an
impairment charge as there was a substantial difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value
of the assets of the reporting unit.

In fiscal 2008, as a result of the significant negative industry and economic trends affecting our operations
and expected future growth as well as the general decline of industry valuations impacting our assessment, we
determined that a portion of our goodwill was other-than-temporarily impaired and recorded an impairment loss
of $351.3 million.

55

If our assumptions regarding forecasted revenue or growth rates on our remaining reporting unit are not

achieved, we may be required to record additional goodwill impairment charges in future periods.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

We adopted the provisions of the accounting guidance, which defines fair value as the price that would be
received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the
measurement date. Our financial assets and financial liabilities that require recognition under the guidance
include available-for-sale investments, employee deferred compensation plan and foreign currency derivatives.
The guidance establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable
inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the observable inputs be used when
available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of us. Unobservable inputs are inputs that
reflect our assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. As such, fair value is a market-based
measure considered from the perspective of a market participant who holds the asset or owes the liability rather
than an entity-specific measure. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs
as follows:

‰

‰

‰

Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we
have the ability to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly
available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of
judgment. Financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs include U.S. treasuries, most money market funds,
marketable equity securities and our employee deferred compensation plan;

Level 2—Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant
inputs are observable, directly or indirectly. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs
include foreign currency forward exchange contracts, most commercial paper and corporate notes and
bonds; and

Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value
measurement. Financial assets utilizing Level 3 inputs primarily include auction rate securities. We use
an income approach valuation model to estimate the exit price of the auction rate securities, which is
derived as the weighted-average present value of expected cash flows over various periods of illiquidity,
using a risk adjusted discount rate that is based on the credit risk and liquidity risk of the securities.

Availability of observable inputs can vary from instrument to instrument and to the extent that valuation is
based on inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires
more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by our management in determining fair value is
greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall
into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes the level in the fair value
hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level
input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. In regards to our auction rate securities, the
income approach valuation model was based on both Level 2 (credit quality and interest rates) and Level 3
inputs. We determined that the Level 3 inputs were the most significant to the overall fair value measurement,
particularly the estimates of risk adjusted discount rates and ranges of expected periods of illiquidity.

Stock-Based Compensation:

Under the fair value recognition provisions of the guidance, we recognize stock-based compensation net of
an estimated forfeiture rate and only recognize compensation cost for those shares expected to vest over the
requisite service period of the awards. Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value
of share-based payment awards require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of
the share-based payment awards and stock price volatility. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of

56

these estimates involve inherent
share-based payment awards represent management’s best estimates, but
uncertainties and the application of management judgment. As a result, if factors change and we use different
assumptions, our stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we
are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those shares expected to vest.
If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our estimate, our future stock-based compensation
expense could be significantly different from what we have recorded.

Accounting for Income Taxes:

Our global operations involve manufacturing, research and development and selling activities. Profits from
non-U.S. activities are subject to local country taxes but are not subject to U.S. tax until repatriated to the U.S. It
is our intention to permanently reinvest these earnings outside the U.S. We record a valuation allowance to
reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We consider historical
levels of income, expectations and risks associated with estimates of future taxable income and ongoing prudent
and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance. Should we determine that
we would be able to realize deferred tax assets in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, we would
record an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. This adjustment would increase income in the
period such determination is made.

The calculation of tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex global tax
regulations. We recognize potential
issues in the U.S. and other tax
liabilities for anticipated tax audit
jurisdictions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. If payment
of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits
being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the estimate of tax
liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate tax assessment, a further charge to expense would result.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risks

Our investment portfolio consists of a variety of financial instruments that exposes us to interest rate risk,
including, but not limited to, money market funds, commercial paper and corporate securities. These investments
are generally classified as available-for-sale and, consequently, are recorded on our balance sheets at fair market
value with their related unrealized gain or loss reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive
income in stockholders’ equity. Due to the relatively short-term nature of our investment portfolio, we do not
believe that an immediate 10% increase in interest rates would have a material effect on the fair market value of
our portfolio. Since we believe we have the ability to liquidate this portfolio, we do not expect our operating
results or cash flows to be materially affected to any significant degree by a sudden change in market interest
rates on our investment portfolio.

Auction Rate Securities

As of January 2, 2011, all our auction rate securities are classified as Level 3 financial instruments. Auction
rate securities are investments with contractual maturities generally between 20 and 30 years. The auction rate
securities held by us are backed by student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program
(FFELP), which are guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Department of Education.

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities held by us were rated as either AAA or Aaa by the
major independent rating agencies and all of our auction rate securities have experienced failed auctions due to
sell orders exceeding buy orders. These failures are not believed to be a credit issue with the underlying
investments, but rather caused by a lack of liquidity. Under the contractual terms, the issuer is obligated to pay
penalty rates should an auction fail. The funds associated with failed auctions are not expected to be accessible
until one of the following occurs: a successful auction occurs, the issuer redeems the issue, a buyer is found
outside of the auction process or the underlying securities have matured. Given these circumstances and the lack

57

of liquidity, we have classified our auction rate securities totaling $23.7 million as long-term investments as of
January 2, 2011. If the financial market continues to deteriorate, future downgrades could potentially impact the
rating of our auction rate securities.

During fiscal 2010, we performed analyses to assess the fair value of the auction rate securities. In the
absence of a liquid market to value these securities, we prepared a valuation model based on discounted cash
flows. The assumptions used at January 2, 2011 were as follows:

‰
‰
‰

7 years to liquidity;
continued receipt of contractual interest which provides a premium spread for failed auctions; and
discount rates of 1.57%—5.32%, which incorporates a spread for both credit and liquidity risk.

Based on these assumptions, we estimated that the auction rate securities would be valued at approximately
90% of their stated par value as of January 2, 2011, representing a decline in value of approximately $2.6
million.

As a result of our adoption of the amended other-than-temporary impairment guidance on debt securities in
the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we reclassified the non-credit portion of the previously recognized other-than-
temporary impairment losses related to our auction rate securities of $5.3 million from accumulated deficit to
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

The following table summarizes certain information related to our auction rate securities as of January 2,

2011:

Fair Value

Fair Value Given a 100
Basis Point
Increase in Interest Rates

Fair Value Given a 100
Basis Point
Decrease in Interest Rates

(In thousands)

Auction rate securities

$

23,708

$

26,079

$

21,337

Investments in Publicly Traded and Privately Held Companies

We have equity investments in certain publicly traded companies. The marketable equity securities are
classified as available-for-sale investments and are recorded at fair value with unrealized gain (loss) reported as a
component in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair
value of the common stock is subject to market price volatility. The following table summarizes certain
information related to these investments as of January 2, 2011:

Investments

Marketable equity securities

Fair Value

Fair Value Given a 10%
Increase in Stock Prices

Fair Value Given a 10%
Decrease in Stock Prices

$ 804

$

(In thousands)
884

$

724

We also have equity investments in several privately held companies, many of which are start-ups or in
development stages. These investments are inherently risky as the market for the technologies or products they
have under development are typically in the early stages and may never materialize. As our equity investments
generally do not permit us to exert significant influence or control, these amounts generally represent our cost of
the investments, less any adjustments we make when we determine that an investment’s net realizable value is
less than its carrying cost. We recorded impairment charges of $0.8 million and $8.7 million in fiscal 2009 and
2008, respectively, as we determined that the decline in value of our equity investments in certain public and
privately held companies was other-than-temporary. No impairment charge was recorded in fiscal 2010. As of
January 2, 2011, the carrying value of our investments in privately held companies was $2.0 million.

58

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

We operate and sell products in various global markets and purchase capital equipment using foreign
currencies but predominantly the U.S. dollar. As a result, we are exposed to risks associated with changes in
foreign currency exchange rates. Changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar may
adversely affect our operating margins. For example, when foreign currencies appreciate against the U.S. dollar,
inventory and expenses denominated in foreign currencies become more expensive. An increase in the value of
the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies could make our products more expensive for international
customers, thus potentially leading to a reduction in demand, and therefore in our sales and profitability.
Furthermore, many of our competitors are foreign companies that could benefit from such a currency fluctuation,
making it more difficult for us to compete with those companies. We cannot predict the impact of future
exchange rate fluctuations on our business and results of operations.

We analyzed our foreign currency exposure, including our hedging strategies, to identify assets and
liabilities denominated in other currencies. For those assets and liabilities, we evaluated the effects of a 10% shift
in exchange rates between those currencies and the U.S. dollar. We have determined that there would be an
immaterial effect on our results of operations from such a shift.

59

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Page

61
62
63
65
67
107
117

60

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments

ASSETS

Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Other long-term assets

Total assets

Current liabilities:

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Accounts payable
Accrued compensation and employee benefits
Deferred revenues less cost of revenues
Income taxes payable
Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities
Other long-term liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)
Equity:

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; none issued and

outstanding

Common stock, $.01 par value, 650,000 and 650,000 shares authorized;

259,394 and 235,409 shares issued; 170,753 and 159,382 shares outstanding
at January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, respectively

Additional paid-in-capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated deficit

Less: shares of common stock held in treasury, at cost; 88,641 and 76,027 shares at

January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, respectively

Total Cypress stockholders’ equity

Noncontrolling interest

Total equity

Total liabilities and equity

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands, except
per-share amounts)

$

$

263,183
171,078

434,261
117,726
101,763
41,908

695,658

260,122
31,836
12,499
72,686

243,558
56,084

299,642
86,959
91,198
40,906

518,705

272,620
31,836
15,132
74,215

$ 1,072,801

$

912,508

$

$

59,817
43,292
131,757
11,631
65,792

312,289

53,830
3,789

61,712
37,756
75,881
7,090
56,623

239,062

39,272
3,790

369,908

282,124

—

—

2,594
2,401,996
(3,203)
(494,002)

2,354
2,247,716
(723)
(569,744)

1,907,385

1,679,603

(1,202,949)

(1,048,016)

704,436
(1,543)

702,893

631,587
(1,203)

630,384

$ 1,072,801

$

912,508

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

61

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

Revenues

Costs and expenses (credits):
Cost of revenues
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
Impairment of goodwill
Restructuring charges
Gain on divestitures

Total costs and expenses, net

Operating income (loss)
Interest income
Interest expense
Gain on sale of SunPower common stock
Other income (expense), net

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax provision

Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Income from discontinued operations–noncontrolling interest, net of

taxes

Noncontrolling interest, net of taxes

Net income (loss)

Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share–basic:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share–basic

Net income (loss) per share–diluted:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share–diluted

Shares used in net income (loss) per share calculation:

Basic
Diluted

$

$

$

$

$

$

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
877,532

667,786

$

$

765,716

388,359
176,816
218,490
3,028
—
2,975
—

789,668

87,864
2,515
(19)
—
4,672

95,032
19,290

75,742
—

—
(866)

74,876
866

397,204
181,189
219,602
3,804
—
15,242
—

426,284
193,522
248,579
5,830
351,257
21,643
(9,966)

817,041

1,237,149

(149,255)
2,101
(1,190)
—
3,774

(144,570)
5,854

(150,424)

—

(471,433)
21,904
(26,786)
192,048
(27,066)

(311,333)
7,929

(319,262)
34,386

—
(946)

34,154
(311)

(151,370)
946

(251,033)
(33,843)

75,742

$ (150,424) $ (284,876)

0.47
—

0.47

0.40
—

0.40

$

$

$

$

(1.03) $

—

(1.03) $

(1.03) $

—

(1.03) $

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

161,114
191,377

145,611
145,611

150,447
150,447

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

62

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T

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)
Less income from discontinued operations, net of taxes
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations

to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing
operations:

Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation expense
Interest and other non-cash expense related to convertible debt
Gain on extinguishment of debt
Excess tax benefits from stock-based award activities
Impairment of goodwill
Impairment of investments
Impairment of assets
Write-off of debt issuance costs
(Gain) loss on property and equipment, net
Gain on divestitures
Gain on sale of SunPower’s common stock
Gain on investments
Restructuring charges
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other assets
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
Deferred revenues less cost of revenues

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds from sales or maturities of available-for-sale

investments

Proceeds from sales of marketable equity investments
Proceeds from sale of SunPower’s common stock
Net employee contributions to (distributions of) deferred

compensation plan

Cash paid for other investments
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Cash used for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from divestitures
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing

operations

Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

65

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

(In thousands)

$

$

74,876 $
—
74,876 $

(151,370) $
—
(151,370) $

(251,033)
(68,540)
(319,573)

52,528
91,459
—
—
—
—
443
4,926
—
(823)
—
—
(3,906)
5,366
15,033

(30,767)
(10,049)
(11,013)
18,797
55,876
262,746

—
262,746

55,799
141,812
1,090
—
—
—
2,549
—
—
2,146
—
—
(822)
15,242
2,056

4,983
18,276
18,810
(14,684)
(6,584)
89,303
—
89,303

73,876
122,345
(147,044)
(2,193)
(9,132)
351,257
13,355
—
4,800
8,004
(9,966)
(192,048)

—
21,643
(26,443)

7,532
(1,015)
67,850
103,503
43,966
110,717
107,845
218,562

(140,349)

(46,768)

(176,458)

32,523
4,680
—

2,141
(2,000)
(50,786)
—
—
3,057

(150,734)

—

(150,734)

24,490
—
—

(665)
(76)
(25,823)
—
—
5,716

(43,126)
—
(43,126)

362,581
—
222,474

1,417
(1,737)
(42,132)
(41,551)
11,000
1,782

337,376
(167,111)
170,265

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Excess tax benefits from stock-based award activities
Withholding of common shares for tax obligations on

vested restricted shares

Redemption of convertible debt
Proceeds from termination of convertible note hedge and

warrants

Repurchase of common shares
Issuance of common shares under employee stock plans
Unsettled yield enhancement structured agreements
Yield enhancement structured agreements settled in cash,

net

Yield enhancement structured agreements settled in stock

Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations
Net cash provided by financing activities of discontinued operations
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
Less cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of year

Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid for interest:

Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Total

Cash paid for income taxes:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Total

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

December 28,
2008

—

—

9,132

(14,104)
—

—
(25,912)
96,864
(43,925)

9,607
(114,917)
(92,387)
—
(92,387)
—
19,625
243,558
263,183
—
263,183

20
—
20

2,205
—
2,205

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

(15,493)
(51,552)

(6,163)
(742,605)

3,312
(46,321)
101,638
—

1,048
—
(7,368)
—
(7,368)
—
38,809
204,749
243,558
—
243,558

7,762
(375,560)
55,647
—

—
—

(1,051,787)
31,832
(1,019,955)
(1,163)
(632,291)
1,093,657
461,366
(256,617)
204,749

$

305
—
305

3,433
—
3,433

$

$

$

$

6,181
4,856
11,037

13,703
1,265
14,968

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

66

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES

Description of Business

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (“Cypress” or the “Company”) designs, develops, manufactures and
that provide customers with rapid
markets high-performance, mixed-signal, programmable solutions
time-to-market and system value. Our offerings include the PSoC® programmable system-on-chip, universal
serial bus (“USB”) controllers, general-purpose programmable clocks and memories. We also offer wired and
wireless connectivity technologies that enhance connectivity and performance in multimedia handsets. We serve
numerous markets including consumer, computation, data communications, automotive, and industrial.

Our operations outside of the United States include our manufacturing facilities, assembly and test plants
and a regional headquarters in the Philippines, and sales offices and design centers located in various parts of the
world.

Financial Statement Preparation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States and include the accounts of Cypress and all of our subsidiaries. Inter-company
transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

On September 29, 2008, we completed the spin-off of SunPower Corporation (“SunPower”), a majority
owned subsidiary through the distribution of a tax-free stock dividend to our stockholders. As a result, our
historical financial statements have been restated to account for SunPower as a discontinued operation for all
periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 3 for further discussion.

Unless otherwise indicated, the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements relate to the discussion of

our continuing operations.

Fiscal Years

Our fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. Fiscal 2010 ended on January 2, 2011, fiscal
2009 ended on January 3, 2010 and fiscal 2008 ended on December 28, 2008. Fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2008
contained 52 weeks while fiscal 2009 contained 53 weeks.

Management Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts
reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions
used in these consolidated financial statements primarily include those related to revenue recognition, inventory
valuation, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, valuation of investments, valuation of stock-based
payment awards, allowances for doubtful accounts, warranty reserves, restructuring costs, certain other accrued
liabilities and tax valuation allowances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. To the extent there are
material differences between the estimates and actual results our future results of operations will be impacted.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For certain of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts
payable and other current liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate their fair value due to the relatively short
maturity of these items. Certificates of deposit are carried at cost which approximates fair value based on current

67

interest rates. Investments in available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value. See Note 7 for a detailed
discussion of the fair value measurements on our available-for-sale investments and Note 15 regarding the fair
value of our convertible debt.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Highly liquid investments with original or remaining maturities of ninety days or less at the date of purchase

are considered cash equivalents.

Investments

All of our investments in debt securities and equity securities in publicly traded companies are classified as
available-for-sale securities. Available-for-sale debt securities with maturities greater than twelve months are
classified as short-term when they are intended for use in current operations. Investments in available-for-sale
securities are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, as a component of “Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our certificates of deposit are
non-tradable and are carried at cost. We also have equity investments in privately held companies. These
investments are generally carried at cost and are included in “Other assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We monitor our investments for impairment periodically and record appropriate reductions in carrying
values when the declines are determined to be other-than-temporary. See Note 8 for a detailed discussion of the
impairment losses recorded on our investments.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of standard cost (which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out
basis) or market. Market is based on estimated net realizable value. We write down our inventories which have
become obsolete or are in excess of anticipated demand or net realizable value based upon assumptions about
demand forecasts, product life cycle status, product development plans and current sales levels. Inventory
reserves are not relieved until the related inventory has been sold or scrapped.

Long-Lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed
for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
Leasehold improvements and leasehold interests are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of
the assets or the remaining term of the lease. Estimated useful lives are as follows:

Equipment
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Furniture and fixtures

2 to 7 years
5 to 20 years
3 to 7 years

We evaluate our long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets with finite
lives, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets
may not be recoverable. Factors considered important that could result in an impairment review include
significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant
changes in the manner of use of assets, significant negative industry or economic trends, and a significant decline
in our stock price for a sustained period of time. Impairment is recognized based on the difference between the
estimated fair value of the asset and its carrying value. Estimated fair value is generally measured based on
quoted market prices, if available, appraisals or discounted cash flow analyses.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment on an
annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets

68

may not be recoverable. Purchased intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line
method over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment as discussed above. Refer to Note 6 for
more information.

Revenue Recognition

We generate revenues by selling products to distributors, various types of manufacturers including original
equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and electronic manufacturing service providers (“EMSs”). We recognize
revenues on sales to OEMs and EMSs upon shipment provided that persuasive evidence of an arrangement
exists, the price is fixed or determinable, title has transferred, collection of resulting receivables is reasonably
assured, there are no customer acceptance requirements, and there are no significant remaining obligations.

Sales to certain distributors are made under agreements which provide the distributors with price protection,
stock rotation and other allowances under certain circumstances. Given the uncertainties associated with the
rights given to these distributors, revenues and costs related to distributor sales are deferred until products are
sold by the distributors to the end customers. Revenues are recognized upon receiving notification from the
distributors that products have been sold to the end customers. Reported information includes product resale
price, quantity and end customer shipment information as well as remaining inventory on hand. At the time of
shipment to distributors, we record a trade receivable for the selling price since there is a legally enforceable
right to receive payment, relieve inventory for the value of goods shipped since legal title has passed to the
distributors, and defer the related margin as deferred income on sales to distributors in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets. The effects of distributor price adjustments are recorded as a reduction to deferred income at the time the
distributors sell the products to the end customers.

We record as a reduction to revenues reserves for sales returns, price protection and allowances based upon
historical experience rates and for any specific known customer amounts. We also provide certain distributors
and EMSs with volume-pricing discounts, such as rebates and incentives, which are recorded as a reduction to
revenues at the time of sale. Historically these volume discounts have not been significant.

Shipping and Handling Costs

We record costs related to shipping and handling in cost of revenues.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs consist of development and placement costs of our advertising campaigns and are charged
to expense when incurred. Advertising expense was approximately $4.0 million, $4.5 million and $7.7 million
for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Foreign Currency Transactions

We use the United States dollar predominately as the functional currency for our foreign entities. Assets and
liabilities of these entities are remeasured into the United States dollar using exchange rates in effect at the end of
the period, except for non-monetary assets and liabilities, such as property, plant and equipment, which are
remeasured using historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are remeasured using average exchange rates
in effect for the period, except for items related to assets and liabilities, such as depreciation, that are remeasured
using historical exchange rates. The resulting gains and losses from foreign currency remeasurement are included
in “Other income (expense), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial

instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash
equivalents, debt investments and trade accounts receivable. Our investment policy requires cash investments to
be placed with high-credit quality institutions and limits the amount of credit risk from any one issuer. We

69

perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition whenever deemed necessary and
generally do not require collateral. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon the expected
collectability of all accounts receivable.

One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 17% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 2,
2011. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 16% and one contract manufacturer of an OEM,
Flextronics, accounted for 11% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 3, 2010. One global distributor,
Avnet, Inc., accounted for 13% of consolidated accounts receivable as of December 28, 2008.

Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 15% and 10%, respectively,
of our total revenues for fiscal 2010. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 14% of our total revenues
for fiscal 2009. Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 13% and 11%,
respectively, of our total revenues for fiscal 2008. There was no single end customer in fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008
that accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for
income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The provision for income taxes represents
income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred
taxes result from differences between the financial and tax basis of our assets and liabilities and are adjusted for
changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce
deferred tax assets when management cannot conclude that it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will be
realized.

The calculation of tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex global tax
regulations. We recognize potential liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the United States and other tax
jurisdictions based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. If payment
of these amounts ultimately proves to be unnecessary, the reversal of the liabilities would result in tax benefits
being recognized in the period when we determine the liabilities are no longer necessary. If the estimate of tax
liabilities proves to be less than the ultimate assessment, a further charge to expense would result.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued a new standard which amends the
consolidation rules related to variable interest entities. The new standard eliminates a mandatory quantitative
approach to determine whether a variable interest gives the entity a controlling financial interest in a variable
interest entity in favor of a qualitatively focused analysis and require an ongoing reassessment of whether an
entity is the primary beneficiary. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The adoption did
not impact our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new standard for revenue recognition with multiple deliverables. The
new standard impacts the determination of when the individual deliverables included in a multiple-element
arrangement may be treated as separate units for accounting purposes. Additionally, the new standard modifies
the manner in which the arrangement consideration is allocated across the separately identified deliverables by
no longer permitting the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration. These new standards are
required to be adopted in the first quarter of 2011; however, early adoption is permitted. We do not expect these
new standards to significantly impact our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2009, the FASB issued a new standard for the accounting for certain revenue arrangements that
include software. This new standard amends the scope of pre-existing software revenue guidance by removing
from the guidance tangible products and certain software. The new standard is required to be adopted in the first
quarter of 2011; however, early adoption is permitted. We do not expect these new standards to significantly
impact our consolidated financial statements.

70

In January 2010, the FASB issued an updated standard related to fair value measurements and disclosures,
which requires a reporting entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1
and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers. In addition,
in the
reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3, a reporting entity
should disclose separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (that is, on a gross basis
rather than one net number). This updated standard also requires that an entity provide fair value measurement
disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities and disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used
to measure fair value for both recurring and non-recurring fair value measurements for Level 2 and Level 3 fair
value measurements. This updated standard is effective for interim or annual financial reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements
in the roll forward activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Except for the Level 3 activity
disclosure, these updated standard was adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The adoption did not impact our
consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2. REVISION OF PRIOR PERIOD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Impact of Adoption of Accounting Guidance on Convertible Debt

Effective January 1, 2009, we adopted the new accounting guidance on convertible debt instruments that
have a “net settlement feature,” which means instruments that by their terms may be settled either wholly or
partially in cash upon conversion. Under the guidance, the liability and equity components of convertible debt
instruments that may be settled wholly or partially in cash upon conversion must be accounted for separately in a
manner reflective of our nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. Since our 1.00% Notes and our 1.25% convertible
subordinated notes (“1.25% Notes” were issued in 2003 which we redeemed in February 2007), had an equity
component that could be settled in cash or equity, both debt instruments qualified for this treatment.

Our effective borrowing rate for nonconvertible debt at the time of issuance of the 1.00% Notes was
estimated to be 6.15% and for our 1.25% Notes it was estimated to be 6.20%. For the 1.00% Notes, this resulted
in $70.6 million of the $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of debentures issued being attributable to
equity. For the 1.25% Notes, this resulted in $126.0 million of the $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of
debentures issued being attributable to equity.

The cumulative effect as of December 29, 2008 (the first day of fiscal 2009) of the change in accounting
principle was a decrease to convertible debt of approximately $1.0 million for the discount on the 1.00% Notes, a
decrease to additional paid-in capital of approximately $43.4 million, a decrease to accumulated deficit of
approximately $44.5 million and an increase to debt issuance cost of approximately $0.1 million. As a result of
the change in the accounting principle, the cumulative effect of the higher interest cost from both our 1.00% and
1.25% Notes is being offset by the losses on our extinguishment of debt which are now being recorded to equity.

Our adoption of the new guidance resulted in higher interest and other income of $144.4 million in fiscal
2008. As of December 28, 2008, there was $1.0 million of the initial $70.6 million debt discount (1.00% Notes)
which remained unamortized. As of September 27, 2009, all of the debt had matured or been redeemed and the
debt discount was fully amortized. The tax effect of our adoption was immaterial to our consolidated financial
statements.

Inventory Adjustment

During the third quarter of 2009, we identified historically immaterial errors related to the value of our raw
material inventory balances located in the Philippines. We assessed the materiality of these errors on prior period
financial statements and concluded that the errors were not material to any prior annual or interim periods but the
cumulative error would be material in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, if the entire correction was recorded in the
third quarter. Accordingly, we have revised certain prior year amounts and balances to allow for the correct
recording of these transactions.

71

The following table summarizes the effects of the new guidance regarding the convertible debt and the
correction to inventory and accumulated deficit on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended
December 28, 2008 and on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 28, 2008:

Operating loss as reported

Correction of inventory error

Operating loss as revised
Loss from continuing operations as reported
Adjustment per convertible debt
Correction of inventory error

Loss from continuing operations as revised

Inventories as reported

Correction of inventory error

Inventories as revised
Convertible debt as reported

Adjustment per convertible debt

Convertible debt as revised

Year Ended

December 28,
2008

(In thousands)
(469,868)
$
(1,565)

$
$

(471,433)
(462,136)
144,439
(1,565)

$

(319,262)

As of

December 28,
2008

(In thousands)
121,889
$
(7,027)

$
$

$

114,862
27,999
(976)

27,023

There was no tax effect for the inventory error correction for fiscal year 2008 due to the immaterial impact
in foreign jurisdictions and the negligible impact on our net operating loss carry forwards in the United States
against which we have a full valuation allowance. For fiscal 2008, the impact of the error correction on gross
profit was $1.6 million. This amount represented 0.5% of the gross margin for fiscal 2008. Additionally, there
was no impact on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in fiscal 2008.

NOTE 3. SUNPOWER

The following table summarizes our historical ownership interest

in SunPower which shares were

distributed to our stockholders in the fourth quarter of 2008:

Number of shares of SunPower Class B common stock owned by Cypress
As a percentage of SunPower’s total outstanding capital stock
As a percentage of SunPower’s total outstanding capital stock on a fully

diluted basis

As a percentage of the total voting power of SunPower’s outstanding capital

stock

Sale of SunPower’s Common Stock:

As of

September 28,
2008

42.0 million

50%

47%

89%

In fiscal 2008, we sold 2.5 million shares of SunPower Class A common stock (which were converted from
Class B) in a private sale and received net proceeds of $222.5 million. The transaction resulted in a gain of
$192.0 million.

72

Sale of Manufacturing Facility:

In fiscal 2003, SunPower entered into a lease agreement with us under which SunPower leased a
manufacturing facility owned by us with approximately 215,000 square feet in the Philippines and a sublease for
the land owned by an unaffiliated third party. SunPower had the right to purchase the facility from us and assume
the lease for the land at any time for an amount equal to our original purchase price of $8.0 million, plus interest
computed on a variable index starting on the date of purchase by us until the sale to SunPower. In the second
quarter of fiscal 2008, SunPower exercised its right and purchased the facility from us and assumed the lease for
the land from the unaffiliated third party for a total purchase price of approximately $9.5 million.

Spin-Off of SunPower

In the third quarter of 2008, a committee of our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the distribution
of the SunPower Class B common stock held by us to our stockholders. On September 29, 2008, we completed
the distribution of 42.0 million shares of SunPower Class B common stock to our stockholders (the “Spin-Off”).

We received a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in April 2008 with respect to
certain tax issues arising under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code in connection with the Spin-Off. The
distribution was structured to be tax-free to us and our stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, except
in respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares.

See Note 9 for a discussion of the adjustments approved by our Board to our stock plans as a result of the
Spin-Off and Note 18 for a discussion of the amended tax sharing agreement between SunPower and us as a
result of the Spin-Off.

Discontinued Operations Attributable to Cypress:

Our historical consolidated financial statements have been recast to account for SunPower as discontinued
operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, we have reflected the results of operations of SunPower prior
to the Spin-Off as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows. The assets, liabilities and minority interest related to SunPower were reclassified and
reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table summarizes the results of operations related to the discontinued operations through the

date of the Spin-Off:

Revenues
Costs and expenses, net

Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress before

income taxes

Income tax benefit (provision)

Year Ended

December 28,
2008

$

(In thousands)
1,033,952
967,716

66,236
(31,850)

Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress, net of taxes

$

34,386

The distribution of the SunPower Class B common stock on September 29, 2008 resulted in the elimination
of $996.6 million of net assets of discontinued operations and a reduction of $463.9 million to stockholders’
equity.

73

NOTE 4. BUSINESS COMBINATION

Simtek Corporation (“Simtek”)

In September 2008, we completed the acquisition of Simtek, a publicly traded manufacturer of non-volatile
static random access memory integrated circuits used in a variety of systems. The purchase was completed
through a step acquisition and the total consideration included $3.6 million which reflects an initial investment
we made in Simtek in prior periods. This initial investment consisted of a then 5% equity ownership and warrants
to purchase 2.5 million shares of Simtek’s common stock. In September 2008, we completed a cash tender offer
and purchased all of Simtek’s outstanding common stock not owned by us at a purchase price of $2.60 per share
for a total cash payment of $43.9 million and incurred direct transaction costs of $1.1 million. The following
table summarizes the total purchase price:

(In thousands)

Cash
Initial investment
Transaction costs

Total purchase price

$

43,853
3,560
1,126

$

48,539

The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded in our consolidated balance sheet
as of the acquisition date. The results of operations of Simtek were included in our consolidated results of
operations subsequent to the acquisition date. Simtek is included in our Memory and Imaging Division.

Purchase Price Allocation:

We finalized the purchase price allocation in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. The following table

summarizes the amounts:

Net tangible assets
Acquired identifiable intangible assets:

Purchased technology
Backlog
Customer relationships

Goodwill

Total purchase consideration

Net Tangible Assets:

Net tangible assets consisted of the following:

(In thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Other

Total assets acquired

Accounts payable
Other accrued expenses and liabilities

Total liabilities assumed

Total net tangible assets

74

As Adjusted

(In thousands)
811
$

12,975
1,116
370
33,267

$

48,539

$

2,302
2,451
4,933
1,430

11,116

(8,476)
(1,829)

(10,305)

$

811

Acquired Identifiable Intangible Assets:

The following table presents certain information on the acquired identifiable intangible assets:

Intangible Assets

Method of
Valuation

Purchased technology
Backlog
Customer relationships

Income Approach
Income Approach
Cost Approach

Discount
Rate Used

18%
10%
—

Estimated
Useful Lives

4–6 years
0.5 year
1.5 years

In-Process Research and Development:

We identified in-process research and development projects in areas for which technological feasibility had
not been established and no alternative future use existed. In identifying and analyzing Simtek’s potential
in-process research and development projects, we considered key characteristics of the technology as well as
project stages of development, the time and resources needed to complete the current projects, the expected
income-generating abilities of the resulting projects, the target markets and associated risks. We concluded that
Simtek had one in-process research and development project, which is a higher density form of non-volatile
dynamic random access memory for gaming, automated teller machine and solid state disk drive applications.
Using the income approach method with a discount rate of 22%, we determined that the fair value of the
in-process research and development project was zero at the date of acquisition.

Goodwill:

Simtek’s non-volatile memory products provide the high-speed memory access of standard static random
access memories, but retain data when power is turned off—a feature critical to applications where secure data
storage is essential to system functionality. The acquisition will enable us to integrate Simtek’s technology into
many of our products, providing a highly integrated control and power failure solution for complex analog and
digital systems and accelerating acceptance of our products in various applications and markets. These factors
primarily contributed to a purchase price that resulted in goodwill. Goodwill that resulted from the acquisition is
not deductible for tax purposes.

Subsequent to the acquisition, we determined that our goodwill was other-than-temporarily impaired and
recorded an impairment loss of $351.3 million, which included $33.3 million related to the Simtek acquisition,
for the year ended December 28, 2008. See Note 6 for more information.

Preexisting Relationship:

Prior to the acquisition in September 2008, Cypress and Simtek had a joint license and development
agreement under which we licensed certain intellectual property from Simtek to develop non-volatile memory
products and made a non-refundable prepayment of royalties to Simtek. The agreement was settled upon the
completion of the acquisition. In accordance with the accounting guidance relating to the accounting for a
preexisting relationship between parties to a business combination, we recorded a settlement loss of $1.1 million
as a result of the termination of the agreement in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for fiscal 2008.

75

Pro Forma Financial Information:

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of

Cypress and Simtek as if the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of fiscal 2008:

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

Revenues
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income (loss) per share from continuing operations:

Basic
Diluted

Year Ended

December 28,
2008

$
784,578
$ (336,473)

$
$

(2.24)
(2.24)

The unaudited pro forma financial

information should not be taken as representative of our future

consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

NOTE 5. DIVESTITURES

In fiscal 2010 and 2009, we did not complete any divestitures.

In fiscal 2008, we completed the sale of certain product lines of our subsidiary, Silicon Light Machines
(“SLM”), to Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Japan for $11.0 million in cash. SLM was a part of our
Emerging Technology segment. The divestiture included SLM’s micro-electro-mechanical system solutions for
commercial printing and other imaging applications. We retained SLM’s laser optical navigation sensor product
family.

In connection with this divestiture, we recorded a gain of $10.0 million for the year ended December 28,

2008. The following table summarizes the components of the gain:

(In thousands)

Cash proceeds
Assets sold and liabilities assumed:

Accounts receivable and inventories
Other
Transaction costs

Gain on divestiture

NOTE 6. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

$

11,000

(1,700)
816
(150)

9,966

$

The carrying amount of goodwill at January 2, 2011 was $31.8 million in the Consumer and Computation
Division (“CCD”) and was unchanged from the balance at January 3, 2010. CCD is the only reportable business
segment with goodwill.

Impairment of Goodwill:

We apply a fair value based impairment test to the net book value of goodwill on an annual basis and, if
certain events or circumstances indicate that an impairment loss may have been incurred, on an interim basis.
The analysis of potential impairment of goodwill requires a two-step process. The first step is a comparison of
the estimation of fair value of all reporting units to the carrying value of the calculated net assets. If step one
indicates that impairment potentially exists, a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment, if
any. Goodwill impairment exists when the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value.

76

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we performed the annual assessment of the carrying value of our

goodwill and no impairment charge was recorded.

Intangible Assets

The following tables present details of our total intangible assets:

As of January 2, 2011

Acquisition-related intangible assets
Non-acquisition related intangible assets

Total intangible assets

As of January 3, 2010

Purchase technology
Patents, tradenames, customer relationships and backlog
Other

Total acquisition-related intangible assets
Non-acquisition related intangible assets

Total intangible assets

$

$

$

Gross

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

100,134
10,548

(In thousands)
$

(91,490) $
(6,693)

8,644
3,855

110,682

$

(98,183) $

12,499

Gross

Accumulated
Amortization

Net

100,134
22,009
4,297

126,440
8,713

(In thousands)
$

(88,766) $
(21,937)
(4,190)

(114,893)
(5,128)

11,368
72
107

11,547
3,585

$

135,153

$

(120,021) $

15,132

As of January 2, 2011, the estimated future amortization expense of intangible assets was as follows:

(In thousands)

2011
2012
2013
2014

Total future amortization expense

$ 4,440
4,340
3,247
472

$12,499

77

NOTE 7. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Assets/Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents our fair value hierarchy for our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair

value on a recurring basis as of January 2, 2011:

Financial Assets
Investments:

Commercial paper
Money market funds
U.S. treasuries
Corporate notes/bonds
Federal agency
Auction rate securities
Marketable equity securities
Employee deferred compensation plan:

Cash equivalents
Money market funds
Mutual funds
Fixed income
Equity securities
Total financial assets

Financial Liabilities
Employee deferred compensation plan
Total financial liabilities

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(In thousands)

$

— $

105,058
50,054
—
—
—
804

1,771
386
20,579
3,045
4,677
186,374

29,974
29,974

$

$
$

$

$
$

2,399
—
—
52,503
25,958
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
80,860

$

$

—
—
—
—
23,708
—

—
—
—
—
—
23,708

$

$

2,399
105,058
50,054
52,503
25,958
23,708
804

1,771
386
20,579
3,045
4,677
290,942

— $
— $

— $
— $

29,974
29,974

The following table presents our fair value hierarchy for our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair

value on a recurring basis as of January 3, 2010:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(In thousands)

Financial Assets
Investments:

Commercial paper
Money market funds
U.S. treasuries
Corporate notes/bonds
Federal agency
Auction rate securities
Marketable equity securities
Employee deferred compensation plan:

Cash and cash equivalents
Money market funds
Mutual funds
Fixed income
Equity securities

Derivative instruments:

Foreign currency forward contracts

Total financial assets

Financial Liabilities
Employee deferred compensation plan
Total financial liabilities

$

— $
—
—
20,896
5,012
—
—

615
—
—
—
—
32,740
—

—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

615
122,111
6,070
20,896
5,012
32,740
5,053

1,960
2,227
15,416
1,941
4,120

8
25,916

$

—
33,355

8
218,169

$

— $
— $

— $
— $

25,071
25,071

$

$
$

$

— $

122,111
6,070
—
—
—
5,053

1,960
2,227
15,416
1,941
4,120

—
158,898

25,071
25,071

$

$
$

78

Valuation Techniques:

We use quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets to determine the fair value for our Level 1
financial instruments, which include U.S. treasuries, money market funds and marketable equity securities. In
addition, our employee deferred compensation plan is classified as Level 1 because the plan invests in mutual
funds or our common stock.

If quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are not available to determine the fair
value of our financial instruments, then we use observable inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades,
broker/dealer quotes or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. These
investments are classified as Level 2 and primarily consist of federal agency, commercial paper and corporate
notes/bonds. In addition, we have derivative instruments that are classified as Level 2 financial assets. We
determine the fair value of these instruments based on modeling techniques that include inputs such as market
volatilities, spot rates and interest differentials from published sources.

Our Level 3 financial assets primarily include investments in auction rate securities and a commercial paper

investment. The valuation techniques are described as follows:

Auction Rate Securities:

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities are classified as Level 3 financial instruments.
Auction rate securities are investments with contractual maturities generally between 20 and 30 years and are
usually found in the form of municipal bonds, preferred stock, a pool of student loans or collateralized debt
obligations with interest rates resetting every seven to 49 days through an auction process. At the end of each
reset period, investors can sell or continue to hold the securities at par. The auction rate securities held by us are
primarily backed by student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), which
are guaranteed by the U.S. Federal Department of Education.

As of January 2, 2011, all of our auction rate securities held by us were rated as either AAA or Aaa by the
major independent rating agencies and all of our auction rate securities have experienced failed auctions due to
sell orders exceeding buy orders. These failures are not believed to be a credit issue with the underlying
investments, but rather caused by a lack of liquidity. Under the contractual terms, the issuer is obligated to pay
penalty rates should an auction fail. The funds associated with failed auctions are not expected to be accessible
until one of the following occurs: a successful auction occurs, the issuer redeems the issue, a buyer is found
outside of the auction process or the underlying securities have matured. Given these circumstances and the lack
of liquidity, we have classified our auction rate securities totaling $23.7 million as long-term investments as of
January 2, 2011.

During fiscal 2010, we performed analyses to assess the fair value of the auction rate securities. In the
absence of a liquid market to value these securities, we prepared a valuation model based on discounted cash
flows. The assumptions used at January 2, 2011 were as follows:

‰
‰
‰

7 years to liquidity;
continued receipt of contractual interest which provides a premium spread for failed auctions; and
discount rates of 1.57%—5.32%, which incorporates a spread for both credit and liquidity risk.

Based on these assumptions, we estimated that the auction rate securities would be valued at approximately
90% of their stated par value as of January 2, 2011, representing a decline in value of approximately $2.6 million
which was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as an unrealized loss.

As a result of our adoption of the amended other-than-temporary impairment guidance on debt securities in
the second quarter of fiscal 2009, we reclassified the non-credit portion of the previously recognized other-than-
temporary impairment losses related to our auction rate securities of $5.3 million from accumulated deficit to
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

79

Commercial Paper:

As of January 3, 2010, we have classified one commercial paper investment totaling $0.6 million as a Level
3 financial asset. The investment was issued through a structured investment vehicle that was impaired as the
issuer was unable to raise sufficient funding to cover maturing obligations. We determined that the security had
suffered other-than-temporary impairment and recorded a $0.2 million charge in fiscal 2009. The amount of the
write-down was determined by comparing the carrying value of the investment to the valuation of the underlying
assets of the fund. In fiscal 2010, the investment was successfully sold through an auction process and as a result,
we received $0.9 million in cash and recognized a gain of $0.3 million in “Other income (expense), net.”

The following table presents a summary of changes in our Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a

recurring basis:

Balance as of December 28, 2008
Unrealized gain
Impairment loss
Amount settled

Balance as of January 3, 2010
Unrealized gain
Amount settled

Balance as of January 2, 2011

Auction Rate
Securities

Commercial
Paper

Total

$

$

34,890
150
—
(2,300)

32,740
1,118
(10,150)

(In thousands)

$

$

812
—
(197)
—

615
—
(615)

$

$

35,702
150
(197)
(2,300)

33,355
1,118
(10,765)

$

23,708

$ —

$

23,708

80

NOTE 8. INVESTMENTS

Available-For-Sale Securities and Other Investments

The following tables summarize our available-for-sale securities and other investments:

As of January 2, 2011

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

Total cash equivalents

Short-term investments:

Certificate of deposit
U.S. treasuries
Corporate notes/bonds
Federal agency
Commercial paper

Total short-term investments

Long-term investments:

Auction rate securities
Marketable equity securities

Total long-term investments

Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

(In thousands)

Fair
Value

$

105,058

$ — $ — $

105,058

105,058

40,163
50,053
52,390
25,983
2,400

170,989

26,300
1,187

27,487

—

—

2
135
5
—

142

—
—

—

—

105,058

—

(1)
(22)
(30)
—

(53)

(2,592)
(383)

(2,975)

40,163
50,054
52,503
25,958
2,400

171,078

23,708
804

24,512

Total available-for-sale securities and other investments

$

303,534

$

142

$ (3,028) $

300,648

As of January 3, 2010

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

Total cash equivalents

Short-term investments:

Certificate of deposit
U.S. treasuries
Corporate notes/bonds
Marketable equity securities
Federal agency

Total short-term investments

Long-term investments:

Auction rate securities
Commercial paper
Marketable equity securities

Total long-term investments

Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

(In thousands)

Fair
Value

$

122,111

$ — $ — $

122,111

122,111

—

20,069
6,013
20,813
1,053
4,988

52,936

36,450
615
1,187

38,252

—
57
83
2,983
26

3,149

—
—
—

—

—

—
—
—
—

(2)

(2)

(3,710)
—
(170)

(3,880)

122,111

20,069
6,070
20,896
4,036
5,012

56,083

32,740
615
1,017

34,372

Total available-for-sale securities and other investments

$

213,299

$

3,149

$ (3,882) $

212,566

81

The following tables summarize the fair value and gross unrealized losses related to available-for-sale
securities, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a
continuous unrealized loss position:

As of January 2, 2011

Auction rate securities
Federal agency
Corporate notes/bonds
Marketable equity securities

Less Than
Twelve Months

Greater Than
Twelve Months

Total

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

$

— $ —

$

15,963
16,890
—

(29)
(22)
—

(51)

(In thousands)

23,708
—
—
804

$ (2,592)

$

—
—
(383)

23,708
15,963
16,890
804

$ (2,592)
(29)
(22)
(383)

Total

$

32,853 $

$

24,512

$ (2,975)

$

57,365

$ (3,026)

As of January 3, 2010

Auction rate securities
Federal agency
Marketable equity securities

Total

Less Than
Twelve Months

Greater Than
Twelve Months

Total

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair
Value

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

$

— $ —

$

2,003
—

$

2,003 $

(2)

—

(2)

(In thousands)

32,740
—
1,017

$ (3,710)

$

—
(170)

32,740
2,003
1,017

$ (3,710)
(2)
(170)

$

33,757

$ (3,880)

$

35,760

$ (3,882)

The available-for-sale debt investments that we hold are all high investment grade. The unrealized losses on
our investments are due primarily to changes in interest rates and market conditions of the underlying securities.
Because we do not intend to sell and it is likely we will not be required to sell before recovering cost, which may
be at maturity, except for the impairment recorded in the respective periods, we did not consider these
investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010.

For individual marketable equity securities with unrealized losses, we evaluated the near-term prospects in
relation to the severity and duration of the impairment. Based on that evaluation and our ability and intent to hold
these investments for a reasonable period of time, we did not consider these investments to be other-than-
temporarily impaired as of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010.

As of January 2, 2011, contractual maturities of our available-for-sale non-equity investments and

certificates of deposit were as follows:

Maturing within one year
Maturing in one to three years
Maturing in more than three years

Total

Cost

Fair Value

(In thousands)

$

199,675
76,372
26,300

$

199,676
76,461
23,707

$

302,347

$

299,844

Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale and non-equity investments were $0.3 million and $0.8
million for fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. Realized gains and losses from sales of available-for sale and
non-equity investments were immaterial in fiscal 2008.

Proceeds from sales or maturities of available-for-sale investments and non-equity investments were $32.5

million, $24.4 million and $362.2 million for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

82

Investments in Equity Securities

The following table summarizes our equity investments:

Short-term investments:

Marketable equity securities

Long-term investments:

Marketable equity securities
Non-marketable equity securities

Total long-term investments

Total equity investments

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$ —

$

4,036

804
2,000

2,804

1,017
408

1,425

$

2,804

$

5,461

During fiscal 2010, we sold our equity investment in one publicly traded company for $4.7 million and

recognized a gain of $3.6 million. We did not sell any equity investments during fiscal 2009 or 2008.

Impairment of Investments

We review our investments periodically for impairment and recognize an impairment loss when the carrying
value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is considered other-than-temporary. The
following table summarizes the impairment loss recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

Debt securities:

Commercial paper
Auction rate securities
Corporate bonds

Equity securities:

Marketable equity securities
Non-marketable equity securities

Total impairment loss

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

$ — $
—
—

197
1,393
140

$

—
—

—
819

253
3,860
562

86
8,594

$ — $ 2,549

$ 13,355

NOTE 9. EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

We currently have the following employee stock plans:

1999 Stock Option Plan (“1999 Plan”):

Under the terms of the 1999 Plan, which was a non-shareholder approved plan, stock options could have
been granted to qualified employees, including those of acquired companies and consultants of the Company or
its subsidiaries, but stock options could not be granted to executive officers or directors. There are currently no
shares available for grant under the 1999 Plan as the plan expired in March 2009. All unissued grants became
unavailable for future grant.

1994 Amended Stock Option Plan (“1994 Amended Plan”):

In fiscal 1994, we adopted, and in fiscal 2004 and 2008 amended, the 1994 Stock Option Plan, which is a
shareholder-approved plan. Under the terms of the 1994 Amended Plan, stock options, restricted stock units,
restricted stock awards and stock appreciation rights may be granted to qualified employees, consultants, officers

83

and directors of Cypress or our subsidiaries. Awards become exercisable over a vesting period as determined by
the Board and expire over terms not exceeding ten years from the date of grant for awards granted prior to May
2008, and eight years from the date of grant for awards granted after May 2008. As of January 2, 2011,
approximately 10.1 million shares of stock options or 5.4 million shares of restricted stock units and restricted
stock awards were available for grant under the 1994 Amended Plan. The 1994 Amended Plan will expire in
April 2014.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”):

Our ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock through payroll deductions.
The ESPP contains consecutive 18-month offering periods composed of three six-month exercise periods. The
shares can be purchased at the lower of 85% of the fair market value of the common stock at the date of
commencement of the offering period or at the last day of each six-month exercise period. Purchases are limited
to 10% of an employee’s eligible compensation, subject to a maximum annual employee contribution limit of
$25,000. As of January 2, 2011, approximately 3.4 million shares were available for future issuance under the
ESPP. The ESPP will expire in May 2013.

Outstanding Employee Equity Awards

In conjunction with the Spin-Off (see Note 3), the Board approved certain adjustments to our 1999 Plan and
1994 Amended Plan (together, the “Plans”). Specifically, the Board approved amendments to make proportionate
adjustments to, among other things, outstanding employee equity awards, including stock options, restricted
stock units and restricted stock awards under the Plans to preserve the intrinsic value of the awards before and
after the Spin-Off. These changes included a proportionate adjustment in the number of shares issuable pursuant
to the outstanding awards and the per-share exercise price of the options.

The Board also approved certain adjustments with respect to our ESPP to offset the decrease in our common
stock price resulting from the Spin-Off. These changes included a proportionate adjustment in the offering date
price per share of our common stock and maximum number of shares participants may purchase under the ESPP.

The modification of the outstanding employee equity awards and the ESPP related to the Spin-Off resulted
in additional non-cash stock-based compensation. The amount was measured based upon the difference between
the fair value of the awards immediately before and after the modification. Of the total additional non-cash stock-
based compensation $17.1 million, $59.4 million and $61.9 million, net of forfeitures was recognized in fiscal
2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The remaining $8.4 million will be recognized over the remaining vesting
periods on an accelerated basis, less forfeitures.

Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense by line item in the Consolidated

Statement of Operations:

Cost of revenues
Research and development
Selling, general and administrative

January 2,
2011

$

22,714
21,541
47,204

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
40,798
$
37,537
63,477

December 28,
2008

$

27,950
39,089
55,306

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

91,459

$ 141,812

$ 122,345

As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations is based on
awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The accounting guidance
requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual
forfeitures differ from those estimates.

84

Consolidated cash proceeds from the issuance of shares under the employee stock plans were $96.9 million,
$101.6 million and $55.6 million for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We recognized an income tax
benefit from stock option exercises of $9.1 million for fiscal 2008. No income tax benefit was realized from
stock option exercises for fiscal 2010 and 2009. As of January 2, 2011 and January 2, 2010, stock-based
compensation capitalized in inventories totaled $6.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

The following tables summarize the stock-based compensation expense by type of awards:

Stock options
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards
ESPP

January 2,
2011

$

19,946
65,046
6,467

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
56,386
$
74,842
10,584

December 28,
2008

$

75,513
38,252
8,580

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

91,459

$ 141,812

$ 122,345

The following table summarizes the unrecognized stock-based compensation balance by type of awards as

of January 2, 2011:

(In thousands)

Stock options
Restricted stock units and restricted stock awards
ESPP

Total unrecognized stock-based compensation balance

Valuation Assumptions

Weighted-Average
Amortization
Period

(In years)
2.05
2.86
0.54

2.48

$

32,369
56,956
4,197

$

93,522

We estimate the fair value of our stock-based equity awards using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

Assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model were as follows:

Stock Option Plans:
Expected life
Volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield
ESPP:
Expected life
Volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Dividend yield

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

2.3-7.0 years

2.4-7.4 years

0.5-9.9 years

42.2%-54.5% 50.1%-60.8% 43.5%-74.4%
0.7%-4.2%
0.0%

0.7%-3.2%
0.0%

0.5%-3.1%
0.0%

0.5-1.5 years

0.5-1.5 years

0.5-1.5 years

44.6%-54.2% 52.6%-85.8% 43.7%-57.8%
1.2%-2.3%
0.0%

0.2%-0.7%
0.0%

0.1%-0.8%
0.0%

Expected life: Expected life is based on historical exercise patterns, giving consideration to the contractual
terms of the awards and vesting schedules. In addition, employees who display similar historical exercise
behavior are grouped separately into two classes (executive officers and other employees) in determining the
expected life.

85

Volatility: We determined that implied volatility of publicly traded call options and quotes from option
traders is more reflective of market conditions and, therefore, can reasonably be a better indicator of expected
volatility than historical volatility. Therefore, our volatility is based on a blend of historical volatility of our
common stock and implied volatility.

Risk-free interest rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the

time of grant.

Dividend yield: Since we did not pay and do not expect to pay dividends, the expected dividend yield is

zero.

Employee Equity Award Activities

Stock Options:

The following table summarizes our stock option activities:

Year Ended

January 2, 2011

January 3, 2010

December 28, 2008

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
per Share

Shares

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
per Share

Shares

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
per Share

Shares

Options outstanding, beginning of year
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited or expired

Options outstanding, end of year

Options exercisable, end of year

$
52,411
$
3,036
(17,990) $
(1,387) $

36,070

22,924

$

$

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
$
70,273
$
6,444
(19,433) $
(4,873) $

4.43
6.68
4.21
5.35

$
81,011
$
8,113
(14,852) $
(3,999) $

4.70
14.27
4.57
6.36

5.51

4.18

52,411

33,895

$

$

4.70

4.18

70,273

42,121

$

$

4.08
5.85
3.22
4.70

4.43

4.13

The weighted-average grant-date fair value was $5.13 per share for options granted during fiscal 2010,
$2.97 per share for options granted during fiscal 2009 and $2.55 per share for options granted during fiscal 2008.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $157.8 million for fiscal 2010, $88.8 million for fiscal

2009 and $47.9 million for fiscal 2008.

Total fair value of options vested was $16.3 million for fiscal 2010, $25.2 million for fiscal 2009 and

$27.4 million for fiscal 2008.

86

Information regarding stock options outstanding as of January 2, 2011 was as follows:

Range of Exercise
Price

$0.88-$2.77
$2.77-$3.53
$3.54-$4.06
$4.09-$4.76
$4.79-$5.36
$5.37-$6.17
$6.21-$8.85
$8.89-$15.24
$15.35-$15.35
$17.77-$17.77

Shares

(In thousands)
3,832
6,668
4,369
4,136
3,630
5,974
3,662
2,431
86
1,282

Options Outstanding

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share

Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

(In years)
3.82
4.52
3.79
3.69
4.06
7.28
7.10
7.17
7.85
7.93

(In thousands)
$ 2.37 $
62,107
$ 3.47 $ 100,778
64,106
$ 3.91 $
58,431
$ 4.45 $
48,732
$ 5.16 $
74,502
$ 6.11 $
42,612
$ 6.89 $
18,554
$ 10.95 $
278
$ 15.35 $
1,034
$ 17.77 $

Options Exercisable

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share

Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

(In years)
3.40
4.50
3.49
3.33
3.31
6.02
7.01
6.96
7.85
7.90

$ 2.34 $
$ 3.47 $
$ 3.91 $
$ 4.45 $
$ 5.16 $
$ 6.02 $
$ 6.87 $
$ 10.17 $
$ 15.35 $
$ 17.77 $

(In thousands)
56,149
95,673
54,931
50,041
38,797
17,582
14,412
2,470
2
29

Shares

(In thousands)
3,457
6,331
3,744
3,541
2,891
1,400
1,231
292
1
36

36,070

5.24

$ 5.51 $ 471,134

22,924

4.11

$ 4.18 $ 330,086

The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value, based on our
closing stock price of $18.58 at the end of the fiscal 2010, which would have been received by the option holders
had all option holders exercised their options as of that date and do not include substantial tax payments. The
total number of in-the-money options exercisable was 22.9 million shares as of January 2, 2011.

As of January 2, 2011, stock options vested and expected to vest totaled approximately 34.2 million shares,
with a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 5.13 years and a weighted-average exercise price of $5.36
per share. The aggregate intrinsic value was approximately $451.7 million.

Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Awards:

The following table summarizes our restricted stock unit and restricted stock award activities:

Non-vested, beginning of year
Granted
Released
Forfeited

Non-vested, end of year

Year Ended

January 2, 2011

January 3, 2010

December 28, 2008

Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
per Share

Shares

Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
per Share

Shares

Weighted-
Average
Fair Value
per Share

Shares

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

$ 5.51
17,733
$ 14.78
2,228
(3,866) $ 12.75
(1,125) $ 7.14

$ 5.78
28,745
$ 7.86
1,970
(7,510) $ 5.07
(5,472) $ 3.73

$ 5.43
27,819
$ 6.25
8,008
(5,993) $ 5.07
(1,089) $ 4.29

14,970

$ 4.90

17,733

$ 5.51

28,745

$ 5.78

The balance as of January 2, 2011 included approximately 8.7 million performance-based restricted stock
units and restricted stock awards granted under the 1994 Amended Plan. These performance-based awards
(“PARS”) were issued to certain senior-level employees in fiscal 2007 and 2008 and can be earned ratably over a
remaining period of one to two years, subject to the achievement of certain performance milestones set by the
Compensation Committee of the Board. These performance milestones can include:

‰
‰

‰

stock appreciation target against the Philadelphia Semiconductor Sector Index (“SOXX”);
certain levels of non-GAAP free cash flows, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating
expense, non-GAAP gross margin percentage, non-GAAP profit-before-taxes percentage; and
annual revenue growth.

87

If the milestones are not achieved, the shares are forfeited and cannot be earned in future periods.

We estimated the fair value of the shares with the market-condition milestone using a Monte Carlo valuation

model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

Volatility of common stock
Volatility of the SOXX
Correlation coefficient
Risk-free interest rate

February
2010

August
2009

February
2009

39.8% 43.5% 69.6%
30.3% 40.4% 57.4%
0.71
0.77
0.2%
0.3%

0.69
0.3%

The fair value of the shares with the performance-related milestones was equivalent to the grant-date fair
value of our common stock. In addition, we granted other performance-based and service-based restricted stock
units whose fair value is typically equivalent to the grant-date fair value of our common stock.

ESPP:

During fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, we issued 2.6 million, 5.2 million and 0.4 million shares under our
ESPP with weighted-average prices of $5.59, $12.79 and $19.93 per share and grant-date fair value of $2.40,
$3.84 and $9.34 per share, respectively.

NOTE 10. BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS

Accounts Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable, gross
Allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and sales returns

Total accounts receivable, net

Inventories

Raw materials
Work-in-process
Finished goods

Total inventories

Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses
Receivable from SunPower
Assets held for sale (see Note 11)
Other current assets

Total other current assets

88

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

$

121,876
(4,150)

117,726

$

$

91,468
(4,509)

86,959

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

$

(In thousands)
7,350
72,072
22,341

$

11,551
56,947
22,700

$

101,763

$

91,198

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

24,004
480
6,913
10,511

$

22,725
2,255
7,690
8,236

$

41,908

$

40,906

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Land
Equipment
Buildings, building and leasehold improvements
Furniture and fixtures

Total property, plant and equipment, gross
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

Total property, plant and equipment, net

Other Long-term Assets

Employee deferred compensation plan (see Note 17)
Investments:

Debt securities (see Note 7)
Equity securities (see Note 7)

Other assets

Total other assets

Other Current Liabilities

Employee deferred compensation plan (see Note 17)
Restructuring accrual
Other current liabilities

Total other current liabilities

NOTE 11. RESTRUCTURING

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

26,610
965,236
204,376
10,662

$

29,048
946,817
204,107
10,820

1,206,884
(946,762)

1,190,792
(918,172)

$

260,122

$

272,620

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

30,458

$

25,664

23,708
2,804
15,716

33,356
1,425
13,770

$

72,686

$

74,215

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

29,974
3,559
32,259

$

25,071
3,740
27,812

$

65,792

$

56,623

We recorded restructuring charges of $3.0 million, $15.2 million and $21.6 million during fiscal 2010, 2009
and 2008, respectively. The determination of when we accrue for severance and benefits costs, and which
accounting standard applies, depends on whether the termination benefits are provided under a one-time benefit
arrangement or under an on-going benefit arrangement.

The following table summarizes the restructuring charges recorded in the Consolidated Statements of

Operations:

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan
Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan
Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan

Total restructuring charges

January 2,
2011

$

2,243
995
(263)

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
$

—
15,028
214

December 28,
2008

$

—
11,783
9,860

$

2,975

$

15,242

$

21,643

89

Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan

During the third quarter of fiscal 2010, we implemented a restructuring plan to exit certain of our back-end
manufacturing operations located in the Philippines (“Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan”). These actions were
intended to reduce the cost of our back-end manufacturing by selling our labor intensive assembly operations to a
lower cost third-party subcontractor in China and by the continued shifting of these operations to our fully
automated back-end processes.

To date, we recorded total restructuring charges of $2.2 million under the Fiscal 2010 Restructuring Plan,
which was all related to personnel costs. As of January 2, 2011, our restructuring provision of $2.2 million was
related to severance and benefits of our employees. We expect to eliminate approximately 300 manufacturing
employees and 200 contractors or approximately 34% of our Philippines plant workforce by the end of fiscal
2011.

Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring Plan

In fiscal 2008, we initiated a restructuring plan as part of a companywide cost saving initiative, which
continued into 2010, that was aimed to reduce operating costs in response to the economic downturn (“Fiscal
2008/9 Restructuring Plan”). To date, we recorded a total of $27.8 million under the Fiscal 2008/9 Restructuring
Plan, of which $24.2 million was related to personnel costs and $3.6 million was related to other exit costs.

Restructuring activities related to personnel costs are summarized as follows:

(In thousands)

Initial provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of December 28, 2008
Provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of January 3, 2010
Provision
Non-cash
Cash payments

Balance as of January 2, 2011

$ 11,611
(162)
(4,075)

7,374
11,516
(1,352)
(14,271)

3,267
1,104
(698)
(2,567)

$ 1,106

We eliminated approximately 835 positions. In the fourth quarter of 2010, we completed the majority of the

remaining employee terminations. The following table summarizes certain information related to the positions:

Locations

Manufacturing facility in the Philippines
Manufacturing facility in Minnesota
Corporate and other

Total

Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan

Number
of Employees

250
160
425

835

During fiscal 2007, we implemented a restructuring plan to exit our manufacturing facility located in Round
Rock, Texas (“Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan”). Under the Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan, we transitioned
production from the Texas facility to our more cost-effective facility in Bloomington, Minnesota as well as

90

outside third-party foundries. The Fiscal 2007 Restructuring Plan included the termination of employees and the
disposal of assets, primarily consisting of land, building and manufacturing equipment, located in the Texas
facility.

To date, we recorded total restructuring charges of $10.4 million related to the Fiscal 2007 Restructuring
Plan. Of the total restructuring charges, $8.0 million was related primarily to personnel costs and $2.4 million
was related to property, plant and equipment and other exit costs. In the second quarter of fiscal 2010, we
recorded a $2.4 million gain on the sale of certain equipment in our Texas facility.

We completed the termination of the remaining employees in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. All balances

related to benefits were paid by the third quarter of fiscal 2009.

Assets Held for Sale:

The Texas facility ceased operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. As management has committed to a
plan to sell the assets associated with the facility, we have classified the assets as held for sale and recorded the
assets at the lower of their carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell. Fair value was determined by
an analysis of market prices for similar assets. In fiscal 2008, we recorded a write-down of $1.9 million related to
the assets and $1.2 million of related disposal and other facility costs. In fiscal 2010, we recorded a $1.5 million
write-down related to the assets.

The net book value of the remaining restructured assets that were classified as held for sale and included in
“Other current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet was $6.9 million and $7.7 million as of January 2, 2011
and January 3, 2010, respectively.

We had expected to complete the disposal of the restructured assets by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009;
however, due to the downturn and uncertainty in the commercial real estate market, we were unable to secure a
buyer for the Texas facility. In response, we have revised the asking price for the property and expect to sell the
facility within the next twelve months.

NOTE 12. FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES

We operate and sell products in various global markets and purchase capital equipment using the U.S. dollar
and foreign currencies. As a result, we are exposed to risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange
rates. We may use various hedge instruments from time to time to manage the exposures associated with
purchases of foreign sourced equipment, net asset or liability positions of our subsidiaries and forecasted
revenues and expenses. We do not enter into foreign currency derivative financial instruments for speculative or
trading purposes. The counterparties to these hedging transactions are creditworthy multinational banks and the
risk of counterparty nonperformance associated with these contracts is not considered to be material as of
January 2, 2011.

As of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, our hedge instruments consisted primarily of foreign currency
forward contracts. We estimate the fair value of our forward contracts based on spot and forward rates from
published sources.

We record hedges of certain foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities at fair value at the
end of each reporting period with the related gains or losses recorded in “Other income (expense), net” in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations. The gains or losses on these contracts are substantially offset by
transaction gains or losses on the underlying balances being hedged. As of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010,
we had outstanding forward contracts with an aggregate notional value of $0.4 million and $1.0 million,
respectively, to hedge the risks associated with foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities.

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NOTE 13. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

Accumulated net unrealized gains on available-for-sale

investments

Accumulated net unrealized gains on derivatives
Other

Total accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

NOTE 14. OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

$

$

(2,698)
—
(505)

(3,203)

$

(838)
115
—

(723)

The following table summarizes the components of other income (expense), net, recorded in the

Consolidated Statements of Operations:

Amortization of debt issuance costs
Write-off of debt issuance costs (see Note 15)
Gain on investments (see Note 7)
Gain on debt extinguishment
Impairment of investments (see Note 8)
Changes in fair value of investments under the deferred

compensation plan (see Note 17)

Foreign currency exchange gain (loss), net
Other

$

January 2,
2011

—
—
3,906
—
—

2,653
(2,452)
565

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
$

(114)
—
822
—
(2,549)

5,150
(22)
487

December 28,
2008

$

(3,051)
(4,800)
—
2,193
(13,355)

(10,643)
2,925
(335)

Total other income (expense), net

$

4,672

$

3,774

$

(27,066)

NOTE 15. DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS

1.00% Convertible Senior Notes (“1.00% Notes”)

1.00% Notes:

In fiscal 2007, we issued $600.0 million in principal amount of the 1.00% Notes with interest payable
semiannually in arrears in cash on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2007.
The 1.00% Notes were to mature on September 15, 2009. In connection with the offering of the 1.00% Notes, we
incurred approximately $12.9 million of debt issuance costs.

Tender Offer:

In September 2008, we completed a tender offer to purchase for cash up to $531.3 million in aggregate
principal amount of the 1.00% Notes. Based on the final results of the tender offer, $582.4 million aggregate
principal amount of the 1.00% Notes were tendered. We accepted $531.3 million of the tendered 1.00% Notes at a
purchase price of $1,321.22 per $1,000 principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Because more than
$531.3 million principal amount was tendered, we purchased the 1.00% Notes on a pro-rata basis. The pro-ration
was based on the ratio of the principal amount of the 1.00% Notes tendered by a holder to the total principal amount
of the 1.00% Notes tendered by all the holders. As a result of the tender offer, we paid $701.9 million in cash.

92

Open Market Purchase:

In November 2008, we made open market purchases of approximately $12.1 million of the outstanding

1.00% Notes at a slight discount to par, plus accrued interest.

Fundamental Change:

Pursuant to the applicable Indenture, the Spin-Off of SunPower (see Note 3) constituted both a fundamental
change and a make-whole fundamental change to the 1.00% Notes. Consequently, the remaining holders were
permitted to require us to purchase their 1.00% Notes on December 17, 2008, the fundamental change purchase
date, in cash at a price equal to $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but
excluding, the fundamental change purchase date. On December 17, 2008, we repurchased $28.7 million of the
1.00% Notes.

Debt Maturity:

On September 15, 2009, our outstanding 1.00% Notes of approximately $28.0 million in principal matured
and were settled. Holders received cash for the principal amount of the 1.00% Notes and the entire premium. The
final conversion price per 1.00% Notes as calculated under the Indenture, was $1,841.76 including principal and
premium. Consistent with the terms of the Indenture, on September 15, 2009, we paid approximately $51.6
million for the principal amount of 1.00% Notes, premium and accrued and unpaid interest.

Convertible Note Hedge and Warrants:

In connection with the issuance of the 1.00% Notes, we had a convertible note hedge transaction with
respect to our common stock with two counterparties at the equivalent amount of common stock that would be
issuable upon conversion of the 1.00% Notes. The objective of this hedge was to reduce the potential dilution
upon conversion of the 1.00% Notes in the event that the market value per share of our common stock at the time
of exercise is greater than the conversion price of the 1.00% Notes. In addition, we had a warrant transaction in
which we sold to the same counterparties warrants to acquire the same number of shares of our common stock
underlying the 1.00% Notes.

During fiscal 2008, we terminated a portion of the convertible note hedge and warrant agreements with
respect to the amount of the 1.00% Notes that were purchased by us in transactions described above. As a result
of the termination, we received total net cash proceeds of $7.8 million from the option counterparties, which was
recorded in “Additional paid-in capital” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in fiscal 2008. The portion of the
convertible note hedge and the warrant agreements associated with the outstanding principal amount of the
1.00% Notes remained outstanding as of December 28, 2008.

On September 15, 2009,

the hedge matured and as a result we received $23.6 million from the
counterparties. In addition, we repurchased and settled the outstanding warrants, issued in March 2007, through a
cash payment of approximately $20.3 million to the counterparties holding the warrants.

Stock Repurchase Program

In fiscal 2008, our Board approved up to a total of $600.0 million that may be used for stock purchases
under the stock repurchase program. During fiscal 2008, we used $375.6 million in cash to repurchase a total of
approximately 37.1 million shares at an average share price of $10.13. During fiscal 2009, we used $46.3 million
to repurchase approximately 5.8 million shares at an average share price of $8.00. In light of certain tax
constraints placed on us in connection with the Spin-off, we had no intentions of repurchasing additional stock
under this program. Accordingly, on October 28, 2009, the Audit Committee of the Board voted to rescind the
remaining $178.1 million available under the program for additional repurchases.

On October 21, 2010, our Board authorized a $600.0 million stock buyback program. The program allows
us to purchase our common stock or enter into equity derivative transactions related to our common stock. The

93

timing and actual amount expended with the new authorized funds will depend on a variety of factors including
the market price of our common stock, regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements, and other market factors.
The program does not obligate us to repurchase any particular amount of common stock and may be modified or
suspended at any time at our discretion.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we used $25.9 million in cash to repurchase a total of
approximately 1.5 million shares at an average share price of $17.15. As of January 2, 2011, the remaining
balance available for future purchases was $574.1 million under the stock repurchase program.

In January 2011, we used $25.9 million in cash to repurchase a total of approximately 1.4 million shares at
an average price of $18.55. In February 2011, we used $11.8 million in cash to repurchase 0.6 million shares at
an average price of $20.87.

Yield Enhancement Program

On October 28, 2009, the Audit Committee approved a yield enhancement strategy intended to improve the
yield on our available cash. As part of this program, the Audit Committee authorized us to enter into short-term
yield enhanced structured agreements, typically with maturities of 90 days or less, correlated to our stock price.
Under the agreements we entered into to date, we pay a fixed sum of cash upon execution of an agreement in
exchange for the financial institution’s obligations to pay either a pre-determined amount of cash or shares of our
common stock depending on the closing market price of our common stock on the expiration date of the
agreement. Upon expiration of each agreement, if the closing market price of our common stock is above the
pre-determined price, we will have our cash investment returned plus a yield substantially above the yield
currently available for short-term cash investments. If the closing market price is at or below the pre-determined
price, we will receive the number of shares specified at the agreement’s inception. As the outcome of these
arrangements is based entirely on our stock price and does not require us to deliver either shares or cash, other
than the original investment, the entire transaction is recorded in equity.

We entered into a yield enhanced structured agreement based upon a comparison of the yields available in
the financial markets for similar maturities against the expected yield to be realized per the structured agreement
and the related risks associated with this type of arrangement. We believe the risk associated with these types of
agreements is no different than alternative investments available to us with equivalent counterparty credit ratings.
All counterparties to a yield enhancement program have a credit rating of at least Aa2 or A as rated by major
independent rating agencies. For all such agreements that matured to date, the yields of the structured agreements
were far superior to the yields available in the financial markets primarily due to the volatility of our stock price
and the pre-payment aspect of the agreements. The counterparty is willing to pay a premium over the yields
available in the financial markets due to the structure of the agreement.

The following table summarizes the activity of our settled yield enhanced structured agreements:

Periods

Fiscal 2009
Fiscal 2010

Total

$

$

Aggregate
Price Paid

Total Proceeds
Received Upon
Maturity

Total Number of
Shares
Received
Upon Maturity

Average Price Paid
per Share

68,017
207,882

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)
$
$

69,065
217,489

—
10,000

275,899

$

286,554

10,000

$

—
11.49

11.49

In December 2010, we entered into a short-term yield enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of less
than 45 days at an aggregate price of approximately $44.0 million. The agreement remained unsettled at
January 2, 2011. On January 19, 2011, we settled this agreement and received approximately $47.0 million in
cash.

On February 9, 2011 we entered into a short-term yield enhanced structured agreement with a maturity of

less than 45 days at an aggregate price of approximately $52.5 million.

94

Line of Credit

In March 2010, we extended our line of credit with Silicon Valley Bank to March 2011 with a total
available amount of $25.0 million. Loans made under the line of credit bear interest based upon the Wall Street
Journal Prime Rate (3.25% as of January 2, 2011 and 3.25% as of January 3, 2010) or LIBOR plus 2.0% (2.30%
as of January 2, 2011 and 1.75% as of January 3, 2010). The line of credit agreement includes a variety of
covenants including restrictions on the incurrence of indebtedness, incurrence of loans, the payment of dividends
or distribution on our capital stock, and transfers of assets and financial covenants with respect to an adjusted
quick ratio and tangible net worth. As of January 2, 2011, we were in compliance with all of the financial
covenants under the line of credit. Our obligations under the line of credit are guaranteed and collateralized by
the common stock of certain of our business entities. We intend to use the line of credit on an as-needed basis to
fund working capital and capital expenditures. To date, there have been no borrowings under the line of credit.

As of January 2, 2011, in conjunction with certain guarantees, we issued irrevocable standby letters of credit
in the aggregate amount of $2.6 million to secure payments under an equipment lease. See “Lease Guarantees”
under Note 19 for further discussion.

NOTE 16. NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average common shares outstanding.
Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted-average common shares outstanding and any
dilutive potential common shares. Diluted net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average
common shares outstanding and excludes all dilutive potential common shares when we are in a net loss position
their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Our dilutive securities primarily include stock options, restricted stock
units, restricted stock awards, convertible debt and warrants.

95

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:

Net Income (Loss) per Share—Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Income from discontinued operations—noncontrolling interest, net

of taxes

Noncontrolling interest, net of taxes

Net income (loss)

Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,

2010

December 28,
2008

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

$ 75,742
—

—
(866)

74,876
866

$ (150,424)

—

—
(946)

(151,370)
946

$ (319,262)
34,386

34,154
(311)

(251,033)
(33,843)

Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress for basic computation

$ 75,742

$ (150,424)

$ (284,876)

Weighted-average common shares for basic computation

161,114

145,611

150,447

Net income (loss) per share—basic:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share—basic

Net Income (Loss) per Share—Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Cypress
Income from discontinued operations—noncontrolling interest, net

of taxes

Noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes

Net income (loss)

Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

$

$

0.47
—

0.47

$

$

(1.03)
—

(1.03)

$

$

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

$ 75,742
—

—
(866)

74,876
866

$ (150,424)

—

—
(946)

(151,370)
946

$ (319,262)
34,386

34,154
(311)

(251,033)
(33,843)

Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress for diluted computation

$ 75,742

$ (150,424)

$ (284,876)

Weighted-average common shares for basic computation
Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards

and other

Weighted-average common shares for diluted computation

Net income (loss) per share—diluted:

Continuing operations attributable to Cypress
Discontinued operations attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share—diluted

Convertible Debt and Warrants:

161,114

145,611

150,447

30,263

191,377

—

—

145,611

150,447

$

$

0.40
—

0.40

$

$

(1.03)
—

(1.03)

$

$

(2.12)
0.23

(1.89)

The 1.00% Notes were convertible debt which required us to settle the principal value of the debt in cash
and any conversion premiums in either cash or stock, at our election. In connection with the issuance of the
1.00% Notes, we entered into a convertible note hedge transaction. In addition, we entered into a warrant
transaction in which we sold to the option counterparties warrants to acquire the same number of shares of our
common stock underlying the 1.00% Notes. We apply the treasury stock method in determining the dilutive
impact of both the 1.00% Notes and the warrants. In accordance with the relevant guidance, the convertible note
hedge is excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation as it is anti-dilutive.

96

Anti-Dilutive Securities:

The following securities were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share as their

impact was anti-dilutive:

Stock options, restricted stock units and restricted stock awards
1.00% Notes
Warrants

NOTE 17. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Key Employee Bonus Plan

January 2,
2011

1,421
—
—

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
83,689
841
948

December 28,
2008

103,250
77,852
77,852

We have a key employee bonus plan, which provides for incentive payments to certain key employees
including all executive officers except the Chief Executive Officer. Payments under the plan are determined
based upon certain performance measures, including our actual earnings per share compared to the annual
operating plan as well as achievement of strategic, operational and financial goals established for each key
employee. We recorded total charges of $12.8 million under the plan in fiscal 2010, $7.3 million in fiscal 2009
and $6.2 million in fiscal 2008.

Performance Profit Sharing Plan

We have a performance profit sharing plan, which provides incentive payments to all our employees.
Payments under the plan are determined based upon our earnings per share and the employees’ percentage of
success in achieving certain performance goals. We recorded total charges of $5.0 million under the plan in fiscal
2010, $4.9 million in fiscal 2009 and $5.2 million in fiscal 2008.

Performance Bonus Plan

In fiscal 2008, we established the performance bonus plan, which provides for incentive payments to
executive officers and key employees who are recommended by our senior management and approved solely at
the discretion of the Committee of the Board. Payments under the plan are determined based upon the attainment
and certification of certain objective performance criteria established by the Committee. The sole participant in
the performance bonus plan for fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008 was our Chief Executive Officer. Under the plan, we
recorded total charges of $1.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.6 million in fiscal 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan

We have a deferred compensation plan, which provides certain key employees, including our executive
management, with the ability to defer the receipt of compensation in order to accumulate funds for retirement on
a tax-free basis. We did not make contributions to the deferred compensation plan or guarantee returns on the
investments. Participant deferrals and investment gains and losses remain our assets and are subject to claims of
general creditors.

Under the deferred compensation plan the assets are recorded at fair value in each reporting period with the
offset being recorded in “Other income (expense), net.” The liabilities are recorded at fair value in each reporting
period with the offset being recorded as an operating expense or income. As of January 2, 2011 and January 3,
2010, the fair value of the assets was $30.5 million and $25.7 million, respectively, and the fair value of the
liabilities was $30.0 million and $25.1 million, respectively.

97

All expense and income recorded under the deferred compensation plan were included in the following line

items in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

Changes in fair value of assets recorded in:

Other income (expense), net

Changes in fair value of liabilities recorded in:

Cost of revenues
Research and development expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

December 28,
2008

$

2,653

$

5,150

$

(10,643)

(370)
(959)
(1,726)

(516)
(1,454)
(3,168)

2,129
3,560
5,437

483

Total income (expense), net

$

(402)

$

12

$

401(k) Plan

We sponsor a 401(k) plan which provides participating employees with an opportunity to accumulate funds

for retirement. We do not make contributions to the 401(k) plan.

Pension Plans

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering employees in certain of our international locations. We
do not have pension plans for our United States-based employees. Pension plan benefits are based primarily on
participants’ compensation and years of service credited as specified under the terms of each country’s plan. The
funding policy is consistent with the local requirements of each country.

As of January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, projected benefit obligations totaled $8.7 million and

$4.7 million, respectively, and the fair value of plan assets was $4.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

NOTE 18. INCOME TAXES

The geographic distribution of income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and the

components of income tax benefit (provision) are summarized below:

United States income (loss)
Foreign income (loss)

January 2,
2011

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

(86,630) $ (182,858) $
180,796

38,288

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

94,166

(144,570)

Income tax benefit (provision):

Current tax benefit (expense):

Federal
State
Foreign

Total current tax expense

Deferred tax benefit:

Foreign

Total deferred tax benefit (expense)

(6,621)
30
(5,245)

(11,836)

(7,454)

(7,454)

(1,986)
(250)
(3,618)

(5,854)

—

—

December 28,
2008

(295,359)
(15,974)

(311,333)

(5,775)
(587)
(2,564)

(8,926)

997

997

Income tax benefit (provision)

$

(19,290)

$

(5,854)

$

(7,929)

98

Income tax benefit (provision) differs from the amounts obtained by applying the statutory United States

federal income tax rate to income (loss) before taxes as shown below:

Benefit (provision) at U.S. statutory rate of 35%
Foreign income at other than U.S. rates
Future benefits not recognized
Non-deductible executive compensation
SunPower tax sharing agreement
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Refundable tax credits
Alternative minimum tax
Recognition of prior-year benefits
Convertible bond interest
Non-deductible goodwill and bond tender losses
Reversal of previously accrued taxes
Other, net

January 2,
2011

$ (32,958)
43,408
(30,167)
—
—
30
437
—
—
—
—
1,050
(1,090)

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$ 50,930
5,967
(61,474)
(1,181)
(1,154)
(250)
676
—
—
—
—
506
126

$

December 28,
2008

108,967
(27,617)
6,970
—
—
(587)
1,248
(23,677)
85,820
6,857
(185,071)
19,612
(451)

Income tax benefit (provision)

$ (19,290)

$

(5,854)

$

(7,929)

The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

Deferred tax assets:

Credits and net operating loss carryovers
Excess of book over tax depreciation
Reserves and accruals
Deferred income

Total deferred tax assets
Less valuation allowance

Deferred tax assets, net

Deferred tax liabilities:

Intangible assets arising from acquisitions

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax assets

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

207,503
25,192
73,494
18,413

$

140,812
15,206
79,242
9,108

324,602
(320,844)

244,368
(239,946)

3,758

4,422

(3,071)

(3,071)

(4,422)

(4,422)

$

687

$

—

As of January 2, 2011, of the total deferred tax assets of $324.6 million, a valuation allowance of $320.8
million has been recorded for the portion which is not more likely than not to be realized. This is based on a
jurisdictional assessment. As of January 3, 2010, deferred tax assets of $239.9 million were fully reserved due to
uncertainty of realization in accordance with the accounting guidance, under which current and long-term net
deferred taxes have been netted to the extent they are in the same tax jurisdiction.

At January 2, 2011, we had U.S. federal net operating loss carryovers of approximately $581.5 million,
which, if not utilized, will expire from 2013 through 2030. Of the $581.5 million, $20.6 million is subject to
Section 382 limitation. When recognized, $400.5 million of the tax benefit will be accounted for as a credit to
additional paid-in capital rather than a reduction of the income tax provision. We had state net operating loss
carryovers of approximately $181.8 million which, if not utilized, will expire from 2011 through 2020. A portion

99

of these net operating loss carryovers relate to recent acquisitions and are subject to certain limitations. We had
U.S. federal tax credit carryforwards of approximately $110.5 million, which, if not utilized, will expire from
2018 through 2030, and state tax credit carryforwards of approximately $75.5 million, which currently do not
have any expiration date. In addition, utilization of the net operating losses and tax credit carryovers may be
limited if certain ownership changes occur subsequent to January 2, 2011.

We received tax deductions from the gains realized by employees on the exercise of certain non-qualified
stock options for which the benefit is recognized as a component of stockholders’ equity. Historically, we have
evaluated the deferred tax assets relating to these stock option deductions along with its other deferred tax assets
and concluded that a valuation allowance is not required for that portion of the total deferred tax assets that are
considered more likely than not to be realized in future periods. To the extent that the deferred tax assets with a
valuation allowance become realizable in future periods, we will have the ability, subject to carryforward
limitations, to benefit from these amounts. When realized, the tax benefits of tax deductions related to stock
options are accounted for as an increase to additional paid-in capital rather than a reduction of the income tax
provision.

United States income taxes and foreign withholding taxes have not been provided on a cumulative total of
$335.8 million and $184.2 million of undistributed earnings for certain non-United States subsidiaries as of
January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010, respectively, because such earnings are intended to be indefinitely
reinvested in the operations and potential acquisitions of our international operations. Upon distribution of those
earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, we would be subject to U.S. income taxes (subject to an
adjustment for foreign tax credits). It is not practicable to determine the income tax liability that might be
incurred if these earnings were to be distributed.

Our global operations involve manufacturing, research and development, and selling activities. Our
operations outside the U.S. are in certain countries that impose a statutory tax rate both higher and lower than the
U.S. We are subject to tax holidays in the Philippines and India where we manufacture and design certain of our
products. These tax holidays are scheduled to expire at varying times within the next one and four years. Our tax
benefit of these tax holidays for the year ended January 2, 2011 was $1.4 million which had an insignificant
impact on earnings per share. Overall, we expect our foreign earnings to be taxed at rates lower than the statutory
tax rate in the U.S.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The following table is a reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits:

(In thousands)

Unrecognized tax benefits, as of December 30, 2007
Decrease based on tax positions related to fiscal 2008
Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities

Unrecognized tax benefits, as of December 28, 2008
Increase based on tax positions related to current year
Decrease related to settlements with taxing authorities

Unrecognized tax benefits, as of January 3, 2010
Increase based on tax positions related to current year
Increase based on tax positions related to prior years
Decrease related to lapsing of statutes of limitations

Unrecognized tax benefits, as of January 2, 2011

$

$

46,807
(14,251)
(10,511)

22,045
17,775
(506)

39,314
5,311
3,059
(861)

46,823

As of January 2, 2011, January 3, 2010 and December 28, 2008, the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits
that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate totaled $43.6 million, $37.2 million and $20.4 million,
respectively.

100

Management believes events that could occur in the next 12 months and cause a material change in

unrecognized tax benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

‰
‰

completion of examinations by the U.S. or foreign taxing authorities; and
expiration of statue of limitations on our tax returns.

The calculation of unrecognized tax benefits involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of
complex global tax regulations. Management regularly assesses our tax positions in light of legislative, bilateral
tax treaty, regulatory and judicial developments in the countries in which we do business. We believe it is
possible that we may recognize approximately $21 to $23 million of our existing unrecognized tax benefits
within the next twelve months as a result of the lapse of statutes of limitations and the resolution of agreements
with domestic and various foreign tax authorities.

Classification of Interest and Penalties

Our policy is to classify interest expense and penalties, if any, as components of income tax provision in the
Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of January 2, 2011, January 3, 2010 and December 28, 2008, the
amount of accrued interest and penalties totaled $10.1 million, $6.4 million and $4.4 million, respectively. We
recorded interest and penalties of approximately $3.7 million and $2.1 million during fiscal 2010 and 2009,
respectively. We recorded interest income of $0.2 million in fiscal 2008.

Examinations by Tax Authorities

The following table summarizes our major tax jurisdictions and the tax years that remain subject to

examination by such jurisdictions as of January 2, 2011:

Tax Jurisdictions

United States
Philippines
India
California

Tax Years

2006 and onward
2008 and onward
2005 and onward
2006 and onward

The IRS is currently conducting audits of our federal income tax returns for fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006. As
of January 2, 2011, no material adjustments to the tax liabilities have been proposed by the IRS. However, the
IRS has not completed their examination and there can be no assurance that there will be no material adjustments
upon completion of their review. In addition, non-U.S. tax authorities have completed their examination of our
subsidiary in India for fiscal years 2007, 2006 and 2005. As of January 2, 2011, the proposed adjustments have
been appealed. We believe the ultimate outcome of this appeal will not result in a material adjustment to the tax
liability.

While years prior to 2006 for the U.S. corporate tax return are not open for assessment, the IRS can adjust
net operating loss and research and development credit carryovers that were generated in prior years and carried
forward to 2006 and subsequent years.

Spin-Off of SunPower

We have a tax sharing agreement with SunPower providing for each of the parties’ obligations concerning
various tax liabilities. The tax sharing agreement is structured such that we will pay all federal, state, local and
foreign taxes that are calculated on a consolidated or combined basis (as defined under applicable federal, state or
foreign law) reduced by SunPower’s portion of such tax liability or benefit determined based upon its separate
return tax liability as defined under the tax sharing agreement. Such liability or benefit will be based on a pro
forma calculation as if SunPower were filing a separate income tax return in each jurisdiction, rather than on a
combined or consolidated basis with us subject to adjustments as set forth in the tax sharing agreement.

101

In connection with the Spin-Off (see Note 3), Cypress and SunPower entered into an amendment to the
existing tax sharing agreement between the parties to address certain transactions that may affect the tax
treatment of the Spin-Off and certain other matters. Under the amended tax sharing agreement, SunPower agreed
that it will not: (a) effect a Recapitalization during the 36 month period following the Spin-Off without first
obtaining a tax opinion to the effect that such Recapitalization (either alone or when taken together with any
other transaction or transactions) will not cause the Spin-Off to become taxable under Section 355(e), or (b) seek
any private ruling, including any supplemental private ruling, from the IRS with regard to the Spin-Off, or any
transaction having any bearing on the tax treatment of the Spin-Off, without our prior written consent.

NOTE 19. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Guarantees

During fiscal 2005, we entered into a strategic foundry partnership with Grace Semiconductor
Manufacturing Corporation (“Grace”), pursuant to which we have transferred certain of our proprietary process
technologies to Grace’s Shanghai, China facility. In accordance with a foundry agreement executed in fiscal
2006, we purchase wafers from Grace that are produced using these process technologies.

Pursuant to a master lease agreement, Grace has leased certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment
from a financing company. In conjunction with the master lease agreement, we have entered into a series of
guarantees with the financing company for the benefit of Grace. As of January 2, 2011, we updated our
assessment of the likelihood that we would have to settle the outstanding lease payments under the guarantees
and we determined that it was not probable. As a result, we have not recorded any liability relating to outstanding
lease payments under the guarantees.

Pursuant to the guarantees, we issued irrevocable letters of credit to secure the rental payments under the
guarantees in the event a demand is made by the financing company on us. The amount available under the
letters of credit will decline according to schedules mutually agreed upon by us and the financing company. If we
default, the financing company will be entitled to draw on the letters of credit. In connection with the guarantees,
we were granted options to purchase 40.3 million ordinary shares of Grace. As of January 2, 2011, we
determined that the fair value of the guarantees and the options was not material to our condensed consolidated
financial statements.

As of January 2, 2011, under the guarantees, Grace had no outstanding rental payments and the outstanding
irrevocable letters of credit totaled $2.6 million. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we advanced $2.5
million in pre-payments to Grace to secure a certain supply of wafers. In February 2011, we advanced an
additional $1.0 million in pre-payments. These payments will be applied against future purchases of inventory
from Grace over the next two years.

Indemnification Obligations

We are a party to a variety of agreements pursuant to which we may be obligated to indemnify another party
to such agreements with respect to certain matters. Typically, these obligations arise in the context of contracts
we have entered into, under which we customarily agree to hold the other party harmless against losses arising
from a breach of representations and covenants or terms and conditions related to such matters as the sale and/or
delivery of our products, title to assets sold, certain intellectual property claims, defective products, specified
environmental matters and certain income taxes. In these circumstances, payment by us is customarily
conditioned on the other party making a claim pursuant to the procedures specified in the particular contract,
which procedures typically allow us to challenge the other party’s claims and vigorously defend ourselves and
the third party against such claims. Further, our obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of
time, amount or the scope of our responsibility and in some instances, we may have recourse against third parties
for certain payments made under these agreements.

It is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments under these agreements due
to the conditional nature of our obligations and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular
agreement. Historically, payments we have made under these agreements have not had a material effect on our

102

business, financial condition or results of operations. We believe that if we were to incur a loss in any of these
matters, such loss would not have a material effect on our business, financial condition, cash flows or results of
operations, although there can be no assurance of this.

Product Warranties

We generally warrant our products against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year
and that product warranty is generally limited to a refund of the original purchase price of the product or a
replacement part. We estimate our warranty costs based on historical warranty claim experience. Warranty
returns are recorded as an allowance for sales returns. The allowance for sales returns is reviewed quarterly to
verify that it properly reflects the remaining obligations based on the anticipated returns over the balance of the
obligation period.

The following table presents our warranty reserve activities:

January 2,
2011

$

3,151
(5,345)
5,541

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
3,341
$
(9,015)
8,825

December 28,
2008

$

3,074
(7,759)
8,026

Beginning balance
Settlements made
Provisions

Ending balance

$

3,347

$

3,151

$

3,341

Operating Lease Commitments

We lease certain facilities and equipment under non-cancelable operating lease agreements that expire at
various dates through fiscal 2018. Some leases include renewal options, which would permit extensions of the
expiration dates at rates approximating fair market rental values.

As of January 2, 2011, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases were as

follows:

(In thousands)

2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016 and Thereafter

Total

$

8,094
6,593
4,600
3,627
956
629

$

24,499

Rental expenses totaled approximately $7.2 million, $6.6 million and $8.2 million in fiscal 2010, 2009 and

2008, respectively.

Litigation and Asserted Claims

In October 2006, we received a subpoena related to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice
(“DOJ”)’s investigation into the SRAM market. In December 2008, the DOJ closed its two year investigation
without any charge or allegation brought against us. As a result of the DOJ’s investigation, in October 2006, we,
along with a majority of the other SRAM manufacturers, were named in numerous consumer class action suits
that are now consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The direct and
indirect purchaser classes were certified. We aggressively defended ourselves in this matter, and as a result, we

103

were able to reach favorable resolutions with both the direct and indirect purchaser classes for a total settlement
of $7.3 million, of which $6.3 million was recorded as an offset to revenue. We are also named in purported
consumer antitrust class action suits in three provinces of Canada; however, those cases have not been materially
active over the last two years.

On August 21, 2009, X-Point Technologies filed a single patent infringement case against us and 29 other
defendants in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The patent at issue covers X-Point’s technology for data
transfer between storage devices and network devices without the use of a CPU or memory. The parties are
currently engaged in discovery. X-Point has made no specific demand for relief in this matter. We believe we
have meritorious defenses to the allegations set forth in the complaint and will vigorously defend ourselves in
this matter.

On January 21, 2011, Avago Technologies filed a patent infringement case against us in the U.S. District
Court in Delaware. The three patents at issue cover Avago’s touch technology, including finger navigation.
Avago has made no specific demand for relief in this matter. We believe we have meritorious defenses to the
allegations set forth in the complaint and will vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.

We are currently a party to various other legal proceedings, claims, disputes and litigation arising in the
ordinary course of business. Based on the our own investigations, we believe the ultimate outcome of our current
legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial
position, results of operation or cash flows. However, because of the nature and inherent uncertainties of the
litigation, should the outcome of these actions be unfavorable, our business, financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

NOTE 20. SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHICAL AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION

Segment Information

We design, develop, manufacture and market a broad range of programmable system solutions for various
markets including consumer, computation, data communications, automotive and industrial. We evaluate our
reportable business segments in accordance with the accounting guidance. We operate in the following four
reportable business segments:

Reportable Segments

Description

Consumer and Computation Division

Data Communications Division

Memory and Imaging Division

Emerging Technologies and Other

A product division focusing on PSoC,
touchscreen solutions, USB and timing solutions.

touch-sensing and

A product division focusing on data communication devices for
wireless handset and professional video systems.

A product division focusing on static random access memories,
nonvolatile memories and image sensor products.

Includes Cypress Envirosystems and AgigA Tech, Inc., both
majority-owned subsidiaries of Cypress, the Optical Navigation
Systems (“ONS”) business unit, China business unit, foundry-
related services, development
stage activities and certain
corporate expenses.

104

The following tables set forth certain information relating to the reportable business segments:

Revenues:

Consumer and Computation Division
Data Communications Division
Memory and Imaging Division
Emerging Technologies and Other

Total revenues

January 2,
2011

$

343,226
110,647
405,844
17,815

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
274,861
$
96,568
288,246
8,111

December 28,
2008

$

315,718
129,930
312,410
7,658

$

877,532

$

667,786

$

765,716

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes:

Consumer and Computation Division
Data Communications Division
Memory and Imaging Division
Emerging Technologies and Other
Unallocated items:

Stock-based compensation expense
Amortization of intangibles and other acquisition-related costs
Restructuring charges
Impairment of assets
Gain on divestitures
Write off of debt issuance costs
Gain on sale of SunPower common stock
Gain on debt redemption
Impairment of goodwill
Interest and non-cash expense for convertible debt
Impairment of investments
Other

Year Ended

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

December 28,
2008

$

43,195
38,687
139,036
(25,907)

(91,459)
(3,028)
(2,975)
(4,927)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2,410

(In thousands)
$

(674) $

13,314
31,872
(24,863)

(141,812)
(3,804)
(15,242)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,090)
(2,549)
278

(2,471)
27,248
30,857
(21,284)

(122,345)
(9,199)
(21,643)
—
9,966
(4,800)
192,048
2,193
(351,257)
(25,213)
(13,355)
(2,078)

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

$

95,032

$(144,570) $ (311,333)

Depreciation:

Consumer and Computation Division
Data Communications Division
Memory and Imaging Division
Emerging Technologies and Other

Total depreciation

January 2,
2011

$

18,428
6,140
22,228
1,063

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
20,912
$
7,309
21,875
599

December 28,
2008

$

27,408
11,186
27,080
741

$

47,859

$

50,695

$

66,415

105

Geographical Information

The following table presents our total revenues by geographical locations:

United States
Europe
Asia:

China
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Rest of world

Total revenues

January 2,
2011

$

142,239
134,117

197,337
77,820
70,259
255,760

Year Ended

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)
113,009
$
79,864

162,664
66,367
63,900
181,982

December 28,
2008

$

163,542
114,922

188,658
42,812
49,824
205,958

$

877,532

$

667,786

$

765,716

Property, plant and equipment, net, by geographic locations were as follows:

United States
Philippines
Other

Total property, plant and equipment, net

Customer Information

As of

January 2,
2011

January 3,
2010

(In thousands)

$

185,149
62,830
12,143

$

207,529
57,302
7,789

$

260,122

$

272,620

One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 17% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 2,
2011. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 16% and one contract manufacturer of an OEM,
Flextronics, accounted for 11% of consolidated accounts receivable as of January 3, 2010. One global distributor,
Avnet, Inc., accounted for 13% of consolidated accounts receivable as of December 28, 2008.

Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 15% and 10%, respectively,
of our total revenues for fiscal 2010. One global distributor, Avnet, Inc., accounted for 14% of our total revenues
for fiscal 2009. Two global distributors, Avnet, Inc. and Arrow Electronics, Inc., accounted for 13% and 11%,
respectively, of our total revenues for fiscal 2008. There was no single end customer in fiscal 2010, 2009 or 2008
that accounted for more than 10% of total revenue.

NOTE 21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 27, 2011, we signed a definitive agreement for ON Semiconductor Corporation to acquire our
Image Sensor business in an all cash transaction for approximately $31.4 million. The transaction is expected to
close by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2011, subject to customary closing conditions. Dan McCranie, a
member of the board of directors of Cypress, is the chairman of the board of directors at ON Semiconductor
Corporation.

106

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation:

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1)
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and its
subsidiaries (the “Company”) at January 2, 2011 and January 3, 2010 and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 2011 in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement
schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information
set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion,
the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of
January 2, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is
responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial
statement schedule, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated
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 audits to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements
included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining
an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists,
and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk.
Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

As discussed in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company changed the manner in

which it accounts for convertible debt instruments in fiscal 2009.

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

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
February 25, 2011

107

UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA

Revenues
Gross margin

Net income
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

Net income attributable to Cypress

Net income per share–basic

Net income per share–diluted

Revenues
Gross margin

Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations and
noncontrolling interest, net of taxes

Net income (loss)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

Net income (loss) attributable to Cypress

Net income (loss) per share–basic

Net income (loss) per share–diluted

Three Months Ended

January 2,
2011

October 3,
2010

July 4,
2010

April 4,
2010

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

220,314
123,058

8,678
375

9,053

0.05

0.05

$
$

$

$

$

$

231,923
134,682

34,228
145

34,373

0.22

0.18

$
$

$

$

$

$

223,024
124,946

19,459
183

19,642

0.12

0.10

$
$

$

$

$

$

202,271
106,487

12,511
163

12,674

0.08

0.07

Three Months Ended

January 3,
2010

September 27,
2009

June 28,
2009

March 29,
2009

(In thousands, except per-share amounts)

193,974
94,920

2,852

(383)

2,469
383

2,852

0.02

0.02

$
$

$

$

$

$

178,719
84,535

(19,656)

(178)

(19,834)
178

(19,656)

(0.13)

(0.13)

$
$

$

$

$

$

155,784
57,112

$
$

139,309
34,015

(45,285) $

(88,335)

(178)

(45,463)
178

(207)

(88,542)
207

(45,285) $

(88,335)

(0.32) $

(0.32) $

(0.66)

(0.66)

$
$

$

$

$

$

$
$

$

$

$

$

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented.
Therefore, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted per share information may not equal annual basic and diluted
earnings per share.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission
rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that
disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not

108

absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in
designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any
disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future
events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential
future conditions.

Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K and
subject to the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control
over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements and can only provide reasonable assurance with
respect to financial statement preparation. 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.

We assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2011. In
making this assessment, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment using
those criteria, our management (including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) concluded
that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 2, 2011.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has issued an attestation
report on our internal control over financial reporting. The report on the audit of internal control over financial
reporting appears on page 107 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we implemented certain information technology projects such as Trade
management and migrated our primary general ledger software applications to an outside vendor. We determined
that these changes in our internal controls over financial reporting did not materially affect, or were reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

109

PART III

Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We will file a
definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) not later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and certain information included therein is
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item concerning our directors is incorporated by reference from the
information set forth in the sections titled “Proposal One—Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item concerning our executive officers is incorporated by reference from
the information set forth in the sections titled “Executive Officers” under Item 1 of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item concerning our audit committee and its financial expert

is
forth in the section titled “Board Structure and

incorporated by reference from the information set
Compensation” in our Proxy Statement.

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. We have made

the code of ethics available, free of charge, on our website at www.cypress.com.

The information required by this item concerning recommendations of director nominees by security
holders is incorporated by reference from the information set forth in the section titled “Board Structure and
Compensation” in our Proxy Statement. There have been no changes to the procedures by which security holders
may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors in fiscal 2010.

On June 4, 2008, we submitted our 303A Annual Chief Executive Officer Certification to the New York

Stock Exchange.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item concerning executive compensation is incorporated by reference from

the information set forth in the section titled “Executive Compensation” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item concerning compensation of directors is incorporated by reference

from the information set forth in the section titled “Board Structure and Compensation” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item concerning our compensation committee is incorporated by reference
from the information set forth in the sections titled “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation” and “Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors” in our Proxy Statement.

Quarterly Executive Incentive Payments

On February 24, 2011, Cypress’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation
Committee”) approved the incentive payments to our executive officers for the fourth quarter and annual portion
of fiscal 2010 performance incentive plans. These payments were earned in accordance with the terms of our Key
Employee Bonus Plan (the “KEBP”) and the Performance Bonus Plan (the “PBP”).

110

The payments were determined based upon the financial performance of Cypress and each executive’s
performance. The performance measures under the KEBP include our non-GAAP profit-before-taxes percentage
as well as individual strategic, operational and financial goals established for each executive. The following table
sets forth the cash payments to our Named Executive Officers (as determined in our Proxy Statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2010) under the KEBP and the PBP in the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2010:

Named Executive Officers

T.J. Rodgers, President and Chief Executive Officer
Christopher Seams, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Operations
Brad W. Buss, Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial

Officer

Paul Keswick, Executive Vice President, New Product Development
Norman Taffe, Executive Vice President, Consumer and Computation Division

KEBP

PBP

— $339,779
—

$ 98,155

$110,646
$104,461
$ 76,139

—
—
—

Additionally, the Compensation Committee authorized quarterly and annual incentive payments under the

KEBP, totaling $462,485, to six other senior executive officers who are not Named Executives.

Release of 2010 PARS

In 2007, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors granted,
under the Company’s 1994 Stock Plan, performance-based restricted stock units (“PARS”) to certain employees
of the Company, including our Named Executive Officers. The PARS awarded in 2007 may be earned ratably
over five years subject to performance milestones that are determined on at least a yearly basis.

On February 24, 2011, the Committee approved the performance milestone achievements for fiscal 2010. In
connection with the Committee’s determination of the achievement of fiscal 2010 PARS performance
milestones, the following shares, prior to tax payments, were released to our Named Executive Officers:

Named Executive Officer

T.J. Rodgers, President and Chief Executive Officer
Brad W. Buss, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief

Financial Officer

Christopher Seams, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Paul Keswick, Executive Vice President, New Product Development
Norman P. Taffe, Executive Vice President, Consumer and Computation

Division

Target

Earned

659,235

654,983

412,022
329,618
329,618

409,364
327,492
327,492

283,265

281,438

Setting of Performance Milestones of 2011 PARS

On February 24, 2011,

the Committee of the Board established the milestones for the outstanding
performance-based awards for fiscal 2011. These performance based milestones include the achievement of
certain performance results of our common stock appreciation target against the SOXX, certain levels of annual
non-GAAP profit-before-taxes percentage, certain annual revenue growth and certain annual revenue growth in
the PSoC® family. These awards are earned upon the Committee’s certification that the specified market and/or
performance milestones have been achieved. If the milestones are not achieved, the shares are forfeited and
cannot be earned in future periods. The fair value of the market-condition milestone will be determined using a
Monte Carlo valuation. The fair value of the shares with performance-related milestones will be the grant-date
fair value of our common stock.

111

The following table sets forth our Named Executive Officers’ target shares for the performance period

subject to performance:

Named Executive Officer

T.J. Rodgers, President and Chief Executive Officer
Brad W. Buss, Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief

Financial Officer

Christopher Seams, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Paul Keswick, Executive Vice President, New Product Development
Norman P. Taffe, Executive Vice President, Consumer and Computation

Division

Minimum

Target

0

0
0
0

0

659,235

412,022
329,618
329,618

283,265

The target number of shares is the maximum that may be earned for the performance period.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners, directors
and executive officers is incorporated by reference from the information set forth in the section titled “Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item regarding our equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference

from Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR

INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item regarding transactions with certain persons is incorporated by
reference from the information set forth in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in
our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item regarding director independence is incorporated by reference from the

information set forth in the section titled “Board Structure and Compensation” in our Proxy Statement.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this item regarding fees and services is incorporated by reference from the
information set forth in the section titled “Proposal Two—Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm” in our Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item regarding the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures
is incorporated by reference from the information set forth in the section titled “Report of the Audit Committee
of the Board of Directors” in our Proxy Statement.

112

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

PART IV

1. Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Financial Statement Schedule:

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Page

61
62
63
65
67

Page

117

All other schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in

the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8.

3. Exhibits:

Exhibit
Number

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

Exhibit Description

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of January 16, 2001 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, Clock Acquisition Corporation, International Microcircuits, Inc. and
with respect to Article VII, U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Kurt R. Jaggers, as
Securityholder Agent.

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of January 26, 2001 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, Hilo Acquisition Corporation, HiB and Semiconductors, Inc., certain
shareholder parties thereto, and U.S. Bank Trust, National Association, as Escrow Agent.

Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of May 29, 2001 by and among Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation, ScanLogic Holding Company, ScanLogic Corporation, certain shareholder parties
thereto, and with respect to Article VII, U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Israel
Zilberman, as Securityholder Agent.

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of June 2, 2001 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, Lion Acquisition Corporation, Lara Networks, Inc., U.S. Bank Trust
National Association, as Escrow Agent (with respect to Article VII only), and Kenneth P. Lawler,
as Securityholder Agent (with respect to Articles I and VII only).

First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 3, 2001 by and among
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, Lion Acquisition Corporation, Lara Networks, Inc., U.S.
Bank Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Kenneth P. Lawler, as Securityholder Agent.

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of August 19, 2001 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, In-System Design, Inc., and with respect to Article VII, U.S. Bank
Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Lynn Watson, as Securityholder Agent.

First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of September 10, 2001 by and
among Cypress Semiconductor Corporation,
In-System
Design, Inc., U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Lynn Watson, as Securityholder Agent.

Idaho Acquisition Corporation,

Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of November 17, 2001 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, Steelers Acquisition Corporation, Silicon Packets, Inc., and with
respect to Article VII only, U.S. Bank Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent, and Robert C. Marshall, as
Securityholder Agent.

Incorporated by References

Filing Date/
Period
End Date

Filed
Herewith

Form

10-Q

4/1/2001

10-Q

4/1/2001

10-Q

7/1/2001

10-Q 9/30/2001

10-Q 9/30/2001

10-Q 9/30/2001

10-Q 9/30/2001

10-K 12/30/2001

113

Exhibit
Number

2.9

2.10

2.11

2.12

2.13

2.14

2.15

2.16

3.1

3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5
10.1
10.2
10.3

10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9

10.10

10.11

10.12

10.13

Exhibit Description

Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of June 21, 2004 by and among Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation, in the name and on behalf of Cypress Semiconductor (Belgium) BVBA in Formation,
FillFactory NV, certain stockholders of FillFactory NV and with respect to Article VIII and Article
X only, U.S. Bank, National Association, as Escrow Agent, and Luc De Mey and IT-Partners NV,
as Stockholder Agents.
Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of June 30, 2004 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, SP Acquisition Corporation and SunPower Corporation.
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 11, 2005 by and among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc., Summer Acquisition Corporation,
and with respect to Articles VII and IX only, U.S. Bank, National Association, as Escrow Agent,
and Allan Thygesen, as Securityholder Agent.
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated November 7, 2005 by and between Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation, CMS Acquisition Corporation and Cypress Microsystems, Inc.
Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets and Amendment No. 1 dated as of February 15,
2006 by and between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and NetLogic Microsystems, Inc.
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated February 27, 2007, by and between Sensata Technologies, Inc.
and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets, dated August 29, 2007, by and between NetLogic
Microsystems, Inc. and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 1, 2008, by and among Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation, Copper Acquisition Corporation and Simtek Corporation.
Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Bylaws, as Amended, of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Restated Bylaws of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Subordinated Indenture dated as of January 15, 2000 between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
and State Street Bank and Trust Company of California, N.A., as Trustee.
Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of June 15, 2000 between Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company of California, N.A., as Trustee.
Indenture dated as of June 3, 2003 between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee.
Indenture dated as of March 13, 2007 between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and U.S. Bank
National Association, as Trustee.
Registration Rights Agreement—1.00% Convertible Senior Notes due September 15, 2009.
Form of Indemnification Agreement.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, Amended and
Restated Effective as of May 15, 1998.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 1998 Key Employee Bonus Plan.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 1999 Non-statutory Stock Option Plan.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan I.
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan II.
Amendment to 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.
Lease Agreement dated as of June 27, 2003 between Wachovia Development Corporation and
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Participation Agreement dated as of June 27, 2003 by and among Cypress Semiconductor
Corporation, Wachovia Development Corporation and Wachovia Bank, National Association.
Call Spread Option Confirmation dated May 29, 2003 among Cypress Semiconductor Corporation,
Credit Suisse First Boston International, and Credit Suisse First Boston.
Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 by and between Silicon Valley Bank
and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.
Amended and Restated Call Spread Option Confirmation dated as of May 11, 2004 among Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston International, and Credit Suisse First
Boston.

114

Incorporated by References

Filing Date/
Period
End Date

Filed
Herewith

Form

8-K

8/13/2004

10-K

1/2/2005

8-K

2/15/2005

8-K

12/8/2005

8-K

2/21/2006

8-K

3/20/2007

8-K

9/5/2007

8-K

8/1/2008

10-K 12/31/2000

10-K 12/29/2002
4/3/2005
10-Q
6/23/2005
8-K
7/3/2005
10-Q
3/31/2006
8-K
3/17/2000
8-K

8-K

7/11/2000

S-3

6/30/2003

S-3

5/17/2007

10-Q
S-1
10-K
S-8

7/1/2007
3/4/1987
1/2/2000
12/10/1998

1/3/1999
10-K
4/20/1999
S-8
9/6/2002
S-8
S-8
9/6/2002
10-Q 6/29/2003
10-Q 6/29/2003

10-Q 6/29/2003

10-Q 6/29/2003

10-Q 9/28/2003

10-Q 6/27/2004

Exhibit
Number

10.14

10.15

10.16

10.17

10.18

10.19

10.20*

10.21

10.22

10.23

10.24

10.25

10.26

10.27

10.28

10.29

10.30

10.31

10.32

10.33

10.34

10.35

10.36

10.37

10.38

10.39

10.40

10.41

10.42

10.43

10.44

21.1

23.1

24.1

Exhibit Description

Incorporated by References

Filing Date/
Period
End Date

Filed
Herewith

Form

Amendment No. 1 to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 13, 2004 by and between
Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K

1/2/2005

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, Amended and
Restated Effective as of the Offering Period Commencing December 31, 2004

10-K

1/2/2005

SMaL Camera Technologies, Inc. 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.

First Amendment to Certain Operative Agreements dated March 28, 2005 between Wachovia
Development Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 2006 Key Employee Bonus Plan (KEBP) Summary.

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation Performance Profit Sharing Plan (PPSP) Summary.

Memorandum of Agreement between GNPower Ltd. Co. and Cypress Manufacturing Ltd.

S-8

3/8/2005

10-Q

4/3/2005

10-K

10-K

1/1/2006

1/1/2006

10-Q 10/1/2006

Letter of Agreement between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and SunPower Corporation.

8-K 11/16/2006

Letter of Agreement between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and PowerLight Corporation.

8-K 11/16/2006

Amended Letter of Agreement between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and PowerLight
Corporation.

8-K

1/5/2007

Amendment No. 2 to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 11, 2006 by and between
Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/31/2006

Amendment No. 3 to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 21, 2006 by and between
Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/31/2006

Guaranty dated December 12, 2006 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT
Technologies Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/31/2006

Guaranty dated February 1, 2007 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT
Technologies Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/31/2006

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 1994 Stock Plan, as amended and restated on May 3, 2007.

8-K

5/7/2007

Consent and Amendment No. 4 to Loan and Security Agreement dated March 5, 2007 by and
between Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-Q

4/1/2007

Guaranty dated March 19, 2007 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA,
Technologies Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Inc., CIT

10-Q

4/1/2007

Guaranty dated May 15, 2007 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT Technologies
Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-Q

7/1/2007

Guaranty dated June 15, 2007 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT Technologies
Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-Q

7/1/2007

Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 1994 Stock Plan, as amended and restated on May 11, 2007.

10-Q

7/1/2007

Guaranty dated December 15, 2007 by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT
Technologies Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/30/2007

Amendment No. 5 to Loan and Security Agreement dated December 20, 2007 by and between
Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-K 12/30/2007

Guaranty, dated March 24, 2008, by and between Grace Semiconductor USA, Inc., CIT
Technologies Corporation and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

10-Q 3/30/2008

Form of Transaction Support Agreement by and among Cypress Semiconductor Corporation,
Copper Acquisition Corporation and the individuals listed on the signatures pages thereto, dated as
of August 1, 2008.

8-K

8/1/2008

Amendment No. 1 to Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2008, by and between
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation and SunPower Corporation.

8-K

8/11/2008

1994 Stock Plan, as amended and restated.

1999 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated.

Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated.

International Microcircuits Inc. 2000 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.

Amendment No. 6 to Loan and Security Agreement dated December 18, 2008 by and between
Silicon Valley Bank and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

S-8

S-8

S-8

S-8

10/24/2008

10/24/2008

10/24/2008

10/24/2008

8-K 12/17/2008

Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank dated March 1,
2010.

10-K

3/3/2010

Subsidiaries of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Power of Attorney (reference is made to page 118 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).

10-K 2/25/2011

10-K 2/25/2011

10-K 2/25/2011

X

X

X

115

Exhibit Description

Incorporated by References

Filing Date/
Period
End Date

Filed
Herewith

Form

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.

10-K 2/25/2011

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

10-K 2/25/2011

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

10-K 2/25/2011

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

10-K 2/25/2011

X

X

X

X

XBRL Instance Document.

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

Exhibit
Number

31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

101.INS*

101.SCH*

101.CAL*

101.DEF*

101.LAB*

101.PRE*

* XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus
for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

116

SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable:

Year ended January 2, 2011
Year ended January 3, 2010
Year ended December 28, 2008

Allowance for sales returns:

Year ended January 2, 2011
Year ended January 3, 2010
Year ended December 28, 2008

Allowance for uncollectible loans under the stock

purchase assistance plan:

Year ended January 2, 2011
Year ended January 3, 2010
Year ended December 28, 2008

Balance at
Beginning of
Period

Charges (Releases)
to Expenses/Revenues

Deductions

(In thousands)

Balance at
End of
Period

$ 1,358
777
$
$ 1,171

$ 3,151
$ 3,341
$ 3,074

$
$
$

109
538
782

$
$
$

$
$
$

$
$
$

60
1,120
358

5,541
8,825
8,026

$
$
$

(615) $
803
(539) $ 1,358
777
(752) $

$ (5,345) $ 3,347
$ (9,015) $ 3,151
$ (7,759) $ 3,341

(75)
(378)
(198)

$
$
$

(19) $
(51) $
(46) $

15
109
538

117

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, thereto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

Dated: February 25, 2011

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

By:

/S/ BRAD W. BUSS

Brad W. Buss
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS,

that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints T.J. Rodgers and Brad W. Buss, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the
power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report, and to file the
same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the

following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/S/ T. J. RODGERS

T. J. Rodgers

/S/ BRAD W. BUSS

Brad W. Buss

President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive
Officer)

Executive Vice President, Finance
and Administration and Chief
Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)

February 25, 2011

February 25, 2011

/S/ W. STEVE ALBRECHT

Director

February 25, 2011

W. Steve Albrecht

/S/ ERIC A. BENHAMOU

Director

February 25, 2011

Eric A. Benhamou

/S/ LLOYD A. CARNEY

Director

February 25, 2011

Lloyd A. Carney

/S/

JAMES R. LONG
James R. Long

/S/

J. DANIEL MCCRANIE
J. Daniel McCranie

/S/

J.D. SHERMAN
J.D. Sherman

Director

Director

Director

February 25, 2011

February 25, 2011

February 25, 2011

/S/ EVERT P. VAN DE VEN

Director

February 25, 2011

Evert P. van de Ven

118

SUBSIDIARIES OF CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

Exhibit 21.1

Name

AgigA Tech, Inc.
AgigA Tech (Mauritius) LLC Mauritius
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
CY Holding One LLC
CY Holding Two LLC
Cyland Corporation
Cypress Manufacturing, Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor (Luxembourg) Sarl
Cypress Semiconductor (Mauritius) LLC
Cypress Semiconductor (Minnesota) Inc.
Cypress Semiconductor (Scandinavia) AB
Cypress Semiconductor (Switzerland) Sarl
Cypress Semiconductor (Texas) Inc.
Cypress Semiconductor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor (UK) Limited
Cypress Semiconductor Canada
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Belgium)
Cypress Semiconductor GmbH
Cypress Semiconductor Holding One LLC
Cypress Semiconductor Holding Two LLC
Cypress Semiconductor International (Hong Kong) Limited
Cypress Semiconductor International Sales B.V.
Cypress Semiconductor Intl Inc.
Cypress Semiconductor Ireland
Cypress Semiconductor Italia S.r.l.
Cypress Semiconductor K.K. Japan
Cypress Semiconductor Korea Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor Phil. Headquarters Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor Procurement LLC
Cypress Semiconductor Round Rock, Inc.
Cypress Semiconductor SARL
Cypress Semiconductor Singapore Pte. Ltd
Cypress Semiconductor Taiwan
Cypress Semiconductor Tech. India Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor Technology Ltd.
Cypress Semiconductor World Trade Corp.
CypressEnvirosystems Inc.
Cypress Venture Fund I, L.L.C.
Cypress Semiconductor Holding Two LLC
Deca Technologies Inc.
In-System Design, Inc.
Simtek Corporation
Silicon Magnetic Systems, Inc.
Weida Semiconductor Limited

Jurisdiction of Incorporation

United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
Philippines
Cayman Islands
Luxembourg
Mauritius
United States Of America
Sweden
Switzerland
United States Of America
Thailand
United Kingdom
Canada
Belgium
Germany
United States Of America
United States Of America
Hong Kong
Netherlands
United States Of America
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Cayman Islands
United States Of America
United States Of America
France
Singapore
Taiwan
India
China
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
United States Of America
Hong Kong

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-
111381, 333-106667 and 333-95711) and in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-165750, 333-
154748, 333-150484, 333-131494, 333-123192, 333-119049, 333-108175, 333-104672, 333-101479,
333-99221,333-91812, 333-91764, 333-81398, 333-71530, 333-71528, 333-66076, 333-66074, 333-65512,
333-59428, 333-58896, 333-57542, 333-48716, 333-48714, 333-48712, 333-44264, 333-32898, 333-93839,
333-93719, 333-79997, 333-76667, 333-76665, 333-68703, 333-52035, 333-24831, 333-00535 and 033-59153)
of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation of our report dated February 25, 2011 relating to the financial statements,
financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in
this Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California
February 25, 2011

CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, T.J. Rodgers, certify that:

Exhibit 31.1

1.

I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for
the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and

procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to
the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control
over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: February 25, 2011

By:

/S/ T.J. RODGERS

T.J. Rodgers
President and Chief Executive Officer

CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Brad W. Buss, certify that:

Exhibit 31.2

1.

I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which
such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for
the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and

procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to
the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in
this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in
the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of
internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the
registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control
over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: February 25, 2011

By:

/S/ BRAD W. BUSS

Brad W. Buss
Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Exhibit 32.1

I, T.J. Rodgers, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation for
the year ended January 2, 2011 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Dated: February 25, 2011

By:

/S/ T.J. RODGERS

T.J. Rodgers
President and Chief Executive Officer

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Exhibit 32.2

I, Brad W. Buss, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation for
the year ended January 2, 2011 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation.

Dated: February 25, 2011

By:

/S/ BRAD W. BUSS

Brad W. Buss
Executive Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Chief Financial Officer

March 29, 2011 

Dear Fellow Stockholder: 

You are cordially invited to attend Cypress Semiconductor Corporation’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. We 
will hold the meeting on Friday, May 13, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, at our principal executive offices located at 198 
Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134. We look forward to your attendance in person or by proxy at the meeting. 

This Proxy Statement is being made available to our stockholders on or about April 1, 2011. Under rules adopted by 
the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to most of 
our stockholders. Stockholders who had previously elected to receive paper copies will receive paper copies and those who 
elected  electronic  delivery  will  receive  an  e-mail.  The  Notice  of  Internet  Availability  of  Proxy  Materials  contains 
instructions on how to access our 2011 Proxy Statement and 2010 Annual Report and vote using the Internet. The notice 
also  includes  instructions  on  how  you  can  receive  a  printed  copy  of  your  proxy  materials,  including  the  Annual  Report, 
Notice of Annual Meeting, the Proxy Statement, and a proxy card. If you receive your proxy materials by mail, the Annual 
Report,  Notice  of  Annual  Meeting,  the  Proxy  Statement,  and  proxy  card  will  be  enclosed.  If  you  receive  your  proxy 
materials via e-mail, the e-mail will contain voting instructions and links to the Annual Report and the Proxy Statement on 
the Internet, both of which are available at http://www.cypress.com/go/annualreport. 

At this year’s Annual Meeting, the agenda includes the following items:  

Agenda Item 
1.  The Election of Directors 
2.  The Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

3.  Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the 1994 Stock 

Plan to Approve Additional Shares 

4.  Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation of our Named              

Executive Officers 

Board Vote Recommendation 

“FOR” 

“FOR” 
“FOR” 

“FOR” 

5.  Advisory Vote on the Frequency of an Advisory Vote on        

“ONE YEAR” 

Compensation of our Named Executive Officers 

Please refer to the Proxy Statement for detailed information on each of the proposals and the Annual Meeting. Your 

vote is important, and we strongly urge you to cast your vote whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. 

If you are a stockholder of record (“registered holder”), meaning that you hold shares directly with Computershare 
Investor Services, LLC, the inspector of elections will have your name on a list, and you will be able to gain entry to the 
Annual Meeting with a form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or 
passport. Stockholders holding stock in brokerage accounts (“street name” or “beneficial holder”) will need to bring a letter 
from their broker reflecting their stock ownership as of the record date, which is March 16, 2011.  

Thank you for your ongoing support and continued interest in Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. 

Very truly yours, 

T.J. Rodgers  
President and Chief Executive Officer 

 
 
  
 
  
  
  
    
 
 
2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT  

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

NOTICE OF THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ................................................................... 1 
PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS.................................................. 2 
Questions And Answers About This Proxy Material And Voting .............................................................................. 2 
Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials this year 
instead of a full set of proxy materials?............................................................................................................. 2 
Why am I receiving these materials? .................................................................................................................... 2 
Who may attend the Annual Meeting?.................................................................................................................. 2 
Who is entitled to vote? ......................................................................................................................................... 2 
What may I vote on?.............................................................................................................................................. 2 
What is the difference between a registered stockholder and a beneficial stockholder?..................................... 2 
How do I vote and what are the voting deadlines? ............................................................................................... 3 
What shares may be voted and how may I cast my vote for each proposal? ....................................................... 3 
What is the effect of a broker non-vote?............................................................................................................... 3 
How many votes are needed to approve each proposal? ...................................................................................... 4 
What is the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers?........................................... 4 
What is the advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive 
Officers? ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 
What is the quorum requirement? ......................................................................................................................... 5 
How can I change my vote or revoke my proxy? ................................................................................................. 5 
What does it mean if I get more than one Notice, proxy or voting instructions card? ........................................ 5 
Who will count the votes? ..................................................................................................................................... 5 
How much did this proxy solicitation cost and who will pay for the cost? ......................................................... 5 
How can I receive the proxy statement and Annual Report by electronic delivery?........................................... 5 
How can a stockholder request a copy of Cypress’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for fiscal 
year 2010? .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 
How and when may I submit proposals for consideration at next year’s Annual Meeting of stockholders or to 
nominate individuals to serve as directors for Cypress?................................................................................... 6 
Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?................................................................................ 6 
How many copies of the proxy materials will you deliver to stockholders sharing the same address?.............. 6 
PROPOSAL ONE ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 
Election Of Directors............................................................................................................................................. 7 
PROPOSAL TWO ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 
Ratification Of The Selection Of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm......................................... 10 
PROPOSAL THREE .................................................................................................................................................. 12 
Approval Of The Amendment And Restatement Of The 1994 Stock Plan To Approve Additional Shares .... 12 
Background.......................................................................................................................................................... 12 
Summary of the Proposal .................................................................................................................................... 12 
The Plan is a Critical Element of our Compensation Policy .............................................................................. 12 
The Plan Conforms to Best Practices.................................................................................................................. 13 
Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) ..................................................................................................................... 13 
The SunPower Spin-Off Greatly Increased Our Outstanding Equity Awards................................................... 13 
Impact of Our Share Repurchase Program on Our Outstanding Equity Awards............................................... 14 
Our Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) Rate is Largely a Function of Our Aggressive Stock Repurchase 

Program and $2.6 Billion SunPower Spin-Off................................................................................................ 16 
Equity Compensation Awards Allow us to Implement Our Philosophy of Pay-For-Performance ................... 19 
Overhang Reduction ............................................................................................................................................ 19 
Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 20 
SUMMARY OF THE AMENDED PLAN......................................................................................................... 21 
Background and Purpose of the Amended Plan ................................................................................................. 21 
Types of Awards Granted Under the Amended Plan ......................................................................................... 21 
Administration of the Amended Plan.................................................................................................................. 21 
No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval .................................................................................................... 21 

i 

 
Awards that Expire or are Forfeited.................................................................................................................... 21 
Eligibility to Receive Awards ............................................................................................................................. 21 
Stock Options....................................................................................................................................................... 21 
Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units ............................................................................................................. 22 
Automatic Grants to Non-Employee Directors................................................................................................... 22 
Transfers or Leave of Absence............................................................................................................................ 23 
Changes in Capitalization.................................................................................................................................... 23 
Merger or Asset Sale ........................................................................................................................................... 23 
Awards to be Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups..................................................................................... 23 
Limited Transferability of Awards...................................................................................................................... 24 
Federal Tax Aspects ............................................................................................................................................ 24 
Amendment and Termination of the Amended Plan .......................................................................................... 24 
Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 
SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS ....................... 25 
Equity Compensation Plan Information ..................................................................................................................... 25 
PROPOSAL FOUR .................................................................................................................................................... 26 
Advisory Vote On The Compensation Of Our Named Executive Officers ....................................................... 26 
PROPOSAL FIVE ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 

Advisory Vote on the Frequency of the Advisory Vote on the Compansation of our Named Executive  

          Officers.............................................................................................................................................................. 28 
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................... 28 
Our Board's Recommendation............................................................................................................................. 28 
Advisory or Non-Binding Effect on Vote........................................................................................................... 28 
How to Vote......................................................................................................................................................... 28 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE................................................................................................................................ 29 
Corporate Governance Changes in Fiscal Year 2010 and for Fiscal Year 2011 ............................................... 29 
BOARD STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................. 30 
Determination of Independence .......................................................................................................................... 30 
Executive Sessions............................................................................................................................................... 30 
Meeting Attendance............................................................................................................................................. 30 
Board Size and Membership ............................................................................................................................... 30 
Nomination Criteria and Board Diversity ........................................................................................................... 31 
Communications from Stockholders and Other Interested Parties..................................................................... 31 
Independent Director Contact ............................................................................................................................. 31 
Board Leadership Structure................................................................................................................................. 32 
Board's Role in Risk Management Oversight..................................................................................................... 32 
Risk Considerations in our Compensation Programs ......................................................................................... 32 
BOARD COMMITTEES ........................................................................................................................................... 33 
The Audit Committee .......................................................................................................................................... 33 
The Compensation Committee............................................................................................................................ 34 
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee ................................................................................... 35 
The Operations Committee.................................................................................................................................. 35 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS ....................................................................................................................... 36 
Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation .................................................................................................. 36 
Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Requirement ................................................................................... 36 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION................................................................................................................................ 37 
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................................... 38 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management ............................................................... 40 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ............................................................................................................................. 43 
Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”).................................................................................................. 43 
2010 Business Summary............................................................................................................................................. 43 
Description of Key Terms Used in this Section.................................................................................................. 44 
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 46 
The Role of the Compensation Committee......................................................................................................... 47 
The Role of Consultants Retained by the Compensation Committee ................................................................ 47 
The Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation ....................................................... 47 
Executive Compensation Components and Objectives ...................................................................................... 48 
How the Committee Determined the Amount for Each Element of 2010 Compensation................................. 49 

ii 

2010 Peer Group Companies............................................................................................................................... 50 
Committee Considerations in Determining the 2010 Compensation of Executive Officers ............................. 51 
2010 Cash and Equity Incentive Compensation for Named Executive Officers ............................................... 51 
Named Executive Officers’ 2010 CSF Quarterly and Annual Performance Goals ........................................... 52 
Named Executive Officers’ CSF Difficulty Levels and Likelihood of Achievement of 2011 PBP or KEBP 

Targets.............................................................................................................................................................. 53 
Prohibition on Derivative Trading ...................................................................................................................... 53 
Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines.............................................................................................................. 53 
2011 Executive Compensation Actions .............................................................................................................. 53 
Perquisites and Other Benefits ............................................................................................................................ 54 
Company’s policy on IRS 162(m) ...................................................................................................................... 54 
Severance/Change in Control Compensation ..................................................................................................... 54 
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................ 55 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ...................................................................................................................... 56 
Summary Compensation Table ........................................................................................................................... 57 
IMPACT OF SPIN-OFF ADJUSTMENT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION IN 2008............................ 59 
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS .......................................................................................................... 60 
GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS (NON-EQUITY) ............................................................................. 62 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS.............................................................................................................. 63 
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTING.............................................................................................. 66 
NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION ....................................................................................... 66 
OTHER DISCLOSURES ........................................................................................................................................... 67 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation ......................................................................... 67 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions................................................................................................. 67 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance ............................................................................. 67 
OTHER MATTERS.................................................................................................................................................... 68 
APPENDIX A - 1994 STOCK PLAN AS AMENDED AND RESTATED .......................................................... A-1 

iii 

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 

NOTICE OF THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 

TO ALL CYPRESS STOCKHOLDERS: 

NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that  the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  of  Cypress  Semiconductor  Corporation,  a 

Delaware corporation, will be held on:  

Date: 

Friday, May 13, 2011 

Time:  10:00 a.m. Pacific Time 

Place:  Cypress’s principal executive offices located at 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134  

Items of Business: 

1.  The  election  of  eight  (8)  directors  to  serve  on  our  Board  of  Directors  for  a  one-year  term,  and  until  their 

successors are elected; 

2.  The  ratification  of  the  appointment  of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  as  our  independent  registered  public 

accounting firm for fiscal year 2011; 

3.  Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the 1994 Stock Plan to approve additional shares; 

4.  Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers; 

5.  Advisory Vote on the Frequency of an Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers; 

and  

6.  The  transaction  of  such  other  business  as  may  properly  come  before  the  Annual  Meeting,  or  any 

adjournment or postponement thereof.  

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice. This Notice of 

Annual Meeting, 2010 Annual Report and our 2011 Proxy Statement and form of proxy are being made available to stockholders 
on or about April 1, 2011.  

All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Only stockholders of record at the close of 
business on March 16, 2011 (the “Record Date”), are entitled to receive notice of, and may vote at, the Annual Meeting, or any 
adjournment  or  postponement  thereof.  Any  stockholder  attending  the Annual Meeting  and  entitled  to  vote  may  do  so  in person 
even if such stockholder returned a proxy or voted by telephone or over the Internet. We have provided voting instructions in the 
attached Proxy Statement on how you can vote your shares before or at the Annual Meeting. 

FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

San Jose, California, March 29, 2011 

Brad W. Buss 
Corporate Secretary 

1 

 
CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THIS PROXY MATERIAL AND VOTING 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials this year 
instead of a full set of proxy materials?  

In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), instead of mailing a printed copy of 
our  proxy  materials  to  stockholders,  we  are  furnishing  our  proxy  materials  primarily  over  the  Internet.  Under  the  SEC 
rules, instead of a paper copy of our proxy materials, we mailed a Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") 
to most of our stockholders to instruct you on how to access and review our proxy materials on the Internet. The Notice 
instructs you on how to submit your vote on the Internet and also contains instructions on how a stockholder may request a 
paper  copy  of  our  proxy  materials,  including  this  proxy  statement  (“Proxy  Statement”),  our  2010  Annual  Report  and  a 
proxy card or voting instruction card. 

Why am I receiving these materials? 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (sometimes referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”, 
“the  Company”  or  “Cypress”)  is  providing  these  proxy  materials  to  solicit  your  vote  at  the  2011  Annual  Meeting  of 
Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”) and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Annual Meeting will be held on 
Friday, May 13, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at our principal offices located at 198 Champion Court, San 
Jose, California 95134. The telephone number at this address is (408) 943-2600. 

Who may attend the Annual Meeting? 

All stockholders and holders of proxies for those stockholders and other persons invited by Cypress may attend. If your 
shares are registered in the name of a brokerage firm or a bank, you must bring to the Annual Meeting a letter from your 
broker  indicating  you hold  the  shares  in  the  name  of  the  broker or  banker,  or  a  copy  of  your  proxy  card  if  you  are  the 
direct or indirect owner of your shares as of March 16, 2011 (the “Record Date”). 

Who is entitled to vote? 

Only stockholders of Cypress as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As 
of the Record Date, there were 174,384,675 shares outstanding of Cypress’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share. 

The date of this Proxy Statement is March 29, 2011, and it was filed with the SEC and made available on the Internet on 
or about April 1, 2011. 

What may I vote on? 

You may vote on all the items listed below: 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

The  election  of  eight  (8)  directors  to  serve  on  our  Board  of  Directors  for  a  one-year  term,  and  until  their 
successors are elected; 

The  ratification  of  the  appointment  of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  as  our  independent  registered  public 
accounting firm for the fiscal year 2011;  

The approval of the Amendment and Restatement of our 1994 Stock Plan to approve additional shares; 

Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers; 

Advisory Vote on the Frequency of an Advisory Vote on Compensation of our Named Executive Officers; and  

The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or 
postponement thereof. 

What is the difference between a registered stockholder and a beneficial stockholder? 

Registered Stockholder or Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name  

If  on  March  16,  2011  your  shares  were  registered  directly  in  your  name  with  the  Company’s  transfer  agent, 
Computershare Investor Services, LLC, then you are a registered stockholder or a stockholder of record. As a stockholder 
of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Shares held in a brokerage or bank account are 
not generally registered directly in your name. 

2 

  
 
Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Beneficial Stockholder: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank  

If on March 16, 2011, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, 
then you are the beneficial stockholder of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to 
you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of 
voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial stockholder, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how 
to  vote  the  shares  in  your  account.  You  are  also  invited  to  attend  the  Annual  Meeting.  However,  since  you  are  not  the 
stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid 
proxy from your broker or other agent. 

How do I vote and what are the voting deadlines? 

Whether you hold your shares directly as the stockholder of record or beneficially in "street name", you may vote your 
shares by proxy without attending the Annual Meeting by proxy. Depending on how you hold your shares, you may vote 
your shares in one of the following ways: 

Stockholders of Record:  If you are a stockholder of record, there are several ways for you to vote your shares.  

•  By Mail. If you received printed proxy materials, you may submit your vote by completing, signing and dating each 
proxy card received and returning it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card. 
Proxy cards submitted by mail must be received no later than May 12, 2011, to be voted at the Annual Meeting. 

•  By  telephone  or  over  the  Internet. You  may  vote  your  shares  by  telephone  or  via  the  Internet  by  following  the 
instructions provided in the Notice. If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you do not need to return a proxy card 
by  mail.  Internet  and  telephone  voting  are  available  24  hours  a  day.  Votes  submitted  by  telephone  or  through  the 
Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2011. 

•  In person at the Annual Meeting. You may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. Even if you plan to 
attend the Annual Meeting in person, we recommend that you also submit your proxy card or voting instructions or 
vote by telephone or via the Internet by the applicable deadline so that your vote will be counted if you later decide 
not to attend the meeting. 

Beneficial  Stockholders:    If  you  are  a  beneficial  owner  of  your  shares,  you  should  have  received  a  Notice  of  Internet 
Availability of Proxy Materials or voting instructions from the broker or other nominee holding your shares. You should 
follow the instructions in the Notice or voting instructions provided by your broker or nominee in order to instruct your 
broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares. The availability of telephone and Internet voting will depend on the 
voting process of the broker or nominee. Shares held beneficially may be voted in person at the Annual Meeting only if 
you obtain a legal proxy from the broker or nominee giving you the right to vote the shares.  

What shares may be voted and how may I cast my vote for each proposal? 

You  may  vote  all  shares  you  own  as  of  the  close  of  business  on  the  Record  Date.  You  may  cast  one  vote  per  share  of 
common stock for each proposal except that a stockholder voting for the election of directors has the right to cumulate 
such stockholder’s votes. This means you may give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be 
elected  multiplied  by  the  number  of  shares  you  are  entitled  to  vote,  or  you  may  distribute  your  shares  among  as  many 
candidates as you may select, provided that your votes cannot be cast for more than eight (8) candidates. For example, if 
you own 100 shares of stock, and there are eight (8) directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting, you may allocate 800 
shares  (8 times  100)  as  “FOR”  votes  among  as  few  or  as  many  directors  to  be  elected  at  the  Annual  Meeting  as  you 
choose.  If  you  choose  to  cumulate  your  votes,  you  will  need  to  submit  a  proxy  card  or  a  ballot  and  make  an  explicit 
statement of your intent to cumulate your votes, either by so indicating in writing on the proxy card or by indicating in 
writing  on  your  ballot  when  voting  at  the  Annual  Meeting.  If  you  hold  shares  beneficially  in  street  name  and  wish  to 
cumulate your votes, you should contact your broker or nominee. 

What is the effect of a broker non-vote?  

Brokers or other nominees who hold shares of our common stock for a beneficial owner have the discretion to vote on 
routine proposals when they have not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner at least ten days prior to the 
Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from the 
beneficial owner and does not have the discretion to direct the voting of the shares. Broker non-votes will be counted for 
purposes  of  calculating  whether  a  quorum  is  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  but  will  not  be  counted  for  purposes  of 
determining the number of votes present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote with respect to a particular 
proposal. Thus, a broker non-vote will not impact our ability to obtain a quorum and will not otherwise affect the outcome 
of  the  vote  on  a  proposal  that  requires  a  plurality  of  votes  cast  (Proposal  1)  or  the  approval  of  a  majority  of  the  votes 
present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote (Proposals 2 and 3) or the advisory votes cast (Proposal 4 & 
5).  

3 

  
Q: 

A: 

How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?  

For the election of directors, the eight director nominees receiving the highest number of "FOR" votes will be elected.  

With respect to Proposal 1, you may vote “FOR” all nominees, “WITHHOLD” your vote as to all nominees, or “FOR” all 
nominees  except  those  specific  nominees  from  whom  you  “WITHHOLD”  your  vote.  The  eight  nominees  receiving  the 
most “FOR” votes will be elected. A properly executed proxy marked “WITHHOLD” with respect to the election of one 
or more directors will not be voted with respect to the director or directors indicated. Proxies may not be voted for more 
than eight directors.  

With respect to Proposals 2 and 3, we must receive a “FOR” vote from the majority of shares present and entitled to vote 
either in person or by proxy. For Proposals 2, 3, 4 and 5 if you “ABSTAIN” from voting, it will have the same effect as an 
“AGAINST” vote. If you hold your shares in “street name”, it is critical that you cast your vote if you want it to count in 
the  election  of  directors.  For  Proposal  1,  recent  changes  in  regulation  have  been  made  to  take  away  the  ability  of  your 
bank or broker to vote your uninstructed shares in the election of directors on a discretionary basis. Thus, if you hold your 
shares in street name and you do not instruct your bank or broker how to vote in the election of directors, no votes will be 
cast on your behalf. Your bank or broker will, however, continue to have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on the 
ratification of the appointment of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. Proposals 4 and 5 are only 
advisory, but your bank or broker does not have the discretion to vote your uninstructed shares.  

PROPOSAL 

VOTE REQUIRED 

BROKER DISCRETIONARY 
VOTE ALLOWED 

Proposal 1– Election of eight (8) directors  Plurality of votes cast 

Proposal 2 – The ratification of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our 
independent registered public accounting 
firm 

Majority of shares 
entitled to vote and present 
in person or represented by 
proxy 

Proposal 3 – Approval of the Amended 
and Restated 1994 Stock Plan to approve 
additional shares 

Proposal 4 – Advisory Vote on 
Compensation of our Named Executive 
Officers 

Majority of shares 
entitled to vote and present 
in person or represented by 
proxy 

Majority of shares 
entitled to vote and present 
in person or represented by 
proxy 

Proposal 5 – Advisory Vote on the 
Frequency of Advisory Vote on the 
Compensation of our Named Executive 
Officers 

Majority of shares 
entitled to vote and present 
in person or represented by 
proxy 

No 

Yes 

No 

No 

No 

Q: 

A: 

What is the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers? 

We  have  included  Proposal  4  in  this  Proxy  Statement  (also  known  as  say-on-pay  vote)  to  allow  our  stockholders  to 
provide us a non-binding vote on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. 
The  recently  enacted  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and  Consumer  Protection  Act  of  2010,  or  the  Dodd-Frank  Act, 
requires issuers, such as our Company, to include a resolution in the proxy statement that will enable our stockholders to 
vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in 
this  Proxy  Statement.  Your  vote  on  this  item  will  provide  our  Company  insight  into  our  stockholder’s  view  on  our 
compensation practices pertaining to our Named Executive Officers.  

4 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

What is the advisory vote on the frequency of the advisory vote on the compensation of our Named Executive 
Officers? 

We are required by the Dodd-Frank Act to present a voting request to stockholders every six years, asking stockholders for 
a non-binding vote to let the Company know if stockholders want us to present a “say-on-pay” voting request either every 
one,  every  two  or  every  three  years.  Such  request  is  also  referred  to  as  the  “frequency  of  say-on-pay”  vote.  We  have 
included Proposal 5 for this purpose and our Board has recommended an annual presentation of a “say-on-pay” vote.  

What is the quorum requirement?  

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid annual meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of 
the  outstanding  shares  are  represented  by  proxy  or  by  stockholders  present  and  entitled  to  vote  at  the  Annual  Meeting. 
Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by 
your broker or bank) or if you vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted 
towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the annual meeting or holders of a majority of the 
votes present at the annual meeting may adjourn the Annual meeting to another time or date. 

How can I change my vote or revoke my proxy? 

If you are a stockholder of record, you have the right to revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the 
Annual  Meeting  by  (i)  returning  a  later-dated  proxy  card,  or  (ii)  voting  again  by  Internet  or  telephone  as  more  fully 
described on your Notice or proxy card. You may also revoke your proxy and change your vote by voting in person at the 
Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you 
specifically so request or vote again at the Annual Meeting. 

If your shares are held by a broker or other nominee, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to 
your broker, trustee or nominee, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your broker or nominee giving you the right 
to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. 

What does it mean if I get more than one Notice, proxy or voting instructions card? 

It means you hold shares in more than one registered account. You must vote all of your proxy cards in one of the manners 
described above (under “How do I vote and what are the voting deadlines?” on page 3) to ensure that all your shares are 
voted.  

Who will count the votes? 

Representatives of Investor Communication Services, a division of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., our mailing agent 
and tabulation service, will count the votes and Brad W. Buss, Corporate Secretary, will act as the inspector of elections. 
Cypress  believes  that  the  procedures  to  be  used  by  the  inspector  of  elections  to  count  the  votes  are  consistent  with 
Delaware law concerning the voting of shares, determination of a quorum and the vote required to take stockholder action.  

How much did this proxy solicitation cost and who will pay for the cost? 

The cost of soliciting your vote in connection with this proxy statement has been, or will be, borne by Cypress. We have 
retained  Georgeson  Shareholder  Communications,  Inc.  to  assist  with  the  solicitation  of  proxies  for  a  fee  not  to  exceed 
$8,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Georgeson Shareholder Communications, Inc. may solicit proxies 
by  mail,  telephone,  in  person  or  via  other  electronic  communications.  We  have  also  requested  that  banks,  brokers  and 
other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries send these proxy statement materials to the beneficial owners of our common 
stock they represent and secure their instructions as to the voting of such shares. We may reimburse such banks, brokers 
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries representing beneficial owners of our common stock for their expenses in 
forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. Certain of our directors, officers or employees may also solicit 
proxies in person, by telephone, or by electronic communications, but they will not receive any additional compensation 
for doing so. 

How can I receive the proxy statement and Annual Report by electronic delivery? 

You  may  sign  up  for  Cypress’s  e-delivery  program  at  www.cypress.com/edeliveryconsent.  When  you  sign  up  for  our 
electronic delivery program, you will be notified by e-mail whenever our annual report or proxy statement is available for 
viewing on the Internet. Your enrollment in the e-delivery program will remain in effect as long as your account remains 
active or you cancel your enrollment. 

How can a stockholder request a copy of Cypress’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for fiscal year 
2010? 

A  stockholder may  send  a written  request  for  a  copy  of  our Annual  Report on  Form  10-K  to  Brad W.  Buss,  Corporate 
Secretary, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134. Upon receipt of such 

5 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

Q: 

A: 

request  by  a  stockholder,  we  will  provide  a  copy  of  our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  without  charge,  including  the 
financial statements and the financial statement schedules, required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 13a-1 of the 
Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  for  our  fiscal  year  2010.  Our  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended 
January  2,  2011,  was  filed  with  the  SEC  on  February  25,  2011  and  is  also  available  at  our  web  site  at: 
http://www.cypress.com/go/annualreport. 

How  and  when  may  I  submit  proposals  for  consideration  at  next  year’s  Annual  Meeting  of  stockholders  or  to 
nominate individuals to serve as directors for Cypress? 

You  may  submit  your  proposals,  including  director  nominations,  for  consideration  at  future  Annual  Meetings  of 
stockholders by following the directions set forth below: 

For  stockholder  proposals  to  be  considered  for  inclusion  in  our  2012  proxy  statement,  the  written  proposal  must  be 
received by our Corporate Secretary at our corporate offices at 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134, no later 
than December 3, 2011 in accordance with the requirements of Rule 14a-8. In addition, the Company’s bylaws establish 
an advance notice procedure for stockholders who wish to present certain matters or nominate director candidates before 
or at an annual meeting of stockholders. Any stockholder who wants to make a proposal or director nomination that is not 
to  be  included  in  our  proxy  statement  for  the  2012  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  must  deliver  written  notice  to  be 
received  by  our  Corporate  Secretary  at  our  corporate  offices  at  198  Champion  Court,  San  Jose,  California  95134,  no 
earlier  than  January 14,  2012  and  no  later  than  February 14,  2012.  Any  such  proposal  must  contain  the  specific 
information required by the Company’s bylaws. In the event the date of next year’s annual meeting is moved more than 30 
days before or after the anniversary date of this year’s Annual Meeting, the deadline for inclusion of stockholder proposals 
in our proxy statement is instead a reasonable time before Cypress begins to print and mail its proxy materials, and the 
deadline  for  submitting  stockholder  proposals  not  to  be  included  in  our  proxy  statement  is  no  later  than  the  close  of 
business  on  the  later  of  the  60th  day  prior  to  such  annual  meeting  or  the  10th  day  following  the  day  on  which  public 
announcement  of  the  date  of  such  meeting  is  first  made.  All  stockholder  proposals  will  also  need  to  comply  with  SEC 
regulations, including Rule 14a-8 of the 1934 Securities Exchange Act regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in 
any Company-sponsored proxy material. 

A submission by a stockholder must contain the specific information required in the Company’s bylaws. If you would like 
a copy of Cypress’s current bylaws, please write to Brad W. Buss, Corporate Secretary, 198 Champion Court, San Jose, 
California 95134. 

Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting? 

Cypress  will  announce  preliminary  voting  results  at  the  2011  Annual  Meeting  and  file  a  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K 
announcing the final voting results after the Annual Meeting.  

How many copies of the proxy materials will you deliver to stockholders sharing the same address? 

To  reduce  the  expenses  of  delivering  duplicate  proxy  materials,  we  are  taking  advantage  of  the  SEC’s  “householding” 
rules  that  permit  us  to  deliver  only  one  set  of  proxy  materials  to  stockholders  who  share  an  address,  unless  otherwise 
requested by the stockholders. If you have not enrolled in our electronic delivery program, share an address with another 
stockholder  and  have  received  only  one  set  of  proxy  materials  and  desire  or  require  to  receive  additional  copies  of  the 
proxy  materials, you may request a separate copy of these materials, including the Annual Report, at no cost to you by 
writing  to  Brad  W.  Buss,  Corporate  Secretary,  Cypress  Semiconductor  Corporation,  198  Champion  Court,  San  Jose, 
California 95134. The telephone number is (408) 934-2600. For future annual meetings, you may request separate voting 
materials, or request that we send only one set of proxy materials to you if you are receiving multiple copies, by writing to 
Investor Relations at the address given above. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR 
THE 2011 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD MAY 13, 2011.  

Copies  of 

to  stockholders  are  also  available  online  at 
http://www.cypress.com/go/annualreport. You are encouraged to access and review all of the important information contained in 
the proxy materials before voting.  

this  Proxy  Statement  and  our  2010  Annual  Report 

6 

 
  
  
 
PROPOSAL ONE  

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 

A board of eight (8) directors is to be elected at the 2011 Annual Meeting. Proxies can only be voted for the number of 
nominees named in this Proxy Statement. All directors are elected annually and serve a one-year term until the next annual meeting 
where  they  or  their  successors  are  elected.  If  you  submit  a  signed  proxy  card  that  does  not  specify  how  you  wish  to  vote,  your 
shares will be voted for the eight (8) director nominees named below, seven of whom are presently serving as our directors. If any 
nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee 
designated by  the  present  Board  to  fill  the  vacancy.  We  do  not  expect  any  nominee  will  be  unable  or  will  decline  to  serve  as  a 
director.  There  are  no  arrangements  or  understandings  between  any  nominee  and  any  other  person  pursuant  to  which  he  was 
selected  as  a  director  or  a  nominee.  As  of  the  time  of  filing  of  this  Proxy  Statement,  there  were  no  director  candidates 
recommended by stockholders or stockholder groups beneficially owning 5% of voting common stock for at least one (1) year. The 
Board has nominated Mr. van den Hoek for election and all other candidates for re-election by our stockholders. 

Nominees for Election to Our Board of Directors 

Name of Nominee 

Age 

Principal Occupation 

T.J. Rodgers  

W. Steve Albrecht  

Eric A. Benhamou  

Lloyd Carney 

James R. Long 

J. Daniel McCranie 

J. D. Sherman  

Wilbert van den Hoek 

62 

64 

55 

49 

68 

67 

45 

54 

President and Chief Executive Officer of Cypress 

Andersen Alumni Professor of Accounting, Marriott 
School of Management, Brigham Young University 

Chairman of our Board, and former Chairman of the 
Board of 3Com Corporation 

Chief Executive Officer, Xsigo Systems 

Consultant, Former Executive Vice President of Nortel 

Chairman of the Board of ON Semiconductor and former 
Chairman of the Board of Virage Logic 

Chief Financial Officer, Akamai Technologies 

Consultant, Former Chief Executive Officer of Novellus 
Development Company, LLC and Executive Vice 
President of Novellus Systems, Inc. 

Director 
Since 

1982 

2003 

1993 

2005 

2000 

2005 

2010 

N/A 

Except as set forth below, each of the nominees has been engaged in his principal occupation described above during the 

past five (5) years. There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers. 

T.J. Rodgers is founder, president, chief executive officer, and a director of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. He sits 
on the board of directors of Cypress’s internal subsidiaries as well as Bloom Energy, a privately held fuel cell company and as at 
the date of this Proxy Statement, SunPower Corporation, a public company. He is also a Trustee of Dartmouth College, his alma 
mater.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  a  Sloan  scholar  at  Dartmouth,  where  he  graduated  with  a  double  major  in  physics  and  chemistry.  He 
attended Stanford University on a Hertz fellowship, earning a master's degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He managed 
the  MOS  memory  design  group  at  AMI  from  1975  to  1980  before  moving  to  Advanced  Micro  Devices  (AMD),  where  he  ran 
AMD's static RAM product group until 1982, when he founded Cypress. As Cypress’s founder, Mr. Rodgers has the benefit of the 
Company’s  complete  history.  This  advantage,  taken  together  with  his  expert  technical  and  analytical  skills,  vast  executive 
experience, and over four decades of experience in the semiconductor industry, make him uniquely qualified to be on our Board. 

W. Steve Albrecht is the Andersen Alumni Professor of Accounting at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham 
Young  University  (“BYU”).  He  served  as  the  associate  dean  of  the  school  until  July  2008.  Mr.  Albrecht,  a  certified  public 
accountant, certified internal auditor, and certified fraud examiner, joined BYU in 1977 after teaching at Stanford University and 
the University of Illinois. Prior to becoming a professor, he worked as an accountant for Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Albrecht is the 
past  president  of  the  American  Accounting  Association  and  the  Association  of  Certified  Fraud  Examiners.  Since  2005,  he  has 
served  on  the  board  of  directors  of  SunPower  Corporation.  Until  his  resignation  in  2009,  Mr.  Albrecht  served  on  the  board  of 
directors of Red Hat from 2003, and SkyWest Airlines from 2003. In 2011, he was re-appointed to the board of directors of Red 
Hat. He is a former trustee of the Financial Accounting Foundation that provides oversight to the Financial Accounting Standards 
Board (“FASB”) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (“GASB”). Mr. Albrecht holds a Bachelor of Science degree 
from  Brigham  Young  University,  a  Masters  degree  in  Business  Administration  and  a  Doctorate  degree  in  Accounting  from  the 
7 

University of Wisconsin. Mr. Albrecht’s extensive experience with public and financial accounting matters, especially with respect 
to multi-national companies, makes him well-qualified to be on our Board. 

Eric A. Benhamou is the chairman of our Board of Directors and former chairman of the board of 3Com Corporation. He 
served as chief executive officer of Palm, Inc. from October 2001 until October 2003 and chairman until October 2007, and was 
chief  executive  officer  of  3Com  from  1990  until  the  end  of  2000.  Mr. Benhamou  co-founded  Bridge  Communications,  an  early 
networking pioneer, and was vice president of engineering until its merger with 3Com in 1987. He is also a member of the board of 
directors of RealNetworks, Inc., Silicon Valley Bank, and Voltaire, Inc. He serves on the executive committee of TechNet and is 
vice chairman of the board of governors of Ben Gurion University of the Negev. He is the chief executive officer of Benhamou 
Global  Ventures,  an  investment  firm  he  established  in  2004.  Mr.  Benhamou  holds  a  Master  of  Science  degree  from  Stanford 
University's School of Engineering and a Diplôme d'Ingénieur from Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers, Paris. In addition 
to his engineering expertise, we believe Mr. Benhamou’s extensive experience managing public companies in the technology sector 
as well as his expertise in venture and other financial transactions make him well-qualified to be on our Board. 

Lloyd Carney is the chief executive officer and member of the board of directors of Xsigo Systems, a venture funded IO 
Virtualization Platform. He is also a member of the board of directors of Technicolor and serves as the chairman of that board’s 
Technology  Committee.  Prior  to joining  Xsigo  in  2008, he  was  the  general  manager  of  IBM’s  NetCool  Division  from  2006  to 
2007. Prior to his employment at IBM, he was the chairman and chief executive officer of Micromuse from 2003-2005 before it 
was  acquired  by  IBM  in  2006.  Prior  to  Micromuse,  Mr. Carney  was  the  chief  operations  officer  and  executive  vice  president  at 
Juniper Networks where he oversaw the engineering, product management and manufacturing divisions from 2002 until July, 2003. 
Prior to joining Juniper Networks, Mr. Carney was the president of the Core IP Division, the Wireless Internet Division and the 
Enterprise Data Division at Nortel Networks from 1997 until 2001. Mr. Carney brings to our Board broad-based experience in the 
semiconductor  and  non-semiconductor  industries.  Mr.  Carney  holds  a  Bachelor  of  Science  degree  in  Electrical  Engineering 
Technology  from  Wentworth  Institute  and  a  Master  of  Science  degree  in  Applied  Business  Management  from  Lesley  College, 
Cambridge, Massachusetts. We believe Mr. Carney is well-qualified to be on our Board because he possesses significant executive, 
entrepreneurial and operational expertise.  

James R. Long has been an independent business consultant since 1999. He retired in 1999 as executive vice president of 
Nortel Networks Corporation and president of Nortel Enterprise Solutions. Between 1991 and 1999, Mr. Long was the president of 
various business units at Nortel Networks, including Asia Pacific, Nortel World Trade, and the Enterprise Solutions group. Prior to 
joining  Nortel,  Mr.  Long  held  a  variety  of  senior  executive  positions  with  IBM  Corporation  and  Rolm  Company,  an  IBM  and 
Siemens joint venture. He served on the board of directors of former 3Com Corporation, NCR Corporation, and still serves on the 
board of directors of the Polynesian Cultural Center. In addition to his corporate strategy skills, we believe Mr. Long’s extensive 
executive experience, especially with public companies, makes him well-qualified to be on our Board. 

J. Daniel McCranie serves as the chairman of the board of directors of ON Semiconductor, a position he has held since 
2002 and until recently was chairman of the board of directors of Virage Logic and chairman of the board of directors of Actel 
Corporation.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  Freescale  Semiconductor.  In  the  recent  past,  Mr.  McCranie  has 
served as chairman of the board of Xicor Corporation, member of the board of directors for California Microdevices, and member 
of the board of directors for ASAT Corporation. Mr. McCranie served as Cypress's executive vice president of sales and marketing 
from  1993-2001.  Prior  to  his  initial  tenure  with  Cypress,  Mr. McCranie  was  the  chairman  of  the  board,  president  and  chief 
executive officer of SEEQ Technology, and held positions of increasing responsibility in management, engineering, and sales and 
marketing at Harris Corporation, Advanced Micro Devices, American Microsystems and Philips Corporation. Mr. McCranie brings 
to  us  a  robust  experience  in  operations,  sales  and  execution  in  the  semiconductor  industry,  and  possesses  a  unique  insight  into 
Cypress’s culture. Mr. McCranie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute 
and State University (Virginia Tech). We believe Mr. McCranie is well-qualified to be on our Board due to his extensive sales and 
marketing experience, in-depth knowledge of the semiconductor industry and his leadership skills as evidenced by his executive 
positions. 

J. D. Sherman is the chief financial officer at Akamai Technologies, a leading web networking infrastructure company. He 
has  held  this  position  since 2006.  Prior  to  Akamai,  he  served  as  the  chief  financial  executive  of  IBM's  $21 billion  Systems  and 
Technology  Group  from  January  until  October,  2005.  During  his  15-year  career  at  IBM,  he  held  a  number  of  senior  executive 
positions in finance, including vice president of finance and planning for the company's zSeries Server Division. Mr. Sherman also 
served as chief financial officer for CommQuest, a wholly owned IBM subsidiary in the wireless semiconductor design industry 
from  1998  until  2000. Mr.  Sherman  holds  a  master's  degree  in  business  administration  from  the  University  of  Chicago  and  a 
bachelor's degree in Economics from Emory University. We believe Mr. Sherman is well-qualified to sit on our Board because of 
his extensive executive management, strong financial and business acumen and leadership in a large public technology company.  

Wilbert van den Hoek retired from Novellus Systems, Inc. in 2008, where he was president and chief executive officer of 
Novellus  Development  Company,  LLC  from  2005. He  joined  Novellus  Systems,  Inc.  in  1990  and  served  in  various  senior 
executive positions until his retirement in 2008. From 1980 to 1990, he held various positions at Philips Research Laboratories. He 
is also chairman of the board of directors of SDC Materials, a privately held company focused on creating and commercializing 

8 

high  value  nano-enhanced  products,  where  he  has  served  since  January  2011.  He  is  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
Replisaurus Technologies, AB, a privately held company that develops metallization solutions for the electronics industry and has 
served as a member of the board of directors since 2009. From 2004 until 2006 when the company went public, he served on the 
board  of  directors  of  Neah  Power  Systems,  Inc.,  a  company  that  develops  silicon  based  direct  methanol  fuel  cells.  For  the  past 
seven years he has served on Cypress’s Technical Advisory Board. Since 2005, he has served on the technical advisory boards of 
various organizations, Cavendish Kinetics, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company, that develops 3rd generation MEMS technology 
integrated with standard CMOS processes, Innopad, Inc., a privately held company that develops and markets polishing pads for 
chemical  mechanical  planarization  applications,  Innovent  Technologies,  LLC,  a  privately  held  engineering  and  manufacturing 
company;  and  Process  Relations,  an  independent  software  vendor  that  specializes  in  developing  and  transferring  high-tech 
manufacturing processes. Mr. van den Hoek received a Doctorandus degree in Chemistry from the Rijks Universiteit Utrecht, The 
Netherlands  in  December  1979. We  believe  that  Mr.  van  den  Hoek  is  qualified  to  sit  on  our  Board  because  of  his  extensive 
experience  as  a  senior  executive  in  the  semiconductor  manufacturing  equipment  industry  and  as  a  consultant  to  many 
semiconductor and other high technology companies, his understanding of semiconductor industry business models, segments, and 
competition, and his experience as a director at other technology companies. 

In addition to the biographical information above regarding each nominee’s specific experience, attributes, positions and 
qualifications,  we  believe  that  each  of  our  director  nominees  has  performed  his  duties  with  critical  attributes  such  as  honesty, 
integrity  and  an  adherence  to  high  ethical  standards.  Each  of  them  has  demonstrated  strong  business  acumen  and  an  ability  to 
exercise  sound  judgment,  as  well  as  a  commitment  to  the  Company  and  its  core  values.  Finally,  we  value  their  significant 
leadership and experience on other public company boards and board committees. 

Required Vote 

The eight (8) nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares present or represented and entitled 
to vote shall be elected as directors to serve until our next annual meeting, where they or their successors will be elected. Votes 
withheld from this proposal are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of 
business, but have no further legal effect under Delaware law. 

(cid:59) 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION TO THE 

BOARD OF EACH OF THE NOMINEES PROPOSED ABOVE. 

9 

PROPOSAL TWO 

RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED 
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM 

The  Board  of  Directors,  upon 

firm  of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  as  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  January  1,  2012, 
subject to ratification by our stockholders. 

the  Audit  Committee,  has 

recommendation  of 

reappointed 

the 

PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  has  served  as  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  since  1982.  A 
representative of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  is  expected  to be  present at  the  Annual Meeting  and will  have  an  opportunity  to 
make a statement if he or she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. 

Stockholder ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting 
firm  is  not  required  by  our  bylaws  or  other  applicable  legal  requirements.  However,  the  Board  is  submitting  the  selection  of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice.  

If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee 
and the Board will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Board, at its discretion, may 
direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that 
such a change would be in the best interest of Cypress and its stockholders. 

All  fees  billed  to  Cypress  by  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  for  fiscal  years  2010  and  2009  were  pre-approved  by  the 

Audit Committee and were as follows: 

Services 

Audit Fees 

Audit-Related Fees 

Tax Fees 

                Total 

2010 

$1,913,000 

$6,500 

$1,264,000 

$3,183,500 

2009 

$1,934,000 

$125,000 

$1,061,000 

$3,120,000 

Audit  Fees:  Includes  fees  associated  with  the  annual  audit  of  financial  statements  and  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting in compliance with regulatory requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, review of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, 
annual report on Form 10-K and periodic reports on Form 8-K, consents issued in connection with our Form S-8 filings, assistance 
and review with other documents we filed with the SEC, and statutory audits required internationally. 

Audit-Related Fees: Audit-related services principally include employee benefit plan audits, internal control consulting, 

and accounting consultations not associated with the regular audit. 

Tax  Fees:  Includes  fees  for  tax  compliance  (tax  return  preparation  assistance  and  expatriate  tax  services),  general  tax 

planning, tax-related services on acquisition and international tax consulting.  

All Other Fees: Cypress was not billed any other fees by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy 

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that requires advance approval of all audit services, audit-related services, tax, 
and other services performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. With the exception of certain de-
minimis amounts, unless the specific service has been previously pre-approved with respect to that fiscal year, the Audit Committee 
must approve the permitted service before the independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to perform such services 
for Cypress. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
Required Vote 

The  affirmative  vote  of  the  holders  of  a  majority  of  the  shares  represented  and  entitled  to  vote  at  the  meeting  will  be 
required to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal 
year ending January 1, 2012. 

(cid:59) 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF 
THE APPOINTMENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM. 

11 

APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 1994 STOCK PLAN TO APPROVE 
ADDITIONAL SHARES 

 PROPOSAL THREE 

Background 

Our 1994 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) allows us to grant equity compensation awards to our employees, officers and directors. 
The  Plan  permits  us  to  grant  service-based  awards  and  long-term  performance-based  awards,  including  our  performance 
accelerated restricted stock (“PARS”) program that we adopted in 2007 to retain and incentivize key employees. In 2007, under the 
PARS program, we awarded performance-based vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to key employees, including our Named 
Executive Officers (“NEOs”) and our other executive officers. Our executive officers, including our NEOs, have not received any 
other standard awards since 2007, when we granted a five-year tranche of PARS that could be earned from 2007 through 2011, 
subject to achieving performance metrics. Accordingly, our executive officers, including our NEOs, are now due for new awards 
under the PARS program. As of March 1, 2011, the Plan had approximately 11.1 million shares remaining available for grant. We 
are asking our stockholders to approve adding 15 million shares to the Plan. 

If our stockholders do not approve this proposal, we will not be able to continue to offer competitive equity packages to 
retain our current employees and hire new employees after 2011. Additionally, we would then expect to have no shares available to 
grant any awards to any of our NEOs beginning in 2012. To fund our PARS program for the next two years, and to continue to 
provide equity incentives to our employees at a competitive level, the Board recommends that our stockholders approve reserving 
an  additional 15  million  shares under  the Plan,  to bring the  total number of  shares  available  for  issuance under  the  Plan  to 26.1 
million.  The  Plan  contains  a  share  fungibility  provision  whereby  each  full-value  award,  such  as  an  RSU,  issued  from  the  Plan 
results in a debit to the Plan share reserve of 1.88 shares. Thus, if this proposal is approved, the 26.1 million total shares available 
for issuance would translate to a maximum of 13.9 million shares that could be issued as RSUs or other full-value awards. 

Summary of the Proposal 

Our  Board of  Directors  approved  the  amendment  and  restatement  of  the  Plan  (as  amended  and  restated,  the  “Amended 
Plan”) on March 29, 2011, subject to approval by our stockholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting. The Amended Plan increases the 
number of shares issuable under the amended plan by 15 million shares. We are not asking our stockholders to approve any other 
Plan amendment, and we have not asked the shareholders for additional shares under the Plan since 2004.  

This proposal summarizes why our stockholders should approve this proposal. It also describes the major features of the 
Amended  Plan,  but  this  description  is  qualified  in  its  entirety  by  reference  to  the  actual  text  of  the  Amended  Plan,  set  forth  as 
Exhibit A to this proxy statement.  

The Plan is a Critical Element of our Compensation Policy 

Our employees are our most valuable asset. Accordingly, the approval of the Amended Plan is in the best interest of our 

stockholders, as equity awards granted under the plan help us to:  

• 

• 

• 

attract, motivate, and retain talented employees, consultants and non-employee directors; 

align employee and stockholder interests; 

link employee compensation with company performance; and  

•  maintain a culture based on employee stock ownership. 

If  this  proposal  is  approved,  the  Compensation  Committee  (the  “Committee”)  intends  to  grant,  under  our  new  PARS 
program to our executives and NEOs, between 40% and 60% fewer shares than were subject to awards made under the 2007 PARS 
program and to allocate most of the shares under the Amended Plan to performance-based awards and restricted stock units. The 
Compensation Committee also intends to continue to grant only performance-based RSUs to our executive officers, including our 
NEOs.  

If our stockholders do not approve this amendment, our plans for growth could be significantly hampered and our ability 
to operate our business, especially in our rapidly growing PSoC® division, could be adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be 
compelled  to  instead  offer  material  cash-based  incentives  to  compete  for  talent,  which  could  have  a  significant  effect  upon  our 
quarterly results of operations and balance sheet. Moreover, this would not be competitive with most other technology companies. 

Our  success  over  the  past  few  years  is  largely  due  to  our  highly  talented  employee  base.  Our  future  success  depends 
heavily  on  our  ability  to  attract  and  retain  high  caliber  employees,  consultants  and  board  members.  The  ability  to  grant  equity 
awards is a necessary and powerful recruiting and retention tool for us to hire and motivate the quality personnel we need to move 
our business forward. 

12 

Broadening markets for our products and services, our broadening customer base, our geographic diversity and increasing 
product complexity all drive requirements for a different skill set of employees and consultants that are in high demand, including: 
design  engineers,  software  engineers,  analog  engineers,  system  engineers,  and  technical  sales  personnel.  We  face  intense 
competition  in  attracting  these  professionals  from  traditional  semiconductor  to  start-up  companies  as  well  as  internet  and  social 
networking companies. The competition for talent is particularly intense in Silicon Valley. Cypress had more than 450 new hires in 
2010. We expect to have over 550 new hires in 2011. Over 70% of our new hires are in technical positions, where we compete with 
a  wide  range  of  companies  who  offer  equity  awards  as  an  integral  part  of  their  hiring  programs.  This  influx  of  new  talent  is 
essential  to  expand  our  skills  required  to  accelerate  the  design,  manufacture  and  marketing  of  our  higher  value  added  products, 
software and solutions. Additionally, we have approximately 2,300 non-manufacturing personnel. A significant percentage of these 
personnel are granted equity awards annually. 

The Plan Conforms to Best Practices 

We designed the Plan to conform to best practices in equity incentive plans. For example, the Plan: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

prohibits equity award repricing without stockholder approval; 

does not permit options or stock appreciation rights to be granted with a term exceeding eight (8) years; 

permits the granting of full-value awards such as restricted stock and restricted stock units, which can be used in lieu of 
stock options to reduce the total number of our shares necessary to grant competitive equity awards; and 

applies a fungible share design whereby each full-value award issued results in a debit to the Plan share pool of 1.88 
shares. 

Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) 

Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) is an influential advisor to many investors, including many of our stockholders. 
Among other things, ISS evaluates the cost of proposals, such as this one, to increase equity plan share reserves. Based upon its 
analyses,  ISS  then  advises  stockholders  to  vote  either  for  or  against  such  proposals.  Two  of  the  most  significant  tests  in  ISS’s 
analysis  of  equity  plan  proposals  are  shareholder  value  transfer,  which  measures  stockholder  dilution  both  in  terms  of  a  dollar 
amount  and  as  a  percentage of  a  company’s  market  value,  and  gross  burn rate,  which measures  a  company’s  historical  granting 
practices.   

If a company’s gross burn rate exceeds the greater of (i) the mean plus one standard deviation of a company’s industry 
group, and (ii) 2% of the company’s weighted common shares outstanding, then ISS will recommend voting against the equity plan 
proposal unless the company makes certain commitments as to its future gross burn rate. 

If a company’s SVT is too great, ISS will view the equity plan proposal as too costly and will recommend voting against 

the equity plan proposal.  

ISS’s calculations, however, do not factor out the effect of certain events. In Cypress’s case, our highly successful 2008 
spin-off  of  our  publicly-held  subsidiary,  SunPower,  and  our  aggressive  stock  repurchase  program  adversely  affect  the  ISS 
calculations. In the following explanations, we illustrate the impact of the SunPower spin-off and our share repurchase program on 
our gross burn rate and SVT. 

The SunPower Spin-Off Greatly Increased Our Outstanding Equity Awards 

On September 29, 2008, Cypress distributed shares of its publicly-held subsidiary SunPower in a spin-off transaction. The 
SunPower shares had a distribution day value of approximately $2.6 billion – which was approximately 76% of the fully-diluted 
market  capitalization  of  Cypress  at  the  time  of  the  spin-off.  The  value  of  each  SunPower  class  B  common  share  distributed  on 
September 29, 2008 was $59.86. Each Cypress common stockholder as of the record date for the spin-off received .27 shares of 
SunPower class B shares of common stock for each Cypress share they owned.  

The holders of awards under Cypress’s equity plans did not receive any SunPower shares as part of the spin-off. Instead 
these  equity  awards  were  equitably  adjusted.  The  volume  weighted  average  price  (”VWAP”)  of  the  Cypress  common  stock  on 
September 29, 2008 (the last day of trading prior to the spin-off) was $21.52. The day after the spin-off the VWAP of the Cypress 
common  stock  dropped  by  approximately  76%  to  $5.22,  reflecting  the  value of  the  spin-off  distribution.  As  is  common  in  most 
stock split and spin-off transactions, our outstanding equity awards were adjusted by a factor to compensate each equity holder for 
the  value  lost  as  a  consequence  of  the  spin-off.  Our  outstanding  equity  awards  were  multiplied  by  a  spin-off  ratio  of  4.12  to 
preserve  the  pre-spin-off  intrinsic  value  of  the  equity  awards.  The  spin-off  ratio  was  determined  by  dividing  the  Cypress  stock 
VWAP prior to the spin-off of $21.52 by the Cypress stock VWAP post-spin of $5.22.  

The spin-off adjustment caused an immediate, substantial increase in the number of shares subject to outstanding Cypress 
equity awards. As a result of the spin-off adjustment, these equity awards immediately increased by more than 87.2 million shares. 
As of March 1, 2011, of the 41.1 million shares subject to outstanding Cypress equity awards, approximately 72% represent grants 

13 

made  prior  to  the  spin-off  (see  Table  #1).  If  the  spin-off  had  not  happened  (see  Table  #2),  we  estimate  that  only  38%  of  the 
employee equity outstanding would be represented by grants made prior to the spin-off.  

Therefore, most of our outstanding equity awards as of March 1, 2011 are a direct result of the spin-off adjustment. This 

materially and negatively affects our gross burn rate and SVT calculations.  

Table #1 details our outstanding equity awards and awards available for grant as of March 1, 2011.  

Table #1 

Outstanding Grants as of March 1, 2011 

Weighted Average 
Remaining Option 
Term 

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining 
RSU/RSA Term 

Weighted 
Average 
Option 
Exercise Price 

Options (Million) 

RSU / RSA 
(Million) 

Total 
(Million) 

Common Stock Outstanding  

Available for Grant: 

Grants made post spin-off 

Grants made pre-spin-off 

Total Employee Equity 
Outstanding 

7.5 years 

4.6 years 

3.4 years 

1.8 years 

$ 9.65 

$ 4.41 

$ 5.71 

7.8 

23.5 

31.3 

3.9 

5.9 

9.8 

175 

11.1 

11.7 

29.4 

41.1 

As of March 1, 2011, the Plan had 11.1 million shares of common stock available for issuance pursuant to equity awards. 
Options to purchase approximately 31.3 million shares of common stock were outstanding under the Plan, with a weighted average 
exercise price of $5.71 per share. As of March 1, 2011, there are 9.8 million shares subject to restricted stock units and restricted 
stock under the Plan of which approximately 35% are subject to performance targets which must be achieved before any shares can 
be earned. 

If we reverse the adjustment to our equity awards due to the SunPower spin-off, the outstanding equity awards pre-spin-
off are adjusted down by the spin-off adjustment factor of 4.12. This would result in 7.1 million shares outstanding as of March 1, 
2011, as detailed in Table #2 below. 

Outstanding Grants as Adjusted for SunPower Spin-Off as of March 1, 2011 

Table #2 

Weighted Average Option 
Exercise Price 

Options 
(Million) 

RSU / RSA 
(Million) 

Total 
(Million) 

Grants made post spin 
Grants made pre-spin adjusted  
(by spin factor of 4.12022) 

Total Outstanding  

$ 9.65 

$ 4.41 

$ 5.71 

7.8 

5.7 

13.5 

3.9 

1.4 

5.3 

11.7 

7.1 

18.8 

The outstanding equity awards in Table #1 are 219% greater than the outstanding equity awards in Table #2. This is solely 
due to the equity adjustments made in light of our SunPower spin-off. Accordingly, we believe that stockholders considering this 
proposal should consider this when analyzing our SVT and gross burn rate calculations. Specifically, our historical gross burn rate 
and SVT would be lower if the effect of the spin-off adjustment is reversed for purposes of making those calculations. In summary, 
while the SunPower spin-off negatively affected our burn rate and overhang in the short terms, it was an extremely positive event 
for Cypress shareholders.  Our proposal to approve additional shares should not be punished for actions taken to help shareholders. 

Impact of Our Share Repurchase Program on Our Outstanding Equity Awards 

Our historical gross burn rate is also negatively affected by our aggressive stock repurchase program. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Since January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2010, we re-purchased 83.6 million shares as part of our program to increase 

stockholder value. This program has been well-received by our stockholders. Table #3 below illustrates our share repurchases by 
year as well as the weighted average impact by year to our outstanding shares: 

Table #3 

Cypress Semiconductor Repurchase Summary 

Total Share Repurchases 
(Million) 

Weighted Average Share Adj. For 
Burn Rate By Year (Million) 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 
Total For Burn Rate Calculations  
(through FY 2010) 

Jan 3 - March 1, 2011 

Total for SVT Calculations 

28.9 

37.1 

5.8 

11.8 

83.6 

5.0 

88.6 

41.4 

67.8 

78.1 

ISS calculates gross burn rate by using a three-year trailing average. The numerator each year is the number of options and 
stock appreciation rights granted (ignoring any shares subject to equity awards that are forfeited due to their failure to vest) plus the 
number of full-value awards granted. The full-value awards are then multiplied by a factor that is dependent on the volatility of the 
company’s publicly traded stock. This factor ranges from 1.5 to 4, with low volatility stocks receiving the higher factor of 4 and 
high  volatility  stocks  receiving  a  lower  factor  of  1.5.  The  denominator  each  year  is  the  Company’s  weighted  average  shares 
outstanding (ignoring share repurchases). This result is then compared to our industry average plus one standard deviation. ISS has 
publicly disclosed this average plus one standard deviation to be 6.64% for semiconductor companies in the Russell 3000 Index (in 
which  we  are  included)  for  2011.  This  formula  does  not  adjust  for  company  share  repurchases.  Accordingly,  companies  who 
repurchase shares have fewer shares outstanding. Therefore, since the denominator is smaller, the resulting fraction is greater. This 
tends  to  penalize  companies  who  return  cash  to  stockholders  indirectly  through  an  aggressive  share  repurchase  program.  Had 
Cypress not re-purchased these 83.6 million shares our historical gross burn rate as calculated by ISS would be significantly lower 
because our outstanding  shares would be greater.  The  table below  analyzes  our  gross  burn rate  excluding  share  repurchases  and 
excluding  the  impact  of  our  SunPower  spin-off  when  formulating  the  denominator.  Estimated  calculations  were  prepared  using 
actual data as detailed within our publicly disclosed financial statements. 

Table #4 

Cypress Semiconductor Gross Burn Rate Using ISS Methodology 
(Basic Shares)  

Simulated ISS Calculation Of Gross Burn Rate: 
Simulated ISS Calculation of Gross Burn Rate Assuming 83.6M share 
repurchase did not occur: 
Simulated ISS Calculation of Gross Burn Rate Assuming SunPower Spin-
Off did not occur: 

9.27% 

6.86% 

5.48% 

Three-Year Average 
Gross Burn Rate 

This analysis establishes that our share repurchase program has had a major impact on our historical gross burn rate and 
reduces  the  three  (3)  year  average  to  6.86%  as  compared  to  the  simulated  ISS  calculation  of  9.27%,  very  close  to  the  6.64% 
publicly deemed acceptable by ISS. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The other factor impacting the gross burn rate for 2008 and the resulting three (3) year average is the impact of the equity 
award adjustments made due to our SunPower spin-off. ISS’s methodology does not adjust for this type of event. Accordingly, this 
results in many of the equity awards that we granted prior to the spin-off in 2008 being multiplied, for purposes of the gross burn 
rate  calculation,  by  a  factor  of  4.12.  Table  #5  below  analyzes  our  historical  burn  rate  by  excluding  the  effect  of  our  share 
repurchases as detailed in Table #3 and also analyzes our historical burn rate by adjusting for the impact of the SunPower spin-off. 

Table #5 

Cypress Semiconductor Gross Burn Rate Using ISS Methodology 
(Basic Shares) 

Three-Year Average Gross Burn 
Rate 

Simulated ISS Calculation of Gross Burn Rate Assuming SunPower Spin-off 
and 83.6M share repurchase shares did not occur: 

3.88% 

Excluding  the  effect  of  our  share  repurchases  and  the  effect  of  the  SunPower  spin-off  in  2008  results  in  a  much  lower 
gross burn rate, reducing our three-year average to 3.88%. This is well below the 6.64% gross burn rate that ISS finds acceptable 
for companies in our industry that are included in the Russell 3000 index. 

Moreover,  if  we  analyze  our  net  burn  rate,  as  opposed  to  our  gross  burn  rate  by  including  in  these  calculations  equity 
awards that were forfeited due to their failure to vest, our trailing three-year average net burn rate is 3.5%. Adjusting this net burn 
rate to exclude the effect of the SunPower spin-off and our stock repurchase programs results in a net burn rate of .4%. Because it is 
a  more  precise  indicator  of  how  much  equity  we  use  to  compensation  our  employees,  consultants  and  non-employee  board 
members, our net burn rate is what impacts the stockholders the most and should be more significant to our stockholders than our 
gross burn rate. 

Cypress has been focused on reducing its annual equity burn rate. To do so, Cypress has: 

• 

reduced the number of shares underlying the equity awards we grant; and  

•  has  moved  from  granting  stock  options  to  granting  full-value  awards  such  as  RSUs  and  performance-based 

RSUs. 

If this proposal is approved, we intend to target the annual number of shares granted under Plan equity awards in 2011 and 
2012 on average to be approximately 6.5% percent of our common stock outstanding without considering any forfeitures due to 
failure to vest or approximately 3% or below when taking such forfeitures into consideration. 

Many  companies,  including  Cypress,  have  implemented  aggressive  stock  repurchase  programs  to  return  excess  cash  to 
stockholders  in  a  tax  efficient  manner.  Cypress’s  ability  to  grant  equity  awards  should  not  be  jeopardized  because  Cypress  has 
repurchased shares in an effort to increase returns to our stockholders. 

Our Shareholder Value Transfer (SVT) Rate is Largely a Function of Our Aggressive Stock Repurchase Program and $2.6 
Billion SunPower Spin-Off 

As noted above, the SunPower spin-off and aggressive stock repurchase program have materially and negatively affected 
our  SVT  and  gross  burn  rate  calculations.  Cypress  has  been  very  successful  in  executing  its  strategic  plan  and  our  stock  price 
appreciation  has  been  significant  as  compared  to  our  peers  in  recent  years.  The  combination  of  these  events  complicates  SVT 
analysis.  

16 

 
 
 
We  propose  to  look  at  the  SVT  calculation  in  five  (5)  different  ways.  All  calculations  simulate  ISS  methodologies  for 

calculating SVT: 

SVT#1 is the baseline example as of March 1, 2011 and is calculated using our current outstanding equity awards with no 
adjustments for the SunPower spin-off, historical stock repurchases or the request for the additional 15 million shares. Our SVT 
calculated in this manner is approximately 20% and well above the range of what we estimate is the industry standard, which is 
12% - 14%.  

CY SVT: 
Industry Mid-Point 

SVT INPUT 
New Shares 
Available For Grant 
Options Outstanding 
RSU/RSA Outstanding 

Shares Outstanding 

SVT #1 
As of March 1, 2011 
20% 
13% 

Non-Granted Shares Converted 
To Full Value Shares @1.88 

0 
5.904 

41.090 
46.994 

0 
11.100 
31.27 
9.82 

175 M 

SVT#2  adjusts  the  baseline  as  represented  in  SVT#1  for  the  impact  of  our  SunPower  spin-off.  This  analysis  involves 
reducing the outstanding employee equity awards by 22.3 million shares. Under this approach, the calculated SVT is approximately 
11% and under our estimated industry mid-point target of 13%. 

Non-Granted Shares Converted To 
Full Value Shares @1.88 

0 
5.904 

18.795 
24.699 

CY SVT: 
Industry Mid-Point 

SVT INPUT 
New Shares 
Available For Grant 
Options Outstanding 
RSU/RSA Outstanding 

Shares Outstanding  

SVT #2 
As of March 1, 2011 
11% 
13% 

0 
11.100 
13.478 
5.318 

175 M 

17 

  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SVT#3  adjusts  the  baseline  as  represented  in  SVT#1  by  the  SunPower  spin-off  –  lowering  the  outstanding  employee 
equity awards by 22.3 million shares (see Table #2) and adjusts the shares outstanding for the 88.6 million shares repurchased from 
January 1, 2007 through March 1, 2011. The resulting SVT is approximately 8% and well under our estimated industry mid-point 
target of 13%. 

CY SVT: 
Industry Mid-Point 

SVT INPUT 
New Shares 
Available For Grant 
Options Outstanding 
RSU/RSA Outstanding 

Shares Outstanding  

SVT #3 
As of March 1, 2011 
8% 
13% 

Non-Granted Shares Converted To 
Full Value Shares @1.88 

0 
11.100 
13.478 
5.318 

263 M 

0 
5.904 

18.795 
24.699 

SVT#4 adjusts for the impact of the SunPower spin-off as under SVT#2 and includes the impact of the 15 million shares 
we are asking to be added to the equity award pool. The calculated SVT is approximately 16% and above our estimated industry 
mid-point target, which we estimate to be 13%. 

CY SVT: 
Industry Mid-Point 

SVT INPUT 
New Shares 
Available For Grant 
Options Outstanding 
RSU/RSA Outstanding 

Shares Outstanding  

Non-Granted Shares Converted 
To Full Value Shares @1.88 

7.979 
5.904 

18.795 
32.678 

SVT #4 
As of March 1, 2011 
16% 
13% 

15.000 
11.100 
13.478 
5.318 

175 M 

18 

  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SVT#5 adjusts for the SunPower spin-off and the share repurchases as calculated under SVT#3 and includes the impact of 
the 15 million shares we are asking to be added to the equity award pool. The calculated SVT is approximately 11% and below our 
estimated industry mid-point target which we estimate to be 13%. 

CY SVT: 
Industry Mid-Point 

SVT INPUT 
New Shares 
Available For Grant 
Options Outstanding 
RSU/RSA Outstanding 

Shares Outstanding  

SVT #5 
As of March 1, 2011 
11% 
13% 

Non-Granted Shares Converted 
To Full Value Shares @1.88 

7.979 
5.904 

18.795 
32.678 

15.000 
11.100 
13.478 
5.318 

263 M 

We  are  asking  our  stockholders  to  view  the  SunPower  spin-off  and  our  share  repurchase  programs  as  two  stockholder 
friendly and value-creating events, and to not allow these positive events to unduly limit the Company’s ability to hire and retain 
skilled, motivated employees.  

Equity Compensation Awards Allow us to Implement our Philosophy of Pay-For-Performance 

Our employee equity granting practices are significantly directed at using pay-for-performance. Since 2007, more than one 
third  of  our  employee  equity  grants,  and  all  of  our  equity  awards  to  our  executive  officers,  vest  only  based  upon  achieving 
performance milestones. 

Overhang Reduction 

Overhang is another method of calculating the dilutive effect of equity compensation programs, similar to SVT. We have 
significantly reduced the overhang caused by the SunPower spin-off. As discussed above, the SunPower spin-off gave rise to an 
immediate and significant increase in outstanding employee equity awards. Prior to the day of the SunPower spin-off, our overhang 
(expressed as employee equity grants available for grant or outstanding as a percentage of common stock outstanding plus equity 
grants available for grant or outstanding) was at 15.4%. This was our lowest overhang level in over a decade. Immediately after the 
SunPower  spin-off,  our  overhang  increased  to  45%.  This  number  has  decreased  every  quarter  and  now  is  approximately  23%. 
Based  on  past  history  and  current  equity  award  plan  assumptions,  including  that  this  proposal  is  approved  for  an  additional  15 
million shares in the Plan and a constant outstanding share count, we expect that our overhang will reduce to approximately 15% by 
2012. 

The overhang Percent Trend Chart below depicts our overhang as it existed at the end of 2007 through the current period, 
March 1, 2011. As you can see, throughout 2008, our overhang percent trended down until the fourth quarter of 2008, the quarter in 
which SunPower was spun-off. As a direct result of equity awards adjustments made due to the spin-off, our overhang increased 
dramatically to 45% and has trended downward ever since to 23% as of March 1, 2011. 

19 

  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overhang % Trend

SunPower spin-off adjustment made to 
all outstanding employee equity 

9/29/08: Date Cypress stockholders 
received .27 shares of SPWRB

50.0%

45.0%

40.0%

35.0%

30.0%

25.0%

20.0%

15.0%

10.0%

5.0%

0.0%

Q

Q

Q

Q

4 

0

7

1 

0

8

2 

0

8

3 

0

8

Q

4

0

8

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

Q

1 

0

9

2 

0

9

3 

0

9

4 

0

9

1 

1

0

2 

1

0

3 

1

0

4 

1

0

3
/
1/

1

1

We have taken the following actions to reduce overhang: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

executing  our  business  plan  strategies  drove  our  stock  price  higher  encouraging  employees  to  exercise  stock 
options 

reduced our number of shares available to grant for new hires and annual awards on two (2) different occasions 

issued predominantly restricted stock units rather than stock options, which tends to reduce our overhang 

allowed our 1999 Stock Option Plan and its remaining share pool to expire with unissued awards 

We intend to remain focused on reducing overhang and will continue to take aggressive steps towards our goal. 

Summary 

Equity  awards  are  a  key  component  of  our  overall  compensation  strategy,  contributing  a  significant  portion  of  our 
employees’  total  compensation.  We  are  asking  our  stockholders  to  allow  us  to  continue  to  hire  and  retain  skilled,  motivated 
employees through our competitive employee performance-based equity program, and to not allow the impact that the SunPower 
spin-off  and  aggressive  stock  repurchase  programs  have  had  on  our  SVT  and  burn  rate  calculations  to  negatively  influence  any 
decision regarding this proposal. We have continued to deliver strong returns to our stockholders and approval of this proposal is 
important so that we may continue to do so in the future.  

Required Vote 

The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the common stock present or represented at the meeting is required to 

approve the adoption of the Amended Plan and approve its material terms. 

(cid:59) 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS VOTING “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE ADOPTION OF 

THE AMENDED PLAN AND APPROVAL OF ITS MATERIAL TERMS. 

20 

 
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE AMENDED PLAN 

The following is a summary of the principal features of the Amended Plan and its operation. However, the summary is 

qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Plan, as set forth in Appendix A. 

Background and Purpose of the Amended Plan 

The Amended Plan is intended to (i) attract, (ii) retain, and (iii) increase incentives through share ownership on the part of 
eligible employees, consultants, and non-employee directors who provide significant services to us. We believe that over the years, 
our stock plans have made a significant contribution to the success of our business by increasing our ability to attract and retain 
highly competent individuals on whose judgment, initiative, leadership and continued efforts our growth and profitability depend. 

Types of Awards Granted Under the Amended Plan 

The Amended Plan permits the grant of the following types of discretionary incentive awards:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

incentive stock options,  

nonstatutory stock options, 

restricted stock (including restricted stock units), and 

stock appreciation rights. 

The Amended Plan also provides for the grant of automatic, nondiscretionary stock options and restricted stock units to 
our non-employee directors. Collectively, the discretionary awards and the automatic options and restricted stock units are referred 
to as “Awards.” 

Administration of the Amended Plan 

The Committee administers the Amended Plan. To make grants to certain of our officers and key employees, the members 
of  the  Committee  must  qualify  as  “non-employee”  directors  under  Rule  16b-3  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  and  as 
“outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (so that we can receive a federal tax deduction for certain 
compensation paid under the Amended Plan). 

Subject to the terms of the Amended Plan, the Committee has the sole discretion to select the employees, consultants, and 
non-employee directors who will receive discretionary Awards, determine the terms and conditions of such discretionary Awards 
(for example, the exercise price and vesting schedule), and interpret the provisions of the Amended Plan and outstanding Awards. 
The Committee also has the authority to amend outstanding Awards, including the authority to accelerate vesting or to extend an 
option’s post-termination exercise period (but not beyond the original option term). The Committee may delegate any part of its 
authority and powers under the Amended Plan to one or more of our directors and/or officers. 

No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval 

The  Committee  may  not  permit  the  repricing,  including  by  way  of  exchange,  of  any  option  or  restricted  stock  Award, 

without receiving prior stockholder approval. 

Awards that Expire or are Forfeited 

If  an  Award  expires  or  is  cancelled  without  having  been  fully  exercised  or  vested,  the  unvested  or  cancelled  shares 

generally will be returned to the available pool of shares reserved for issuance under the Amended Plan. 

Eligibility to Receive Awards 

The Committee selects the employees, consultants, and non-employee directors who will be granted discretionary Awards; 
provided that only employees may receive incentive stock options. The actual number of individuals who will receive discretionary 
Awards cannot be determined in advance because the Committee has the discretion to select the participants. 

Our  non-employee  directors  are  eligible  to  receive  automatic  restricted  stock  unit  grants  upon  joining  our  Board,  and 

automatic RSU grants for each year they serve on the Board. 

As of  March 1,  2011,  3,488 employees  and  other  service providers,  including  ten (10)  executive  officers  and seven  (7) 

non-employee directors, were eligible to participate in the Plan. 

Stock Options 

A stock option is the right to acquire shares at a fixed exercise price for a fixed period of time. Under the Amended Plan, 

the Committee may grant nonstatutory stock options and/or incentive stock options.  

21 

Share Limits.  The Committee will determine the number of shares covered by each option, but during any fiscal year of 

Cypress, no participant may be granted options covering more than 2,000,000 shares. 

Exercise Price.  The exercise price of the shares subject to each option is set by the Committee, but cannot be less than 

100% of the fair market value (on the date of grant) of the shares covered by the option. 

Incentive Stock Options.  The exercise price of an incentive stock option must be at least 110% of fair market value if (on 
the grant date) the participant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of 
Cypress  or  any  parent  or  subsidiary.  The  aggregate  fair  market  value  of  the  shares  (determined  on  the  grant  date)  covered  by 
incentive stock options which first become exercisable by any participant during any calendar year also may not exceed $100,000. 
Any  shares  in excess of  this  limit  will  be  treated  as  a  nonstatutory  stock  option.  If  the  employee  holds  more  than  one  incentive 
stock option, the incentive stock options are considered in the order in which they were granted. 

Term and Vesting.  An option granted under the Amended Plan generally cannot be exercised until it becomes vested. The 
Committee establishes the vesting schedule of each option at the time of grant. Options granted to new hires typically cliff vest as 
to 20% of the covered shares after one (1) year of service and vest monthly thereafter so as to be 100% vested after completing five 
(5) years of service. Options granted to existing employees typically vest monthly over five (5) years. Options granted under the 
Amended Plan expire at the times established by the Committee, but not later than eight (8) years after the grant date (such term is 
limited to five (5) years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a participant who owns stock possessing more than 10% 
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Cypress). 

Exercise of the Option.  An option granted under the Amended Plan is exercised by giving written or electronic notice to 
Cypress,  specifying  the  number  of  shares  to  be  purchased  and  tendering  full  payment  of  the  exercise  price  to  Cypress.  The 
Committee may permit payment through the tender of shares that are already owned by the participant, or by any other means that 
the Committee determines to be consistent with the purpose of the Amended Plan. The participant must pay any taxes that Cypress 
is required to withhold at the time of exercise. 

Termination of Participant.  In the event an optionee’s continuous status as an employee, director, or consultant terminates 
for any reason other than upon the optionee’s death or disability, all of the options held by the optionee under the Amended Plan 
will be exercisable (to the extent the option was exercisable on the date of termination) within such period of time as is specified in 
the  applicable  option  agreement.  In  the  absence  of  a  specified  period  of  time  in  the  option  agreement,  the  vested  portion  of  the 
option will remain exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of such termination. In the event an optionee’s 
continuous status as an employee, director, or consultant terminates as a result of the optionee’s disability, all of the options held by 
the optionee under the Amended Plan will be exercisable (to the extent the option was exercisable on the date of termination) for a 
period of six (6) months following the date of such disability or such longer period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months, as 
specified in the applicable option agreement. In the event an optionee’s continuous status as an employee, director, or consultant 
terminates as a result of the optionee’s death, all of the options held by the optionee under the Amended Plan will be exercisable (to 
the extent the option would have become exercisable had the optionee continued living and remained in continuous status as an 
employee, director, or consultant) for an additional twelve (12) months. In addition, if the optionee dies within thirty (30) days after 
his  or  her  termination  of  continuous  status  as  an  employee,  director,  or  consultant,  the  option  may  be  exercised  within  six  (6) 
months following the date of such death (to the extent the option was exercisable on the date of termination). However, in no event 
may the period of exercisability extend beyond the expiration date of the option. 

Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units 

Awards of restricted stock are shares that vest in accordance with the terms and conditions established by the Committee. 
The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of restricted stock granted under the Amended Plan, including the number 
of shares of restricted stock granted to any employee, consultant, or non-employee director and whether the award will be in the 
form  of  restricted  stock or  restricted  stock  units;  provided  that  during  any  fiscal  year  of  Cypress,  no participant  may  be  granted 
more than 3,296,176 shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units. 

In determining whether an award of restricted stock or restricted stock units should be made, and/or the vesting schedule 
for any such Award, the Committee may impose whatever conditions to vesting as it determines to be appropriate. For example, the 
Committee may determine to grant an Award of restricted stock only if the participant satisfies performance goals established by 
the Committee. 

Automatic Grants to Non-Employee Directors 

Under  the  Amended  Plan,  our  non-employee  directors  receive  automatic  RSU  grants  upon  first  joining  our  Board  and 
annual  RSU  grants  thereafter.  No  person  has  any  discretion  to  select  which  non-employee  directors  will  be  granted  automatic 
grants or to determine the number of shares to be covered by the automatic grants. 

Administration Award Grants.  Automatic award grants are not subject to any discretionary administration and are made 

pursuant to a non-discretionary formula as follows: 

22 

 
 
• 

upon  first  joining  the  board,  each  non-employee  director  is  automatically  granted  a  number  of  RSUs  equal  to 
$525,000 divided by the trading price of one share of common stock on the grant date, rounded down to the nearest whole share. 
This initial RSU grant vests as to 1/3 of the covered units on each anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service; and 

• 

each  outside  director  who  was  an  outside  director  on  the  date  of  the  prior  year’s  annual  stockholder  meeting  is 
automatically granted a number of RSUs equal to $175,000 divided by the trading price of one share of common stock on the grant 
date, rounded down to the nearest whole share. Each outside director who was not an outside director on the date of the prior year’s 
annual stockholder meeting is automatically granted a number of RSUs equal to $175,000 divided by the trading price of one share 
of common stock on the grant date, rounded down to the nearest whole share, then multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which 
is  the  number  of  days  since  the  outside director  received  their  initial  RSU  grant,  and the  denominator  of  which  is 365,  rounded 
down to the nearest whole share. In either case, the Annual RSU Grant is 100% vested on the grant date. 

Transfers or Leave of Absence 

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, and subject to applicable laws, the vesting of awards granted under the 
Amended  Plan  ceases  during  any  unpaid  leave  of  absence.  Moreover,  unless  otherwise  determined  by  the  Committee,  any 
employee who transfers his or her employment to a subsidiary and receives an equity incentive covering such subsidiary’s equity 
securities in connection with such transfer, ceases vesting in his or her awards granted under the Amended Plan, until such time (if 
at all) the employee transfers from the employment of the subsidiary or another subsidiary back to the employ of Cypress. 

Changes in Capitalization 

If  we  experience  a  stock  split,  reverse  stock  split,  stock  dividend,  combination  or  reclassification  of  our  shares,  or  any 
other  increase  or  decrease  in  the  number  of  issued  shares  effected  without  our  receipt  of  consideration  (except  for  certain 
conversions of convertible securities), appropriate adjustments will be made subject to any required action by out stockholders, to 
the number of shares available for issuance under the Amended Plan, the number of shares issuable as restricted stock or restricted 
stock unit awards under the Amended Plan, the number of shares covered by each outstanding Award, the price per share covered 
by each outstanding Award, and the per-person limits on Awards, as appropriate to reflect the stock dividend or other change. 

Similarly,  if  we  experience  a  spin-off,  split-off,  or  similar  transaction,  then  subject  to  any  required  action  by  our 
stockholders, the number and/or type of shares covered by each outstanding award, the number and/or type of shares which have 
been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the 
Plan upon cancellation, forfeiture or expiration of an Award and the price per share, if any, of common stock covered by each such 
outstanding award will be appropriately and proportionately adjusted at sole discretion of the Board to account for any increase or 
diminution in value. 

Merger or Asset Sale 

In  the  event  of  our  merger  with  or  into  another  corporation  or  the  sale  of  substantially  all  of  our  assets,  the  successor 
corporation  (or  its  parent  or  subsidiary)  will  assume  or  substitute  for  equal  value  each  outstanding  Award.  With  respect  to 
discretionary Awards which include performance-based Awards, the Committee  may, in its sole discretion, fully accelerate such 
Awards in lieu of assumption or substitution. In such event, the Committee will notify all optionee’s that their options under the 
Amended Plan will be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice and the option will terminate 
upon the expiration of such period. 

With respect to automatic and performance-based grants, in the event the successor corporation does not agree to assume 
or substitute for such RSUs, each outstanding automatic RSU will become fully vested and exercisable, including as to shares that 
would not otherwise be exercisable, unless the Board, in its discretion, determines otherwise. 

Awards to be Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups  

The number of discretionary Awards that an employee or consultant may receive under the Amended Plan is at the discretion 
of the Committee and therefore cannot be determined in advance. The following table sets forth the aggregate number of shares subject 
to automatic RSU grants under the Plan during the last fiscal year. 

Name of Group 

All directors who are not 
executive officers, as a group 

Number of Automatic 
Restricted Stock Units Granted 

Average Per Share Price 

134,381 

$11.72 

23 

 
 
 
 
Limited Transferability of Awards 

Awards  granted  under  the  Amended  Plan  generally  may  not  be  sold,  pledged,  assigned,  hypothecated,  transferred,  or 
disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution. During the participant’s lifetime, 
only the participant may exercise the Award. If the Committee makes an Award under the Amended Plan transferable, such Award 
will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. 

Federal Tax Aspects 

The following paragraphs are a summary of the general federal income tax consequences to U.S. taxpayers and Cypress of 

awards granted under the Plan. Tax consequences for any particular individual may be different. 

Nonstatutory Stock Options.  No taxable income is reportable when a nonstatutory stock option is granted to a participant. 
Upon  exercise,  the participant  will  recognize  ordinary  income  in  an amount  equal  to  the  excess  of  the  fair  market  value (on  the 
exercise date) of the shares purchased over the exercise price of the option. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon any later 
disposition of the shares would be capital gain or loss. 

Incentive Stock Options.  No taxable income is reportable when an incentive stock option is granted or exercised (except 
for  purposes  of  the  alternative  minimum  tax,  in  which  case  taxation  is  similar  to  nonstatutory  stock  options).  If  the  participant 
exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares more than two (2) years after the grant date and more 
than one (1) year after the exercise date, the difference between the sale price and the exercise price will be taxed as capital gain or 
loss. If the participant exercises the option and then later sells or otherwise disposes of the shares before the end of the two- or one-
year holding periods described above, he or she generally will have ordinary income at the time of the sale equal to the fair market 
value of the shares on the exercise date (or the sale price, if less) minus the exercise price of the option.  

Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units.  A participant will not have taxable income upon grant unless he or she elects to 
be  taxed  at  that  time  (except  no  such  election  is  available  for  restricted  stock  units).  Instead,  he  or  she  will  recognize  ordinary 
income at the time of vesting equal to the fair market value (on the vesting date) of the shares received minus any amount paid for 
the shares. 

Tax Effect for Cypress.  Cypress generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an Award made to U.S. 
employees, consultants and directors under the Amended Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant 
and at the time the participant recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a nonstatutory stock option). Special rules limit 
the deductibility of compensation paid to certain of our executive officers. Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, the 
annual  compensation  paid  to  any  of  these  specified  executives  will  be  deductible  only  to  the  extent  that  it  does  not  exceed 
$1,000,000. However, Cypress can preserve the deductibility of certain compensation in excess of $1,000,000 if the conditions of 
Section  162(m)  are  met.  These  conditions  include  stockholder  approval  of  the  Amended  Plan,  setting  limits  on  the  number  of 
Awards that any individual may receive, and for awards other than certain stock options, establishing performance criteria that must 
be  met  before  the  award  actually  will  vest  or  be  paid.  The  Amended  Plan  has  been  designed  to  permit  the  Committee  to  grant 
awards that qualify as performance-based for purposes of satisfying the conditions of Section 162(m), thereby permitting Cypress 
to continue to receive a federal income tax deduction in connection with such awards. 

Amendment and Termination of the Amended Plan 

The  Board  generally  may  amend,  alter,  suspend,  or  terminate  the  Amended  Plan  at  any  time,  except  that  certain 
amendments may require stockholder approval or the consent of participants in the Amended Plan. Adding shares to the Amended 
Plan requires stockholder approval, except in the case of adjustments due to a stock split or similar change in capitalization effected 
without the receipt of consideration by us. Currently, the Plan is scheduled to expire on January 15, 2014. 

Summary 

We believe strongly that the approval of the Amended Plan is essential to our continued success. Awards such as those 
provided under the Amended Plan constitute an important incentive for our key employees and other service providers and help us 
to attract, retain and motivate people whose skills and performance are critical to our success. Our employees are our most valuable 
asset. We strongly believe that the Amended Plan is essential for us to compete for talent in the difficult labor markets in which we 
operate.  

24 

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS 

Information  as  of  March  1,  2011  with  respect  to  our  compensation  plans  (including  individual  compensation 

arrangements) under which equity securities of Cypress are authorized for issuance, are aggregated in the table below as follows: 

• 

• 

all compensation plans previously approved by security holders; and  

all compensation plans not previously approved by security holders. 

Equity Compensation Plan Information  

Plan Category 

Number of Securities to be 
Issued Upon Exercise of 
Outstanding Options, 
Warrants and Rights 

Weighted Average Exercise 
Price of Outstanding Options, 
Warrants and Rights 

Number of Securities 
Remaining Available for 
Future Issuance 

Equity Compensation Plans 
Approved by Security Holders 

Equity Compensation Plans Not 
Approved by Security Holders 

          Total 

   30.91 

   10.1 

41.1 

  $5.632 

$5.88 

   $5.712 

   15.83 

- 

15.8 

1. 

Includes 9.8 million shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units granted. 

2.  Excludes impact of 9.8 million shares of restricted stock units and restricted stock which have no exercise price. 

3. 

Includes 11.1 million shares available for future issuance under Cypress's 1994 Amended Stock Option Plan. In addition, 
the amount includes 4.7 million shares available for future issuance under Cypress's employee stock purchase plan. 

25 

 
 
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

PROPOSAL FOUR  

The  recently  enacted  Dodd-Frank  Wall  Street  Reform  and  Consumer  Protection  Act  of  2010,  or  the  Dodd-Frank  Act, 
enables  our  stockholders  to  vote  to  approve,  on  an  advisory  (non-binding)  basis,  the  compensation  of  our  Named  Executive 
Officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the SEC rules under Item 402 of Regulation S-K.  

Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract, motivate, and retain our Named Executive Officers, who are 
critical to our success. Our executive compensation programs have played a  material role in our ability  to drive strong financial 
results  and  attract  and  retain  a  highly  experienced,  successful  team  to  manage  our  company.  Under  these  programs,  our  Named 
Executive  Officers  are  rewarded  for  the  achievement  of  specific  annual,  long-term  and  strategic  goals,  corporate  goals,  and  the 
realization  of  increased  stockholder  value.  Please  read  the  “Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis”  beginning  on  page  43  for 
additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2010 compensation of 
our Named Executive Officers.  

The  Compensation  Committee  continually  reviews  the  compensation  programs  for  our  Named  Executive  Officers  to  ensure 
they achieve the desired goals of aligning our executive compensation structure with our stockholders’ interests and current market 
practices.  Our  executive  team  has  successfully  managed  our  company  through  the  recent  dramatic  economic  downturn.  For  the 
fiscal year ending January 2, 2011: 

•  we grew our revenues by over 31%; 

•  we achieved non-GAAP net income growth of 949%; 

• 

• 

our stock price increased by 76% for fiscal year 2010 and exceeded all major market indexes by a factor of 3x to 4x; and 

our stock performance has well exceeded all major market indexes for the last six years. Our Company is again poised to 
continue  its  long-standing  tradition  of  excellence  and  delivering  performance  results  for  our  stockholders,  and  our 
customers. 

Our executive compensation program strikes the appropriate balance between utilizing responsible, measured pay practices and 
effectively incentivizing our executives to achieve long-term value creation for our stockholders. This balance is evidenced by the 
following: 

•  Our compensation programs are substantially tied to our key business objectives and the success of our stockholders; 

• 

If the value we deliver to our stockholders declines, so does the compensation of our Named Executive Officers; 

•  We closely monitor the compensation programs and pay levels of executives from companies of similar size and 

complexity, so that we may ensure that our compensation programs are within the range of our peer group companies and 
market practices;  

•  We provide a significant part of executive compensation in performance-based incentives, including primarily 

performance-based restricted stock units and variable cash bonus;  

•  Payouts of performance-based restricted stock units are based on the achievement of a minimum financial performance 
metric and are capped at 100% of the share awards. If the minimum financial metric is not achieved, the shares are 
forfeited and are not earnable in the future; 

•  We respond to economic conditions appropriately, such as reducing base salaries and bonuses of our executive officers, 

including our Named Executive Officers as was done in 2008 and 2009; 

•  We have no employment, severance or golden parachute agreements with any of our Named Executive Officers and 

therefore, no excise tax gross-ups. 

We are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our Named Executive Officer compensation as described in 
this  Proxy  Statement.  This  proposal,  commonly  known  as  a  “say-on-pay”  proposal,  gives  our  stockholders  the  opportunity  to 
express  their  views  on  our  Named  Executive  Officers’  compensation.  This  vote  is  not  intended  to  address  any  specific  item  of 
compensation,  but  rather  the  overall  compensation  of  our  Named  Executive  Officers  and  the  philosophy,  policies  and  practices 
described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we will ask our stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual 
Meeting:  

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named 
Executive  Officers,  as  disclosed  in  the  Company’s  Proxy  Statement  for  the  2011  Annual  Meeting  of 
Stockholders  pursuant  to  the  compensation  disclosure  rules  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission, 
including  the  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis,  the  2010  Summary  Compensation  Table  and  the  other 

26 

related  tables  and  disclosure  pursuant  to  Item 402  of  Regulation  S-K  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission.”  

The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or our Board. 
Our Board and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and to the extent there is any significant vote 
against  the  Named  Executive  Officer  compensation  as  disclosed  in  this  Proxy  Statement,  we  will  consider  our  stockholders’ 
concerns and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.  

(cid:59) 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF THE 

COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT 
PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE RULES OF  
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.  

27 

  
ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

PROPOSAL FIVE 

Introduction  

The  Dodd-Frank  Act  also  requires  public  companies  to  provide  their  stockholders  with  a  non-binding  vote  to  advise  the 
company  as  to  how  often  stockholders  believe  the  company  should  conduct  a  stockholder  advisory  vote  on  executive 
compensation, which we refer to as “say-on-pay.” In accordance with the SEC’s rules, stockholders must have the ability to vote on 
one of four alternatives concerning how frequently the company should have a say-on-pay vote: every year, every two years, every 
three  years  or  abstain  from  voting.  We  are  providing  this  stockholder  advisory  vote  in  accordance  with  Section 14A  of  the 
Exchange Act and new Exchange Act Rule 14a-21(b), which the SEC issued on January 25, 2011 in order to implement the Dodd-
Frank Act’s requirement.  

Our Board’s Recommendation  

Our  Board  recommends  that  you  vote  in  favor  of  advising  the  company  to  conduct  a  say-on-pay  vote  every  year,  at  each 
annual  meeting  of  stockholders.  Our  Board  values  continuing,  constructive  feedback  from  our  stockholders  on  executive 
compensation and other important corporate governance topics. The Board believes that an annual vote will continue to provide 
valuable  feedback  on  executive  compensation.  The  Board  further  believes  that  an  annual  vote  makes  the  most  sense  for  the 
Company because the Compensation Committee evaluates the compensation of our Named Executive Officers on an annual basis 
(as described in detail in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis section). In addition, our Board believes that an annual vote will 
foster strong communication from our stockholders to the Board and the Compensation Committee, which is responsible for setting 
executive compensation. An annual say-on-pay vote offers a strong mechanism for stockholders to provide ongoing input on how 
the  Company  compensates  its  Named  Executive  Officers.  Similarly,  it  would  provide  regular  input  to  the  Board  and  the 
Compensation Committee about how stockholders view the Company’s compensation practices and policies.  

Advisory or Non-Binding Effect of Vote  

Under  the  Dodd-Frank  Act  and  the  related  SEC  rules,  this  vote  is  an  advisory  or  “non-binding”  vote.  The  purpose  of  an 
advisory vote is to provide stockholders with a mechanism to provide input to the Board about certain issues like this. The Board is 
not required by law to act or otherwise implement the time period receiving the most votes cast. In fact, the Board is permitted to 
choose to hold a say-on-pay vote on a different schedule. However, the Board values our stockholders’ opinions and will take into 
account the results of this vote in determining how often the Company should conduct a stockholder advisory vote on executive 
compensation.  

How to Vote  

You have four choices as to how to vote on this proposal. You may cast your vote on your preferred voting frequency by 

choosing the option of one year, two years, three years or abstain from voting when you vote in response to this proposal.  

(cid:59) 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS AN ADVISORY VOTE FOR A 

FREQUENCY OF “ONE YEAR” FOR FUTURE NON-BINDING STOCKHOLDER VOTES ON COMPENSATION OF 
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE RULES 
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. 

28 

 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

We continue to review our corporate governance policies and practices to ensure that they comply with the requirements or 
suggestions of various authorities in corporate governance and the best practices of other public companies. Our business, property 
and  affairs  are  managed  under  the  direction  of  our  Board.  Members  of  our  Board  are  kept  informed  of  our  business  through 
discussions with our chief executive officer and president, our chief financial officer, our executive officers, our general counsel, 
and other officers and employees, and by reviewing materials provided to them and participating in meetings of the Board and its 
committees.  
Corporate Governance Changes in Fiscal Year 2010 and for Fiscal Year 2011  

Because our Board is committed to strong and effective corporate governance, it regularly monitors our corporate governance 
policies and practices to ensure we meet or exceed the requirements of applicable laws, regulations and rules, and the NASDAQ 
listing standards. In 2010, the Board appointed J.D. Sherman as a member of our Board. Mr. Evert van de Ven is retiring from the 
Board effective May 12, 2011.  

During fiscal year 2010 and for fiscal year 2011, our Board made substantial changes to our corporate governance policies 

and practices including:  

• 

• 

increasing to a Board of eight (8) directors, seven (7) of whom are independent; and 

recommending that an advisory vote on executive compensation be held annually (see Proposal 4); and  

The changes made to our corporate governance polices and practices build upon our solid corporate governance structure, 

which is exemplified by:  

• 

• 

• 

a strong independent chairman of the Board whose duties and responsibilities are set forth in our Bylaws;  

a Board that is up for election annually and has been for over 25 years; 

the charters of the Board’s committees, which clearly establish the roles and responsibilities of each of the 
committees;  

•  Board committees that are comprised and chaired solely by independent directors;  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

our non-employee and independent directors meeting regularly in executive session;  

a strong risk management program with specific responsibilities assigned to management, the Board, and the 
Board’s committees;  

a director orientation and continuing education program;  

our clear Code of Business Conduct and Ethics;  

our Corporate Governance Guidelines;  

our limitation on the use of perquisites for directors and executive officers; and  

the Compensation Committee’s engagement of an independent compensation consultant.  

Additional information regarding the above aspects of our corporate governance and the changes made or proposed by our 
Board  for  fiscal  years  2010  and  2011  is  provided  in  this  Proxy  Statement  in  the  sections  entitled  “Board  of  Directors  and 
Committees of the Board” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”  

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines cover, among other topics:  

•  director independence;  

•  Board structure and composition;  

•  Board member nomination and eligibility requirements;  

•  Board leadership and executive sessions;  

• 

• 

limitations on other Board and committee service;  

committees of the Board;  

29 

 
  
  
•  director responsibilities;  

•  Board and committee resources, including access to officers and employees;  

•  director compensation;  

•  director orientation and ongoing education;  

• 

succession planning; and  

•  Board and committee self evaluations.  

The 

our 
Guidelines 
http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-37EQD4/813980998x0x331879/c8beb9c8-5706-4584-88a8-
f866616b650c/2009_CORPORATE_GOVERNANCE_GUIDELINES.pdf.  

Governance 

Corporate 

document 

posted 

on 

is 

web 

site 

at 

The  Code  of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics 

is  posted  at  http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-

37EQD4/813980998x0x331880/61be26f8-18dc-48d8-bf64-
d07f136669c7/2009_Rev_clean_Code_of_Business_Conduct_and_Ethics.pdf. 

BOARD STRUCTURE 

Determination of Independence 

The Board has adopted the definition of "independence" as described under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("Sarbanes-
Oxley")  Section  301,  Rule  10A-3  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934(also  referred  to  as  The "Exchange  Act")  and 
NASDAQ Rules 5605. In order to make a determination of independence of a director as required by our Corporate Governance 
Guidelines and the rules of the SEC, the Board determines whether a director or a director nominee has a material relationship with 
Cypress (either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with Cypress). 
Each director or director nominee completed a questionnaire, with questions tailored to the rules of NASDAQ, as well as the SEC 
requirements for independence. On the basis of the questionnaires completed and returned by each director, the Board determined 
that  each  of  Messrs.  Albrecht,  Benhamou,  Carney,  Long,  McCranie,  Sherman,  and  van  den  Hoek  is  independent  as  determined 
under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the rules of the NASDAQ and the SEC. The Board determined that Mr. T.J. Rodgers, 
our  president  and  chief  executive  officer,  has  a  material  relationship  with  Cypress  by  virtue  of  his  employment  and  position  at 
Cypress and, therefore, is not independent. Apart from Mr. Rodgers, no other director has a relationship with Cypress other than 
through his membership on the Board and its committees.  

Executive Sessions  

Executive sessions of independent directors are held before each regularly scheduled meeting of our Board and at other times 
as necessary and are chaired by the chairman of the Board. The Board’s policy is to hold executive sessions without the presence of 
management, including the chief executive officer, who is the only non-independent director. Except for the Operations Committee, 
the  committees  of  the  Board  also  generally  meet  in  executive  session  at  the  end  of  each  committee  meeting.  Members  of  the 
Operations Committee provide feedback to management following their attendance at the Company’s quarterly operations reviews.  

Meeting Attendance 

In  fiscal  year  2010,  our  Board  held  four  (4)  regularly  scheduled  meetings.  Every  director  attended  at  least  75%  of  the 
number  of  Board  meetings,  and  at  least  75%  of  the  meetings of  the  committees  of  the  Board  on which  the director  served.  Our 
“non-management” (who are all independent) directors met four (4) times in executive sessions during regularly scheduled Board 
meetings in the 2010 fiscal year. Mr. Benhamou presided over all executive sessions of our directors. Directors are expected, but 
not required to attend the annual meetings of stockholders. All of our directors attended the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders 
and are expected to attend the 2011 Annual Meeting. 

Board Size and Membership 

The  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  periodically  assesses  the  appropriate  size  of  the  Board  and 
whether any vacancies are expected due to retirement or otherwise. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses a 
variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for directorships, including requests to Board members and others for 
recommendations.  Through  the  process  of  identification  and  evaluation,  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee 
seeks to achieve a balance of experience, knowledge, integrity and capability on the Board. 

Stockholders may recommend, with timely notice, individuals for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee 
to  consider  as  potential  director  candidates  by  submitting  their  names  and  background  to  the  Nominating  and  Corporate 
Governance Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 

30 

95134.  The Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  will  consider  a  recommendation  only  if  appropriate  biographical 
information  and  background  materials  are  provided  on  a  timely  basis  (see  “How  and  when  may  I  submit  proposals  for 
consideration at next year’s annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate individuals to serve as directors for Cypress?” on page 6 
hereof).  

The  qualifications of  recommended  director  candidates will  be  reviewed  by  the  Nominating  and Corporate  Governance 
Committee  in  accordance  with  the  criteria  set  forth  in  our  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  and  SEC  rules,  whether  or  not  a 
potential  candidate  was  recommended  by  a  security  holder,  the  Board,  management  or  other  parties.  These  criteria  include  the 
candidate’s skills, attributes, integrity, experience, commitment, diligence, conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interest 
of all stockholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria 
and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to all prospective nominees. Cypress believes that the skill set, backgrounds and 
qualifications of  our  directors,  considered  as  a group,  should provide  a significant  composite  mix  of  experience, knowledge  and 
abilities that will allow our Board to fulfill its responsibilities. 

The  process  followed  by  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  to  identify  and  evaluate  nominees 
includes meeting from time to time to evaluate biographical information and background material relating to potential candidates 
and  if  appropriate,  conducting  interviews  of  selected  candidates  by  members  of  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance 
Committee and the Board. 

Assuming  that  appropriate  biographical  and  background  material  are  provided  for  candidates  recommended  by 
stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate nominees by following substantially the same 
process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as for candidates submitted by Board members. 

The  Board  makes  the  final  determination  whether  or  not  a  stockholder-recommended  candidate  will  be  included  as  a 
director nominee for election in accordance with the criteria set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines. If the Board decides 
to nominate a stockholder-recommended candidate and recommends his or her election as a director by the stockholders, the name 
of  the  nominee  will  be  included  in  Cypress’s  proxy  statement  and  proxy  card  for  the  stockholders  meeting  at  which  his  or  her 
election is recommended. 

Nomination Criteria and Board Diversity  

In considering whether to recommend any candidate for inclusion in the Board’s slate of recommended director nominees, 
we believe that the skill set, backgrounds and qualifications of our directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant 
composite mix of diversity in experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow our Board to fulfill its responsibilities. Therefore, 
in recommending candidates for Board nomination, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee makes an assessment of 
each candidate, including candidates recommended by a stockholder, in light of the nomination criteria set forth in the Company’s 
Corporate  Governance  Guidelines.  This  assessment  includes  the  evaluation  of  skills,  the  individual’s  character  and  integrity, 
general business and semiconductor industry experience, direct experience in the management of a corporation that is a customer 
that buys from the semiconductor industry, leadership profile, strategic planning abilities and experience, aptitude in accounting or 
finance,  expertise  in  domestic  and  international  markets,  industry  knowledge,  understanding  of  relevant  technologies, 
communications and interpersonal skills, and ability and willingness to devote time as needed for Board services. The assessment is 
made in the context of the perceived needs of the Board from time to time. 

Communications from Stockholders and Other Interested Parties 

The  Board  will  give  appropriate  attention  to  written  communication  on  valid  business  issues  that  are  submitted  by 
stockholders and other interested parties, and will respond if and as appropriate. Absent unusual circumstances or as contemplated 
by committee charters, the chairman of our Board, with the assistance of the corporate secretary and internal legal counsel, (1) is 
primarily  responsible  for  monitoring  communications  from  stockholders  and  other  interested  parties,  and  (2)  provide  copies  or 
summaries  of  such  communications  to  the  other  directors  as  the  chairman  considers  appropriate.  Communications  will  be 
forwarded to all directors if they relate to substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that the chairman of our Board 
considers to be important for the directors to know. 

Stockholders and other interested parties who wish to send communications on any relevant business topic to the Board 
may  do  so  by  addressing  such  communication  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  c/o  Corporate  Secretary,  Cypress 
Semiconductor Corporation, 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California, 95134 or sending an e-mail to CYBOD@cypress.com. 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR CONTACT 

Interested parties are able to make their concerns known to the non-management independent directors by electronic mail 
to  CYBOD@cypress.com,  or  in  writing  addressed  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  c/o  Corporate  Secretary,  Cypress 
Semiconductor Corporation, 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134. 

31 

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE  

Eric A. Benhamou serves as chairman of our Board of Directors. Our Board’s general policy, as stated in our Corporate 
Governance  Guidelines,  is  that  separate  persons  should  hold  positions  of  chairman  of  the  Board  and  chief  executive  officer  to 
enhance the Board’s oversight of management. Our leadership structure enhances accountability of our chief executive officer to 
the Board, balances power on our Board and encourages balanced decision making. We also separate the roles in recognition of the 
differences in roles. While the chief executive officer is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the Company and the setting of 
strategic direction, the chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Board, sets the agenda for Board meetings and presides over 
the  meetings  of  the  full  Board  and  the  meetings  of  the  Board’s  non-management  directors.  The  Board  chairman  also  provides 
performance feedback on behalf of the Board to our chief executive officer.  

BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK MANAGEMENT OVERSIGHT  

The  Board  implements  its  risk  oversight  responsibilities  primarily  through  its  various  committees,  which  receive 
management briefings on the potentially significant risks that the Company faces and how the Company seeks to control risk where 
appropriate. The Board’s four committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance and Operations) oversee 
those risks that are most appropriate to their charters. For example, the Audit Committee oversees risks related to internal controls, 
financial  reporting,  fraud,  insurance,  treasury,  ethics  and  compliance,  and  litigation.  The  Audit  Committee  also  oversees  the 
activities  of  the  Internal  Audit  Department  that  independently  assesses,  audits  and  monitors  risk  throughout  the  Company.  The 
Compensation  Committee  oversees  risks  related  to  employees,  compensation  and  use  of  shareholder’s  equity,  for  example.  The 
Nominating and Governance Committee oversees risks related to corporate governance, executive management and other related 
areas.  The  Corporate  Operations  Committee,  through  attending  quarterly  operations  review  meetings,  oversees  risks  related  to 
operations, supply chain and customers. The full Board reviews the risk-assessment activities of all committees. In more limited 
cases, such as with risks of significant new business concepts and substantial entry into new markets, risk oversight is addressed as 
part of the full Board’s engagement with our chief executive officer and management. Board members also often discuss risk as a 
part  of  their  review  of  the  ongoing  business,  financial,  and  other  activities  of  the  Company.  The  Board  also  has  overall 
responsibility for executive officer succession planning and reviews succession plans each year.  

The  Board’s  role  in  the  Company’s  risk  oversight  process  includes  receiving  regular  reports  from  members  of  senior 
management  on  areas  of  material  risk  to  the  Company,  including  operational,  financial,  legal  and  regulatory,  human  resources, 
employment, and strategic risks. The full Board (or the appropriate committee in the case of risks that are under the purview of a 
particular committee) receives these reports from the appropriate risk owner within the organization to enable it to understand our 
risk  identification,  risk  management  and  risk  mitigation  strategies.  When  a  committee  receives  the  report,  the  chairman  of  the 
relevant committee reports on the discussion to the full Board during the committee reports portion of the next Board meeting if 
deemed significant. This enables the Board and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk 
interrelationships.  

RISK CONSIDERATIONS IN OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAMS 

In early 2011, the Compensation Committee conducted a risk assessment of our compensation policies and practices for 
employees,  including  those  related  to  executive  compensation  programs.  As  part  of  the  risk  assessment,  the  Compensation 
Committee  reviewed  our  compensation  programs  for  certain  design  features  that  have  been  identified  by  experts  as  having  the 
potential to encourage excessive risk-taking, such as compensation mix overly weighted toward annual incentives and unreasonable 
goals or thresholds. The Compensation Committee determined that, for all employees, our compensation programs encourage our 
employees  to  take  appropriate  risks  and  encourage  behaviors  that  enhance  sustainable  value  creation  in  furtherance  of  the 
Company’s business, but do not encourage excessive risk. The Compensation Committee believes that because we closely link our 
variable  compensation  with  attaining  performance  objectives,  we  are  encouraging  our  employees  to  make  decisions  that  should 
result  in  positive  short-term  and  long-term  returns  for  our  business  and  our  stockholders  without  providing  an  incentive  to  take 
unnecessary  risks.  The  Compensation  Committee,  with  the  assistance  of  Buck  Consultants,  LLC,  intends  to  continue,  on  an  on-
going basis, a process of thoroughly reviewing our compensation policies and programs to ensure that our compensation programs 
and risk mitigation strategies continue to discourage imprudent risk-taking activities. 

32 

 
BOARD COMMITTEES 

The Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, 

and an Operations Committee. The membership and functions of each committee in 2010 are described in the table below: 

Director  

W. Steve Albrecht 
Eric A. Benhamou  
Lloyd Carney 
James R. Long  
J. Daniel McCranie1 
Evert van de Ven2 
J. Donald Sherman3 
T.J. Rodgers 

Audit 
Committee 
Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Compensation 
Committee 

Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Member 

The Audit Committee 

Nominating and 
Corporate 
Governance 
Committee 

Operations 
Committee 

Chairman 
Member 
Member 

Member 
Chairman 

The  Audit  Committee  operates  under  a  written  charter  adopted  by  our  Board,  and  was  established  in  accordance  with 
is  available  on  our  web  site  at 

the  Audit  Committee 

Exchange  Act  Section  3(a)(58)(A).  The  charter  of 
http://investors.cypress.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=6355. 

The Board has determined that all the members of the Audit Committee are independent as independence is defined under 
the rules the NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5605. The Board determined that each  member of  the Audit Committee is  financially 
literate and has accounting and/or related financial management expertise required under NASDAQ rules. 

In fiscal year 2010, the Audit Committee initially consisted of Messrs. Albrecht, Benhamou, Carney, and McCranie, and 
later on of Messrs. Albrecht, Benhamou, Carney and Sherman, and met eight (8) times in fiscal year 2010 and each time met in 
executive  session  independently  with  management,  our  internal  audit  team  and  PricewaterhouseCoopers,  our  certified  public 
accounting firm.  

Our Board designated Mr. Albrecht as the “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with the requirements of the 

SEC and NASDAQ rules. 

The responsibilities of our Audit Committee and its activities during fiscal year 2010 are described in its charter and the 

Report of the Audit Committee on pages 38 of this Proxy Statement.  

In discharging its duties, the Audit Committee: 

• 

• 

reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit and the independent public accounting firm’s fees; 

assists the Board in the oversight of the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; 

•  meets  independently  with  our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  internal  auditors,  and  our  senior 

management; 

• 

• 

• 

oversees  and  reviews  the  general  scope  of  our  accounting,  financial  reporting,  annual  audit  and  matters  relating  to 
internal control systems, as well as the results of the annual audit and review of interim financial statements, auditor 
performance, qualifications and independence issues, and the adequacy of the Audit Committee charter;  

prepares an Audit Committee report as required by the SEC to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement; 

pre-approves all fees proposed by or paid to our independent registered public accounting firm;  

1  

2  
3  

Mr. McCranie was a member of the Audit Committee for part of 2010. He was moved from the Audit Committee to the 
Nominating and Governance Committee in August 2010. 
Mr. van de Van retires from the Board in May, 2011. 
Mr. Sherman was appointed to the Board in May, 2010 and was appointed to the Audit Committee in August 2010.  

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
• 

• 

• 

reviews and provides input to the risk assessment processes in the Company, which will form the basis of the annual 
audit plan;  

oversees the implementation of the whistleblower policy; and then 

reviews SEC filings, earnings releases and other forms of significant investor communications. 

The Compensation Committee 

The  Compensation  Committee  consists  of  Messrs.  Benhamou,  Carney,  and  Long.  The  Board  has  determined  that  the 
members of the Compensation Committee are independent as defined under NASDAQ rules. The Compensation Committee assists 
the Board with discharging its duties with respect to the formulation, implementation, review and modification of the compensation 
of our directors, officers and senior executives, and the preparation of the annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in 
our proxy statement.  

The Compensation Committee, through delegation by the Board, has overall responsibility for the following: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

establishing  the  specific  performance  objectives  for  our  chief  executive  officer  and  subsequently  evaluating  his 
compensation based on achievement of those objectives; 

approval of performance objectives for our executive officers; 

formulating,  implementing,  reviewing,  and  modifying  the  compensation  of  the  Company’s  directors  and  executive 
officers; 

recommending to the Board for approval the Company’s compensation plans, policies and programs; 

reviewing  and  approving  the  Company’s  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis  (“CD&A”)  for  inclusion  in  the 
proxy statement;  

reviewing, revising in its discretion, and approving the annual merit and stock budgets for focal salary increases and 
equity grant awards for all eligible employees;  

reviewing the annual benefit changes made by the Company with respect to its employees;  

providing feedback to the chief executive officer on his performance;  

overseeing the stock plans of the Company’s subsidiary companies; 

overseeing and monitoring executive succession planning for the Company;  

periodic risk analysis of the Company’s compensation policies and programs. 

In discharging its duties, the Compensation Committee retains the services of compensation consultants in order to have 
independent, expert perspectives on matters related to executive compensation, Company and executive performance, equity plans 
and other issues. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to determine the scope of services for these consultants and 
may  terminate  the  consultants’  services  at  any  time.  The  fees  of  these  consultants  are  paid  by  the  Company.  In  2010,  the 
Compensation  Committee  retained  the  services  of  Buck  Consultants,  LLC  for  various  compensation-related  services,  including 
comparing our director compensation with the compensation of directors of our peer group companies.  

No  officer  of  the  Company  was  present  during  discussions  or  deliberations  regarding  that  officer’s  own  compensation. 
Additionally,  the  Compensation  Committee  sometimes  meets  in  executive  session  with  its  independent  consultant  to  discuss 
various  matters  and  formulate  certain  final  decisions,  including  those  regarding  the  performance  and  compensation  of  the  chief 
executive officer. 

The  Compensation  Committee  held  seven  (7)  meetings  during  our  2010  fiscal  year.  The  Report  of  the  Compensation 
Committee  is  contained  in  this  Proxy  Statement.  The  charter  for  our  Compensation  Committee  is  posted  on  our  web  site  at 
http://investors.cypress.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=6356.  

34 

 
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee 

In  2010,  the  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  Long,  van de Ven  and  McCranie, 
who joined in the later part of the year. Mr. van de Ven is resigning from our Board effective May 12, 2011. The Board determined 
that the members of the Committee are independent as defined under the rules of NASDAQ. The purpose of the Nominating and 
Corporate Governance Committee is to:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

identify and evaluate individuals qualified to become Board members; 

recommend to the Board the persons to be nominated by the Board for election as directors at the annual meeting of 
stockholders, including any nomination of qualified individuals properly submitted by stockholders of the Company;  

develop, maintain and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles; 

oversee the annual self-evaluation process of the Board and other Board committees; 

ensure that stockholder proposals, when approved, are implemented as approved;  

•  make recommendations to the Board on Board and Board committee membership; and  

• 

oversee the director continuing education program. 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is authorized to retain advisers and consultants and to compensate 
them  for  their  services.  The  Nominating  and  Corporate  Governance  Committee  did  not  retain  any  such  advisers  or  consultants 
during fiscal year 2010. 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held three (3) meetings during fiscal year 2010. The charter for 
at 
Committee 
Nominating 

Corporate 

posted 

web 

site 

our 

on 

is 

our 
http://investors.cypress.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=6357. 

Governance 

and 

The Operations Committee 

In 2010, the Operations Committee consisted of Messrs. McCranie and van de Ven. Mr. van de Ven is resigning from the 

Board effective May 12, 2011. The purpose of the Operations Committee is to:  

• 

• 

review strategic proposals and provide advice and counsel to Cypress regarding daily business operations; and 

present  to  the  management  of  the  company  and  the  Board  an  independent  assessment  of  Cypress’s  business 
operations and practices. 

To discharge their responsibilities, members of the Operations Committee attend various quarterly operations reviews and 
provide advice and counsel to the Company’s management. The charter of the Operations Committee is posted on our web site at 
http://investors.cypress.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=6358.  

Printed  copies  of  the  Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  document,  the  Code  of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics,  and  the 
charters  of  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation  Committee,  the  Nominating  and Corporate Governance  Committee,  and  the 
Operations Committee are also available to any stockholder upon written request to: 

Brad W. Buss 
Corporate Secretary 
Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 
198 Champion Court 
San Jose, California 95134 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS 

The table below shows the fees we paid to our Board members in 2010. 

Position  
Non-employee director retainer 
Board chairman 
Audit Committee chairman 
Audit Committee member 
Compensation Committee chairman 
Compensation Committee member  
Nominating and Corporate Governance 
Committee chairman 
Nominating and Corporate Governance 
Committee member 
Operations Committee 

2010 Annual Fees1 
$50,000 
$30,000 
$20,000 
$15,000 
$15,000 
$10,000 
$5,000 

$5,000 

$2,500 per attendance to the Company’s 
quarterly operations meetings 

Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation  

Upon their initial appointment to the Board, each non-management director is granted restricted stock units equivalent to 
$525,000 divided by the trading price of one share of common stock on the date of the acceptance of the director’s appointment, 
rounded to the nearest whole share (“Initial Grant”). The Initial Grant vests annually over a period of three (3) years from the date 
of grant. 

If re-elected at the Company’s annual meeting each non-employee director automatically receives additional, fully-vested 
restricted stock units under the 1994 Stock Plan, that is equivalent to $175,000 divided by the trading price of one share of common 
stock  on  the  date  of  the  Company’s  regularly  scheduled  annual  stockholders  meeting,  rounded  down  to  the  nearest  whole  share 
(“Annual Grant”). If the re-elected incumbent director was appointed to the Board after the last annual stockholders meeting, then 
the Annual Grant is pro-rated based on the number of months from the date of the Initial Grant to the date of his or her re-election.  

Non-Employee Director Stock Ownership Requirement 

The Board has established Non-Employee Director Ownership Requirement pursuant to which non-employee directors are 
required  to  own  20,000  shares  of  common  stock  of  the  Company.  Incumbent  directors  are  expected  to  meet  the  ownership 
requirement  within  three  years  of  establishment  of  the  ownership  requirement  and  new  directors  are  required  to  meet  the 
requirement  within  three  years  of  their  appointment.  Except  for  Mr.  Sherman,  all  our  incumbent  directors  meet  the  requirement 
including Mr. T.J. Rodgers, our chief executive officer, who is an employee director. Mr. Sherman became a director in 2010 and is 
expected to meet the requirement in 2013.  

_______________________________________ 
1 Except for the Operations Committee fees which are paid per meeting

36 

 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2010 

Fees 
Earned 
or Paid in 
Cash 
($) 
81,250 
123,750 
75,000 
70,000 
101,185 
44,723 
100,000 

Year 
2010 
2010 
2010 
2010 
2010 
2010 
2010 

Stock 
Awards 
($)1 
174,991 
174,991 
174,991 
174,991 
174,991 
524,9978 
174,991 

Option 
Awards 
($)2 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Non-Equity 
Incentive Plan 
Compensation 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Change in Pension 
Value and 
Nonqualified Deferred 
Compensation 
Earnings 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

All Other 
Compensation 
($) 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

Total 
($) 
256,241 
298,741 
249,991 
244,991 
275,176 
569,720 
274,991 

Name 

W. Steve Albrecht3 
Eric A. Benhamou4 
Lloyd Carney5 
James R. Long6 
J. Daniel McCranie7 
J. Donald Sherman8 
Evert van de Ven9 

1.  Amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value of the restricted stock units awarded to our directors in fiscal year 2010. Each non-management director 

was entitled to receive the equivalent of $175,000, rounded down to the nearest whole share, based on the Company’s stock closing price of $11.72 on the 
grant date.  

2.  No stock option awards were granted to our directors in fiscal year 2010. 

3.  Amount includes $50,000, Board retainer fee, and $31,250 Audit Committee chairman and member fee. 

4.  Amount includes $50,000 Board retainer fee, $30,000 for Board chairmanship, $15,000 Audit Committee member fee, and $28,750 Compensation 

Committee chairman and member fee. 

5.  Amount includes $50,000 Board retainer fee, $15,000 Audit Committee member fee and $10,000 Compensation Committee member fee. 

6.  Amount includes $50,000 Board retainer fee, $10,000 Compensation Committee member fee and $10,000 Nominating and Corporate Governance 

Committee member fee.  

7.  Amount includes $50,000 Board retainer fee, $7,777 Audit Committee member fee, $2,408 Nominating and Corporate Committee member fee and $40,000 

for attendance at our operations review meetings as member of the Operations Committee.  

8.  Amount includes $37,500 Board retainer fee, and $7,223 Audit Committee member fee. The amount reflected in the Stock Awards column is the grant date 
FAS 123 charge taken by the Company for 2011 stock award to Mr. Sherman. Consistent with the Company’s 1994 Stock Plan, the restricted stock units 
awarded to Mr. Sherman will vest over three years, commencing in 2011; therefore, no shares were released to Mr. Sherman in 2010. 

9.  Amount includes $50,000 Board retainer fee, $5,000 Nominating and Corporate Committee member fee and $45,000 for attendance at our operations review 

meetings as member of the Operations Committee.  

37 

 
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

The Audit Committee of Cypress’s Board of Directors serves as the representative of the Board of Directors with 

respect to its oversight of:  

•  Cypress’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audit of Cypress’s financial statements; 

• 

the integrity of Cypress’s financial statements; 

•  Cypress’s internal controls and the audit of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control 

over financial reporting; 

•  Cypress’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; 

• 

• 

the independent registered public accounting firm’s appointment, qualifications and independence; and 

the performance of Cypress’s internal audit function. 

The Audit Committee also reviews the performance of Cypress’s independent registered public accounting firm, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, in the annual audit of financial statements and internal control over financial reporting and in 
assignments unrelated to the audit, and reviews the independent registered public accounting firm’s fees.  

The Audit Committee provides the Board such information and materials as it may deem necessary to make the 
Board  aware  of  financial  matters  requiring  the  attention  of  the  Board.  The  Audit  Committee  reviews  the  Company’s 
financial disclosures and meets privately, outside the presence of our management, with our independent registered public 
accounting firm and our internal auditors to discuss our internal accounting control policies and procedures. In fulfilling its 
oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 
10-K for our fiscal year ended January 2, 2011, with management including a discussion of the quality and substance of the 
accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. 
In  addition,  the  Audit  Committee  reviewed  the  results  of  management’s  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  Cypress’s 
internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2011. The Audit Committee reports on these meetings to our Board 
of Directors.  

The charter of the Audit Committee is available at our web site at: 

http://investors.cypress.com/documentdisplay.cfm?DocumentID=6355 

Cypress’s management has primary responsibility for preparing Cypress’s financial statements and for its financial 
reporting process. In addition, management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over 
financial reporting. Cypress’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the 
conformity  of  Cypress’s  financial  statements  to  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and  on  the  effectiveness  of 
Cypress’s internal control over financial reporting. 

The Audit Committee hereby reports as follows: 

(1) 

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for fiscal year 2010 with 

Cypress’s management. 

(2) 

The Audit Committee has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public 
accounting firm for Cypress, the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Audit Standards No. 61, as amended 
(AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
in Rule 3200T. 

(3) 

The  Audit  Committee  has  received  the  written  disclosures  and  the  letter  from  PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP  for  Cypress  as  required  by  applicable  requirements  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  regarding 
PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP’s  communications  with  the  Audit  Committee  concerning  independence,  and  has  discussed 
with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP its independence. 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
Based on the review and discussion referred to in items (1) through (3) above, the Audit Committee recommended 
to Cypress’s Board of Directors and the Board approved, that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in 
Cypress’s  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  January  2,  2011  for  filing  with  the  SEC.  The  Audit 
Committee  also  recommended  the  reappointment  of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP  as  Cypress’s  independent  registered 
public accounting firm for fiscal year 2011. 

Each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined under the NASDAQ listing standards. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

W. Steve Albrecht, Chairman 
Eric A. Benhamou  
Lloyd Carney 
J. Donald Sherman 

39 

 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the 

Record Date (except as described below) by:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

each of our directors; 

our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and each of the three other  most highly compensated 
individuals who served as our executive officers at fiscal year-end (the “Named Executive Officers”); 

all individuals who served as directors or executive officers at fiscal year-end as a group; and 

each person (including any “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended) who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common stock. 

Directors, Officers and 5% Stockholders 

Shares Beneficially Owned 
Percent1 

Directors 
T.J. Rodgers2 
W. Steve Albrecht3 
Eric A. Benhamou4 
Lloyd Carney5 
James R. Long6 
J. Daniel McCranie7 
J. D Sherman8 
Evert van de Ven9 

Named Executive Officers 
Brad W. Buss10 
Paul Keswick11 
Christopher A. Seams12 
Norman P. Taffe13 
All directors and executive officers at fiscal year-end as a group14 

5% Stockholders 
FMR LLC15 
Edward C. Johnson 
82 Devonshire Street 
Boston, Massachusetts 02109 
BlackRock, Inc.16 
40 East 52nd Street 
New York, New York 10022 
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation17 
One Wall Steet, 31st Floor,  
New York, New York 10286 
T.J. Rodgers18 
198 Champion Court  
San Jose, California 95134 

* Less than 1%. See footnotes on the next page.  

12,530,402 
170,211 
272,381 
231,565 
257,479 
44,625 
14,931 
104,981 

1,252,460 
879,447 
1,700,511 
687,850 
18,834,270 

7.19 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 

* 
* 
* 
* 
11.03 

24,877,921 

14.57 

12,675,399 

7.42 

8,556,404 

5.01 

12,989,431 

7.61 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

The total number of shares outstanding as of the Record Date was 174,384,675. The percentage of ownership 
for each of our Named Executive Officers and directors is based on the number of shares outstanding as of the 
Record Date. The shares outstanding for our directors do not include the annual grant that they will receive on 
May  13,  2011  because  we  do  not  know  the  exact  number  of  shares  they  will  receive.  On  May  13,  our  non-
employee directors will receive fully vested shares of our common stock equivalent to $175,000 calculated at 
the  closing  price  of  our  common  stock  on  May  13,  2011,  rounded  down  to  the  nearest  whole  share.  The 
percentage for all directors and executive officers (as a group) is based on the number of shares outstanding as 
of 2010 fiscal year end; and the percentage reflected for entities with 5% ownership is based on the applicable 
form 13G or 13D filed with the SEC. 

Includes 5,668,113 shares of common stock held by Mr. Rodgers and options to purchase 6,150,894 shares of 
common  stock,  which  are  exercisable  within  60  days  of  the  Record  Date.  Also  includes  52,160  shares  of 
common  stock  held  indirectly.  Also  includes  659,235  unvested  restricted  stock  issued  to  Mr.  Rodgers  in 
exchange for the performance-based restricted stock units which he tendered in connection with the Company’s 
RSU  Exchange  Offer  in  2008  in  connection  with  the  Spin-Off  of  SunPower  Corporation.  The  shares  of 
restricted stock will vest over the next fiscal year subject to achieving performance milestones. The shares of 
restricted  stock  received  by  Mr.  Rodgers  are  subject  to  the  same  performance  vesting  conditions  as  the 
tendered restricted stock units, adjusted to reflect the effect of the SunPower Spin-Off. 

Represents  61,711  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Albrecht,  beneficial  ownership  of  16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date and options to purchase 92,018 shares of 
common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents  91,091  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Benhamou,  beneficial  ownership  of  16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date, and options to purchase 164,808 shares 
of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents  56,411  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Carney,  beneficial  ownership  of  16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date, and options to purchase 158,672 shares 
of common stock by Mr. Carney, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents  83,391  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Long,  beneficial  ownership  of  16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date, and options to purchase 157,606 shares 
of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents  22,649  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  McCranie,  beneficial  ownership  of  16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date, and options to purchase 5,494 shares of 
common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents  0  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  J.  D.  Sherman,  beneficial  ownership  of  14,931 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Represents 77,611 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. van de Ven, beneficial ownership of 16,482 
restricted stock units that will vest within 60 days of the Record Date, and options to purchase 10,888 shares of 
common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

10.  Represents 633,200 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Buss, and options to purchase 619,260 shares 

of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

11.  Represents 463,306 shares of common stock directly held by Mr. Keswick, and options to purchase 416,141 

shares of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

Includes  554,480  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Seams.  Also  includes  options  to  purchase 
1,146,031 shares of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Includes  230,162  shares  of  common  stock  held  directly  by  Mr.  Taffe.  Also  includes  options  to  purchase 
457,688 shares of common stock, which are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date. 

Includes 6,701,355 shares of common stock held directly or indirectly by our directors, executive officers, and 
their family members. Also includes options to purchase 10,814,445 shares of common stock exercisable as of 
January  2,  2011,  by  our  directors,  executive  officers,  and  their  family  members  and  1,318,470  unvested 
restricted stock issued to Mr. Rodgers in exchange for the performance-based restricted stock units which he 
tendered in connection with the Company’s RSU Exchange Offer in 2008 in connection with the Spin-Off of 

41 

SunPower  Corporation.  Of  this  amount,  659,235  shares  earned  in  2010  were  released  in  February  24,  2011 
upon  approval  by  the  Compensation  Committee  of  the  Board  that  the  required  performance  metrics  were 
achieved.  The  remaining  shares  of  restricted  stock  will  vest  over  the  next  two  fiscal  years  subject  to 
performance.  The  shares  of  restricted  stock  received  by  Mr.  Rodgers  are  subject  to  the  same  performance 
vesting conditions as the tendered restricted stock units, adjusted to reflect the effect of the SunPower Spin-Off. 

15.  The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 
13G/A filed on February 14, 2011, with the SEC by FMR LLC. FMR LLC has sole power to vote or direct the 
vote of 264,245 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 24,877,921 shares or common stock. 

16.  The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 
13G/A filed on February 4, 2011, with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting and sole dispositive power 
with respect to 12,675,399 shares. 

17.  The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 
13G  filed  on  February  3,  2011,  with  the  SEC  by  The  Bank  of  New  York  Mellon  Corporation.  The  Bank  of 
New York Mellon Corporation has sole voting power with respect to 7,585,307 shares, shared voting power 
with  respect  to  2,950  shares,  sole  dispositive  power  with  respect  to  8,421,984  shares  and  shared  dispositive 
power with respect to 14,680 shares. 

18.  The ownership information set forth in the table is based on information contained in a statement on Schedule 
13D/A filed on February 16, 2011, with the SEC by Mr. Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers has shared voting and shared 
dispositive  power  with  respect  to  90,660  shares,  sole  voting  and  sole  dispositive  power  with  respect  to 
12,898,771 shares.  

42 

 
Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

This section describes the compensation decisions and programs for our chief executive officer, our chief financial 
officer and our three most highly compensated executive officers employed at the end of fiscal year 2010. These executives 
are  referred  to  in  this  section  as  our  Named  Executive  Officers  or  NEOs.  Our  Named  Executive  Officers  for  fiscal  year 
2010 were:  

•    T.J. Rodgers - President and Chief Executive Officer 

•    Brad Buss - Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration 

•    Paul Keswick - Executive Vice President New Product Development 

•    Christopher Seams - Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Operations; and  

•    Norman Taffe - Executive Vice President Consumer and Computation Division 

2010 Business Summary  

Fiscal 2010 was a very successful year for the Company and its stockholders. The Company took very decisive actions 
during the economic downturn in 2009 coupled with strong execution of its new product strategy that allowed us to have a 
very successful 2010 and a strong start in 2011. Some of the major highlights are as follows: 

•  The  stock price  performance  continued  to  remain  very  strong  and  returned 76%  to our  stockholders  in  calendar 
year 2010 and once again out-performed all major indexes by a wide margin. On a five year basis our performance 
has even been better. 

2010 Stock Appreciation

Appreciation %

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

CY 

SOX

S&P SEMI

NASDAQ

S&P 500

DOW

Stock Prices YTD 12/31/2010 vs. 12/31/2009

43 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
5 Year Stock Appreciation

Appreciation %

800%

700%

600%

500%

400%

300%

200%

100%

0%

-100%

CY 

SOX

S&P SEMI

NASDAQ

S&P 500

DOW

Stock Prices YTD 12/31/2010 vs. 12/30/2005
Historical prices have been adjusted to reflect the SunPower spin-off in 2008

•  This is the 6th year in a row that the Cypress stock performance has outperformed the major indexes we 

benchmark against: SOX, S&P Semi, NASDAQ, S&P 500 and DOW 

•  Since the September 2008 $2.6 billion Spin-Off of SunPower Corporation to our stockholders Cypress’s common 

stock has appreciated by 256% 

•  Revenue increased 31% year over year 

•  Gross margin percent increased 15% year over year 

•  Operating expense as a percentage of sales decreased 17% year over year 

•  Net income increased 150% year over year on a GAAP basis and 949% on a non-GAAP basis 

•  Earnings per share increased 139% year over year on a GAAP basis and 840% on a non-GAAP basis 

•  Cash flow from operations increased 194% year over year 

•  The Board approved a new $600 million stock repurchase program 

•  During fiscal 2010 we repurchased 11.9 million shares and returned $148 million in cash to stockholders 

Description of Key Terms Used in this Section 

This  section  discusses  the  principles  underlying  our  policies  and  decisions  concerning  the  compensation  of  our 
Named Executive Officers. In this section, we describe the manner and context in which compensation is awarded to and 
earned by our executive officers and provide perspective on the tables and narratives that follow. In this CD&A section, the 
terms  “we,”  “our,”  and  “us”  refer  to  management,  the  Company  and  sometimes,  as  applicable,  the  Compensation 
Committee (“Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). 

Critical Success Factors (“CSFs”): CSFs are measurable quarterly and annual goals that, with the exception of our chief 
executive officer, are identified by our executive officers and reviewed, modified as appropriate, and approved by our chief 
executive officer in advance of each review period. Our chief executive officer’s CSFs are submitted to, reviewed, modified 
as  appropriate,  and  approved  by  the  Board.  CSFs  for  each  period  are  scored  on  a  scale  of  0  to  100%,  with  each  CSF 
representing a specific point value based on its importance to the Company and/or its level of difficulty. Specific scoring 
parameters that are used to determine whether the CSF has been achieved are also identified in advance in writing. At the 
end  of  each  fiscal  quarter,  or  fiscal  year,  as  applicable,  our  executive  officers  “score”  their  CSFs  based  on  the  scoring 
parameters  previously  established.  This  score  is  reviewed,  adjusted  if  necessary,  and  approved  by  our  chief  executive 
officer. Our chief executive officer’s score is reviewed, adjusted if necessary, and approved by the Committee. The specific 
CSFs  designated  for  each  executive  officer  often  vary  from  quarter  to  quarter,  and  may  include  Company  metrics, 
divisional metrics and individual performance metrics.  

The  cash  bonus  plans  in  which  our  Named  Executive  Officers  participate  (KEBP  and  PBP)  are  subject  to  the 
Company’s  attainment  of  performance  milestones  established  by  the  Committee.  In  2010,  the  Committee  established 
performance  milestones  for  both  plans  based  on  a  percentage  of  the  Company’s  non-generally  accepted  accounting 

44 

 
principles profit before taxes (“non-GAAP PBT%”) (which excludes, among other things, certain items such as stock-based 
compensation,  acquisition-related  expenses,  impairments  to  goodwill,  gains  or  losses  on  divestitures,  investment-related 
gains and losses, restructuring costs, minority interests and related tax effects). Even when the Company is profitable and 
non-GAAP  PBT%  is  high,  our  executive  officers’  annual  earnings  under  KEBP  are  capped  at  200%  of  each  executive 
officer’s target bonus. Both plans are described below. 

Key  Employee  Bonus  Plan  (“KEBP”):  Eligible  senior  and  otherwise  high-performing  employees,  including  our  Named 
Executive Officers, except our chief executive officer, participate in KEBP. KEBP can pay out quarterly and annually and 
is  a  key  part  of  our  variable  compensation  structure.  The  objective  of  KEBP  is  to  provide  variable  cash  incentives  to 
eligible  participants.  Each  KEBP  participant  is  placed  at  an  incentive  level,  which  determines  the  percentage  of  that 
individual’s base salary he or she is eligible to earn over the course of the year. In 2010, the Committee placed our Named 
Executive Officers who are KEBP participants at the 80% of base salary target incentive level which has not changed in 
years.  Accordingly,  a  significant  portion of  our participating Named  Executive  Officers’  overall  cash  compensation  is  at 
risk and will only be paid out in connection with high performance. Our chief executive officer is not a KEBP participant, 
and participates instead in the PBP. Commencing in 2010, KEBP participants no longer participate in the PPSP. 

In 2010, the Committee established non-GAAP PBT% as the KEBP quarterly and annual performance metric. The 
Committee changed the KEBP performance metric from non-GAAP EPS, which it used in the prior year, in order to better 
align our variable cash compensation with the overall 2010 focus of the Company, which was to improve profitability. In 
2010,  for  each  performance  period,  KEBP  was  only  paid  out  if  the  Company’s  non-GAAP  PBT%  was  achieved  at  a 
minimum  specified  target.  Actual  2010  KEBP  payouts  were  dependent  on  the  percentage  by  which  non-GAAP  PBT% 
exceeded  the  threshold  payment  trigger.  There  was  no  KEBP  payout  if  the  Company’s  non-GAAP  PBT%  was  achieved 
below the threshold level. When the threshold level was achieved, the payout to our Named Executive Officers ranged from 
50%  to  156%  of  the  target  level  of  80%  of  base  salary.  Thus,  the  maximum  KEBP  payout  was  125%  of  the  Named 
Executive Officer’s base salary.  

If our chief executive officer or the participant’s executive vice president scores less than 65% on their CSFs, then 
the earned payout for the KEBP participant is reduced to zero, regardless of the individual’s CSF achievement. If our chief 
executive officer or the KEBP participant’s executive vice president scores from 65%–79%, then he or she will be eligible 
to earn 50% of what he or she would otherwise be entitled to and if our chief executive officer and such executive vice 
president  scores  80%  or  above  on  their  CSFs,  then  the  KEBP  participant  will  be  eligible  to  earn  up  to  100%  of  their 
available KEBP payout depending on their CSF score. 

The principles above are embedded in the following KEBP formula established by the Committee, which reflects 

how each bonus payment is determined: 

Annual Base 
Pay 

× 

Incentive Level% 

5 

×

Financial 
Performance 
Metric % 
Achievement

Payment 
Range 

×

CSF 
Score 

× 

× 

EO Factor 

To be eligible for a KEBP payment, the KEBP participant must still be employed by the Company on the payment 
date.  Quarterly  payouts under  the KEBP  are  made  in  the quarter  following  the  measuring period,  and  the payout  for the 
annual  target  is  made  within  the  first  quarter  following  the  applicable  year.  EO  Factor  represents  the  impact  of  the 
executive officer’s CSF score on the bonus payout to KEBP participants who report to or are part of the executive officer’s 
organization.  

Performance Bonus Plan (“PBP”): The PBP was designed to maintain the corporate tax deduction under Internal Revenue 
Code Section 162(m) for certain variable cash compensation paid to an executive officer to the extent such compensation 
exceeds  $1 million  in  any  one  (1)  year.  Participants  are  executive  officers  whose  target  total  cash  compensation  in  the 
applicable fiscal year exceeds $1 million. Our chief executive officer was the only participant under the PBP in fiscal year 
2010, and is currently the only participant. A PBP participant is not eligible to participate in the KEBP. 

Under the PBP, participants are eligible to receive cash payments based upon the attainment and certification of 
certain objective performance criteria established by the Committee. The performance measures for any performance period 
are  one  or  more  objective  performance  criteria,  applied  to  either  the  Company  as  a  whole  or,  except  with  respect  to 
stockholder return metrics, to a region, business unit, product line, affiliate or business segment, and measured either on an 
absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to a previous period’s results or to a designated comparison group, in 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
each case as specified by the Committee. Financial metrics may be determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted 
accounting principles (“GAAP”), in accordance with International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) principles or may 
exclude any items otherwise includable under GAAP or IASB Principles. Our Committee retains the discretion to reduce or 
eliminate any PBP award that would otherwise be payable. Therefore, even where the Company’s goal has been achieved, 
the actual payout is subject to discretionary reduction based on the participant’s CSF score for the period. The PBP, like 
KEBP, has quarterly and annual components. 

Performance-based Restricted Stock Units (“PARS”): As part of our retention strategy for certain key positions needed to 
meet our Company’s business objectives as the Company entered a multi-year refocus of its core semiconductor business 
and to provide substantial incentive to increase financial, operational and strategic results. We awarded performance-based 
restricted stock units to our executive officers and certain other key positions in the Company. The PARS may be earned 
ratably over a period of five (5) years, subject to achieving milestones established by the Committee each year, and might 
result in total compensation packages that are higher than targeted market positions if all performance-related milestones 
were achieved. None of our executive officers were eligible for any standard additional grants until 2010, except for our 
chief  executive  officer,  Mr. Rodgers,  who  may  be  granted  discretionary  awards  by  the  Committee.  In  2010,  none  of  our 
executive officers, including Mr. Rodgers, was granted any additional standard awards.  

Spin-Off:  On  September 28,  2008,  we  distributed  our  shares  of  SunPower  Corporation  class B  common  stock  to  our 
stockholders (the "Spin-Off"). Cypress employees, consultants and non-employee members of the Board holding Cypress 
options and restricted stock units did not receive any SunPower shares in respect of their options and restricted stock units. 

Spin-Off  Ratio:  Outstanding  equity  award  (vested  and  unvested,  including  stock  options,  restricted  stock  and  restricted 
stock  units)  and  the  remaining  share  pools  under  our  equity  plans  were  multiplied  by  4.12022  (the  “Spin-Off  Ratio”)  to 
reflect the change in market value of the Company’s common stock following the Spin-Off. The per share exercise price of 
outstanding Cypress stock options was divided by the Spin-Off Ratio for the same reason. 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives 

The  Committee’s  philosophy  is  to  target  total  Named  Executive  Officer  compensation  at  approximately  the 
median (or 50th percentile) range among comparator group companies (based on the Company’s performance meeting its 
annual  operating  plan).  The  Committee’s  general  policy  is  to  pay  approximately  median  base  salary,  but  to  place  more 
emphasis on performance-based compensation (cash and equity) and how it is earned, such that a large percentage of our 
Named  Executive  Officer  compensation  is  at  risk.  Therefore,  if  total  compensation  is  adjusted  for  the  risks  and 
aggressiveness of our goals, our executive officers are not paid above our targeted median percentile when compared with 
our peer companies. 

Our  executive  officers  earn  their  variable,  performance-based  compensation  under  our  PARS,  PBP  and  KEBP 
programs.  The  performance  targets  under  these  programs  are  aggressive  and  pre-determined  both  at  the  corporate  level, 
through corporate goals and at a personal level through CSF goals set for the applicable period. The payout may be robust 
or  meager  depending  on  the  level  of  achievement  of  the  goals.  If  the  goals  are  achieved  at  a  high  level,  the  total 
compensation for our Named Executive Officers could approximate the 75th percentile or more of the total compensation 
for similar positions in our peer group companies. On the contrary, if the performance targets are not achieved under PARS, 
PBP and KEBP, the total compensation for our Named Executive Officers is significantly diminished.  

The compensation programs for our executives are designed to achieve the following objectives: 

Attract and Retain Top Talent — to compete effectively for the highest quality of people who will determine our 
long-term success. We have structured our executive compensation program to be competitive with compensation paid by 
companies in the same market for executive talent.  

Pay-for-Performance  —  to  align  executive  compensation  with  Company,  business  unit  and  individual 
performance on both a short-term and long-term basis. Approximately 80% of our NEOs’ target total direct compensation 
is  in  the  form  of  variable  compensation,  comprised  of  quarterly  and  annual  incentive  cash  bonuses  and  performance 
restricted  stock  units  (RSUs),  which  aligns  executive  compensation  with  shareholder  interests  by  tying  a  significant 
majority of total direct compensation to achieving performance goals. Both our variable cash and equity incentive awards 
are structured around very stringent and aggressive goals and by design are very rewarding when the goals are achieved and 
if not, no payout is earned.   

Our cash compensation programs are intentionally designed to motivate our executive officers to achieve targeted 
operational  and  financial  results  for  the  Company,  such  that  our  executive  officers  are  rewarded  when  our  Company 
performs well. In fiscal quarters and years when the Company does not perform well, payouts are not made under the plans.  

46 

Our equity compensation is designed to reward our executive officers for achieving and exceeding short-term and 
long-term  goals  for  the  Company,  and  to  enhance  retention.  Our  PARS  program  is  linked  directly  to  the  Company’s 
achievement of certain targets, such that if a performance target is achieved, our executive officers are eligible to earn their 
PARS associated with such target, and if not, the shares are forfeited and cannot be earned in the future by our executive 
officers.  

We generally maintain an annual focal review process to determine employee (including our executive officers) 
compensation. By using a ranking system in the annual focal review, we reinforce the direct and meaningful link between 
individual performance and rewards. Therefore, the higher an executive officer is ranked, the more likely they will receive a 
greater percentage increase in both equity and cash compensation. 

In fiscal 2010, at least 80% of each of our Named Executive Officer’s target total direct compensation was at risk 

in the form of variable compensation.  

The Role of the Compensation Committee 

The Committee: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

establishes the performance objectives for our chief executive officer and other Named Executive Officers and 
evaluates and adjusts their compensation based on achievement of those objectives; 

formulates,  approves,  reviews  and  modifies  the  compensation  of  the  Company’s  directors  and  executive 
officers; 

oversees the administration of the Company’s compensation plans; 

recommends to the Board for approval the Company’s compensation plans, policies and programs; 

reviews, revises in its discretion, and approves the annual merit and stock budgets for focal salary increases 
and equity grant awards for all eligible employees;  

reviews  and  revises  in  its  discretion  the  annual  benefit  changes  made  by  the  Company  with  respect  to  its 
employees; 

oversees equity plans of the Company’s subsidiaries; and 

oversees annual risk analysis of our compensation policies and programs. 

The Role of Consultants Retained by the Compensation Committee 

Buck  Consultants,  LLC,  an  independent  compensation  consulting  firm  is  engaged  as  a  consultant  by  the 
Committee,  reports  directly  to  the  Committee,  and  assists  the  Committee  in  determining  the  appropriate  executive 
compensation for our Named Executive Officers. This is done, in part, by comparing the current salary, bonus, and equity 
awards of our Named Executive Officers to comparable positions at peer group companies.  

The Role of Executive Officers in Determining Executive Compensation 

Other than our chief executive officer, who participates in setting the compensation of the other executive officers 
through  his  recommendations  to  the  Committee,  our  executive  officers  do  not  directly  participate  in  determining  their 
compensation.  Our  chief  executive  officer  does  not  participate  directly  in  setting  his  own  compensation.  However,  our 
executive officers, including our chief executive officer, do participate indirectly by initially proposing their quarterly and 
annual goals (subject to review, revision and approval), the achievement of which impacts their variable cash compensation 
under  our  cash  incentive  plans.  Mr. Rodgers’  salary,  bonus  and  equity  grants  are  determined  by  the  Committee  after 
considering the peer group analysis undertaken by our consultant, Mr. Rodgers’ job performance, the responsibilities of his 
position, and Company performance. 

47 

 
Executive Compensation Components and Objectives  

The  components  of  Cypress’s  Named  Executive  Officer  compensation  program  are:  (i) base  salary;  (ii) variable 
and  at-risk  cash  compensation  under  our  KEBP  and  PBP;  (iii) service-based  equity  awards  and  PARS;  and  (iv) benefit 
programs such as our deferred compensation plans. We also offer standard health benefits and an employee stock purchase 
program  to  all  our  employees.  The  Company  does  not  provide  a  defined  benefit  pension  plan,  a  match  to  employee 
contributions  to  our  401(k)  plan,  or  any  disclosable  perquisites.  In  addition,  the  Company  does  not  currently  have  any 
severance agreements or change of control agreements for its Named Executive Officers. 

The Company does NOT provide: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a defined benefit pension plan; 

a match to employee contributions to our 401(k) plan; 

any match or contribution to the NQDCP; 

any regular disclosable perquisites; and 

any severance agreements or change of control agreements for its Named Executive Officers. 

48 

Compensation 
Element 
Base Salary 

Objectives 

Key Features 

To provide a fixed level of cash 
compensation to reward 
demonstrated experience, 
skills and competencies relative to 
the market value of the job. 

Annual Cash Incentive 
Awards 

Rewards annual corporate and 
individual performance and 
achieving strategic goals. 

Performance Bonus Plan  
Key Employee Bonus Plan 
Design Bonus Plan (only 
as applicable) 

Aligns NEOs’ interests with those 
of our stockholders by promoting 
strong annual results through 
increased profit margin and 
operating efficiency. 

Long-Term Incentive 
Awards (Equity Awards) 
Performance-based 
accelerated restricted stock 
(PARS) and restricted 
stock 

Non-Qualified Deferred 
Compensation 

Retains NEOs by providing 
market-competitive compensation.    
Aligns NEOs’ interests with long-
term stockholder interests by 
linking part of each NEO’s 
compensation to long-term 
corporate performance. 

Provides opportunities for wealth 
creation and ownership, which 
promotes retention and enables us 
to attract and motivate our NEOs. 

Retention of NEOs through multi-
year vesting of equity grants and 
multi-year performance periods. 
To provide retirement savings in a 
tax-efficient manner. 

Targeted at the 50th percentile of our peer group 
companies, but varies based on skills, experience and 
other factors. 

Adjustments are considered annually based on individual 
performance, level of pay relative to the market, and 
internal pay equity. 
Annual incentive payments are cash awards based on 
financial targets –e.g. percentage of non-GAAP profit 
before taxes. For NEOs, including our chief executive 
officer, the payout under our cash incentive program 
depends on achieving individual performance goals 
through our CSF system.  
Annual cash incentive awards can vary from 0% to 
200% of the target amount. 

Targeted at a level that will provide total direct 
compensation (base + annual incentive + equity awards) 
approximating above the 75th percentile of our peer 
group’s total direct compensation. 

PARS for our NEOs were awarded in 2007 and vest over 
five years upon the achievement of performance targets. 
None of our NEOs received any additional standard 
award for three years following the 2007 award. PARS 
vest in increments over a five year period. 

NEOs can elect to defer up to 100% of their annual 
incentive cash payments or defer a portion of their base 
salaries. 
Balances in the deferred compensation plan are unfunded 
obligations. Investment returns on balances are linked to 
the returns of mutual funds and do not generate any 
above market returns. 

How the Committee Determined the Amount for Each Element of 2010 Compensation 

Our executive officers’ base salaries approximate the 50th percentile of the base salaries for similar positions in our 
peer group companies. During 2009 all of our NEOs took pay cuts along with the rest of the Company that ranged from 9% 
to 11%. Pay cuts ended in the first quarter of 2010. In 2010, our executive officers other than Mr. Rodgers, received salary 
increases ranging between 0% and 3.3% to bring their base salary to the approximate median level among our peer group 
companies.  

In 2010, at least 80% of the cash compensation paid to our executive officers was variable, subject to achieving 
aggressively set performance goals that must be achieved at both the corporate and individual CSF level. Payouts under our 
incentive cash bonus plans may be higher or lower based on the Company’s results and an individual’s CSF score, such that 
each Named Executive Officer is motivated and challenged to achieve both short and long-term goals for the Company. In 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
  
   
2010, the incentive cash compensation target percentage for our executive officers remained the same as in previous years 
and was targeted to provide an above-median opportunity of 175% of base salary for our chief executive officer under the 
PBP,  and  80%  of  base  salary  for  all  other  executive  officers  under  our  KEBP  program.  A  target  payout  would  require 
achievement of very aggressive goals that are generally not fully achieved. No executive officer achieved the targeted total 
cash compensation for each performance period either in 2009 or 2010. Below is a historical table that shows a two-year 
performance percentage achievement by our Named Executive Officers under PBP, KEBP and for 2009, PPSP: 

PBP 
T.J. Rodgers 

Q1 
0% 

Q2 
0% 

Q3 
94% 

Q4 
102% 

ANNUAL  AVERAGE 

81% 

55% 

Q1 
84% 

Q2 
131% 

Q3 
143% 

2009 

2009 

KEBP 
T.J. Rodgers 
Brad Buss 
Paul Keswick 
Christopher Seams  
Norman Taffe 

Q1 
Q3 
Q2 
N/A  N/A  N/A 
86% 
0% 
0% 
91% 
0% 
0% 
91% 
0% 
0% 
90% 
0% 
0% 

Q4 
N/A 
110% 
40% 
121% 
104% 

ANNUAL  AVERAGE 

N/A 
93% 
0% 
93% 
33% 

N/A 
58% 
26% 
61% 
45% 

2009 

PPSP 
T.J. Rodgers 
Brad Buss 
Paul Keswick 
Christopher Seams 
Norman Taffe 

Q1 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

Q2 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 
0% 

Q3 
94% 
86% 
91% 
91% 
90% 

Q4 
102% 
110% 
79% 
121% 
104% 

ANNUAL  AVERAGE 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

49% 
49% 
43% 
53% 
49% 

Q1 
N/A 
89% 
84% 
81% 
84% 

Q1 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Q2 
N/A 
129% 
108% 
117% 
120% 

Q2 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Q3 
N/A 
143% 
76% 
143% 
142% 

Q3 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

2010 
Q4 
113% 

2010 

Q4 
N/A 
126% 
112% 
123% 
115% 

2010 

Q4 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

ANNUAL 
49% 

AVERAGE 
104% 

ANNUAL 
N/A 
58% 
58% 
60% 
48% 

ANNUAL 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

AVERAGE 
N/A 
109% 
88% 
105% 
102% 

AVERAGE 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

The  PARS  award  to  our  executive  officers  occurred  in  2007  as  part  of  our  retention  strategy  for  certain  key 
positions  needed  to  meet  our  Company’s  business  objectives  as  the  Company  entered  a  multi-year  refocus  of  its  core 
semiconductor  business  and  to  provide  substantial  incentive  to  increase  financial,  operational  and  strategic  results.  In 
making those grants, the Committee considered roles that are larger in scope, complexity or accountability than standard 
market positions, as well as rewarding outstanding individual performance. The Committee appreciated that this grant, to 
be earned ratably over a period of five (5) years, might result in total compensation packages higher than targeted market 
positions if all performance-related milestones were achieved. Although our NEOs were eligible to receive equity awards in 
2010, no additional awards were awarded because the Committee considered the previous award adequate and competitive 
for our NEOs in 2010. The table below shows percentage payouts to our NEOs under 2009 and 2010 PARS: 

Name  

T.J. Rodgers  
Brad Buss 
Paul Keswick  
Christopher Seams 
Norman Taffe 

2009  

89.5% 
89.5% 
89.5% 
89.5% 
89.5% 

2010 

99.4% 
99.4% 
99.4% 
99.4% 
99.4% 

2010 Peer Group Companies  

The  Committee  did  not  conduct  a  market  analysis  of  our  peer  group  companies  in  2010  for  setting  executive 
compensation  because  the  Committee  did  not  intend  to  make  any  changes  with  respect  to  2010  compensation  of  our 
executive officers. We completed a detailed analysis in 2009. 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our peer group companies for 2010 are listed in the table below: 

Peer Group Companies in 2010 

Altera Corporation 
Analog Devices, Inc.  
Atmel Corporation 
Broadcom Corporation 
Integrated Device Technology Inc. 
Linear Technology Corporation 
LSI Corporation 
Marvell Technology Group Limited 

Microchip Technology Inc. 
National Semiconductor Corporation 
NVIDIA Corporation 
ON Semiconductor Corporation 
PMC-Sierra, Inc. 
SanDisk Corporation 
Xilinx, Inc. 

Committee Considerations in Determining the 2010 Compensation of Executive Officers 

Except  for  Mr.  Rodgers  whose  base  salary  remained  unchanged,  our  NEOs  received  a  salary  increase  of  0%  to 
3.3% based on  their  focal  merit  ranking.  There were  no  changes  made  to  the  targeted percentage  of base  salary  that  our 
executive officers could earn under the PBP and KEBP. 

As  a  result  of  the  PARS  awards  granted  in  2007,  our  executive  officers  were  not  eligible  to  receive  any  new 
standard equity awards until 2010, except that the Committee could make discretionary awards to Mr. Rodgers. Neither Mr. 
Rodgers nor any of our Named Executive Officers received a new grant in 2010. 

2010 Cash and Equity Incentive Compensation for Named Executive Officers 

Cash Incentive Compensation  

In 2010, our chief executive officer participated in the PBP and all other Named Executive Officers participated in 

the KEBP.  

Under these plans, our Named Executive Officers typically designate between ten (10) and fifteen (15) CSFs per 
quarter  and  for  the  year.  In  determining  the  amount  of  cash  incentive  pay  payable  under  the  KEBP  and  the  PBP,  the 
Committee uses the final CSF scores for the given review period as a component in the formulas that determine the bonus 
to be paid under each plan. In order to apply its discretion to reduce the maximum payout under the PBP, the Committee 
considers the participant’s CSF score for the applicable period.  

Under the PBP, for 2010, the Committee set objective quarterly and annual non-GAAP PBT% targets that must be 
achieved by the Company. At the end of the measuring period, the Committee, considered Mr. Rodgers’ CSF score for the 
quarter  and  applied  discretion  as  provided  under  the  PBP  plan,  to  reduce  the  maximum  payout  to  Mr.  Rodgers  by 
multiplying the target by his CSF percentage score. 

The  quarterly  plan  non-GAAP  PBT%  targets,  our  actual  non-GAAP  PBT%  achievement,  and  the  percentage of 

achievement against plan for our 2010 fiscal year are set forth in the following table:  

The following PBT% targets were used under the PBP and KEBP for all our executives in 2010:  

2010 Fiscal Year Period 

Plan Non-GAAP PBT% Target 

Non-GAAP PBT% 
Achieved 

Percentage Achievement 

First Quarter 

Second Quarter 

Third Quarter 

Fourth Quarter 

20.0% 

20.0% 

20.0% 

20.0% 

18.6% 

23.4% 

25.6% 

23.4% 

90% 

134% 

156% 

134% 

Equity Plans 

In  early  2010, the  Committee  set  performance  goals  under  which participants were  eligible  to  earn  their  PARS. 

Four milestones were set for performance under 2010 PARS, as follows: 

51 

 
 
 
Milestone #1 

30% of total targeted PARS awards could be earned if Cypress’s stock appreciation was equal to or greater than 
the  Philadelphia  Semiconductor  Sector  Index  (SOXX)  calculated  from  December  31,  2009  versus  December  31,  2010 
ending stock price. The payout for this milestone adjusted on a linear scale down to 0% if Cypress’s stock performance was 
less than SOXX by greater than 7.5 percentage points. If Cypress’s stock price performance was equal to or greater than 
SOXX at the end of the measurement period, but Cypress stock return was negative for the measurement period then the 
payout  for  this  milestone  was  set  at  50%.  For  fiscal  year  2010  this  milestone  paid  out  at  100%  as  the  Cypress  stock 
appreciation was 76% versus 14% for the SOXX 

Milestone #2 

40%  of  total  targeted  PARS  awards  could be  earned  if  Cypress  achieved  a 15.0% or greater  non-GAAP  annual 
profit before taxes % for the fiscal year 2010. The payout adjusted on a linear scale down to 0% if the non-GAAP annual 
PBT% for fiscal year 2010 was 5.0% or less. For fiscal year 2010 this milestone paid out at 100% as the non-GAAP PBT% 
achieved was 22.9%. 

Milestone #3 

15%  of  total  targeted  PARS  awards  could  be  earned  if  the  revenue  growth  for  2010  was  18.0%  or  greater 
compared to Cypress’s revenue for 2009. The payout for this milestone adjusted on a linear scale down to 0% if Cypress 
achieved  10.0%  or  less  revenue growth  compared  with  revenue  for  fiscal  year  2009.  For  fiscal  year  2010  this  milestone 
paid out at 100% as the revenue growth for 2010 was 32%. 

Milestone #4 

15% of total targeted PARS awards could be earned if the revenue from the PSoC family of products defined as -
PSoC1/3/5, True Touch, PPSoC, ONS, Trackpad - for fiscal 2010 was equal to or greater then $210 million. This milestone 
adjusted on a linear scale down to a 0% payout if revenue from the PSoC family of products was equal to or less than $170 
million. For fiscal year 2010 this milestone paid out at 96% as the 2010 revenue achieved totaled $208 million. 

All  earned  shares  are  released  following  certification  by  the  Compensation  Committee  that  the  applicable 
performance  milestone  has  been  achieved,  net  of  all  federal  and  state  withholding  tax  requirements.  Following  final 
certification by the Committee, if the performance milestone is not achieved in full, the portion of the target shares for that 
particular performance milestone in the given period is forfeited and returned to the 1994 Stock Plan. 

The following table sets forth the maximum targeted shares that could be earned in 2010 by our Named Executive 
Officers  under  PARS  (amounts  were  awarded  and  granted  in  2007)  and  the  actual  payouts,  as  approved  by  the 
Compensation Committee for our Named Executive Officers and the percentage of 2010 PARS earned. The shares in the 
table below were adjusted for the Spin-Off. 

Named Executive 
Officer 
Mr. Rodgers 
Mr. Buss 
Mr. Keswick 
Mr. Seams  
Mr. Taffe 

2010 Maximum 
Shares Achievable 
659,235 
412,022 
329,617 
329,617 
283,265 

Total Number of 
Shares Earned in 2010 
654,983 
409,364 
327,491 
327,491 
281,438 

Percentage 
Achieved 
99.4 
99.4 
99.4 
99.4 
99.4 

Named Executive Officers’ 2010 CSF Quarterly and Annual Performance Goals 

In  2010,  our  chief  executive  officer,  Mr.  T.J.  Rodgers’  annual  and  quarterly  CSF  performance  goals  included, 
strategies  for  the  reduction  of  operating  expense,  increasing  revenue  and  improving  gross  margin,  new  product 
development  and  launches,  implementing  programs  to  make  it  easier  for  customers  to  do  business  with  Cypress,  and 
increasing the Company’s customer base. 

In 2010, our chief financial officer, Mr. Brad Buss’ goals included, implementing trade management processes and 
infrastructure, developing strategies for improved shareholder returns, revenue and profit improvement, and implementing 
our  world  class  profit  initiative.  His  quarterly  goals  included,  improving  certain  business  processes,  and  implementing 
programs to make it easier for customers to do business with Cypress. 

52 

 
 
 
In 2010, our executive vice president of New Product Development, Mr. Paul D. Keswick’s annual CSFs focused 
on the achievement of on-time product launches and the completion of specific Company-wide infrastructure projects. His 
quarterly  goals  included  improving  several  of  Cypress’s  business processes,  improving  product  quality  requirements  and 
cycle time, and developing and executing various plans for 2010 product launches. Mr. Keswick also had CSFs related to 
product  research  and  development,  the  creation  of  system  designs  methods  and  tools,  and  the  formulation  and 
implementation of several engineering and manufacturing initiatives. 

In  2010,  our  executive  vice  president  of  Sales  and  Marketing,  Mr.  Christopher  A.  Seams’  annual  and  quarterly 
CSFs  included,  initiating  strategies  for  revenue  growth,  increasing  profit,  market  penetration  and  new  design  wins,  and 
implementing programs to make it easier for customer to do business with Cypress. His quarterly goals included, achieving 
certain  revenue  performance  targets,  developing  and  implementing  programs  to  improve  our  customer  base  for  specific 
product lines, implementing our cost saving initiatives, and other strategic initiatives for product marketing and distribution.  

Our executive vice president of the Consumer and Computation Division, Mr. Norman P. Taffe’s 2010 quarterly 
and  annual  CSFs  included,  implementing  various  cost-reduction  strategies,  developing  new  business,  and  exploring  next 
generation  products  for  some  of  our  existing  products,  and  achieving  specific  product  quality  goals.  Mr.  Taffe’s  annual 
goals  included  various product  launches,  achieving  specific  cycle  time  and  customer  service standards,  achieving certain 
revenue performance, and developing and implementing various back-end manufacturing goals. 

Named Executive Officers’ CSF Difficulty Levels and Likelihood of Achievement of 2011 PBP or KEBP Targets  

We cannot predict with any degree of certainty how difficult it will be to achieve the 2011 financial targets under 
PBP  or  KEBP.  Even  where  the  Company’s  financial  targets  are  achieved,  it  is  also  unpredictable  how  the  CSF  score  of 
each  executive  officer  will  impact  his  actual  payout,  or  how  our  chief  executive  officer’s  score  will  impact  the  actual 
payout. Historically, our NEOs do not achieve 100% of their CSFs for each measuring and there are generally, no points 
are earned beyond 100% achievement. In 2010, our NEOs scored between 87.05% and 93.61% on their CSFs and in 2009, 
they scored between 81.34% and 94.28% on their CSFs. 

Prohibition on Derivative Trading 

Our company prohibits derivative transactions in our Company stock by officers and directors directly or indirectly. 

Specifically, a director or an officer may not, at any time: 

• 

• 

directly or indirectly sell any equity security, including derivatives, of the Company if he or she (1) does not own 
the security sold, or (2) if he or she owns the security, does not deliver it against such sale (a "short sale against the 
box")  within  twenty  days  thereafter,  or does  not  within  five  days  after such  sale deposit  it  in  the  mails  or other 
usual channels of transportation. 

engage in short sales, which means any transaction whereby one derives a benefit from a decline in the Company's 
stock price. This includes buying put options on the Company’s stock. 

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines 

The  Company  currently  does  not  have  any  formal  stock  ownership  guidelines  for  executive  officers.  However, 
each of our NEO’s direct common stock ownership is currently well in excess of any industry standard, especially for our 
chief executive officer. We continue to evaluate adding a formal ownership policy. 

2011 Executive Compensation Actions  

In  2011  the  Compensation  Committee  has  determined  the  extent  to  which  the  Company  achieved  the  2010 
performance milestones established for the 2010 PARS awards. The Compensation Committee has also set the performance 
targets for earning the 2011 PARS. 

The following are the 2011 PARS performance targets set by the Compensation Committee: 

• 

30%  of  the  targeted  PARS  shares  may  be  earned  if  the  Company’s  common  stock  performance  attains  certain 
threshold  levels  compared  with  the  Philadelphia  Semiconductor  Sector  Index  (“SOXX”),  as  measured  from  the 
closing  price  beginning  December  31,  2010  to  the  closing  price  of  December  31,  2011.  If  the  performance 
milestone is achieved for the measurement period, the payout is at 100% and adjusts down to 50% payout if the 
Company’s  stock  price  performance  reaches  only  a  certain  threshold  level,  but  by  a  specified  percentage  point 
greater than SOXX for the measurement period; 

53 

 
• 

• 

• 

30% of the targeted PARS shares may be earned at 100% payout if the Company achieves a certain annual non-
GAAP PBT% for  the  measurement  period.  The payout  adjusts  on  a  linear  scale  down to  0%  if  the  annual  non-
GAAP PBT% for the measurement period is achieved at a certain level below target; 

20% of the targeted PARS shares may be earned at 100% if the Company’s revenue growth for 2010 is achieved at 
a certain percentage point. The payout for this milestone adjusts on a linear scale down to 0% if the performance 
milestone is achieved at a certain level below target for the measurement period; and 

20% of the targeted PARS shares may be earned at the end of the measurement period if the Company achieves 
certain revenue growth levels for the PSoC® family of products as compared to fiscal 2010. This milestone pays 
out at 100% if the Company achieves certain revenue growth levels during the measurement period, and adjusts on 
a linear scale down to 0% payout if revenue growth is achieved at a certain amount below target.  

CSF goals have also been established, and the Board and the Committee have approved the financial performance 
metrics  required  for  KEBP,  and  PBP  payouts  to  Named  Executive  Officers.  The  Committee  has  also  set  performance 
targets required for 2011 KEBP and PBP. 

Perquisites and Other Benefits 

Cypress generally does not provide any perquisites to its Named Executive Officers; however, in 2010, Cypress 
paid the fees and related expenses for a Hart-Scott-Rodino filing that was required on behalf of our chief executive officer, 
Mr. Rodgers. 

Company’s policy on IRS 162(m)  

Our management and the Committee have considered the implications of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue 
Code  of  1986.  This  section  precludes  a  public  corporation  from  taking  a  tax  deduction  for  individual  compensation  in 
excess of $1 million for its chief executive officer or certain other executive officers. This section also provides for certain 
exceptions to this limitation, including compensation that is performance-based within the meaning of Section 162(m). Our 
Performance Bonus Plan enables us to qualify more compensation as deductible performance-based compensation. Many of 
our  executive  compensation  plans  are  designed  to  qualify  payments  thereunder  as  deductible  performance-based 
compensation. In order, however, to preserve flexibility in designing our compensation programs, not all amounts we pay 
may qualify for deductibility. 

Severance/Change in Control Compensation 

None of our Named Executive Officers have contractual severance or change-in-control benefits. 

54 

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

The information in this report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission or subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 
“Exchange Act”), except to the extent that Cypress specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act. 

We have reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis (which is incorporated 
by  reference  in  this  report)  with  management.  Based  on  our  review  and  discussion  with  management,  we  have 
recommended  to  the  Board  of  Directors  that  the  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis  be  included  in  this  Proxy 
Statement and in Cypress’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2011. 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  

Eric A. Benhamou, Chairman 
Lloyd Carney 
James R. Long 

55 

 
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 

The Summary Compensation Table on page 57 sets forth information regarding compensation earned during fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008 by our chief 
executive officer, our chief financial officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers, who we refer to collectively as our Named Executive 
Officers or NEOs. In 2008, we modified the outstanding employee equity awards in connection with the Spin-Off of SunPower Corporation in order to preserve the 
intrinsic  value  of  the  awards  before  and  after  the  Spin-Off.  In  connection  with  the  Spin-Off,  outstanding  employee  equity  awards,  vested  and  unvested,  were 
multiplied  by  the  Spin-Ratio  of  4.12022.  The  amounts  shown  in  the  Stock  Awards  and  Option  Awards  column  for  2008  include  the  incremental  fair  value  of 
outstanding awards at the time of the Spin-Off. See table on page 59 for the impact of the Spin-Off on the compensation of our Named Executive Officers.   

Total compensation for all NEOs in 2010 increased in a range of 11% to 27% due primarily to performance-based compensation elements performing better 
in 2010 versus 2009, which was impacted by the economic downturn. Compensation changes for all NEOs grew within ranges we have seen from our competitors 
and grew substantially less than the stock performance we returned of 72% for fiscal 2010 and substantially less than our non-GAAP earnings per share growth of 
840% in 2010; thus aligning directly with pay-for-performance. 

Cash  salaries  increased  slightly  in  2010  as  during  2009  we  took  temporary  pay  cuts  for  approximately  nine  (9)  months.  Non-Equity  Incentive  Plan 
Compensation is comprised solely of 100% performance-based cash bonuses. The bonus target as a percentage of salary remained unchanged from 2009 for each 
NEO. Our financial performance (as described on pages 43 and 44) was very strong and as such this portion of compensation increased.  

Stock awards are primarily comprised of performance-based restricted stock and stock units that were granted in 2007 as described on page 60. No new 
equity awards were granted in 2010. The number of underlying targeted shares for the 100% performance-based restricted stock and stock units for 2009 and 2010 
remained exactly the same for each NEO. The main driver impacting the compensation charge is the underlying increase in the stock price which impacted the fair 
value of the grant. The grants were 100% performance-based.  

56 

623,074 

100,000 

4,581,189 

12,060,007 

Name and Principal 
Position 

Year 

Salary2 
($) 

Bonus 
($) 

T.J. Rodgers 
President, Chief Executive 
Officer and Director 

Brad W. Buss 
Executive Vice President, 
Finance & Administration, 
Chief Financial Officer 

Paul D. Keswick 
Executive Vice President, 
New Product 
Development 

Christopher A. Seams, 
Executive Vice President, 
Sales and Marketing 

Norman P. Taffe8 
Executive Vice President 
Consumer and 
Computation Division 

2010 

598,766 

594,221 

2009 

2008 

0 

0 

2010 

333,631 

2009 

2008 

2010 

2009 

2008 

302,726 

342,445 

319,527 

297,887 

332,898 

2010 

373,461 

2009 

340,393 

2008 

381,219 

2010 

289,427 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2009 

265,552 

0 

Summary Compensation Table1 

Stock 
Awards3 
($) 

7,239,062 

6,104,336

Option 
Awards4 
($) 

0 

0 

4,524,414 

3,792,160 

0 

0 

2,469,981 

2,638,313 

3,619,531 

3,409,668 

0 

0 

2,012,520 

1,417,420 

3,619,531 

3,409,668 

0 

0 

Non-Equity 
Incentive Plan 
Compensation5 
($) 

1,092,807 

536,952 

577,968 

291,212 

147,649 

124,804 

276,7707 

70,542 

88,455 

322,392 

173,446 

1,996,548 

1,408,761 

142,053 

3,110,534 

2,930,168 

0 

0 

255,514 

102,338 

57 

Change in 
Pension Value 
and Nonqualified 
Deferred 
Compensation 
Earnings 
($) 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

N/A 

N/A 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

All Other 
Compensation 
($) 

262,4496 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

 0 

Total Compensation 
($)  

9,193,084 

7,235,509 

17,942,238 

5,149,257 

4,242,535 

5,575,543 

4,215,828 

3,778,097 

3,851,293 

4,315,384 

3,923,507 

3,928,581 

3,655,475 

3,298,058 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Our Named Executive Officers do not have employment contracts or any change in control agreements. They are not guaranteed salary increases or cash bonus 
amounts. We provide no pension benefits and do not match 401(k) contributions. We do not guarantee a return or provide above-market returns on compensation 
that has been deferred. Executive officers generally do not receive benefits or perquisites that are not available to other employees. We believe our compensation 
program  holds  our  executive  officers  accountable  for  the  financial  and  competitive  performance  of  Cypress,  and  for  their  individual  contribution  toward  that 
performance. 

Represents actual salary earned in fiscal years 2010, 2009 and 2008. The 2009 salary reflects a Company-wide pay reduction implemented commencing in the 
second quarter of 2009. The pay reduction was reversed at the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 for all employees except for our executive 
officers, whose reversal occurred, at the beginning of fiscal 2010. Salary includes base pay and payment in respect of accrued vacation and holidays. Includes 
$23,661 paid to Mr. Rodgers, $9,644 paid to Mr. Buss, $12,724 paid to Mr. Keswick, $14,545 paid to Mr. Seams, and $11,339 paid to Mr. Taffe in connection 
with our Company’s mandatory shut down. As part of our cost cutting measures, in November and December 2009, and January 2010, our offices were closed 
for some days and employees were required either to go without pay for the period, or use their paid-time-off if they wished to be paid during the shut down. 
Also reflects paid-time-off cash out by our Named Executive Officers. 

Reflects  the  fair  value  of  the  2008  stock  award  to  Mr.  Rodgers  and  2009  and  2010  target  performance-based  restricted  stock  units  awarded  to  our  Named 
Executive Officers. In 2007, all of our Named Executive Officers received performance-based restricted stock units (“PARS”) that can be earned ratably over 
five years. The fair value for each year’s targeted restricted stock units is determined when the Compensation Committee sets the performance milestones for the 
applicable year. The fair value amounts disclosed for 2009 also include the adjustments made in 2009 by our Compensation Committee in connection with 2008 
PARS. The Compensation Committee in its review of the performance achievements under 2008 PARS exercised its discretion under our 1994 Stock Plan and 
adjusted the calculation methodology for certain performance milestones under 2008 PARS. In connection with said adjustment, the Company incurred a charge 
of $4,995,900 with respect to additional shares that our Named Executive Officers earned under 2008 PARS. Of the $4,995,900 charge, $1,308,400 was with 
respect to additional shares earned by Mr. Rodgers, $794,700 for Mr. Buss, $1,011,700 for each of Messrs. Keswick and Seams, and $869,400 for Mr. Taffe. The 
amounts entered for 2008 reflect the incremental fair value of outstanding employee equity awards as of August 1, 2008, adjusted by the Spin-Ratio of 4.12022. 
None of our Named Executive Officers earned the maximum targeted shares for 2009. In 2010, Mr. Rodgers earned 590,080 shares, Mr. Buss earned 368,800 
shares,  and  each  of  Messrs.  Keswick  and  Seams  earned  295,040  and  Mr.  Taffe  earned  253,550.  See  table  on  page  59  for  impact  of  the  Spin-Off  on  the 
compensation of our Named Executive Officers.  

No new stock option grants were made to our Named Executive Officers in 2010, 2009 and 2008. In connection with the SunPower Spin-Off, modifications were 
made  by  multiplying  outstanding  employee  equity  by  the  Spin-Ratio  of  4.12022.  Amounts  entered  for  2008  reflect  the  incremental  fair  value  of  outstanding 
employee equity awards as of August 1, 2008, adjusted by the Spin-Ratio of 4.12022. See table on page 59 for impact of the Spin-Off on the compensation of our 
Named Executive Officers.  

Includes  bonus  amounts  earned  under  our  Performance  Bonus  Plan  (“PBP”),  Key  Employee  Bonus  Plan  (“KEBP”)  and  our  Performance  Profit  Sharing  Plan 
(“PPSP”). Bonuses under our PBP, KEBP and PPSP are paid in arrears of the quarter in which they are earned. The amounts earned are paid out in the fiscal 
quarter following the quarter earned, provided the employee is still employed by Cypress at the time of the payout, subject to conditions specified under the plan.  
Reflects government fees and related expenses paid in connection with a Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filing that was required on behalf of Mr. Rodgers. 

7.  Mr. Keswick’s non-equity incentive was earned and paid under the Company’s Design Bonus Plan (“DBP”). The Design Bonus Plan was instituted in 2010 to 
incentivize  design  and  engineering  efforts  at  the  Company.  The  DBP  is  available  to  all  employees  who  are  design  engineers.  Eligibility  for  this  cash  bonus 
program is determined on a quarterly basis. Participants in the DBP contribute 10% of their salary and a portion that could be earned under the KEBP in a given 
quarter in exchange for the opportunity to earn five times that amount by delivering their assigned projects on schedule. Mr. Keswick is the only executive officer 
who participated in the DBP in 2010.  

8.  Mr. Taffe was not a Named Executive Officer in 2008. 

58 

IMPACT OF SPIN-OFF ADJUSTMENT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION IN 2008 

In  connection  with  the  Spin-Off,  outstanding  employee  equity  awards  vested  and  unvested  were  multiplied  by  the  Spin-Ratio  of  4.12022.  In  2008,  we 
modified the outstanding employee equity awards in connection with the Spin-Off of SunPower Corporation in order to preserve the intrinsic value of the awards 
before and after the Spin-Off. The amounts shown in the Stock Awards and Option Awards column for 2008 reflect the incremental fair value of the Spin-adjusted 
outstanding stock and option awards. The following table summarizes the effect to total compensation reported to our Named Executive Officers as a result of the 
Spin-Off.  

EFFECT OF SPIN-OFF ADJUSTMENT  

Name  

Total Compensation 
Reported 
($) 

Stock Award(s) 
($) 

Option Award(s) 
($) 

T.J. Rodgers 
Brad Buss 
Paul Keswick 

Christopher Seams 
Norman Taffe 

17,942,238 
5,575,543 
3,851,293 

3,928,581 
N/A 

N/A1 
(170,381) 
(159,720) 

(143,748) 
N/A 

(12,060,007) 
(2,638,313) 
(1,417,420) 

(1,408,761) 
N/A 

Pre Spin-Off Total 
Adjusted 
Compensation 
($) 

5,882,231  
2,766,849 
2,274,153  

2,376,072  
N/A 

1 Mr. Rodgers did not have any outstanding unvested stock awards as of August 1, 2008 when the compensation charge was calculated.

59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
The next two tables show all plan-based awards granted to the Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2010. The unvested portion of the stock awards 
identified in the table below are also reported in the Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table.  

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS 

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2011 

Estimated Possible Payouts  
Under Non-Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards1 

Estimated Future Payouts 
Under Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards2 

Grant 
Date 
Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 
5/11/07 
Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 
5/11/07 
Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 
5/11/07 
Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 
5/11/07 
Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 
5/11/07 

Threshol
d 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Target 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Maximu
m 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Threshol
d 
(#) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Target 
(#) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
659,235
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
329,618 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
263,694 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
263,694 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
226,612 

Maximum 
(#) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
659,235 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
412,022 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
329,617 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
329,617 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
283,265 

All Other 
Stock 
Awards: 
Number of 
Shares of 
Stock or 
Units 
(#) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

All Other 
Option 
Awards: 
Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Options 
(#) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Exercise 
or Base 
Price of 
Option 
Awards 
($/SH) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Grant Date 
Fair Value of 
Stock and 
Option 
Awards3 
($) 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
7,239,062 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
4,524,414 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
3,619,531 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
3,619,531 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
3,110,534 

Name and Principal 
Position 

T.J. Rodgers 
President, Chief Executive 
Officer and Director 

Brad W. Buss 
Executive Vice President, 
Finance and 
Administration, 
Chief Financial Officer 

Paul D. Keswick 
Executive Vice President, 
New Product Development  

Christopher A. Seams 
Executive Vice President, 
Sales and Marketing 

Mr. Norman P. Taffe 
Executive Vice President. 
Consumer and Computation 
Division 

1. 

There are no outstanding future payments under our Performance Bonus Plan (“PBP”) or Key Employee Bonus Plan (“KEBP”). All amounts earned under 
our PBP or KEBP are paid in the quarter after which they were earned. The annual component is paid in the quarter following the fiscal year in which it 
was earned. See table on page 62 for actual amounts paid to our Named Executive Officers under the PBP, KEBP and as applicable, DBP. 

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. 

3. 

In  2007,  we  granted  performance-based  restricted  stock  units  to  certain  employees  in  senior  management  positions,  including  our  Named  Executive 
Officers,  under  our  1994  Stock  Plan.  The  performance-based  stock  awards  vest  ratably  over  a  five-year  period  if  the  performance  milestones  are  met. 
Performance milestones are set by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee also determines if 
the  performance  milestones  have  been  achieved.  Mr.  Rodgers’  maximum  targeted  restricted  stock  award  for  fiscal  year  2010  was  659,235.  Mr.  Buss’ 
maximum targeted restricted stock unit award for fiscal year 2010 was 412,022 in the aggregate. Each of Messrs. Keswick and Seams had a  maximum 
target to earn 329,617 restricted stock units in fiscal year 2010, and Mr. Taffe has a maximum target to earn 283,265 restricted stock units in 2010.  

Reflects the grant date fair value of the 2010 PARS for our Named Executive Officers and stock awards to Mr. Rodgers in 2010. The PARS were awarded 
in  2007  and  can be  earned  ratably  over five  (5)  years.  The  fair  value for  each  year’s  target restricted  stock units  is determined  when  the  Compensation 
Committee sets the performance milestones for the applicable year. The grant date fair value reflects the fair value for the 2010 PARS on the dates that the 
Compensation Committee set the performance milestones for each performance period.  

61 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS (NON-EQUITY) 

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2011 

Name and Principal Position 

T.J. Rodgers 
President, Chief Executive Officer 
and Director 

Total 
Brad W. Buss 
Executive Vice President, 
Finance and Administration, 
Chief Financial Officer 

Total  
Paul D. Keswick 
Executive Vice President, 
New Product Development 

Total 
Christopher A. Seams 
Executive Vice President, 
Sales and Marketing 

Total 
Norman P. Taffe 
Executive Vice President, 
Consumer and Computation Division 

Total 

Grant 
Date 

Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 

Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 

Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual  

Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 

Q1 
Q2 
Q3 
Q4 
Annual 

Estimated Possible Payouts  
Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards 
(“PBP”/“KEBP”/“DBP”) 1 

Threshold 
($) 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 

Earned/ 
Paid ($) 

177,433 
274,139 
300,456 
237,783 
101,996 
1,091,807
47,354 
68,928 
76,776 
67,276 
30,879 
291,212 
42,869 
55,276 
74,164 
74,719 
29,742 
276,770 
48,845 
70,950 
86,951 
74,475 
36,172 
317,392
39,271 
56,117 
66,429 
53,812 
22,326 
237,955 

Target 
(Plan) ($) 

210,000 
210,000 
210,000 
210,000 
210,000 
1,050,000
53,505 
53,505 
53,505 
53,505 
53,505 
267,525 
51,218 
51,218 
51,218 
51,218 
51,218 
256,090 
60,609 
60,609 
60,609 
60,609 
60,609 
303,045
46,914 
46,914 
46,914 
46,914 
46,914 
234,570 

1Amounts reflect cash incentives to Mr. Rodgers under the PBP, and all other Named Executive Officers under the KEBP, except that amounts stated for 
Mr. Keswick include non-equity cash bonus he earned under the Company’s Design Bonus Plan (“DBP”) in the third and fourth quarters of 2010. The 
DBP  was  instituted  in  2010  to  incentivize  design  and  engineering  efforts  at  the  Company,  is  available  to  all  employees  who  are  design  engineers. 
Eligibility for this cash bonus program is determined on a quarterly basis. Participants in the DBP contribute 10% of their salary and a portion that 
could be earned under the KEBP in a given quarter in exchange for the opportunity to earn five times that amount by delivering their assigned projects 
on schedule. Mr. Keswick is the only executive officer who participated in the DBP in 2010.  

62 

 
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS 

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2011 

Option Awards1 

Stock Awards2 

Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised 
Options 
(#) 
Exercisable  
1,236,066 
1,442,077 
1,442,077 
3,028 
5,306 
1,565,683 
1,575,983 
N/A 
454,836 
167,8134 
112,069 
N/A 
N/A 

Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised 
Options 
(#) 
Unexercisable 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
175,110 
N/A 
0 
41,2034 
19,778 
N/A 
N/A 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised/ 
Unearned Options 
(#) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
N/A 
0 
0 
0 
N/A 
N/A 

18,541 
247,213 
37,082 
105,065 
N/A 
N/A 
164,808 
200,650 
19,365 
370,819 
288,415 
94,558 
N/A 
N/A 

39,142 
36,669 
37,081 
41,202 
9,271 
10,301 
267,814 
23,348 

0 
0 
0 
18,541 
N/A 
N/A 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
16,687 
N/A 
N/A 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
N/A 
N/A 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
N/A 
N/A 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

Number of 
Shares of 
Units of 
Stock 
Unvested 
(#) 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
8,790 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
8,241 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
7,417 

N/A 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

Option 
Exercise 
Price 
($) 
4.06 
5.18 
3.53 
8.83 
3.53 
2.77 
3.53 
N/A 
3.70 
3.70 
3.99 
N/A 
N/A 

Option 
Expiration 
Date 
03/16/11 
01/02/14 
02/25/15 
02/25/15 
02/25/15 
02/03/15 
06/30/16 
N/A 
08/15/15 
08/15/15 
10/27/16 
N/A 
N/A 

03/27/13 
10/23/13 
02/25/15 
10/27/16 
N/A 
N/A 
10/08/11 
10/08/11 
08/22/13 
01/02/14 
02/25/15 
10/27/16 
N/A 
N/A 

07/09/11 
07/16/11 
10/08/11 
10/23/13 
02/25/15 
06/08/15 
09/06/15 
12/08/15 

1.79 
4.76 
3.53 
3.99 
N/A 
N/A 
4.09 
4.09 
4.16 
5.18 
3.53 
3.99 
N/A 
N/A 

5.18 
5.38 
4.09 
4.76 
3.53 
3.33 
3.94 
3.44 

63 

Market Value 
of Shares or 
Units of Stock 
that Have Not 
Vested 
($) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
163,318 
0 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Number of 
Unearned Shares, 
Units or Other 
Rights that Have 
Not Vested 
(#) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1,318,4703 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Market or Payout 
Value of Unearned 
Shares, Units or 
Other Rights that 
Have Not Vested  
($) 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

24,497,173 

0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 

824,0435 

15,310,719 

0 
0 
0 
0 
153,118 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
137,808 
N/A 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

659,2356 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
659,2356 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

12,248,586 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
12,248,586 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

Name and Principal 
Position 

T.J. Rodgers 
President and Chief 
Executive Officer 

Brad W. Buss 
Executive Vice President, 
Finance and 
Administration, Chief 
Financial Officer 

Paul D. Keswick 
Executive Vice President, 
New Product Development 

Christopher A. Seams 
Executive Vice President, 
Sales and Marketing 

Norman P. Taffe 
Executive Vice  
Consumer and 
Computation Division  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised 
Options 
(#) 
Exercisable  
98,061 
N/A 
N/A 

Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised 
Options 
(#) 
Unexercisable 
17,305 
N/A 
N/A 

Option Awards1 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Number of 
Securities 
Underlying 
Unexercised/ 
Unearned Options 
(#) 
0 
N/A 
N/A 

Stock Awards2 

Option 
Exercise 
Price 
($) 
3.99 
N/A 
N/A 

Option 
Expiration 
Date 
10/27/16 
N/A 
N/A 

Number of 
Shares of 
Units of 
Stock 
Unvested 
(#) 

0 
7,691 
0 

Market Value 
of Shares or 
Units of Stock 
that Have Not 
Vested 
($) 
0 
142,899 
0 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Number of 
Unearned Shares, 
Units or Other 
Rights that Have 
Not Vested 
(#) 
0 
0 
566,5306 

Equity Incentive 
Plan Awards: 
Market or Payout 
Value of Unearned 
Shares, Units or 
Other Rights that 
Have Not Vested  
($) 
0 
0 

10,526,127 

Name and Principal 
Position 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

All stock option grants described in this table were awarded under our 1994 Stock Plan. The numbers reflect adjustments made, pursuant to which existing 
stock options awards were multiplied by the Spin-Off Ratio of 4.12022 to reflect the change in market value of the Company’s common stock following the 
distribution  to  the  Company’s  stockholders  of  SunPower  Corporation  class  B  common  stock.  Except  as  noted  under  footnotes  5  and  6,  options  granted 
before 2007  under  our 1994  Stock  Plan  typically  have  a  ten-year  term,  vest  over  a  five-year  period  of  employment  and  have  an  exercise  price  equal  to 
market value on the date of grant. The remaining unexercised options held by our Named Executive Officers vest, subject to employment, as follows: 

Grant Date  
08/15/05 
09/06/05 
12/08/05 
06/30/06 
10/27/06 

Vest Date  
08/15/11 
08/22/10 
12/08/10 
06/30/11 
10/01/11 

T.J. Rodgers 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
175,110 
N/A 

Brad Buss 
41,203 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
19,778 

Paul Keswick 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
18,541 

Christopher Seams  Norman Taffe 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
16,687 

N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A 
17,305 

All restricted stock units and restricted stock awards described in this table were made under the 1994 Stock Plan. The numbers reflect adjustments made, 
pursuant to which existing stock option awards were multiplied by the Spin-Off Ratio of 4.12022 to reflect the change in market value of the Company’s 
common stock following the distribution to the Company’s stockholders of SunPower Corporation class B common stock in connection with the Spin-Off. 
Restricted  stock  units  awarded  vest  annually  over  a  five-year  period  of  employment,  with  a  one-year  cliff,  for  service  awards  and  upon  approval  of 
performance by the Compensation Committee for performance-based awards. Restricted stock units that are not performance-based vest over time.  

In 2007, Mr. Rodgers was awarded 3,296,176 spin-adjusted shares of performance-based restricted stock units, which vest ratably over five (5) years if the 
performance metrics are met. Performance metrics are set annually by the Compensation Committee of the Company. The number in the column represents 
the  balance  of  shares  of  restricted  Cypress  Common  Stock  distributed  to  Mr.  Rodgers  pursuant  to  the  Offer  to  Exchange  Restricted  Stock  Units  for 
Restricted Stock, dated August 22, 2008, as amended ("RSU Exchange Offer"). Mr. Rodgers received a number of restricted shares of Cypress common 
stock determined by  multiplying  the  tendered  restricted  stock  units  by  the  conversion ratio  of 4.12022.  The  conversion ratio  reflects  the  ratio of market 
prices  of  Cypress  common  stock  before  and  after  the  Spin-Off.  The  restricted  Cypress  common  stock  received  by  Mr.  Rodgers  is  subject  to  the  same 
performance vesting conditions as the tendered restricted stock units, adjusted to reflect the effect of the SunPower Spin-Off. 659,235 shares were released 
in the first quarter of 2011 with respect to 2010 PARS and 659,235 shares will vest over the next fiscal year, subject to performance. 

Stock option awards granted to Mr. Buss started vesting one (1) year from the date of grant, then vest monthly over four (4) years thereafter, and expire ten 
(10) years from the date of grant. 

Represents the spin-adjusted number of the remaining performance-based restricted stock units awarded to Mr. Buss in 2007. Performance milestones are 
set annually by the Compensation Committee of the Company. Mr. Buss’ maximum target released for 2010 PARS was 412,022 restricted stock units and 
412,021 shares will vest over the next fiscal year, subject to performance. Mr. Buss did not receive any other awards in 2010.  

64 

 
6. 

Represents  the  spin-adjusted  number  of  the  remaining  performance-based  restricted  stock  units  awarded  to  Messrs.  Keswick,  Seams  and  Taffe  in  2007. 
Performance milestones are set annually by the Compensation Committee of the Company. Each of Messrs. Keswick and Seams had a maximum target 
released  of  329,617  restricted  stock  units  for  2010  PARS,  and  Mr.  Taffe  had  a  maximum  target  released  of  283,265  for  2010  PARS.  Each  of  Messrs. 
Keswick  and  Seams  had  329,618  shares  and  Mr.  Taffe  had  283,265  shares  that  will  vest  over  the  next  fiscal  year,  subject  to  performance.  Our  Named 
Executive Officers did not receive any other awards in 2010. 

65 

 
OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTING  

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2011  

Option Awards 

Stock Awards  

Name of Executive 
Officer 

Number of Shares 
Acquired on 
Exercise 
(#) 

Value Realized 
Upon Exercise1 
($) 

Number of 
Shares Acquired 
Upon Vesting 
(#)2 

Value Realized 
Upon Vesting 
($) 

T.J. Rodgers  

1,648,088 

13,969,867 

Brad W. Buss 

Paul D. Keswick 

200,000 

412,022 

Christopher A. Seams 

763,480 

Norman P. Taffe 

N/A 

1,864,875 

3,598,709 

9,371,423 

N/A 

263,693 

173,599 

142,560 

139,263 

120,996 

3,153,768 

2,085,034 

1,715,731 

1,673,001 

1,454,803 

1. 

2. 

Amount  shown  reflects  the  difference  between  the  option  exercise  price  and  the  sale  price  of  the  underlying 
shares multiplied by the number of shares covered by the option.  

Amount  shown  reflects  total  number  of  shares  that vested  in 2010.  The  actual  amount  released  to  the  Named 
Executive Officers was net of shares withheld to pay the taxes due upon vesting. The actual shares received by 
Named Executive Officers were substantially less due to required federal and state withholding taxes. 

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION  
Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 20111 

Executive 
Contribution 
in the Last 
Fiscal Year 
($) 

Registrant 
Contribution 
in the Last 
Fiscal Year 
($) 

Aggregate 
Earnings 
in the Last 
Fiscal Year 
($) 

Aggregate 
Withdrawals/ 
Distributions 
($) 

Aggregate 
Balance at Last 
Fiscal Year End 
($) 

Name of Executive 
Officer 

T.J. Rodgers 

1,531,251 

Brad W. Buss 

101,488 

Paul D. Keswick 

0 

Christopher A. Seams 

111,603 

Norman P. Taffe 

36,833 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

641,080 

62,017 

0 

40,038 

31,513 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6,147,379 

292,219 

0 

460,923 

311,225 

1. 

Amounts  in  the  table  represent  contributions,  aggregate  earnings  and  withdrawals  to  our  Named  Executive 
Officers under our Deferred Compensation Plans (I) and (II) in 2010. There are no guaranteed payments under 
our deferred compensation plans. 

66 

 
OTHER DISCLOSURES 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation 

During  fiscal  year  2010,  the  following  directors  were  members  of  our  Compensation  Committee:  Mr. Eric A. 
Benhamou, Mr. Lloyd Carney, and Mr. James R. Long. None of the Compensation Committee members is or has at any 
time been an officer or employee of Cypress.   

None of Cypress’s Named Executive Officers serves, or in the past fiscal year served, as a member of the board of 
directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving on Cypress’s Board 
or Compensation Committee. 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions  

In the first quarter of 2011, the Company divested its Image Sensor Business to On Semiconductor. Mr. J. Daniel 
McCranie, who serves on our Board, is also the chairman of the board of directors of On Semiconductor and Mr. McCranie 
abstained from voting on the approval of the divestiture by Cypress.  

Apart  from  service  on  our  Board,  and  Mr.  McCranie’s  related  party  transaction,  there  are  no  additional 
relationships between our directors and our Company, nor are there any related party transactions between our directors and 
our Company. For purposes of this section, “related person” and “transaction” have the meanings contained in Item 404 of 
Regulation S-K.  

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our executive officers and directors, 
and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file an initial report of ownership on 
Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC. Such officers, directors and 10% stockholders are also 
required by the SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all of the forms they filed to comply with Section 16(a) requirements. 

To our knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, except for Mr. Evert van 
de Ven’s Form 4 dated December 15, 2010, which was not timely filed, all Section 16(a) filing requirements were complied 
with during fiscal 2010. 

67 

 
 
 
OTHER MATTERS 

We know of no other matters to be submitted at the Annual Meeting. If any other matters properly come before the 
Annual  Meeting,  it  is  the  intention  of  the  persons  named  in  the  enclosed  proxy  to  vote  the  shares  they  represent  as  the 
Board of Directors may recommend. 

It is important that your stock be represented at the Annual Meeting, regardless of the number of shares you hold. 
You are, therefore, urged to execute and return the accompanying proxy in the envelope provided or to vote by telephone or 
over the Internet at your earliest convenience. 

FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Dated: March 29, 2011 

Brad W. Buss 
Corporate Secretary  

68 

 
 
APPENDIX A 

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 
1994 STOCK PLAN  

(As amended and restated on the date of the 2011 Annual Stockholder Meeting) 

1. 

PURPOSES OF THE PLAN.  THE PURPOSES OF THIS STOCK PLAN ARE: 

• 

to promote the long term success of the Company’s business;  

• 

to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility; and 

• 

to provide long term incentive to Employees, Consultants and Outside Directors that is aligned with 
the long term interest of all stockholders. 

2. 

COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN.  THE PLAN PROVIDES FOR:  

• 

the discretionary granting of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock 
Units to Employees, Consultants and Outside Directors, which Options may be either Incentive Stock 
Options (for Employees only) or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at 
the time of grant; and 

• 

the grant of Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted 
Stock Units to Outside Directors pursuant to an automatic, non-discretionary formula. 

3. 

STOCK  SUBJECT  TO  THE  PLAN.  The  maximum  aggregated  number  of  Shares  authorized  for 
issuance under the Plan is 145,195,220. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. Any 
Shares subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the numerical limits of this section 3 as one 
Share for every Share subject thereto. Any Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units with a per Share or unit 
purchase price lower than 100% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant shall be counted against the numerical limits of 
this section 3 as 1.88 Shares for every one Share subject thereto. To the extent that a Share that was subject to an Award 
that counted as 1.88 Shares against the Plan reserve pursuant to the preceding sentence is recycled back into the Plan under 
the next paragraph of this section 3, the Plan shall be credited with 1.88 Shares.  

Subject to Section 16 of the Plan, If any Shares that have been subject to an option or SAR (whether granted under 
this Plan or the Terminated Plans) cease to be subject to such Option or SAR (other than through exercise of the Option or 
SAR), or if any Option or SAR granted hereunder or thereunder is forfeited, or any Option or SAR otherwise terminates 
prior to the issuance of Common Stock to the Participant, the Shares that were subject to such Option or SAR shall again be 
available for distribution in connection with future awards under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated).  

Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan upon exercise of an Option shall not in any event be returned 
to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan. With respect to SARs, when an SAR is 
exercised,  the  full  number  of  shares  subject  to  the  SAR  or  portion  thereof  being  exercised  shall  be  counted  against  the 
numerical limits of this section 3 above as one Share for every Share subject thereto, regardless of the number of Shares 
used to settle the SAR upon exercise. For example, if an  SAR  covering 100 shares is exercised by a Participant and the 
Participant receives 80 Shares (with 20 Shares withheld to cover the SAR exercise price), the Plan Share reserve shall be 
debited the full 100 Shares and such Shares will not be available for future distribution under the Plan. Similarly, if Shares 
are withheld to satisfy the minimum statutory withholding obligations arising in connection with the vesting, exercise or 
issuance of any Award (or delivery of the related Shares), such withheld Shares will not be available for future issuance 
under the Plan.  

Shares  of  Restricted  Stock  (including  Restricted  Stock  Units)  that  do  not  vest  and  thus  are  forfeited  back  to  or 
repurchased by the Company shall become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). 
Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that vest shall not in any event be returned to the Plan and shall not 
become available for future distribution under the Plan.  

A-1 

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  and,  subject  to  adjustment  as  provided  in  section  16  of  the  Plan,  the  maximum 
number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number 
stated  in  the  first  paragraph  of  section  3,  plus,  to  the  extent  allowable  under  Section 422  of  the  Code  and  the  Treasury 
Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to the second 
and third paragraphs of this section 3.  

4. 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.  

4.1. 

Procedure.  

Committees with respect to different groups of Employees, Consultants and Directors.  

4.1.1.  Multiple  Administrative  Bodies.    The  Plan  may  be  administered  by  different 

4.1.2.  Section 162(m).    To  the  extent  that  the  Administrator  determines  it  to  be  desirable  to 
qualify  Options  granted  hereunder  as  “performance-based  compensation”  within  the  meaning  of  Section 162(m)  of  the 
Code,  the  Plan  shall  be  administered  by  a  Committee  of  two  or  more  “outside  directors”  within  the  meaning  of 
Section 162(m) of the Code.  

4.1.3.  Rule 16b-3.  To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under 
Rule 16b-3,  the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder  shall  be  structured  to  satisfy  the  requirements  for  exemption  under 
Rule 16b-3.  

(A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which Committee shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.  

4.1.4.  Other Administration.  Other than as provided above, the Plan shall be administered by 

4.1.5.  Administration  With  Respect  to  Automatic  Grants  to  Outside  Directors.    Automatic 
grants to Outside Directors shall be pursuant to a non-discretionary formula as set forth in section 10 hereof and therefore 
shall not be subject to any discretionary administration.  

Powers  of  the  Administrator.    Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Plan,  and  in  the  case  of  a 
Committee,  subject  to  the  specific  duties  delegated  by  the  Board  to  such  Committee,  the  Administrator  shall  have  the 
authority, in its discretion:  

4.2. 

subsection 23.19 of the Plan;  

4.2.1. 

to  determine  the  Fair  Market  Value  of  the  Common  Stock,  in  accordance  with 

Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be granted hereunder;  

4.2.2. 

to  select  the  Consultants,  Employees  and  Outside  Directors  to  whom  Options,  Stock 

Stock or Restricted Stock Units are granted hereunder;  

4.2.3. 

to determine whether and to what extent Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted 

granted hereunder;  

4.2.4. 

to  determine  the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  to  be  covered  by  each  Award 

4.2.5. 

to approve forms of agreement, including electronic forms, for use under the Plan;  

4.2.6. 

to  determine  the  terms  and  conditions,  not  inconsistent  with  the  terms  of  the  Plan,  of 
any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit award granted hereunder. Such terms and 
conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Options or SARs may be exercised and 
when Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units vest or are issued (which  may,  in either case, be based on performance 
criteria),  any  vesting  acceleration  or  waiver  of  forfeiture  or  repurchase  restrictions,  and  any  restriction  or  limitation 
regarding  any  Award  or  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  relating  thereto,  based  in  each  case  on  such  factors  as  the 
Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;  

4.2.7. 

to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;  

A-2 

to  prescribe,  amend  and  rescind  rules  and  regulations  relating  to  the  Plan,  including 
rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign 
tax laws;  

4.2.8. 

to modify or amend each Award (subject to subsection 18.3 of the Plan), including the 
discretionary  authority  to  extend  the  post-termination  exercisability  period  of  Options  or  SARs  longer  than  is  otherwise 
provided for in the Plan (but not longer than the original Option or SAR term);  

4.2.9. 

4.2.10. 

to  allow  Participants  to  satisfy  withholding  tax  obligations  by  electing  to  have  the 
Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option or SAR or the vesting or issuance of Restricted 
Stock or Restricted Stock Units that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount 
required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount 
of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be 
made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;  

effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;  

4.2.11. 

to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to 

4.2.12. 

to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Awards; and  

4.2.13. 

to  make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 

Plan.  

interpretations shall be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.  

4.3. 

Effect  of  Administrator’s  Decision.    The  Administrator’s  decisions,  determinations  and 

5. 

ELIGIBILITY.  

5.1. 

Discretionary  Awards.    Nonstatutory  Stock  Options,  SARs,  Restricted  Stock  and  Restricted 
Stock  Unit  Awards  may  be  granted  to  Employees,  Consultants  and  Outside  Directors.  Incentive  Stock  Options  may  be 
granted only to Employees.  If otherwise eligible, an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director who has been granted an 
Award may be granted additional Awards.  

5.2. 

Outside  Director  Awards.    Outside  Directors  shall  also  receive  automatically  granted  Awards 

pursuant to section 10 hereof.  

6. 

LIMITATIONS.  

Each  Option  shall  be  designated  in  the  Notice  of  Grant  or  Option  Agreement  as  either  an 
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the 
aggregate Fair Market Value:  

6.1. 

6.1.1. 
any Parent or Subsidiary, which  

of  Shares  subject  to  a  Participant’s  incentive  stock  options  granted  by  the  Company, 

become  exercisable  for  the  first  time  during  any  calendar year  (under  all  plans of  the 
Company  or  any  Parent  or  Subsidiary)  exceeds  $100,000,  such  excess  Options  shall  be  treated  as  Nonstatutory  Stock 
Options. For purposes of this Section 6.1.2, incentive stock options shall be taken into account in the order in which they 
were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time of grant.  

6.1.2. 

6.2. 

Neither  the  Plan  nor  any  Award  shall  confer  upon  any  Participant  any  right  with  respect  to 
continuing the Participant’s employment or consulting relationship or tenure as a director with the Company, nor shall they 
interfere  in  any  way  with  the  Participant’s,  the  Company’s,  or  the  Company’s  stockholders’,  right  to  terminate  such 
employment or consulting relationship or tenure as a Director with the Company at any time, with or without cause.  

6.3. 

The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options and SARs to Employees:  

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purchase, in the aggregate, more than 2,000,000 Shares.  

6.3.1.  No Employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, Options and SARs to 

change in the Company’s capitalization as described in subsection 16.1.  

6.3.2.  The  foregoing  limitation  shall  be  adjusted  proportionately  in  connection  with  any 

If an Option or SAR is cancelled (other than in connection with a transaction described 
in section 16), the cancelled Option or SAR will be counted against the limit set forth in subsection 6.3.1. For this purpose, 
if the exercise price of an Option or SAR is reduced (which would require prior stockholder approval pursuant to section 22 
hereof), the transaction will be treated as a cancellation of the Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.  

6.3.3. 

7. 

TERM OF PLAN.  The plan was amended and restated in 2008. It shall continue in effect until January 

15, 2014, unless terminated earlier under section 16 of the plan. 

8. 

TERM OF OPTION OR SAR.  The term of each option or SAR shall be eight (8) years from the date 
of  grant  or  such  shorter  term  as  may  be  provided  in  the  notice  of  grant,  option  or  SAR  agreement.  In  the  case  of  an 
incentive  stock  option  granted  to  a  participant  who,  at  the  time  the  incentive  stock  option  is  granted,  owns  stock 
representing  more  than  ten  percent  (10%)  of  the  voting  power  of  all  classes  of  stock  of  the  company  or  any  parent  or 
subsidiary, the term of the incentive stock option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may 
be provided in the notice of grant or option agreement.  

9. 

OPTION AND SAR EXERCISE PRICE; OPTION CONSIDERATION.  

an Option or SAR shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:  

9.1. 

Exercise Price.  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of 

9.1.1. 

In the case of an Incentive Stock Option  

granted  to  an  Employee  who,  at  the  time  the  Incentive  Stock  Option  is 
granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or 
any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the 
date of grant.  

9.1.1.1. 

granted  to  any  Employee  other  than  an  Employee  described  in  paragraph 
(A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than one hundred (100%) of the Fair Market Value per 
Share on the date of grant.  

9.1.1.2. 

be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.  

9.1.2. 

In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option or an SAR, the per Share exercise price shall 

9.2.  Waiting Period and Exercise Dates.  At the time an Option or SAR is granted, the Administrator 
shall fix the period within which the Option or SAR may be exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be 
satisfied before the Option or SAR may be exercised. In so doing, the Administrator may specify that an Option or SAR 
may not be exercised until the completion of a service period or until certain performance milestones are achieved.  

9.3. 

Form of Option Consideration.  Except with respect to automatic stock option grants to Outside 
Directors, the Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the 
method  of  payment.  In  the  case  of  an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  the  Administrator  shall  determine  the  acceptable  form  of 
consideration at the time of grant. Such form of consideration shall be set forth in the Notice of Grant or Option Agreement 
and may, as determined by the Administrator (and to the extent consistent with Applicable Laws), consist entirely of:  

9.3.1. 

cash;  

9.3.2. 

check;  

9.3.3. 

promissory note;  

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surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised;  

9.3.4. 

other  previously-owned  Shares  which  have  a  Fair  Market  Value  on  the  date  of 

delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation 
as  the  Administrator  and  the  broker,  if  applicable,  shall  require  to  effect  an  exercise  of  the  Option  and  delivery  to  the 
Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price;  

9.3.5. 

9.3.6. 

any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or  

9.3.7. 
permitted by Applicable Laws.  

such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent 

10. 

AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO OUTSIDE DIRECTORS.  

and non-discretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with the following provisions:  

10.1. 

Procedure for Grants.  All grants to Outside Directors under this section 10 shall be automatic 

Awards or to determine the number of Shares or units to be covered by Awards granted to Outside Directors.  

10.1.1.  No person shall have any discretion to select which Outside Directors shall be granted 

10.1.2.  Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted that number of Restricted Stock 
Units  equal  to  $525,000  divided  by  the  Fair  Market  Value,  rounded  down  to  the  nearest  whole  Share  (the  “Initial  RSU 
Grant”)  upon  the  date  on  which  such  person  first  becomes  an  Outside  Director,  whether  through  election  by  the 
stockholders of the Company or appointment by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy. The Initial RSU Grant shall vest 
as to 1/3 of the covered units/Shares on each anniversary of the grant date, so as to be 100% vested on the third anniversary 
of the grant date, subject to the Outside Director remaining in Continuous Status as a Director through such vesting dates. 

10.1.3.  At each of the Company’s annual stockholder meetings, (A) each Outside Director who 
was  an  Outside  Director  on  the  date  of  the  prior  year’s  annual  stockholder  meeting  shall  be  automatically  granted  that 
number of Restricted Stock Units equal to $175,000 divided by the Fair Market Value, rounded down to the nearest whole 
Share, and (B) each Outside Director who was not an Outside Director on the date of the prior year’s annual stockholder 
meeting  shall  be  granted  that  number  of  Restricted  Stock  Units  equal  to  $175,000  divided  by  the  Fair  Market  Value, 
rounded down to the nearest whole Share, then multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days since 
the Outside Director received their Initial RSU Grant, and the denominator of which is 365, rounded down to the nearest 
whole unit/Share (either (A) or (B) is referred to herein as the “Annual RSU Grant”). In either case, the Annual RSU Grant 
shall be 100% vested on the grant date. 

10.1.4.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 10.1.3 hereof, in the event that the Annual 
RSU  Grant  hereunder  would  cause  the  number  of  units/Shares  subject  to  outstanding  Awards  plus  the  number  of 
units/Shares  previously  acquired  upon  exercise  or  vesting  of  Awards  to  exceed  the  number  of  units/Shares  available  for 
issuance under the Plan, then each such automatic grant shall be for that number of units/Shares determined by dividing the 
total number of units/Shares remaining available for grant by the number of Outside Directors on the automatic grant date, 
pro-rated  for  each  Outside  Director  who  was  not  an  Outside  Director  on  the  date  of  the  prior  year’s  annual  stockholder 
meeting  as  set  forth  in  10.1.3(B).  Any  further  Annual  RSU  Grants  shall  then  be  deferred  until  such  time,  if  any,  as 
additional Shares become available for grant under the Plan.  

10.2.  Consideration for Exercising Outside Director Stock Options.  The consideration to be paid for 
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an automatic Outside Director Option (granted on or prior to May 22, 2009) shall 
consist entirely of cash, check, other Shares of previously owned Common Stock which have a fair  market value on the 
date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, and, for 
Options granted on or after the 2004 Company annual stockholder meeting, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, 
delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, 
if  applicable,  shall  require  to  effect  an  exercise  of  the  Option  and  delivery  to  the  Company  of  the  sale  or  loan  proceeds 
required to pay the exercise price, or any combination of such methods of payment. 

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10.3. 

Post-Directorship Exercisability.  

10.3.1.  Termination  of  Status  as  a  Director.    If  an  Outside  Director  ceases  to  serve  as  a 
Director,  he  may,  but  only  within  ninety  (90)  days,  or,  for  Options  granted  on  or  after  the  2004  Company  annual 
stockholder meeting, within one year, after the date he or she ceases to be a Director of the Company, exercise his or her 
Option to the extent that he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that he or she was 
not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he 
was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.  

10.3.2.  Disability  of  Director.    Notwithstanding  the  provisions of  subsection 10.3.1  above,  in 
the  event  a  Director  is  unable  to  continue  his  or  her  service  as  a  Director  with  the  Company  as  a  result  of  his  or  her 
Disability,  he  or she  may,  but  only  within  six  (6)  months,  or,  for Options  granted on  or  after  the 2004  Company  annual 
stockholder meeting, within one year, from the date of termination, exercise his or her Option to the extent he or she was 
entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent that he or she was not entitled to exercise the Option at 
the date of termination, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time 
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.  

10.3.3.  Death of Director.  In the event of the death of a Participant:  

10.3.3.1.  during the term of the Option who is at the time of his death a Director of 
the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status as a Director since the date of grant of the Option, the Option 
may  be  exercised,  at  any  time  within  six  (6)  months,  or,  for  Options  granted  on  or  after  the  2004  Company  annual 
stockholder meeting, within one year, following the date of death, by the Director’s estate or by a person who acquired the 
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued 
had the Participant continued living and remained in Continuous Status a Director for twelve (12) months after the date of 
death; or  

10.3.3.2.  within  thirty  (30)  days  after  the  termination  of  Continuous  Status  as  a 
Director,  the  Option  may  be  exercised,  at  any  time  within  six  (6)  months,  or,  for  Options  granted  on  or  after  the  2004 
Company  annual  stockholder  meeting,  within  one  year,  following  the  date  of  death,  by  the  Participant’s  estate  or  by  a 
person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise 
that had accrued at the date of termination.  

11. 

EXERCISE OF OPTION OR SAR.  

11.1. 

Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.  Any Option or SAR granted hereunder shall be 
exercisable  according  to  the  terms  of  the  Plan  and  at  such  times  and  under  such  conditions  as  determined  by  the 
Administrator and set forth in the Option or SAR Agreement. An Option or SAR may not be exercised for a fraction of a 
Share.  

An  Option  or  SAR  shall  be  deemed  exercised  when  the  Company  receives:  (i) written  or  electronic  notice  of 
exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) for Options 
only, full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment for Options may consist of 
any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the 
Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option or SAR shall be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the 
Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is issued 
(as  evidenced  by  the  appropriate  entry  on  the  books  of  the  Company  or  of  a  duly  authorized  transfer  agent  of  the 
Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned 
Stock,  notwithstanding  the  exercise  of  the  Option  or  SAR.  The  Company  shall  issue  (or  cause  to  be  issued)  such  stock 
certificate  promptly  after  the  Option  or  SAR  is  exercised.  No  adjustment  will  be  made  for  a  dividend  or  other  right  for 
which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in section 16 of the Plan.  

Exercising an Option or SAR in any manner shall decrease the number of Shares thereafter available for sale under 

the Option or SAR by the number of Shares as to which the Option or SAR is exercised.  

Termination of Service.  Upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Status as an Employee, 
Consultant  or  Director,  other  than  upon  the  Participant’s  death  or  Disability,  the  Participant  may  exercise  the  Option  or 

11.2. 

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SAR, but only within such period of time  as is specified  in the Notice of Grant, Option or SAR Agreement, and, unless 
otherwise determined by the Administrator, only to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise it at the date of 
termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Notice of Grant or Option 
Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Notice of Grant, Option or SAR Agreement, the Option or SAR shall 
remain exercisable for thirty days following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Status as an Employee, Consultant 
or Director. If, at the date of termination, the Participant is not entitled to exercise the entire Option or SAR, the Shares 
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option or SAR shall revert to the Plan. If, after termination, the Participant does 
not exercise the Option or SAR within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option or SAR shall terminate, and the 
Shares covered by such Option or SAR shall revert to the Plan.  

11.3.  Disability  of  Participant.    In  the  event  that  a  Participant’s  Continuous  Status  as  an  Employee, 
Consultant or Director terminates as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option or 
SAR at any time within six (6) months or such other period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months, as is specified in the 
Notice of Grant, Option or SAR Agreement, except in the case of automatic stock option grants to Outside Directors, which 
shall be exercised as specified in section 10. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, any such Options or SARs 
may only be exercised to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination (but in no 
event  later  than  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  such  Option  or  SAR  as  set  forth  in  the  Notice  of  Grant,  Option  or  SAR 
Agreement). If, at the date of termination, the Participant is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option or SAR, the 
Shares  covered  by  the  unexercisable  portion  of  the  Option  or  SAR  shall  revert  to  the  Plan.  If,  after  termination,  the 
Participant does not exercise his or her Option or SAR within the time specified herein, the Option or SAR shall terminate, 
and the Shares covered by such Option or SAR shall revert to the Plan.  

with respect to his or her automatic stock option grant):  

11.4.  Death of Participant.  In the event of the death of a Participant (other than an Outside Director 

11.4.1.  during  the  term  of  the  Option  or  SAR  who  is  at  the  time  of  his  or  her  death  an 
Employee,  Consultant  or  Director  of  the  Company  and  who  shall  have  been  in  Continuous  Status  as  an  Employee, 
Consultant  or  Director  since  the  date  of  grant  of  the  Option  or  SAR,  the  Option  or  SAR  may  be  exercised,  at  any  time 
within  six  (6)  months  following  the  date  of  death,  by  the  Participant’s  estate  or  by  a  person  who  acquired  the  right  to 
exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued 
had the Participant continued living and remained in Continuous Status as an Employee, Consultant or Director for twelve 
(12) months after the date of death; or  

11.4.2.  within  thirty  (30)  days  after  the  termination  of  Continuous  Status  as  an  Employee, 
Consultant or Director, the Option or SAR may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of death, 
by the Participant’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance, 
but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination.  

12. 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  

12.1. 

The SAR shall entitle the Participant, by exercising the SAR, to receive from the Company an 
amount equal to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by exercised portion of the SAR, as 
of the date of such exercise, over (y) the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by the exercised portion of the 
SAR,  as  of  the  date  on  which  the  SAR  was  granted;  provided,  however,  that  the  Administrator  may  place  limits  on  the 
amount that may be paid upon exercise of a SAR; and  

the Participant’s Award Agreement;  

12.2. 

SARs shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, at such times as the Administrator shall specify in 

12.3. 

Form of Payment.  The Company’s obligation arising upon the exercise of a SAR may be paid in 
Common Stock or in cash, or in any combination of Common Stock and cash, as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, 
may determine, but only as specified in the Notice of Grant or SAR Agreement. Shares issued upon the exercise of a SAR 
shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise.  

12.4.  Rule 16b-3.    SARs  granted  hereunder  shall  contain  such  additional  restrictions  as  may  be 
required  to  be  contained  in  the  Plan  or  Award  Agreement  in  order  for  the  SAR  to  qualify  for  the  maximum  exemption 
provided by Rule 16b-3.  

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13. 

RESTRICTED STOCK/RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.  

13.1.  Grant  of  Restricted  Stock/Restricted  Stock  Units.    Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the 
Plan, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Outside Directors at any 
time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator shall have 
complete  discretion  to  determine  (i) the  number  of  Shares  subject  to  a  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Award 
granted to any Participant (provided that during any Fiscal Year, no Participant shall receive more than 3,296,176 Shares in 
the aggregate of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Awards) (ii) whether the form of the award shall be Shares or 
rights to acquire Shares (i.e., Restricted Stock Units), and (iii) the conditions that must be satisfied, which may include or 
consist  entirely  of  performance-based  milestones,  upon  which  is  conditioned  the  grant  or  vesting  of  Restricted  Stock  or 
Restricted Stock Units. For Restricted Stock Units, each such unit shall be the equivalent of one Share of Common Stock 
for purposes of determining the number of Shares subject to an Award. Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is 
issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the 
Company),  no  right  to  vote  or  receive  dividends  or  any  other  rights  as  a  stockholder  shall  exist  with  respect  to  the 
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit, notwithstanding its vesting. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such 
stock  certificate  promptly  after  the  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Unit  vests.  No  adjustment  will  be  made  for  a 
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in 
section 16 of the Plan.  

13.2.  Other  Terms.    The  Administrator,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Plan,  shall  have  complete 
discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under the 
Plan.  Restricted  Stock  and  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Awards  shall  be  subject  to  the  terms,  conditions,  and  restrictions 
determined  by  the  Administrator  at  the  time  of  grant,  which  may  include  such  performance-based  milestones  as  are 
determined appropriate by the Administrator, which may be Performance Goals, or for Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock 
Unit  Awards  not  intended  to  qualify  as  “performance-based  compensation”  under  Code  Section 162(m),  may  be  other 
performance-based milestones. The Administrator may require the recipient to sign a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock 
Unit  Agreement  as  a  condition  of  the  Award.  Any  certificates  representing  the  shares  of  Stock  awarded  shall  bear  such 
legends as shall be determined by the Administrator.  

13.3.  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Unit  Award  Agreement.    Each  Restricted  Stock  or 
Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award agreement that shall specify the purchase price (if any) and 
such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine; provided; however, that if the 
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award has a purchase price, such purchase price must be paid no later than the 
earlier of (i) eight (8) years following the date of grant, or (ii) the vesting date.  

13.4. 

Section 162(m) Performance Restrictions.  For purposes of qualifying grants of Restricted Stock 
or Restricted Stock Units as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Administrator, in 
its discretion, may set restrictions based upon the achievement of Performance Goals. The Performance Goals shall be set 
by  the  Administrator  on  or  before  the  latest  date  permissible  to  enable  the  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Units  to 
qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. In granting Restricted Stock or Restricted 
Stock Units which is intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Administrator shall follow any procedures 
determined  by  it  from  time  to  time  to  be  necessary  or  appropriate  to  ensure  qualification  of  the  Restricted  Stock  under 
Section 162(m) of the Code (e.g., in determining the Performance Goals).  

14. 

LEAVES OF ABSENCE.  Unless the administrator provides otherwise, and subject to applicable laws, 
vesting  of  awards granted hereunder  shall  cease  during  any unpaid  leave  of  absence.  Moreover,  unless  the  administrator 
provides  otherwise,  any  employee  who  transfers  his  or  her  employment  to  a  subsidiary  and  receives  an  equity  incentive 
covering such subsidiary’s equity securities in connection with such transfer, shall cease vesting in awards granted under 
this  plan  until  such  time,  if  any,  as  such  employee  transfers  from  the  employ  of  such  subsidiary  or  another  subsidiary 
directly back to the employ of the company.  

15. 

NON-TRANSFERABILITY  OF  AWARDS.    Unless  determined  otherwise  by  the  administrator,  an 
award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by 
the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the participant, only by the participant. If the 
administrator  makes  an  award  transferable,  such  award  shall  contain  such  additional  terms  and  conditions  as  the 
administrator  deems  appropriate;  provided,  however,  that  in  no  event  may  an  award  be  transferred  in  exchange  for 
consideration.  

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16. 

ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION OR SIMILAR TRANSACTION, 

DISSOLUTION, MERGER, ASSET SALE OR CHANGE OF CONTROL.  

16.1.  Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, 
the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of shares of Common Stock 
which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have 
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award or forfeiture or repurchase of unvested Restricted 
Stock or Restricted Stock Units, the price per share, if any, of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Award, the 
limit on the number of Shares subject to an Option or SAR that may be granted to an Employee in any fiscal year under 
subsection 6.3.1, as well as the limit of the number of Shares that may be issued as Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock 
Unit Awards under subsection 13.1, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued 
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of 
the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without 
receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company 
shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, 
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance 
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and 
no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to 
an Option or Restricted Stock award.  

16.2.  Dissolution  or  Liquidation.    In  the  event  of  the  proposed  dissolution  or  liquidation  of  the 
Company, with respect to discretionary Awards granted under the Plan (but not with respect to Awards granted to Outside 
Directors)  the  Board  may,  in  the  exercise  of  its  sole  discretion  in  such  instances,  declare  that  any  such  Award  shall 
terminate as of a date fixed by the Board and give each Participant the right to exercise his or her Option or SAR as to all or 
any part of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable or accelerate 
the vesting of a Participant’s Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award.  

16.3.  Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation, 
or  the  sale  of  substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  the  Company,  each  outstanding  Award  shall  be  assumed  or  an  equivalent 
Award shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. With respect 
to a discretionary Award granted under the Plan (but not with respect to Options granted to Outside Directors under section 
10), the Administrator may, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for 
the  Participant  to  have  the  right  to  exercise  such  Option  or  SAR  as  to  all  of  the  Optioned  Stock,  including  as  to  Shares 
which  would  not  otherwise  be  exercisable  or  provide  for  the  accelerated  vesting  of  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock 
Units. With respect to Options and restricted stock units granted to Outside Directors under section 10, in the event that the 
successor corporation does not agree to assume such Options and restricted stock units or to substitute equivalent options or 
rights,  each  such  outstanding  Option  and  restricted  stock  unit  shall  become  fully  vested  and  exercisable,  including  as  to 
Shares and units as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable, unless the Board, in its discretion, determines otherwise.  

If the Administrator makes a discretionary Option or SAR fully exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in 
the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the Participant that the Option or SAR shall be fully 
exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and the Option or SAR will terminate upon the 
expiration of such period.  

For  the  purposes  of  this  subsection,  the  Award  shall  be  considered  assumed  if,  following  the  merger  or  sale  of 
assets,  the  Award  confers  the  right  to  purchase  (or,  in  the  case  of  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Units  without  a 
purchase  price,  receive),  for  each  Share  subject  to  the  Award  immediately  prior  to  the  merger  or  sale  of  assets,  the 
consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the  merger or sale of assets by holders of 
Common  Stock  for  each  Share  held  on  the  effective  date  of  the  transaction  (and  if  holders  were  offered  a  choice  of 
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, 
that if such consideration received in the merger or sale of assets was not solely common stock of the successor corporation 
or  its  Parent,  the  Administrator  may,  with  the  consent  of  the  successor  corporation,  provide  for  the  consideration  to  be 
received upon the exercise of the Option or SAR or vesting of the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award, for 
each Share subject to the Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market 
value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.  

A-9 

16.4. 

Spin-Off or Split-Off.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, and 
at the sole discretion of the Board, the number and/or type of shares of covered by each outstanding Award, the number 
and/or type of shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been 
granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award or forfeiture or repurchase of 
unvested Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and the price per share, if any, of Common Stock covered by each such 
outstanding  Award  may  be  appropriately  and  proportionately  adjusted,  or  such  other  actions  as  are  appropriate  may  be 
taken,  to  account  for  any  increase  or  diminution  in  value  of  an  Award  resulting  from  a  Spin-Off,  split-off  or  similar 
transaction involving equity securities of a Subsidiary or former Subsidiary. Any such discretionary adjustment or action 
shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. 

17. 

AWARD GRANT DATE.  The date of grant of an award shall be, for all purposes, the date on which the 
administrator  makes  the  determination  granting  such  option  or  restricted  stock  award,  or  such  other  later  date  as  is 
determined by the administrator. Notice of the determination shall be provided to each participant within a reasonable time 
after the date of such grant.  

18. 

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.  

the Plan.  

18.1.  Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate 

Stockholder Approval.  The Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment 
to  the  extent necessary  and desirable  to  comply  with  Applicable  Laws.  Shares  may  not  be added  to  the  Plan  (other  than 
pursuant to sections 3 or 16.1 hereof) without obtaining stockholder approval.  

18.2. 

Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of 
the  Plan  shall  impair  the  rights  of  any  Participant,  unless  mutually  agreed  otherwise  between  the  Participant  and  the 
Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company.  

18.3. 

19. 

CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  

19.1. 

Legal Compliance.  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or 
vesting of a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award unless the exercise of such Option or SAR or vesting of such 
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with Applicable 
Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.  

19.2. 

Investment Representations.  As a condition to the exercise of an Option or SAR or purchase of 
Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Unit,  the  Company  may  require  the  person  exercising  such  Option  or  SAR  or 
purchasing  such  Restricted  Stock  or  Restricted  Stock  Unit  to  represent  and  warrant  at  the  time  of  any  such  exercise  or 
purchase that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such 
Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.  

20. 

LIABILITY OF COMPANY.  

20.1. 

Inability  to  Obtain  Authority.    The  inability  of  the  Company  to  obtain  authority  from  any 
regulatory  body  having  jurisdiction,  which  authority  is  deemed  by  the  Company’s  counsel  to  be  necessary  to  the  lawful 
issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell 
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  

20.2.  Awards Exceeding Allotted Shares.  If the Shares covered by an Award exceed, as of the date of 
grant, the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan without additional stockholder approval, such Award shall 
be  void  with  respect  to  such  excess  Shares,  unless  stockholder  approval  of  an  amendment  sufficiently  increasing  the 
number of Shares subject to the Plan is timely obtained in accordance with subsection 18.2 of the Plan.  

21. 

RESERVATION OF SHARES.  The company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and 

keep available such number of shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.  

A-10 

22. 

UNDERWATER OPTION EXCHANGES.  The Administrator may not permit the repricing, including 

by way of exchange, of any Award, without receiving prior stockholder approval. 

23. 

DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:  

23.1. 
accordance with section 4 of the Plan.  

“Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as shall be administering the Plan, in 

“Applicable Laws”  means the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock option 
plans under federal and state corporate and securities laws, the Code and any stock exchange on which the Common Stock 
is listed or quoted.  

23.2. 

23.3. 
Restricted Stock Unit.  

“Award” means an award hereunder of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or 

23.4. 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.  

23.5. 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  

23.6. 
accordance with section 4 of the Plan.  

“Committee”  means  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Board  or  its  Compensation  Committee  in 

23.7. 

“Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company.  

23.8. 

“Company” means Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.  

23.9. 

“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or 
Subsidiary  to  render  services  and  who  is  compensated  for  such  services;  provided,  however,  that  the  term  “Consultant” 
shall not include Outside Directors, unless such Outside Directors are compensated for services to the Company other than 
through payment of director’s fees.  

terminated.  

23.10.  “Continuous  Status  as  a  Director”  means  that  the  Director  relationship  is  not  interrupted  or 

23.11.  “Continuous  Status  as  an  Employee,  Consultant  or  Director”  means  that  the  employment, 
consulting  or  Director  relationship  with  the  Company  or  any  Parent  or  Subsidiary  is  not  interrupted  or  terminated. 
Continuous Status as an Employee, Consultant or Director shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of 
absence approved by the Company, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; provided, however, 
that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the 
expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract (including certain Company policies) or statute; provided, further, that on 
the ninety-first (91st) day of any such leave (where reemployment is not guaranteed by contract or statute) the Participant’s 
Incentive  Stock  Option  shall  cease  to  be  treated  as  an  Incentive  Stock  Option  and  will  be  treated  for  tax  purposes  as  a 
Nonstatutory  Stock  Option;  or  (ii) transfers  between  locations  of  the  Company  or  between  the  Company,  its  Parent,  its 
Subsidiaries or its successor.  

23.12.  “Director” means a member of the Board.  

23.13.  “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.  

23.14.  “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or 
any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company 
shall be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.  

23.15.  “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  

23.16.  “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:  

A-11 

23.16.1. 

If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market 
system, including without limitation the New York Stock Exchange, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock 
shall be the closing sale price for such stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices, if no sales were reported), as 
quoted on such exchange (or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) or system on the date of 
such determination (or, in the event such date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately prior to the date of such 
determination), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or  

23.16.2. 

If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling 
prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked 
prices  for  such  stock  on  the  date  of  such  determination  (or,  in  the  event  such  date  is  not  a  trading  day,  the  trading  day 
immediately  prior  to  the  date  of  such  determination),  as  reported  in  The  Wall  Street  Journal  or  such  other  source  as  the 
Administrator deems reliable; or  

23.16.3. 
Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.  

In  the  absence  of  an  established  market  for  the  Common  Stock,  the  Fair  Market 

within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 

23.17.  “Incentive  Stock  Option”  means  an  Option  intended  to  qualify  as  an  incentive  stock  option 

Option.  

23.18.  “Nonstatutory  Stock  Option”  means  an  Option  not  intended  to  qualify  as  an  Incentive  Stock 

individual Option grant. The Notice of Grant is part of the Option Agreement.  

23.19.  “Notice  of  Grant”  means  a  written  notice  evidencing  certain  terms  and  conditions  of  an 

the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  

23.20.  “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of 

23.21.  “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan or the Terminated Plans.  

23.22.  “Option  Agreement”  means  a  written  agreement  between  the  Company  and  a  Participant 
evidencing  the  terms  and  conditions  of  an  individual  Option  grant.  The  Option  Agreement  is  subject  to  the  terms  and 
conditions of the Plan.  

23.23.  “Optioned Stock” means the Common Stock subject to an Option or SAR.  

23.24.  “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee or Consultant.  

Section 424(e) of the Code.  

23.25.  “Parent”  means  a  “parent  corporation”,  whether  now  or  hereafter  existing,  as  defined  in 

Option or Restricted Stock award.  

23.26.  “Participant”  means  an  Employee,  Consultant  or  Outside  Director  who  holds  an  outstanding 

23.27.  “Performance Goals” means the goal(s) (or combined goal(s)) determined by the Administrator 
(in  its  discretion)  to  be  applicable  to  a  Participant  with  respect  to  an  Award.  As  determined  by  the  Administrator,  the 
performance measures for any performance period will be any one or more of the following objective performance criteria, 
applied to either the Company as a whole or, except with respect to stockholder return metrics, to a region, business unit, 
affiliate or business segment, and measured either on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to a previous 
period's results or to a designated comparison group, and, with respect to financial metrics, which may be determined in 
accordance  with  United  States  Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Principles  (“GAAP”),  in  accordance  with  accounting 
principles  established  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  (“IASB  Principles”)  or  which  may  be  adjusted 
when  established  to  exclude  any  items  otherwise  includable  under  GAAP  or  under  IASB  Principles:  (i) cash  flow 
(including  operating  cash  flow  or  free  cash  flow),  (ii) revenue  (on  an  absolute  basis  or  adjusted  for  currency  effects), 
(iii) gross  margin,  (iv) operating  expenses  or  operating  expenses  as  a  percentage  of  revenue,  (v) earnings  (which  may 
include earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes and net earnings), (vi) earnings per share, (vii) stock price, 
(viii) return on equity, (ix) total stockholder return, (x) growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the 

A-12 

S&P 500 Index, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Sector Index or another index, (xi) return on capital, (xii) return on assets 
or  net  assets,  (xiii)  return  on  investment,  (xiv)  economic  value  added,  (xv)  operating  profit  or  net  operating  profit,  (xvi) 
operating margin, (xvii) market share, (xviii) contract awards or backlog, (xix) overhead or other expense reduction, (xx) 
credit rating, (xxi) objective customer indicators, (xxii) new product invention or innovation, (xxiii) attainment of research 
and development milestones, (xxiv) improvements in productivity, (xxv) attainment of objective operating goals, and (xxvi) 
objective employee metrics.  

23.28.  “Plan” means this 1994 Plan, as amended.  

23.29.  “Restricted Stock” means shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to section 12 of the Plan.  

when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.  

23.30.  “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect 

section 12 of the Plan.  

23.31.  “Stock  Appreciation  Right”  or  “SAR”  means  a  Stock  Appreciation  Right  granted  pursuant  to 

Plan.  

23.32.  “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with section 16 of the 

Section 424(f) of the Code. 

23.33.  “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in 

A-13 

 
With an industry-standard, 8-bit processor, and high-precision, 20-bit analog, Cypress’s PSoC 3 solution addresses the upper-end 

of the market for 8-bit products and one-half of the 16-bit market, adding $5.5 billion in addressable markets (below left). PSoC 5 

integrates the 32-bit ARM®  Cortex™-M3 processor, opening another $5.6 billion in markets. The served market for all PSoC  

products now totals $12.7 billion – nearly 8x the original PSoC 1 market. Consequently, five quarters after its introduction—at a  

similar point in its development as a family—PSoC 3 is generating design wins 3x faster than PSoC 1 did (below right).

PSoC 3 RAMPING 3x FASTER THAN PSoC 1

PSoC SERVED AVAILABLE MARKET

Includes Analog, Logic, MCUs, Touch

PERFORMANCE/FEATURES

TAM

WSTS Jan 2010

8-bit + Analog/PLD*

16-bit + Analog/PLD*

32-bit + Analog/PLD*

$7.9 B

$6.1 B

$7.6 B

TOTAL

$21.6 B

3x

SAM

2010

PSoC 3

+

$5.5 B

PSoC 1

$1.6 B

$1.6 B

$1.6 B

PSoC 5

+

$5.6 B

TOTAL

$12.7 B

$12.7 B

$12.7 B

  * Portion of Standard Analog/Logic market accessible to PSoC.

  * Portion of Standard Analog/Logic market accessible to PSoC.

ROUTER SYSTEM DESIGN

Q2’01 for PSoC 1

Q3’09 for PSoC 3

This is a screen shot from PSoC Creator, the Integrated Development System (IDE) design software for PSoC 5. The IDE 

has captured a complete thermal and power management system design for a router, in which three temperature sensors 

control five fans by monitoring fan tachometers, and all power supplies are monitored and switched on and off in the 

proper sequence.

Prior to PSoC, the system might have been designed using seven discrete chips, whose part numbers are annotated 

in red: an ARM-based, 32-bit microcontroller from ST Microelectronics (ST32F103), a voltage sequencer in a 

programmable logic chip from Xilinx (XC2C128), a fan controller chip from SMSC (EMC2305), a digital-to-analog 

converter (DAC0804) and programmable gain amplifier (LMC71Z) from National Semiconductor, a voltage reference 

from Linear Technology (LT1790B), and a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter (AD73360) from Analog Devices. However, 

ROUTER: THERMAL AND POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

in this PSoC Creator  

design, all of the 

system blocks have 

been implemented by 

programming the analog 

and digital resources on a 

single PSoC 5 chip. If those 

blocks were purchased 

separately as seven discrete 

integrated circuits, their 

cost in volume would be 

approximately $11.85, 

well above the price of the 

PSoC 5 chip alone.

More importantly, the 

capability to design the 

system in a single software 

environment and to debug 

it on a single chip—rather 

than seven chips from six 

vendors—dramatically 

improves our customers’ 

time-to-market.

*

PSoC® 3: RECORD DESIGN WINS

PSoC: 500 UNIVERSITY CUSTOMERS WORLDWIDE & GROWING

Cypress’s PSoC platform is now part of the embedded design engineering curriculum at more than 500 universities around 
the world – laying the groundwork for a new generation of PSoC users and future Cypress employees.

UNIVERSITIES TEACHING WITH PSoC

600

500

400

300

200

100

0 

Q406

Q207

Q407

Q208

Q408

Q209

Q409

Q210

Q410

JAPAN

ROA

EMEA

CHINA/TW

INDIA

S.AMERICA

N.AMERICA

DR. ANDRZEJ RUCINSKI, 
UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

•  Director of UNH 

• 

Critical Infrastructure 
Dependability Lab
27 years specializing 
in computer 
programming and 
VLSI design

“Cypress PSoC technology enables students to bridge 
the gap between theoretical consideration and what 
you can do in the lab – and to actually demonstrate 
things that we talk about theoretically.”

DR. RAJESH GUPTA, 
UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

•  Head of UCSD 

Embedded Systems 
Group

•  Chair of UCSD 

Computer Science & 
Engineering Dept.

“PSoC enables students to learn things they wouldn’t 
have learned before, like what is the role of capacitive 
touch sensing or how sampling can be more efficient. 
You become a better engineer with PSoC.”

OPERA-SINGING ROBOTS – PSoC controls the eye movements of 
these robots, built by students at Shanghai Jiaotong University and 
showcased at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

HIGH-TECH WINERY – Cypress CEO T.J. Rodgers, also a commercial 
winemaker, has worked with the world-leading enology and viticulture 
school at UC Davis to donate 152 high-tech fermentors that collect 
winemaking data and transmit it wirelessly to a workstation. The 
fermentors rely on Cypress PSoC and WirelessUSB™ technologies. 

2

0

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  A N N U A L

R

E

P O R

T

“Barring a double-dip recession, we expect a strong 2010 with significant

revenue growth and solid profitability.” 

T.J. Rodgers, 2009 Annual Report

AT THE HEART OF THE WORLD’S BEST PRODUCTS

    CHILEAN RESCUE

     ARIES CCV CAMERA
     Cypress’s PSoC chip is used inside this tiny
        camera that assisted in the dramatic 2010
         rescue of 33 men trapped in a Chilean mine.

“PSoC is in 75% of our cameras.
    PSoC saved the camera design in
        many ways because it is small.”

          Yungky Tan
           Senior Design Engineer
          CCV/Aries Industries

MICROSOFT ARC TOUCH MOUSE 
                       Cypress’s CapSense
                       solution powers the
                   touch scroll strip on this
                unique foldable mouse.

BMW 5-SERIES SEDANS
Cypress’s CapSense touch-sensing
                               controllers are used in
                                    the radio interface 
                                    on most late-model
                                    BMW automobiles.

EPSON STYLUS PX720WD
                       Cypress’s CapSense
                         controls the LED-based
                         user interface on many
                         Epson Stylus all-in-one
                      photo printers.

     ACER ICONIA NOTEBOOK PC
      Cypress’s TrueTouch solution drives the 
    dual touchscreens on this notebook PC,
    named one of the year’s hottest products 
               at the Consumer Electronics Show.

  “The TrueTouch solution delivered
the low power and outstanding
 performance we demanded, along
        with the flexibility to implement
           our vision for this product.” 

        David Lee       
      Assoc. VP, Mobile Computing, Acer   

   SAMSUNG WAVE 2 PHONE
  The Samsung Wave 2 phone
 features a highly accurate
 touchscreen using Cypress’s 
TrueTouch solution. 

BARNES & NOBLE COLOR 
NOOK E-READER
The Barnes & Noble Color 
Nook e-reader, features 
an interactive large 
touchscreen powered 
by TrueTouch.

HTC 7 MOZART PHONE
Cypress’s TrueTouch solution 
drives the touchscreen display
on this cutting-edge smartphone.

           ZTE ETHERNET SWITCHES
      Cypress’s 65-nm QDR™II (Quad Data Rate™) 
              SRAM devices enable high-speed data 
                        access in the ZXCME 9500 series 
                                                 of Ethernet switches. 

“The excellent speed and low latency
     of Cypress’s SRAMs are instrumental 
     in the outstanding performance that the 
    ZXCME 9500 series offers our customers.” 

   Li Hongqi
Product Development Manager, ZTE

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Cypress Semiconductor Corporation 198 Champion Court, San Jose, CA 95134-1709
(408) 943-2600  www.cypress.com

© 2011 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  
Printed in the U.S.A.